South Wales Echo

LONDON LETTER. j [SPECIALLY WIKED. j [AY OUR GAXLEUY CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Monday. The attention of all who take an interest in public affairs has to-day been directed to the remarkable speech addressed to the Reichstag by Prince Bismarck in explana* tion of his colonial policy. Despite the efforts of those who are nothing if not paradoxical to show that underlying the Chan- cellor's words is some direful threat towards England, the tone of public opinion generally appears to be favourable. The speech is regarded as a straightforward intimation I that Germany must henceforth be reckoned with as a colonial power, and that she will he no party to any aggression upon the rights of other powers, provided those other powers are prepared to deal with her in a friendly way. The meaning is evident that Prince Bismarck, despite the hesitating position of the Reichstag, is deter- mined upon carrying oat his colonial policy, and it is not good tactics to regard him as an enemy because he framed his speech in so plain a fashion. There is a curious statement described as semi-official" which is going the round of this evening's papers, denying that the Bishop of Manchester has been offered the Bishopric of London, and affirming that even if he had been, he would have refused it. As to the first part of the statement it was scarcely needful to publish such a denial, for not even the most convinced believers in the energy of the Prime Minister would conceive that he had tendered a bishopric to a possible candidate before the late occupant of the see had been laid in his grave, and this is what must be premised in the denial in question. The fact is that most of the talk about the future Bishop of London is premature. Mr Gladstone is not the man to settle such an important appointment off-hand, and, although his will be the selec- tion when it is made, it must not be for- gotten that the Queen has to be consulted upon it, and that her Majesty may have more than one word to say in connection therewith. A Londpn evening paper which is dis- tinguished above its Tory fellows by the rancour with which it pursues the Prime Minister, suggests to-day as the only reason for the manifest improvement in Mr Glad- stone's health is the receipt of better news from the Soudan. Less gifted individuals in the direction of supplying strained reasons for natural facts would take it that the im- provement is due to the thorough rest which Mr Gladstone is taking, and the hope is now general that the beginning of the session will find the right hon. gentleman in his accustomed place on the Treasury bench as full of vigour as ever. It is generally recognised that he will need all his strength to carry the Redistribu- tion Bill triumphantly through committee, for, although perhaps no dangerous combi- nations will have to bemet, there are suffi- cient elements of discord to make the com- mittee stage a long and weary one. The suffragan Bishop of Bedford, if one may judge from the letter he published in the Times to-day, is a litfo aggrieved that anyone should have thought him capable of coming over to the views of the majority of the people of this country (as shown again and again in the one representative chamber) upon the deceased wifes sister question. It is true, he says, that he "used some expressions of sym- pathy towards a person who had married his deceased wife's sister, conscientiously believing he was violating no law of God or man, "but as his sympathy took the somewhat singular form of refusing to admit the husband to the Communion, it was probably not valued quite so highly as that of a prelate even ought to be. In any case the bishop has disappointed a great many admirers of his earnest style of work, who thought that in this matter he had extricated himself from the non possumus position taken up by so many of his ecclesiastical brethren. The conference of members and friends of the Liberation Society, which is to assemble at the Memorial Hall to-morrow evening, is expected by its organisers to have an im- portant influence upon the disestab- lishment movement. Those who desire to free the Church from State control are determined not to allow the grass to grow under their feet, when once the new constituencies are constructed. They con- sider that for a sufficiency of time they have kept the question in the background, rather than give the least colour to the suggestion that they were splitting the Liberal party, and when the labourer is admitted to the vote they will strive their utmost to persuade him that disestablish- ment is in every respect a good thing. Mr Matthew Arnold is not to be moved from his resolve to resign his appointment as inspector of schools. He has held it now for over 30 years, during which time a great deal has happened in connection with systems of national education. His inten- tion is to return to the United States, where he will resume his lectures, extending his tour to San Francisco in the west and New Orleans in the south. The general impres- sion is that his last lecturing tour in the States was not a success. His voice was not able to carry his words to the uttermost ends of a large audience. Moreover, he read what he had to say, keeping his eyes closely fixed on his manuscript. This is extraordinary and al- most incomprehensible in a nation where speech-making is an acquirement almost as common as reading and writing. Many people having satisfied their curiosity by looking on the Apostle of Culture left the room, simply because they could not hear what he was saying. Probably no one went to hear him twice. To this extent the lec- tures were a failure but, financially, they were a success, and there yet remain wide tracts where the harvest is ungleaned. Be- sides, Mr Matthew Arnold, himself an in- structor, has not disdained to learn from others, and will do much better next time. His connection with the United States has recently been drawn closer by domestic ties. Mr Whitridge, who the other day married Miss Arnold, is an American resident in New York. It is astonishing what careful attention *nd skilful training can do for a man in the way of making a public lecturer of him. I 3uppose Archibald Forbes was at the outset one of the seemingly most hopeless aspirants for platform honours that ever put himself forward to win them. I remember his first 10 ssay made in the presence of some score of private friends. With the advantages of a small room and a friendly audience, he made a melancholy failure. His enunciation was imperfect he never moved his eyes from his manuscript, and was plainly exceedingly un- comfortable. Next time I heard him, some two years later, was in the big hall at St. James's, where, with admirable elocution and dramatic manner that kept the vast audience enchained, he recited his stirring story. He had in the meantime beerf "taking a few lessons." I think I have mentioned before that overtures have been made to Mr Burnand to visit the States and give a series of lectures.

