Papurau Newydd Cymru
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THE MYSTERY OF ..i MAISMORE…
[AXL RIGHTS RESERVED.] I THE MYSTERY OF MAISMORE MANSIONA. By BURFORD DELANNOY. CHAPTER n. (continued) So far as Percy Lisle was concerned-so great Was the injury to his self-esteem—all the pride in him flew up in arms. That sustained him, pre- sented any exhibition of the sorrow with which he was o'erbrimming. He N",qnt The Pace—that widely embracive yet whoay inadequate phrase. Was probably inspired BO to do, in the hope that news of The Life He Was Leading would reach Nellie's ears. He wanted her to realise that his downfall was due to her. That she was responsible for his journey to the place where the paviors use good intentions. It is not a difficult matter for a man to get introduced into a fast set. It is but necessary that his clothes should be well made and the pockets of them well lined. People whom Percy bad shunned before, he now permitted to welcome him and they did so with wide-open arms. Although a younger son. he was a member of the aristocracy. The fringe of society ever hankers after friendship with the centre of it. The members of the particular set into which Percy was intro- duced were great respecters of persons. One of the constituent parte of this coterie was a charming widow named Sybil Easton. Many- tongued rumour had spoken ill of this lady—let j it be at once said, untruthfully. As a matter of fact, the widow was much too worldly-minded —respected the world too much-to give it a chance of uttering, truthfully, a word against her. Percy knew but little of her reputation cared Ieee. His disposition and temperament were that way just then. She was bright, sympathetic attractive. Few men could resist when she laid heraelf out to charm. Certainly Percy was not one of them. To ingratiate himself with the fascinating little widow was a task he set himself. It was a pleasant one, and he knew how far-reaching would be the rings created by the pebble he dropped in the water; how the news would outspread that he was mixed up with a woman of doubtful reputa- tion. At the bottom of it all lay feverish anxiety that Nellie Hampton should be cognisant of his behaviour. In that respect he was in no way different from thousands of other angry men. His soulful wish was that the girl he loved should know of aots which, had their relationship been on the old footing, he would have blushed to think she had the remotest knowledge. That was in the initial stages of his intercourse with the widow-when he found himself getting into her good books. For he very speedily realised what a lying jade is Rumour. Was quick to find out that Mrs. E as ton's life was one of absolute cleanliness. Then complications arose—as they were likely to rise in a combination of a singularly clover woman and a not conspicuously clever man. If consolation lay in the fact, he was not the first of his sex to succumb to a woman's wiles. H could go way down his list of forefathers as far as Adam and find a never-ending array of pointed arguments to that effect. Paradoxical as it may appear, Percy's feeling for the widow could not be ticketed Love. Really, his heart never once left Nellie's possession. Yet he dangled after Mrs. Easton even readily con-< fessed that he found pleasure in the dangle. He had long besought her to spend an evening with him dinner at Prince's first, and theatre after. In vain, because the little widow was a disciple of the great Izaak—an expert angler. Believed in keeping her fish on the hook till it was quite safe to land him. Mrs. Glass's advice about the hare was in her mind, when she resolved never to be guilty of the culinary fault of making the sauce before the fish was caught. Rewards lavishly bestowed are little valued. This must have been in the humorist's mind when, speaking of the Legion of Honour in France, ha said Few Escaped It. Perhaps because of the knowledge, Mrs. Easton was slow in the distribu- tion of her favours. At last, however, Percy's pertinacity looked like being rewarded. She promised to go with him to the Palace Theatre. Lottie Collins was the star turn there was singing again one of her old Mcoesses The Little Widow." Kind friends—they may safely be relied on for retailment of pleasant things—told Mrs. Easton that the song was a life-like skit on her own character The quite natural result ensued. In speaking of curiosity as a Low Vice the poet was not complimentary to the fair sex. Few are free from it; more possess it in a highly developed degree. Hence Mrs. Easton was filled with a desire to see the mimic for herself. Seized the opportunity of doing so made her follower happy by a little note to the effect that he might take her to the Palace. Percy was