Barry Herald

Ii'í fAIi RIGHTS RESERVED J THE MINIATURE. By the Author of Sydney Fielding CHAPTER I. Er friend was rather an eccentric and self-willed [low, or he would never have taken to the stage. He was not driven to it by accident or necessity, as if it had been his dernier reisort. Not a bit of it. Charles Coleraine was well born his parents were srealtby; and he had received a first-class education. Be was a very clever fellow, too, and might have made much of the advantages that surrounded him but lib many another gifted with an overflow of talents and an erratic temperament, he seemed to find it impossible to stick to any regular business or profes- sion. or to form any methodical theory of life. Not- withstanding the many promising paths open to him, and, in spite of the entreaties and recommendations af relatives and friends, our Hercules would not make his choice. When in his twenty-second year, he took the whim Ifeto his bead of making a long tour through the eountry, on foot; and, after he had been'absent from home many months, we had news of him as having Ifeen seen on the stage of the H Theatre, per- forming leading parts in genteel comedy and pselodrama, to the admiration of the good folks of (Blot largaand populous town. When this intelligence filtme to my ears, I went at once to H- intent n seeing for myself what sort of figure my old tlrhoolmate cut in the Livery of Thespis. Surely enough I found him, and, from my box, Ev and heard him rattle through a part in one of eridan's comedies in very capital style. I was not Surprised, however, to see how much at kue he was on the stage, and to find ■im acting with a great deal more of nature, spirit. Had scholarship, than any of the professional artists £ io were in the cast with him. He was one of those ver, murcurial fellows, who can do anything well lb which they take a fancy. Had I heard of his lining out with a volome of first-rate poetry, or lAith a pragmatical treatise on science, history, politics, or theology, full of new ideas and theories, ■^should only hare regarded it as what might have |nn expected. The only thing that would have astonished me with respect to him would have been The fact of his settling down, in a formal and steady Manner, to any sort of regular calling. I had not been long in the theatre before I ian.gined I could perceive the secret of Charley Coleraine's taking with such enthusiasm to the stage. Hot only the cast of the parts, but certain glances and tones, which I detected as being of much significance, hurried my suspicions to a conclusion whitb caused me much anxiety. While he rattled through the part of Captain Absolute, a very handsome and Clever young lady played up to him," as the phrase ■Oes, in the role of JLydia. Charley has fallen in »re with that young lady, and has turned actor for ber sake that was my "confident belief long before the comedy came to an end. What would the old tolks at home say, if they knew what sort of a pass tbeir son was come to ? When the curtain was down, and all was over, I went round to the stage-door, and waited. By and IjT Coleraine came forth, and. as I expected, the charming little actress, Miss Beatrice Jervan, was leaning on his arm. Glad to see you, Charley!" What I Ned, is it ever you ? I am delighted!" There was rather a troubled blush on his face, though, notwithstanding this assurance. But-but-ex- cuse me for a few minutes. Where are you putting op?" At the Bedford." Very well. 1 will bo with you in ten minutes. I am delighted beyond measure to see you, my dear fellow, and we must have a long talk before to-night is-ever. Mind, in ten minutes!" The pretty actress regarded us both with a very ■Squiring visage; but Charley tripped off with her, banded her into a cab and they were gene in a trice. No one will be surprised, when I say the ten gaintites were more like thirty; but at length Charley came to the Bedford, and we sat down to supper together. We talked a great deal, of course. We had many mutual inquiries to make, much new* to exchange. it will suffice, however, for the purpose of this narrative, to state that my supposition was fully and Completely confirmed. Charley confessed, not only with frankness, but with enthusiasm, that he was in love, once and for ever. He declared that Beatrice nm was, beyond comparison, the most gifted, the brightest witted, the :most brilliant girt it had ever keen his fortune to meet. He had felt himself fas- cinated, drawn as by a spell, to the stage, after once seeing her perform and the improved" acquaintance of every successive day bad onJy revealed to him that she was, indeed, "all his fanay painted her." firery expectation he had formed, upon witnessing her demeanour behind the footlights, had been- (Dost rare coincidence!—completely verified. But our talk ended more seriously, and to me less pleasantly. He was thoroughly earnest in his passion, and had fully made up his mind to carry it speedily to a definitive and honourable consumma- tion. He meant to take Miss Jervan from the stage, and marry her, as soon as he could gain his parents' Consent to that step and, if this should prove im- possible, then to marry her without, and to keep to the stage himself, as an easy and fdeasant mode of sarning a maintenance. Butheentraitted me-aiid here was he less agreeable part of the business—to break the news at home, to become diplomatist betwixt him and father and mother, and, as I loved him, on the more of our ancient and sincere friendship, to1 do all in my power to smooth the way for him. I uttered mitny cautions, many protests, and said many wise things; but where was ever the lover who would listen to reason ? Coleraine pooh-poohed, laughed, Complained, and talked, until he had won me over to such degree, that I said I would think abo^t it, and would tell him my determination when I saw him again. Our next meeting was on the following morning. Coleraine knocked me up, and at noon took me to the rehearsal, to "see how things were managed." They were going to play She Stoops to Conquer in the evening; Miss Jervan and my friend being east for Miss Hardcastle and. Young Marlow, as a matter of course. Charley seemed quite at home be- neath the flys, and though only a month had passed ttnce his debut, he trod the boards and uftd,bigvoic-e with all the ease and self-possession of an old stager. On this occasion I had an opportunity of seeing the charmer close at hand and face to face, and of witnessing what were her breeding and behaviour. I must confess that I thought Charley's rapturous encomiums were justified to a very fair degree. Mies Jervan was certainly a very superior young lady, very different from the class of ladies ordinarily met with at rehearsal or behind the scenes and, though her very considerable histrionic talents, joined to her personal advantages, rendered her acting showy and striking, she was in herself, I could perceive, of a modest and lady-like temperament. I was glad to 818 that the manager and every one else seemed to gsgard her with sincere respect. However, I knew what Coleraine's family and friends were and I could see nothing in this con- flection but a dreary prospect of troubles and estrangements. Very serious things, my gay young lovers I The honeymoon is by no means a co-pe-,sa- • tion for them. "She Stoops to Conquer" went off in first-rate Style in the evening; the good playgoer of H being so delighted, that the leading lady and gentle- man were called before the curtain to receive their plaudits at the termination. Coleraine was in high Spirits; delighted with everything and every one, jsst after the insane way of young lovers in their glimpses of happiness. After handing Miss Jervan into her cab, he took me home with him to his own lodgings. And, apropos of this, I made a discovery which further increased my sense of the young lady's propriety of feeling and behaviour. I saw a very decent-looking elderly lady in the cab that had been •siting for the young actress and I learned from Coleraine that this was the young lady's aunt, who, ttiM Jervan being an orphan, exercised a kindly sur- veillance over her movements, being her constant Companion and guardian, and never allowing her to go to or from the theatre alone. After supper, when our talk was fast and free, Charley drew a little ivory miniature from his breast, and showed it to me. It was a counterfeit present- SBent of the charmer, that he had got painted by some dever artist for twenty guineas. It was a very ex- gsllent piece of work-the colouring exquisitely soft and tender in tone, and the likeness so faithful as to he altogether unmistakable. Coleraine looked at it again and again, and pressed it to his lips in.the way eommon with young fellows when they are in his Condition and then burst upon me with a vehement reiteration of the suit he had pressed the preceding svening. In fact, before I left H-, he had exacted a promise from me that I would cautiously reveal all to his father and mother, and would do iqj best lID bring them round." And when I got back to town I certainly per- formed this promise, and did my best. But, alas, far the good offices of friendship! Mr. and Mrs. eoleraine were aghast at tbe turn affairs had taken; enraged beyond expression to think that the ■on whom they had brought up and educated with such care and cost, and wnose expectations ought to tMo high and honourable, had taken to exhibit him- self for the amusement of the public, and had farmed an attachment with an obscure actress in a provincial theatre. They were, indeed, truly and ■leeply grieved that Charles should outrage the feelings he knew they entertained, and throw him- Wisvay"inthis manner. AU that I could ear. ia extenuation of their son's youthful gpirit-of adventure in trying his talents upon the stage, or in justification of his attachment to the young lady, as being excited by uncommon talents and great personal gifts was entirely in vain. I wrote to Chat ley apprising him of my non-success and I believe that his father and mother wrote to him also, telling him very plainly, if not severely, what was their opinion of the course he was following, of the association which he had formed, and begging him to return home immediately. It was their hope that they should be able to get him out of the mesalliance before matters had gone too. ív to render retreat easy or possible. Undoubtedly, Coleraine was very much disturbed at finding himself thus set in reprehensible opposi- tion to his parents; but he did not, for a moment, think of altering his own views, or of separating him- self from the object of his regard. He wrote home, saying as much; but only received in relpy a reitera- tion of the parential counsel—he wasjyoung, inexperi- enced, and impulsive, they said and it was their hope, their prayer, that he would not rashly take a step which would ruin all his prospects, estrange him from his relatives and friends, and embitter the whole of his life. At their request I went to H—— again, upon the forlorn errand of attempting to draw him away from that region of sweet danger, and to bring the young prodigal back again. I went directly to his lodgings, and discovered him in a state of vehement, feverish excitement. I was so struck by his pallor and. agitation