The Higher-Grade School I ADMISSION OF PUPILS. The Work of the School. I Description of the Buildings. Although the higher grade school will not be formally opened until the Right Hon. A. J. Mundella, M.P., can redeem his promise to visit Cardiff in order to perform the ceremony, yet the school will be opened at once for the ad- mission of pupils. The members of the school board will visit the school this after- noon at 2.39 p.m., in order to inspect the building, and we take this opportunity of giving a view of the exterior of the new schools. The pro- ceedings to-day will be of a purely informal character, and the work of enrolling the pupils will be proceeded with from to-morrow. The completion of the building of the higher grade school, and the commencement of the work of education within its walls, may certainly be considered as subjects of great congratulation for Cardiff. Public opinion is rapidly developing on the question of these schools, and there is no longer any necessity to resort to elaborate argu- ments in order to prove the great want there is for them, and the enormous benefit which they are destined to confer upon the country. There are, of course, still to be found large numbers of people who oppose the de- velopment of education, just as there are large classes always willing to prove their want of common sense by disputing the value of any and S'A every proposal calculated to further the best and truest interests of the people. Rapidly, how- ever, the majority of the intelligent public are being won over to the cause of education and the paramount necassity for it. The battle has been, indeed, no very easy one, but the noble end to be gained is a powerful stimulus, and the object is one which is calculated to rouse the highest feelings of sincere enthusiasm. It is not too much to say that the national prosperity de- pends upon the extension of national education, and that the progress of the people will be im- peded, harassed, and ultimately stayed unless we move as fast as other nations in the work of educating the people. With many this proposi- tion is indeed fast becoming regarded as a truism. The sooner that the opinion is universal, the better for all concerned. It is indeed possible to go further than this, and to declare that the degree of intellectual culture attained by a nation is the measure of that country's worth. This is the proposition which all classes should lay to heart, and which all should endeavour to forward. Elementary education is undoubtedly a great thing, but it is not enough. It is but a step on the path of progress—a bold one may be, com- pared with the stumbling and halting of former days, but, after all, only a preliminary one when contracted with the promotion of that intellectual culture which we are confident will be looked upon in the near future as the true goal of national education. That none be forced To drudge through weary life without the aid Of intellectual implements and tools; A savage h,) role among the civilised, A servile band amonir the lordly free. The higher grade schools, or perhaps, more cor- rectly speaking, advanced elementary schools, form one of the spans of the bridge which stretches from the shore of complete ignorance to that of comparative culture. But only one, and they are not intended to be more. They carry the pupils forward one further stage, and enable them to see more clearly the advantages to be reaped by completing the journey, while at the same time they fit them far more thoroughly for attempting the task. Their work, bowever, requires to be supplemented by that of higher schools still, and then to be comparatively per- fected by a proper course of university training. It would be ridiculous to suppose that everyone can enjoy the advantages of a university career. but there is a great necessity for the extension and popularisation of university teaching and the system of education can never be considered com- plete until, as Mr Mundella is so fond of quoting, ample provision has been .made for M the poor clever child," and that ample provision means the opportunity to enjoy and profit by every kind and degree of sound, thorough, and intellectual training. The opening of the higher grade school in Cardiff is a very satisfactory, if only a partial, acknow- ledgment of this fact, and we are glad to regard, it as an earnest promise and determination to secure the ultimate end in view, and not to halt until that be accomplished. When once the higher grade school is in good working order, the establishment of an intermediate sctiool will follow with comparative easeand almost as a matter of course, while that, combined with the college, will constitute excellent materials out of which I the thorough extension of popular education can be organised. It is to be hoped, however, that there will be no halt until that end be gained, and the system be;as complete as we would wish it. In view of this it is satisfactory to note the excellence of the arrangements made as to the present school. The greatest care has been exercised in the selection of the teaching staff, and the details which appeared in our columus reeently show that both in the head master, Mr James Waugh, M.A., and head mistress, Miss Mary H. Ramsay, L.L.A., the school board are to bi congratulated upon the selections. Every endeavour has also been made to till other posi- tions with thoroughly efficient teachers, and there is thus the certainty of the school starting under the best tuitional auspices. The course of studies at the schools will necessarily depend upon the character and present ac- quirements of the pupils. The school will be pre- pared to take up the work from the point which those scholars have reached who have passed, or would be able to pass, Standard IV. It is, how- ever, necessary that it should be very clearly understood that children need not have previously attended a board school in order to be able to enter at the higher grade school. Those who have been such scholars, and can produce the certificate of having passed Standard IV., will be eligible for admission while those who have not, will be required to pass a preliminary examina- tion equivalent to that standard and for this a number of papers have been already prepared by Mr C. T. Whitmell, her Majesty's inspector of schools for Cardiff. The names of pupils will commence to be enrolled on Wednesday, and the examination will, we understand, be held either on Thursday or Friday, or on both of those days. The subjects of Standard IV. are simple enough, and include a little reading, dictation, writing in copy books, arithmetic as far as compound rules and reduction of common weights and measures, the recitation of poetry, and some geography. This will be the groundwork on which the masters of the new school will have to build, and the subjects which they will be prepared to teach include a large range from reading and writing to languages, science and ap- plied mathematics, according to the individual capacity and education