Llais Llafur

AMERICAN HUMOUR. I A READY SOLUTION. I W well-to-do farmer in need of legal advice nought a struggling attorney with reference to A suit he desired to bring against a neighbour. The lawyer looked up the statutes and advised -His client what course to pursue. As the latter rose to leave the office he asked: What's your fee?" "Oh, say three dollars, carelessly re- sponded the attorney. Whereupon the client proffered a five-dollar bill. The lawyer seemed embarrassed. He carefully searched his pockets and the drawers of his desk without finding the neces- sary change. Finally he met the exigency by pocketing the bill and observing, as be reached for a digest: It would seem, sir, that I shall have to give you two worth more fA. advioe." -New r ork Times. HIS SUMMER EXPERIENCE. Do you have to have many servants at your summer home, Hawkins?" asked ,Wiggletborpe. '• Well, i&st year we 'had eighteen," said Hawkins. "Eighteen!" echoed Wigglethorpe. "Great Scott, man how can you manage that number .on your income? "Oh, seventeen of 'em are cooks that stayed on an average of five- days apiece," said Haw- kins. The rest were our hired man. .Clevela,nd Plain Dealer. METHODICAL SHOPPING. James, my lad," said the grocer to his new assistant, who bought that mouldy .cheese to-day? Mrs. Brown, sir," was the youth's reply. And the stale loaf we could not sell last night 1 "Mrs. Brown, sir." Where's that lump of rancid butter that the baker refused?" Mrs. Br"wn bought it cheap, sir," was the answer. And the six eggs we could not sell a week ince? "Mrs. Brown. Are you ill, sir?" asked James, as the grocer turned green and groaned. "No, no; only I'm going to tea at Brown's to-night," replied the unhappy man as be wiped the perspiration from his f&ce and sank into a chair.—New York Times. NO CAUSE OF ACTION. I lie-ar there is a movement on. foot to weed ,<yut all unscrupulous lawyers from the Plunk- ville bar." We investigated and* found there are no -unscrupulous lawyers at the PlunkviBe bar." Who investigated? "Us lawyers."—Louisville Courier-Journal. HOW IT STRUCK HIM. An Atlanta man tells of a. trip on a Limited train that was tearing madly along through the daTktK^s. Suddenly the engineer sprang to the lever and set the brakes; the sparks flew from the rails as the locked wheeLs slid aloorg; t;he ligh ts were extinguished M two or -three car-, toppled from tip rails. Then there came a silence more ominous than all. Certain of the passengers made torches from bits of wreckage and b tn a search for the dead and inj ured. From Co ¡,de of débri. there emanated a sound suspiciously like a snore, and soon there was dragged from among a nias:i of twisted iron a slumbering porter. Blerc- -1 ful heavens, -nan exclaimed one ■of the passengers, didn't you know there had been a wreck'/ I shore felt somethin', gents," said the da.rky. but I kinder thought- we was coup I in' -on de dimn'-car (I" Macon."—Harper's Magazine. A CRUEL BLOW. "I see you have your arm in a sling," said -the inquisitive passenger. Broken, isn't it? Yes, sir," responded the other passenger. Meet with an accident? "No; broke it while trying to pat myself on <4he back." Great Scott What for? "For Blinding my own business. "—Ham's Horn WAS GETTING OLDER. James W hi t-cmb Riley says thai lie was eUJ1l"m0 'io<l ,5 a \,it¡;.e,'S iu a cn,s.e tl'jed .in an •Indiana rivraj ec-u-rt, where one of the wit- nesses before him evineed some disinclination, to state her age. "Is it very necessary?" coyly asked the ■witness, a spinster of uncertain age. It ir3 absolutely necessary, madam," inter- posed fee judge. "Well," sighed the maiden, "if I must I -suppose I must. I don't see how it could pos- sibly affect the case, for you see Madam," observer! the judge, with some asperity, I "ni-iiist ask yon not to waste the time of tb;ls court. Kindly state your age." Whereupon tilie spinster showed signs of hysterics. I am, that ;s, I was-" Madam, hiunry UT):" exclaimed the jude, now thoroughly impatient. "Every iminute makes it worse, you know!" — Pitts-burg .C hronicle- T rlegraph. HOW HAY SPELT IT. James iiay, jnn., wnose grapnic pen nas made him famous in the magazine and news- paper world, is the acknowledged wit of the National Press Club at Washington, and ho is remarkable also for his purring quality of voice and never-failing courtesy. One morning, however, Mr. Hay awoke with an aching tooth, which gave him trouble all day, and by the time evening came and he walked into the dining-room of the Press 'Club for dinner, his nerves were badly on edge. Just about this time Jesse Suter, an ardent admirer of Hay, came in, convoying a brand- Slew Congressman who, never before having visited the august precincts of the Press Club, decided to start r.ght in to making tne-nas with the members. Suter introduced the Native Son to each -one at the table, saying a few well-chosen words about each, and mentioning the news- paper connections. The Honourable Member from Squasb Centre was a little bewildered by the rap id-fire introductions, and only re- covered himself partially when he shook hands with Hay, but had the misfortune not io catch his name. With a desire to make good. the country visUoi* pulled that old but honourable bromide with the hope of cov- ering up his had hearing, and asked How do yon epeil your niiii<,? .Tim glanced at him for a moment through rapidly-contract- ing pupilfc, and then, in the Virginia dTawl -which has put the fear of the Lord, into many iaint hearts, hissed r H-i.