overjoyed at his success. Man. lib, ascribed it entirely to his own efforts I thought of faint hearts and fair ladies and pro. verbs of that sort. Having procured seats, he get down and wrote to the widow. It was recollection of what he had written which Mune suddenly to Mrs. Eaatoa; was what made her rush to the door and call out after the maid she had despatched with the letter to Geoffrey Grey. The widow felt as if she could have enjoyed, kicking herself. She had been foolish enough to fix her appointment with Geoffrey Grey on the same evening that Percy had written he would oall to take her to the Palace Theatre The real reason of Percy's pleasure was not far to see. He had perfect knowledge of the rapidity of the wings which bear bad news. The fact of his being at a variety hall with Mrs. Easton would, by some means or other, speedily find its way to Nellie's ears. In fact, Percy did his level best to ensure the travelling of the news so far; told every soul he net of his intended visit to the Palace Theatre with the widow on Wednesday night. Was not the kind of man to hide his light under a bushel. Punctually at eight o'clock a hansom cab deposited him at Maismore Mansions. Ascending to the first floor, he rang the bell of Mrs. Easton's Ut. To his great astonishment, the door was opened by that lady herself. He started back in amazement Then a thought occurred to him- that her maid might be ill—which prompted him to say: "I am awfully sorry I troubled you to open the door yourself." Come in." You are not dressed A trace of vexation sounded in his voice as he apoke. He had entered and shed some of his sur. prise. In the passage way, as the door was closed, he noticed that she was not in street attire. Continued: Don't tell me you are going to disappoint me Then a possibility flashed on him. Or are you going to grant mo a double pleasure ? Give me an evening here all to myself ? Going to let me hear you play and aing in that in- comparable w of yours ? They had reached the drawing-room by this time. Putting his hat and rtick on a chair, Percy advanced to where the widow had walked. She was standing by the fire, a foot on the fender- one of her favourite poses. Red light, thrown upwards, suited her complexion! "lam afraid, Mr. Lisle, you will think I am awfully rude." M Oh, no I The contradiction was inspired by gallantry tod politeness. But his heart, scenting dis- appointment, sank. He continued I could never think that of you." That's a good boy She responded langh- jngly, tapping him playfully with her fan. Ever £ ink that, and ever shall we be good friends. What I meant was, that I had arranged to go tcth you to the Palace Th-atre to-night, and new have someone coming here." The discontent plainly showing on his face was seconded by his tone as he broke in Don't tell me that you are going to throw me over this evening The keenness of his disappointment was so evident that forthwith she altered her plans. Her intent had been to ask him to change the evening to take her to the theatre the following night. Reading on his face how bitter would be his mortification-and thinking it unwise to intensify it—she threw a bridge over the break. She was moved to that piece of engineering by the existent need for caution. One of the strings to her bow was already broken. It would be unwise to do anything which might jeopardise the strength of the other. A quick brain fashion- ing a lie, her tongue readily uttered it. To some women untruths come as naturally as roses in Juno. No, I did not mean that. Only that, instead of going with yo at eight o'clock, I propose to join you at ten o'clock. The woman whose song I want to hear does not appear till then." Join me ? Yes I have someone coming here to see me this evening-an old woman who is going back into the country; a poor old soul whom I have been able to help a little at odd times, and she is full of gratitude to me. Passing through London -leaving by a ten o'clock train from Eueton to-night—she has begged me, so earnestly, to allow her to come here and thank me, that I had not the heart to forbid it. She is coming at nine o'clock, and won't keep me long-she cannot because of her train. The moment she has gone, I shall jump into a hansom and join you at the Palace." Confound the Palace, Mrs. Easton I don't want to go to the beastly place by myself Petuknt Percy! I want you to go. You have the seats ? By way of answer he mechanically drew the vouchers from the ticket pocket of his coat. Ex- tending a hand, she said Give me one, and in exchange I will give you my word. At ten o'clock you shall find nit sitting by your side." But come, Mrs. Easton- Now don't disappoint me, Mr. Lisle! In your letter you said that you were thankful for small mercies that