Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
..--LITERARY EXTRACTS.
LITERARY EXTRACTS. JsA FRANK MILDMAY STORY.—A good story of a ■Earryat novel is told by a writer in the (Jkurcl Wazettc. A philanthropic lady in a fishing village {offered to read to a class of young fellows, and hit upon ''Frank Mildmay" as a likely book. As the Btory progressed, and the captain's language grew ir intensity, she was constrained to substitute suer harmless expressions as dear me and bother it' for some of the originals. All, however, was goim well until, during the Bible reading, one lad pickec up the book and found out how the class had beer defrauded. He thereupon told his fellows and thej taxed their benefactor .with the bowdlerisation of gooc literature. She admitted it, and promised to amenc her fault, resolving, however, in her own mind tc continue to soften Marryat here and there. But hot end was defeated, for the boys bought another copy and one of them checked her off in a loud voice unti she could hold out no longer. DUMAS.—One day, December 4. 1870, he fixed his great kindly eyes on me, and, in the tone of a chilc beseeching its mother, he said to me: "I entreatyol do not force me to get up, I am so comfortable here,' I did not insist, but sat down on his bed. Suddenly a strange wistfulness took possession of him, and s solemn 0 and melancholy expression settled on his face; and in his eyes, so caressing the moment before, I saw tears gather. On my inquiring flu cause of his sadness, he took my hand, and, looking me straight in the face, he said, in a firm voice, ] will tell you, if you promise to answer my question not with the partiality of a son, or the indulgence y 11 of a friend, but with the frankness of a valiani companion in arms and the authority of a competent judge." I promise to do so,' I replied. Swear," he said. "I swear," ] again replied. Well, then "—he hesitated for ar instant, then, making up his mind-" Well! de you believe," he said, "that anything I have written will survive me ?" And his eyes watched me eagerly. If that is your only anxiety," I replied gaily, you may rest in peace; much indeed will sur- vive you." Is that true ?" he asked. Certainly,' 'I replied. On your honour ?" he said. "On my honour," I repeated. After that he spoke no more, as though nothing interested him anj longer here below. On the following day he was seized with a violent attack of fever, and in the evening at ten o'clock he gently passed away without an effort, without even being aware of his end. There is no doubt that my father is very widely read IL great surgeon said to me the other day-" All oui liOBpital patients recover or die with one of youi father's books under their pillow. When we wish to make them forget the terror of an approaching (operation, the tediousness of convalescence, or the SSreadof death, we prescribe one of your father's novels and they are able to forget."—Alexandre Du nias, younger AN U NFORTUNATE ILLUSTRATiox.- Even before a policeman gets acquainted;with the people on his beat. he should seek an introduction to the dictionary The Plain Dealer proves it by the experience of an officer who bad loved a young woman long and truly, but lacked the courage to tell her so. Finally hE mustered all his bravery-it required more nerve than to face an ugly mob-and marched to her home. "'Mary," he said, I love you." Mary started slightly. She had been expecting this remark for some time. She blushed, however, and then coyly said: Ditto, George." To her surprise and chagrin George changed the subject, and presently took hie kleparture. A few nights later he was on his way te his beat with two of his brother officers. Say, boys,' he said, I want to ask you something. You tnow I ve been keeping company with the girl on Cedar Avenue, and the other ni,ght-well, I told hei I loved her, and say, all she said was ditto.' Now. what in thunder does ditto mean ?" The brother officers laughed loud and long. Don't you know what that means ?" one of them cried. No. I don't," said George. Well, it's easy," said his friend. Look over the fence." They were just pass- ing a cabbage patch. What do you see?' Cabbages," replied George. Well, now look at that particular cabbage-head right there." Yes,' said George. "Now look at the cabbage-head next to it." Yes," said George. Well, that's it. The first-cabbage-head is a cabbage-head and the othei one is ditto." What!" roared the irate George, did that blamed girl call me a cabbage-head ?" And he turned away and refused to be comforted. A MAN'S LOVE FOR His CHILD.—There are those who smile sneeringly or contemptuously at the sight of a man's unshamed love for his child. To them it i8 an indication of something weak-almost womanish —in his nature. Is is so really? I am inclined tc suspect that the facts are the other way about, and (hat the men who have loved their children m osl passionately have been, not the feeble ones of the world, but the fighters; not the weak souls, but the strong. So, too, it is to the intellectually sturdy— to the Whitmans, Stevensons. and Henleys-not to the intellectually sickly, thatthe helplessness of child- hood most appeals. It is the strong soul, lnsting in its vigour, like a breeze from the north, that can not only croon a tender lullaby over a little child's cradle, but can chant Viking songs to brace the sinews of men. Some one will doubtless be reminding me that neither Stevenson nor Whitman had a child. What has that to do with it? It is the father-heart, the mother-heart, not the mere fact of being a father or a mother in the flesh, that constituted the true child- lover. I am not forgetting Oliver Wendell Holmes t dictum that one side of a man's nature remains un- developed until he knows what it is to have a child of his own. That, however, is true only of some men -the men of whom one might with almost equal truth say that they can never love a woman truly until they have a wife of their own. Their love is indis- Bolubly bound up with their consciousness of pro- prietary rights; for just as a spider spins from hie own body the thread upon which he advances, so certain natures can only progress along the line of eelf. But some of the most beautiful chapters in the history of the love between man and woman tell of devotion which—like that of Dante for Beatrice- went forth unasked and unasking; and the love of some childless men and childless women forchildrer lis, if less romantic than the love of a man for 6 maid. scarcely less passionate. Those who njaintair that love and life are consummated in the cominn together in marriage of man and maid, misread the imcred mysteries. Is the means to an end of more tmoment than the end itself? Is it the scattering oi the grain in spring-time or the reaping of the ripe corn at harvest that crowns the husbandman's year ? Even the pure joy of wedded love is sometimes not all unselfish but the ecstasy with which ore holds one's child hugged and gathered to one's heart is a tpassion the white flame of which casts no shadow. If is the one ecstasy of possession which is all unselfish. It asks only to give, and in giving is abundantly reo c,ompentied.- Coidso?t Kernahan in The Puritan. POLITE.