Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

■ — — — — iii GARD$tNG eessip. (From" Cottage Gardening ?) FLOWBR GARDEN. Mulch anemones and ranunculuses. These are beautiful things for cutting. The French or Persian ranunfutus will require water in dry weather; in fact, all the buttercup family love moisture. Pent- 9temoqs which have been struck in cold pits should be planted out in the border, and they form handsome masses for beds on the lawn. If maggots attack roses, pick them off, and dust tobacco-powder on the plants infested r-ith green-fly. The Banksian rose is a beautiful early-flowering variety, but requires a warm position. Young plants very often make too much growth to flower freely. There is nothing for it. but patience till some of the vigour has worked off. Pruning only aggravates the evil. When it it neces- sary to prune, the pruning should be done immediately after flowering, as the flowers generally come on the ends of the shoots. Among the Dijoa Teas, Madame Berard and Bouquet d'Or are not only useful as wall roses, but make splendid beds on the lawn or for groups in the borders. L'Ideal is also a fine rose for grouping, planted somewhat thickly. Dahlias which have been kept cool in store may now be planted out. These plants will make masses of bloom and will be useful for cutting, and usually flower very early. The Cactus and Pompon varieties are the best for cutting, and there are some very pretty things among the new singles. To obtain plenty of flowers for the borders in spring, sow Polyanthuses, Primulas, Auriculas, Aubrietias, Alyssum, saxatile com pacta, Wallflowers, and Canterbury Bells now. Campanula carpatica is a charmi g Bell-flower, and is very easily raised from seeds now. Seedlings will flower second year. There is a white-flowered variety. flower second year. There is a white-flowered variety. I have had both out of the same packet, as one is variety of the other. Shade-loving subjects, such as the Primula family, Forget-me-nots, &c., should be sown in a 6hady site. They will do well on the north side of a row of espaliers, or a hedge, that just breaks the hot sun off them a bit. Stocks and Asters which have been well hardened may be planted out early in May. Calceolarias should go out early, so as to get well established before the hoi weather sets in. Calceolarias are unsatisfactory things in hot soils, but yellow flowers are to a certain extent necessary, and t'he colour of the Calceolaria cannot be obtained in anything else. There is a dwarf yellow Tropasolum named Coolgardia that I think will make a good yellow bed, and a mass of Coreopsis grandiflora, pegged down, will flower all the summer. FRUIT GARDEN. If any Apple-trees are infested with American or cotton bligbt, the insects will soon be on the move, if any have escaped the winter dress- ing (I am assuming all blighted trees have been dressed in winter with an insecticide); and the trees fhould be looked over, and any white specks just touched with a brush which has been dipped in paraffin oil. I once saw a number of Apple-trees which had been killed by dressing the trees with paraffin oil in winter to kill the bug but simply touching the white fluffy spots which contain the insects is not the same as painting the trees all over with the oil, which is much too potent for such work. I For winter dressing, the old fashioned remedy Gis- hurst compound is quite safe and effective. Winter dressings in bad cases are not altogether effective, because at the approach of winter the insects, or a good many of them, work down the stems to the roots; and therefore it is nccessary to dress the trees in spring and summer in addition to the winter dressing. If hay-bands were wrapped round the trnnks of Apple-trees to form hiding-places for the Codlin or winter moths, they should ere this have been removed and burnt to destroy any insects which may have crawled beneath. The grease-bands would in many cases have held them fast, but there is no doubt that some of these insects are provided with wings before they reach the perfect state, and though the grease-bands will stop a good many it will not arrest all. Lime newly slaked is an excellent dressing for fruit-trees in winter, and fruit-growers are becoming alfve to the importance of using it more freely. There will always be- a difficulty in growing good fruit until more is known about destructive jnsects and the best modes of destroying them. I have more than once recommended scap; it is cheap and very effective as a winter dressing, or in a weaker state in summer. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Prick off early Celery on a specially prepared bed that will ensure growth. Keep the roots moist, and shade for a few days till the roots geVto work. In the early stages the Turnip-rooted requires the same treatment, but when planted out finally two feet between the rows will-be ample, and 10 inches between the plants in the rows. No trenches are required plant on the surface, and draw a littlo soil over the bulbs before frost sets. This is a valuable vegetable. Plant French Beans—Ne Plus Ultra and Canadian Wonder are good Varieties; if both are planted at the same time they will form a good succession. Scarlet Runners may be planted now in warm situa- tions. Carrots for the warm crop may still be sown. Scarlet Intermediate is a good "variety. Sow the long-rooted Beets—Dell's crimson and Pine I Apple are good varieties. Keep the hoe going among young crops just through the ground.. Exhausted greens should be cleared away and the ground manured for next crop. Prepare Celery trenches for I early crop. They are better, if the ground is vacant, I got ready now and then Lettuces