Weekly Mail

I A ClIATTY REVIEW OF THE WEEK'S LITERATURE. h}e early Otters of a man who has become ?ucht.? always in.tere.sting, and there is ?lett?°?? ?? fascinate in the collection ?shed ? Ruskin, which has just been pub- rrad Writtei,, when he was still an under- ,late to an Oxford friend. That Mr. and ?-? °'"?, ? ? most origina-l thinkers ?en?v??'?? century would be pretty ) letter ?. s???ed -now, ajid these early ?ty <??? P?e-nty of traces o.f this origina- ?? ??? ? well a? of the beauty of ?he Tnot? ??t:n?uish the later writing's of 1840) ? -"?? ?s ?? (? or about a'rt ?-? ?Titer was sworn heart and soul to <?idpTW. ?rMr as Ms guiding sta,r. This is <?' enough from ?such specimens as this:— if tjb??. ?'?* ?ot sometimes wondered whv, tion ?"?'? of Art be mere servility of imita? th..rf? ???e, tihere were aa majiy styles as th? ?? 8'rea,t artists ? The true reason is ?Uch?l?? ??? conveys to you, not so e the ,scene, as the impression of the <?} i? "? ?? c.riginajity of mind. Ruys- PUritv ? ? ???re for her freghness ;<nd ?ou.?-' ??? for her ?lory of colour, ?a? ? ? ?mult, Sa,lvator for her to a. 1- ??s ? her peace, Turner (I rise cumax) for her mystery and divinity." any?jL??? °?- ??) ?o advise his friends to buy E h??''??? en?ravingg he may &nd in a- pa,wu- iQ??? window with the letters J. W. M. T." ? tain ?'??"? corner, or any old annuals eon- ? a.ad'-? ???' ?specially Rogers's "It&Iy" ? ?oenn." In those days, perhaps, there Row f?? °? s?ch a. nnd. There is none on t ?? ca,ptured prizes Mr. Ruskin goes th" Take them to bed with you, a.nd look at tliebefore you go tD sleep, till you dream of a ?. ?nd when you are reading and come to ?MMHK that you want to refer to often put u'.tle Turner in to keep the pla<-e, that your ys Dlay fall on it whenever you open. He is the epitome of all Art, the concentration of cd P°??! tliere is nothing that ever artist was ?ebra.ted for that he ca,nnot do better than the ost celebrated. He seems to have seen every- hIng, remembered everything-, spiritualised í:verything in the visible world there is nothing ? "*? done, nothing' that he dajes not do; ?en he dies there will be more of Nature and er mysteries forgotten in one sob than will be ajnt aga,in by "-he eyes of a generation." There are droll nashes of the writer's whimsi- ?. ???our in many of the letters, such as the c '? against the EiiR-hshma.n'g love of horse- ?h contained in :). letter from Herne Hill :— ? I can't endure them they are the curse of ugiajid. and make horses of ha,Ii' of our genHe- rio?i ??sy are very good sort of thin? for ??"?'?y'CMe, simoomy blackguards of Tsh- .7 _aelitcs to make friends of, or steaks o'—as 1)1? ??? ?'? require; but for civilised creatures .?e us to risk our necks and brains upon. too Jn '???'s Kn.r.slake he would re?ly dra.w hi? ? ? '??'? ??s horses but he -never gets ?? ?'f a. piece of paper without covering it .'0s the risk every day of his life of terminntTig ?s earthly career in a. ditch, with sn aS?c- senate series of frieTids to—leap over Irm. A owa,t'd1y, ungenerous brute, too, taking instant .uvar.ta.g? of a wea,k rider, n.nd never bHh."ving ?eoeDtly hut when it can't heir) it. Horses III deed '1'h;:>v are not even useful on paper. ? cow I.! o.od for something': a stag- ? crow. she?p. ;? a.f)?t, & goo&e, a.ny thing but ? h.orse, :"111 do people good when they get into ° scrape l'r, CcrnpfJsition; but anytlnng equestrin.n is 11In. Don't t:ilk to me about horses." In a-notber letkr he mpkes his apology for l)othavinO" been to see a. fossil baby thnt had ?? attracting ?ome attention. A well-cou- nted monkey, he says, looks so vcrv infan- 'ne t?? ? miyht not know the diS'erpnce, '?? t.he marvel, after all, was not so very W6a,t:_ t en we are put into ara.ves, and get what ¡ eople call 'Christian burinl.' we go to powder e Ilo time. and are sucked up by the butter- ?Ps and daisies on the ton of the graves and 0? the shee'o eat us. and we go to assist at ? Fiends' dinners in the sha.pe of mutton; ??s a,j.Q diluted with r?in-water, a.nd so ?o ?in? ???'?'