-Y, you twenty- two-calibre, twentieth-century, would-be De- mosthenes! How do you suppose I spell it?" Utterly dismayed, but wildly trying to save the day by turning his faux pas into some- cthing really subtle, the statesman replied: Hay-I never heard the name before." "Whereupon the genial yet suffering Mr. Hay turned both barrels of his forty-four-centi- metre howitzer en the Congressman and ;bawl-ed out: We:l. you've got nothing on me, you cadaverous-looking, blue-nosed, cab- bage-eating sinr:—I never heard of you, either! whores00:1 the statesman turned tail and flev; with the last wonts of the master of ,n his drooping ears, and muttering to himself: At least I have been insulted by an expert. "-Popular Magazine.

HINTS FOR THE HOME. TO WHITEN HEARTHSTONES. I A good white hear«istone adds very much to the appearance of the kitchen. Mix some whiting with milk imSead of water, addong a few drops of washing blue. This forms a paint-like mixture whitfh does not easily spot. HOW TO BAKE POTATOES. t Potatoes baked critp and nicely browned usually are so much appreciated that they considerably lessen the consumption of meat. They will be found much nicer when pre- viously half-cooked by boiling or steaming; the most economical way being to steam them unpeeled and strip off the skins before baking. The potatoes are more tasty when sprinkled with salt and pepper. A little flour will help them to brown. INSTEAD OF CHOPPING SUET. Instead of spending time in chopping suet for a steamed or boiled- pudding, or &uet paste for a meat pie, busy housewives should try the alternative method of simply flaking it finely. It is afterwards rolled: into the flour on the board, and fin.ally mixed with water. Baked suet paste i-s lighter made in this way than when the suet is chopped, especiaHy when a little bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar are add.f?r' I CLEANING POLISHED FURNITURE. French-polished furniture may be cleaned with a soft flannel and seme soap and water, wipe dry, and polish with a clean leather. Lemon juice will take out ink spots from tables or furniture which is not French polished. To clean the latter, wash it with a Little soap and water, and polish w?th boiled Mnseed oiL It should ba rid on sp3ringly; the polish will be gai-ned only by labour, but it will well repay exertion. Vinegar is some- times used instead of water. I TREATMENT OF INFLUENZA. I Influenza in itself 5.s not a mortal com- plaint. It is in its complications that the j danger lies, and the complications are so serious, says Dr. Claude Evill in Nursing Notes, that the mildest attack must be treated ( with the utmost respect. It is essential that t the patient should go to bed. Remembering that influenza is an infectious disease, precau- tions should be taken similar to those adopted in any other infectious f<>ver, and the patient I should be isolated as far as possible. A spacious room should be selected in a quiet part of the house. It should be capable of free ventilation and be bared of unnecessary hangings and furniture. Fresh air is one of the most important items in the treatment. The bed should preferably be a single one, placed in such a position that the air may cir- culate freely round it, and it should not directly face the light. QUININE AS A PREVENTIVE. I As to the precautions to he taken attending an influenza patient, quinine is the preventive par excellence. Of covrse, the ordinary mea- sures for keeping oneself in good health must be observed, such as fresh air and regular exercise. But a daily dose of two grains of sulphate of quinine taken in the morning appears to be remarkably efficacious in pro- tecting against infection. In proof of this the late Sir W. Bvoadbent quoted two instances. In a large public school during an epidemic it was ordered to be taken every morning. Some of the boys were home boarders, and it was found that while the boarders at the school took the quinine in the presence of a master every morning there were scarcely any cases of influenza among them, although the home boarders suffered as much as before. In a large girls' school the same thing was ordered, and the girls and mistresses took their morn- ing dose, but the servants were forgstt-en. The result was that scarcely any girl or mis- tress suffered, while the servants were all down with influenza. I CARE OF HEALTH IN WINTER. I Nothing tends to lower vitality more tlian sle-eping in a badly ventilated room, yet count- less numbers imagine they cannot endure the cold of a bedroom with window open. When this is so, the plan should be tried of keeping the window almost or entirely closed after air- ing the room in the morning, and opening it when retiring at night. When windows cannot be kept constantly open, it is better to have them open only whell the room is in use, keep- ing the door also closed to prevent the admission of vitiated air from other parts of the house. I COOKING IN EARTHENWARE I UTENSILS. Cooking in ea.rthenwa.re vessels is being much more favoured now than formerly, and