or French Beans may be planted on the ridges. Prepare places for Vegetable Marrows and Ridge Cucumbers. If the land has been well manured, and a few spadefuls of ¡ good compost put where they are planted, nothing beyond a mulch is required. CUCUMBERS Never use, cold water for Cucumbers. Fort-he present, some hot water should be mixed with the i cold to raise its temperature. By and by. when the I days lengthen, if the water is stood in the sunshine a few hours, the chill will be taken off. Stop and peg down the shoots as they grow. Sprinkle on fine days I; at closing.tirae,-say 3.30. SCARLET TROP.EOLUMS. In town gardens I rarely see ("T." says) anything in the gardens or windows so fresh aad brilliant as I; are these Nasturtiums of various kinds. For window- boxes they are, as I think, well-nigh unequalled, and all one has to do is to sow the seeds in fresh, rich 'I earth, and water the plants when necessary. Another good way of growing these flowers is in a bed on the Grass, where their shoots can ramble out on the closely-shaven lawn. They are very beautiful from May to November, and for carpeting bulb beds or for a half-shady place, these dwarf Nasturtiums are mote satisfactory than Pelargoniums or other bedding plants. The above relates only to the modern forms of Tropteolum majus, but where it will thrive there v is nothing in the genus to surpass the blood-flowered T. speciosum in lightness of growth and in-floral grace. We have at last succeeded in flowering this i erratic beauty by planting some of its thick white roots on a moist border with an eastern exposure, which is sheltered by shrubs from the midday sun. Even if it never flowered it is worth growing for its fresh, green, Maiden-hair-like leaves. I once saw a man digging Potatoes in a roadside garden in Scotland, j The hedge next the road was scarlet with flowers, j and the thick white roots of this lovely Tropasolum came up along with the Potatoes. What will you do with these roots ?" I asked. Thraw 'em away," was the loconic reply. I asked for some, which were willingly given—an armful almost. Now," said the j donor, be ye careful whare ye pit it—it's the warst weedie ye can ever get into a garden." And so it seemed to be there, and is in other places northward, but with some it is one of the most capricious and stubborn of plants. The Sunflowers are gross feeders, and the stronger I or richer the soil the better the result when they make the waning summer brilliant with their golden- yellow flowers. It is true that not a few of this genua are coarse and weddy, totally unfitted for the i flower-garden, but a good many, some of which are J not yet in general cultivation, could be utilised with striking effect in the best-kept flower-garden, and j for mixed borders, &c., they are simply invaluable. < The tall sorts, such as Helianthus Isetiflorus, the more robust forms of H. rigidus, H. decapetalus, ) H. orgyalis, H. divaricatus, &c., make telling groups in the back rows of mixed borders, or, better J still, grouped separately and allowed to expand their I blooms, without their graceful stems being made stiff » and unsightly with stakes and tying. H. multiflorus is one of the best all-round Sunflowers in cultivation. It is an extremely accommodating plant, and may be s grown dwarf or tall, according to the nature of the j soIl, without in any way interfering with the abund- ance of its flowers. If not the most beautiful, it is certainly the most generally grown of all the Helian- thuses. There are several varieties ia gardens. ¡

IT is astonish/tig how debts will exoand after being I contracted. i

FUN AND FANCY. Nzw ARRIVAL: I suppose you have music at the hotel?" Old Sojourner: "No; but we have a band." ROBBY How did the Sphinx get the credit of being so wise, papa ?" Mr. Morris: By keeping her mouth shut for about 3000 years." THE following Was copied from a notice posted on a building Notice Tenants should be careful not to throw cigars or lighted matches about. Otherwise they may set fire to the building and oblige John Blazer, proprietor." HUSBAND: "Doctor, do you think my wife will ever recover?" Doctor: "Oh, yes. I told her I already had a wife picked out for you in. case she. didn't get well?' ARTIST How do you Htbe portrait?" Sitter: "Well, I dont exactly like the nose." Artist: Neither do I—but it's yours." HE There is one word in the English language that is spelled atrociously." She: What is that?" He: Atrociously." BOZZWHEEL NR the-most modest man I ever saw!" said a friend of his. I- What makes you think so?" I never yet heard him claim that the bicycle he rides is the best in the market." ONP, kig$," says a cautious suitor, "is worth a dozen love-letters, and it cannot be introduced in a breach of promise suit." ( THE man who is always wondering what the neigh- bours think of him would be surprised sometimes to know that they seldom think of him at all, TUERII is a man who brags of having a timepiece that keeps correct time. He was heard to remark, not long ago, upon pulling out his watch, If tho sun isn't over the bill in a minute and a half, he will be late." HUBBY You are worth a, million to me. Wjfey: Canol get an advance of a couple of pounds on that million for a new hat ?" AN Irish country doctor conversing with friend, about the high rate of mortality then prevailing, remarked, Bedad, there are people dying who nevel died before I" YOUNG MAN Is Miss Rosebud at home?" Ser- vant: No, sir." Young Map,; Why, she came in only a minute ago; I saw her." Servant: "Yes, air, and she saw you." A PAPER tells of a dog that can compute figures.. It is probably a lame dog that puts down three and carries one. A CLERGYMAN who preached in a prison a Sunday or two since, began his discourse in the traditional way, thus "I am glad, my friends, to see so many of you here this morning." PAPA So, Bobby, you're the president of ynur bicycle club. That's very nice.! How <Jid they happen, to chopee* you f". Bob £ *y '•Well, you see, gapa, I'm the only boy that's got a blcielu l' TjiFnei one comfort," eaid toe ptylosophjer wJhpn his wages were wduc^d^ future I sha'n't lose so much money." "WELL, whatja, it., NprajiV Indidev. mum, the water's cold." 