?? t?s earth till we come out ?h ? era,l spring, and everybody drinks us. a,nd ? !?' ?c*? ?ce But if we nre not bu-ried In ? '?°ctible wav—if we tumble down Niagara ? ))o')n?? ? nn Tri?h bog. or get lost in a- coal- ? ?R ? smothered in a sand pit—the earth ? ?M '???'? ?? ?'?' ?? bitumeuiNes, or car- ''?e ?' ? calcines, or chaJcedoniRes. until we L \?"?.??a.He as rock itself; a'nd then. if we Or calcines, or chaJcedoniRes. until we L 9 as rock itself; a'nd then. if we r ? -° luck to get -Rickc.d up nnd -nut in n L ?g ..??. we msv stand there and grin out of ? '?'??tone wit'!i ouite f? good Q-race as a, ¡ wit'!i ouite as good Q-race as a, t' lD.otn Cr:' lChthyos3urns. tra. be The Dl:a:e of DJ:'tl:r<È:enness 1:t ° ttnctmg a o-cod deal of attention of 1 ?dit' ??' '???'a'n Eerr's book is a, valuable K ? h? ? ?" I?erature of the subject. Nor ? '?aj? connne himself to the mere disease here- F ? ex" ? 3'couired of drinkins.- wine cr spirits ? r,{ ?,ess. There is a. brief but graphic sketch b. ?n? Jarful s-oread of ethero-mania. in Ire- ? 6 ?hich is litfe more than 40 years old. e \ra.tr8t victims were converts of Father lJW, who wanted to know how they couir'' ?ctn ? without Itrea.kin'? the pledge. A f??]f ?? them ether, and they ?ot royally ? <.T,???? ravine'' their consciences. Others ?? ??t, a.nd the homMe habit becaine ?h?? ?? ?? ?'?'t'hern Ireland. The ?icn?? ?-kes it neat, a.nd can g'-et dr?nk on it 1\lr11k;,day for sixpence, for all the stages of a ?e!so? on ether—exaltation.. maudlin, quar- j?Ut?' ??n?- s.?? sober a.e'ain—only occupy n ?ip ? ?ouple of hours. Shopkeepers ?.rent It children to wee and ? ?. ??rs detect the odour from children of :s t ?6 y ?ven this is the deadly cocaine habit— tt { ?i)) ??' of -medical prescriptions to alleviate tt { j)ill 811lt, of -medical prescriptions to alleviate ? ? ??c <. ???'o?-OoIo?ne is Mother fashionable 3? f ?!)(?. ? ?et drunk on—especially one wouk ?? t ?V .????? ladies—and so is lavender—?ene- ? ??s ??k when the wa.tclifu'ness of friends ic ??'mary alcohol away. (?iDs-er drinking ty ???er n?y f?ni of the'mania, the materia.l ? ???lv ??Rce! of ?ing-er in a. form which is o' ?H? ? as strong as brandy! A terrible tie 1)0 b.e.ainst the use of antipyrin I have, 1 abon in re-producins', for anv me<ica.! ? ?s ?? comnrm all that Dr. Norman Eerr ?? ?Ino.1 Misuse of this invaluable, but a,p- 'S' I dang(.>rous, drug.—- ? ????' ? havo never seen antipyrin, when _? ?r ?' ? Consumed even in heroic doses, im- .g tconfli,;e iiidg.Trciit, obselre or M ???s ?? ???se, yet I ha.ve sepn the consti- ? n?????'? Youn? and middle-aged women ??'?tit' ??? ?? mct.ula'euce in imceatsing '"?da) ? of th{g (iH f-killed and judi"i'T[3 ?Ur?? ?luable medicine. The a-go'lifina' ?fh? or brLMn-tu-3 hendache of many cf f) to At) Y-ne'u'otic g-ir'ls and ire.frons has t?''D?i."?? charmed a.way—a, blessed relief of r ??.n ?Mtress—bv'a, nvesTain do.e of < f? da? '?? ?d patent ren.edial discovery of ?t?'sn?" c'enera.t'on. The head agony .)r !? ?'' r? ?"? ha3 soon ref-rrred. The. power- ? <!? had ? ??? ??" re-?nplied. and rapidiv ? '?-a,? ? '? moreased in n?ntitv. tiU four. ? ?th a ? ??"?s the initial dose is dailv taken ? ??1 of ? ?'3rt/ with the lam.ntable 0' ).) ?p? ??tered nerve'! and broi.en health. ? f ? ?rn°?? mterests. and in thf interests of ?t o?? ? ??' I cannot too strf.n<?lv wa.m tlie ?' ??a.rv "?? °? ?e human race a.s-ajnst the ? ???tGiT'a ? ?? ?? seductive ?nd dangerous '? ??.v' ?"?? should be taken for the occa- ? th?'?ion '? ?? ??ce of a, responsible medical ? ? ?o?f. ?' ? cautiously and deliberately as ? ue?rHv poison (.xtant." ? ??n? ? Books Received rit!' .?"'DiG? ?sk include a, parcel from Mr. ? ??? ? ?? well-known publisher of cheap ? ? <?e"??'twe (513, Stramd?. MT. Dicks -er8 a. eom-Dlete sbiHm'B'' "Shakeapere," t)a?' ai ?????otisproductioT). There are it?'? ???? paa-es, a.nd the print and ? ? ? ve,.??? excellent. The paper bind- t"?? ff? °'? ?? artisHc. and there are ? ? th? ??stra.tions. The whole of the t '?t'? a,, ?ys is <?iven, amd the poems and ? b!? ?? ?so included, while a. verv wel!