of the pupil. According to the Government regulations, the subjects of Standards V., VI., and VII. will be taught, with which will be given English and geography as class subjects, Latin, French, and mathematics as special subjects, and drawing, freehand, geometrical, and model. For pupils who have passed Standard VII., a special advanced class will be formed. Music also, as one of the subjects of inspection, will be taught to the whole school. So far, no arrangement has been made by the school board as to drill, but we understand that the head master has in view its introduction at an earlydate-an improvement which,we think,would be very decided. The hours of attendance will be the same as those at other board schools, and the terms involve a weekly fee of 9d, payable in advance, the scholars having, in addition, to pro- vide their own books. It will be seen from these details that the work of the school is likely to be good, and it is satisfactory to learn that there is every proba- bility of the enrolment of a large number of pupils at the commencement. It is hoped, and intended, gradually to raise the standard, and so to endeavour to make it as advantageous as possible at the com- mencement of the scholars' studies, and it is, we understand, proposed to offer certain scholarships for competition. The question that will suggest itself is, however: what will the pupils do when they arrive at the end of their school course ? At present there is no institution to which they can go, and yet it would be a very hard thing for Welsh lads of great promise to be obliged to give up their studies for the want either of means or opportunities to prosecute them further. This is a matter which may well hold the attention of the board, and it is one to which we know some of the members individually are devoting very serious consideration. What good work these higher-grade schools have done and are doing is pretty well known, but we give two communications upon the subject which will be of general interest, as clearly illustrating their importance in large industrial towns. Mr J. A. Craigie, clerk to the School Board of Govan, Glasgow, writes The Govan Parish School Board, which ha3 under its jurisdiction a large district immediately adjoining the city of Glasgow, and 'ontaining a population of about 140,000, has 15 schools under its charge, three of which have been specially adapted for affording instruction in the higher, as well as in the ordi- nary, subjects prescribed in the code. These schools are attended by children ranging from the infant department upward—differing somewhat in this respect from the system pursued by some large boards in England, under which the work of these schools begins at the 4th standard. The children who attend are those whose parents rank largely as the lower-middle class, and who occupy houses of from JB15 to 25(1 annual rental. They comprise warehousemen, clerks, cashiers, foremen, shopkeepers, and the better class of tradesmen, with a sprinkling of a class even higher in the social scale. The education imparted in the ordinary public schools was of such excellent quality that the children of the working classes were sent out into'the world much better equipped, educationally, than those who bad been taught at private academies, in which the education was usually of the most superficial kind. Hence, the demand made by ratepayers, who were contribu- ting largely to the school rates, for schools where a thoroughly sound education could be got-an education for which they had the guarantee of Government inspection, and for which they were perfectly willing to pay a larger fee than that charged in the ordinary schools. On this point, the Right Hon. W. E. Forster, in opening one of the three schools in question—Albert-road—made the following remarks -"The middle class, and especially the lower-middle class, pay their full share, owing to the circumstances of their being, many of them, in order to carry on their business, obliged to live in rather more expensive houses in proportion to their income, and thus many pay more than their share of the rates. There is no class that pays in both rates and taxes so large a proportion out of their income as the lower section of the middle class and the higher section of the class|of which you have a large num- ber in Glasgow. They are paying these rates for the education of the children of their fellow citizens—the elementary education — and they say, We have a right to get a return for our rates by a5 least the same amount of money per child for our children." And they have such a right meat undoubtedly. The three higher fee schools under this board are attended by upwards of 2,009 children, and, educationally and finan- cially, have proved a great success. The fees, which are paid quarterly in advance, range from 5s tc 12s 6a per quarter. The results of the last inspection of these schools show that the average piss in the three R's was respectively 89"35,97'37, "nd 95'67 per cent; that 163 passed in literature, 104 in Latin, 52 in mathematics, 183 in French, 6 in Greek, 4 in German, and 68 in physical geo- graphy. One of the schools was examined for the first time. The schools are well staffed, a. num- ber of the teachers being graduates, and others having attended the University for several sessions. In two of the schools three 'pupil teachers are employed; the other having none. These three schools, since their opening, have cleered all expenses, and have shown a credit balance to the rates-all payments being in- cluded, except interest on ana repayment of loans. In the working of these schools for the first year or two there was necessarily a small charge on the rates, but when the attendance approached the accommodation, the experience of the board has been that they formed no charge on the rates. The demand for these schools in large centres of population is sure to increase; and in this parish the board have a fourth school of the kind refer- red to—which will be one of their finest-nearing completion, and which will accommodate up- wards of 1,100 children. In 'all these schools chemical apparatus and appliances are provided, and classes conducted in connection with the Science and Art Department in the subjects of chemistry, magnetism, and electricity." Mr John Arthur Palmer, of the Bradford School Board, writes:—" Under this board there are four higher schools, two for boys and two for girls. The first (Feversham-sftreet boys) was opened in March, 1876 Belle Vue, boys and girls, in August, 1879; and Oarlton-street, girls, in May, 1883. There is a uniform fee of 9d per week. No half timers admitted, but all standards may be taught. All the ordinary subjects are taught with two specific subjects for the Govern- ment examination (either chemistry, botany, physics, or animal physiology), and two for the I board's examination (either Frenoh, mathematics, or hygiene). As a rule all the assistant-teachers are trained and certificated, and one allowed to about every 35 scholars. The only