Barry Herald

ALL SIGHTS RJilSJllRTJCD. J THE WHITE FEATHER. By "RUY." (Continued.) By' that time they were driving up the avenue at Laureston. As they came out of its shadow they saw the white dresses of the two girls gleaming on on the terrace and, mounting presently the broad, white stone steps that led up from the drive, they were received by "my lady" in person-an honour seldom accorded by that tall, stately chatelaine to any but the son she worshipped. She was very gracious to ber son's friend too, though. As Gertie had said, my lady" seemed to have taken a great liking for Vere -for Dar's sake,; perhaps. The two girls came up, and they all lingered in the sunlight till the dressing-bell rang. Well, Helen, and what do you think of him ?" Gertie asked, coming into bercousins room just as Pincot had finished coiling the fair hair about het mistress's shapely little head, and had been dismissed. What do you think of him now?" Think of whom ?" Miss Treherne asked. Hebe?' I think he's very nice, dear." I don't mean him, Dar. Did you remember him ?" Perfectly. He hasn't changed much. The bronze, aq,d that big black moustache alter him a little; but I should have recognised Dar's voice and manner anywhere." Yes. They're his own, certainly-Dar's are." Like Mr. Brabazon's, Hebe is immensely lady- like for all his yellow moustache, Gertie," laughed Helen; and he's very pretty too." Well, he can't help being ladylike and pretty, you know," Gertie responded. Poor boy he is quite a child still; he seemed to have something on his mind to-day, I thought. He was looking quite ill again." Been sitting up too late at the club, and smoking too many cigars, perhaps," suggested Helen; 'he'll be better after he's been at Laureston a day or two, I dare say. Especially if you take him in hand, Gertie. "Oh, Helen!" J'ai des yeux noir! And they tell me there's nothing the matter with "Hebe that you can't cure, darling,—if you choose, that is. Do you mean to choose, Gertie?" Miss Fairfax smiled, and shook her head. It's awfuHy cool of you to talk like that, Nell," she said I've never told you-" What need was there to tell me, after what I saw just now, when you spoke to him ?" And what did you see, pray ?" Miss Treherne's answer was nothing more intelli- gible than a kiss. But it seemed sufficient, for Gertie asked no more questions, and the two went down to the drawing-room together. Vere was there before them, lounging over the piano alone, and twisting about the leaves of a pile of music upon it. When Dar arrived presently, Helen was playing a valse, apparently for her own and sole delectation, for the other two were at a distant window; Gertie seated on cushions in the sill thereof, and Hebe outside on the terrace, talking low-toned talk to her —about the sunset, probably. So the Amaranthe is a pet valse of yours, too, Helen ?" Dar said, crossing at once to the piano, How do you know she asked, without! stop- ping. Easily you play it, as people ought only: to be allowed to play that valse, Perfectly. "Ergo, it is my pet?" Ergo, you understand it, and like it-or you wouldn't be playing it to yourself. And as very few of your sex are content with merely liking a thing, but almost invariably end by 'loving it, I may fairly eonclude you love the Amaranthe best. So do I." I don't know whether your conclusion's a fair one or not," Helen said, finishing with a rush; it happens to be a true one in this case, though." And then she fell into the "loving and liking snare he had set for her; and .Dar amused himself very well till dinner. 1. During which be, seated beside her, talked about the old days when she was La Fee Blanche, in white frocks, and blue ribbons and,he Cousin Dar,"home for the Eton holidays. Grown harder and more self-contained now, as was but natural; but, in her eyes, but little altered, Miss Treherne thought, as he opened the door for their retreat back to the drawing-room, by-and-by, on my lady making the move. Not quite so much of a demigod, either, as he had been once in her chil- dish eyes; but, all the same, a strong, straight stal- wart soldier cousin; none the worse to look upon because his dark face was bronzed and set, and the silky down on his upper lip had ber-omea heavy black moustache falling over it like a wave. Altogether, she liked the present Cousin Dar "at least as well as the former, she confessed to herself. And then she remembered his dictum anent' femi- nine "liking" again; and, felt rather jnelined, to be angry with herself for remembering it. v It was a pleasant evening at, Laureston, that of "the Don's arrival. My lady took her coffee in her peculiar chair, in a certain recess in the long Drawingrroom and Dar made her happy by sitting on the footstool at her feet, and talking to her as she best loved to hear him talk while Gertie and Helen sang half-a-dozen duets, and Vere Brabazon was on duty at, ttit piano., r■- Then they strolled on to the terrace in the moon- light, "my lady watching, them from her sheltered nook. And "Hebe" seemed to End something in- spiring in the puetry of the scene—it was, iR fact. the post-prandial Burgundy which had revived his hopes and quieted his fears and misgivings—and had agood deal to say to his companion, which, doubtless, she seriously inclined to hear. Helen found agarder-chair a little in the shadow, and sat there with the moonlight falling on her fair hair till it looked a halo about her head, leaning her arm on the stone balustrade. The odour of an Havannah, and Cousin Dar's step behind her, made her look round, I'm going to shock your imaginative tendencies by smoking a cigar out-here," Dar's voice said. The Madre wanted me to send you in; she says the ter- race is too cold for you to-night; but I promised you should run no risk, if you liked the moonlight better than the lamplight; and so I've brought you this." He held dnt a warm violet and black striped maud as he spoke-a wrapper precious in the eyes of the fritteaux East Indian, ever cynically distrustful of the vagaries of an English climate. "For me?" Helen said; "but I don't want it, thank you." Grateful 1" A I mean-it's very kind of you to bring it; but I'm not cold." ".The Madre seems to think you ought to be, any- how you'd better let me put it round you." Which he did; skilfully. Then he stood beside her, • leaning against the stonework of the balustrade too, and smoked on in silence. What a lovely night!" Helen said, presently. Lovely I" the Don assented, thinking how well'her face, with the soft sheen upon it, came out against the dark folds of the plaid draped above her shoulders; Laureston always looks it best by moon- light." So I think." Like Melrose, you know; and, for the matter of that, like most other places to the poetic eye. that happens to be a feature I don't possess; but, this light does suit all this stonework. I remember thinking that night, ten years ago—just such a night as this, it was—when I was turning my back on it to join I Ours' in- ltfdia 'that I had never seen the old place look so well. The notion that I might never p see it again had something to do with my admiration, I dare say; but I recollect distinctly noticing the effect, and admiring it." And whjle you were coolly admiring the effect, we were all sobbing in chorus in there, in the draw- ing-room You mean I ought to have been doing the same out here ? Do you give us your tears, then, only A charge de revanche ?" Grateful!" she said, in his own tone. "Not so ungrateful as you fancy. Few men are. If we want examples <ff that wordly virtue, we look to you for them generally, you know." Why? To excuse ingratitude in your own sex or to prove it ?