- ()\'idee eIn101'l' is prenxed. An extr&'shilHnt? I a. neat oloth-gilt binding and cut edges. Mr. Dicks also sends me Gilbert a, Beckett's well-known "Comic History of Rome," with John Leech's pictures (paper Is., cloth gilt 2s.), and a. sixpenny illustrated edition of Harrison Ainsworth's "Tower of 'ns London"—the whole admirably got up and wonderfully cheap. I ha.ve also to acknow- ledge receipt of a. new edition of "The La.w of Servants and Masters in Plain Language," by "A Barrister" (London: Horace Cox, Is.); "Sporting Faota and Fancies." by J. P. Wheel'uoM (London: .h.dgar Shrubsole, 2s. 6d.); "Rescue Work," a. charmingly sen- sible a'nd practical book by the' Rev. A. Brinokman, which should be read thoughtfully by every parson in the land, and by every Church-worker who tries or thinks of trying to take part in the work (London: G. J. Palmer, Is.); "The Season," "The Case Against Diggleism'' (London.: Alexander and Shepherd, Is.); "Work," "The Magazine of Art," "Family Magazine," and "Quiver" (Cassell and Co.), all as excellent as ever and full of capital matter; and the "Musical Times," still well &head of all rivals in -ts own particular line. Letters Addressed to a. College Friend during the years 1840-45. By John Ruskin. (George Alien). "Inebrityj or Narcoma.nia. Its Etiology, Pa.thology, Treatment, and Jurisprudence." By Norman Kerr M.D., F.L.S. (H. K. Lewie) F.;)

IMPRISONED ON A SHIP. The steamship NormaM'.ia., from Hamburg, arrived in the port of New York on Saturday, September 5, 1892, with ca,es! of cholera, on board. Many of the ship's company had died on tirj passage. At Hamburg and elsewhere in Europe th-3 disease was raging. The autho- rities in America were alarmed lest the scourge should be introduced into that country. Hence should be introduced into that country. Hence they quarantined the Normannia, with every soul of her passengers and crew. The writer was a. passenger. It w.M an a,wful time. Death v. :).s among us and on all siden of us. Nobody knew who next would fall. We were im- prisoned. Liberty never seemed so fair, uor so far. We could neither fight nor ny. 'there we were—hundreds of rs—perfectly well, and yet bound together as with (hains, that the health omcer of the port might see whether the plague would not yet break out in our midst. When at last—after weeks of this— wo were set on .shore, men lifted their hats and reverently said, "Thank God!" This was being shut up under eondit;r)ng to make it horrible a.id fearful. Yet any form of inca.rcera.tion is bau. enough. Heie is a. woman. for example, who says, I never moved a yard from my own doorstep for twenty weeks!" Her own hoase was a prison to her. Who had sentenced her? A judge? N(I;;1, power greater and m:)re pitiless than any judge. Her tale runs thus —In April, 1882, whilst living at Lather's Farm, Old.3ampford, Essex, a, fire broke out, and the family were burned out of hojse and home. We have no call to remark on such a calamity. The very thought of it is fit to make one '-biver with dread. For most of us it is like the world coming to an end to experience such a disaster. Well, what happened a.fter that the lady shall tell in he'r own fa.s.hio.n—the best of all fashions, because it is Dla.in and straight to f'o point, kyhe says:—"Owing to our bed- diug being damp from exposure. I took a bad cold, which brought on rheumatic fever. For fourteen days I to my bed, and for twenty weeks I never' moved a yard from my own doorstep. After a time the fever abated, leaving me weak, languid, and low. At first I had a sickening taste in the. mouth and a poor appetite. No matter how simple a.nd light the food was, I was afraid to eat, I'o'r it was sure to give me pain at tiie chest and sides; so I often had to loosen my corset a.nd undress _d,rin(,, -the day. I could not bear the weight of my clothing. "I wa.s constantly spitting up a scur, frothy Ruid, a.ad had a gnawing pain at the pit of the stomach—like hunger, and yet. diSerent. It was with difficulty i voided the kidney secretion., and my boweds., ankles, a.nd legs began to awell. I got worse; I v/as in agcny night and day, and could not IJut my foot on the ground. a.ftbrwaji.'ds: a husky cough took