Weekly Mail

A Modern Ghost. Mr. and Mrs. John Lindsay sat together one winter evening in their cosy sitting-room in their pleasant little house at Melrose High- lands. "I should not be afraid of a ghost if I should see a live one," said John, putting down his evening paper. Why, ghosts never are alive, are they ?" asked his wife. Well, that depends," answered John; here is an acoount of a meeting of the Psychical Society." He rattled his news- paper. It seems from this that modern ghosts are pretty lively if not exactly alive. They don't go around with sheets over their heads and moan nowadays like old-fashioned ghosts. They seem to have tasted of the spirit of progress of the age." Dora was knitting a silk sock for her husband, and she asked him to hold up his slipper to let her judge the length of his foot. I should really like to see a ghost," said John, obeying his wife. As he spoke there was a loud ringing of the front door bell. It was one of the clapper bells with a gong attached to the inside of the door, and the ringing of this bell, twice repeated, was annoying. "I wish folks wouldn't break the door down," growled John, rising to go to open it; and I don't see why it is always the girl's night out." He went through the parlour, which was dimly lighted, and into the bright hall. Dora came out into the back of the hall where she could hear who came, yet be out of sight behind the jog of the wall where the hall wall made room for the sitting- room door. "Good evening," she heard John say, civilly. Is Mrs. Lindsay at home P" asked a strange voice—a man's voice. Yes," answered John. His questioning tone, his manner of waiting, indicated that he wished to know the stranger's business. If It is a bitter cold night," said the stranger. It is a oold winter we are having." Will you step in ?" said John. Dora drew back into the sitting-room. She heard her husband close the front door, open the register in the hall and give the visitor a chair. Now this is a wide, roomy place, in the modern fashion, more of a reception-room than merely an entrance; but Dora did not like to have her husband seat there a visitor who had inquired for her. Besides, she wanted to see who it was. So she went out to the hall through the parlour and inquired, just before she stepped into the hall: Who was it came, John ?" Then seeing the visitor sitting by the regis- ter she said Ob, excuse me; I'm sure I hope you will excuse me." She was very much embarrassed by her own ruse, for neither the stranger nor her hus- band even glanced at her, and Dora saw that her husband was paler than she had ever seen him. His gaze was fixed intently upon the stranger. Dora could see nothing alarming in their visitor. He was a middle-aged man, stout and tall, with dark hair sprinkled with grey. IJe wore a pair of sealsJiin gloves. The rest of his outfit looked comfortable and suitable for a sharp winter evening. The sealskin gloves looked unusually large. Dora stared at them with some curiosity as she advanced. Did you wish to see me, sir ?" she asked. The stranger looked at her. "Yes," he said, "if you are Mrs. Lindsay." I am," said Dora, with dignity. Will you ask your husband to step into some room out of hearing. My business is with you alone." "My business is always my husband's. No one can have any business with me which is not his," said Dora, movmg to John's side, her nerves beginning to shiver a little at the visitor's manner. I prefer to step out of hearing, Dora," said John, coldly, glancing at her now with an expression which both terrified and angered her, it was so unlike him. Pride and fear struggled within her for an instant, then pride won. Very well," she said. Go if you wish, John." He did not start. You perceive that be cannot," said the visitor. I hypnotised him as he opened the door, and he is under the control of my will. L gave you a complete test at once of my power. You know that of his own will your husband would not leave you under these circumstanoes. He says he prefers to go because of my power." 1 am glad he is hypnotised then," said Dora with feeling. She slipped her hands into John's. "It makes me love you more to know that you would not go of your own free will" I she whispered. Don't whisper to me said John Lindsay sharply in return. Dora laughed. Now. how much do you want, or do you want us to get up an exhibition for you or something ? Mr.—Mr.—she hesitated. My name is C onnellton," said the stranger. "No, I do not want to get up no exhibition. I am a ghost. I merely looked in in response to an invitation from your husband. He said he should like to see a ghost. This is a pleasant house you have here. I should like to look it over. In faot, I am house-hunting, and I like this entrance. I think this house would suit me to haunt. 