books the scholars are required to purchase, are those for home use, and drawing books and exercise books. There are 30 scholarships open to scholars of the ordinary board schools, provided the parents of the candidates are poor and deserving persons. These scholarships may be held for three years on certain cpnditions which are made known in the schools prior to an examination. The net cost to the rates for these schools is about the same as the ordinary board schools." I DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS The site of the new buildings has been chosen with good judgment, and the excellently open surroundings are in themselves strong recom- mendations. The schools and playgrounds occupy a slightly irregularly-shaped piece of ground at the corner of Fitzalan-place and Howard-gardens —being part of the land popularly known as the Ten-acre Field. The site was purchased from the Marquis of Bute especially for the schools, and is about 320 feet in length by 175 feet in width. The building itself stands in the middle of the ground, being flanked on either side by the playgrounds. The exterior of the schools, of which we give a view, is decidedly pleasing, and the stylo of architec- ture, though not specially distinctive, has much in common with that recent phase of classic work which combines picturesqueness with the more stately "five orders," and which may be gener- ally described as English Renaissance. The front, which is about 150 feet in length, is in the form of a central block, surmounted by a turret, rising to a height of about 70 feet, a tasteful central pediment and a gable on either side lightening and relieving the facade. The chief material is that known as local fire brick of a yellow tint, the mortar joints being red; the dressings are of Bath stone, interspersed with grey Bridgend stone and courses of red brick while the roof is composed of green slate, finished with red tile crestings. The effect of the whole is decidedly pleasing, and the choice of the materials has been judicious in view of the style of the building. There is no needless ornamentation, nor is there any attempt to sacrifice utility for appearance. The same principle is noticeable inside, where many of the arrangements are as excellent as they are simple. The building is arranged in two floors, the ground floor being intended for the boys and the upper floor for the girls. The entrances for each are of course separate and distinct. The entrance for the boys is at the north end of the building and leads through a lobby to the corridor. At the right-hand arc the cloak rooms and lavatory, and a room for the use of the head master. Facing these is the first of the class-rooms, about 30 feet by 20 feet 6 inches, and this is intended for 60 scholars. This room is so arranged that it can be used for a separate class, having its own entrance direct from the corridor. Next is the main schools room, constructed to hold some 150 scholars is about 77 feet in Jength and 22 feet 6 in. in width. At the end of the long room are two other class-rooms, to accommodate 70 and 60 pupils respectively, while from the middle of the main school,close by the master's desk,afifth class-room branches off, intended to seat 80 scholars, bring- ing the total accommodation for boys to 430. The height of the rooms on the ground floor is 16 feet, and allowance has been made for the pupils to have a sufficient cubic space. An ar- rangement has been can-led out by inserting in each of the walls a glass partition, by which the head master, sitting in the main school, can see what is going on in the class-rooms. This will prove, perhaps, a good precautionary measure, unless the disadvantages of sound should more than counterbalance those of supervision. The windows in the rooms are placed so as to get the best and steadiest,light possible. An important feature in connection with the boys' department is a separate building at the rear of the school which is fitted up as a laboratory, and intended to accommodate 32 pupils. The fittings are com- plete and the arrangements satisfactory. It was, we understand, originally intended to have had a glass dome to this building for the purposes of light, but it was afterwards consi- dered unnecessary by the board. If the room has any defect, it will, perhaps be found to be in the matter of light. The arrangement of the girls' portion of the schools is very similar to that of the boys', with the exception that there are only three class- rooms in addition to the main school, instead of four, and that thus the accommodation is not so great, being for 360 as against 430. The girls' class-rooms are approached from the main en- trance by a strong flight of concrete steps, seven feet wide, while there is a separate staircase leading direct to the playground. The rooms are on the same lines as those on the ground floor, except, perhaps, that intended for the use of the head mistress, which can hardly be said to 'have a very pleasing or comfortable took about it. Careful attention has been paid to the warming, the ventilation,and the drainage. The building is warmed throughout by hot water pipes, and an even and healthy temperature can be thus maintained. The arrangements for ven- tilation are simple enough, but we should think sufficient to get none of the unpleasant banquet <T enfant, which is so prevalent in close and crowded class-rooms. Measures are adopted to secure a free egress for ,foul air by means of ventilators in the ceilings, which carry away the vitiated air by means of trunks which communicate with the ventilating stack in the centre of the building. The ingress of fresh air is secured by a series of vertical shafts in each wall, which can be closed or opened at will, the free rush of air being ensured by means of a patent ap- paratus. Each of the class-rooms has the gas laid on to it although the present supply will probably prove to be hardly sufficient for practi- cal purposes. The drainage also has been most carefully arranged. Throughout the interior of the building there has been a satisfactory dispo- sition not to loose sight of practical considera- tions, and the place seems to be well suited and fitted for the work which is to be done in it. The slight defects we have men- tioned, to which we may add, perhaps, some dampness in the playgrounds, will no doubt be altered in a little time, when matters have begun to get into working order. We should also like to have seen a small gymnasium erected for the lads. There is no accommodation for any of the teaching staff, but a small house has had to be provided for the caretaker. It is satisfactory to know that the works has not ex- ceeded the amount of the original contract price, 99,200, for which sum the buildings will be finished. The architects are Messrs Seward and Thomas, of St. John's Chambers, who have taken the greatest interest in the work. The contractor is Mr C. Burton, of Cardiff, who is well known as having carried out several of the largest build- ing contracts in the town.