-which ?" Neither; though you don't put it badly. To learn tt, in our turn." "La grande besognel" she said provoked, and shrugging her shoulders after a way she had. Dar xmiled. You've disarranged the maud," he said; let me told, it again for you. There. As I was saying, we are not so ungrateful as you think us. I am not, anyhow. I haven't forgotten a certain F6e Blanche who used to inhabit lAureston once; and who I saw the night I went away, the last time I turned my head, standing just about here, waving a little handkerchief in adieu to Cousin Dar. I've always felt grateful to that Fee in my heart. Do they call you Fie Blanche still 'jfelen?" "Of course not!" she said, laughing, while the colour came into her face. "Of course not," he repeated, gravely; "who would dare talk in that way to a demoiselle of nine- teen with a turn for satirical French?" Only Cousin Dar,' I suppose." I hope so, Fee," he said, then; I shouldn't like to hear anyone take my name for you in, vain, I na 'tjbink." Miss Treherne didn't choose to ask him why.; and so after that they were silent—she looking 'out over the terrace-garden and the park, on the far-away woods shimmering in the moonlight; and he standr- ing beside her with folded arms, his eyes resting often on her face. I think one of these two, at all events, was sorry when" Hebe" and Gertie came up, and formed a quartette, which lingured talking and laughing so long that my lady had to summon them all back to the drawing-room. Will you sing me the 'Addio,' Fee?" Dar's low voice whispered in Helen's ear, as they came in last through the open window; it's just the night to listen to Schubert. The Madre will order you off directly. Come to the piano now!" Now the Addio was Miss Treherne's song of songs, and had never been sung by'her for'bther delight than her her own so she asked: And pray how did you know that the Addio' was a song of mine ?" I found it before dinner under a pile of Gertie's trash. I'd a sort of certainty that it belonged to yotl and that you made it caviare to the general. Right, am I not ?" Yes," Helen said but then——" Why do I ask you for it, you mean? Because it is caviare to the general. I don't want what you give to everybody. You'll sing it me-won't you, Fee? Let me sit here; this chair's just the right distance; and you won't want me to turn over leaves for you, I know." And the Don established himself in a low chair near the piano and Helen Treherne broke her rule, and did as she was told, and sang him L'Addio" adorably. I don't think she had even a thought of refusing Cousin Dar" this that he asked though I am certain she would have refused any one else tout net. But she had been in the habit of obeying all Dar's behests implicity from a child, and, now that he had eome back, their little tete-:i-tite on the terrace just now seemed to have quite re-established the old re- lationship of ruler and ruler between them. So, when he wanted her song of songs from her, he got it at *nee just as he had got all it pleased him to require from La Fee Blanche ten years before. He sat in his lounging-chair while she sang, a little behind, but so that his eyes; could watch her face unknown to her. He never moved till the last passionate, quivering notes had died away, and her hands had fallen idly into her lap. He got up then, and came and stood beside her. I shan't ask for anything more after that!" Dar said. Thank you, F6e." And if he could not well have said less, yet the tone hespckt- in, and the look his face wore satisfied the singer amply. By-and-by my lady" and the two girls went away. Over his Cavendish and B and S, in "the Don's smoking-room, Vere Brabazon would have liked to open his heart to his chief, and tell him of the belle passion he had audaciously conceived for the daughter of his house. Poor Hebe's throat, though, would get so dry and husky every time he had made up his mind to have it out before he went to bed, that the words wouldn't be uttered, and he had to gulp them back with a draught from the species of glass stable- bucket at his elbow. He didn't know, you see, how Dar might take the Avowal, exactly. He felt that he had no earthly busi- ness to be in love with Gertie Fairfait; that he cer- tainly oughtn't to be at Laureston in the present state of things; and that "the Den" would have fair sause for rebuke and anger, when he should know all, at his remaining there. For.all his girl's face and ladylike manner, no one who knew "Hebe" ever doubted his pluck and daring. Old hands in India, who liked the boy, took some trouble to keep him out of unnecessary peril, wherein he was perpetually wont to thrust himself and would have taken an extra risk or so upon themselves cheer- fully enough to save him from getting his beauty spoilt. In truth he was as laughingly reckless, as languidly careless of danger, as cool, and as full of dash when the right moment came, as ever was Cavalier, or Mousquetaire Gris. And yet to-night he shrank, as he had never shrank when it'was merely has life that was in question, from "having it out with the Don about Gertie, and was fain to smoke steadily on and hold his tongue. After all, it would do just as well in a day or two, when he should perhaps know his fate from her lip3. Yes he would take the next chance, she gave him, and tell all to her. And, vexed with much taking, of thought-about as strange a task to him as picking oakum—poor Hebe drank his B and S, and, when his pipe was empty, took himself off to bed to sleep upon the only determination he could come to. a I say, Dar," Gertie Fairfax said next morning, as she came into the breakfast-room where the two men were fortifying themselves for the hard work of "the first;" "I say, Dar, I've just had a note from Flora Hoddesdon. She wants us all to come and 'lanibiti TfoPbtce, ifflitMd'bf pio^rokiftg in the wood, as we arranged last night." Oh, does she ?" Dar responded, with his mouth full of toast and caviare well, what will you do ?" Go, I suppose. It's very kind of her, you know; but it would have been better fun on the grass than in the Hoddesdon dining-room. However, we can't refuse. Nell and I will drive over about one you and Mr. Brabazon will be there by that time, of course ?" Of course," Mr. Brabazon responded, wishing it were one now, and all well. "Don't know about of course, Hebei, Dar' said; we've all our work to do to get there, anyhow. You'd better leave the Childe' at home to-day, Gertie. Vere will be hors-de-eombat by lunch-time, and you and Fee must take charge of him, and bring him back with you in the phaeton." Vere tugged at his moustache, and glanced dubi- ously at his unoonscious host, who was filling a bouble-sized pocket-flask at the sideboard with a certain curaçoa-punch he affected. Gertie laughed, and blushed a little. I'm atraid Mr. Brabazon willi find the Childe's' perch an uneasy seat for a weary chasseur! Hadn't we better send over an ambulance in the shape of a brougham?" Never mind the brougham, Miss Fairfax, thank you!" poor Hebe said, who in his then state of mind thought Gerti e's innocent raillerie abominably unkind. If I do break down I can manage to get back without that, or without over-weighting your ponies either. Never mind me, you know Oh, y ery well Gertie answered, wondering what was the,matter with him. And then the Don," who had been nearly out of ear-shot of this little conversation, having completed the filling of his flask, announced that it was time to start; and Vere had to rise and follow his leader. The birds were plentiful and not too wild,, and the Don had made a very satisfactory bag by the time the two came in sight of The Place, close upon one o'clock. I suppose we must go up," Dar said; "thetll be waiting lunch for us. Though, as Gertie said, it would have been more fun down herb, and we should save time besidesil" he added, handings Over his breech- loader and paraphernalia to the attendant keepers who had been in silent ecstacieS all the morning at the major's shooting and who, nodding approval at the line his master indicated for the afternoon, went oN with Gaiters, a confrere in the Hoddesdons' service, to be hospitably entertained in the servants' ban. I Very fair bag, ain't it ?" Dar observed, as they walked up the drive, "considering we haven't been over the best of the ground yet." Oh! haven!t we?" Hebe responded wearily. And then: By Jove! there they are with sudden animation. Who ? ah! Gertie and Flora." The two girls were standing at the swing-gate at the top of the drive, waiting for our friends' coming; and all four walked on together towards the house. Where's F £ e ?" Dar asked of his sister, who was following a little in rear of himself and Flora, with Vere by her side. Who's Fee?" asked Flora Hoddesdon. She wouldn't come just at the last," Gertie said; u she'd a headache, and was afraid of the sun." The Don gave the black moustache a twirl, but said nothing. And who's Fee ?" repeated Flora, watching him sharply out of her black eyes. Don't you