me, and my throat filled with a. thick phlegm. I could not sleep, a.nd was never easy. Later on T had often to sit up in bed, for I felt 'a.s if I should choke. "Year after year I continued to suSer '1 this way. grooving' worse and worse, until I despaired of ever being well a.g<un. But who can tell when trouble will cc-me, or when relief? A wondwful Providence is over all. "One day m June a. book came by post describing Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup, and what it, had done for iM-ay poor sufferers. got a. bottle from Mr. Suckling, medicine dea.ler, and a.fter taknig it for a short time all pain left me, and I gradually o-amed stre.ngth. By taking an occasiona/1 dose I have smce kept in good health, and can ea.t and digest any kind of food. (Signed) Mrs. Lydia. Green, Moor End, Great S.a.m'nford, via Bra,mtree, Essex, Aug 24th, 1892." Now. in order that Mrs. Green's clear and trutMm stateme'at may be of use to others <as Hhe desires it to be), we must add a, word or two. The bad cold she caught at the '6re no doubt brought on -me. rneumacc rever 'as sne rela?.t? but. there wa..n something' 'back of the cold. for a, cold never causes rheumatism. The rheumatic seeds. or poison must. already lie in the bicc'-i: s.nd that poison is always created l.y pre-existing indigestion a.nd dvs-nepsia, whether the suNerer. knows it or not. Tills is proved by the fact. that. Mrq. Greeny ehi&f ailment for ten yeaj-3 after the '6je was not rheumatism; hut. indigest¡ion a.nd dyRr'e'nsia, and dropsy, which is me of its reRnlt-a a.nd symntoms. Wlum the dio'c-atioB. was Im ally righted by the rpmedy she a.Iluoes to, nn her apparent, maladies ceMpd Whv? Because, she :had but one, lNe said. Ah. vep. Di.?ea.ae is a, stp,ru ia.ilor. A-nd how et (I '"hea.D) is libert.v. obtained by Mnther S€ige'l's he1,p. Lc501

THE LATE EXECUTION AT CARMARTHEN. CLAIM BY THE BOROUG-H SHERIFF. The Carmarthen Town Council at its meet- ing on Tuesday will have to con sidei a claim by the high sheriif of Carmarthen for payment of the expenses incurred in the execution, in Feb- ruary last, of Geoi'g-e Thomas. Without wish- ing in any way to prejude the matter, we inig-ht say that the claim certainly seems an unusual onethe sherifi, we a.lways understood, h9.d to bear the cost, and what. in ome cases, is a good deal worse—a.11 the unpleasantness of an execution. But there mig'hc be some extra- ordinary feature in the claim of the high sheni? of Carmarthen which will be duty communicated to the council. It is somewhat of a, coinci- dence tha.t- s.nother circumstance has also occurred to bring back to the memory the late tragedy. Rosamund Dyer, the gTeat-a,u.nt of the murdered g-irl, and. with whom she lived, died on Saturday. The awful end of her niece greatly affected the old lady, and she never re-gained her .former health after the occurrence, which ore-ated so much excitement at the time. J

THE INCREASE OF TRAIIf.PS.1 There wa,s only a, small a.ttenda.nce at the meet- ing-of the CM-difr' Boa.rd of Gna.rdia.ns at the work- house. on 8a,turda.y, Mr. na,m bem;? m the chair.—A letter was received from the Boohford Board bf Guardians enolosiBg a resolution pasaed at a Poor-la.w conference with regard to the incre&se of tramps, and a,skin? the Loca.1 GoYernmeRt Boa.rd to hold a, public inquiry, with a, view of arra.'ag'in? a, system of tr?tment which would be generally adopted.—The resolu- tion wa.s adopted.—Mr. Sewa.rd, a,rchLiteot, sub- mitted his estimate for the a.ltera.tiona and addi- tions at Ely Schools, which was .62,972.—It was remarked that the .63,000 which was proposed to be applied for to coyer the cost wa.s obviously insuiEcier)t, a-s the amount na,med did not in- clude the architect's commission. It was resolved to apply for C3,500. --Notice was given that at the next meeting the Nt&tteB skould be re-discussed.

SUICIDE AT ABERDARB. E&rly on Sunday morning an old msm named William Thomas, a- collier, residing in Unity- street, Aberdare, was missing from his home, and a,fter severa.1 hours' search the body wa,<-) discovered in a pond at the rear of Bryna.we!.