when I first made my descent upon him, that I immediately thought that if his father and mother could have seen his condition, their opposition to the young fellow's wishes would surely have relented; but I speedily found that I was altogether wrong in my conception of the cause of his excitement. In the course of our conversation he gave me to under- stand that he had not been able to conceal from Miss Jervan the fact that the scheme of life he had pro- posed, and in which she was to play a part so impor- tant, had met with the decided opposition of his friends and, also, that the young lady had attached the deepest consequence to that intimation, had im- plored him to leave her and forget her, for that she never would, on any consideration, be the means of alienating him from his family and friends. On hearing this, I must say that my good opinion of Miss Jervan was much improved, and I could not help recalling some sweet lines from Gerald Griffin's ballad of "Gillie Machree," and putting the senti- ment of them into the young lady's mouth, though in the poem they are so entirely the gentleman's: I might have said My mountain maid, A fath«-'« rifrht w,, never given True hearts to curse With tyrant fort e, That have been blest in heaven. But then I said, In after years, When thoughts of home will and her, My lo, e may mourn with secret tears, • Her friends thus left behind her. Oh, no," I said, My own dear maid For me, though all forlorn for ever, That heart of thine. Shall ne'er repine O'er slighted duty—never! from home and thee, though wand'ring far, A dreary fate be mine love, I'd rather live in endless war Than buy my peace with thine, love." I, of course, wouldn't listen to anything of that sort," Coleraine went on. 1 told her I should never think of leaving her, much less forgetting her; and as for the governor and my dear mother, and all the rest of them, why they would be sure to come round when they know it was no good to set their faces against us any longer and as for a maintenance we should do well enough. But she would not hear of it; she cried as if her heart would break, Ned, aiW insisted that we must separate. And now, what do you think she has done ?" he asked, with a strong culmination of grief and mortification. Indeed I don't know, my dear fellow; nothing desperate, I hope and trust?" said I, in much alarm. Why, she has gone away suddenly and secretly," returned Coleraine, with despair. No one knows when-no one knows whither-except the old aunt, and she won't give a word or a hint to anybody- not even to op. :Beatrice didn't even say a word to the manager; she left us all in the lurch and when the manager went to her aunt to complain and ask for an explanation, the forfeit money for the breach of engagement was put in his hands at once, before it was asked for, and without one of his questions being answered. It is all their doing at home, Ned. I have an idea that they must have written to her about me, and wounded her feelings. But I won't have my affairs interfered with and broken up in that way. Mark my words, Ned I will search and find her, wherever she is gone to, and then nothing in this world shall separate us again!" I had just commenced a grave and cooling exor- dium after this excited out-burst, when a visitor was announced, and an actor, named Craven, entered the room; a man with a very excellent presence for dramatic purposes, I considered a good figure, rather slender, dark olive complexion, brilliant black eyes, white well-set teeth, and rich black hair. Cole- raino had thrown up his engagement at the theatre immediately upon the Sight of Miss Jervan, and this gentleman had been summoned from a neighbouring city to fill his place. Mr. Craven, indeed, was now come for certain plays and parts which Coleraine had to place in his hands. I have just been informed," said the comedian, that Miss Jervan has left the theatre. If I had known that before I had set out, I should not have been here." Indeed 1 Why P" asked Coleraine, his face flush- ing on the instant. Why, because of her talents, and because one can get on all the better when there is someone to act up to you, you know," answered Mr. Craven, not noticing Coleraine's excited look. I was playing with her at B- some time ago, and my main in- ducement for coming here at a moment's notice was the hope of seeing her again. She left quite suddenly, it appears ?" She did, air-she did," said Charley, his excite- ment increasing. I have half a mind to go back again, and wait until I hear where she has gone to," said Craven, sitting down, moodily. My dear fellow, let me be frank with you," ex- claimed Coleraine. with an impetuosity that was natural to his temperament, as he crossed the room to where Mr. Craven was sitting, and drew the minia- W .1 ture hastily from his breast. Do you see this miniature?" Craven started in his sbair, at with a pang, when be set eyesiiponthat charming little portrait. Mies Jervan herself I" he exclaimed, with strong, eager interest. Yea; let me be frank with you," repeated Charley. "This is the counterfeit presentment of the lady I love. She consented to sit for it at my request; and also, it is with her consent that I wear it next my heart!" I understand you—I congratulate you—I appre- ciate your frankneaa," exclaimed Mr. Craven, quickly, and in a somewhat flurried manner, as he rose from his chair and shook Coleraine by the hand. I am greatly obliged for your friendly ingenuousness; possibly it has saved in* much wasted time—many idle dreams." Charley shook him by the hand, quite relieved and delighted by this assurance but all the time there was a certain expression beneath the flashy politeness of Mr. Craven's theatrical smile which, to my per- ception, was anything but sweet and amiable. Some- how, I had a sudden conviction that he was a dan- gerous and vicious man. Coleraine was not troubled with any fancies of the sort, however. When, after some further commonplace conversation, Craven rose to depart, he bid him good-morning with cordial politeness, and when he was gone, said he was I pleased with himself for having "set the fellow right." On the evening of that very day my suspicion of I the perfidy of the comedian's nature gained an un- expected confirmation. Coleraine determined to call once more upon Miss Jervan's aunt before he left H-, to roam through I the world in quest of her. At his request I accom- panied him; and we proceeded to the house wherein the beauty bad dwelt: a very decent, respectable house, and somewhat secluded. We found the old lady, at home, but she seemed to have been greatly put out of her way. Almost as soon as her servant had admitted us, she came out of the parlour and along the passage, in an impatient, flurried manner. Mr. Coleraine, Mr. Coleraine 1" she exclaimed. No questions I beg. for I can't answer them. My niece has left me, and whither she has gone I have given her my sacred promise not to reveal. My sacred promise, sir, which, as you are a gentleman, you will respect, I hope, and not try me with entreaties." j Suroly I will respect your sacred promise, Mrs. Duke," answered Coleraine, flushing with warmth, vexation, and confusion. Since you set the matter on that foundation, you shall not break your pro- mise on my account, at any rate, however different the behaviour I had a right to expect in. this quarter." My dear air, I am sure neither myself nor my niece ever thought of you otherwise than with re- spect," rejoined the troubled Mrs. Duke. "But when you grow calmer in thinking of us, sir, I am sure you will see that we have acted for the best. Believe an old woman, sir: it is far better for you to abide by your father and mother's wishes than any fancy of your j own. Young people don't know what the world is, and oftentimes find their best plm-tlre in thut which afterwards brings sorrow upon every day they have to live." Of course I could say nothing on this occasion, either on one side or the bther but I thought that Mrs. Duke seemed to be a very sensible old woman. "I percieve,ma'ani, that your mind, is perfectly made up," returned Colerairik, striving to assume a light and friendly smile. "I will not ask you any more questions, nor involve you In any responsibility whatever. I give you Earning, howe,er, that I am not exactly of your way of thinking, and.that I shall still make some endeavours to find out'where Miss Jervan has taken herself t6." j" AD, sir," said Mrs. Duke, shaking her hend, "my thoughts are with your father and mother, and I wish yours, were, too, though it's the way with young people to be crazy after their own fancies." "Well, well," exclaimed Coleraine, impatiently. We might talk all day. and not come a whit nearer each other's way of thinking. Let us have the sense to stop; and, at any rate, let us part good friends, Mrs. Duke." "Indeed, I hope so, sir. But don't go off for good and all, like this, Mr. Coleraine. Pray step in, gentle- men and take a glass of my old gooseberry-wine and a sweet biscuit. Ah! I forgot; there's a gentleman in there now, belonging to the theatre," she added, lowering her voice, and pointing to the parlour door. "I warrant you know him, sir; but, troth it's a trouble and worry to me to have people coming with their inquiries after Beatrice." A flash of angry suspicion passed across Coleraine's face at this intimation. He hurriedly accepted the old lady's invitation, and went forward into the parlout. Mrs Duke followed immediately, and I brought up the rear. The theatrical personage was Mr. Craven himself, and no other; and he had come there to make, a few inquiries on his own account. Coleraine's impetuous nature took fire immediately. After our conversation this morning, it strikes me as rather curious that you should come here almost immediately, making inquiries after, Miss Jervan!" he exclaimed, looking with pointed scrutiny at Craven. My dear sir, don't let any tender feara carry you away," returned Craven, placing the newspaper he had been reading on his knee, and looking up with a smile of affected surprise. Don't be so sensitive to love's alarms! So far from coming here to make inquiries after Miss Jervan, I came expressly to ask Mrs. Duke whether she had any apartments to let!" "Ah!" muttered Mrs. Duke, apparently greatly surprised, as if this were the first intimation she had had of the visitor's real object. The old lady had. apartments to let, however, and therefore was too polite to make any remark; and, moreover, her woman's instinct warned her that the sooner these gentlemen were separated the better. Accordingly, she began to bustle about, and set her excellent home- brewed goosebery-wine, and her excellent home-baked sweet biscuits, on the table, pouring forth, handing round, and begging us to partake. Coleraine was considerably taken aback by Craven's ooolness, but he returned no answer, save a contemptu- ous Oh, indeed!" The idea of the man seeking lodgings in that quarter was a further aggravation; but what could be said against his going where he chose I" When we had emptied the glasses that the good lady had filled, we took our departure, leaving Mr. Craven in possession of the flold-he and Coleraine quitting sight of each other with feelings decidedly unfriendly. (To be continued) >