-Many of us have heard of that polite Parisian cocher "—driver—who, during a long afternoon in which he drove a lady about the gay capital to see the sights, responded quite unruffled and without so much as a muscle twitching, to her con- etantly repeated orders to cochon "—pig—to drive her here or there. Indeed, foreigners receive mistakes in their language much more courteously than we receive theirs in ours. Two ladies in Italy bad this fact recently borne in upon them," as the Friends Bay, with especial distinctness. In the morning their Italian teacher made a slip in her English, and in weply to an inquiry concerning the oddly-twinkling fire embers in her little brass stove, informed them ■that the fuel she employed was small wigs." They laughed heartily at the mistake, and presently the lady herself corrected it to "twigs," and was amiable enough to laugh also. But that same day they went to see the hoiiieless rats of the city fed in the cloisters lof San Gallo, and were not sure that they had come at the right time. One of them turned to the "custode" and inquired in Italian, as she supposed, "When will the cats eat but what she really asked was When shall we eat, the cats ?" There is no systematic hour, signorina," he replied to this surprising query, liD a manner as politely matter-of-course as if it wero quite the custom there to serve kittens on toast to 'foreign ladies! Not, a flicker of expreesion showed ghat he perceived the mistake. Such a steady coun- knance under such circumstances, they agreod when they discovered it themselves, was a feat of courtesy irery rarely exhibited by an American. QUEER FACTS ABOUT SHOOTING STARS.—Sir Robert Sail told a Lonqon audience the other day sqrne in- teresting facts about, rtieteorites and shooting stars. En describing the origin of meteorites he said that millions of years ago, when the earth was an infant at play :and volcanoes were giants, the meteors were ptrown upward in infant convulsions. Some of the earth's discarded rocks returned at once but those which were flung upward at a rate greater than seven miles a second passed beyona the earth's gravitating influence and sought paths' of their own, no one could tell whither. And then, 'after millions of years, khey once more came within fee reach of the world and old Mother Earth ■esumed her sway, took back the rocks to her twom and the astronomers said a meteorite had lien. Sir Robert asked his hearers to imagine a ^rapping of some hundreds of miles of air round the earth's surface. JJow just in the same way that a, gimlet, boring its ,way into wood, becomes warm, so a let going 20 miles a minute would become extremely parm in boring its way through 20 miles cf air. And in the same way that a bullet became warm, so a Etorite travelling at this speed perhaps for.hundreds pears through realms of space, whose "paralvsing d was indeacritabie, and finding itself at last ■lunging through the warm hath of the air, became j (otter and hotter and hotter. It glowed, it became j ■phite hot, it melted, it dissolved !h a burst "ot mseou§ j Ualendour, and observers on the earth cried, Why. pore's *1 iSSt xo? J I 81R F. BlUDGE AND THE ALBERT HALL CHOIR--It is no easy matter to conduct a large choir, to obtain the best possible results and yet to remain on per- fectly friendly relations with its members. Difficult and exhausting passages have to be gone through over and over again; the conductor must know exactly the effect he wants to get and how to get it. and all the while the choir has to be kept in perfect good humour. But Sir Frederick Bridge is a past- master of the art. He is a severe critic, but all his criticisms are delivered so good-humouredly and in such a kindly way, that it is impossible for anyone, least of all any member of the Albert Hall Choir, to take offence. Sometimes a member of the choir makes a good repartee to the conductor. Such an episode occurred coon after the death of Sir J. Barnbv. Dr. Bridge (as he then was) was anxious to know what. Sir J. Barnby had done at a particular point, and calling out to the basses, said, I want some reliable man amongst you to tell me so-and-so." After a moment's pause, a voice from the clouds said solemnly: ''He's absent to-night, sir." It was im- possible to continue the rehearsal for some little time. And how skilfully Sir Frederick plays off one section of the choir against another it should be mentioned that on each side of the organ is a com- plete choir of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses now one section is praised at the expense of the other,; now both are rebuked for not keeping time: then, lest the right-hand choir should feel unduly elated, it is referred to as a pleasant echo of the choir on my left "—how particular lie is with respect to pronunciation!—and so, by cajolery, by sarcasm, by solemn conjuration, by every means, those results are attained which are familiar to every lover of music in London. It is said that, at one rehearsal, while the ladies were practising a more than usually trying passage—with results not altogether entrancing—a cat suddenly made its appearance, and stood in front of the sopranos, look- ing from them to the conductor with an expression of mild inquiry. Sir Frederick naturally made the most of the incident. Ladies," he said, this intelligent animal has come to see if, by any chance, there is a vacant place. Let us show her her mistake let us prove to her that this is not a feline choir but a highly-trained human choir." Renewed attempts— with even more disastrous results—the cat quietly lay down in front of the ladies. Sir Frederick looked at them reproachfully. "I fear, ladies," he said, "you have been too much for the cat!"—Cassell'a Magazine. How THE AMERICAN COUNTRY PARSON IS PAIn.- It is not only as a reward for performing the marriage ceremony that the country parson is paid in kind." Sometimes he receives a large part of his salary in this way. The members of his congre- gation each subscribe a certain amount of money to- wards the salary that is guaranteed the minister. Farmer Brown will, he says, contribute four dollars is his share. In the winter, when Farmer Brown should hand over his four dollars to the church treasurer, he finds himself short of ready cash, but with an abundant supply of wood on hand, having in the autumn felled many trees in his forest. Nothing can be more certain than that the minister needs fuel in the winter; therefore. Farmer Brown loads his waggon with logs of wood, drives to the parsonage, and deposits it in the minister's back yard, announc- ing to the minister that he reckons thar's nior'n foul dollars wuth of wood in that thar load The minister can, perhaps, make use of that one load of wood very conveniently but when, as is frequently the case, a dozen frugal farmers among his parishioners are struck with the same sort of notion—that of paying their subscriptions in wood instead of money-the unfortunate parson has more wood than he can burn for many winters to come, and his back yard is entirely taken up with it. He needs sugar, and paraffin, and rice, and butter, as well as a cheerful fireside. Did I say butter ? Well, sometimes he gets more butter than he wants, too. Says the farmer to his wife Jane, I promised to pay three dollars towards the parson's salary. Bein' as you're makin' fine butter this summer, you jes' take him a couple o' pounds a week till you've made three dollars worth." Two pounds of fresh yellow butter weekly from the dairy of a parishioner would be appreciated by the parson's family. They would rather have it than the stale butter from the village shop; but, since butter is made on all farms, and many farmers wives send the parson butter to pay off theii subscriptions, the parson's larder overflows with butter, while many other necessaries are scarce. It is the same with potatoes and cabbages and beetroots, with eggs, and with hay for the juinister's horse, which, by the way, is not forgotten when the time for paying subscriptions comes round. The minister loves his horse, and is glad to have plenty of hay and oats for it to eat; but to have in his barn enough of these articles to last a horse through several life- times, while the children are needing boots and coata for the present winter, is not a state of affairs that appeals to his sense of the fitness of things. Some of our country parsons, with an instinct for business, not inDorn, but thrust upon them by a stern neces- sity, have been known to become dealers in wood, potatoes, hay, and other things of which they have an over supply, selling their surplus stock off to their neighbours. In this way they are able to get a little ready cash with which to purchase such necessary commodities as do not "grow on the farm."