't/What ?"> J "^he^JiQt. jsratec, mum." j h.^ ,t c-.w WHEN a boy falls and peels the skin o$his the first thing he does is £ to y^lj, W.hen girl; tumbles and hurts her8elc b^fyr.tiie.first,,tmng she *j does is to look,at h^^jess. Jijc.. r,ut t j A PROFESSOR of ,oii £ £ <if £ lje_UniYer^ltigsis faflious; for his absen mi ness. He recently went into a barber's shop to get his hair cut. Taking a seajt m the chair,, he remarta^ As s|t. jjp'qjbii^ifplijf in |l»is room, perhapf Ijimdl?fctt$r njj 6at,sonfjvhile Jpu | cut my hajr.' _"r? A YOUKG lady sued for damages in 'a case of breach of promise of marriage; ,,She; was oifteced £ 20&t8 hsal her breaking heart. Two hundred l" she ei- claimed. Two hundred pounds.for ruined hopes, a, blighted life! Two hundred pounds for, all tbis!, No —never Make it two-fifty, and it's a bareainl" v MAlmA:" Why did you strike littlo Ethel, yoa naughty boy, you ? Dick Well, what did she want to, cheat for, then ?" Mamma: How did she cheat?" Dick: "Why we were playing at Adam and Eve, and she. had the apple to tempt me with- and she never tempted me—but went and ate it all up herself!" "FIGHTING the Air."—Trying to mend a puncture. OUB querist wanted to know why a living photo- graph show is like quarter-day; and he says it ia because it shows everybody on the move." OLD LADY (i in proving the occasion) £ "JJI, my poor man, you vfrould liot be in this position ir you baa-re- ceived an early training in some trade or calling." Tramp "Dott't you tork too sudden about wot yoa don't know notbin* about. missus. No trainjn^ indeed W'y,,I wos in prison afore I wos fourteen". DOCTOR: "Well, madam, your husband Is suffer- ing from complete pervous proktratiqn, 2ust per- suade him to take absolute and perfeotrest." Patient's Wife: "Yes, doctor, 1 tell him, so;, but he won't listen to a word I say." Doctor: Is that 4,0,? Then there is a much better chance of reqovejy than I thought. FIRST AMATBpR: "There is such a difficult scene in the second act." Second Amateur: What is it ?' IFirst Amateur: "The hero tells me that ko never loved until he met me, and I have to look as if I be- u lieved him." • FREDDIE: "Oh, Mr. Dudely, may I touch you?" •Mr. Dudely Certainly, Freddie; but why do you want to touch me?" Freddie: Well, I heard May say you were so soft, and I want to see for eae'self. O'HARA: She was a good wife to me, poor woman. Many's the word of good advice she gave to tne." Geoghegan: Thrue for yez, an' many's the toime Oi've heard, her.-advisin' yez when Oi lived in the house beyant, a mile up the road, gehone I" My husband is the most considerate man in the world." In what way ?" When he gave me my new writing-desk he had two keys made, so that if I lost mine he would have one. Few men would be as thoughtful as that." "I DO not understand it," said the philosopher. What- is:bothering you now?" inquired the other. If a man is two hours late arriving at home his wife raises a row, while if he is gone two years she will give him a royal welcome. Women are peculiar." A LITTLE girl hearing that her mother was going into half mourning, wished to know if any of her relatives were half dead. How came you here ?" said the Visitor to a prisoner in the penitentiaiy. I was brought here by my convictions," was the flrthly-spoken reply. SHOPKEEPER: "Christmas-boxes, indeed. Why, you don't deal here." Little Girl: Ob, yes, sir, we do, please, sir. Mother always gets her postage- stamps off you, please, sir." CADGER: Will you give me a few coppers for a bed, sir?" Isaac Moss: Cerdenly, mine frandt. Vera is der bed ?" "MR. WIIOOPLEY, if yon will only say that I can have your daughter, I am willing to wait for her for ever." It's a go, young man. You can have her when the time's up." MRS. BRANB NEW: "I would like to get a first- class book on etiquette." Mr. Brand New: Any particular point you want to clear up?" Mrs. Brand New: Yeo, how to treat one's inferiors., You know, dear, it is only recently that we have had inferiors." THERE is evidently some trouble in the family," remarked the door. He slammed me violently when he went out." Yes, I know there is trouble," assented the arm-chair, for after he had gone she sat down on me real hard and cried for a whole hour." MRS. BLOSSOM Ah, Clarence, men are so cold, nowadays! In the age of chivalry you would have told me you would be willing even to die for me." Mr. Blossom But, my dear, you forget. Haven't I already expressed my willingness to try to live with you ?" A cnjtMiST recently discovered an explosive believed to be 10 times as powerful as dynamite, but the secret of its composition was lost at the time of its discovery, together with the chemist and most of the glass in the town. WHEN a woman commences perusing a book, To the end she invariably turns; At the opening chapters she oasts not a look No beauty in them she discerns. This rather ridiculous habit one strikes As being a trifle absurd But the reason is simple: 'tis because woman likes In all things to have the last word. FOR heroic but vain endeavour to look pleased nothing can equal the facial expression of two girls at a party, compelled to dance with each other on account of the scarcity of the men. AN epitaph as curious in its way as any of the quaint gravestone inscriptions that have been recorded is on a tombstone in the cemetery of a suburb of Paris. The husband died first, and beneath the record of his name was placed, at his request, the line, I am anxiously awaiting you. July 30, 1827." When his widow died, 40 years after, the following line completed the inscription,14 Here I am. Sept. 9.1667." i