know?" Dar responded "my cousin, Helen Treherne." Oh I Helen Treherne. What a strange sobriquet, isn't it ?" Not at all, I think, for her. How is Mrs. Hod- desdon?" And nothing more was said aboutF^e. During lunch Flora tried to discover if things were to go on as heretofore between Dar and herself; whether she was to be allowed to take up her parable where it had been broken off; or whether it was to be considered as having coming to an end. She was wise in her generation, Miss Hoddesdon. She would have liked very much indeed to marry Daryl Fairfax; she would have infinitely preferred him to many a really better parti; and she had done her deadliest to will him that last season. But if it was not to be she was prepared to say kismetquietly to hold her tongue, and give utterance to no indiscreet lamenta- tions. If the bow-string should break and the shaft so carefully aimed fall short, Flora wasn't one to tear her hair (in these days of chignons and false nattes that might have been an awkward business); she had another string all ready, and was quite able and willing to fit it on, and without. loss of time proceed to try again. There was a successor to the Don marked down even now; though kept in petto till he should be wanted. It, was Flom's game to find out if the second strin WeM, frfcely .to bp required. She tattled a good deal to Dar with this intent, and got" very small hope or encouragement from that indi- vidual. who was feeling rather aggrieved, somehow, at Helen's absence. ti Altogether, when he rcac at- hst to go. "hfl hali some to the conclusion (not without a panu; or two, for poor Flora was, after all, no worse than the rest of her kind, and she did like Dar more than very much) that string No. 2 would have to be tised after all. She bore her disappointment pluokilv enonh-it wasn't her custom, as she said her.lf. to pive in under punishment—and she wished Dar good-bye. and good spfrrt with a nod and a smile as usual, and then turned back to press Gertie to stay an hour or two longer. Gertie was a few yards off on the croquet-lawn, pretending, as she tried to fasten the button of her driving-glove, not to see Vere Brabazon coming towards her. Observing, whith; Flora, who was fairly good-natured au fond, thought, better of her intention; and went indoors, and had a long inspec- tion of herself before her cheval-glass previously to making her preparations for fitting on her second string forthwith. "Why not?" she muttered aloud; "he cares nothing for me. Never has, I suppose. I was a fool to think he ever meant anything. I should be a greater fool still if I wasted any more time over him. And Guy seems eager enough. And he's as good a parti as Dar, after all-or better. And yet— And then Miss Hoddesdon shook herself together impati- ently, and stamped a neat little Balmoral-booted foot upon the floor, hard. Meanwhile Gertie, on the lawn, hadn't succeeded in buttoning that obstinate gauntlet yet. Vere was close beside her now, and she had to look up. Oh Mr. Brabazon," she said, demurely, holding out her wrist to him as she spoke, and not forgetting to notice how eagerly "Hebe's fingers closed upon it, "might I ask you to button this tiresome glove for me?" Vere was a long time about it, and as it seemed he had nothing to say, she was obliged to speak again. You know Dar is gone, I suppose ? Don't you care for the afternoon birds?" Detest the walking so!" he answered. If I might have a pony I shouldn't mind so much. But 'the Don calls that sort of thing unsportsmanlike, and so I have to trudge through these never-ending stubbles in these awful things," he continued, glanc- ing down ruefully at his shooting-boots. I suppose you haven't ordered the ambulance for me. Miss Fairfax ?" he said, presently, doing pen- ance, as it were, for his little speech in the breakfast- room, that morning. No said Gertie, sternly—he had buttoned the refractory gauntlet by this time-" you didn't deserve it!" I know that I" pleaded Hebe," I misunder- stood. I thought you were laughing at me, you know I" "Laughing at you? I don't understand, Mr. Brabazon 1" About my shutting up so soon, aud that." What nonsense! you ought to have known better. And now I suppose you mean to walk back to Laureston ?" Well, yes. I shall get there somehow, you know, unless-" "Unless what?" "Unless you will consent to depose 'the Childe,' for once and take me back on his perch?" As if you could sit there!" Gertie laughed. "No, I I}'t consent to depose the Childe.' But you may* have Nell's place, if you like." "May I? What, boots and all?" "Boots and all. Will you?" Won't I ?" Then come and say good-bye to Mrs. Hoddesdon and Flora;" and she rang for the ponies. Dancing, and shaking their wilful little heads, under the guidance of the Childe," in whom skill supplied the place of strength, Damon and Pythias came round to the door in due time. "The gates are open below, Flory ?" Gertie said, just before they started, to Miss Hoddesdon, who Btood on the steps in her walking dress watching them off, and thinking how grateful Vere ought to be to her for leaving them to themselves all that time on the lawn. Yes, they know you're coming," Flora answered they seem awfully fresh, don't they ?" she continued, as the ponies began backing and filling," in their disgust at this colloquy. Always are!" Gertie responded, fingering her reins, and nodding to the Childe to let them go "they don't get half enough work, poor things. Good-bye!" And the light phaeton shot like a whirlwind down the drive, and round the sharp corner into a road which led them across the common, and then by a detour back into the main highway to Laureston. There was a shorter route, but the ponies being 80 short of work, Miss Fairfax chose the longer on this occasion. Perhaps, too, she thought that at the rate they were going they would" gw bOtDe enough, notwithstanding the detour. If she didn't, Vere did. And as he lay back lazily on his cushions, watching his companion under his long eyelashes, he began to wish the distance were doubled at least. For Gertie was so taken up with the management of her pets that he felt she could hardly be expected t. listen to him at present, and half-a-dozen miles could be got over only too quickly. Per- force he held his tongue, then not altogether sorry to hold back a while longer from putting his fortune to the touch and winning or losing all, and happy enough in his propinquity to her. So they rolled along, without speaking, at rather an alarming pace for a nervous individual, the light phaeton swaying sharply now and then from side to side in a decidedly ominous manner, and the ponies going so free that it was an open question whether they bad bolted or not. If it hadn't bsen that both the occupants of the pony-chase had reasons of their own for not wishing what ought to have been a pleasant tétc-à-téte to 'be brought sooner than need be to an end, I believe they would have enjoyed the excitement of the pace thoroughly. As it was, Gertie was wishing h £ r com- panion would offer to take a pull at the rebels, though she couldn't bring herself to admit they had got out of her hand already, and Vere Was wotidering whether he dared do that thing. "Looks deuced like a bolt!" he thought. Shouldn't like to tell her so yet, though. She thinks she can manage these little beggars; and by Jove! u she does handle 'em beautifully. What a darling she is I and how I wish we were only going slow enough for me to tell her so. I think I could do it now. They'll sober down a bit, perhaps, after this hill, and then- 6 And Hebe's languid pulse began to quicken at the thought of what be meant to screw his courage to do then. Gertie's little hands meanwhile were growing stiff and livid with the strain upon them. Her numbed fingers were clenched desperately on the thin white reins they could hardly feel, but by some ill chance the Hoddesdon groom bad shifted them from lower- bar to check when the ponies had been put-to again at The Place. How stupid of Drake not to see to that I" poor Gertie thought, as they began to rise the short, sharp hill that lay between them and the open common. I can't hold them a bit I They must be running away! And those gravel-pits on the common!" And, for all her pluck, Miss Fairfax turned a little pale when she remembered them. (To be continued)