—Tht Quiver. REBELS IN DERBYSHIRE.—The route of the Young Pretender in Derbyshire lay pretty much beside the Dove, only it was upon the high road on the Derby- shire side. An old friend of ours, recently deceased, was as a lad acquainted with an ancient goodman who had witnessed this march through Peakland. The inhabitants themselves were, as recently as the beginning of the present century, pronounced a horde of savages," but like doesn't always take tc like, and the advent of the breekless warriors of Charles Edward is said to have worried them ex- ceedingly. This did not arise so much from personal fear as for the safety of their goods and chattels. It was the confident hope of the Peaklanders that the rebels would continue their march right onward to London, and there get hanged or otherwise exter- minated, thereby saving the necessity of a return journey. Their very worst fears were justified wher the Highlanders were back upon them again in a few days Here is one story of the march which lingers locally: An old cottager espied a band of foragers in the distance. They were making toward his home- stead, and, of course, he bad a shrewd guess what their errand would be. Farm stock he had none to relieve. His wife was too hard fared to run any risk of being kissed an' carried awa' But on the wall of the houseplace there hung an obvious piece of loot, namely a flitch of bacon. The old fellow, however, determined to have a good try and keep this winter provision of his out of the wambles of the Highland gentry, so in the few minutes at his disposal he made his arrangements. When the soldiers entered the cottage they found a man lying on the settle in the last throes of dissolution, and a woman wringing her hands over him in indescribable agony. The clans- men, bare-legged though they were, yielded a certain amount of pity, and prosecuted the search after what they wanted with civility and without interfering with the dying man. After rummaging about and finding nothing of value they took their departure. Immediately they had got clear away the wild man of the Peak jumped off the settle, removed the chaff bed, and, drawing forth the baccn, proceeded to hang 51 t once more in its accustomed place Magazin*. SOME lirion BULLS.—Perhaps the greatest contempt ever expressed by one man for another was the re- jection by an old Irish gentleman of a challenge Fight with him he exclaimed. I would rather go to my grave without a fight." From an Irish news- paper-" The heavy drops of rain varied in size from a shilling to eighteenpence." The chairman of a com- pany in Cork—"Perhaps you think that in ourboard half do the work and the other half do nothing As a matter of fact, gentlemen the reverse is the case." "Is it a son or a daughter your sister has got?" asked a gentleman of one of his tenants. "The curse of the crows on me, but I don't know whether I'm an uncle or an aunt," was the immediate reply. From the witness-box A Kathleen Mavourneen loan'" questioned the judge. What in the world is that ?" That's what we calls some loans down in our parts, yer hpnner-the It may be for years, and it may be for ever' sort." Did you call your husband's uncle 4 Carey, the informer ?'" No," she replied, I didn't go so far as that. I called him Anti-Christ." Eminent London specialist to a Galway landlord—" I should like to know whether your family have been long-lived ?" Well, doctor, I'll just tell you how it is," said the patient, thoughtfully. My family is a West of Ireland family, and the age of my ancestors depended entirely on the judge and jury who tried them.' After a levee a Hussar officer in full uniform walked down Dame-street, Dublin. Two men seemed quite bewildered by the gorgeous appari- ti6n clanking towards them but when he had passed, one said to the other Oh, shouldn't I like to pawn himl" A. woman named Mrs. Flynn was brought up in Dublin for assaulting her husband. The ponce applied for a remand, as the husband, being in hos- pital, was unable to appear. The woman seemed also to be in a very battered condition. Her face was bruised, one eye was closed, and she had a bandags over her head. What an awful condition the poor wonaan is in!" said the magistrate pityingly. Och, yer worship," exclaimed the woman with a ring of CMltaficm io her voice, just wait till yez see Flynn tt Michael MacDonagh. TiIJ FRWURANCE OF ]DiclimNs.No mortal man evcf exerted so beneficial and extensive an influence over the human heart as Dickens. Very much private and still more public good will have nftf ed from his genius.—Lcmdvf* ;■ a
FUN AND FANCY.I
FUN AND FANCY. I A SARCASTIC lawyer, during the trial of a case, made use of the expression, Cast not your pearls before swine." Subsequently, as he rose to make the argument, the judge facetiously remarked: "Be care- ful, Air. S., not to cast your pearls before swine." Don't be alarmed, your honour, I am about to ad- dress the jury, not the court." OLfVEU WENDELL HOLMES, being bored by a dull public lecturer, asked: What are you about at this time?" The answer was: "Lecturing as usual. I hold forth this evening at Roxbury." The professor, clapping his hands, exclaimed I am glad of it; 1 never liked those Roxbury people." A RAILWAY engineer, who was fined for running his engine through an ambitious little village, said lie didn't know it was there. A TENNESSEE lawyer, having lost a case, asked for a new trial. The judge denied his motion, remark- ing: "The court and the jury think the prisoner a knave and a fool." The counsel replied: The prisoner wishes me to say he is perfectly satisfied, as he has been tried by a court and jury of his peers." No man can do anything against his will. Faith," eaid Pat, "my brother went to prison against his will." M HAT plan," said one actor to another, shall I adopt to fill the house at my benefit?" Invite your creditors," was the reply. A PERSON, fond of the marvellous, told an im- Erobable story, adding Did you ever hear of that efore ?" No, sir," said his friend did you ?" HUSBAND, I can't express my detestation of your conduct." Well, my dear, I'm very glad you can't." COLERIDGE was a bad rider. One day he was accosted by a would-be wit. I say, do you know what happened to Balaam ?" Coleridge answered: The same as happened to me-an ass spoke to him." TIIEY say very few authors sleep more than seven hours a day." But think how much slumber they furnish other people." THE LADY You here again ?" The Tramp Yes, kind lady." The Lady: "Well, I won't help you again. I don't believe you've done a thing all the winter." The Tramp: Indeed I have, mum I've just done a month's hard labour!" SHE: "John, the Joblots' new house is much larger than ours." He: Yes, my dear; so is their mortgage." TIIAT'S a life-like portrait of your little boy.' "I don't think so. The photographer made him sit still." SAYS an agricultural editor, Pumpkins are said to be very fattening for hogs, but we have never tried them ourselves." HE: Can you play 'The Maiden's Prayer,' Miss Wayback ?" She (with alacrity): Oh, yes." He Well, please don't." HE: "I am told that your admirers' name is legion." She (blushing): Oh, no; his name is Ingle!" SYMPATHETIC MAIPEN: Why, Jimmy, you poor boy! have you been fighting?" Jimmy: "No: I've been fought." "WHAT'S worrying you, Harry, dear?" "I'm afraid I'm not worthy of you, sweetheart." 