"HANDSOME IS THAT HANDSOME DOES." Mrs. Grantley was holding along, oonadentirti- con- versation with her intimate friend, Mrs. Dinsmore, and the two faces looking into each other were full of chagrin. "You remember what a beautiful child Amy was?" Mrs. Grantley said, "the prettiest of all we saw, and we were-bow long, making a selection ?" Dear ire I cannot recollect,' said Mrs. Dins- more. We visited every orphan asylum and 'home' we heard of, I know. Yes, Amy was a perfect little beauty." And I was so careful in my directions that she should be watched and prevented from getting freckled or spoiling her complexion in any way. She has been most faithfully cared for, and now, my dear, when I come home, expecting to find a lovely girl to introduce to soeiety, I am fairly stunned Amy is positively ugly!" "It is too dreadful!" mid Mrs. Dinsmore, with a sympathetic shudder. Of course, I must do my duty by her," continued Mrs. Grantley, plaintively, "after giving her the best education money could procure and all the tastes and accomplishments of a lady. I cannot turn the child away for what is really no fault of her own. Of coarse she would be a beauty if she could But it is 4 bitter disappointment I" "And it was. Mrs. Grantley was a woman of society, bound up in the requirements of fashion, lady manager for a dozen or so of popular charities, Eatroness to many benevolent schemes, keeping open ouse for balls, parties, private theatrical and festi- vities of all kinds in the season in London, and lead- ing society in a great measure at various resorts of fashion all summer. A childless widow; with a large income, very handsome, highly educated and refined, she was a very queen in her own circle for many years. Then, feeling that her beauty was waning, she resolved to give a new charm to her house, a new interest tci'her ife, by adopting a child. The first, the most essential, requisite in her eyes was beauty; the next intellect, and with these she also required a child who was absolutely friendless-- one who would have no unpleasant relations claiming acquaintance at some future date, however remote. It was not easy to meet all these conditions, but the child was found at last; she was very fair, with a bloom like a peach blossom upon each delicate cheek she bad fair, soft hair that curled naturally, blue •eyes full of sweetness and delieate features; her feet and hands were of artistocratic proportions, and her figure slender and graceful. A friendless child, she knew of no home beyond the asylum where Mrs. Qrantley found her, and had no relative of whom she had ever heard. There was no difficulty about the matter, and Mrs. Grantfoy adopted the child, calling her >Amy Grantley, and delighting to exhibit her in thit,dailitiest,of costumes to her admiring friends. When Amy was twelve years old, baling proved herself an apt scholar with a good nufsery governess, Mrs. Grantley decided to go Abroad, She left her adopted child in a good sehool;and corresponded tfith lier regularly, seeing with delight that the child's mind and heart expanded and showed culti- vation and sweet; maidenly beauty as her education advanced. • For seven -years Amv remained at school, a con- "crentiolis studDt; delighting in music, "and showing always a gentle, lovable disposition. In her heart there was 6ne object of absolute wor- "-Mrs. Grantleyi She hadtievar been deceived etding her own -position, knowing that to her Adopted mother she owed every pleasure and every Advantage she enjoyed. Every action of her life was influenced "by her gratitude. Loving study for its bwn sake1, -she-threw fresh energy into every accom- plishment to please her friend, her kind adopted mother; she made music an absorbing pursuit, 'because Mrs. Grantley loved music, and her teachers assured her her strong, pure voice must give pleasure 'to any true lover of singing. Year after year the strong hope of her life was that Mrs. Grantley would soon return, and she might in some way repay what she owed her. The day the Summons came to her to meet Mrs. Grantley iô what *as tz) be her future home, the child was almost ill with excitement. Educated by a lady who considejfed it a duty to -check any vanity in her pupils, Amy had never given much thought to her personal appearance. When ffevter fobbed her of her cnrls and left a straight mass of pule,, flaxen hair in their place, she thought only of thetemporary baldness as an inconvenience, and the cara off the straight hair less troublesome than the curls. She did not heed the fact that the same fever deprivedhe-rof her exquisite complexion, and left a sallow, colourless one in its place. Her adult teeth were uneven, and not very white, 'though sound. She was graceful in figure, easy in 'movement, refined in voice and tone, a lady in every .'impulse and action, but Mrs. Grantlsy s first exclama- tion was: Can this be Amy P How ugly you have grown I" The words were ungracious,' the tone fetill more so, tand the sensitive, loving heart felt as if a heavy hand ihad crushed all sweetness out of life. "The cold kiss, the few forced words of welcome, added to her pain, land, lifting streaming eyes, she faltered: "lam so sorry! I will try to be good!" like a grieved child, harshly reproved for a fault. She did try to, atone for that involuntary