WHEN Admiral Dewey was the executive officer of the Colorado, it happened that for some mis-' demeanour two sailors were confined in the brig," as the ship's prison was called. When Dewey was making his regular tour of inspection over the ship he -heard one of the prisoners say: Anyway, I've got same matches that ,werer overlooked in my pocket, and I'll burn his old ship under him." Dewey said nothing, but stepped on deck and rang the fire-bell. Fire in the ship's brig said he, as the crew rushed up in answer to the sum-one. Instantly four streams of water were pouring into the brig through the holes in the door, and in a few moments the two prisoners, alarmed at the situation, were howling to be saved from drowning. When he thought they were sufficiently wet down Dewey said. Eire's out I" And as he walked away he remarded, I guess their matches are pretty well soaked by this time." WE all know how conservative is Mrs. Kruger. Not everyone knows that, despite the prosperity— indeed, enormous wealth-of her husband and her- self, she has never had a single white servant inside her doors. Every morning she receives her visitors at the hour of 6 a.m.this, according to her ideas, being an advanced hour of the day. She gives much time to the preserving of her garden fruit, which she dries in a coffin that hangs from the kitchen rafters (ajvery eld Boer custom—the span coffin, being ever in readiness should any member of the family chance to die). She deeply resents new-fangled ideas and innovations, and it is said quickly put her foot down when her husband, on his return from England, proudly showed his acquisition of one or two civilised nabits from those rapacious English. To make the United Kingdom independent of colonial or foreign food supplies, Mr. R. F. Craw- ford told the Royal Statistical Society recently that 23,000,000 acres would have to be added to the 47,800,000 already under cultivation. There are only 77,761,000 acres in the whole kingdom. To supply the wheat of which our home production is Vtort 6,000,000 acres would be required; a similar *act would be necessary for the production of the 90,000,000cwt. of cattle food which we import, and 11,000,000 acres more would be needed on which to raise the meat and the milk products which now come to us from other countries.