THE CORPORATION OF LONDON having required the premises of the Bankrupt Agency Association, 29, Ludgate-hill, E.G., for city improvements, the Alliance Clothing Company, 33, St. Mary-street, beg most re- spectfully to infoim the inhabitants of Cardiff and neighbourhood that they have taken over the whole of the above company's stock, comprising Hobson and Co.'s stock of clothing, George'Oliver's stock of hosiery and ties, and Strauss Bros.' stock of fancy goods for immediate sale at a trifle over one-half the original invoice cost. Sale now proceeding at the Alliance Clothing Company, 33, St. Mary-street, Cardiff. 244 A HOUSEHOLD WORD.—Harri s's Oil Portrait -Agent. for Cardiff Wm. Williams,13, Moira-st, 53867 MEDICINES, ELASTIC STOCKINGS, CHEMICALS, DRUGS, &c., by parcel post, under lib, 3d, Kay Bros., Stockport. 213 THE VERY BEST! "I have examined the Pills known as KERNICK'S VEGETABLE PILLS. I certify their composition to be purely vegetable. I have also tried their effect, a.ud consider them one of the best Aperient Pills for consti- pated habits that I know of. "(Signed), JCHN BALBIRNIE, M.A., M.D." Hi Sold by all Chemists, in 7d, 13id, and 2s 9d boxes. -=-=::=. UNFAILING REMEDY FOR^HEADACHES KERNICK'S VEGETABLE PILLS. 11, FOR INDIGESTION Sold by all Chemists, &c., in 7 £ d, 13 £ d, and 2s 9d boxes. BEWARE OF IMITATIONS KAY'S COMPOUND, for Coughs and Colds, is equally serviceable for. Horses and Cattle, 9jd, Is lid, and 2s 9d. 213 KAY'S COMPOUND, for Colds and Coughs Sold hSroughout the WarJ Is 1*4 adj Ac. jigy Bros., export. I+,

YANKEE YARNS. Will you pull the bell ?" she asked of a man across the aisle as the car reached the corner. No, madam" he answered with a bow but I will be most happy to pull the strap which rings the bell." "Ah! but never mind! The strap is connected with two bells, and you might stop the wrong end of the car!" And the look she turned upon him was full of triumph veneered with cayenne pepper. Gilhooly and Gus de Smith entered an Austin restaurant and sat down at a table. What will you have, gentlemen 1" asked the obsequious wai- ter. "I'll take three boiled eggs," said Gus. '"And you,'sir?" "I'll take the same, but be sure and have mine fresh, said Cilhooly. The waiter goes to the speaking tube and calls out: "Six boiled eggs: three of them have got to be fresh. HOPES NIPPED BY AN EARLY FROST. My dear, it is too bad, but you will have to go without that sealskin sacque I promised you." Oh, I hope not!" It is too true; and the pony and cutter I was to get for Johnriy as a Christmas present must be given up, too." Dear me!" "And our longhopfed for removal to a fashionable brown-stone front is indefinitely post- poned." Horrors, husband, what has happened ?" The water pipes burst last night. "-Philadelpha Call. I KNEW WHAT HE WANTED. Oh, I hope your honour will give me -11 Silence thundered Justice Welds. Please do give me—" Silence! There's a clear case of vagrancy against you." I know it, and I im- implore you to give—' If you don't stop I'll send you on the island for a month." That's just what I want. "Oh!" "Yes, sir." "All, ha!" It's very cold weather." "Make it two months, eh?'* coaxingly. uNo, your honour. I beg—" "All right." You're a daisy." "I'll make it six months if you are too familiar." Then you aint a daisy. Thank you for the month, sir." The romance of a young Bostonian who married a New York lady last winter is told by a corre- spondent. They went abroad for a wedding trip of six months, and after their return one of his acquaintances said to the bridgroom. Well, my dear boy, I suppose you are delighted with your pretty wife? You think her a radiant goddess no doubt ? Men always do have extravagant notions of their wives the first year of marriage. The Bostonian smiled rather drearily as he replied, Well, the fact is, my wife has too many clothes for every possible occasion, and they are of such resplendent patterns that my time has been mainly taken up in ackniring them. I have not got really acquainted with my wife yet; but I dare say that in the course of a year or so I shall get down to the actual woman," I THE BAD BGY. I "What is it about your pa and ma having a scrapping match in a car at the depot the other day ? said the groceryman to the bad boy, as he showed up with his market basket one morning. "The man at the depot who sings out for trains says your pa tried to kiss an old maid and she scratched him, and then your ma jawed him, and he jumped off the car and let your ma go on to Chicago. Your pa must be an old heathen," and the groceryman took a knife and began to whittle the lead out of the bottom of a two-pound weight. "Well, you would a dide if you had been there," said the bad boy, as he cut off a piece of sausage and began to unbutton its overcoat with a knife. You see, ma was going to Chicago to buy some cheap comforters for beds, 'cause she read in a paper that comforters that had been in a fire, and was watersoaked and smelled frowsy, could be bought at your own price, and she said they were good enough for boarders. I and pa went down to the depot to see her off. We went in the car and got ma a seat, and pa went out to get ma's valise checked. I thought pa would come back just about the time the train started, so I told ma she better take a seat way back in the stern of the car, 'cause it would be out of tbe draft, and just as she got up to change, an old maid about a hundred years old came in the car with a basket and a lot of things, and I said, Madame, you can have this seat,' and she thanked me and squatted down in it. Honest. I hope to die if I thought pa would come in and hug the old maid, but pa is getting kind of nigh-sighted, and when he showed up in the door of the car my heart thumped so I could hear it. He was walking up to the old maid and looking smiling, and ma said, 'You better go and tell your pa that I have changed my seat,' and I started t tell pa, hut I didn't hurry. Don't you know a boy sometimes lingers when he ought to be quite sudden?. Pa says he can see just as well as he ever could, .and I knew a darn site better. He gets mad every time any of us tells him he is losing his eye-sight, and when I saw him going up to that centennial female, look- ing as though he had known her ever since the war, I thought it would be a good time to demonstrate to pa that his eyes were a little off. 0, but didn't she look sassy at him when he said, Here's a check I got for you so you wouldn't get lost.' Just then the conducior shouted all aboard,' and pa took hold of the strange woman by both sides of her bead, and pulled her mouth around and said, Come back at 8'15 to your own chick-a- biddy,' and then he smacked her so that people in the car all heard it. Honest, the conductor outside heard it and thought it was the air-brake busted. Well, I don't know the woman hit pa, but it seemed ad though she must have rared right up and kicked him with four feet, 'cause he went up nearly to the bell-rope, and yelled quit that,' and