crime, the loss of her childish beauty, and while Mrs. Grantley mourned over it, spoke often of her bitter disap- pointment, and vainly tried by every art of dress to recall the lost charms, she yet felt creeping into her heart day by day a love and respect for this homely girl she bad never felt for the beautiful child. Semetimes she sat and thought of Amy with a wondering admiration, as of some strange specimen of humanity that bad never before crossed her path. She is like a flower," she thought, that gives but its sweetest fragrance when it is crushed. I have let her see too plainly how she disappoints me, and she is humbly conscious of my chagrin, and yet she is fo tenderly loving, so anxious to please me, that I believe I shall end by loving her as well as if she were beautiful. Leonard Gresham'says she is the lovelie3t girl in society this winter! And yet she is positively homely!" And Leonard Gresham was not alone in his opinion. To Mrs. Grantley's amazement, Amy was the centre of a circle in society that looked beyond beauty to find attraction. A circle that hung en- tranced upon the pure, highly cultivated voice that was always at the service of friends; a circle that found a charm in conversation that could touch higher topics than dress or the merits of the latest prima donna. Mrs. Grantley made dress a fine art, e(nd Amy's toilettes were perfection, while the intellect visible in her large blue eyes and low, broad brow, the sweetness of her smile, atoned in a great measure for the want of beauty in face and complexion. But her greatest triumph was not in society. No praise there, no love offered her by the many who sought her, made her heart thrill as did Mrs. Grantley's gradual admissions of her power to win love. Leonard Gresham, a man of whose love any woman might be proud, sought her for his wife, and when she gently refused his suit she was far prouder of the adopted mother's pleasure than of the offer of one of society's most eligible partis. My darling, I cannot spare you yet!" wore words that echoed gladly in her heart long after they were spoken, with an emphasis that proved they came from the heart. There were times when Amy wondered if the pain the rejection of Leonard Gresham left in her heart Was not caused by a deeper love than she had realised she felt when she gave it, but the girl's whole mind was bent upon proving her gratitude to her adopted mother. It was a revelation to Mrs. Grantley to find in so many ways her comfort and happiness increased after she once allowed Amy to manifest her love. It was a long time before this was accomplished, for the girl's sensitive nature shrank from forcing her affec- tion where it was not needed. But, little by little, the humble offers of service dictated by intense grati- tude became daily duties, and the loving heart soon found new avenues of devotion. Well-trained ser- vants took every menial care, but no servant could make Mrs. Grantley's life overflow with new happi- ness as Amy's. devotion iiooi did. It seemed as if her heart would break with joy the first time Mrs. Grantley drew her to her heart, kissed her lipøand said, fervently: I My darling I" t No lover ever gave his beloved a momen» of purer, more rapturous delight than Amy experienced in that hour. For two years after life flowed on in a pleasant stream. Society became secondary to home. It Dear mamma became a familiar title upon Amy's lips, and no mother was ever more fondly loved than Mrs. Grantley by her darling." Then sorrow came in ghastly shape. Mrs. Gratitley was attacked by -a cancerous affection that, despite skill and care. became an incurable disease, loathsome a „ '• nr. Tj—: j .-j j to the sufferer and to the nqrse. No hired care could ever have been as tender as that given by Amy's love, no 1 paid nurse could have so fought fatigue or disgust. All day. all night, the most watchful care enfolded the patient. Every amusement her state could bear —music, reading, chatting—were given with such love as proved them an offering from the heart, and when the suffering Was too great to bear any recrea- tion, Amy was devoted in nursing and soothing the sufferer. Her touch, firm and yet gentle, never added to the pain, and while she was slender, she had the strength of perfect health. Mrs. Grantley insisted npon having a trained nurse to assist Amy, but it was to her adopted daughter she looked for the many attentions that alleviate suffering. It was Amy who read precious words of comfort from the Holy Writ, too long neglected in a life of frivolity and fashion. It was Amy who lifted her voice in simple childlike words of prayer daily and nightly. Not many hours before the last struggle life makes, Mrs. Grantley was with -Mrs. Dinsmore, and, lifting her hand feebly to meet Amy's, she whispered: How little I knew the treasure I was taking to iny bom" and heart when I tried to find a pretty child to introduce to society. God has been very good to me in giving me such love and care in my hours of pain." And Amy knew then that sue was no longer in Mrs. Grantley's eyes what she bad ofteik-heard her- self called-" Mrs. Grantley's great disappointment." It was not until two years after the death of her benefactress that once more Leonard Gresham asked her to be his wife, and she gladly consented. I loved you," she told him, frankly," when I sent iou from me, but I had given my life to my adopted mother, and it was my one aim and duty to repay her for what she had given me, even although I know that my loss and beauty was one of the bitterest dis- appointments of her heart." It is not always beauty that wins love," Leonard said, tenderly. "No, for without it I have won her heart and yqura."