EVEN HP TO DATE. "I can't help how much yer love me, Van; I can't marry yer, and you'd just a, well look a,t matters in a reagonable way." "But, why, Mandy? There ain't no other feller yer thinkin' more of than yer air of me, is there?" "I'm talkm' fair and squar' to yer, Van Jones. I've always liked yer as a. friend, but if yer want to keep friendly" with me ver'll have to stop this talk right here. I've told yer that I didn't love yer, and, more'n that, I never could, an' aa to lovm' or thinkin' more ef some body else, that's soiiiethin' I don't think con- sarns ye in the least." "Oh, come, now, Mandy, don't put me off in this here way. If yer a friend to me it won't take yer long' to love me. I've been mighty nigh crazy fer yer for the last three year. "I've got so I can't work fer thinkin' of yer in the day ner sleep fer thinkin' of yer in the night. There's lots o' other girls in Chincapin Holler, but ver takes the shine out of all of 'em. They're no more like yer than a dish-rag's like a silk handkercher. In my eye yer as far above 'em as Pilot Knob's above Cowskin Flat. I'd give my mansion in the New Jerusalem fer jest one kiss o' them purty little red lips o' yer's." So saying. Van tried to draw Mandy toward himself, but Mandy with flashing eyes arose to her feet, and. as she did so, gave him a smart slap in the face and said:— "Van Jones, yer a fool! Ye take yerself right off from here or I'll call pa. I've been a-tryin' to reason with yer as a. friend, but. I see yer ain't got no sense. Thur's the door. and don't yer never come back here ao-ain "But,Mandy——" ''Don't Mandy me—pa, Van did not stop to meet "pa," but took up bis hat and, with a scowl on his face and an path in his heart, left the house. He was an ill-visaged fellow. His features wore the un- mistakable marks of cruelty, cunning, and sen. suality. His face was dark naturalty, but it was coloured a deeper dye by the smoke of hia forge, for Van was the blacksmith of Chincapin Hollow. His burly Mack head was set upon a thick neck and thus fastened to a herculean trunk. He had all the characteristics of cruel and ferocious being. He wended his way slowly up the Hollow, muttering curses as he went. ° "I know who she's stuck on it's that darn ham Gray, but, by thunder. I'll get even with 'em," he hissed between his teeth. woulan t own to it, but I've had my ere on him, confound him." ?tw?a, lovely Sunday evening in the month of Member in that part of Arkansas called the Boston Mountains. The sidea of the mountains were covered with luxuriant chin. capins, scrubby oaks, and trailing, heaw-Iaden ???,? ? ?? C-hin'?in"MI? v-as delightful to one in a frame of mind to njoy it, .bu.t Vai-i Jones saw none of its beauty 01 Si ?"btful ? he ever was conscious If he took any further notice of them at all r?d? ?' ??' ? brush. He soon u? ? ? '? T?? ?? some distance up the hollow. It was an old log building o T'w?? ? striking resemble to a swa.v-ba,ck horse. The totterino. chimney ?S? ? ? ? ? r?h ?? battered Ml.k tile on a drunken sailor The ? ?? ?? ?' ? ?? ?ly ?v ? ?? ??"? ? ?? buiiding to a?nd ? -? '? ??S Promiscuously around, and it was evident that. Van was not ??t?? '?- ? ?? '? building. ?nce'SisrS??,?-' ? ————? -? 111 get even with him if it takes fifty y?ars, he sna.rled. "He shan't marry Mandy Piggm because he's got ? good larm and a hor?e or two more'n I've got. I'll get even wiTh him if I've got to burn his barn or pizen his well. I'll let him know that the man he's buckin agin in this business ain't no slouch," and a diabolical scowl settled over his features as he ceased muttering and drew from his pocket a, large clasp knife, which he proceeded to sharpen upon a grindstone. While Van was thus occupied the sun wa.s slowly smking. Lc.ng shadows fell across the Hollow. Gradually the distant mountain toi)31 were wrapped in roseate mists, and over the valleys Sorted purple vapours. The shadows begin to. deepen in the HolJow, and finally the ?ast ray of light vanishes from the moun'. tain's peak. First one bright star and then another nse? in the east, p&ering down into the shadows below. Slowly the heavens become decked with the myriads of bright, pcintillatinn. gems of night. It is a. calm, dBIÍghÜful night in early nutumn; the pure mountain air, like an ethereal elixir, exhilarates and cheers both man and be&st. In the starlit night a man on horseback is seen slowly riding toward Jeiierson Piggin's house. He seems to be in no hurry, for he allows the splendid mare he is ridipg"to cboc-3e her own gait. He rides up to the. front of the picket fence surrounding the house, throws the bridle over one of the pickers, and, knock !ns- gently at. the dcor, is met by the Mushin? Mandy a.sd bashfully invited in. "Howdy do, Miss Mandy? How air ye this evemn?" "Purty well, I thank ye, Mr. Gray. How air ye and how air yer folks?" /'rm purty well, I thank ye, and the folks air about as common. Been eniYino' "P1'Af tn. !day, Miss Mandy?" w "No,Ihaven't,Mr.G-ray. It's Leen an un- common dull day to me. Ycu bsen injying yerself to-day, Mr. Gray?" "No, I can't say that I hev. Miss Maud?. I was down at a. shootia ma.tch at Cowskin Flat, but. there was no good shootin done, and I came home. But looks like