the old girl screamed for the police, and pa saw me and said, Where's your mar ?' and I told him she was back there, and he said, 4 Who's been moving her,' and then ma she began to get mad, and when pa came up she did give him fits. She called him a lysenshus old kazoo, and a free lover and a Mormon, and he said she had no business to have moved. He said when a man sat his wife down in a seat it was her duty to remain steadfast there or thereabouts, or no- body was safe, and our liberties were in danger. Ma kride and said pa was a great burden to bare, but she gave him her handkerchief to wipe some blood off his nose, where his mash scratched him. The conductor came in when the woman screamed, and she pointed to pa and said he had tried to rob her, and the conductor told pa to get off, and he bid ma good-bye coldly and we went out. Well, I like to dide afore we got to the street car, and pa was looking peculiar, like when he is thinking, and I thought I ought to say some- thing, so after I had paid the fare in the street car, I sat down by pa and I said, Pa, you ain't much of a judge of wimmen. If you wanted to kiss a stranger there was a girl two seats back of that old maid as pretty as a picter.' Pa kept chewing his gum real fast, the way he always does when he is mad, and he said,' You hush up and then, after a little, he said to me, Look a here, young man, if I find 'you got your ma to change seats with that old pair of human clothes bars just to play a joke on me, it iB going to go mighty hard With you, condum you.' 1 looked hurt, and asked pa if I looked like a boy that would deli- berately steer his pa into the jaws of death just for fun, and he said it didn't seem as though I would, but it looked a good deal like it. I told him that when a man's eyesight began to fail he couldn't be too earful about kissing promiscuously around in a coach, and he said his eye-sight was just as good as ever. He said if he had looked at the woman he could have told the difference, but he just took it for granted ma was just where he left her. And then he fouud his hand was bleed- ing, and he said there ought to be a law against women wearing daggers in their hair." "How did they fix it up when your ma got home ?"ask,ed the grocery man. "Taint fixed up yet," said the boy, as he took up his basket to go home. Ma has tried for two days to corral pa, and get an explanation, but he is out every day, and till late into the night, getting his outfit to go south with me. He has borrowed two Winchester rifles, and has got several revolvers. Pa thinks he has got to fight his way through the south just as Sherman did when he went to the sea. The only way pa can rea- lize that the war is over, is to go down there, and if I don't make him ashamed of his opinion of the people of the south before he comes back, and make him own up that they are the most peace- ful and hospitable people on earth, then my name isn't Hennery. There's nothing catches pa like hospitality. He had rather be somebody s guest than not. Well, I must go home and pack up a couple of bushels of pa's cartridges, and the bad boy went out whistling, When Johnny Comes Marching Home."

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ONLY A GOVERNESS. "I invite people to my house precisely as I arrange bouquets, my dear," said Mrs John Grainger, suddenly looking up from the little ala- baster vase over which she had been busy for the last half hour. Some people always will insist on crowding themselves with celebrities-the lovely Miss This, the fascinating Mrs That, and distinguished So and So, like a bunch of tulips, with not so much as a leaf to tone them down, and then when the lions all get annoyed because they can't and won't admire each other—the lovely Miss This is pouting, and the distinguished So and So in sulks-the poor little dis- appointed hostess doesn't know what to do. She has asked all the nicest people she knew, and she can't see why it is not pleasant. Now I ask my nobodies first, just as I arrange the epergne, so that the glories of the roses may shine forth more royally. First, my substantials-my wealthy papas, my useful and domestic young ladies, my quiet people, that fill up to the blanks and don't expect any extraordinary attention,and 'do the admiration' for two or three lions, who are sure to be gracious, and do their best, because they have plenty of room and admirers." Good laughed I. "Now, I know where I belong—among the quiet people that fill up the blanks and do the admiration!' Eh, Mrs Grainger ?"' But not a whit.disconcerted was that witty and wise little leader of fashion. My dear Miss Maxwell, how could you think such a thing ? I had hoped you would do me the justice to remember that some I asked out of pure selfishness, simply because they were my most valued friends." I hnped I received this somewhat sentimental avowal, aided as it was by a cambric handker- chief and a pair of expressive blue eyes, with a Eroper amount of innocence in* my face jjbut in my eart I laughed. I had learned too long ago the estimation in which the world holds poor and plain old maids to be ruffled. If Mrs Grainger invited me because she wished her son to marry the beauty and heiress, Belle Tarleton, and Belle would go nowhere without me. whom she had dubbed her little Mentor,that was Mrs Grainger's affair, not mine. I was there for my pleasure. I liked the old house, with its cool, wide halls and though it was so far from. the beach that you could only hear, not see, the sea-I, who had no beaux, and was consequently not afraid of thick shoes or an unbecoming flush-could at any time wander off and feast my eyes on something as grey and restless as myself. Then, too, I loved Bella. Our friendship had existed since our school-days, when I, a member and an oracle of a senior class, had taken under the wings of my protection the shy, pale, awkward child who had ripened into that full, fair, stately brunette miracle of beauty-smooth-browed, large-eyed, indolently, faultlessly lovely, as she sat twisting the ends of her wrapper, with a loek that I knew meant secret wrath and dis- content. And no wonder-for Arthur Grainger's con- duct was really unbearable. He had been as her shadow all the winter-his mother wished him to marry her. I was sure, and so he might have been, if he was not intolerably stupid, that Belle would not say nay. I have my own notions about men and matrimony, and am not prepared to say that a woman has arrived at the ne plus ultra of human happiness when she has achieved a husband but Belle loved him, and as Arthur Grainger was no worse and rather better than most men, I saw no reason why she should not have her toy. So there we were waiting expec- tant-I am not certain but manoeuvring also and the happy man without rivals, a jealous young lady or an opposing mamma, sat by his beloved, talked, rode, and walked with her con- tinually, and let almost an entire season slip through his fingers without ever once proposing. It was too