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'fAIX RIGHTS RESERVED.J LUCK…
fAIX RIGHTS RESERVED. J LUCK AT THE DIAMOND FIELDS. BY DALRYMPLE J. BELGRAVB (BARRISTER-AT-LAW). A COMPACT. A fortnight afterwards found me still staying with Jim. The morning after I had arrived at his house I had found myself too ill to get up; and nothing could have been kinder than he was to me, nursing me very carefully and seeing that I had everything that I wanted. When I had become well enough to f, go out and look for work he did not show much sympathy with my endeavour to find something to do. He had, I found out, a deep-rooted conviction that any attempts to get on in life by what people called honest labour was a vanity and a delusion. To make a pile and clear out of the country ought to be the aim and objects of every one, and it was absurd being too particular as to how that pile was to be made, was the doctrine he was always preaching. Of all the more generally accepted modes of making a fortune he was most sceptical. Digging was a losing game, he considered. Even canteen keeping was hardly good enough. What one wanted," he would say with much candour, was to go in for one good swindle and then clear off." You bet what you and I want to do is to get hold of a few thousands, and then say good-bye to the country. Don't tell me we can't do it, there is lots of money in the camp, though times may be so bad," he said to me one evening as I was sitting in the verandah after a tiring day spent walking round the mines looking for work. "I was thinking of something in the New Mine line; there is a good deal to be done at that, but I hardly care to go in for the game; it's too much one of your respect- able man's swindles for me, taking some poor devil's last sov. or two, who thinks the new rush is going to turn up trumps: it's always your poor devils who are landed by that sort of swindle, -now I only want to catch the big fish." I made some iremark in answer to this, more or less commending him for indulging in his conscientious scruples. I am afraid in my then frame of mind Jim Dormer's peculiar code of morality was very taking. I began to agree with him that every one was more or less of a swindler, and that the more prosperous men were the adroiter scoundrels. Tramping about all day looking in vain for work put one in a suitable frame of mind for listening to my friend's notions of things in genaral and of the Diamond Field public In particular. "Yes, we must get hold of some money somehow. Bee there, look at that cart," he said, pointing to the mail-cart that was being driven along the road past the house, there is not less than thirty thousand pounds' worth of diamonds going across the veldt to-night, for that is a good bit less than the average amount they send home every week I Thirty thou- sand pounds, my boy that would be a good haul, eh ?" I watched the cart being driven along towards the op"n veldt, and, I thought of how it was going to travel across miles of desert veldt with only one policeman upon it to guard its precious contents. So far as I knew, that mail, which started on Thursday with the week's finds to catch the home steamer, bad never been robbed. My friend did not say anything more about the cart,, though I noticed he watched it till it was out of sight, and then he smoked in silence for some time. Then he returned to the sub- ject, and made some remark about how strange it was that the mail had never stuck up; and we began to discuss how easily it could be done. Nobody would lose one penny except the insurance com- panies and bants, for the diamonds are insured for more than they will sell for; yes, it's just the thing sticking out; sooner or later it will be done, and then Ihey will put on a stronger guard," he said, looking at me rather carefully as he spoke, as if he wished to lee how l took what he was saying. My evil genius led me to gumble out some sort of agreement with what he said. Believe me, I'd like to collar that pool, or take a blf or third share of it," he answered, "then I'd leave this cursed country. And it ain't so tough a job neither. One only has to wait with a string across the road to upset the horses, and as they go down jump on the cart, get the mail bags, tie up the driver and the guard, and get back to samp, and the next morning at breakfast look as mild as milk while everyone's jawing about one's work the night before. It would be a pretty little game to play, eh, my boy ? Better than going round to those managers and asking for a job as an over- ieer and being treated like a nigger, and being told to clear off and be d-d by 'em." "But there's the policeman; he is armed and would show fight, and I shouldn't like to hurt a shap who was only doing his duty," I answered. Well, nor would I; but I never see that mail sart pass without wondering who will take the pool; ,someone will, mind you," he said, and then turned the conversation to some other subject. A week or ao more passed and I got nothing to do. At one time I thought I ought not to go on staying with Dormer and living upon him, but he laughed away my scruples. What did it matter ? it wasn't as if I was always going to have bad luck. Was I ashamed of staying with him?" he would remark when I talked of going away. It always ended in my staying on. I was generally seen with him, I need to get money on for him when he played billiards or shot pigeons or made any other match, and to do some other little things for him; in fact, J began to be identified as Jim Dormer's pal. Very few visitors came to see us at the house. Dormer carried on his business down the town in billiard-rooms and canteens; he never asked mo to help him at faro or roulette or any of the games he played, nor did he impart to me any of the tricks of his trade. Nothing could be kinder than his manner to me; but nevertheless I felt that I was bound to repay him for his kindness and that I was under a great obligation to him. After some time he once or twice stayed at home of an evening and a man came in to see him. The visitor was not a pleasant- looking person. He had a shifty, half-ashamed ex- pression, and as he sat clumsily playing cards with Dormer he looked as if he knew he ought not to be trhere he was. « Who's that ? Don't like his looks, oan't look one An the face," I asked Jim one night when he had left. "That! oh, he's a most respectable man, a ser- geant in the police. We are thinking of going in for a little spec together, and you ought to be in it too. That's the chap who goes down with the ^iamond mail. Old Jacobus the driver is going to be made a little drunker than usual, the policeman is to make a desperate resistance, and to be overpowered by us two, and then the three of 111 divide the swag, do you see?" Though I had not been boarding very luxuriously, for some time, I had been drinking heavily. There was always drink to be had at Dormer's house and when I went about with him, and lately I had drunk to drown my anxiety. I don't intend to ape the canting cry of the criminal who, when he's convicted of jumping upon his wife, tells the judge that "it's all the drink wot's done it." Drink of itself