a. purty ga.l like you shouldn't feel lonesome—hev, Alias Ma.ndy?" /'Wby not, Mr. (:!ray? Don't you think g-a.L /'Wby not, Mr. (:!ray? Don't you think gals git lonesome sometimes?" "Well, I thought. Miss.Ma?dy.ve'd have plenty cump'ny, spesh'iy 0:1 Sunday." "Oh, yes, I've had oump'ny, but it warn't a. "Oh, yes, I've had oump'ny, but it warn't a bit agreeable. I'd rather be alone at, eny time than to hev it." "If it's a 'fair question, who's been yer cump'ny to-day, Miss M.a,ndy?" "'Nobody?in pertic'ler—at least, that's whut I t.hi.nk of Van Jones." "Why, seems to me, Miss Mandy, that Vaa ought to be purty good company; 'he's a. right smart feller, I allus thought." "'Well, I don't like hmi, Mr. Gray, and hopa he'll never call ag'Jn." "Why, Miss Mandy, did you and inm hev any trouble?" "Alittle, not much." "Would ye mind telling- me wliat it was a.bout, Miss Mandy?" and Sam ba.9hl'!jliy hitched his chair a few inches nearer the blush- ing' Mandy. "I'd rather not, Sam," she replied, hangiun' her head in modesty at calling him for the first thue by his name. "Of cour.-c, Mandy, if it's a. secret I don't wa-nt to hear it; it's none o'f my biznes no how. I reckon, is it, Mandy?" and Sam's arm bega,n a. cautious journey around Miss Mandy's apro.u strings.. Mandy (unconsciously, no doubt) helped Sam's arm along a. little by leaning towar<i him, as she answered:— "Well, Sam, I guess you won't tell a.nybody if I tell you. Van Jones's been trying his best to get me to have him, and 1 jest p'intedly told him he couldn't. He then wanted to know if I thought more of some one else, and I told him it didn't consam 1dm. I had ter threaten to call pa before he'd leave. Ho were power- fully disap'inted whe-n I give him no for an answer. I've allus thought purty well of V&n as a. friend, but I'm afraid if -h's dander's up he'll do somethin. mean." "And what did you refuse Van fer, Mandy?" said Sam, as he .gave the girl a sly squeeze. "How kin yer ask, Sam? Didn't, yer know kasa whv ? Kin a woman marry a man she don'tluv?" "Then yer didn't luv Van, Mandy, is that a, fac'. a.n couldn't yer if he'd married yer?" "No, Sam. I never could," a.nd Mandy looked at the floor as she spoke. "Mandy, if yer don't ana can't luv Van, and yer ain't luvin anybody else, how, er— an—er- -humph would yer like ter"—— "Like ter what?" softly asked MaBdy. "As I was going on ter say, Maudy," and he took one of her hands in his as he continued, "as I wus goin on ter say-if yer don't luv Van, and yer have told him to go, how'd be if er—I—e.r'—wus ter a.x"— Here Sam stopDed stock till, as if he was unable to pro- ceed any fa.rtber. Mandy beamed encouragingly on him, and smiting one of her sweetest smiles, said: "What wus yer goin ter say, Sajn? Yer needn't ter be a bit uneajsy, Sam, fer I won't say a word about it ter anybody, if it's a secret." ? ,L_ "Well, as I wus a-sa,ying, Ma,ndy, if yer don't like any other feller better than yer do me—- would efr—er—yer mind 0.' h&vin me?" and Sam broke down completely. Mandy turned a.s red as a hollyhock, and it seemed to Sam that the weig-ht of her shoulder increased as it rested heavily against him. Whether he feared tha.t he could not thus sup- port her weight, or that she would fa.ll, lie suddenly clasped her in his arms. She threw her arms around his neck and sweetly whis-j pered in his ear. "I luv yer, Sam, and I'll have yer." yer." A pair of wicked eyes gleamed through the single, uncurtained window at the picture. The eyes were those of Van Jones. "Ah! yer there, are yer, blast yer "'he ground between his teeth. "Well, I'd like ter kill yer both, but I'll not do it to-nig'ht. But I know what I can do. I can spile the beauty of this yer line mare o' his'n. He'll never know who dun it," and walking to where Sam's ma.re stood patiently awaiting her master's return, he whipped his knife from his pocket, and in another instant cut oS both of the poor a.nima.I.'s ears close to her head. "There now," he growled to himself. "Sa.m Gray, I know that'll almost kill yer when ye see it. I wish to God it would, and the brute slunk off in the darkness to his den. When Sa.m Gray on the following morning discovered the disfigurement of his best horse— by the loss of both her ears-he v.'a,s the mad- dest man in states." Yet lie held his tongue. S:mi was not a. man to make threats. He was a reticent fellow, and kept his troubles to I imsc-If But he was mad, and in his heart he swore to be revenged on the one who had perpetra.ted 'the outrage. The nrst person his rival's dastardly nature full well. lie took out his cia.spxn.ite. mid. cajetuiiy exa.mined its edge. It semed to be satisfac- tory. Without saying a word to anyone he leisurely walked into Van's shop. The latter was pumping away at his bellows. "Vaji," he beg&n, "ye've cut off my mare's ears, and I've come here to settle- with v r." "I didn't do anything of tlie kind. Sum Gray, and yer know it," snarled Van. "I didn't, 'come ter a.rgy with yer, V&n. &it down on yer knees," and as he spoke Sa.m threw the cold muzzle of his pistol in Van's face. "Good God! yer not goin to kill me, a.ir yer, Sa.m?" piteously ?eried tile c'ringdng coward US,L- a.s he sank to his knees. "Lord, Sam, don't kill me! For mercy sake, take th&t pistol a.way from my head "Yer hRve a.ny mLercy on my maTe, Van. But yer needn't ter be afra.id. I a,in't ter goin to kill yer, but I've a great mmd ter. I'm just goin to trim them ears o' yers like yer trimmed the mare's." With the pistol still levelled at Van's head. Sa-m drew his knife from his pocket, opened it with his teeth, and with two rapid strokes the ma,n's ears lay upon the ground. Turning to the horri'8ed 'wretch, who seemed hardly conscious of his condition, Sam said, "That ma.ke3 usejyen up ter d&.t.e, Van," and left the shop.—"Arkansaw Traveler." .t:œ:1I