01), well, keep on worrying." CHAPPIE: I don't feel like myself to-night." Ethel Knox: Then we ought to have a pleasant evening.' Youp. friends may not know much but they always known what they would do if they were in your place. VISITOR: Did a storm break all those shrubs and trees ?" Gardener Oh. no, sir, but-the master is learning to ride a bicycle." MR. B.: My dear, your butcher gives you short weight for your money. Mrs. B.: "But consider also, my dear, the long wait you give him for his." A GERMAN paper contains the following unique advertisement: Any person who can prove that my tapioca contains anything injurious to health will have three boxes of it sent to him free of charge." I PUNISH you, my child, to show my love for you." It isn't necessary for your love to work over- time on my account, ma." PA t Pa little Johnny began. Now what do you want ?" asked his suffering father, with the em- phasis on the now." Will my hair fall off when it's ripe, like yours?" When the flat ruler had ceased falling on Johnny his thirst for knowledge had dis- appeared. LITTLE WILLIE Pa, why do they call them 'minor poets'?" Pa: "Because they ought to be working with the pick and shovel instead of writing poetry, my son." Q Miss. A.: "Is it true that your son holds thp appointment of warder in a gaol ?" Mrs. B.: Yes but only criminals of good families are imprisoned there." PLUCK is the secret of success on the Stock Ex- change." Well, I'll give you £ 1000 if you'll teach me your method of plucking." BILL Is your wife much of a conversationalist ?' me your method of plucking." BILL Is your wife much of a conversationalist ?' Jill: "Is she? Why, that woman can't yawn with- out opening her mouth about it." TEACIIFR (angrily): Why don't you answer the question, Bobby?" His Brother Tommy (answering for him): "Please, sir, he's got a peppermint in his speech." Miss OLDGIRL (coyly): "I had a strange dream the other night, Mr. Junior. I dreamt—only think!that you and I were married and on our honeymoon. You don't know how real it seemed. Did you ever dream such a thing ?" Mr. Junior (firmly): "No, Miss Oldgirl, I did not. In fact, I haven't had the nightmare for a good many years." "WHAT are you doing, Tommy?" Standin' before the lookin'-glass," said Tommy I wanted to see how I would look if I was twins." HE: (at the trysting-place) "What a time you have kept me waiting She Quite the contrary. It is only six o'clock, and I did not intend to be here before seven o'clock!" He: Just so But you have mistaken the day-I have been waiting here since yesterday!" AN enterprising South London undertaker dis- plays in his window this notice: Why walk about in misery when you can be decently buried for 30s. ?" MARRIED yet, old man ?" "No; but I'm engaged, and that's as good as married." It's better, if you only knew it." MRS. TIMID Did you ever find a man under the bed?" Mrs. Bluff: Yes; the night we thought there were burglars in the house. I found my hus- band there." A PURVEYOR of groceries, in his year of office as mayor, was, as usual, called upon to perform the duties of magistrate. The sergeant of police, referring to a prisoner who needed the mayor's attention, described him as Thomas Byng, alias Stones, alias the Snatcher." Ah," said the mayor, suppose we take the ladies first. Brings up Alice Stones!" HUSBAND "Why are you so angry at the doctor?" Wife: "When I told him I had a terribly tired feeling, he told me to show him my tongue." LITTLE JoiiN (after casting his penny into the fund for the Bamalam Islanders): "I wish I was a heathen P Sabbath School Teacher Oh, Johnny! Why do you wish such an awful thing as that ?" Little John: The heathen don't never have to give nothin'—they are always gettin'somethin' 0 BE your own judge, Chumpley, but can you show me one thing about Miss Richly that makes her attractive ?" No; it's in the bank." HAVE you ever reskd the article on how to tell a bad eg- ?" No, I haven't; but my advice would be, if you have anything important to tell a bad egg, why break it gently." My task in life," said the pastor of one of our churches, complacently, "consists in saving young men." Whereupon one of our fair maidens, with a soulful longing, replied, Save a good one for me." MRS. FOGG You have been a naughty boy, and I shall have to tell your father." Johnny H'm Just like a woman Can't keep a secret." FOND PARENT: When you grow up, Bobby, you will thank me for beating you like this." Bobby: Perhaps I will. But that won't prevent me from taking it out of my little boy." Is that boy Bunker a great favourite in your school ?" Johnny: Well, 1 should say so. There isn't a fellow in the school but what he can lick." YOUNG WHIFE: "I am determined to learn at what hour my husband comes home at nights; yet. do what I will, I cannot keep awake, and he is always careful not to make a particle of noise. Is there any drug which produces wakefulness ?" Old Whife No need to buy drugs. Sprinkle the floor with tacks." CONCEITED YOUTH Oh, doctor, I have sent for you certainly; still, I must confess I have not the slightest faith in modern medical science." Doctor: Oh, that doesn't matter in the least. You see, a donkey has no faith in the veterinary surgeon, and yet he cures him all the same." THE pupils in a school were asked to give in writing the difference between a biped and a quadruped. One boy gave the following: A biped has two legs and a quadruped has four legs; therefore, the difference between a biped and a quadruped is two legs." MRS. QcicKLEiGH The first man who øcr pro- posed to me said that if I would not marry him he would blow his brains out." Miss Wonder: Good gracious! He must have been crazy. Why didn't you have him put under restraint ?" Mrs. Quickleigh I did. I married him. BONES Who is that big man they've jnst carried by on a stretcher?" Wones: "Oh, that was Herr Redblood, the anarchist, who in his speech last night offered to lead the mob till the streets ran with blood to his waist." Bones What's the matter with bim now ?" Wones A dog bit him cm the leg, and he fainted awayi" •
ULi EATER BRITAIN. I
ULi EATER BRITAIN. I THE Secretary of State for India has received the following telegram from the Viceroy on the subject of the reported plague panic in the gold fields of Mysore: Plague is present in goldfields, and there has been some panic among coolies, which Resident reports not continuing. One mine, which had to close part of surface works, has resumed these opera- tions. Resident has discussed measures with Plague Commissioner, and says all necessary steps taken and mining superintendents agreed arrangements sufficient and satisfactory. SIR J. WEST RIDGEWAY, the Governor of Ceylon, has cut the first sod of the new graving dock at Colombo. ANOTHER European Christian has verted" to Buddhism in Ceylon. Mr. Gordon Douglas, who was for some time connected with St. Thomas's College, but laterly with the Mahinda (Buddist) College at Galle, was the other day formally ordained as a priest in the Jayasekera Temple, at Maradana, by the Burmese Archbishop, who has been over in Ceylon lately accompanying the now famous casket sent from Rangoon to hold Buddha's tooth at Kandy. This is the first European who has become a Buddhist priest, and the incident naturally caused a good deal of excitement and exultation among that community in Ceylon, and it is hoped that the convert will speedily bring more Western people into the sacred fold. THE Natal Government contemplate suspending the immigration of Indians owing to the plague. A ship containing 1000 coolies has been refused admission to Delagoa. A PARLIAMENTARY paper just issued contains the ninth report of the Commissioners appointed to carry out a scheme of colonisation in the Dominion of Canada of crofters and cottars from the Western Highlands and islands ot Scotland. In the case of the Killarney settlement, in Manitoba, the Commissioners state that the whole of the crofters have new accepted leases in which they under- take to repay their