doesn't often make a criminal of a man, but it often enough ,Cobs him of all that sense of prudence which men mistake for conscience. If my brain had been clear of alcohol I think I should have refused Dormer's suggestion at once as it was there was something in it that took my fancy. Instead of refusing, I began to question him as to how it could be done. His answer was that it would be easy enough. The mail- cart was to be stopped by a rope tied across the road; the guard and thn driver were to be tied up—the latter would not be likely to make a very determined resistance, while the former would be our confederate. When we had secured the diamonds we had nothing to do but to get back to Kimberley. Our confederate would take care not to be able to identify us, and there would be, so Jim urged, very little risk of our getting into trouble or failing to secure the rich booty. It's our last chance of making a good pile in the country every day I expect that some one else will try the trick, and then they will put on a strong guard. It's the one good thing left in the country," he said; and then he began to talk about the rich prize we should secure without any one except the banks and insurance people being one bit the worse I don't know whom to go to if you won't go in for this; there are plenty of men in the camp who would jump at the chance, but they ain't the sort I'd like to trust, but you're good grit and I'd trust you any day," he said "come, I know you will stick to a, pal." For a second or two I hesitated, and then I said I would go in for it, and we shook hands over the agreement. It was on a Monday that I had this conversation with him, and it was on the following Thursday that the cart was to be stopped. The next day the police sergeant came up to the house to finally arrange his plans. I didn't like the man's looks any better on that occasion. In his presence I began to feel ashamed of myself because I was going to become a thief. It seemed disgraceful to be mixed up in such a business with that shifty-looking scoundrel. Dormer's society, on the other hand, made me reck- less and in good spirits, while he took care that I had drink enough to prevent my thinking too much. The place we had chosen to make our attack upon the cart was about twenty miles from Kimberley, and the cart would pass there about ten o'clock in the evening. An hour before that time Jim Dormer and I were sitting behind some rocks near the road at that place where we had agreed to stop the cart. We had the rope ready to put across the road when it was time for the cart to pass, while we both had our revolvers, with which we intended to make a great display of a determined attack. "It's no good being too soon with the rope, the cart won't be before its time, and something else might pass," Dormer said as he lit a match to look at his watch. How long have we to wait ?" I asked, for I began to feel rather nervous and to wish the time for action had come. An hour or more before the cart is due here; take a drink," he said, handing me a whisky-flask. I half emptied the flask and lit a pipe, and listened to my companion, who, to cheer me up, I fancy, began to talk about the time we would have when we cleared out of the country with the nice little pile we would make by that evening's work. Dormer's conversa- tion and whisky had its intended effect, and I got back my careless, reckless spirits. It was not very pleasant work waiting, the night had clouded over an hour or so before, and the flashes of lightning seemed to be terribly near us, while soon afterHhe first flash fthe storm broke and the rain came down in torrents, as it does on the South African veldt in a summer's thunderstorm. All the better for us, my lad, just the night for the job," he said as we tried to huddle behind the boulders to get out of the rain. Dormer talked away about the delights of Paris and London and the time we would have at home, while we both took several more pulls at the whisky-bottle for all that the time went slowly, and we began to feel wretchedly uncom- fortable. As we sat there waiting for the time to arrive for us to begin our work and to stretch the rope across the road which was to stop the cart, it certainly seemed that my fate was sealed, and that I was destined to become a successful scoundrel or a skulking gaol-bird for the rest of my life. Looking back I cannot remember that I felt much shame or remorse. I was infected with Dormers ideas of things. What we were going to do would not hurt any individual very much; it seemed to me then that it was a much more harmless thing than the financial robberies which were carried out by men who were considered most respectable persons; and as for the danger of being found out, I didn't see where it came in, I thought, as I took a drink from the bottle. Easy with that bottle, old chap, or you will he hitting some one when you let off your revolver; keep yourself cool, and mind you go straight for old Jacob, and see that he don't pull the crape off your face," Dormer said to me. Then he walked some yards off to take a look at the spot in the road he had chosen for tying the rope across. As he left me a strange change seemed to come over me. The reckless devil-may-care spirits I had been in left me, and I felt a sense of awe as if I knew that something was going to happen. Then a feeling came over me that some one was present, and ali at once the rocks in frcnt of me seemed to fado away, and where they had been I saw an unearthly, lumi- nous mist, and through it I saw a figure dressed as an officer in a Highland regiment. I i—iH see that his arms were thrown back, V< zivord was falling from his hand. There was a rent in the breast of his coat, and in his face was the look of death. I knew him-, he was my brother Donald; he had grown from a lad into a man, and he was handsome and more soldierlike than when I had seen him last. I remembered our compact, and I knew that my brother was dead. There was the proud look of one who had earned the respect of his fellowmen in his high-bred face. For one instant our eyes seemed to meet, and then as I sprang for- ward calling to him by name the figure and the mist surrounding it seemed to fade away. Heaven help me," I thought, I am the last of our race." A flood of home memories, which for some time I had done my best to banish from my thoughts, came back to me. As I touched my face and felt the mask of crape I had on, I realised what I was going to do, and that I was about to become a cofnmon criminal. What on earth are you shouting for ? what's the matter with you, man ? we'd better be moving and fixing the rope," I heard Dormer say, as he came back to where I was. I did not answer, but stood irresolute for a second or two. I felt half ashamed to give up the adventure I had engaged in, but after what I had seen I was determined not to engage in it. Jim, I am going to cut it; I have had a warning not to go on with this-let's give it up." "Give it up by and Dormer gave vent to his surprise and disgust in very strong language. Well, I did think you were good grit; but you can't give it up now. What's come over you all at once ?" He was thoroughly disgusted with me; such faith in human nature as remained in him had evidently received a shock. Well, I'd have never thought it of you, you whom I always beleived in. Come, pull yourself together and do what you said you'd do; it's too late to turn tale now." And then looking into my face and seeing how agitated I was, he asked me what on earth had happened to me. 1 I think, like many a gambler and adventurer of his Jim had a trong vei n of superstition in his natoro. When I told him something of what I bad seen he was somewhat impressed by it, and on my again expressing my determination to turn back and have no more to do with it he did not attempt to persuade me. Nor did he think of doing the thing by himself. He growled out a few sentences of disgust, and sulkily walked after me as I turned and made the best of my way towards Kimberley. We kept some way from the road I hardly know why I did this, but I think it was because I did not wish to pass too close to the post-cart. After about half-an- hour we saw the post-cart driven along, and then Jim Dormer's feelings became too much for him again, and he burst out into a string of oaths and reproaches. I must say I quite saw how con- temptible my conduct must seem to him, and to a certain extent I sympathised with him. Suddenly he came to a stop and clutched my arm, motioning me to dodge behind some bushes. I did so, and in a few seconds three horsemen rode almost by where we were. We are well out of that little trap. Did you see who they were ? I will swear to two of them being Lamb and Steadman, the detectives. By George j but I will go back from all I've been saying that was a straight tip you got wherever it came from to give up this job," Dormer whispered to me when they had riden past. That hound of a policeman has rounded on us and given information," he added. It turned out afterwards that this idea of his was right. It was pretty clear that we had just been in time in leaving the place where we had agreed to wait for the cart. Our plot had been betrayed and a very warm reception had been arranged for us. Even as it was we felt that there was some chance of out being arrested, and we were both glad enough when we were got back to Kimberley and were safe in our beds. Tired though I was, I slept very little, but I lay awake and thought of my brother, whom I was convinced was no more, and of the old home days It bought more seriously of my degraded life and made more good resolutions than I had done for many a long day. I think I kept them fairly well, though I bad a hard time of it for some time to come- At last I got some work to do for a company on the Transvaal gold-fields, and since then I have made a living, though I don't know that I am likely to make the fortune I used to dream of. Dormer and I parted good friends. Your second-sight seems as if it had been a warning to you to keep straight, and I'd do it if I were you as for me, well, it's d i rferent,' he said as we shook hands. He left South Africa shortly after this, and I don't know what happened to him. The Kimberley newspaper a day or two after had a telegram in it telling of the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and when I saw full particulars of it some weeks after I learnt that my brother had beta1 shot when leading his company in that engagement.
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The next subject in this series will be A FATAL I DIAMOND."
MEZZOTINT ROMANCE. I
MEZZOTINT ROMANCE. I How guineas invested in engravings a quarter of a century ago have multiplied many times was demon- strated in a London sale-room the other day. For 20 years—from 1860 to 1880—the late Sir William Augustus Fraser, Bart., bought engravings. Day by day he would step into the old print shop at the bottom of St. James's-street, and, if Mr. Har- vey had anything worth buying, put down his five, ten, or sometimes even fifteen guineas for an engrav- ing—stipple and line, mezzotint, bistre, colours, proof before letters, first state, second state, every- bhing in short that had any claim to scarcity and art. Then money and a craze got the tipper hand. Engravings were few and sovereigns many; prices leapt upwards. Sir William had had things his own way too long to go with them be stopped buying. But when he died a couple of years ago the collec- tion, which cost him two or three thousand pounds, bad come to be worth ten times that or more. Sir William Fraser paid Mr. Harvey E7 7s. for a whole-length portrait in bistre of Miss Farren by Bartolozzi, after Sir T. Lawrence. At the London tale referred to above those seven guineas became forty-two. Another of the same lady in colours, bought for eight guineas, sold for a hundred.
THE -SPEAKER'S DUTIES.- I
THE SPEAKER'S DUTIES. Mr. Gully's duties, let us hope, will be pleasant enough during the life of the new Parliament, but a Speaker's life, even under the happiest circum- stances, is not free from a hundred natural cares. Most members of Parliament have given themselves some trouble at times to "catch the Speaker's eye," but their anxiety is as nothing compared with the Speaker's. How does a speaker catch your eye ?" somebody once asked a Chairman of Committees, and the reply shows what an intricate science the control of a Parliamentary debate has become. Eight things, said the Chairman, came into his mind: (1) Had the man spoken on the question before ? (2) Would he be acceptable to the House? (3) Did he speak for any class out of the House? (4) Would he enliven the debate ? (5) Had he any special claim to speak on the subject ? (6) Was he likely to bring up any point which had been over- looked? (7) Was it the turn of his side? (8) Had his side had its share of speaking? No one of these points would determine him, but each had its share in deciding his selection. It is a remarkable illus- tration of the working of a Speaker's mind.
AN HEROIC LIE. I
AN HEROIC LIE. Twice condemned to death for a crime he did not commit, David Rutter has recently been released from prison after serving a term of 27 years. It was in 1873 that he stood in the dock at Ipswich Assize Court with another man, charged with the murder of a gamekeeper on the estate of the Maharajah Duleep Singh. The whole burden of the guilt was assumed by Rutter, whoexonerated his companion from blame, and, on his own confession, was condemned to death. Many, however, believed in his inno- cence, and on the plea of a deformity in the neck. which would make hanging a horrible torture, a respite was obtained. Medical examination failed to confirm the theory, and he was again ordered for execution. Petitions still poured in, however, and at last his sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life. Now, on his release, an old man, he tells a sensational story. It was the other man who shot the gamekeeper battered his head in, and threw him into a pond. But there was a woman whose heart would have been broken, and whose children would have been left fatherless, while Rutter was alone in the world. So he took the whole guilt upon himself and has just crept out from beneath the burden of it-endured for 27 years.