it is certainly an advantage, wri,te.s "Mollie" in the home page of the Agricultural Gazette. They are so easily cleaned, and save so much time and labour, for the iooel can be cooked in them and served at table in the same vessel. Thus there is much economy ill the wa-sliing-up of saucepans (joyful thought'), and as they retain heat so effectively there is HO fear of having lukewarm food if the meal is delayed a few minuter, or if one wants a second helping. CASS ]-'ROI,E s. -TI I ere are very many dif- ferent styles and sizes of casseroles, but the fireproof china one is the best, and for general purposes, as for stows, &c., it should be fairly deep. Fish, meat, fruit, and vege- tables can be stewed or braised in them, and then the contents can be served at table in the same vessel. If preferred, a. serviette may be wrapped round it when brought to table, but it is not as a rule necessary, as the ordi- nary casserole is not unsightly. A HOME-MADK SUBSTITUTE. Unfortu- nately, casseroles are dear, but a 71b. brown jam-jar, with a saucer to take the place of the casserole lid, will make an excellent sub- stitute for cooking purposes, though naturally it could not be used at table. The jar might be put straight into a moderate oven, but the best way to use it is to stand it in a tin of water if put in the oven, or in a saucepan of water if put on the top of the stove. The cooking of the contents can be then left to go on by itself. SOME WAYS OF USING THEM. — For cook- ing and serving all kinds of stews or soups a casserole is a great boon, but porridge is one among %many other things which can be equally well cooked in one. Pears, to be CO'D ke g to a lovely dark colour, should be put into an earthenware jar with some cloves, sugar, and a little water, a lid or saucer put on the top, and left to cook slowly for about five hours. In re-serving leftover portions I of rabbit, poultry, game, &c., most savoury dishes can be made by putting the pieces into a casserole and by adding stock and a plenti- ful supply of vvgetablcs. The housewife will I find endless ways in which she can use her casserole with great advantage in every way if she will only give it a trial. FRYING III AN EARTHENWARE P N.—There is an art in frying bncon to perfection, and certainly some people find it difficult to keep it hot when it is fried without getting it shrivelled up, but a brown earthenware pan (which may or may not have a handle) is greatly to be preferred to the ordinary metal pan, as the bacon can be sent to table in the vessel it has been cooked in, thereby wasting no fat, and the lid keeps it very hot for a long time. Of course, the cold pan would crack if put straight on to the fire, but if it is rinsed out with boiling water first, and then well dried, the baoon can be fried in it in the usual way.

MONEY FROM THE MINT. The money made r the Koyai Mint is at- tributed through the various banks on their own application, and through the different Government services, including the dock- yards, the Civil Service, and various Govern- ment departments. It is not distributed imme- diately it is minted, but as soon as the demand arises.

THE HISTORY OF DOLLS. The history of dolls reaches back to remote antiquity, and even the derivation of the name, far more recent than the origin of the doll custom itself, is shrouded in mystery. There is a pretty legend to the effect that the word "doll" is an adaptation of the name Dorothy, from Dorothea—St. Dorothea, who was well-beloved and whose namesake a little girl of olden times was thought lucky indeed to be. I A French story has it that poupee, the French name for doll, was derived from Poppaia, the name of wicked Nero's equally infamous consort, a derivation suggested by the chronicle of how one Pursello Grivaldi, an Italian, brought to Paris from Italy a wonder- ful collection of effigies in miniature of the ancient Roman Emperors and Empresses, in which waxen gathering of bygone celebrities the great Poppwa was decidedly the most attractively costumed, and Queen Isabella, consort of the poor mad King Charles VI., ordered the dolls to be brought to court, whore they became immensely popular, and the Poppfea one so struck the King's fancy it was retained for him. The oldest dolls in the world to-day are those which have been found in the tombs of Egyptian children, dating as far back as 4,000 years ago. These small dolls are made of ivory, clay, wood, and bronze. One group has curious heads of clay, to which strings of coloured beads have been attached, probably to represent hair. In the Vatican Museum, among the Roman remains found in the Catacombs, are seen ivory dolls with movable limbs. In Ava Roma Immortalis," Marion Crawford speaks of ancient Roman dci's made of rags ard stuffed, with waste itom their mothers' spindles and looms. The earliest dolls mentioned in translations of Chinese history are credited with enormous antiquity, and are invariably made to repre. scut emperors, empresses, and other members of the royal families. They were used to illus- trate manners and customs of the country and to teach history, and they were Chinese to the backbone; they were not then, nor are their dolls now, made in Germany," and dressed in celestial garments.-Alcirk Lane Express.