indebtedness to the board in instal- ments over a period of eight years, but, so far, no arrangement has been made between the crofters and their outside creditors for the disposal of the debts so unwisely incurred, and, adds the report, It cannot be stated that the settlement is in a satisfactory con- dition." The Saltcoats (North-West Territories) settlers, on the other hand, have few outside debts, and they, as a rule, punctually discharge their obligations, but they have refused to take advantage of the legislation passed, at their own request, with the object of enabling them to choose other home- steads which ,they regarded as more suitable. Killarney now consists of 64 homesteads, with a population of 160 persons, and the area under cultiva- tion or broken and under summer fallow during 1897 was 3478 acres, as compared with 3741 acres in 1896. The vield of wheat in 1897 shows a decrease of about' 8000 bushels, oats 3200 bushels, and potatoes 450 bushels, the value of the crops in 1897 being 17,464dol., against 19,383dol. the previous year. As compared with 1890 there has been a considerable increase in the numbers of live-stock owned by the settlers. The Saltcoats settlers, who number 90 persons, have only 45 acres under cultivation, but they have not, it is stated, sown a larger area of grain because they prefer to devote more attention to the raising of live-stock, which have increased in numbers as compared with 1896, and which they find more profitable, besides enabling them to earn money dur. ing the seeding and harvest seasons. The agent of the board remarks, however, that the direct cause of the crofters' failure to successfuly grow grain can only be explained by the unhuabandlike manner in which they have attempted to farm. THE Rev. Mr. Davidson, of Runnymede, a town- ship of the Campaspe River, in the Bendigo district of Victoria, had a startling experience the other Sunday. During service the voice of an experienced bushman went up from the congregation, Don't move, Mr. Davidson, there's a snaKe under your elbow." The minister looked down cautiously, and saw a dangerous tiger snake quite within striking distance of him. Tiger snakes are not to be trifled with, and the minister kept his nerve in commendable fashion while the bushman, who knewhis work, marched forward with a walking-stick, and with a sharp stroke put the intruder out of action. The Bendigo country teams with snakes in the Christmas season, but they are not always tigers," and the advent of this ugly customer caused some alarm in Runnymede. MR. C. W. LANGTREE, who was for many years a prominent Government official in Victoria, died in Melbourne the other day, at the comparatively enrly age of 52. He went out to the colony with hi s parents when only six years of age, and when he grew up joined the engineering profession. In 186.5 he entered the Department of Mines in Melbourne, and consequently did much useful work in various parts of Victoria. When Colonel Templeton retired in 1889, Mr. Langtree became a member of the Public Service Board, from which he retired a short time ago, when the duties of the Board were taken over by the Audit Commissions. He was greatly respected, and his death is a real loss to the colony. LARRIKINISM has been rampant in Melbourne of late, and offences against property and persons have become so frequent that the newspapers are asking for an increase in the number of police doing duty 11 y in the city, and urging the magistrates to pass heavier sentences on prisoners convicted of offence of this kind. THE recent Matriculation Examination in Mel- bourne resulted in a great triumph for the lady students. There were seven groups in the honours lists, and in six of them a lady's name stood at the head, the only subject in which a lady failed to win first place being classics. In five of the subjects the second position was also taken by a lady student. This success at the examination is already being utilised by the advocates of female suffrage, who say: If our girls can beat our boys at English, mathe- matics, history, physiology, chemistry, physics, &c., surely even the dullest Tory must admit that it is possible for the grown woman to be his equal as a political economist." INSOLVENCY returns may generally be taken as giving some idea of the commercial prosperity of a com- munity, and last year's figures with regard to Victorian bankruptcies indicate pretty clearly that the long-wished-for improvement is taking place. During last year 239 estates were sequestrated, invol- ving £ 328,879 liabilities, whereas in 1897 there were 280 sequestrations, in which liabilities totalled over £ 100,000. ANOTHER sign of reviving prosperity in Victoria is to be found in the railway traffic returns. The Com- missoner of Railways anticipateafthat the revenue of his Department for the current financial year will show an increase on the previous 12 months of about £ 200,000. THE latest instance of heredity in cricket is to be found in Victoria, where J. Horan, a son of the once famous Australian batsman, T. Horan. is making a name for himself in club cricket- Young Horan's last performance was an excellent innings of 135. A NEW explosive called kallinate has recently been in- vented in Australia. It is made by combining nitrated eucalyptus leaves with nitro-gly(,erine and nitrate of potash. It is said to be smokeless if properly used, and to possess greater explosive strength than dyna- mite or galignite. AN old Colonial has passed away in Mr. William M. Rothery, who died recently at his station in New South Wales at the age of 90. He arrived in the colony in 1831, and the first sqnatter to send wool direct to England. He was the oldest member of the, Sydney Australian Club. MAJOR-GENERAL FRENCH'S term of office as Com- mandant of the Forces of New South Wales expires very shortly, but it is generally expected in colony that he will be reappointed for a further period. THERE was a considerable falling off in the tele- graphic business of South Australia during 1898 as compared with 1897. This is accounted for largely by the decrease in mining transactions, owing to the comparative dulness in the We8*- -Australian Share Marltet. Last year there was a decrease of 50.000 in local messages and of 78,000 in intercolonial mes- sages. TiiB first prosecution in Western Australia under the Immigration Restriction Act of 1897 has just taken place at Freemantle. Two Japanese who failed to comply with the educational condlttons imposed by the Act were sentenced to six months' imprison- ment in default of finding security to leave the Colony within a month. The men came from Queensland, and the owners of the steamer in which they travelled have arranged to ship them back there.
LORD PENZANCE. = ;.',
LORD PENZANCE. = The Daily News is informed on good authority that Lord Penzance is retiring from the offices to which he was appointed under the Public Worship Regula- tion Act—viz., those of the Dean ofthe Arches in the Southern Provinces, and Offi°^ -ncipal of the Court of York. For years he h»9 confined to his house, and the scandal of his giving judgment from his bed (read by a Registrar m Court) in an appeal from the diocese of Lichfield will be in the recollections of our readers. The resignation will lead to serious issues, and no doubt to Parliamentary debates. The Government will be urged by the bishops and the whole body of Sigh Churchmen to restore the Courts of the two Provinces to their old position. v -===
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MR. CLAIB," said the manager, you positively must give up letting your mind dwell so much on your bicycle." Eh ? Why?" asked the tragedian. Perhaps you are not aware of it, but in third act, when you should have said, f Ye gods, I am ■tabbed,' jbu shouted I am punctured.
: THE WOMAN'S WORLD.