provoking. And I won't endure it," declared Bella, pas- sionately, to me. "Every one knows how matter are, and I actually appear to be waiting here till his lordship deigns to throw me the handkerchief. You needn't say a word, Belinda. I shall leave next Monday." Knowing the uselessness of all arguments, I did as I was told and said nothing. Not so Mrs Grainger. She expostulated with all the eloquence of which she was capable and finding Belle obdurate, lost no time in proclaiming the melancholy tidings—hoping, perhaps, to bring her son to his senses. He had not, however, even the grace to start, and, whatever might have been his emotions, ate his meals with perfect calmness. "Ytou see!" flashed Belle's eyes across the table to me. Mrs Grainger bit her lip and drank a cup of coffee; that done, she proposed our famous beach party-proposed, not discussed-she never did that others saved her the trouble. Ways and means were agitated over the coffee and toast till the important question, proving too lengthy to be settled within the limits of breakfast time, was carried into the drawing-room. We were to take provisions with us and spend the day. The matrons were to superintend the commissariat department; the younger ladies were to invent a style of dress which should be as becoming in the evening as on starting. You and Miss Maxwell will ride with me, of course," said Arthur, who had been talking with much animation. My mother and the dowagers will take the carriage; Mr Galveston, I under- stand, takes the responsibility of the Misses Leigh Mr Hunter, Miss Manry the Messrs. Herbert, Mademoiselles Lloyd and Elliott, and-" That is all," said Mrs Grainger. Arthur's eyes wandered over to the bay window where the hem of a black skirt was just visible. "There is Miss Wood." There will be no room." Why not?" My wagonette holds four, and I have only Miss Tarleton and Miss Maxwell. Why not let her go and take Valerie ? You keep that child too closely at her studies." Well, she migut sit with John on the box of the carriage, and I can hold Valerie, I suppose," hesitated Mrs Grainger, evidently surprised. There is no need of that. We have more than enough room in my waggonette," persisted Arthur. I looked straight at Belle, but she had not heard a word. She and Miss Elliott were talking over their dresses. As I turned away I caught sight of Miss Wood's pale face looking out from the curtains, and was absolutely electrified by its expression such powerful motion blazed in her eyes and trans- figured her face. Arthur saw it, too, and went hastily up to her. "You will go?" he asked, with a look that Belle would have given her diamonds to receive. I could not catch her reply, it was so low and indistinct; but I saw vehement, almost angry de- nial written on her face. He bent his handsome head till his curls almost brushed her forehead. For my sake," I heard him urge. "Bessie," called Belle at that moment, I' ao come up stairs there's a dear, good Mentor, i want to talk to you about the trimming on tnat grey dress." I was vexed enough for I wanted to see more of that unnoticed scene in the bay window. There was some mystery there worth my fathom- ing for Miss Wood, before Mr Grainger bent his proud head so humbly, was a pale little governess. Why did Arthur wish her to go? Would she M? I asked- myself again and again, while ostensibly listening to Belle, who had grown eloquent on the respective ments of dress materials. An hour settled all my doubts. When we went down to the door, amply prepared for an excur- sion, there was Miss Wood with Valerie (a shy child of ten or eleven years), to'my intense chagrin, I confess, for I had already begun to fear and dislike her. Before I had scarcely looked at her but I studied her face line for line—the broad brow; the large, puzzling brown eyes; the somewhat irregular features: and pale, though not sickly, complexion; only to find myself baffled and repulsed, by a something looking out of her calm eyes that was past my reading. She was, and she was not, beautiful. She lacked fullness of contour, brilliancy of colour—I had had almost said expression, so absolutely still and cold was her look and yet, that haunting, name- less grace, that very essence of beauty that we call" charm II was there, compelling even my admiration, and making me confess, low to myself, that Belle might find in her a formidable rival. Not so thought Belle, however, or rather she thought nothing at all about it. She was superb in that braided, tight-fitting, cocquettish grey dress of hers, and little garden hat, and she knew it. Arthur Grainger, if he had any eyes in his head, must have known it too and though she did stare when that gentleman, after helping her in, placed Miss Wood in the driving seat, also leaving Valerie and myself to occnpy the back, she wae too good-natured or too carless to manifest any other sign of surprise, and evidently forgot the whole matter a moment after in the far more important case of properly adjusting her wrap. The morning was cocl and braciiig-tbe drive delightful-the horses in good condition—Arthur unusually devoted and these elements being properly mixed with a little self-deception, Belle drank off such draughts of that frothy stuff called happiness that her spirits presently rose to the frolicsome degree; aftd throwing off$11 affecta- tion she came out in her most charming pha.se- that of a careless, mirth-loving child. as Not so I, sitting stiffly erect, and grini 20 Medusa herself. Through the aid of my ne acquired spectacles of jealousy, I saw that, Arthur talked to Belle, he looked to Miss Wood* who received his glances with a composure tha'1' made me want to box his ears. He was all atten- tion to Belle-all soul for the governess. he- advised Belle to put on her cloak, as the breeze met us damp and chill from the water, but hr. wrapped Miss Wood's cloak about her without saying a word. He stared full at Belle with the cool and critical admiration of an artist; he stohl glances at Miss Wood, seizing the moment she looked away to lot his eyes wander over her facfc taking in every detail eagerly and passionately; in short, the man was in love—and as surely a5 my name was Belinda, and I was a confirmed old maid, and always meant to be, unless the- right man should happen to come along—with that I little designing puss of a governess. It was too vexatious, after all the dresses Belle had made that season. I really think he ought to havfi been sued for breach ox promise and made fctf pay for wounded affection and milliners' bills. Bu* I to return to the rendezvous for our company ai*, airy villa, with light balconies and long window I from whence you looked out full on the Channel.. the house, in tine, of Arthur Grainger, bachelor— the gossiping capital of innumerable tea-tables, and the most fallacious and slippery foundation of the biggest air-castle I ever built. I have al- ways argued with that. Profound wisdom for which I am distinguished "Belle is the only young