<- SUICIDE IN FRANCE. Statistics relating to suicides in France have been published by the Journal d'Hygiene. It states that but of 1000 suicides 286 take place in spring, 300 in summer, 213 in autumn, and 201 in winter. If the year is divided into quarters, it is found that 402 suicides occur in the hottest months, 332 in the tem- berate months, and 266 in the coldest months. It is also stated that these figures hold good in other countries. Taking into consideration the months it is found that of 1000 suicides, January furnishes 79, February 70, March 84, April 97, May 96, June 110, July 108, August 88, September 76, October 71, November 65, and December 56. The days of the week show for 100 suicides Monday 15*2, Tuesday 15 7, Wednesday 14"9, Thursday 15*8, Friday 13 7, Saturday 11-1, and Sunday 13 6. Finally, for one day of 24 hours, the suicides are distributed thus: 36 at daybreak, 160 before midday, 71 about midday, 160 between midday and evening, 61 in the evening, and 219 during the night.

I METHODS OF DESTRUCTION. Now that so many ingenious gentlemen are turning their attention to the manufacture of weapons and projectiles designed to carry instant and wholesale destruction, there is, says the Regiment, a prospect that war will be abolished few men are brave enough to court certain death or face unknown terrors. One 'man has just devised a new buget which shall ex- pand into mushroom shape after it has entered the liuman body. A French officer has created a rifle :which will hurl vitriol in the faces of the enemy. He suggests that it shoald be used solely against 'savages who are making frenaied rushes; but as many isavages tattoo themselvss and otherwise scarify I spature in order to attain their ideal beauty, it by no means follow that vitriol will terrify them whereas, in civilised warfare, such a weapon would be more Ipotent than all the bullets that ever were cast. The toan who loses a leg or arm with composure, and who itoeets death without flinching, would fly ignomini- tously from a charge of vitriol and its hideous conse- quences. Another man has a cannon which shall nre luminous projectiles, so that the entire field of battle may be kept well lighted at night, and the fighting may go on until one side or the other is -used up, instead of allowing the long rest between idusk and dawn in which each army may recuperate through rest and reinforcements. If this sort of thing continues, we shall soon have no more "figh-t- ing men abroad nor weeping maids at home."

SOME VETERANS OF THE NAVY. Unless public anticipation has been misled, tiere is to be this year (says the Army and Navy Gazette) some special recognition shown to those officers who jhave served their country with credit and renown during the reign of her Most Gracious Majesty. We recently referred to a number of distinguished and Itallant men of the land service, and now it may not be out of place to make a similar reference to certain of our naval veterans whose services seem to call for mention in this connection. There is Admiral John Hay, who entered the service as far back as 1819, and who served on shore in a landing party from the Blonde as long ago as 1828. As a lieutenant hc saw service in China in 1840, and in command of the boats of the Pylades captured a piratical junk. Commander Richard Sadleir entered the navy even earlier—in 1808-but he does not appear to have ever been under fire. Another com- mander, however—Henry James, who entered in 1812 —has the distinction of being the last survivor on the list to have bbem in action against .the..French. He was a midshipman of the Pom pee in an action pff Toulon in the year he joined, and saw much active service against pirates before the Queen came to the throne. These are the oldest officers in the Navy; but there are many others who saw war service 'I before 1837. The ever-green Admiral of the Fleet Sir Harry Keppel was employed as commander of I the Childers on the coast of Spain during the Carlist war, and is the only one on the active list that comes I into this category. -Of retired efucers.however, I Admiqil Ma^ie seired agains| pirates in 1829.