THE FIRST CUCKOO OBSERVER. The unneighbourly behaviour of the young cuckoo to his fo.-i.-r brethren in the nest in v. Iiich he is brought u.p is now common know- ledge. It is interesting to look back and dis- cover how the fact was first noted in print. In an interesting book, Nature's Wonderland," published by the Pilgrim Press, London, Mr. Percivall West-ell tells the story. In July, 1782," he says, a French doctor, Lottinger, noticed a robin's egg, which was lying outside a nest in which, a young cuckoo was being reared, and, although Lottinger appears to have been the first observer to draw attention to this phase in the early life-hi-story of the young usurper, it was apparently quite uncon- cious observation on his part, for he did not realise the cause of the ejectment." It was Dr. Edward Jenner—" Vaccination Jenner" —who was the first to recognise and describe the actual process that takes place.

How OPIUM Is PREPARED. The preparation of opium, writes Mr. Con- sul-General Grahame in a report on the trade of the Persian province of Isfahan, has always been a picturesque feature of Isfahan commer- cial activity, and does not to-day differ mate- rially from the operation as described by dis- tinguished travellers years ago. Incisions having been made in the capsules of the poppy the juice issuing therefrom is allowed to bleed into brass pans. The product is then alter- nately d!ried in the sun and kneaded with trowels on wooden boards untril all excess of moisture has been got rid of. When the poppy juice has been reduced to paste in the manner described above, a,n,d has been freed from ex- traneous matter, it is divided into -cakes of equal size, which are alldwed, to dry in a warm atmosphere before being packed for export. Opium thus prepared will contain about 11 per cent. morphia, suitabl-e for medicinal pur- poses. When, however, the stuff is to be a smoking mixture rather than a drug, it is re- duced to 5 per cent. morphia by adulteration. In the olden ruays it was considered necessary at this stage of' the operation that the work- men should tread the mixture under foot like grapes in the winepress before proceeding to a last manipulation with the trowel. but this picturesque detail is nowadays usually omitted. It is esseaitial, however, to continue the kneading process until all excess of liquid is taken off and the resultant cake as fine as possible.

ODD SUPERSTITIONS. If you shiver, someone is walking over your future grave. When your nose itches something will soon happen to vex you. When your right eye itches it is a sign of good luck; when your left eye of bad luck. When rooks desert a rookery it forebodes the downfall of the family on whose property it is. A spider descending upon you from the roof is a token that you will soon have a legacy from a friend. Candle and other lights are supposed to burn blue and dim when invisible beings are present, especially if they be evil spirits. It is a good omen for swallows to take pos- session of a place and build their nests around it; while it is unpropitious for them to forsake a place which they have rtr oe tenanted. The magpie is deemed a bird of evil omen. Its unluckiness has been accounted for by its being the only bird which did not go into the ark with Noah. If you have any white marks on your nails, commonly called "gifts," you may expect to 'get as many presents as there are marks, as soon as these get up to the nail ends in the course of their natural growth. A new shoe placed upon a table for inspec- tion will lead the wearer into unlucky paths. When an experienced old shepherd sees the first lamb in the spring he notes whether its head or its tail is turned towards him. If the former, he will have plenty of meat to eat dur.in.g the year; if the latter, he looks foi nothing beyond milk and bread, and vege- tables without beef, and perhaps ham.