AT THE BOERS' EXPENSE. Drummer Hearn, of the Second Battalion Royal Berks Mounted Infantry, writes to his father at High Wycombe: "We were fighting on Christmas Eve at a place called Pen Hoek. We did the Boers a flanker, capturing 80 of their oxen and horses, be- sides two waggons containing their Christmas dinner, which were going to Stormberg. We drove them back for about seven miles. That's what I like—gettirig them on the open. You should see them go with a bit of cold steel at their backs! I had a Christmas dinner after all. I took a duck and about a peck of green peas off the waggon. This was enough for our mess. So I had a buster' at the ex- pense of the Boers! I was scouting right in front," continues Hearn, with a chap of the Cape Police, and I nearly got caught. We got round a bit of a kopje, and we tossed up to see who should go through the centre, and I lost. So I had to go through the middle and he rou.d the outside. I had got about 100 yards when I beard a faint rustle; #0 getting off my horse, I crept forward, and saw a Boer on the same job as I was on. Well, old man,' I thought, its either you or me.' So I crept back to my horse and got a mallet, like we use for driving picket pegs. You see if I had shot him it might have warned some other. Creeping back I got round the Dutchman—I got right up behind him, and then I made a spring and landed him one on the top of the head., Then I got back as fast as I could and 'reported. >