lady whom he honours with his attention, and if he doesn't mean anything by it, why in the world has he built that house?' which, by the, by, was very much what Kate Lloyd as lie danced up, swinging her hat and looking saucy (that was her forte) to where he stood on the steps, talking to Belle, holding Valerie by tlitf hand, and glancing as usual at that Miss Wood. A very pretty cage, Mr Grainger-but where's the bird ?" Arthur looked politely contemptuous. I don't understand you, Miss Lloyd." "No? Do you wish us to understand that you built this lovely little Moorish affair only for yw-ir own special use ?" Why not, Miss Kate?" Why not ? Hear the man ? he, a bachelor, a- being existing only by the sufferance of our com- passionate sex, entitled to no privileges whatever —a sort of outcast to be brought into the fold- a savage to be reclaimed-t, nuisance, in short, only to be endured on condition of his reforming as soon as possible; that is, marrying the first gIrl he can find silly enough to take him-he has the audacity to ask me, why not ? Why, Mr Grainger, a bachelor has no business to have a house at "Granting that,"rejoined Arthur, lookingatten' tively at Belle,who hadgrown unaccountably ros>'s might there not be such a thing as providing your cage first, and catching your bird after- wards ? We are told to first catch our hare.' Oh! but we are talking of hearts." "Very much the same thing." "Are they? What do you think turning ,y ? suddenly on Miss Wood, standing by, silent, and apparently hardly listening. Really, I have never given the subject mj attention, returned that extraordinary little per- son, with perfect coolness, and taking Valerie by the hand she marched into the house. Arthur bit his lip. Miss Lloyd looked puzzled, while Belle's large eyes dilated and: glared, and the rich blood leaped up in her clear cheek, to fade as suddenly away again into a dull, angry white. She saw at last. The day neither passed nor flow-iib worried away. Belle was piqued and much grieved. I was scolding secretly, and Arthur seemed ill at ease. As a consequence, ill-humour, which, io my opinion, is as contagious as the measles. soon seized on the rest of the party, and in at hour or two ever one was sulking. The watel was too cold—the sun too hot—there were no# enough biscuits and too much chicken—the whole thing was a bore, and an early return advisable. Our wagonette chanced to be brought up first. Valerie and I took possession of the back seat. Miss Wood perched herself where she was before, Belle was already in, looking cross and jadedo and Arthur was coming down the steps witb Belle's shawl, which she had forgotten, when af accidental movement on the part of some of the others started the high-spirited horses, already restive from the delay, and with one powerfw spring that jerked the reins from the coachmoot they were tearing wildly down the road, making straight for the beach. A moment s work, and how it had changed foj i f'biogs. Already the petty strifes ambitions of this life were fast fading and paling in the light of the eternity to which we s* rushing so wildly. There had been a groan, we knew there were white faces and wringing hands behind us, but we knew there could be nO pursuit-that would be only to hasten our do, struction. We were quite helpless. Vaierie had fainted-Belle was filling the air with shrieks and cries for help. I sat frozen and apathetic frolo the extremity of my terror. Only a few moments more, and the wagonette was swaying terribly- the horses were growing wilder and still mors unmanageable. A stone, a tree by the road, the possibility of a breaking axle, were all that noW divided us from death. The white lines of the waves came in sight. "The water, the water!" shrieked Belle. Help! oh, help quick mercy—mercy Be still," said Miss Wood, for the first timo moving since the horses started. "You frighten them still more with your senseless clamour." Belle answered by another shriek. Miss Wood looked at her with a mixture of pity and contempt, and holding with one hand on the wagonette, with the other to unloose her shawl, and drawing it around her waist. Hold on as I do, by one hand," she said, turning again to Belle, and take the ends with the other." Belle stared vacantly at her, but made no effort to obey her. The governess made a passionate gesture with the hand that held the shawl. Woman, don't you understand? It is for lifll —I must got those reins, and I want both hands. Can you reach them ?' and she turned as well "ø she could towards me. The moment before I had been stupidly help' less, but some inkling of her brave design waS beginning to penetrate by benumbed brain, and with hope gained strength. With no small difficulty, tossed and thrown we were by thjj swaying of the vehicle, I seized and held firmly the ends of the shawl, wedging myself on the floor between the two seats. Then Miss Wood, cautiously at f8 boldly after* wards, when she found how firm was my grasp* kneeled and, leaning over, grasped for the reins, trailing under the feet of the flying horses. AS we flew towards the beach we caught a glimpSe of Arthur riding towards us, his horse panting and staggering, evidently hoping to turn the ? borse, only a glimpse, and the water splashed up around our wheels, and the surf sounded in our ears. Still the governess, no longer kneeling, but I almost hanging over the wagonette, her wonder' ful eyes fairly blazing, struggled and snatched, and caught the reins, seizing one, and holding it as though the muscles in her little hand were iron, now grasping the other and pull- ing on them with all her strength, careless that the shawl grew loose around her waste, as I, faint and dizzy, relaxed my hold, once almost dragged out headlong, growing of a deathlief white, as she felt her strength receding, but never quitting her hold till-well, I don't know how it was, for I fainted as the wagonette turned overit and the next thing I know I opened my eyes oo half a dozen ladies with smelling bottles-Belle, dishevelled, muddy, sitting on a pile of rubbish- Mrs Grainger by her looking unutterable things, and Arthur Grainger kneeling on the sand, kiss' ing and calling that brazen governess tender names, as she opened her eyes, having imitated her superiors, and fainted likewise. Of course, after such shameful conduct," Belle said to me that evening, of course there is nothing left but for him to marry the girl." And he did,

I THE NEW LINE TO MERTHYR. I The new line of railway which has been opened by the Rhymney Railway Company from Quaker's Yard to iVterthyr has already become an important acquisition. Several thousands of tons of coal bave been carried over it from the Cyfartha Works to Cardiff, and several trips o^ iron ore have been taken from Cardiff to works. The time taken for the transit of coal from the collieries, via Quaker's Yard, Penality and Ystrad Junction, obviates considerable delay* and there is also a considerable saving in the rateS and way leaves. I