MOW HE SATED HIS WIFE'S MFE! Mrs. Jag. Wheeler, of 10, Stanley-grove, Croydon, owes her life to her husband, who, during her long and critical illness, never gave up the thought that she could and would be cured, although h?r friends and neighbours, who '.vere witnesses of her terrible suffering, thought it seemed like fighting against. fa.te. Quite accidentally Mr. Wheeler he&rd of a, cure of a, simila.r case by the use of Warner's S?.fe Cure. He bought the medicine, a.nd !us wife began its use, and tite results are given in his own oyer nine years my vvife has been a sufferer. She ha.s been under Allopathic, Homeopatllic, and the Antiseptic treatment, but all failed to do her &ny lasting good. In 1887 slie was seized with a, violent pain in the right side, and nothing ga,ve her relief. This would last for several days and D; I nights, causing distressing spells of retching, sleeplessness, pro-itra.tion, no appetite. b&d ta?te in mouth, tongue furred, constipation, and great hulguidness, and a;bc'ut six months later she had a severe attack of yellow jaundice and inria.m- rnation of the bladder. Since that' time she has ha.d frequent attacks of dyspepsia -ind liver coinplaint, bejng- quite-unable to attend to her duties. She gradually grew worse, and each attack left her much weaker. The latter lwrt of 1891 ?ie became much worse; pacing wate.' very frequently, &on)etimcg pale, at other time'. highly-coloured; at times posing gravel and white Inny sediment, enusmg great pressure: suffered froi/i thirst, extreme nervousness, neu- ralgia, and pa.lpitat'.on of the heart.. The doctor informed, me that my wife would be no better, but the bouts would be more frequent and severe. She continued getting worse till August '93, when. we decided to give Warner's Safe Cure a. triaJ. The progress was slow tiI: in September I wrote to WarTier's, and after following their advice the different' symptoms commenced to disappear. In fact the prog-res. w:M marvellous. And a.fter taking Safe Curs for live months she is better than she ha.s been for vears. Her friends are surprised to see her, <uiA all state how well she looks. jLc212

TEE TALKYR.IE. LORD DUNRA'VEN'S YACHT USELESS. The result of the raising of the Valkyrie has been to confirm the opinion already ex- pressed by her designer. She vili be broken up for firewood as soon as possible. The underwriters have come to the conclusion that it is worth1e,¡;¡s to try and make her a racing vessel ag-nin, while for cruising purposes she ig useless. Lady Algernon lo, thwkk's jewels have been found, but, as they were nearly all turquoises, they are completely spoilt by the sea water. It is not generally known th.a.t at the time of the colli- sion Lady AJgy was ordered below to save her from the falling spars, but, finding herself m; to her wkist in water, she rushed up the com- pa.nion only just in tune to be taJ?en on:' the sink- ing' ship. The Centra,! News states tha,t the Valkyrie will be sold by priva/te unction on Friday next, correct Lord Dunra.ven telegraphs:—"Yes, I believe so; but not authoritatively informed." 1i:1.

FIRE AT OLDHAM. A fire broke out at Sehofield's Timber \Vorks. Oldham, on Sunday. The Bames wern subdued, bnt OIl Suudav night a fresh outbreak The roof of an adjacent shed occupied by sig-ht- seers gave WilY. Sevei-aleoinplaiyieclofi iijtir-es, a.nd four 'L:<-y-. lie a,t the imirmary, two in a, very precarious condition. WI:en the door was broken open, the others made a rush, and several were b¡ocked down and trampled upon. The damage amounts to sever. thousand pounds.

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE. The ttction 'brought by the Sunday Observance Society ag-ainst the chairmen of two meetings held ot! separate Sundays at the Leeds Colosseuut came before Mr. Justice Matthew in the. Queen's Bench Division on Monday mornu-.g. A special jury previously gave a verdict for the plajntin's.—Judgment was reserved for argu- ments on points of law, and his Lordship on Monday morning concluded that the defen- dants could in no respect be held liable. Judgments for defendants, with costs.

BETTING HOUSES CONVICTIONS. At Derby Police-court on Monday Henry Woodward, holder of an off licence in Sha,i'tes- burT-street, wa,s fined zE15 for allowing his house to be used for betting. Bertha Woodward, his wife, fined for aiding and him in the commission of the sa.id oNenoe, and two h,bourera M.nmd Kangley and Walker were fined .61 for frequenting' the premises. Walter James Hales, newsagent, waa fined .5506 at Tunbridge Wells on Monday for uaing- his shop for betting. Forty separate ch&rg'eg were preferred.