THE ARMAMENT OF THE BOERS. A Daziel despatch received by mail from Durban, and dated December 23,1899, states that the expendi- ture of the Transvaal Government for artillery during the past four years is shown with startling bluntness in a document brought to Durban from Pretoria, which was issued some time before the opening of the war for the private information of the members of the Volksraad. It seems that in 1894 the Boers gave their first order for a quant ity of heavy guns, and then they expended £ 100,000 with Krupp of Gertrany and about £ 100,000 with an Austrian firm for small arms. The Krupp guns were delivered in 1895, and included two of what was then the largest pattern for a gup in the world. These guns are 48ft. in length, weigh 120 tons, throw a shell Weighing 23001b., and require 9041b. of powder for each discharge. Both are ampjy provided with ammunition, which, in addition to steel and iron shells, consists.:of shrapnel, holding 3000 balls, weighing 3oz. each. Its bore is 16-33in." In 1895 another £ 100,000 was expended with Krupp, and a number of* field guns of long range were obtained, as were also several mountain and bush'guns, these being especially adapted to the hilly country and the hot climate of the Transvaal. It Was in 1896 that the Boers contracted for the guns that have so far dome them the most effective service — namely, six cannon manufactured at Creuzot, and 18 have been added since that date. This gun has an arrangement of springs and brakes to lesson the recoil and bring the gun back to its former position within two secondi after being dis- charged. This gives greater velocity to the projec- tile and increases the range. The velocity is over 1800ft. at the muzzle, and the carrying distance is a trifle under five miles, the charge being less than 21b. of powder, and the gun weighing only 3t001b. Eight shots may be fired each minute without heating the metal, and every gun goes into action pro- vided with 114 rounds of ammunition. There is a suffi- eient quantity of ammunition for these particular guns to keep them in active service for the next two years. During 1897, 1898, and a portion of 1899 the Boers continued to strengthen their artillery, and also to fortify many of the hills along the frontier. During this period they bought 48 quick-firing j Schneider-Canet 14^-pounders, throwing ahrapiiel containing 234 bullets and firinjg 200 tines per minute, with a range of 3l miles. Five batteries of eight Maxims, firing 350 shells per minute, are being used against Mafeking, and are easily handled by one men. But three quick-firing guns can be swung on the carriage in any direction, and of almost any desired elevation or depression. The effective range of the maxims and other quick-firers does not often exceed 4QOO yards, although the Boers secured from both these factories a limited number of long-range quick-firers, the only examples of the kind that have been made. The Boers also provided themselves with four batteries of 121b. quick-firing V ickers-Maxini guns with a range extending up to 6000 yards. They have also four guns with a range of 12,000 yards. Two of these are said to be mounted on the hills at either side of the narrow pass that leads from Natal into the Transvaal; another is overlooking Ladysmith, and the fourth protects Pretoria. In all, the Boers have between 220 and 230 heavy guns and field pieces, of the latest design and with the latest improvements, and superior in nearly every respect to those possessed by the British. ==g