THE ODD ONE AT GANNET. THE STJOBfi OF A CHEIBTMAS ROUS. PAETT. I think it was Van Shyk who suggeted the scheme to the Jamiesons. They would never have thought of a house party at Gannet in December themselves —;at least,'Bob never would. Bob Jamieson is one of the most hospitable fellows in the world, but his best friend would never accuse him of being the least bit original. This is why we all like him, I suspect.; talent and originality and brilliancy need the #ober(commonp]ace of men like Bob to set them .off. You know, there should always be sober hues ina,pipt,ure with which to contrast the more brilliant colouring. ¡ j Bob's wife had talent enough for them both but as Bob oftonfiaed t. me, her head was so far above the clouds that she would never have thought to invite us, down for the holidays, if the suggestion had not been made to her. Mrs. Jatqieson is one of the worst—or the best—hostesses I ever knew. She lets visitors do just as they please and never pretends to entertain them. Happily, most of her friends—and naturally Bob's friends—are musical, Qr artistic, or literary and as they can talk shop —and did any one ever hear of literary folk, or artists, or musical people who didn't talk shop—all day long, they entertain eaeh other. Yes, I believe that it was Van Shyk that suggested the house party; but I am positive he did not suggest Sturgis being a member of it. Sturgis was not literary; neither was he musical, nor artistic. Not that he couldn't talk well upon any or all of these subjects; in fact, he was a remarkably good conversationalist; but he was not personally in- terested in any of the professions. At least, we never supposed he was. I think the personal pronoun entered less into his conversation than that of any man I ever knew. Sturgis was a friend of Bob's too, and Bob, as I have suggested, was in outer darkness." Bob was in the leather trade, and we rather thought Sturgis was also. There was another reason why Van Shyk would never have suggested Sturgis as a member of the party. When the latter first appeared at the Jamiesons' bungalow at Gannet, summer before last, Bomebody asked him casually if he knew Van Shyk —meaning the man, not his work. Oh, yes," said Sturgis, cheerfully he's the fellow whose men always wear such impossible trousers." Everybody knows, of course, for hasn't he said so himself, time and time again, that Van Shyk has had considerable success as a magazine illustrator; but it is a fact that his men's trousers are wildly impro- bable. Sturgis' innocent remark took," if he didn't, and somebody thought it too good to keep from Van Shyk. I don't think Van ever forgave Sturgis at least, he avoided him when he could, and grew gloomy and distrait when Sturgis was in the room. Somehow Sturgis was not papular; though he was a quiet and inoffensive fellow enough. He seemed to possess a measure of Bob's commonplace; but Ithink we all bad a feeling that, unlike Bob, he was secretly poking fun at us. Somehow our little pretences at modesty, our frills and furbelows of professional cant" all seemed to shrivel to ashes before the gaze of Sturgis' calm blue eye. Sprightly Mercia Perryn, who wrote verses for the ladies magazines and had published a book, had a passage at arms with him, too. Mercia is not young, but. 68mys youth in manner and appearance. When Sturgis was introduced he said with a quiet bow I have heard Miss Perryn's name before." Oh, now, dear Mr. Sturgis cried the poetess, with a blush. "Don't begin by saying nice things about my book 1" She tapped the volume in her lap. She was never known to be far away from that child of her creation. "I certainly shall not, Miss Perryn," responded Sturgis, brutally. "I haven't read it," and there dropped the matter. Therefore Mercia joined Van Shyk in his dislike for Sturgis. Unlike Van, however, she did not with- hold her tongue. Just contemplate it!" Mercia said, in her excla- matory style. Even the man's name is so impos- sible. Elihu Sturgis what a cognomen with which to be afflicted. And to think of some poor woman having to share the name with him Mercia always spoke of marriage as though it was something forced upon unfortunate womankind by man—quite as though marriage by capture was the prevailing method, as in the days of early Rome. Thus far, however, nobody had forced Mercia tc Hymen's altar. Before Sturgis' second visit to Gannet was ended, nevertheless, it began to look as though he would have the hardihood to invite someone to share the impossible name with him. That someone was Celia. And when I come to Celia my poor pen falters. I am not worthy, nor am I able to fittingly sketch her. To feelupon a familiar footing with Celia onevmust know her in all her moods, and study her from all points. She. is .all charming and beautifully good in a healthy—an enthusiastically healthy— woman and as variably as the south wind. Sturgis could not be blamed for falling in love with Celia we were all in love with her. Besides possessing great beauty of person and dis- position, Celia possessed something far more to be desired than either that is, common sense. She was a remarkably practical and sensible girl, despite her marked musical talent. I say talent advisedly; genius always denotes impracticability. Celia was thoroughly a man's woman—"a bachelor girl" of the best type. She was not a girl whom many men dared to make love to, though they might con- fide their love for other women to her. There was something so frank,-yet penetrating, in the glance of her clear eye, that not many men possessed the hardihood to make open love to her. Van Shyk had. for several seasons, done so, or tried to, in a desultory way. Van was never in a hurry about anything but he showed sufficient pre- ference for Celia to appropriate her as a partner in riding, at diftner, and at whist. Sturgis had only once met Celia until a fortnight before the close of the summer vacation I doubt if he had ever really looked at her before; but having once obtained a glimpse, not only of hqr face but of her character, he set himself to study" her, .à,I,1d, having studied, he began to boldly pay court to the queen. And as far as I could judge, Celia seemed to like it 1 She had always accepted Van Shyk's advances with tolerant Somehow it was hard to take Van seriouily,^ he Wáø so lazy. But Sturgis' devotion was a different hiatter, Despite his lack of talent and what was called "artistic appreciation there was an honesty and frank boldness in Sturgis' wooing thefts womhnc&uld not faitto admire. Some- times. Iwcause'^jf Sturgis, I saw the faint colour dye her cheek and la light* groW-in her'calm eye that I scarcely understood. Celia never changed colour for Vai6-T ■ ••• I had been too busydliring the fall to take note of the,rowthof.Sturgis; attachment. I seWom saw any of fehe GalWiet party fttcept Bob while in the city. Wfe Sjirthetimes lunched together at the Tress Club in the«ld, rambling mansion -on Bosworth-jitreet. But froM btM1:" gathered that5 Sturgis-was rtally hard hit," aitd had several ttmea called ftpon Celia in the city. -• "Wb&h is 4 remarkable thiwg for "Lihu," Bob said. '^He-is "like a snail winters—almost never comes out of his shell—and is particularly hard at work now. He's an indefatigable worker, you know." I nodded acquiescence, though I didn't know; I wondered how a man could be very busy in the leather business; Bob never seemed to have anything to do. When Bob gave me his wife's invitation to riaake one of the house party "at Gannet, I accepted out of handJ I thought I should like to see the ocean in winter—a Storm, would; be a godsend as an inspira- tion. So I packed my grip and went down. They were all there—all the old crowd; Van and Celia, Mercia, with her ever-present volume; Oaksby, who had a picture hung by the academy years ago, and had never recovered from the shock; Erlton and Miss Raymond, who had been engaged ever since I could remember, and seemed just as far from the altar and orange blossoms as ever; and Mrs. Sloan, our brilliant newspaper woman "—statement of the personal column of the ladies' magazines." They have recently stopped calling her a lady journa- list." Just five, couples of us, including the Jamie- sons.. 'I But Bob told us that SurgJs was expected. Mercia suggested— "Won't Mr. —er—Sturgis feel odd, Mr. Jamieson P We are all so nicely paired off, you know!" We were out promenading the board walk that the winter tides had not quite buried in the sand, and Mercia was clinging tigntly to old Oaksby's arm. "Oh, always was a little odd," returned Bob. He was as a boy. It won't bother him." Our evenings were pvcn up to quite violent dis- cussions of Hearts Rebeliant." Some of ns enthusiastically declared it to be Sergeant Lysle's most brilliant production but Miss Raymond and Oaksby, I believe, thought it not quite up to the standa'rd of Persis M*lyern and The Verge of the Abyss," his two previous novels. Still, though both admitted, with other more influential critics, that it was by far the best bit of fiction of the season. We had all read it, and each had his or her pet situation or scene," and our varied interest in the characters showed it to be a many-sided work. t When Sturgis came down four days before Chris*- mas, Mercia tackled him directly after dinner the first evening, on the subject of Hearts Rebeliant." Now do tell ug what you think of it, Mr. Sturgis t" cried the poetess. Isn't it just splendid ?" For an instant a little colour dyed Sturgis' usually palm face. He was a sturdy-built, broad-shouldered fellow, who looked every day of his thirty-Jive years because of his gravity. His dark hair curled crisply about a rather low, with brow. There was an alert look in his eyes that showed a fine, nervous tempera- ment. As Mercia propounded that question I saw Bob glance at Sturgis with a look of amusement, and a moment later, when he turned away and left the room, his shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. Sturgis was rather slow in replying. To tell the truth, Miss Perryn, I am tired of the book and of hearing it discussed," he said, a little brusquely. You can perhaps iaaagine the horror with which we heard this cavalier statement. We are hero- worshippers at Gannet, and Sargent Lysle, as every- body agrees, is our coming American novelist. Though, to be sure," Erlton said, "Lysle would be more popular if he would come out of his shell." They say he is a hard-worker," said Oaksby. "And that scarcely anybody but his publishers knows him—even his name," added Erlton. Isn't that just splendidly romantic!" commented the ejaculatory Mercia. What is it, or who is it, that has drawn such a wealth of admiration from you, Mercia ?" inquired Celia, coming over from the piano. Sargent Lysle," said I. Dear, dear! has the academy or literary critics opened its usual session ?" she asked. "But Mr. Sturgis has fairly slighted "Hearts Rebeliant!" exclaimed Mercia. Celia gave Sturgis one little, puzzled glance. What do you think of him ?" asked the poetess. I think he mast be a man of very clear percep- tion," Celia quietly; a deep and careful student of human nature. I do not think Hearts Rebeliant' is to be paBsed over lightly nor to be read carelessly." All I know about Lysle is that he is confounded cranky," drawled Van Shyk from his corner. 