FROLICS OF A PRINCESS. HER CYCLIST COSTUME CAUSES TROUBLE. Bicycles caused no end of bad blood—in more senses than one, jt is to be f(-,tred-bef-).e nnauy oMaining the right of citizenship among orthodox vehicles of the road; aua universal though they have now become amon ordinary mortals, n..ey n.ve Gt;il a deaJ of uphill work to aaeOtnpHsh a status among the surroundings of Royalty. Cf course a prince or a king may bestride a ''wheel," and do anything but break a. record or his neck; but where a. princess go far to for- get what she owed to her house, her dignity, and her long line of ancestors as to patronise this dem.ocrac.ic means of locomotion, the whole civilised world would be expected to stand aghast at the. desecration of Royalty implied by, the act. And this, says the Rome corresDon- dent of the "Da'.iy Telegraph," is the horrible cteed that. lias just been announced by the. tele- graph, and has thrown Italian Court circles into ceremonial convulsions. The catastrophe occurred in Turin, and the heroine and victim— the lady is both—Is the pretty, accomplished young widow, the Duchess of Aogta, who is staying at the Ca.stLe of Stupinigi. Princess Maria. L(Bt,izia is a sister-in-law of the aresent King of Italy, she having married in 1888 bis brother, Prince Amadeo, Duke of Aosta, who died in 1890. This lady, who is a, Bonaparte is not merely accomplished and prettv. but is brimful of life and fun, and takes a positive delight in tramping- upon the rigid Court cere- monial of past ages. The last of her frolics was executed on a bicycle made for one. Shs tset out a few days ago on one of these tabooed venioles, accompanied by a maid o.f honour and two Court cavaliers, and after a long ride the party were flying up cue of the shady avenues leading to the palace of the Dukes of Aosta, when a company of soldiers, commanded by a major, met them half way, glanced at them furtively, and perhaps a trifle too curiously or critically, ajict marched on without making a. sign?, The Duchess, rendered more sensitive t.han usua.1 by the consciousness that she was transgressing the bounds of Court etiquette, felt hurt at not being saluted in the approved I fa.hion by the major and hig soldiers. This was perhaps human nature, and as such excus- able. But the lively lady went much further;' slie actually complained of the. conduct of the major, who had, she a.nirmed, culpably neg- lected to salute her. The Commandant of Turin, General D'Ondan de la. Batir. at onea summoned the oHicer to appear before him and explain hi-s conduct. The major ssid he was guiltless ci any oS'ence, as he did not. recognise t.ae lady, oddly dressed and seated two wheels, and would never have per. i.jitted himself to think of her Highness as a. mere bicyclist, riad lie known or suspected it ws.s she of course he wo-Li;d have, &c.. &c. General de la Batin, uncertain wha.t course ta to the Scjoaiouio wisdom of the ?.nr Minister. to whom he forwarded a c report of the whole occurrence, asking for instructions as to the punishment to be meted out to the major, whcm lie meanwhile kept in arrest. The Minister of War, if not precisely a Solomon, was a.t least quite shrewd enough to see that the ground he was tread- ing was courtly—if not holy—and, instead of taking the responsÍ,,<lity, ucon himself, de- manded an audience of the Kins\ before whom he laid the report of the commandant. Th? Monarch cut the Gordian knot in a twinkling. He sent a, telegraphic order to Turin releasing the major from arrest, and entirely exonerating him in the matter. This, however, was the so' lution of only one half of the question; the re- maining moiety concerned the lively young widow; and the Kin" sent his bicycle-loving sister-in-law an order forbidding her to attire herself in red Court costume for the space of two calendKr months, a prohibition which is equivalent to strict do- mestic arrest for tliat period. The Princess is, therefore, absolutely invisible to the good citi- zens of Turin, who were wont to watch and salute her two or three times da.ily, as she rode or drove or walked about the streets of the historic old city. The inhabitants console themselves by gazing for hours through tha windows of the photographe:.s' shops, where a series of ten magui']cent portraits in various positions and costumes attract hundreds of loyal sympathisers. I now learn that sentence has also been pronounced on one of the Court cavaliers who accompanied the duchess on her bicycling expedition. The Marquis of Moncri- veMo has been summarily dismissed from hig post by order of the King, who is said to b? extremely annoyed at the evident determine tion of his sister-in-law to put all tradltlOna. notions of Court etiquette at naught, and t( have announced his intention to punish muct more severely all future transgressions. tdUlli!lAw.. Lniim.Bt>.WiI!I

TRAMWAYS PURCHASE. HOUSE OF LORDS GIVE JUDGMENT. The House of Lords Gave indg-ment on Men. da.y in the appeals by the Edinburgh Tramway Company and the London Street Tramway Corn. pany arising out of the true interpretation (tf the Tramway Act of 1870. By that Act the local authorities a,re empowered to purchase tramways within their jurisdiction after 2 years. By the 43rd section of the Act past o# future pronts are to be excluded in fixing tht price, and no allowance is to be made for com, pulsory sale. The referees in both cases fixef the valuation upon the basis of cost of constnM tion, leas depreciation. This was resented b? the tramway companies, but on s?ppea,! in both Scottish and English courts, they failed. a,ltbougl! the Divisional Court in England was on theit side. The House of Lords has decided against the companies. Lord Asbbourne, however, iiø" sented.

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