A PLANTATION DIPLOMAT. There was a warm flush of anger on Robert Curtis' face as be ran down the steps of the old Stuart mansion. Every one said of this young man that he possessed in a marked degree the high temper for which his family was noted. And one looking at him that night would have said that this temper had been roused to the utmost. This was not the first time Robert Curtis had ridden away from the Stuarts' in anger. Emily Stuart was a high-stnmg girl, independent, and impatient of control, and their disagreements had been many. But they had never gone so far as this one, and they had somehow always blown over. This time the young lover had carried away in his pocket the ring with which they had plighted their troth, and had gone away vowing never to darken those doors again, and Emily had been exasperatingly polite and cool, though her eyes were flashing as she assured him how little she ever wanted to look upon his face again. It may have been the strain of keeping this self- possession that made her break down so completely as soon as her lover was out of sight. That she did break down is beyond dispute, for when Dely came in with a very much disordered waistband she found her mistress in tears. With the qnick sympathy and easy familiarity of a favourite servant she ran to her mistress exclaim- ing,— La, Miss Em'ly, whut's de mattah ?" Her Miss Emily waved her away silently, and dry- ing her eyes stood up dramatically. Dely," she said, Mr. Curtis will not come here any more after to-day. Certain things have made it impossible. I know that you and Ike are interested in each other, and I do not want the changed rela- tions between Mr. Curtis and me to make any differ- ence to you and Ike." La, Miss Em'ly," said Dely, surreptitiously straightening her waistband, I don* kerir nuffiin' 'bout Ike; he ain't nuffin' 'tall to me." Don't fib, Dely," said Emily, impressively. 'Claih to godoness, Miss Em'ly I ain't but even if Ike was anyt'ing to me you know I wa'n't nevah 'spectin' to go ovah to the Cu'tis plantation 'ceptin' wid you, w'en vou an' Mas' Bob "i That will do, Dely." Emitycaughtup her handkerchief and hurried from the room. Po' Miss Em'ly," soliloquised Dely she des natchully breakin' her hea't now, but she ain't gwine let on. Ike, indeed. I ain't bothahed 'bout Ike," and then she added, smiling softly, that scamp's des de same ez a b'ah be mighty nigh ruined my ap'on at do wais' Robert Curtis crossed the Footbridge which separated the Curtis and Stuart farther fields before Ike rode up abreast of him. The bay mare was covered with dust and foam, and a heavy scowl lay I darkly on the young man's face. Finding his horse blown by her hard alldp, the white man drew rein, and they rode along more slowly, but in silence. Not a word was spoken until they alighted, and the master tossed the reinBto his servant. Well," he said bitterly, when you go to the Stuarts' again, Ike, you'll have to go alone." Then I won't go," said Ike, promptly. Oh, yes, you will; you're fool enough to be hang- ing around a woman's skirts, too; you'll go." Whaih you don' go, I don' go." Well, I don't go to the Stuarts' any more, that's one thing certain." Robert was very young. Then I don' go," returned Ike, doggedly; :'1 don' you reckon I got some fambly feelin's ?" The young man's quick anger was melting: in its own heat, and he laughed in spite of himself as he replied: Neither family feelings- nor anything else count for much when there's a woman in the case." "Now, I des wonder," said Ike, as he led tho horses away and turned them over to a stable boy, I des wonder how long this hyeah thing's goin' on. De las' time they fell out fu' evah hit was fou' whole days befo' he give in. I reckon this time it might run to be a week." He might have gone on deluding himself thus, if he had not suddenly awakened to the fact that more than the week he had set as the limit of the estrangement had passed and he had not been com- manded to saddle a horse and ride over to the Stuarts' with the note that-invariably brought recon- ciliation and happiness. He felt disturbed in his mind, and his trouble visi- bly increased when, on the next day, which was Sun- day, Quin, who was his rivsl. in everything, dressed himself with more than ordinary care and took his way toward the Stuarts'. Whut's de mattah wid you, Ike?" asked one of the house boys next day; "you goin'to let Quin cut you out ? He was ovah to Stu'a'ts yistiddv, an' he say he had o ta'in' down titne wid Miss Dely." Oh, 1 don' reckon anybody's goin' to cut me out." "Bettahnotbe so sho," said the boy; "bettah look out." This was too much for Ike. He had been waver- ing now his determination gave way, yet he tried to delude himself. Hit's a shame," he said. I des knows datMas' Bob is bre'kin' his hea't to git back to Miss Em'ly,>n: hit do seem lak somep'n' 'oughter to be done to gin him a chancet." It needed only the visit from his master that after- noon to decide him. He was out on the back veranda cleaning shoes, when his master came and stood in front of him, flicking his boots with his riding whip. Ah, Ike, you haven't been over to Mr. Stuart's lately." "No, suh; co'senot; I ain't been ovah." "Well, I don't believe I'd do that, Ike. Don't let my affair keep you away; you go on and see her You don't know she might be sick or something, and want to see you. Here's fifty cents; take her something nice." And with the very erroneous idea that he ha d fooled both Ike and himself, Robert Curtis went down the steps whistling. What'd I'd tell you ?" said Ike, addressing the shoe which sat upon his hand, and he began to hurry. Dely was sitting on the doorstep of her mother's cabin as Ike came up. She pretended not to see him, but she was dressed as if she expected hia coming. „ Howdy, Dely, how you this evenin'?" said Ike. "La, Mistah Ike," said Dely, affecting to be startled, I come mighty nigh not seein* you. Won't you walk in?" No, I des tek a seaton de do'step hyeah 'longside you." She tossed her head, but made room for him on the step. I ain't seen you fu' seve'al days." You wasn' blin' ner lame." No, but you know," answered 1ke rather doggedly. I don' know nuffin' Dely returned. I wasn' 'spected to come alone." Was you skeered ?" Did you want me to come alone ?" Dely ird not deign to answer. I wonder how long this is goin' on P" pursued Ike; I'm gittin' mighty tiahd of it." They ain't no tellin'. Miss Emlj she mighty high-strung." Well, hit's a shame, fu' them two loves one another, an' they ought to be brought togethah." Co'se they ought; but how anybody goin' to do it ?" You an' me could try ef you was willin' I'd do anything fu' my Miss Emly." An' I'd do anything fu' Mas' Bob. Come an' le's walk down by the big gate an' talk about it." Dely rose, and together they walked down by the big gate, where they stood in long and earnest con- versation. Maybe it was all about their master's and mistress's love affair. It was some such interest which ostensibly prompted Robert Curtis to sit up for Ike that night. Ike came into the yard whistling. His master was sitting on the porch. Ike, you are happy you must have had a good time." Instantly Ike's whistle was cut short, and the late moonlight shone upon a very lugubrious countenance as he answered,— Sometimes people whistles to drown dey sorrers." Why, what sorrows have you got P" Wasn't Dely is a pleasant mood ?" Dely's mighty 'sturbed 'bout huh Miss Em'ly." About her Miss Emily!" exclaimed the young master in sudden excitement; "what's the matter with Miss Emily ?" Oh, Dely says she des seems to be a-pinin' 'bout I somep'n. She don' eat an' she sleep." "Poor little-" began Curtis, then he checked himself. Hum," he said. Well, good-night Ike." When Ike had gone iD, his master went to his room and paced the floor for a long while. Then he went out again and walked up and down the lawn. May- be I'm not treating her just right," he murmured poor little thing, but ■" and he clenched his fist sad kept up his walking. Ike was here to-night ?" said Miss Emily to Dely as the maid was brushing her hair that night. Yea'm, be was hyeah." "Yes, I saw him come up the walk early and I call you because I knew you'd want to talk to himshe sighed. Yes'm, he wanted to talk mighty bad. He feelin* aigbty 'sturbed 'bout his Mas' Bob." The long brown braid was quickly snatched out of her hand as her young mistress whirled cwifitly pound. What's the matter with his master ?" "Oh, Ike say be des seem to pine. He don' seem to eat, an' he don' sleep." Miss Emily had a sudden fit of dreaming from which she awoke to say," That will do, Dely 1 I wsn't seed you any more to-night." Then she put out her light and leaned out of her window, looking with lDiøty eyes at the stars. And something she saw ap there in the bright heavens made her smile and sifk agaift. It was on the morrow that Dely told her mistress about some wonderful wild flowers that were growing in the west woods in a certain nook, and Dely was so much in earnest about it that her mistress finally consented to follow her thither. Strange to say, that same morning Ike accosted his young master with: I ook hyeah, Mas' Bob, de birds is sholy thick ovan vondah in that stretch o' beechwoods. I've polished up the guns fu' you ef you want to tek a shot." 1' Well, I don't mind, Ike. Well go for a while." It was in this way—quite by accident, of coursa one looking for strange flowers, and the other for birds—that Emily and Robert, with their faithful attendants, set out for the same stretch of woods. Miss Fmily was quite despairing of ever finding the wonderful flowers, and Ike was just protesting that he himself had seen them birds," when all of a sudden Dely exclaimed: Well, la! Ef thaih ain't Mas' Cu'tis." Miss Emily turned pale and red by turns a& Robert, blushing like a girl, approached her, hat in hand. Mias Emily." Mr. Curtis." Then they both turned to look for their attendants Ike and Dely were walking up a side path together. They both broke into a laugh that would not be checked. It would be a shame to disturb tliem," Robert went on when he could control himself. Emily, I've been A——" Oh, Robert!" Let us take the good that the gods provide." "And they," said Emily, looking after the blacks. stand for the gods."

P ====' WILL IN THE BUTT OF A GUN. A curious find is reported from a curiosity shop in Pittsbnrg, U.S.A. A rusty blunderbuss, supposed to be of last century English make. had its butt acci- dentally smashed. The portion was found to be quite hollow. Inside was a bit of paper, bearing the date 1761, with writing to the effeet that John Winter desired to leave all his worldly goods and his blessing to his eldest daughter, Maria Winter. There is no allusion to locality, so it is a matter for Bpecula- tion as to whether this long-lost will referred to property in England or America. There appears to be a blessing, and perhaps something more, for anyone who„can claim a Maria Winter among bis great-grandmothers.