W?E AND OTHERWISE n Mrs. Spoon: Do you ever see figures in the fire, dearf" Mr. Spoon: "Yes. Coal bills! "I married my husband for protection." "Did you get it?" "No; I didn't even get reciprocity. Fond Friend: "W,a-s there much cut-gla-ss among her wedding-presents?" Jealous Maid: "Only her engagement-ring." Now, Pat, tell the class why words have roots." "I guess, ma'am, that's the only way the language could grow." Heiress: "But you must keep our engage- ment a strict secret." Suitor: "From all but my most insistent creditors, my dearest." Mr. Slowboy (calling on girl): You seem— er—rather distant this evening." The Girl: "We'll, your chair isn't nailed down, is it?" He: What is the difference between a I' gown and a creoiorl?" She: "I can't give you the exact figures, but it's a small fortune." Mrs. Newwed: "I see by your references that you had ten situations in six months." Cook: "Yes, mum; I was so much in request." I'd rather play golf than eat." But what does your wife say to that?" "Oh, she doesn't care. She'd rather play bridge than cook. "I understand you want to marry my daughter. What are your prospects? We I], sir, not being a mind reader, I really can't say." Magistrate: "The con-stable s'ays that you are a terror to the neighbourhood." Prisoner: (highly gratified): "I thanks the copper for 'is compliment." "I cannot say Yes,' Harold, but I shall always be a sis 1, "Siste.r to me? No, you won't. Yes, Harold. I accepted your brother last night." "You won't object if I go on with this em- broidery while we talk, will you, Mr. Bore- ham? I always think that one should keep one's mind occupied." The fond mother: Nice girls never put themselves forward before the men." The wise daughter: "Then how do the men find out that they're nice?" Judge: "I don't think that women have always been vain; you know women were made before mirrors." Fudge: "And they've been before them ever since." Polite neighbour: "Everybody says your husband is such a wideewake man, Mrs. Jobbles." Mrs. Jobbles (with a sigh): "Yes; and the baby takes after him! Are you fond of futurist music? Can't say I am. St;ll, there's one thing to be said in its favour. It doesn't make any difference whether the piano is in tune or not." Pedlar: "Want to buy an umbrella cheap?" Krankgey: No. What's the use? Everybody steals my umbrellas." Pedlar: "Well, this one ain't worth stealin' Irate Barber (to new assistant): "Look here, now; you've been working on that head for the last twenty minutes. You're spending more time on it than the thing's worth Him: Would you call for help if I attempted to kiss you?" Her: "Yes, if necessary; but I don't see why a big, strong c'hap like you should require any help." Magistrate (te, man charged with having five waves): "How could you be so hardened a vil- lain?" The Guilty One: "Please. your Hon- our, I was only trying to get a good one." Judge: "Do you understand the nature of an oath? Do you know what will happen if you do not tefll the truth in this case? Wit ness "Y es, my Lord. Our side will win." How do you know that it was a man that wrote this novel?" Helen: "Because the story takes .you over a space of ten years, and the heroine never changes her dress but once." Emmy: "I've got an invite to the charity ball, but I haven't the least idea what I am to go in. What would you wear, Fanny, if you 'had my complexion?" Fanny: "A thick veil. Father: "You've been calling on my daughter for some time, young man. Why don't you come down to business?" Suitor: Very well, how much are you going to leave her? Young Man (from the country): "I say! Is this the way to the cemetery?" Town Boy: Yes, you just keep standing on them eiec- trie tram-lines, and you'll be there soon enough." Man with paper: "Here's a preacher in Birmingham declares that the time will come I when there will be no liars in the world." Pessimist: "Well, the world is due to e-nd some time." Barber (testing the razor): Do I hurt you, sir?" Victim: "No; not so badly as the last man who had me in his chair." Barber (highly gratified): "Who was that?" Victim: "The dentist." Bertie: "I called upon Hr. Gaswell this afternoon, and made a formal proposal for his daughter's hand." Interested Friend: "Ah, indeed and what was the outcome? Bertie sadly): "I was." Sculptor (to friend): "Well, what do you thiink of niv bust? Fine piece of marble, yon thdnk of bust? Fir-p p; pce of marble, isn't it?" Frieixl: "Magnificent! What a pity to make a bust of it. It would have made a lovely wash-stund What," queried the young man, is the difference between white lies and black lies?" "White lies," answered the home-grown philosopher, are the fend' we tell; black lies are the kind we hear." "That regiment must have beautiful com- plexions," said Mrs. Blinks. What regi- ment, my dear? exclaimcd Blinks, in aston ishment. I mean the Coldcrcam Guard's I've heard so much about." One day little Flora was taken to have an aching tooth removed. That night, while she was saying her prayers, her mether was sur- prised to bear her say: "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our dentists." I have no patience with a man who makes the same mistake twice," declared a self-satis- fied man in speaking to his wife of an unfer- tunate friend. "Neither have I," agreed the lady, when there are so many other mistakes to make." A young lady being asked recently, as she returned from the circulating library wifh the last new novel, if she had ever read Shake- speare, tossed her pretty head and answered: "Shakespeare? Of course I have; I read that when it first came out!" Mother Why, dear me The dentist has pulled the wrong tooth." Little Dick (glee- fully): "Yes, I had him fine!" "Had him?" "Yes, mother. I told him that was the one. I knew if he touched th' aehin' one it 'ud hurt awful." So your father w aG ninety-three when he died, and vour mother one hundred and Sve. What was it that they finally died of?" "Well, sir, I can't say as I remember rightly now, for 'twas a main long time ago. But '•bviarn't nothing serious." "Jennie," sa-id he, "I shall go to your father and ask his consent a.t once." "Wait, George; don't be impatient," said Jenny. "Wait until after the first, when my dress- maker's bitll comes in. He will be more will- ing to part with me then." Young Wife: "Oh, Edward, you do believe that I am always thinking of economy, don't you?" Young H us-ban d: "M a 001, your shil- ling telegram this afternoon telling me where to go and save sixpence on a carpet broom warns me that you are thinking of it too much." Victim: "This thermometer is no good. I can never by it how- cold the room is." Dealer: "My dear madam, do you not know that the word, thermometer is derived from two Greek words meaning a measure o-f beat'? Naturally, therefore, it isn't meaoi to measure cold."