1 think a ghost onght to be very particular about the sort of house he haunts." This house is not for sale," said Dora ?' It is our own. We mean to keep it." You will please show me over the house," said Mr. Connellton to John Lindsay, with a courteous wave of the hand to Mrs. Lindsay. "Certainly, Mr. Connellton. Dora, my dear, oome with us," said John. Dora sud- denly threw her arms about him and kissed him "John, darling," she cried, "do throw off this dreadful spell and send this horrid man away. I don't believe he is a ghost at all, and, anyway, we don't want him going all over our house. Send him away'" She kissed John again, but his lips gave her no response. He stalked up the stairs, followed by Connellton, and there was nothing for Dora to do but to follow. Over the pretty house they went from room to room-Dora's bedroom, her sewing room, the guest cham- ber, all of the closets, through the bathroom, up into the attic and down again went the three, where outside the wild winter wind was making the pine trees moan and bend; down to the front hall again and through the parlour into the oosy sitting- room. It seemed to Dora half a lifetime since half an hour ago when she and John sat there so cosy and happy and not afraid. Connellton spoke for the first time during their tour of inspection. This is a pleasant room," he said. Very," said John Lindsay. You are happy here evenings ?'' Very," said John again, and grinned in such a foolish manner that Dora felt ashamed of him before Connellton. How happy are you ? Dancing happy P jigging happy?" asked Connellton. If so, you may dance a jig." "Oh, Mr. Connellton, he can't jig!" oried Dora, in distress; but John could and did. He jigged about the room for five minutes, while Dora stood beside the portiere, fairly faint between fright at his doing it at all and amusement at the ridiculousness of bis antios. Mr. Connellton stood on the white goatskin rug before the fire and laughed heartily, as might be expected of a hypnotising ghost. I haven't had so much fun since I was on earth the first time," he said at last. We will now look at the kitchen and dining-room and cellar and inspect the furnace." So the journey over the house was oontinued in silence, except for short utterances of ap- proval on the part of Mr. Connellton and an exclamation of annoyanoe from Dora when he gravely broke off a large fragment from the side of a fresh loaf of cake in her pantry and more gravely ate it, scattering crumbs as he went. We will go upstairs again," said Connell- ton when they came back to the sitting-room. I see from the arrangement of this house that there must be a good-sized bedroom over the dining-room which I have not yen. We will look at that." John led the way and Dora followed him. This is a very pleasant room," said Con- nellton when they reached it and John had lit the gas. 1 think I will occupy this per- manently. I am tired, and will go to bed at once." He sat down on a low chair near the register. John Lindsay moved mechanically forward to lower the gas, which was blazing too high. By a lucky accident he awkwardly knocked off the glass globe, and in the attempt to save it from falling to the floor thrust his hand into the flame. The gas in- stantly neutralised the peculiar form of hypno- tism which had been exerted over him, and in full possession of all his faculties John Lind- say turned upon the intruder into his home. You miserable ghost of a hypnotiser," said he," I see through you Clear out of my house or I'll break every cartilage in your backboneless body I" He advanced towards Connellton, who shrank and shrank as he approaohed. There was scarcely a figure the size of a thirteen- year-old boy remaining in the low chair when John Lindsay stood over it with clenched fists. Only the sealskin gloves remained-as large as ever! Why did you come here ? What busi- ness have you here ?" thundered Lindsay. You said you should really like to see a real live ghost," whispered Connellton, so 1 came in. I was a successful hypnotiser before I became a ghost, so I thought I would try it on you." With too good success," said Dora coming bravely forward. if Now, Mr. Conellton, I want to know if you are always in this—this shape P I thought ghosts can make them- selves invisible if they try P" They can. I can," answered Conellton. Well, I'll tell you what we will do for you," said Dora, "for really it is too cold weather to turn even a ghost out of doors; if you will make yourself invisible you can have the use of this room free until spring. You don't mind renting out a room, do you, John, so long as we don't get any pay for it." Yes, I do, Dora," said Lindsay. "It's just like your generous heart to offer to keep Connellton, but we can't afford to do it. Now be off with you." So Connellton arose and his lessened figure crept dejectedly downstairs and out of the house. Just before he opened the front door, he gave Airs. Lindsay one of the large sealskin gloves. He threw it down at her feet. It's a trophy," he said mournfully. "Keep it for my sake." Dora Lindsay put a big bow on it and tied it around the middle with a piece of ribbon, and keeps it up over one corner of the mirror in the dining-room chamber as a souvenir.— Boston Transcript.