THE BILLETING OF VOLUNTEERS. The formation of volunteer companies for field servicw with Line battalions in South Africa has (says a correspondent of the Times) led to some unexpected complications. Among these may be reckoned the necessity which has arisen of temporarily billeting some of these companies under Sections 102-111 of the Army Act. An instance has occurred in one of the Home Counties—probably there are several such instances—in which a volunteer company has been billeted for a whole week under regulations which were certainly not drawn up in contemplation of any contingency of this sort. Billeting at the best of times is a very unsatisfactory proceeding and has formed the subject of more than one his- torical remonstrance on the part of a long-suffer- ing public. It was declared to be illegal by the Petition of Right, and it formed the subject of one df the complaints against James II. mentioned in the Bill of Right. But since 1689 it has been re- garded as a necessary evil, the second Mutiny Act of that year having authorised the billeting of soldiers in inus, livery stables, ale-houses, victualling houses, and all houses selling brandy, strong waters, cyder, or metheglin by retaile, to be drunke in their houses, and noe other, and in noe private houses whatsoever." This authority was continued in every subsequent Mutiny Act, and is now embodied in the Army Act, the Annual Army Act specifying the cur- rent prices to he paid for billeting to innkeepers. Under the Annual Army Act for the current year the maximum price to be paid for a soldier's 4 lodg- ing and attendance," where a hot meal is furnished, is 4d. per night. For the hot meal as specified Is. 3!d. is allowed, and for breakfast the generous sum of Hd. In practice this scale of payments does not work badly where regular soldiers are concerned, because, as a rule, it only applies to marches in course of relief, where the passage of the military through a small country town brings extra custom to the innkeepers, and enables them to treat their Roldier guests with liberality, especially in the matter of the ld. breakfasts. The grievances of innkeepers under this head have sometimes been aired in Parliament, but a strong point Was made in the dis- cussion of the subject by the late Mr. Stanhope, who remarked that the only complaints made by inn- keepers themselves were made by two or three who, for some reason or another, had been struck off the list of those liable to billets. In the case of the new volunteer companies for line battalions the conditions are different. The one hot meal and the ld breakfast—no tea is pro- vided for—are, even with the messing allowance, poor substitutes for army rations, and the class of lodging and attendance which the average innkeeper is willing to supply for 4d. a night is scarcely what ought to be forthcoming in such circumstances. Doubtless the innkeepers actually concerned are doing more for their guests than is warranted by this lordly scale of remuneration, but the principle and the practice of billeting volunteers in this fashion for protracted periods are alike wrong. In point of fact, in the particular case under allusion, the commanding officer of the battalion from which the- company was drawn has rendered himself personally responsible for an extra 9d. per day per man of the whole company. In other words, he is being taxed at the rate of £30 per week for the maintenance of men who, having enlisted in the regular army, are nowqllite beyond his control. Such an anomaly ought not to be. The difficulty which has arisen might well have been provided for by the War Office, but, as it has not, apparently, been even contemplated, it may well be suggested that arrangements shall be made for refunding the lums spent by volunteer commanding officers in this very necessary direction.

CRONJE'S HORROR OF THE STAGE. The grim lion of South Africa, Commander Cronje, is down on the drama and all its work" and isserts (says the Critique) that the stage is under the direct patronage of Beelzebub. Once, while travel- ting by rail from Johannesburg to Pretoria, herooe in the same compartment with a youth belonging to London touring company. A Boer who had achat with the young actor told Cronje the nature of the stranger's occupation, when the commander, with a wrathful expression on his rugged face, at once pulled the communication cord and stopped the train. Muttering that he could not ride in the same carriage with a child of Satan, he got out, and tra- velled the remainder of the journey in the guard's van.

LOCAL TAXATION IN IRELAND. The returns of local taxation in Ireland for 1898 were issued the other day in the form of a Blue-book. The local taxation making the deductions ascertained K) be necessary on account of duplicate entries may lie set down for the yevr at £4,116,561, being an in- srease of £138,42.5, or 3 3 per cent., on the amount in the previous year. Explanatory observations in regard to the rating powers of local bodies are fnr- nished in the returns, and some of the more impor- tant of the many changes effected by the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, 61 and 62 Vie., eh. 37, are briefly referred to. The increase in the taxa- tion of 1898 was not, however, produced by that enactment, inasmuch as all the local assessments had been made for the year before it received the Royal Assent.

STAGE-STRUCK KITCHENER. When Lord Kitchener joined the Royal Engineers, now nearly 30 years ago (writes a retired R.E. major), he was a toll, slim, very handsome young man. The ex-Sirdar did not (says the Critique) at first tak" to the army, but had serious thoughts of going on the stage, and was one day, while in London, introdu by a i comrade to the late George Honey. Young Krtchener consulted George on the subject of h.s histrionic ambition. Honey looked critically at the omr, and remarked I could get you an engagement in five minutes as a walking gentleman, but, let me tell yon, j you'd be better off as a sapper in the engineers." j Then, very seriously, Honey gave the other an insight into the seamy side of an actor s life, and finished i with the advice: Stick to the army, Mr. Kitchener, It's a better shop than the boards Had George Honey advised otherwise, and had Kitchener cut the service and joined the profession," history might have beea differently written.

PRESIDENT KRCGEK was asked some time back about the number of wild beasts he had slain in his boyhood, and said that he slew so many lions, ele- phants, rhinoceroses, and other animals when guarding his father's cattle and sheep, that he really could not remember the number. A story is told to the effect that, when he was only eight years old, he protected a little girl from the attack of a beast f prey, his only weapon being a jack-knife. His father was famous among tM Boers a8 a hon slayer.

PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN SCHOOLS, Lord Balfour of Burleigh has brought under the attention of School Boards and managers of schools in Scotland a subject which, he says, is one of geeat importance, and which, in bis opinion, concerns not less the interests of pupils of State-aided schools thaa the welfare and security of the Empire. It is that of physical exercise, and particularly of those forms of military drill which most effectively develop the physical capacities of the pupils, and train them in the habit of the combined and dexterous employment of these capacities.