UGANDA'S LITTLE KING. II
UGANDA'S LITTLE KING. The little King of Uganda, who has just come into prominence, will have to rely for some years yet on his Prime Minister-his Katikiro, as the little king would say. This remarkable man, Appollo Kagwa Gulemye Nume, has during the last few years taught himself to write, and has written books which have been of great value to traveUers and scientists who can read and understand them. The bloodthirsty Mwanga, who has now left Uganda for ever, beat the Prime Minister for refusing to help him in his mur- derous schemes. Appollo has built himself the first brick house in the country. He is friendly to England, and has been of real service on more than oae occasion to our troops.
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ANY DOCTOR WILL TELL YOU" there is no better Cough Medicine than KEATING'S LOZENGES. One gives relief; if you suffer from cough try t.hem but once; they will cure, and they will not injure yous health an increasing sale of over 80 years is a certain test of their value. Sold everywhere in 13!d. tins. GREAT BRITAIN is very much behind the United States as regards electrical traction. There are not more than 300 miles of electric tramways in England in operation, and about 500 miles in course of con- struction. The United States possess about 18,000 miles of such lines. IT is estimated that from thirty to forty million pounds' worth of property is every year destroyed by fire all over the world, though not one-fifth of this damage is done by what may be called great fires- fires involving a less of £ 50.000 or upwards.
HOME HINTS. )
HOME HINTS. ) FRABTNJRE POLISH.—One ounce beeswax, loz. white J wax, loz. Castile soap, ipt. of turpentine. Dissolve the soap, cut up fine, in lpt. of soft water, also the wax in the turpentine, the night, before; stir and boil gently all together. You will find this a most splen- did polifih. RAILWAY PUDDING.—One ounce of butter, 1 teacup of Hour, 1 teacup crushed sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoonful baking powder. Mix well together, put a piece of butter in your tin, let it get hot before you put in the mixture, bake fifteen minutes; cut in half, spread jam on one half, put the other over, cut in squares. HAMBER PICKLK FOR HAM OR PORY,Will keep twelve months perfectly good. To Igal. of water put 41b. of salt, Ib. of coarse sugar, 3oz. of saltpetre, loz. bay salt. Boil it well and strain it when cold keep the meat covered with the pickle. ICE POULTICE FOR INFLAMXATION.-IN many c,.tses of inflammation an ice poultice is a very useful applica- tion. It is made in this way: Spread a layer of linseed meal three-quarters of an inch thick on a piece of cloth and upon the meal put at intervals lumps of ice about the size of a marble. Sprinkle meal over the ice, and cover all with the cloth, turn- ing the edges over. In this way the ice will last much longer than it otherwise would, and the poul- tice will be quite comfortable. RJSLIEF FOR CHILBLAINS.—Where the feet have once been frostbitten and chilblains ensue, relief can usually be found by soaking the feet before retiring in hot salt water, drying thoroughly with a coarse- towel and plenty of friction, then rubbing with hazeline. When the itching seems almost intolerable the feet, may be vigorously rubbed with a clothes- brush or whisk-broom until the blood almost staris through the surface, and then rubbed with hazeline. This treatment has been often found efficacious when, milder measures have failed to afford relief. CLEANING WHITE FEATHERS. The following method of treatment will be found very simple and effective: Shave four ounces of white soap, and die- solve in four pints of water, rather hot. Make ready a large basin, and lather the solution by beating it with your hands. The feathers must now be put in, and clapped softly between the hands for five or six minutes. After this soaping wash again in hot water as hot as the hand can bear. Then shake till quite dry. Now for the re-curling. Take an ivory paper- knife, and go over the feather spray by spray-, start- ing from the point and working down. The spray must be stretched out over the knife blade, edge up, and this edge must be smartly though carefully drawn along the under edge of the spray till it curls up tightly. Repeat this process till the whole feather is curled. Take care not to break or injure the feather by harsh treatment; for this reason a sharp penknife must never be used. When a feather comes out of curl from exposure to dampor rain it/should he gently shaken close to a hot 6re, upon which a little salt has been previously thrown. This will make it fluff up and look full again, instead of thin and meagre. To REMOVE GREASE FROM PAPER.—Sometimes it happens that you get a grease spot on a letter or the page of a valuable book, and you are at onct filled with a sense of the hopelessness of ever removing the ugly and irritating blemish. Here is a remedy for tl-.e evil that has been tried with success: Heat an iron and hold it as near as possible to the stain with- out discolouring the paper, when the grease or wax will disappear. Upon any traces that are left put powdered calcined magnesia for a time. Bone, well calcined and powdered, is an excellent absorbent of grease; also plaster of Paris. For extracting spots of a resinous nature, use Cologne, turpentine, or ben- zine. Janet" in the Evening News. TAPIOCA Soup.-The following is a nourishing dish for invalids, and is really excellent for all delicate, growing children. Take some of the good gravy from roast beef or mutton, and be very careful to remove every trace of fat. Put this in a lined saucepan, with sufficient water, salt to taste, and a small onicn, if liked. Boil up, and then add two ounces of thor- oughly well-washed tapioca, stirring briskly. Then allow to simmer for at least thirty minutes and serve very hot. COCOANUT Biscurro.-Fight ounces of flour, eight ounces of cocoanut, eight ounces of sugar, two ounces of butter, two eggs, two teaspoonfuls of baking- powder. Mix all together, form into small cakes, and press them out with a fork. Bake a nice brown. WHEN BONES ARE DISLOCATED.-If you suspect a bone to be dislocated-that is, thrown out of its socket—do not attempt to replace it. Leave that to the doctor. Put the limb in splints as you would do for a broken bone, and make the patient comfort- able. TEA TABLES.