THE WOMAN'S WORLD. WIIEX we wish to secure protection against co:d winds (says Dr. Black in his useful Guide to Health "), leather and india-rubber prove the most useful; next come woollen goods; and last, a great way behind, may be reckoned" cotton and linen fabrics. Clothing made of wool can absorb a far o' larger amount of perspiration with less danger of the wearer's taking cold, from its moist contact with his skin, than any of the other materials of dress ordi- narily employed. Dr. Parkes has proved that, in com- parison to either cotton or linen, the absorbing power of wool, according to relative weight, is double, and according to surface quadruple. Clothes should be made large enough to let every movement, be made with as much ease when they, are on as when they are off. Their weight should be borne by the shoulders. In the dress of men this is fairly accom- plished, but the dress of women drags from the waist, and occasions physical bondage, which places them at a great disadvantage as active workers. I HAVE just (a correspondent remarks) been read- ing an article on floral table decoration whiten by a man whose practical knowledge of llowers Iris made him an acknowledged authority on floriculture. But I fear that he sometimes looks through rose- coloured spectacles. Of course, he has his own greenhouses, and knows what will grow in them, yet, in his opinion, "an ordinary window full of plants will furnish material enough for the daily decoration of the table throughout the season, and admit of variety enough to prevent monotony. To-day you can have a cluster of purple heliotrope and a spray of white and gold Lantanas, with a few green leaves. To-morrow a bunch of pink and white or yellow chrysanthemums. Next day a rose or a few carnations. Then there will be geraniums and primroses, begonias and salvias, hyacinths and daffo- dils, and many other kinds of flowers to draw from.' This is a fascinating description, and quite inspires the owner of the window garden. She looks over her floral treasures with new interest to see what she can sacrifice for the beautifying of the table and the refining of the family taste. There are half a dozen geranium blooms, as many begonia blossoms which she is loth to cut, they last so verv much longer on the plant than in a vase. some abutilun bells, and perhaps a few white Marguerites, but never a rose, or carnation or spray of heliotrope, finds she all of these require a temperature of their own, and seldom bloom in an ordinary window. So her "decoration" usually resolves itself into one geranium blossom with a setting of green leaves and though this is much better than nothing, it falls so far short of the resources of the pictured house garden that she is filled with discon- tent and fears s\e has no skill in raising flowers. Be consoled, my sister; such is the common experience. Here and there, in sunny houses, free from gas and furnace heat, may be found a window in which will flourish plants requiring differing conditions and treatmeut; but, as a rule only a greenhouse will supply the flowers named sc freely that they may be had in succession. Gera- niums, abutilons, ageratum, begonias and speciosa fuchsia are the standbys of the ordinary window garden, and even these are not always in bloom. Roses and pinks are not for the average amateur. AN old book written by an ancient wiseacre named Camilius Leonardus narrates much of interest about jewels, and names a number of stones that either are no longer found or else were creations of the author's imagination. This is most probable when we read a description of the alecoria, which, says the writer, not only renders a man invisible, but, bein<j held in the mouth, allays thirst." The alecoria, he further states, is to be found only in the intestines of a capon that has lived seven years. When the stone has become perfect," to quote this authority, the canon does not drink." However, it is never larger than a large bean. Again, he tells of the bozoar. a red, dusty, brittle, and light stone," which is taken from the body of some animal, and is infallible against melancholy. He credits Queen Elizabeth with wearing a bozoar, and Charles V. had four of them. FANS get smaller and smaller. The newest are made of flowers, scented just exactly like the real ones they imitate. When these shut up they look like little nosegays, and remind one of the posies young men used to give their young women on ^nn- days to take to church, in country place-so The 1 blossoms chosen are small violets, mimosa, lilies or the valley, and pansies. Nearly every smart woman has a tiny fan this season for evening wear, built of lace, with ivory ribs and sticks, and decorated with painted or embroidered flowers. They are very dainty, and much more fashionable than the feather fan, that has lost something of its old-time prestige at last. I HAVE just seen a most exquisite bedroom for a young girl," said the woman who has a genius for coming across novelties. "It was a pansv bed- room devised bv an artistic mother for her daughter of 16. All the furnishing and decoration of the room was white, lavender, violet, and purple, with just a dash of gold here and there. The carpet was white and violet, and the furniture, bed, chairs, tiny table, I &c., ivory enamelled, touched with gilt. Where- I ever use could justify beauty, bows of violet- coloured ribbon were gracefully bestowed. The curtains were white, embroidered in violet pansies. The bed was dressed in white coun- terpane and pillows exquisitely embroidered in pansies, and among the lovely blossoms on the latter was the motto, 'Pansies for thoughts.' All the accessories of the toilet-table were white, decorated with pansies-a pansy scarf, pansy cushion, pansy pin-trays, and pansies delicately painted on the ivory comb, brush, and hand-mirror. All the little trifles in bric-a-brac strewn about in the room were of pansy design, picked up here and there, the fond mother said, even to a pansy stamp-box and paper- cutter on the writing-table in one corner." THE difference between an affected and an unaffected woman is the difference between a woman with a certain amount of vanity and a woman in whom this not essentially feminine characteristic is lacking. A certain amount of deference to the feeling or others, which most women possess, is really founded on what must be acknowledged as vanity; but is not the moderation that makes it impossible for the possessor to hurt another's feelings almost an adorable quality ? The desire to please is really founded upon the wish to be loved. It accompanies a nature that cannot be said to be free from affectation. The woman who only sees the best of her friends' attributes, the woman who says kindly things when it would be natural to criticise, is the woman who desires above everything in this world to be an object of affection to her friends. She is the woman whom men rightly worship. IN some cases a poor complexion arises mainly from lack of exercise. Women who live an entirely sedentary life have a slow circulation and usually a bad digestion, and these are fertile causes of a muddy appearing skin. Exercise gives rapidity to the move- ment of the blood, stimulates digestion, and calms the nerves, and is frequently more beneficial than any 1 sort of medicine, although it, should not be in- dulged in immediately after meals. Physic- ians are beginning to recognise the fact than drugs are not the most potent restoratives, and that exercise, peace of mind, congenial society and recreation are not merely luxuries, but necessities if good health is to be preserved. Chapped and rough lips are not only painful, but disfiguring, and it is advisable never to go into the open air without previously using a little glycerine or vaseline upon the mouth. To moisten the lips with the tongue has a drying effect upon the skin ultimately, and the habit is one to be rigorously avoided. So far as personal canvassing for charitable objects goes, one woman can collect as much as two men," said the secretary of a great charitable insti- tution, "and the clergy in particular know this well. A jolly girl who is fairly imperturbable, can get endless money for a good object in the business quarters of any large city, and I have known such girls to get handsome subscriptions out of men who were never known to give before under any circumstances. In all great strikes of late years the power of woman as a. collector has become apparent to the strike managers, but in the case of charities such power is paramount. Even when it is the contributions of women which are solicited, the latter will give some trifle to a girl that they would deem too email to offer to a man."
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY'S…
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY'S CENTENARY. The list of places at which the Church Missionary Society's Centenary is to be comme-tnorated is of portentous- length. Nine hundred town- villages, and groups of villages have already arranged, or are in process of arranging, services and meetings in April next. As many of these are large towns with many parishes, or rural deaneries consisting of numerous villages, the total number of centres at which centenary celebrations will be held cannot fall far short of 2000. The number of actual meetings or eervices will, of course, be larger still. I
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WIU.IE Mamma, do only good little boys go to I heaven?" Mother: "Yes, my dear." Willie: Guess they haven't many little boys up there, then, biww Uwy I" ..v f
i READINGS FOR THE YOUNG.