WORDS OF WISDOM I —— Pity and need maie all ^esh akin.—exit v.vuxOiP. Children have more need of models than of critics, The world is all gates, all opportunities.— EMERSON. Our dead are never dead to us unless we have forgotten them. The work that should to-day be wrought defer not till to-morrow. j A kind word will go further and strike harder than a cannon- ball. It is in the surprises of life that we reap the re- ward of character. He who refuses to face his worst forfeits the possibility erf finding his best. I Remember that though words cannot break bones they often break hearts. The man who changes his mind is less culpable than the man who is afraid to. If a man can always say what he means, then I' he does not always mean enough. Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy.—EMERSON. There's always lots of other folks you kin be sorry for 'stid of yourself.—MRS. WIGGS. If you are a winner in the strife of life, be a j modest one. If a loser, be a cheerful one. j We envy saints, but often forget that it is with j thorns, not with roses, that haios are bought. Most of our misfortunes are more supportable J than the comments of our friends upon them. That is friendship where men's affections are cemented by an equal love of goodness.—SEXECA. A character big though rough -is to be pie- f ferred a bove one small though smooth and j symmetrical. s4-rug.- l e for. a,'Ier we Most of the things we struggle for. after we have got them, we find are not the things which bring us happiness. Of all the sad things in the world, there is ) nothing so 6ad as this-to have Seen the good and to have let it go.—STOPFOKD BROOKE. There is at any given moment a best path for every man. To find this path, and waik in it, is the one thing needful for hi».—CAKLYLE. Willingness to know the truth about oneself is the mark of a brave character; eagerness to hear opinions about oneself is the mark of a weak character. He who does wrong. <kes wvong against him- self. He who acts unjustly, acts unjustly to him- self, because he makes hirisell bad.-bJARCUS AURELICS. A I'f e be t-i'her rr.ssterfu: or miserable— al,)Ie to c?ontr.o, jrQe: k? able "0 do,, "cc's 0 o!se harric,,i by many triiles into eon?t.;nt discontent. Home is the place where tneve should always be 8m iling f aces, I 'fig i,?oks, beaining counter" ances, and very happy hearts. Happy are :be ) people that. are the light tnd joy of their homes, j The vie." enter into the -on of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. l'i I!- dence collects and arranges -tl cm. and uses them beneficially against the ills of life. LA EOCK £ FOUC-A,ULD. What does anxiery do? It does not empty to- morrow of its sorrow: but it empties to-day of its strength. It does not make you escape the evil; it makes you unfit to cope with it if it Comes.—IAN MACLAHEN. Cheerfulness very gTC'¡¡';Y conduces bo:h to happiness and 6access in iife. It is good to live in an atmosphere of cheerfulness at. home, In work very cheerfully. K> jr. id-re other people cheerful, and to have cheerful friends. Theve is no real conflict between truth and politeness; what is imagined -to be such is oely t'ne crude mistake of those who fail to discover their harmony. Politeness, taken in its best sense, is the graceful expression of respect, kind feeling, and goodwill. No man has ever yet permanently lifted him- self up by attempting to pull another down, however badly we may hive thought he needed his place and pay. But nany have helped them- selves by helping others. There are few men, however low, that you c. nno-, aid by "giving them a lift in the right direction. MISREPREEETATIOX. I There is nothing in which men do more wisely, when they agree to act upon the pri»c:ple of let- ting things alone, than when tJlCY apply this rule to the slanders and mis epvesentations | which are directed against themselves. If only they e.n possess thei:- Hn¡;S in patience, and it i down in quietness and self-control when they are. mi.-unde:stood or misrepresented, they ruay re's ass.ired that ti.ev will gain a much more cer- tain a:.d easy victory than if they insist upon doing battle with ail whon they regard -as their em-mier. The truth is great, and it will prevail, 6: an old Latin prove b. One may go further, i.i.i s.iv rhat. after all, th ? truth hardly needs to bo I by us. It wil make its way by its own .weight; it will prevail by reawn of its own strong BENEVOI SNTE. Benevolence is not m word and in tongue, but in deed and in trutn. It is a men  as they are, and wkh human 1ic as drawn by the rough hand of experience. It is a duly which you must perform at the 'all of principle, though there be no voice of eloquence to give splendour to your exertions, and no nusic of poetry to lead your willing footsteps through the bowers of en- chamme nt.. Benevolence ;s not merely a feeling, but a principle; not a d.nof rapture for i..o fancyto i n d n ge