Mrs. Brown What colour are your little boy's eyes? Mrs. Robinson: Black, gene- rally. He's a terrible fighter. Young Sappy Do you think Mus Amy will come down soon P .Effie. I'm sure I hope so, for really I find you an awfully hard man to entertain. Customer: This coat doesn't fit; it's too tight across the breast. Tailor: You want to take about fifty dollars out of your inside pooket and it'll be all right. Look at those children That sixteen- year-old boy is on the broad grin while his sister is crying as if her heart would break." Yes. Their father is going to Europe." Mr. Flubdub: What speaking eyes Miss Orbes has Miss de Tract: And how well she knows how to use them. She merely stare at you when you try to engage her in conversation. I once wrote a ghost story for the Weekly Balloon, and-- Was it a good one ?" In one way it was, and in another it wasn't. It's literary finish was exquisite; but the ghost never walked." Cal Somine (rising): Gentlemen, I kain't oontinue in dis game dar's cheatin' goin on. (Three razors are instantly drawn.) Ruh- ah—! But, as I was sayin', I'se only made two dollars 'n' a quawtaw by hit, w'oh I begs t' refund and withdraw! Farmer Jayseed: Bet yer life I be an Alliance man; and I hain't agoin' ter vote for Harrison ef he's nominated ag'in! Friend: Why, what's the trouble? Farmer Jayseed: Trouble! He don't know nothin'. I wrote tew him, an' asked him which was beist-tew sell my grass standin' or wait till it was mowed, and he said be never knew.

HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.-Weakening weattier.-Tlie sultry lummer days strain the nerves of the feeble and decrepit, ud disease may eventuate unless some restorative, aucta u these purifying Fills, be found to correct the disorder* Ing tendency. Holloway's medicine gives potency to the nervous syatem, which is the source of all vital movements, and presides over every action which maintains the growth and well-being of the body. No one can over estimate the necessity of keeping the nerves well strung, or the ease with which these Pills accomplish that end. They are the most unfailing antidotes to indigestion, irregular circulation, palpitation, sick headache, and eostiveness, and have there- fore attained the largest sale and highest reputation. [L5W3 LADDERS.—Ladders for Builders, Painters, Plas- terers, Farmers, Private Use, Ac., all sizes at Cottrell's Qld-eatabüllbed Manufactory, Barr'a-»tra*t. Itriat.Al. f9