READINGS FOR THE YOUNG. (From the Christian Globe,") ONLY A KITE-STRING. One morning, an American gentleman, who waa Well-known and much loved for his goodness and the beautiful books he wrote, went to his office as usual and began his work. But after a time he said to a friend who sat near: 1 cannot get on at all this morning. I am feel- ing so sorry about something that happened as 1 was coming to business." What was it ?" asked the friend. I saw a little boy flying a kite. As he let it go up, the string of it came across my face, and, in put- ting my hand up to remove it, I broke it. Of course, the boy lost his kite but I did not stop to pay him for it. I feel that I have done wrong. I ought to have paid the boy." This man had a tender conscience. He felt for that little boy's sorrow over losing his kite. He would never have missed the few pence that a new kite would cost. But the boy would perhaps have to wait a long time before he could get another. But what should be noticed is that this man cared- It was not his rule to be thoughtless, and so when lie • wronged another it troubled him. And it is caring about these little things that makes or mars a char- acter. Have you a tender conscience ? HINTS, DON'T complain about the weather, j For easier 'tis, you'll find, To make your mind to weather Than weather to your mind. Don't complain about the sermon, And show your lack of wit, For, like a boot, a sermon hurts The closer it doth fit. Don't complain about your neighbour, For in your neighbour's view His neighbour is not faultless— That neighbour being you. i MAKING ALLOWANCES. Joe's in the sulks," said one young man to another, as they left the large dining-room where two score of college students had just finished the midday meal. Did you notice that he hardly spoke a word through dinner?" The other shrugged his shoulders. When a fellow's in that mood," he answered, the best thing is to let him alone. I know I shan't Eut myself out trying to coax him into a good umour." At the next meal Joe's place was vacant. His sister's dead," explained one of his friends. orn This morning he knew she was ill, and he was a good deal worried, but the bad news was a terrible shock after all. Joe thought the world of his sister." And the two young men who had mistaken a brother's natural anxiety for "the sulks looked at each other with a shame not easily concealed. A great deal of unhappiness might be avoided. along with much self-reproach as useless as well deserved, if we were less hasty in condemning those about us. Annie deserves a hard whipping. She is as cross as she can be." a girl said, angrily, concernins her little sister. But before three hours had passed the child was tossing in the delirium of fever, and the older girl waited in untold dread to know whether or not she would have a chance to show her regret for her hasty judgment. Make allowances. If your friend frowns, attribute I, the expression to any other cause rather than to a fit of ill-temper. If someone answers you curtly, be I more ready to think him preoccupied, than inten- tionally trying to wound you. Sometimes you will be mistaken in this kindly estimate.; but at least yon will be spared the self- reproach which comes from a failure to make due allowances. allowances. MAY'S VICTORY. May was only a coward in one thing, and that was that she was afraid of the dark. When the sun shone brightly she felt very brave. Everything looked plain and clear, and she could run to and fro, and up and down stairs as happily as possible. But directly the sun went down and there were dark shadows and black corners, May began to shiver and tremble. She really knew there were no such things as bogies or black fellows, and yet it seemed as if something dreadful would be sure to jump out of the darkness and seize hold of her and drag her away. This was only fancy, of course and nurse called her a silly little goose" when she looked white, and said she must have a candle to go downstairs to Tea. But she always got the candle, and then she went straight down, and never looked to one side or the other. And directly she was inside the dining-room door, she shut it carefully, and then gave a great sigh of relief, because her terror was over for that time. May 8 father did not like to see his little girl so timid; he wanted her to get the victory over her nervous fears, so one day he took her on his knee and told her about a lady in France. This lady always asked Jesus to help her in every tiny thing, if it were only finding a pin, and He was never too busy to answer her prayer. May thought it would be very nice if she could trust Jesus like this, so she said to herself I will really do it." That very night as she was going down to tea, a dreadful thing happened. A sudden breath of wind came through a window on the stairs and blew out. the candle! Poor May! In her fright she quite forgot how she had meant to trust Jesus. With a beating heart she fled down the rest of the stairs, and was just going to open the door and rush inside, when something made her stop. She had just thought of her promise to trust Jesus. "What a silly I am!" she said, aloud. "There can't be anything to harm me. and if there was, Jesus wouldn't let it come near. I'll just go up and see." So. without light:ng her candle again, she turned round and slowly climbed up those stairs in the dark. At the top she stood a moment, waiting. Of course, nothing happened. Then she looked all round her into the shadows, but no bogies came out after her. She walked downstairs again, just as slowly as she had come up, telling herself all the time that Jesus was near, and there was nothing to run away from. When May got into the dining-room she felt that she had won her first victory over that dreadful fear of the dark, and learned her first lesson of real trust in Jesus. You must not fancy that it was all easy after that! May had a lot more heart-beats to tear, but she kept praying, and making herself do the very things she feared, and that was how, in the end, she quite out- grew her weakness. WHAT ALF SUFFERED WITH. Alfred had a way of feeling ill whenever he was told to do any work. One day, after eating a very good dinner, he got his hat and coat to go and feed the pigs and do other little jobs around the barn. And then, as usual, he began to feel ill. His mother who knew what was the matter, said, The poor boy is sick. You had better go to bed. I think you have Slack's disease,' my dear." He really thought it was so, and started upstairs. But his mother came behind him with something in her hand, saying she did not know of any better medicine than a good dose of birch. As soon as Alfred saw that medicine, he forgot he was sick, and run downstairs again and off to his work without any more grumbling. Do you know any boy or girl who, when asked to do anything, is always too tired or does not know how ?" Then I'm afraid they are really, like Alf, too lazy. And, let me tell you, such children are the most unhappy children on earth. Shirking duty is the hardest work of all, and its wages are-being disliked by everybody. Don't be a shirker. A BOY FOR BREAKFASTS. The other day Freddie's teacher gave the children slips of paper on which were written the following unfinished sentence I had and someone gave me and then I had The children were requested to fill in the blanks and return the .the teacher. This is what Freddie wrote 1 had nine breakfasts, and someone gave me eight breakfasts, and then I had seventeen breakfasts." A GOOD CALCULATOR. *» hen Sir Thomas More was imprisoned in the -Tower for refusing to sully his conscience, his wife railed at him for his folly in remaining in a filthy prison when he might be merry at home with his family and in favour also with the King and Council. Council. He replied, Why, good Alice, is not this prison as near heaven as my own home?" In answer to her sneer of contempt he asked, How long, think you, might one live to enjoy this house of ours Perhaps some twenty years," was her answer. Were not be a bad calculator, then, who even for I a hundred or thousand years would rilk tb» tow ot j an eternity ?" tlt
GARDEXIXG GOSSIP.