THE END OF MAHDISM. OFFICIAL DISPATCHES. Lord Kitchener's dispatch enclosing Sir F. Win- gate's account of the victory over the Khalifa, has been published in the Gazette. Lord Kitchener, writing from Khartoum on November 25, says: "Colonel Sir It Wingate's previous services on the staff are so notorious that I need not allude to them he has m/vv shown himself to be the capable leader of men I felt sure he would prove himself to be should the occasion arise. The operations under him were carried out with consummate ability, energy, and determination, and he has thus struck the last blow at Mabdism. The country has at last been finally relieved of the military tyranny which startod in a move- ment of wild religious fanaticism upwards of 19 years ago. Mahdism is now a thing of the past, and I hope that a brighter era has at length opened for the Soudan." Sir F. Wingate gives a fulFreport on the operations. Describing the final battle at Om Dubreikat he writes: At 5.10 a.m., in the uncertain light preceding dawn, our infantry picquets were driven in, and the indistinct forms of the advancing Dervishes became visible. The line was immediately prepared for action, and at 5.15 a.m. the grins and Maxims opened fire, follow hy infantry voUeys. It was still too dark to accurately observe the enemy's movements, but a brisk reply to our fire gradually becoming heavier on our left front indicated that an attempt was being made to turn our left flank. A hotter fire was poured in this direction, our right was gradually thnrown forward, and the left flank was prolonged. As the light improved, large bodies of shouting Dervishes were seen advancing, but our steady volleys.and gun and Maxim fire kept theirs under, and it gradually slackened. The whole line was now advanced down the gentle slope towards the Dervish position, and, moving forward at a more rapid pace, soon drove the retir- ing enemy towards their camp, which lay concealed in the midst of trees about one and a-half mile beyond our position. Cease fire sounded at 6.25 a.m., and, as the troops advanced towards the camp, numbers of the enemy surrendered and were given the Aman." Immediately in front of the line of advance of the 9th Soudanese, and only a few hundred yards from our original position an the rising ground a large number of the enemy were seen lying dead, huddled together in a comparatively small space; on exami- nation, these proved to be the bodies of the Khalifa Abdulla et Taaishi, the Khalifa Ali Wad Helu, Ahrnrd el- Fedi1, the Khalifa's two brothers, Sennousi Ahmed and Hamed Mohammed, the Mahdi's son, Es-Sadek, and a number of other well- known leaders. At a short distance behind them lay their dead horses, and, from the few men still alive—amongst whom was the Emir Yunis Eddekein—we learnt that the Khalifa, having failed in his attempt to reach the rising ground where we had forestalled him, had then endeavoured to make a turning movement, which had been crushed by our tire. Seeing his followers retir- ing, he made an ineffectual attempt to rally them, but recognising that the day was lost, he had called on his Emirs to dismount from their horses, and seating himself on his "furwa" or sheepskin—as is the custom of Arab chiefs who disdain surrender—he had placed Khalifa Ali Wad Helu on his right and Ahmed Fedil on his left, whilst the remaining Emirs seeted themselves round him, with their body-guard in line some 20 paces to their front, and in this position they bad unflinchingly met their death. They were given i fitting burial, under our supervision, by the surviv- ing members of their own tribesmen. The Khalifa's death was the signal for wholesale lurrender, and by the afternoon we had collected upwards of 3000 men and 6000 women and children, besides quantities of rifles, swords, spears, cattle, &c. Amongst the prisoners are 29 important Emirs, a few of whom are wounde dand in this latter category is included Sheik Ed Din, the Khalifa's eldest son and intended successor. Our casualties in this action amounted to three killed and 23 wounded, making a total of four killed and two officers and 27 men wounded in the two actions. The total Dervish losses during the two days' fighting are estimated at 1000 men killed and wounded, and 9400 prisoners, including women and children. I would refer briefly to the excellent behaviour and gallantry of all troops who took part in these opera- tions. The importance of striking rapidly at Fedil's force, and following up the blow on the Khalifa's main body, necessitated long night marches with little rest during the day, and demanded all the powers of endurance on the part of every member of the force. From 4 p.m. on the 21st, to 7 a.m. on the 24th, a ¡ period of 63 hours, the troops had covered a distance of 57 miles and fought two successful actions. No commanding officer could have received more loyal or genuine support than I have from every officer and man of the force it has been my good fortune to oommand and, in submitting for your favourable consideration the names of those officers, non-commissioned officers, and men whose services have been most prominently brought to my notice, I would add my warm endorsementto the recommenda- tions that have been made.

FOREIGN GOODS MARKED SHEFFIELD." Our contemporary, the Ironmonger, has interviewed a prominent Solingen manufacturer, Mr. Boentgen, with reference to the false marking of foreign goods. Mr. Boentgen expressed the opinion that trado trickery of the kind implied in the false marking of foreign-made cutlery with the name Sheffield" is absolutely repudiated by reputable Solingen manu- facturers. The best houses in our centres of manu- facture," he said, "are as much against such unfair methods as are your own, and I am sure that you can reckon upon their cordial support in putting an end to so discreditable a state of things. Besides, what have German manufacturers to gain by the false-marking of cutlery ? Both Sheffield and Solin- gen have their own markets, and there is nothing to be gained that I can see by having Solingen-made articles stamped with the word Sheffield. Mr. Boentgen also expressed the opinion that any help which Solingen and its manufacturers can give to putting down unfair methods of trading will be cheerfully given.

THREE-ARMED WOMEN. The latest and most ingenious device of the female shoplifter is a third arm. Beware of a woman with three arms. The three-armed woman wears a cape or a shawl. She affects the demur habit of holding her hands—two of them—clasped in front of her. The third arm meanwhile—hidden, unsuspected, under the cape—is deftly drawing any detachable articles into a voluminous pocket in the or another in the lining of the cape. The originator of the device is an American woman who, after ing" Denver, is now making her way where the police predict that her advent will be the signal for an epidemic of shop thefts. The extra arm is of wax.

.== A SHAKESPEARE STORY. The Frankfurter Zcitung publishes a letter on the geography of "Hamlet, which, if the statements made are confirmed, will (says the Berlin corres- pondent of the Standard) have a particular interest for Bhakeepearean students. The correspondent says: The question haa often been asked why Shakespeare removed Hamlet, who was born in Jut- land, to the Castle of Kronborg, near Helsingor or Elsinore, iu Seeland; and bow he came to have such a curiously exact knowledge of local conditions of the little seaport. These questions are answered hy an old document found a short time ago in ths archives of Helsingor. In the said document one is informed that the Burgomaster of the town had a wooden fence erected in the year 1586, and that this fence was destroyed by a troupe of English actors. The names of the latter are mentioned, and amongst them are found some of whom one knows for certain that they were members of Shakespeare's company. From this, therefore, it may be concluded that this troupe, or several members thereof, had given re- presentations in the year named in Helsingor, and that Shakespeare had obfained from them a descrip- tion of the Castle of Kronborg and ita neighbour- hood."

LITTLE WIPE "I saved thirty dollars to-day." Loving Husband: "You're an angel. How f Little Wife I saw a perfectly lovely easy chair that I knew you'd like, and I didn't buy it." IT is a fact as yet unaccounted for that a man's alarm clock may allow him to sleep three mornings out of a week when he should go to work, but never fails when he wants to rise at thres o'cleck to go 08 a fishing expedition.