THE PRINCE OF WALES SPEAKS ON HEALTH. In his able and timely remarks at the opening of the International Congress of Hygiene, at St. James's -hall, London, August 10, 1891, the Presi- dent, the Prince of Wale: faid The highest powbl yrosperity is when rich and poor alike can 'do such useful work as they art fit for, and to this end it is essential that they should enjoy the best possible health and vigour." Very true, but how can the public health be best promoted ? Clearly by eucli preventive measures as the Congress meets to consider, and by reliable remedies so long as certain diseases continue to prevail. We submit an example of the latter necessity in the form of a statement which cannot fail to con- vince the minds of all who may read it. [COPT.] I, Marfcaiet Morfand, of Throstle Nest farm, Haya Pnrk, near Knaresboro', Yorkshire, do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:- "I have suffered all my life from a weak stomach, indigestion, and liv er compliant. I was never properly well, but always ailing and never seemed to gain strength. I had a bad taste in the mouth and a strange sinking feeling at the pit of my stomach. I had always pain after eating, no matter how simple the food was. My appetite was poor, and what little I ate did not seem to give me strength. I had great pain at the chest and sides, and felt as if I was held or bound round my waist. I was much troubled with sick- ness, and very often found no ease until I vomited all the food I had taken. I felt low, weak, and depressed, as if something was hanging over me. I could not sleep at night, and got so bad that I even dreaded going to bed, for I would lie awake for hours together, and on rising in the morning I felt worse tired than when I went to bed. As years went on I became a bad colour, my skin, and particularly the whites of my eyep, were tinged of a yellowish colour, and at times I was as yellow as a sovereign. In August, 1880, my stomach became very irritable aud everything that I took turned sour on my stomach, and I was constantly vomiting a foul bitter fluid or gas. I took little or no nourishment, and after each morsel of even liquid f)od I strained and vomited as if my poor inside would come out. The pain at my heart now became so severe that I became nlarmed and sent for our docior, who attended me for ten or twelve weeks, but ail the medicine he guve me did no good. The doctor seemed puzzled with MY complliint and chxnged the medicine over and over again, but still I got worse instead of better. At last I lost all faiih in physic, and gave up t-ikmg 'it. Now better, now worse, I continued until July, 1888, when my kidneys became afffc' ed. I had dreadful pniii in the back, and could not void my water. My skin was dry and hot, my lips pirched and feverish. After a time the water lodged so bad that I thought I should have died. I grew weaker nnd weaker every day, and felt that if a change did not soon take place my condition would be criticil, for the pain was more than I could bear. I could not even bide to lie in bed, and had to get out of bed and walk about the room. I took all kinds of medicines, but nothing gave me more than temporary relief, and I dragged on in this miserable state until December, 1888, when Mr. Day, the chemist at Knaresboro' sent me a book telling of a medicine called Mother Seigel's Curative 5) rup, and I read of a case similar to mine having been cured by this medicine. I determined to try it, and sent to Mr. Day and pro- cured a large battle of the Syrup and commenced taking it. I soon began to find relief, my food digested better and gave me strength, all pains in my back and sides left me. I could now sleep better, and gradually gained strength every day, and by the time I had taken a 4/6 bottle I was better than ever I was in my life, and by taking an occasional dose I have since kept in good health. I may mention that I paid over six pounds to one doctor and did not receive any benefit whatever. I feel very grateful for the great benefit I have received from Seigel's Syrup, and I wish others to know of it., 1 have recommended the medicine to many people in this district with- great benefit. My daughter, Mrs«. Ware, living at York, was cured of severe dyspepsia after every other means had failed. If by publishing this statement others may be bene- fited, I shall be very glad and I hereby give per- mission to the proprietors of Seigel's Syrup to make any use they may think fit of this testi- monial, and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true. By virtue of the Provisions of the Statu- tory Declaration Act, 1835 (William IV. c.62). Declare 1 before me at Leeds,") in the County of }ork, by the Slid Margaret Morland on I ,Q. Monday, the 10th of August, (Signed) ALF COOKE, I Mayor of Lteds. J Mr. William Morland, the husband of this lady, ia a farmer, well known and highly refptcied. He has lived on his present farm at Throstle Nest, Haya Park, seventeen years, and in the district all his life. He was present at Leeds when the fore- going declaration by his wife was read, and vouched for its accuracy and truth. Mrs. Morland's malady, indigestion and dyspepsia, is sufficiently common and fatal to make it a duty to give the widest publicity to any remedy that will cure it. Hence our mention of the above case in connec- tion with the woik of the society of which his Royal Highness is President.

"DON'T MARRY LITERARY MEN." oe In the September number of Longman's Magazine Mr. Lang, speaking of the "New Life of Mrs. Carlyle," with all the bad repeated tale of bugs, crowing cocka, groundless frantic jealousies, howls of woe over the most trivial discomforts, shrewish bickerings, brief reconciliations, and all the other too familiar sorrows of that self-tormenting Itousehold," says: -The moral for ladies iii, "Don't marry literary men." The marriages of authors have been wretched out of all propor- tion to the common lot. The reason is not only that authors are vain, and irritable, and flighty, and absorbed, like artiste, in their work. The true, or chief, cause of married misery among writers is probably this: they do their work at home. Now, bricklayers, soldiers, doctors, barristers, clerkp, and most men do their woik away from home. Domestic troubles about servants, chil- dren, but hers, diessuoakers, cannot be launched on them while they orj occupied with their busi- nesp. Nor do they, in turn, bring pre-occupation with briefs, or bricks, or clients, or wh t not, into their domestic circle. But Mrs. Literary Man is apt to rush in upon the solitude of Genius with some terrible tale from the baker'e," while Genius, when summoned to his meal", has his head full of rhymes, or of the persons in his his novel, or, to take Mr. Carlyle's case, of Frederick the Great or Oliver Cromwell. His mind is absent when he should to lending the pleased ear to feminine prattle, and, I.,ter, when examined therein, he is miserably plucked. He is convicted of not having attended to what was said-a jjrime of insult. I dare say Mrs. Carlyle often found Mr. Carlyle an unconcerned and im- patient hearer of her witty conversation, whereas he did listen when away from home in a country house to Lady Ashburton. Hence these tears of Mrs. Carlyld's, and the confidences which she in- flicted on Mazzini and others. The unlucky pair, as Mr. Carlyle said, had thinner skins than other people, and were profusely profane, to begin with. But if Mr. Carlyle had been wise enough to keep his books and papers in a remote studio, and to walk thither every morning, he and his wife would have given less handle to the gossip and the biographer. Young ladies about to marry literary men, young men engaged to literary ladies, should ponder on these things and arrange to do their work away from home, unless they have much better tempers and digestions than the Carlyles enjoyed. "Home industries" may be salutary when they are mechanical, but not when they are mental, especially if the labourer has the iriitability of some—luckily not of alI-gemuses.