'Twas only yesterday that 1 got a set-back from Larpers because of him. I submitted some sketches for a story of his to appear in the magazine, and the publisher had the cheek to send 'em back, saying that' Mr. Lysle did not approve of my treatment of the subjeet, and would I please try again ?' Con- founded cheeky, y'know, for I worked for Larper's Scrabbler's, the Last Century, and the Pacific long before anybody heard of Sargent Lysle." But Sturgis would not be drawn into controversy over the coming novelist or his book, and without intsreat in this all-impertant subject he could not fail to be really an odd one. Our pairing off as had before became, for our daily walk left him to read before the fire or moodily smoke his cigar in our wale along the shore. We bad the loveliest weather that Christmas week ihit I had ever seen at the season. I was dis- appointed in bij inspiring storm, but the wonderful light on the water and the clearness of the atmos- phere compensated me for missing the ocean in the wild gradeur of a gale. We even went boating as we used in the summer at least, some of the party did. Celia was a perfect water fowl, she often declared, and she spent ruost of her waking hours on the sea during the summer. She went now in the little Mollie Bawn and Van took her. I don't think Van was a very enthusiastic boatman, but he took her so that Sturgis would be cut out. The Mollie Bawn was Van's boat, and Celia liked it immensely. Perhaps with the perversity of womankind she showed her preference all the more because she heard Sturgis criticise it. I "That's scarcely a Bafe craft to go outside in," htj said to Bob, the first day Van brought the Mollie Bawn out of her winter quarters in Bob's boathouse. J. don't think much of it myself," replied Bob; "anO I've told Van as much. But they've never had an Occident yet." "That's no reason why they won't," urged Sturgis, gloomily. Celia went, nevertheless. The Jamieson's bunga- low stands upon the shore of a little cove, nearly .1an:H<>.ckeil.The rove is usually as calm as a mill- pond and is a. safe harbour for small boats; but the entrance is narrow and hard to enter in anything but a fair wind. I guess Sturgis was not alone in ex- pecting Van to get into trouble some day with Mollie Bawn. Sturgis used to walk around the cove and out upon the natural breakwater that defended the little basin from the Atlantic, when the little cat-boat was out, and I fancy he feared Van would some day pile her up on the rocks coming in. Celia, who was daring and liked to have her own way, felt that he was too officious and plainly showed her disappro- bation of his conduct. Christmas dawn bade far to usher in our first un- pleasant day. Heretofore, the weather had been sunny and cheerful, if cold Christmas Day began grey and dreary, with a cutting wind out of the east. Bob, who believed in a thoroughly old-fashioned celebration of the feast day, recommended plenty of out-door exercise as a spur to appetite, and would allow none of us comfort at breakfast-time, declaring that if we eat too much then we could not do justice to our dinner. Not long after breakfast Van slipped away and after him Celia. They acted like two irresponsible children on a frolic. Even Sturgis did not miss them until the Mollie Bawn was already drifting out from her moorings. When he discovered it he charged out to the beach without his bat. I followed, with it in my hand, and hard him say as though in reply to some remark from the catboat: There you wrong me, Miss Celia. My intentions were the best." Van said something to her, and Celia's laugh rang across the cove like a silver chime. I saw Sturgis flush dully but he thanked me calmly for the hat, and clapping it on his head, tramped away without his overcoat. I went back to the house, and as I went in, the Mollie Bawn was just running out of the cove. There was a grey, depressing haze over the sea, and the birds were coming in-shore with the wind. Bob came down, and finding Van and Celia had gone out, looked decidedly vexed. He hung around he veranda with his glasses for an hour. Finally he told me, ith much satisfaction, that the Mollie Bawn had put about and was running back again. But the wind was not blowing fairly into the cove now. It had drawn into the north-east, and the froth was spitting over the line of black rocks on the west side of the inlet. A single figure was on the breakwater, standing out sharply against the grey sky. Erlton, who was smoking near us, remarked: "Sturgis seems hard hit." He's a great calf to let Celia see it," said Oaksby, with the wisdom of fifty-oddyears of bachelorhood. I'd give a hundred dollar note if he was aboard that boat and at the tiller," said Beb, sternly, and we were silenced. The glasses remained at Bob's eye as the Mollie Bawn raced in. The sky and sea grew darker behind her, and the white caps danced around her. We could see that she pitched a good deal. And-now the little craft drew near the inlet. Van tacked and beat slowly up against the cross wind on his short leg. Suddenly she spun round, the sail flew about with a crack, and the boat seemed to bound forward. Ha! He's tacked too quick cried Bob, and started for the shore. "He'll get in! Don't be frighten I" grasped Oaksby, panting along after him. But the mischief was done almost instantly. The Mollie Bawn swooped down to the entrance of the cove. Crack! her boom swung round again and she shot in, but rapidly slowing down. Van had not gained headway enough on his long tack and she began to drift. At one side of the entrance was the breakwater on the other a long sand-spit ran out toward it. At its narrowest the inlet was less than fifteen feet broad. The Mollie Bawn drifted sideways upon the sand bar and there stuck. t: Bob shouted to Van to drop the sail; but he was too far away to hear. Instead, he tried to push off with an oar, the sail flapping and the boom creaking omniouslv. He'll have her over! he'll have her over groaned Bob. Suddenly the boom swung viciously round. Van just saved himself by a quick leap down into the standing room but the catboat was dragged dver in an alarming manner by the weight of the sail. Then it was that I saw what Sturgis was about. He had run to the further point of the breakwater, had stripped off his coat and vest, and without hesi- tation plunged into the water. The tide was running out of the inlet swiftly; but he fought his way to the boat. He must have carried his open knife in his teeth, he got at it so quickly and severed the hal- yards. The sail came down with a run and the im- mediate danger was averted but the boat had a bad list to port when he got it pushed off. The sail was wet and the boat must have shipped considerable water. We got out a boat and went out- to them, but Sturgis had worked the Mollie Bawn through the inlet and out of danger before we reached them. His clothes were so frozen on him that we had to help him to the house when we got ashore. And Celia looked as though she had entered a new world. She was loved by a hero. Usually, in books, at least, the man who fails runs away and the hero remains to be worshipped, but Sturgis was excused at dinner, and before night he had quietly made his adieus to Bob and his wife and taken the train for the city. I felt it my duty—let me say privilege—to turn music for Celia that evening. She was radiant— glorious. Nothing but cheerful music to-night. Van asked for a quaint little ballad she used to play, but she refused quite brusquely. Nothing seemed to suit her mood but bold. inspiring strains. L-vatched her white hands ripple over the keys, and I saw a new I flash of colour I had neyer seen before, Mercia fluttered up and leaned over her shoulder as she ceased. Oh, Celia what a pretty ring she cried. A Christmas present?" Yes," said Celia, very rosy, but with twinkling eyes. The others gave us their attention. One you haven't shown us exclaimed Mercia. You artful girl! Why! It is on your engagement finger!" Who is the fortunate man ?" asked Bob, helping her out. ( Mr. Sargent Lysle," replied Celia, and looking at us merrily. A burst of ejaculation. And you know him!" gasped Mercia. Why, she is engaged to him from Mrs. Sloan. Bob burst into a most ungentle gale of laughter even Mrs. Bob was convulsed. I had a brilliant idea —an overpoweringly brilliant one for such a party of numbskulls. Sturgis is Sargent Lysle," I said. Right!" cried Bob, through his tears. And we didn't know him I" marvelled Mercia. "Bob Jamieson, I'll never forgive you! And we thought he was odd!" But he seems to have got even," remarked Erlton, with a glance at Van's face. I