| THE DUTCH CHURCH AND THE | WAR. The are (says a writer in the Globe) no greates enemies of British rule in South Africa than the clergy of the Dutch Reformed Church, alike in the Boer Republics and in Cape Colony. Many proofi of their hostility have been given since the war broke out, and for many years past they have taken an active part (with some exceptions, no doubt) in foment- ing the anti-British feeling of their flocks. The pre- I dikant," as the pastor is called, is naturally a person of considerable influence among a people of such strong religious feeling as prevails among the Roere. and as he is usually well educated, while his congrfr gation can do little more than read the Dutch Bible —very many cannot even do that—the power which he wields is hardly lebs than that of a Romas Catholic priest in rural Ireland. The National Church of the Transvaal is of course Presbyterian, like the mother Church in Holland. The Dopper sect, te which President Kruger belongs, is Presbyterian too. cnly more so—bearing some analogy to the secti which have split off from time to time from the Established Church of Scotland. An article in the ( Fortnightly Rei'icw for February by the Rev. W. Gres- well, gives some remarkable illustrations of the anti- I Briti&h temper of the predikants, and suggests I some of the causes which have operated to produce it. To those who have watched South African history during the last twenty years it must be clear, as Mr. Greswell writes that the predikant, both in the Boet States and in Cape Colony, has been a political propagandist. The most prominent clergyman in the Reformed Church, Professor Lion Cachet, was one of the speakers at a meeting of the Afrikander Bond last summer, and took the opportunity to fa. the rising flame of hatred to England by an exciting address. "Let the storm burst," said this clerical agitator; If we cannot be famous, let us be in- famous." The Rev. Louis Petries Yorster, pastor of Burghersdorp, who followed, said he did not believe that England dared to make war, for she had not men enough to conquer the country. The two Boer States, he declared, could raise 80,000 men, and England would need 150,000 men to beat them. She could not find ships to convey them to the country, nor horses or provisions when they arrived. As for the Colony, he added, even if it remained neutral, the people would not sell their horses or forage to the English, and so help the war against their brethren. Mr. du Plessis, of the Reformed Theolo- gical Seminary, followed, in a similar strain, and his speech throws a flood of light on the training received by the candidates for the Ministry in that institu- tion. The college was closed when the war began, and most of the students went northwards to fight for the Boer cause. It is worthy of remark that the founder of the Afrikander Bond was the ReT. S. J. du Toit, a Dutch, or one should rather say an Afrikander clergyman, for his name bespeaks hit Huguenot descent. This gentleman inserted in the draft of the Bond's constitution the demand for A United South Africa, under its own flag." He is no longer a member of the Bond, but he was a conspicu- ous leader of those who helped to give an impetus to the movement which has culminated in the present conflict. Mr. Greswell indicates as one reason for the anti- English prejudice of the Reformed pastors the facto. that they are no longer a privileged body. In the old! days of the Dutch Dominion at the Cape they were the ministers of a State Church. Now they are dependent upon their flocks, as is the case with Anglican and Roman clergy and the ministers of tho various Protestant denominations. For some tims after the Colony came under British rule English and Dutch clergy alike received State subventions, j These were abolished as recently as 1875, ind it may be plausibly argued that the abolition was unwise. A discontented clergy, in an uneducated community, is apt to be a danger to the Government. But if the predikants in South Africa are inclined to resent their disestablishment, it is probable that a much more potent cause may be assigned for their Anglo- | phobia. Like their people, they have not forgiven the emancipation of the slaves, and they ahare the general prejudice of their countrymen against the English policy of justico to the native population. As Mr. Greswell puts it, the Dutch distrust of the coloured people is inveterate. There is no place for them in Church or State according to the fundamental Grondwet of the Boer States, nor are they welcomed aa freeholders. The Dutch Church, with its tre- < mendous and exclusive influence on the minds of the Boers, must be held responsible for this extrems position, which is incompatible with the position of our philanthropists, and destructive of the work of j our Clarksons, Wilberforces, and, indeed, our Livingstones." It is regrettable that it should be aov but there can be no sort of doubt that the ministers of the Dutch Church in South Africa, so far from opposing the bigotry of their people, and denouncing their cruelty to the natives, have rather encouracect them in both these characteristic vices of the race, There is now a close alliance between the Church and the Bond, and there can be no doubt that, as Mr. Greswell states, it is a political alliance in ths main, not entered into by either party for the further- I ance of laudable reforms or social improvements, but for politics pure and simple."

DOING HIS BEST. F Gunner H. G. Young, one of the men who saved the guns at Colenso, is a native of Weymouth, Writing to his mother, he says: "Our horses fell I under us in pairs, poor things, and the men the same but, mother, I know you will be proud of your son. I am recommended for a Distinguished Service medal for saving the guns. General Buller was passing a trench where we were all in cover, so he said to us—but did not make us go—' Now, my lads, this is your last chance to save the guns-will any of you volunteer to fetch them ?' We sat half- stunned for a minute, and then Corporal Nurse got up, and as soon as we saw him we volunteered at once to fetch them. Remember me to aH in case I should get killed. I am doing my beat, and cannot do more." Young haa been granted the Dis- tinguished Service medal.

I THE FATE OF A SPY. Private J. Rudge, of the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, in the letter dated from Modder River Camp, January 11, says: "To-day we have had orders to sleep in our boots, so we may expect livelj times. The Boers seem to be getting sick of waiting for us to attack them, so they are no doubt about to attack us. For some nights we drove aa old horse up near to them to make them think ws were going to attack them. You see, we want them to waste their ammunition, and it was good fun to hear them firing away at the old horae, and thinking we were coming. We caught a spy last week. We thought he was loyal to us, but W8 watched him one night, and saw a light in his house, and, what is more, we saw him using a telephone. You bet we promptly took him prisoner, aDd 011 aearching his house found the wires in the walls. We traced these wires around a pigsty, and after- wards under the river. As we were following it across the river the wire broke, and we could not trace it further. The same man was caught before signalling with a lamp, but then he said be was looking for his cattle. and we gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now he has come to the end of his career."

THE observations of superficial and passing tra- vellers are often misleading, as in the case of Catlia and other descri bera of the North American Indians. According to a paper of Miss Alice Fletcher to the Anthropological Society of Washington on ths Earth-lodge of the North American Indians, Catlia and most other travellera have not described ths- Earth-lodge of the Mandans and other American Indians as it should be described. Pains are required to arrive at the truth, and in general travellers do not take sufficient pains to ascertain the real truth about the natives they visit. THOBE who have long advocated a more general knowledge of the art of swimming will learn with satisfaction of the excellent progress recorded by the London Schools Swimming Association. Last year no fewer than 15,000 learned to swim, and no fewer than 3000 youngsters secured the association's first- class certificate of proficiency. The usefulness of the association is also evidenced by the fact that fivs boys' names are given as having earned during the year the Boyal Humane Society's medal or sertifi- cste for saving life. To Earl of Dundonald, who has won distinction is Natal, takes his title from a place in Ayrshire, in which county, however, he it landless, his family aatatea having last century passed to the Dukes of Hamilton and Brandon. Lord Dundonald derives his surname of Cochrane from an ancestress. His real patronymic (though it has been disused for thrss centuries) is Blair. THE German Emperor is conservative in his literary tastes. He likes Shakespeare best of all authors, and has several editions of the poet's works in his library, both in English and German. Thess he has read and re-read and read again until h. knows most of the notable passages by heart, from which he constantly quotes at considerable length. His favourite play is Hamlet." WHEN the Prince of Wales alludes to his mother, his Royal Highness always uses the words, Of My mother the Queen." The Duke of York he invariably refers to as My son the Duke of York." On ths Continent such simplicity is tabooed the utterances st the mighty are controlled by strict and format atiqMttt.