Gladstone as a Book-buyer. One of the well-known booksellers of Edin- burgh is Mr. James Stillie, who as a boy knew Sir Walter Scott. Mr. Gladstone is a customer of his whenever he goes to the Scottish capital, Mr. Stillie finds the Liberal leader a shrewd buyer, who insists upon having his discount. He also remembers for a long time what be pay? for particular books. On one occasion be bought some valuable volumes from Mr. Stillie, and, returning some years afterwards, said, By the way, you charged me too much for one of the books I bought last time I was here." In one of his last visits," says Mr. Stillie, he began to think be was buying too loany of my scarce books, and to the great amusement of Lorn Rosebery, who was with him, he exclaimed, I must leave this shot) or I shall berui iaJ.

LADY SMOKERS. The London correspondent of the Scotsman wrLtel as follows :-Two or three weeks ago 1 was sur- prised to see a young lady lounging outside the royal pavilion at the Naval Exhibition smoking a cigarette. It was a Saturday evening, the place was crowded, but the young lady was enjojing her after-dinner sr o'e with a perfect sense of freedom. She "flS aD. of the young Princesses of Wales, and y • fingered her cigarette with an ease that told oi consider- able experience. After this it ia not surprising to be told that the Princess of Wales h enj"ys a cigarette, and that at tLe Royal table ladieg habitually smoke. That there is no desire to make any secret of this practice may be inferred from the fact that the young Princess at the exhibition puffed away in the presence of several thousands of onlookers. The House of Commons is another place W:He theta has of late been a good de of smoking done by ladies. Not long ago a member who s an in- veterate smoker was dining with a p: ty which included several ladies, one of them "i active agitator on the Gladstonian side. L: nediatelv after dinner the ardent smoker began t I exhibA signs of restlessness. This was notice by the lady, who guetlsed the reason at once. You want a smoke," she said, try one of mineV and she pulled out a dainty silver case contain ii>« some of the verv strongest Cairo cigarettes.

"Lure "a New RaifwayjGame. A genius has at lat come along with a game to beguile the tedium of railway journeys. "A Traveller" thus explains it in a letter to the Timu :-1 was alone in a first-class carriage when two young gentlemen and their three sisters, as 1 suppise, entered. I learnt from their conversation that they supposed we should pass a certain station where they intended on their way to leave a parcel. I thought it would be civil to tell them that we bad already passed it. They thanked me most courteously, and the gentleman who bad firft mentioned the parcel made a pencil mark on his cuff. Shortly after that nnc of the young ladies asked her brother the t.r- c, and as none of the party seemed to have sitch, and were very much out in their ussee as to what the hour was, I again ventured, though a man of few words, to tell them what I thought they really wanted to know. Again I noticed that the young lady who had asked the (i one furtively made a mark on her cuff. My fellow- travellers seemed to know so little about. U>e route we were taking that out of pure kind- ness I interposed several more tJ. Des. and whenever I did so they thanked me prcfufcely, and I observed that someone either wrote on his or her cuff, or scored something down elsewlLre. Presently they divided some money among them- selves. I have since discovered that I was the vic- tim of the game of "Lure." The game is a simple one. The placers take it in turns to start a conver- sation strict-y among themselves with a view to inducing a stranger to break into it. The points are any sum agreed upon. If the lure takes effect all the players pay the starter. If it fails the starter pays the pltyers. If the lure takes effect. but the person lured answers wrong, the stirter is paid double. All the players are bound to support the starter. I learned this afterwards.