—Tea tables are rather difficult to decorate, as it has become the fashion to make a perfect mosaic of dishes over the entire surface. The most satisfactory manner is to fill long and slender shafts of glass with light and rather spreading flowers, and insert these with a sort of method between the multifarious plates. The large tea table is far prettier covered with a coloured silk cloth than with plain white napery, which always gives one the feeling of a meal. Widths of the inexpensive china silk, joined by insertions of lace dyed to the tone of the silk chosen, and edged only with a deep hem, make lovely covers, and should be selected in exactly the tones of the flowers to be used. An extremely simple manner of getting an effect also is to have all sweets iced and coloured to match. This entails no more expense, and gives a distinction to the very simplest table. BREAKFAST.—There are people in the world who can enjoy the eating of a hearty breakfast every mor- ing and digest it perfectly, but the majority of men and women go to the table with an appetite which needs coaxing. A Boston physician has recom- mended one family of small breakfast eaters a menu opening with frait, of a different variety each morn- ing, or served in a new way, and followed by a small portion of cereal, also varied to avoid monotony. Bacon, sliced very thin and crisped an egg, cooked in some one of its varied forms a bit of marmalade or honey, and a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, were the nain features. This has worked like a charm, and there have been many imitators of the light but nourishing breakfast custoin.-The Sun. CHOCOLATE BLANC MANGE.—Grate a quarter of a pound of sweet chocolate into one quart of milk; add a quarter of a pound of gelatine and a quarter of a pound of powdered sugar. Mix all in a farina- kettle or a pitcher, and stand in a kettle of cold water over the fire. Stir occasionally until the water boils, and then stir continuously, while boiling, for fifteen minutes. Dip a mould into iced water, pour in the blanc mange, and stand aside to cool. When cold, turn it out of the mould, and serve with sugar and cream. BANANA FRITTERS.-Make a one-egg batter in the usual way, adding half a teaspoonful of baking- powder. Peel the bananas, and cut each into three pieces, and then drop them into the batter—see that they are well covered with the batter; then drop them into the hot fat, and turn them once and again and as soon as they are a pretty golden colour, which ought to be in two and a half seconds, take them up and drain them, sprinkling them quickly with caster sugar. Serve a sweetened sherry or claret sauce with them. FISH must be placed away from other edibles, as it has such a tendency to part with its flavour, and to communicate it to other things that do not want it. So fish ought to be placed on a high shelf above the other food, and it should have a portion of ice for itself in an isolated neighbourhood. When there is no ice procurable, the fish must be placed in a dish on the stone floor, where it will be coolest. When there is a large safe it is a good plan to set a dish of ice within it, and cover the safe itself with the non-con- ducting flannel. CRUMPETS.—Dry two pounds of flour before the fire, and add to it a teaspoonful of salt. Mix it with lukewarm milk till it forms a stiff batter. Beat three eggs till very light, and add to the batter. Add three tablespoonfuls of brewer's yeast. Mix well, cover, and stand in a warm place to rise. Butter muffin- rings, and put them in rows on a well-buttered tin pan. Fill each one half full of the crumpet batter, and bake them in a quick oven till a light and deli- cate brown. Tear each one open with the fl ngers, put in a Jump of butter, and close again. Serve very hot on a hot plate. LEMON ROCK Cp KES.—Put half a pound of flour into a basin, add T. pinch of salt, a teaspoonful of baking powder, and the grated rind of a lemon, and rub four ounces of butter (or lard) into the flour, then stir in a quarter of a pound of caster sugar and an ounce of candied lemon-peel which has been cut up into small pieces. Break an egg into a cup beat it well and add a tablospoonful of milk, then pour it gradually to the dry ingredients and mix them to a smooth, stiff paste. Take up small portions at a time with two forks and drop it in little rough heaps on a flat baking-tin, which has been rubbed with clarified dripping, and bake the cakes at once in a quick oven for about fifteen rriintitse.-Spare Moment^
THE WOMAN78 WORLD. I
THE WOMAN78 WORLD. I Tirr. importance of the part playetf by cobur in the making or marrin of personal appearance can hardly (says a writer in the Sun) be over-estimated. One of the most useful things a woman can i>sarn is, what harmonises and contrasts best, to serve !io' heighten her charms. This knowledge is by no means easy to acquire; and, sisce no two people are exactly alike, it is impossi ble to prescribe a certain scheme of colour, and say, definitely, all goldenhnired women will look well in such and such combinations, Experience is the best guide, and those of my reader* who are not born with the artistic faculty, should rely upon the judgment of some friend who has it, or follow the advice of tkeir dressmaker—if she is possessed of what, for want of a better term wa call good taste." THE tremendous part which a clever juxtaposition of colour plays in the formation of beauty is well illustrated by some of our leading actresses, and not a few of them owe their reputation for beauty almost entirely to the fact that they have mastered thf secrets of the chromatic scale, and realise clothing should be a background to the individual, which will intensify everv natural charm, and not merely a care- ful copy of a Paris model, which is neither becoming nor suitable to an English face and an English figure, INVENTORS are always unbusinesslike people, and love to advertise the latest product of their genius in the wrong season of the year. Thus it come! about that in the winter we are offered a clockwork fan does all sorts of comforting things in hot weather. It rocks the cradle and fans the baby simultaneously. It can be placed near the dinner- table, where it will not only keep away the flies, but fan the guests. It can be wound up and left in a room, where it will cool the temperature in a few minutes. It creates a breeze for an hour by winding, and, unlike the electric battery fan, can be run with- out any expense whatever. THE small fans which will be carried with hand- some gowns show the cut-out effect of so many other things. There are white lace flowers