^1 was at Navarmo he also commanded the Thunderer in operations on (he coast of Syria, the Cleopatra during the Barmese war, and the Powerful in the Black Sea,. b}j\ he ia pot,y^t#]C.Bt Sir Erasmus Ommanney, who was atrNvarino and commanded the naval force,in the White Sea during the RUliSian war, has no medal among, his many decorations for that service. Two other Navarino officers are Admiral Wodebouse, whi) was.a inidshipmap,of the Asia, and Admiral Hockin, who was a midshipman olthedryad. Both of these officers afterwards—the ope compiau^r of tl^et Rosamund and the Qther^s commander of tne Cumberland—saw service in the •„ Baltic during the Hussian wa £ They are not on the lijBt of the- Batb^ A-dmiraL Holland saw sfervice m 1832, and afterwards in China atnd, in th,e Black Sea. He was made a C.B. in 1871. On the captains'1 and commander^ lisjs there are just half-a-dozen officers who saw service before 1837: Captain J. C. Pitman, who as, a midshipman' was at Navarmo; Captain Sjtudd4rt, who was m'^urma ^nll £ 3 £ -26;; Captain Montague Burrows, who Was present in threp actions j against pirates in 1836, and afterwardsat the.capture j of 4ttr.e Captain G- Ht. served i against the (Malaya in. 1832, and wears also the Syrian,-Burmese, and Baltic medals; and Com- manders Ca^ley anjl Sl^de, who ..vjpre .a £ N^yari.no, ppar but. do,I)^t appear to WVQ seen any service since. I t ■ T-" if ]

1'IIE Amerlcan.wQlI)!D brQk records as easily as an ordinary servant breaks china. MI1. Elka Ganz- { field has just-been comi-nitted, for bigamy. That does j not seem so very much till one learn. that in all there j were 11 husbands, each of whom presumed that he was j legally married to the fascinating Mka. The lady j usually despoiled her bridegroom, and decamped t within ti week of marriagb; hardly once, did the spirit move her to wait for the]wane of the honeymoon,; or its Western equivalent; but she allowed from six months to a year to elapse between her various re- ndwals of the màrrilJge tie.. TilES French Government have appointed M. Carron to-the new post of Resident at Boussa on the Niger, and a naval officer, M. Bretonnet, has been given the title of French Resident on the Middle Niger. i The first of the two is the signiifcant one. Itisananswer first to Sir George Goldie's recent eonquering expedi- tion up the river, -and secondly to- the British claim that BotfflSa town and region lie within the British sphere. ily, tli6 third place, the, annexation of Boussa' would place the"French directly etween the British coast possessions and the interior, and divert the interior trade with Lagoa. tb French ports. Here is a nice little diplomatic quarrel. Will arbitration settle it ? 1

I A LADY'S INTERVIEW WITH OOM; PAUL. A Pretoria Lady Correspondent of the Westminster- (xazette writes: About 11 o'clock in the morning of Dr. Leyds's private secretaty, a pleasant young fellow, called round at my hotel, and said that the- President would be graciously pleased to see me. On reaching the Presidency, a low, one-roofed, building, with painfully new wooden palings in front, of it, I was introduced at the deor to a doughy-look- I ing youth, Mr. Tjaart Kruger, his father's private, secretary, with a fat salary! The President was seated at a round table when I went in, discoursing volubly to two ill-dressed burghers—on the prevalent topic of rinderpest, as I afterwards discovered so I sat down till he had finished with them. You know'what he is liket Add to it the most awful voice-an unhappy combin- ation of a croak and a growl. He had pipes and tobacco on the table, awd a dark blue glass spittoon, about a foot high, at his feet. A red and yellow cotton pocket-handkerchief- primary colours !—peeped forth from his chair. At one end of the room was an oil-painting of himself,, a statuette of ditto in a prominent corner, and 1 medallion of the eameunclassicai features I under the sideboard. The whole place is teeming with reproduc- tions of himself in canvas, stone, and metal, quite in the beat Pecksniiffnn manner. Two metal tortiises-probably tobacco-jars ?-not being a new- woman I couldn't discriminate—were lying at hand on the table. I wonder if they suggested his famous Uitlander simile ? When the two bucolics had retired, he motioned me to come nearer him, as if I were a patient in an East End surgery. I must say his manners match his appearanoe.. He's very grumpy at present," they say, and he certainly was. He solemnly shook hands, and then Dr. Leyds's private secretary translated what I had to say, and after listening in Eolemn silence in the dulJ;, dark" room to my request, he granted it in a- churlish manner. L I hoped Mrs. Kruger was well, following, longO ivtermllo, the Colonial Secretary. No, not very well, not seeing anyone," his Honour grunted. That was all; another solemn hand-shake,. and we parted1. "The President doesn't take on much polish," I remarked to the private secretary, as we descended the stoep. No." he laughed the President is essentially a farmer, and can doctor a sick ox with any of them." Yes," I replied "but not a sick State." Whereat he seemed much amused, but, like the Tar Bfby, be went on sayin' nuffin' to a mere woman's imprudent remark.