Renan and the Barber. Here, says the Star, is an interesting story ab u( M. Renan. He formerly lived in < large house ia the Rue de Fournon, opposite a hairdresser's aliop. One morning M. Renan went across the road to get a shave, and was asked by the barber to pro- vide him with a legend to have painted on the shop front. After a moment's reflection, Renan wrote on a card a Greek sentence, which may be translated as fellows «—" I shave quickly, and my tongue keeps pace with the razor,"

The Modern Schoolboy. K ——- A schoolboy of quite a superior sort has turned up in the Daily Telegraph. That journal is at present running a discussion on "ChildreiVo Manners," which are supposed to have dete- riorated. The Schoolboy asks at question which he evidently regards as a poser. What respect," he s-iys, can a lad with high ideas have for the average class of men and women with whom he is brought in contact ? The lives and objects of such people are too utterly mean and sordid to command any sort of deference on the part of their juniors." The youth, no doubt (observes a contemporary) has a sordid parent who pinches him in the matter of pocket-money.

Parliamentary Death Roll. The demise of Mr. Raikes brings up the deada. roll of the present Parliament to 58. The Con- servatives, forming the largest party in the House of Commons, have been the heaviest sufftrers in this respect, having lost 25 members by death. The Liberals have lost 17, the Liberal Unionists 8, and the Nationalists 8. Since Parliament re- assembled at the end of January, fourteen members have died Mr. Bradlaugh, Mr. Kynocli, Mr. P. Macdonald, Mr. T. C. Baring, Mr. Cavendish Bentinck, Mr. Tapling, Colonei nmoro, Mr. Greene, Mr. Barbour, Lord Edward Cavendish, Sir Robert Fowler, The O'Gorman Mahon, Sir Charles Forster, and now Mr. Raikes; while five members have vacated their seats from other causes-Mr. F. W. Maclean having accepted a Mastership in Lunacy, Mr. W. H. Smith (imme- diately re-elected) having accepted the Lord War- denship of the Cinque Forts, Captain Verney having been expelled, Captain Selwyn having re- tired, and Viscount Lewieham having succeeded to the earldom of Dartmouth.

TO NEWSAGENTS AND THE PUBLIC, SEQUAH'S SPECIAL OFFER. How can such a book, printed on good paper, and got up in such excellent style, be sold for the small sum of one penny This is what thousands of people, and especially holiday-seekers, will say when they eea the new publication, 11 Summer Thoughts for Happy Holidays." It is without doubt the largest and best Summer Annual ever issued at so email a sum, and consists of 32 pagea (with an attractive cover, printed in two colours) literally ciamired with seasonable illustrations and interesting reading. Over 100 humorous sketches help to fill the pages of this marvellous pennyworth, and these are clearly printed on tinted paper of the best quality. Sequah (Limited) desire to give the reading public a first-class summer production at the very loweet cost, and, as at advertisement, are prepared to deal liberally witi newsagents and newspaper sellers. Single copiej will be sent free by post for three stamps. A< this advertisement will not appear after Septem ber, readers should ask their newsagent at onc( for Summer Thoughts," and if he is not Buffi ciently enterprising to obtain a supply, BhouW forward three stamps to Manager, Advertisemeri Department, SEQUAH (LIMITEB), 44, Farringdon street, E C.

Dr. Arthur Jones, of Scratton, Pennsylvania, committed suicide as a result of melancholy, caused by gossip connecting him with the death of his wife.

NEXT WEEK, THE "WEEliiY IAIL" Will contain the following Special Articles: — THE HARP-HOW TO PLAY IT. NOTHING TO EQUAL IT IN MELODY. A HAREM IN ASIA MINOR. VISITING A OHIBNTAL PBINCSSS. A DEATH IN THE DESERT, BESE ? BY WILD DOGS.