KRUGER OUGHT TO HAVE .1 KNOWN. Commissioner Ridsdel, of the Salvation Army, who has had interviews with President Krviger, at Rochdale said that there ought to be no difficulties between the Dutch and the English in the Trans- vaal. During his residence in South Africa he had an in- terview with President Kruger. He found the Presi- dent a very nice old man to talk to, but he ought to have gone to heaven three years ago-it would have Baved hint a great deal of trouble and anxiety. Kruger was a man who read his Bible, and knew what he ought to do. The Bible said that people who knew what they ought to do and do not do it shall be beaten with many stripes.

DUTCH COLONY IN YORKSHIRE. At Thorne, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, a colony of 300 Dutch people, who have been settled there two years and were imported for the local peat works, have become naturalised. Mr. George Dun- ston, the county councillor for the division states that the majority of them sympathise with England in the present South African campaign. The colony has subscribed to the relief funds for our soldiers' families.

A RECORD OF SUCCESSES. Following up their success at the recent Brewers' Exhibition, London, where Webbs' Kinvet Chevalier Barley won the champion prize, open to the world (for the seventh year) and many other prizes, Messrs. Webb and Sons, of the Royal Seed Establishment. Wordslev, Stourbridge, announce that the produce of their root, seeds, and cereals have won nearly the whole of the honours in the principal open compe- titions. including, amongst many others, 18 first and other prizes at Birmingham (including first and second prizes to Webbs' Imperial Swede for the 23rd year). :¿¡¡ first and other prizes at Liverpool, 26 awards at Cardiff (including the champion prize). 24 first and other prizes at Cheltenham, 13 first and other prizes at Norwich, the Prince Concert Cups, given by her Majesty the Queen, in both the East Berks and South Bucks Associations; 16 first and other prizes at Gloucester, in addition to the County Cnp; eight first and other prizes at the Great York Show. seven prizes at the Royal Dublin Show, 12 first, and second prizes at Leeds, and first prize for Webbs' Imperial Swede at Edinburgh, &c., &c. When it is stated that this wonderful success has been achieved in open competition with other houses, the superiority of Webb's Seeds is beyond dispute.

—y NEUFELD AND THE SALVATION ARMY. Mr. Charles Neufeld, the famous prisoner of the Khalifa, whose autobiography appears in this week's number of M.A.P. has become violently interested in General Booth and the Salvation Army, and is strongly of opinion that the General's method is the only means of conquering the savages of the Soudan—which he probably knows better than any man living. He paid a visit to the Salva- tion Army Exhibition, interviewed the General on the necessity of taking out a contingent, and ultimately got him to promise to do so. On one occasion, when his lecture agent was in great need of him for business purposes, he could not be found. It afterwards transpired he was spending his day "slumming" with members of the army. His lectures have been a great success. He closes his present tour at Woolwich at the end of the current week, then goes to Germany for a further series and subsequently returns, on business bent, to the sad Soudan, where he hopes to recoup himself for what he has lost. But nothing can recoup him for the loss of thosb terrible 13 years of chains and nameless degradations at the hands of the tyrants of the Soudan.

INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN RICK Captain Rice, the wounded officer who arrived by the Jelunga the other day, in conversing with a repre- sentative of the Evening Xcws said: As to the affair at Nicholson's Nek, where I was present, I know nothing of the incident of the White Flag. I can speak in the highest praise of the behaviour of all the men engazed. The actual force was 550 Royal Irish, 400 Glou- cester Regiment, and a mule battery-in all 1100. They left camp at 8.30 Sunday night, and arrived at the top of the hill about 1.30 Monday morning. Soon afterwards firing commenced and continued until 2.30 in the afternoon, when the" cease fire" was heard but the officers, believing this to be a Boer ruse, they and the men refused to take any notice of it until it had sounded 10 times. Then most pathetic scenes were witnessed. Officers and men surrendered with disgust, or, to use Captain Rice's words, They were surrendered—the victims of some unhappy mistake." Officers broke their I swords, and men threw their weapons away, with tears in their eyes. [ During the fight he was lying helpless, a sergeant having heaped some stones around him. As night came on, he offered a Boer half-a-sovereign to carry him down the hill. The Boer did as requested, but would take no reward. Our wounded received as much consideration from the Boers as could reasonably be expected. Captain Rice is progressing favourably, and is now able to walk a little.

PRINCE Hxxxr or PRUSSIA has arrived at Bangkok. THE West Ham Town Council have decided to appoint two female sanitary inspectors for the borough. SIR THOMAS LIFTON'S steam yacht Erin is in the dry dock at Southampton undergoing cleaning and recoating. 0 MR. F. GORRELL BARNES, M.P., for the Faversham division of Kent, is suffering from a severe attack of bronchitis. FIVE fire engines dashed np to Kensington Palace on Saturday in response to a call for fire, bat fortu- nately it was a false alarm. THE Rev. Prebendary Birkbeck, rector of Weston- super-Mare, died suddenly on Sunday night from heart disease, induced by the severe cold. He had taken part in the morning service at the parish church. A SERVICE, at the request of the parishioners os the estate, was held on Sunday in the church of Amport St. Mary, near Andover, in memory of the late Marquis of Winchester, killed at the battle of Magerafontein. THE jury which on Saturday investigated the Aldebnrgh lifeboat disaster returned a verdict of "Accidental drowning,3 and recommended that a harbour be constructed at Aldeburgh and the Cork lightship connected by telephone with the shore. MAHMOUD PAsriA, the Sultan's brother-in-law, has fled from Constantinople, probably on board a ship bound for England, taking with him his two sons and bis wife's jewels, wotth £ 40,000. His flight i. attributed to discontent at the non-fulfilmeflt of numerous Imperial promises. THE Chinese Government has conceded to a Belgian engineer the right to construct a railway connecting the Luhan line with Honanfu, with the right of future extension to Pi-ngan-fu. The Belgian syndi- cate operating the Luhan railway has obtained per- mission to extend it to the west gate of Pekin.