GARDEXIXG GOSSIP. (From Gardening Illustrated.") CONSERVATORY. Autumn-sown Mignonette should now (observes Ir, E. Hobday) be in good condition. Machett ap- pears to be the best variety for pot culture. Those who wish to grow very large specimens, either as stan- dards or pyramids, may sow two or three seeds in the centre of small pots retaining only the strongest when the plants come up. shifting the plants on during summer till they are in Tin. or Sin. pots. Soiue of the plants may be trained as standards by pinching the side shoots and training up the main stein till it is 3ft. or more, then encouraging it to branch out and form a round head. Other plants may be grown as pyramids, the main stem being trained to a central stake, and the branches being en- couraged to grow out in pyramidal outline. All flowers should be pinched off till the autumn approaches; of course, these much pinched plants do not produce the fine spikes that can be obtained from voung plants in 5in. or Gin. pots under good culture. The best compost for Mignonette is good sound loam, not too light, two-thirds, and the other third made up of very old cow-manure, a sprinkling of soot, old plaster, and about lib. or so per bushel of some nrtiticial manure. Firm potting is a necessity. Himantophyllums are charming just now. These useu to be grown in the stove, but when kept dry rlnrine the winterthey will do in any house where the frost is kept out, and as soon as brought into a tem- perature of 55deg. or so the flower-spikes push up strongly, and when not forced much the flowers last longer. Among the recently-introduced forms of Asparagus, Sprengeri compactus will be uaeful for baskets: indeed, the type makes an excellent basket plant. A. refractus albus will make a very graceful plant in a warm conservatory, and the young growth is delightful to cut and mix with flowers. Now that :he days are rapidly lengthening all plants, both in pots and planted in the borders will require more water. Examine the borders, in which Camellias ind Acacias are growing, and see that the roots are properly moistened. During winter, in order to keep down damp, the borders are sometimes permitted to get too dry. This should now be seen to and put right. STOVE. Anything which requires repotting should be attended to now, young plants shifted on, and the propagating case constantly filled. No gardener requires to buy young plants of anything he has in stock, and as soon as a cutting appears on any new or rare plant which comes to hand it is wise to take it and make it into a young plant to guard against accidents. It is not necessary to enumerate the plants which may be propagated now. Virtually everything may be propagated which produces seeds or young shoots, and many things may be struck from cuttings of ripe wood, such as Dracaenas, India rubbers. &c. Many things also may be propagated by division, including most of the fine-foliaged plants, such as Marantas, Caladiums, &c.. and many plants from seeds. Among the latter, Torenias, which make excellent basket plants. Rivina humilis, a pretty berry-bearing plant. Gloxinias, Streptocarpus. &c., are easily raised from seeds and grown to a decorative size in one season. With the longer daylight a little heat may be permitted if it is necessary to hasten things on, but a good many plants may be grown in a house where the night temperature does not exceed 65deg. at night and very often falls to 60deg. And such a temperature is not oppressive if one wanta to examine the plants. EARLY GRAPES. Where anything approaching early forcing it carried out, the majority of Grapes in the first house will be thinned, the first time, at any rate. When the operator knows the constitution of the Vines it is not likely that much thinning will be left to. be done later. Still, a second look round is generally necessary, after some progress has been made, to remove seedless berries, if any, and relieve the tight places in the bunches. Tt will be better to lay aside the syringe, and keep up the necesary humidity in the atmo- sphere by daily damping down, especially on bright, sunny days. In this damping the character of the house has to be considered. The atmosphere in some houses speedily parts with its moisture. As a rule, the smaller the house the more water is required. In small houses it is necessary to damp the paths and floors in the middle of the day, especially if there is a piercing cold wind outside, as there is sometimes in March. Night temperature now need not exceed 65deg.. and if it falls to 60deg. in the morning no harm will be done. TOMATOES UNDER GLASS. The plants in the early houses will now be growing freely and gaining strength daily. There should be a temperature at night of not less than 55deg. to in- sure steady progress. The soil in which the plants are petted or planted should be sweet and fresh, and not avermanured. WINDOW GARDENING. Do not be in a hurry, where there is no means for plant growing but a window, to repot or put in cut* tings though Chrysanthemums will root now in smaH pots in a box deep enough for a square of glass to lie on the top. OUTDOOR GARDEN. Prepare site for sowing hardy sanimls. Sow thinly, and single out the plants early before they crowd each other, and give them a chance to do their hp,.t. Sow plenty of Sweet Peas and Mignonette. The Sweet Pea lists have become even mke crowded than the culinary varieties. A dozen sorts at the most are as many as are generally required for cutting. For this purpose we like self colours. Vmong the best are Sadie Burpee (white), Prince of Wales rose), Chancellor (bright orange), Duke of Sutherland (claret), Black Knight (maroon), Countess of Had nor (mauve), Emilv Eckford (blue), Little Dorritt (carmine tinted pink), Mars (crimson), Mrs. Eckford (primrose), Peach blossom (salmon- p:nk), Mrs. Sankey (white). Sow them eithet "i rows or rings at the back of the borders. The Sweet Peas sown in the autumn are now growing freely, and should be supported with st icks of Birch and Hazel on which are plenty of feathery sprays to which the Peas may cling. At kinds of hardy herbaceous plants maybe divided ano replanted now. Roses on south and on walls required to produce early flowers for cutting may now be pruned, and the borders forked over to let the air in to sweeten and pulverise the soil. All kinds of altera- tions involving the laying down of turf amd the plant- ing of trees and shrubs may then be done. Additions to the Fern and rock-gardens may be made now. 1 nterest in this kind of gardening is increasing, as it 11,180 what is now termed wild gardening. It may bi made very interesting without the expense which i. required where the ground is laid in bods and tht lawns kept in good order. FRUIT GARDEN. Keep a watch upon the birds in the quarters of Gooseberries, and dress the bushes with soap, lime, and soot in a fluid state, if necessary. Birds soon do a lot of mischief, if numerous, especially bullfinches. This is a good time to plant Figs and Gmpe-Vines outside. If they are to be a success in the Midlands. some preparation must be made for the roots. Figs, especially, must be kept under control, and the drainage must be perfect. Work some old plaster into the soil, and keep the borders well up above the surface. Examine all nets and curtains intended for the protection of fruit-tree blossoms, and do any repairs necessary. I am a firm believer in the value of fishing-nets for protecting blossoms in spring. In cold districts use them double. Where Peaches are liable to suffer from blister, put up some temporary shelters at right angles with the wall. I have seen Reeds used for the purpose with effect, but anything that will arrest the cold wind which sweeps along the sides of the walls will be beneficial. Make up hot-beds for Melons. The beds must be sub- stantial and well put together to be sufficiently lasting to finish the crop. Many whohave no warm house, on raising young plants make a smaller bed, or a one- tight frame, for raising Melon and Cucumber plants, and it comes in very useful for raising other seeds and plants. Those who have suitable land might turn it to profitable account for growing blackberries. There is a growing demand for the jam made from this fruit. VEGETABLE GARDBN. This will be a busy time in thisdepartmeat. Land that has been freely stirred is now in good condition for plant i ng or sowing. The main crop of Onionsshould 1)t> sown when the surface is dry, and can be trodden fairly firm. Buy the best seeds, and do not waste them in very thick sowing. Nearly all cro are best sown in drills. This permits of a freely stirred sur- face among the young plants, and not only keepe down weeds, but is a great encouragement gr-owth. Early Peas sown now in dry not be much behind those planted earlier. a^ain thick sowing is bad, though the sma see IVas may be sown thicker than tb. large "iarrow Peas which are sown ?8' :,ft. Pea, and Exonian are for sowing now. If the second earlier n at the same time they will come on in 8 Supreme and Boston UnrivallE and of fine quality. The G«en Windsor Bean is the best for table use. Asparagus may be sown now either where the plants are to remain or to raise plants for transplanting, but those who only want, a tew young plants to make new beds may save time bv „owing the seeds in small pots UIlder gla8 &nd grow (he plants on till May and then plant out. New pl»ntaf K>ns of Seakale may be made now. The root, or thongs that are cut from the crowns lifted for forcing make excellent sets. Plant in row. with a dibble ],) inches apart each way. Thin off surpius crowns when they start away,d keep the surfacs freely stirred.