THE WORLD'S SPARE ROOAI. These little islands of our own, although they are pretty thickly packed, are by no means the most crowded portion of the globe. If the land, of England, Ireland, and Scotland were equally divided am,onget the inhabitants, each man, woman and child would have two acres to move about in. At Gibraltar and Malta they would have considerably less than, hs»lf an acre each—only a fair-sized garden. In the Mauritius, Egypt (excluding,the desert), and Be) in they would have an acre and a little bit. The Cape Colonists would each have a jaiee little farm of 100 acres the New Zealanderf would have the same, and the Tasmanians a little less. In Victoria they woufd havtf only 50 acres each; in Newfoundland, they would have 140, and in New South Wales 200. The Canadians would have more than they would know what to do with, for a division of their country would give each person 400 acres, or to each family about 2000 acres, or three, square miles. Queenslandera would beat the Canadians. Each Queenslander would have 1066 acres; South Australians would have 1509 acres; while Western Australians, if they divided qp their country, would each have the splendid property of 20 square miles, or 12,800 acres.

—s——S——WS*W— TRAGEDY IN A NAME. An [unfortunate accident has recently occurred to a family owing to neglect of prefectoral regulations, says the Paris correspondent of the Litncet.A, merchant who had begun to show signs of cerebral fatigue from overwork asked that he might undergo hydropathic treatment in the departmental asylum. He came out perfectly well, and continued his business. Two months later, on returning home one day, he found a letter addressed to his wife from the prefecture, and the envelope of this letter had upon it, in large letters, In the matter of the lunatic X." The unfortunate man, seeing himself stigmatised as a lunatic upon an envelope which all his bustaess-houee could have read, was seized with a sudden cerebral haemorrhage, and died almost instantaneously. There hot been naturally much unfavourable criticism of a system which allows of the sending of letters endorsed in this fashion by employees. The letter, it should be added, was simply a demand for the payment of a small sum still owing for the man's treatment while in the hospital.

DECADENCE OF THE NEGRO. In the days of slavery, although be had no luxury, the negro was reasonably comfortable, and, according to the-Hospital, his surroundings and mode of life were more healthy than they often are now. He lived in the country, whereas he now crowds into the towns his log cabin let in more air than the houses in.which he now often dwells; he was fairly fed, he kept better hours than he does now, and he was debarred from many excesses in which he indulges now without stint. Perhaps there are other causes still mora subtle. The negro is no longer a p,ure, African. The race is fast losing its individuality—' it is a multi-colored, instead of a black race-ana it would seem that this gradual admixture of Caucasian1 blood has done good to neither party, having re-f suited in a race anything but robust. At any rate, we are told that the majority of the negroes who die of consumption are of the lighter element. But here, again, it is by no means certain that other causes are not in operation besides racial instability. However completely we may accept the statistical facts presented to us, it is still clear that the explana-* tlon of them is a complex matter, and that they are open to various interpretations.

THE HISTORY OF A PICTURE. At the last meeting of the various Fine Art Societies of France M. Ponsonailhe gave an interest- ing account of the history of Raphael's famous picture The Three Graces," which, now adorns the Djic drAumale's gallery at Chantilly. It was picked up for a mere trifle ia Italy among a lot of old furniture by Henri Reboul sometime Deputy for Herault. After the fall of Napoleon be came back to- France in a state bordering on destitution, and sent his wife to Paris with this and a few other works of art, hoping to get a little ready money by their sale.. At the end of negotiations. extending over six months the authorities of the Louvre informed her that they had no funds at their disposal. The Three Graces was therefore put up to auction in 1822, and with- duawn, a* 600f. was the highest bid. At last Mdme Reboul found an English customer who gave her E150 for the masterpiece. It passed through several hands and was ultimately acquired by the Due dr Aumale for 635,000f., more than a thousand times the price offered half a century before. The French nation hardly deserves the good fortune which will, on the present owner's death, put it in possession of a treasure far which it refused to pay half»dozenfive> pound notes.

I T I'-UII; A REPORT is current that the ill-fated ex-Empress Charlotte is about to revisit Mexico, in the hope that this may minister to a mind diseased. Three-an4- JJ»rty years, ago she accompanied her husband thither, the Imperial crown of the country having been offered and accepted by the Archduke of Austria. She proved a devoted helpmate, and made many visits to Europe to strive to induce the Powers who had set him on tie throne to continue their support; but he was left to his fate; and when the Emperor was shot hy his subjects his poor wife's reason fled. She has been living since in seclusion in Belgium, believing herself to be still Empress. She is the possessor of a large fortune, and of late there has been some hope of a4 improvement in her mental condition. The doctors think a sea-voyage would do her good, and that perhaps a return to the land about which cluster the brightest memories of her life might strengthen the improvement. The Mexican Government, it is said, are prepared to give any neoessarr assistance- < <>