on black net, the net showing only on closest examination, and the flowers standing off by themselves, conventionalised tulips, perhaps, or beautiful fleur de lis with a few silver spangles to brighten them, set in black handles. Or the black lace fans will have spangles of gold and handles of gold and black. PEkRL necklaces have always been looked upon with great favour, in spite of the fact that they bring tears. The ex-Queen Margherita of Italy owns a rare collection of pink pearls, one of which was given to her each year on her birthday by the late King. The Duchess of Marlborough is the owner of a necklet of pearls that were among the French Crown jewels. The Duchess of York received E30,000 worth of pearls as a wedding gift. The ex- Empress Eugenie brought black pearls into vogue, for she was the first to discover how they set off the complexion. The Shah of Persia owns the most valuable string of pearls in the world. Each pearl is as large as a hazel-nut. DON'T let the little ones sleep in cotton or linen night garments in winter. If you can't, afford flannel, make them some flannelette sleepirg-suits or nightgowns. If you do this, have warm, light clothing on the beds, and keep the windows open, whatever the weather. You will find that the little ones will very seldom be troubled by colds or coughs. A. screen between the bed and window will prevent ill danger from draught; but remem ber there is more draught from a slightly-opened window than From one wide open, so don't be satisfied to have it spen only a tiny chink. BOLEROS accompanying cloth dresses are some- times all guipure or have lace insertions and very. often show diagonal insertions of lace. OPINIONS, no doubt, differ as to the age a girl should be before she begins to wear rings, but it will be agreed (remarks the Evening News) that a girl of 13 or 14, with short dresses and long hair, looks ridiculous when wearing two or three expensive rings. Pearls and diamonds look out, of place on their small and often grimy hands, and no girl should wear rings until her hair is up, and she is out. Even then they should be of the simplest description-pearls or turquoises, but no diamonds. Of course, the third finger of the left hand must remain unfettered until an engagement ring is placed thereon. MUCH can be learned of a person's character by studying his or her footgear. When the heels are worn down on the inside tne wearer is apt, to be prim, conceited, and clever when the heels are worn down at the outside the owner is usually good- natured, easy-going, careless, and a good talker; while if the heels are worn down at the back the possessor is dogmatic and more fond of giving orders than obeying them. When the soles and heels are worn smoothly and thin, but not into holes, the wearer is sweet-tempered, gentle, kind. and dainty. When a hole is noticeable on each sole it has been made by a person who is noisy, quick-tempered, stormy, and wilful, but very capable. Those who wear the leather over the sides are frequently fond of display, tactless, resentful, and [generous with money. MANDARIN, gladiola, and golf reds are severally used as a touch of vivid colour to relieve gowns made wholly of winter sky grey, for it is a metallic dye more exacting than any worn since the days of the terrible zinc shade. In like shade the most popular cloves of the season come, which, to be strictly correct, are too sizes too large. Gloves of the moment we pulled on. They are heavily stitched, clumsy- looking, and fasten with one button only. Nothing has been found in the sartorial world to eclipse the slegance to the velvet coat. It has extended the tight hand of fellowship to the bolero family, which among its noted ramifications has never been so honoured before. The tiny velvet jacket is a beau- ;ious affair, which is just the thing for chilly days. When worn with the fluffy neck frills, with their long, graceful ends, a summer gown is additionally sharping. A PREVALENT fad is the bag or chateline. Two years ago Paris raved over these pretty toilet adjuncts. Six months later a few exclusives exploited them as beauties, and to-day they are in use as universal con- veniences. Were they not a catch-all for odds and ends they would be famed for filling another mission —that of giving the hands something to do before the muff is brought on. Figured silk, suede, or galloon make handsome receptacles of this sort. The material, in fact. is a mere matter of fancy. A visit to the attic often results most satisfactorily, and one may unearth the frame of an old bead affair, along with an old fancy waistcoat of antebellum days. Presto, and you have a novelty antique, most precious of all belongings. ELABORATE gowns, with long velvet trains over jewelled and embroidered satin underskirts, with bandings of fur and little boleros of lace finished with long sash ends at the back adorning the bodices, are some of the season's developments. Applications of cloth on net are a novelty for even- I ing, and when brought into conjunction with velvet dresses or with the new mousseline, are highly effective. Among the newest evening shades is a bright pink, almost cerise, with just a suspicion of flame colour gleaming in it, and though rather a daring tone, it is generally becoming. Evening bodices are still being cut very low round the neck, or with wide, square openings, supported by tiny straps, the Empire style especially usually possessing a low, square decolletage, though the round-cut opening is sometimes preferred. Bodices are draped in many ways, yet is the bolero of lace still in great favour, and, for demi-toilette, transparent or in- serted yokes, collar bands, and sleeves are general, and sometimes the collar band is omitted alto- gether.
[No title]
"UNCLE ALLEN," asked the caller, "doyou know anything that's good for a cold ?" Uncle Allen Sparks opened his desk, took from one of the pigeon-holes a large number of newspaper clippings tied with a piece of string, and threw the bundle into the other's lap. Do I know anything that is good for a cold ?" be echoed. My young friend, I know of 627 ways of curing a cold. I've been collecting them for 49 years. You try those, one after another, and if they don't do you any good fcome back and 111 give you 116 more. Bless me I" added Uncle Allen, with enthusiasm, you can always cure a cold if you go at it right." He dug a bundle, of yellow, time-stained clippings out of another pigeon-hole, I and the visitor hastily coughed himself oak
MARKET NE WS.