i )], b ma b uE  ncs.j f ort. h e h at. J fancy to iEàldgc in, but, a business for the hand to execute. —GHAI.MEB3. j What live we for but this? Into the sour to breathe the soul of sweetness, The stumed growth to rer-r to fair completeness, Drown tears in smiles, kiii hatred with a kiss, Drom,n teai-, in smi l es, kll And to the sandy waste bequeath the fame That the grass grew behird us when we came. TRUST AND DISTKfST. I csuspect the sincerity ot your enusive lriena I who professes for you the most entire respect and affection, while vilifying every other acquaint- ance she has. Doubt thf: hospitality which con- tinually says You must ecmc," and never fixes the time—the hospitality which is a will-o' -the- wisp dancing along the near distance and never coming nearer Question the glib assertions of one ,who cannot be piined to details, dates, names, or references. iii t. wis, as all this cau- tion is, do not carry it b. ypnd limits. To doubt I your own dear, tried, *friend is to push hesttanon from its ri.?ht bounds cf caution into the extremes of suspicion—with your own loss as the resuk-MRS. LYXN LYKTON. I LOVERS' I Mothers and maidens, believe me, the whole course and character of your lovers' lives is in I your hands; what you w< uld have them be rhev shall be, if you not onb desiie to have them t so, but deserve to have tbrm so; for they are but mirrors in which you wilJ see yourselvt* irr.2:č(", If you are frivolous, they will be so also: if you have no understanding of the scope of aeir duty, they also will forget it: thev will listen— they can listen—to no other interpretation ci it than that uttered from your lips.—BUSKIN. I THE FOI.LY OF FEAR. I A great deal of talent is 10tit m tthe world for j the want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves a number of obs^u-o men. who have only remained :r. -bscurity because their timiditv has prevented them from making a first effort, and who, if t-1 ey could have been in- I duced to begin, would in all probability have gone great lengths in the career of fame. The fact is, that to do anything in this world worth doing, we must not staId back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as wr can. It will not do to be perpetually calculating risks and adjusting nice chances. Tt did vory well before the flood, when a man could oonsult his friends upon an intended publics (ion for a hundred and fifty years, and then live ;o see its success after- 0 FEC. it. ,uoc?e-% after- wards. But at prest-nt a men w. -titf, and doubt6, and oonsr-ks his brother and his particular friends, till one dav h. fbds he is sixty years oi age; then he has lost 90 ifiueh Time in consulting his first cousins and particular friends that he hal more time to follow their advice.—BIDNS? auxiBi <

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL. r Acer.rdhig to a message from Rome. ■■Q fr.' h vyi <'o..nri'r the re; r-ru d grave lib- -s )f the Kaiser, who hits rvturned to E?hnto indergo an (.-perswon upon ins tnrost. The Cabinet decided by J majority on Tus- iav that tJi?v were bound by ti:e Fr:r:e ;l);): pY;:{, gi1'1:l}/IP;{o" arineiple cf compulsion as the consequence of die rc?alt;3 of Lord Derby's campaign. New Zealand, which is new sending rein- forcements to the froui at the rate of a nonih, is instituting a new rec: g campaign to sustain these ni-mbers. i'ubi.c opinion is said to be disposed toward.- coiu- Dulsory service if voluntary service fa: The Chinese Province of Yunnan has de- dared its independence as a protest rg-ninst .he Monarchical policy of Yuan iihih Kai. The Government, viJeh oeciares that it is satisfied is to the iovii-tn- of the other provinces, is moving troops against the revolutionaries. It is reported that Maximilian Harden's Zvkv;ift has been prohibited for publishing a itatement that- the Kaiser had ordered that i pardon should be granted to Miss Caveli. Captain Boy-Ed, M,r. Brand Whit-lock, and Colonel House, the emissary of Mr. Wilson, .eft X-w York en Tuesday for Rotterdam. 3cbnei House once r.vnre denied thct he is )n a peace mission. Bulgaria ofneially denies the shelling cf Varna and the landing of Russian trocps in Bulgaria. It is explained that there was only in engagement between four Russian destroyers ind one Bulgarian torpedo-boat off Varna. A contract between the Central Powers and :he Roumanian Central Exporters' Committee provides for the regular expert of corn pre- viously purchased, and for a further sale of aOO/KK) tons. The total number of United States immi- grant aliens fell from the previous rear to 326,709 in the period ended June :mh last, the lowest number for twenty years. The Maharajah of Indore, following the ex- ample of the Gaekwar of Baroda and the Maharajah of Mysore, has made elementary education compulsory throughout his State. The Timr.