NORTH OF THE MODDER. The accompanying sketch map outlines the lighting ground between the Modder River and Kimberle% and particularly the Magersfontein position, when Methuen received his severe check. The figures on the map indicate the height in English feet above tboi level of the sea. The railway line rises over 300FL between Modder River and Spytfontein. The ground for a considerable distance on either side of Spjrtr- fontein is much broken up by small kopjes, especi- ally ronnd Magersfontein to the south-east, whew the Boers are believed to be in considerable forcfc The ground between Spytfontein and Kimberley is practically flat country, Kimberley being abont 4000ft. above sea-level.

ABOUT CAROLS. The term "carol" was originally applied to songs intermingled with dancing, and came afterwards to signify festive songs, such as were sung at Christmas. One powerful influence which did much to shepe the old Christmas carol is to be found in the mystery plays, or sacred dramas, which for centuries formed one of the most popular entertainments at the Church festivals, particularly at Christmas. Theee mysteries are said to have been introduced about the end of the 11th century and although they preseat many Gospel scenes in confused form, they did much to spread religious thought and feeling. Those who have witnessed the wonderful realism of the Ober-Ammergau Passion-play can understand this. The mystery plays were, probably, account- able for the many curious traditions embodied in old Christmas carols. Some of these can be traced to the Apocryphal Gospels; in other cases the source is lost. The maternal delight and affection of the mother of Christ for her Sou is an unfailing subject in old carols. Most of the ordinary popular carols show by their style that they have at all events received their present form from the bands of less educated singers than those of the choir of the Chapel Royal. For many years it was the duty of this hoir to produce a carol at Christmas, before the King or Queen went to supper; and it is probable that many of the higher class of carols owe their existence to this custom, or to a similar usage in houses of the nobility. Many carols were directly in- tended to be the means of obtaining gifts of money from wealthier neighbours. Sometimes they assumed i religious, sometimes a convivial tone. The first printed collection of carols came from the press of Wynkyn de Worde in 1571. A unique frag- ment of it is still extant, containing the famous Boar's Head Carol," which is still sung at Queen's College, Oxford, on Christmas Day. rhe Jorial Carols were issued in a small black-letter collection in 1642, another in 1661, rod yet another in 1686. These are of the oighest rarity, and contain curious specimens of the longs that were sung by shepherds and ploughmen at Christmas entertainments in farmhouses. The inmates never failed to regale the singers with plum-cake and hot-spiced ale. In France the sing- ing of Noels was oommon at an early date, and 301 lections were published as early as the 16th cen- Dury. Russian literature is very rich in carols and religious songs, many of the singers being beggars and lame people who wander about singing for charity. Many of the legends in these Russian carols are of great antiquity. The Isle of Man has a large store of carols, or caroal," but very few are in print. Wales, too, has her "Book of Carols con- taining quite a number.—Christmas Hamper (Tht Christian Globe Christmas Xumber).

HEINE CENTENARY FIASCO. The celebration of the centenary of Heine, which was announced as an imposing literary ceremony, was melancholy enough (telegraphs the Chronicles Paris correspondent). A dozen or so of journalists, chiefly German and English met in the Montmartre Cemetery in bitterly cold weather. The poet's tomb was sparsely decorated with flowers. A few visiting cards were pinned to the wreaths, and after a little subdued conversation the company separated.

DEVELOPMENT OF MONGOLIA. Indications are not wanting that the northern part, at any rate, of Mongolia is coming to be regarded as within the Russian sphere of interest in the Far East. It is understood (says the St. Petersburg correspon- dent of the Morning Port) that a Russian syndicate which has some connection with the Russo-Chineae Bank has obtained from the Chi nese Government the exclusive right to work the gold deposits, alluvial and otherwise, known to exist in the Aimaks, or large dis- tricts of the Tsetsenkhan and Ton-che-fu-khan, in the north of Mongolia-that is, between the Gobi Desert and the Russian frontier. Gold has already been discovered at Ourga, due south of Kvachva, and it is here that the syndicate which, it is stated, has a capital of 3,000,000 roubles, will begin its operations. The capital will no doubt be increased when a propet company is formed, a portion being found by finan- cial houses in Belgium.

BEAUTIES THAT DEATH KILLS. A correspondent from Ramsgate, writing to us to point out the need of a more stringent law to pre- serve fast-diminishing British birds and the cruelty of the collector, refers to the kingfisher and the sand- grouse. Of the kingfisher he states: It is not by any incens rare. I could point out one or two beautiful specimens, but it would be fatal to name the locality for obvious reasons. On their autumn migration each year numbers are destroyed to satisfy the crav- ings of a cruel and senseless fashion, or to embellish a glass case—the conversion of an animated rainbow into a dull inanimate heap of feathers, it being quite impossible to retain the brilliant evanescent colours of this the most handsome of British birds, which fade as soon as life is out of the body." The protection of birds is fettered by a law which protects the breeding for only five months and allows the parents and young to be shot in the remaining seven. As an instance of useless legislation our correspon- dent refers to the unprecedented migration of eJJu8 sandgrouse in 1888. An Act of Parliament was passed inflicting a fine of 20s. on anyone killing e, specimen, but as a freshly-killed specimen could be sold at from 30s. to 40s. the result was that in two years not one was left.

BERLIN MEMORIAL QUESTION. The appeal of the Berlin Magistracy against the decision of the police authorities prohibiting the erection of an arch in commemoration of the men who fell in the revolutionary movement of Karch. 1848, at the entrance to the cemetery known aa. the March Churchyard has, after protracted negotiations extending over two yews, been definitely rejected by the Fourth Senate of the Chief Courts of Justice, the Magistracy being condemned to pay the costs of the proceedings.

"Amr DOCToa win TELL YOV" there is no bettw Cough Medicine than KEATING'S LOZENGES — One gives relief; if you suffer from cough try them but once j they cure< &nd they will no/injure j your health; sn increasing sale Qf over m JMr8 ig a certain test of their value. Sold ereiywhere in 13Jd. tins. wrf nr? fewer"? an unexpected danger, \ha° 60 ^s ^e Un reported of Birmingham. On being had been of.which chlorideof zino „ r> £ ave off poisonous vapour, pro- I -Iswelling of hands and arms. if « a wap passed in Germany which made ^P11^90^ for every German with an income ot j „ 0r "lore to insure himself against illness and death. In 1898 there were 11,200,000 persons in Germany thus insured, and so many of these suffered from consumption that 37 of the insurance companies erected at their own expense a saritorium for the ( care of these persons.