MARKET NE WS. MARK-LANE.—English wheat continues in small supply, while the country markets- are also bare. The condition is somewhat moist in consequence of the recent damp weather. Fine whits, 30s 6d and fine red, 30s; and not thoroughly conditioned. 9s' to 29s 6d 631b. American descriptions continue in large supply, although shi pments are moderate nnd prices steady. No. 1 Northern Spriag, 32s 6d landed. No-, I hard Manitoba, in the same position, 34s; and hard Dulnth, 34s ex-ship to arrive. Red Winter, new, 30s 6d ex-ship. 30s 9d landed: New Zealand, Hunters. 28s 6d to 29" 6d and Tuscan, 29s 6d to 30s par4981b. The flour market rzntiiins in a quiet state. American besnf? occasionally easier; Country flour maintained. Town households, 25s and whites, 28s per sack. Top price, town made 30s nett. American first patents Quoted at 25S"Gd to 26s; second ditto, 23s to 24s; first bakers, 20s to 21s; and seconds, 18s to 19s. Hungarian up to 29s per sack. Australian patent roller, 21s 6d to 22s; and superfine, IRs to 19s perJ 2801b. ex-store. Grinding barley unaltered. Persian, 17s 6d ex-ship, and 18s ex-quay; AzofT, in these- positions, 18s 6d and 19s respectively. Malting in, better request for both English and foreign. American and Russian oats are firm, finer qualities being 3d dearer since last Monday. American mixed slipped quoted at 14s 9d ex-ship, and 15s ex-quay; white clipped, in these positions, 15s 9d and 16s to 16s 3d respectively, 401b. common Petersburg, 14s 9d to 15s ex-quay. ;f":]b.; nd 401b., 16s 3d upwards. Yologdas, 14s 6d to 14s 9d ex-q nay. 381b. Renals, 15s 9d. ex-qimy, 401b. New Zealand ordinary bluff, 25s to 28s, 3841b. Duns, 18s to 19s per 3361b., ex-store. Maize generally unaltered. Mixed American, 20s 9d ex-ship arrived, and 21s 9d landed. Bessarabian, ship to come up. 23s ex-ship, 26s ex- quay. The market for beans and peas remains in a featureless state. Egyptian splits held 21s 6d ex- mill. Mazagans, 20s 3d landed, per 3201b.. Cana- dian white peas held for 29s 6d ex-ship, 30s ex-quay. Maize germ meal remains firm at fully last rates. LONDON METROPOLITAN CATTLE.—The heavy sup- ply caused the demand to be of a slow nature, but Scotch beasts were held for firm rates, West of England descriptions, however, tending in buyers' favour. Fat bulls and rough cattle met with slow support, as did also fat butchering cows, especially for secondary qualities. Quotations: Scotch, 4s lOd to 5s id Devons, 4s 8d to 4s lOd; Herefords, 4s 6d to 4s 8d Norfolks, 4s 6d to 4s 8d runts. 4s 4d to 4s 6d; Lincoln shorthorns, 4s 4d to 4s 6d; Irish, 4s for the Waterfords and Dublins ranged from 4s 2d to 4s 6d fat cows, 3s 8d to 3s lOd per 81b. Sheep pens were more extensively filled than on Monday last, but trade for wethers ruled slow at about late values, the better qualities of ewes selling more freely at slightly dearer rates, but inferior descriptions were without improvement. 7| to 8-stone Down wethers, 5s 8d to 5s lOd 9-stone ditto, 5s 6d to 5s 8d; 10-stone half-breds, 5s 2d to 5s 4d; lO-ston 3 Down ewes, 3s lOd to 4s: and exceptionally, 4s 2d; and 11-stone half-bred ditto, 3s 8d to 3s lOd 10-stone Irish, 5s to 5s 2d; No calves were on offer. Pig trade moved steadily it late rates. Neat small, 4s 2d to 4s 4d per 81b. to sink the offal. Milch cows offered at £ 16 to F,23 10s. per head. Coarse and inferior beasts quoted 2s lOd to 3s 6d; second quality ditto, 3s lOd ;o 4s 2d; prime large oxen, 4s 2d to 4s 8d ditto Scots, &c., 4s 8d to 5s Od coarse and inferior sheep. 3s 2d to 4s Od second quality ditto, 4s 4d to 5s Cd; prime coarse woolled, 5s 2d to 5s 4d and firsts, 5s 6d to 5s lOd per 81b. SMITHFIELD MEAT.—Quotations: Beef: Scotch, is to 4s 4d; English, 4s to 4s 2d; American, Deptford killed, 3s 8d to 3s lid Liverpool, 3s 8d ;0 3& lOd American refrigerated, hind-quarters, 3s 6d to 3s lOd; forequarters, 2s 8d to 2s lOd. Mutton: Scotch, 4s 2d to 4s 6d; English wethers, 3s lOd to 4s 2d; ewes, 2s 10d to 3s 2d. Veal: English and Dutch, 3s 8d to 4s 4d. Pork: Dutch, 3s 6d to 3s lOd and Irish, 3s 4d per Hlb. POULTRY AND GAME.-Quotations: Fowls York- shire, 2s 3d to 2s 9d; Essex, 2s 6d to 3s; Welsh, Is 9d to 2s; Boston, 2s to 2s 9d Surrey, 28 9d ;0 3s 6d; Sussex, 2s 6d to 3s; Irish, Is 6d to Is 9d; ;urkeys, cocks, 6s 6d to 10s 6d; hens, 4s 6d to 6s; reese, 4s 6d to 6s; Bordeaux pigeons, 8d to lid; feathered, 7d to 9d; wild rabbits, 6d to 9d; tame, lOd to Is 2d each; Australian, 7s 9d to 8s 6d per lozen; pheasants, 4s to 4s 6d; young partridges, 38 to 3s 6d; old, 2s; young grouse, 4s 6d to 5s 6d old, 3s per brace; bares, 3s 3d to 3s 6d; leverets, 2s to 2s 6d pintail, Is 6d teal, 8d to Is widgeon, Is snipes, 6d to lOd; golden plover, gd ;o Is; black, 5d each. BILLINGSGATE Fisi-T.