* correspondent at Athens learns that French military authorities do not expect an immediate enemy offensive against the Allied forces in. Greek Macedonia. General Cartelnau. who I, a F, th) Sf.lonica front, is said to have- declared the Allied deforces to be invprcgisnb"-?. Lord Methuen. Governor of Malta, has tele- graphed to the British Red Cross Society his hearty thanks to the committee and staff of the British Rod Cross for their admirable- organisation for the ec-mfort of the men at Christmas. Bnilt owly a few year? ago at a cost of Hotel at Gorleston, one of the finest lie.els on the East Coast, has hPEa. destroved bv fire. The c.vuse of the outbreak is not known. A Melbourne message says that the Brokere Hill La bour Feneration has oarried a resol u- tion similar to the one adopted on the 17H.. Inst, by the Trades Hail at Melbourne, re- questing trade "unior.i-is to ignore the recruft- ing cards. The King has anproved thr- appointment of Canon Harold L..i..bl{.ll. Rector of Liver- pool, as Bishop of Dover, c- the resignation c" the precent Bishop, Dr. Walsh. A,t--am trawler which foundered \l1. ei rht hands off Aberdeen IIarb'r on P r- nt- b r 23rd is believed to be the Eir.nrc.s. b-jib- in?Toth'eW?Jker Steam Fining Comp.ny. zo tb?e -?-eara Glasgow dock labourers' wages are to be in- creased by a the agreement to remain in forces,during w ar conditions. Lord Dei", in an has resigned his comrr heon in the County of London !Iiddl -sex Duke of I Cambridge's llus&ars) on account of ill-health. The death is announeed c i, Mrs. V. C. Crowther, a great-niece of Lord Nelson. The Lord Chancellor has exchanged the patronage of the vicarage of Kneesall, Notts, for that of the rectory of Weston in the Clay, iu the same county, hitherto in the gift of Lord Manvers. Mr. Hopkins at Police-court im- posed fines «f £ 2 2s. on four Bloom-bury boarding-house keepers for not keeping a com- plete register of the aliens staying at their re- spective boarding-houses. A verdict of accidental death was returned, at an inenest- at Folkestone on the body of Alfred Beer, a shunter, of Ram sg a Be, who was decapitated on Christmas Eve owing to thd landslide at t'he Warren. Sir Sam Hughes, Canadian Minister of Mij,*4-?a, is census taken of the wonif n a-v a f, c,, r,? -oll, r s, r.ks, and accounta'r-t6 to £ 11 the ll:<>( in Ln? Militia Department occupied by men quj.iiiel for military service. According to a from Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian Official (Jautte publishes a- Government order fixing the daily consump- tion of rye, wheat, and barley Sours at eight and a-haif ounces per head of the population generally, a-nd at ten and a-half ounces per head for those doing heavy physical labour. A large qua-ntity of cod liver oil having found its way to Germany, where the glycerine can be utilised in the manufacture of explo- sives. the Newfoundland Government has can- celled all licences under which traders for- merly exported the proc-ivc: ;aid substituted other regulations. Three hundred Boy and grammar school boys wearing on their arm-, red bras- sards bearing the letters G.P.O. helped in the Christmas work at the Manchester Post Office, where 1,000,000 parcels were dealt with. Dr. Kraus, of Buenos Ayrcs, is reported to have discovered a serum against whooping-cough. Mr. Daniel Edwards, of Morriston, near Swansea, one of the pioneers of the Welsh tinplate trade, who built Duffryn Steel and Tinplate Works, Morriston, died on Tuesday aged eighty. Councillor Samuel Finney, secretary and ageni of the North Staffordshire Miners' Federation, has been recommended by that body as Labour candidate for North' West Stafford. For supplying baif a quart-ern of gin for consumption off the premises, Sarah Cash- man, licencee of the King's Arm6, Carr- street, Limehouse, 1Va4; at Thames Police- court fined 20s. Under the Defence of the Realm, Act a young man named William Mannion has been sentenced to a month's hard labour at Glas- gow for uttering statements calculated to dis- courage recruiting. Miss Hudson, postmistress at Blackball, Durham, and Private Crabtree were killed bv an engine on the railway near Hartlepool early on Tuesday morning as they were re- turning along the line from a dance. The Erith Uroan District Council is apply- ing to the Local Government Board for a pro- visional order to amend its Tramways Act so as to enable the council to run motor-omni- busep ineide and outside the district. In. arranging new coal contracts with local authorities some contractors are stated to be inserting a clause which will enable them to terminate contracts at a. week's notice if th-ev find it impossible to deliver the coal because of the enlistment, of employees. A suggestion having been made that the Poor Law authorities should be allowed to g-ranft food in oaaes where old people c-amlot properly live ft their persons, the Local Government Board points out that disqualifi- cation of pensions wouki follow for any pen- nooexB reoeivtag mix food.