- Soles, Is ld to Is 6d slips, lOd to Is 2d; red mullet, Is 3d to Is 9d; dories, Id to 3d per lb.; turbot, 7s to 14s; brill, 5s Od to 8s halibut, 7s te 8s lemon soles, 6s to 7s; plaice, 5s Od to 6s per stone; steamer plaice, 20s to 35s per trunk; Aberdeen plaice, 37s 6d whiting, 6s to 10s gurnet, 10s to 12s hake, 12s to 16s; skate, 10s to 15s; bream, 6s; live cod, 15s to 22s 6d; dead, 12s to 27s 6d per box English mackerel, 30s per 60; steamer haddocks, 6s to 12s per trunk; loose, 2s 6d per stone sprats, 3s per bushel; live eels, 12s to 18s dead, 8s to 148 per draft; oysters, 20s to 60s per score; crabs, 30s per hamper; oysters, 6s to 15s per 100; smoked haddocks, 4s to 9s per dozen; whitebait, 9d per quart. COVENT GARDEN.-English apples, 2s 6d to 7s per bushel; English grapes, 8d to 2s per lb. Channel Islands tomatoes, 3s 6d to 4s per 121b.; Lychees, Is per lb. packet; mint, Is 6d turnips, 2s to 2s 6d per dozen bunches cabbages, 2s to 3s savoys, 2s 6d DO 4s per tally; lettuce, Is 3d to Is 6d per score horseradish, Is to 2s per bundle. W oOL.-English wool is still very quiet in tone, but the favourite qualities are reported in some quarters as being firmer. Trade shows very little change week by week, and buyers only purchase to cover requirements. Sometimes these are a little more than usual, hence an apparent increase in demand, but directly wants are supplied quietness again covers over the market, and a period of dulness ensues. Poor descriptions are altogether neglected, and none care to purchase them. Colonial wools are steady, and pass slowly into consumption. The position of spinners remains generally unanltered, for whatever description of wool they may require, they find prices leave an extremely small margin, if a margin at all, to enable them to avoid loss, as their customers offer such low prices. Under these con- tinued unfavourable circumstances prices are generally only nominal. Downs, 7d to 9d; Kents, 6d to 6Jd; half breds, 6|d to 7id. WIIITECHAPEL HAY AND STRAW.—Superior picked hay. 90s to 92s good hay, 80s to 86s inferior, 60s to 72s best clover, 97s to 102s good clover, 85s to 90s; inferior, 60s to 75s best mixture, 85s to 90s; straw, 26s to 36s. SEED TRADE. Cloverseeds generally are un- changed in value. Italian ryegrass attracts some attention, but perennials are dull. Tares and rye are neglected. Mustard and rapeseed with mode- rate supplies are strongly held. Full prices are asked for canary and hempseed. Peas and haricots move off slowly at last week's figures. CAMBRIDGE CATTLE.—Store beasts, smaller number, and nearly all sold. A good show of fat beasts, prices good all round. A better price for fat sheep, but short supply. Only a few lots of stores, and all cleared. A good number of fat pigs trade brisk at last week's prices. Not a good trade for stores. A fair trade for hay, straw, and roots but only a moderate supply. Prices: Beef, 7s 6d to 8s 6d; mutton, 4s 4d to 5s 8d pork, 6s to 7s. BEADING CATTLE.—Beef proved to be in moderate supply, and met a fair sale at 4s 4d to 4s 8d per stone for best, 3s 6d to 4s 2d for secondary. Mutton also moderate supply, and steady trade, best making 5s 2d to 5s 8d, secondary 4s 6d to 5s. Veal in short supply, and business good, best qualities realising 5s 4d to 6s, and secondary 4s 8d to 5s 2d per stone. CORK BUITTER.-FirStS, 92s; seconds, 86s; super- fine, 107s fine, 96s; mild, 68o. GRIMSBY FISH.-Plaice, 25s to 27s; lemon soles, 7s to 9s per stone soles, Is 4d to Is 5d per lb.; live dabs, 19s; dead ditto, 17s; kit haddocks, 10s to 12s; gibbed ditto, 14s to 16s; live ditto, 17s to 21s per box; whitings, 2s 9d; whitches, 5s Od per stone; gurnets, 6s per box; turbot, lOd to Is*; brills, 8d to 9d per lb.; live ling, 3s 6d; dead ditto, 2s 6d; live cod, 20s to 26s dead ditto, 14s to 16s; live skate, 3s to 4s dead ditto, 2s to 3s each Findon haddocks, 4s; live halibut, 9s; dead ditto, 7s 6d; English shrimps, 3s 6d; foreign ditto, 3s; prawns, 3s 6d per stone; kippers, 3s 9d; bloaters, 3s 9d; red herrings, 3s 9d per box; live coalfish, 40s; dead ditto, 35s per score; English oysters, 7s; American ditto, 5s per 100; smelts. 4s per box whelks, 3s 6d per wash; salt cod, 12s per cwt.; hake, 60s; roker, 18s; ice. Is 6d per cwt.; live codlings, 15s; dead ditta 13s per box.