was very prettily expressed I To show you how much I appreciate it, when the performance is over at the Palace, I am going to let you drive roo to Prince's and give me a nice little cosy fite-i-Ote supper at that cosiest of cosy restaurants." His eye? sparkled with anticipated pleasure- three parts of the pleasure of life lies in its antici- pation-as he ejaculated Come, I say, Mrs. Easton You are a brick after all I She could not resist a smile at his so plainly ex. ( pressed pleasure. Said "From that I gather that you appreciate the change of programme ? How can I help it ? It's a pleasure to sit be. side you in a theatre. It's a million times greater one to entertain you at supper." Very well, then. That is settled. It is getting on for half-past eight-I shall be with you at ten. Kero/s your hat." 8j had walked to and picked it up from the chair as she spoke handed it to him. The cool. ness of the action seemed to strike her as she did so. She wiped away some of the frigidity by putting a hand on his arm, and saying It does not sound a very polite thing, does it, for me to ask you to go ? But you arc uch a dear friend, Mr. Lisle, I do not for a moment hesitate to treat you like one. I want to be alone I want you to go. And I promise you that the moment the poor old soul who is coming to see me has gone, I shall fly-that is to say, I would if a hansom had wings-in my anxiety to join you at thli Palace." By this time she had skilfully edged him to and had the door open. He paused there in an endeavour to expostulate, said But come, I say, Mrs. Easton It's awfully jolly of you, don't you know, to be kind to a fellow like this. But I'd much rather wait foi you here. Can't you shut me up in one of youi spare rooms-the kitchen, or the larder, or the bathroom ? I won't get in the way, I promise you." She laughed away his suggestion was pos- sessor of sufficient Thespian cleverness to be able to do that. Exclaimed: You are an obstinate wretch I couldn't trust you in the kitchen you would be making love to my maid You told me the other day, you know, you liked Frenchwomen." Oh, come, I say, Mrs. Easton I won't hear another word. There, I am opening the door for you. Do not keep me in the draught, or you will find me turning up with neuralgia. When I suffer from that I am not the least bit nice. Good.bye-just for the present. At ten o'clock—perhaps before—I shall be talk- ing to you again." Closing the door, she stood by it listening to hear his footsteps descending the stairs. To make assurance doubly sure, ian to the window. Looking out, saw him get into a hansom waiting at the door; saw him driven away. Then, with a sigh of relief, she went back to the work before her mirror which ^'» advent had interrupted. Hummed an air frc Faust as she did so—ventilation of the pleasure she felt at her Buceess. Men, she told herself, were such easily handled things—when you knew how to haudto them I That night, a man seated in the second row of the stalls at the Palace Theatre was a cause of great annoyance to his immediate neighbours. The stranger seated next him whispered to her companion that she was reminded of a cat on hot bricks. When the hour of ten was reached, and the big hand commenced its downward climb on the clock's face, it seemed an impossibility for him to sit quietly. Almost every minute he referred to his watch then got on his legs and looked back towards the entrance* His neighbours derived comfort from the fact that, at last, he pulled his hat from beneath the seat. Throwing his coat over an arm, he walked into the passage way thence to the entrance. There he put on both coat and hat. Then he remeii)))ered he had forgotten his stick. Making to go back to the stalls for it, be as suddenly recollected that he had not brought it to the theatre with him at all. Xor had he handled it in the cab. It was quite easy to understand how he had came to forget it. Most men are creatures of habit. Usually Percy, in taking up his hat, picked up his stick too. When he left Maismore Mansions Mrs. Easton had handed him his hat. Hence for- getfulness of the stick he had left it behind. He was not sorry for that. Because of the excuse with which it furnished him for going back there. Consulting his watch, he found it recording a quarter to eleven. Inwardly furious —because of a suspicion that the widow had sold him-he was not going to show that to her. He was sensitive to a degree would not let her see the effect her behaviour had on him. But for the excuse afforded by his stick, he would not, perhaps, have gone to the Mansions again that night; but the getting back of what he had left behind sufficed as a sort of peg on which to hang his visit. It would be an easy matter to jump into a hansom and go there. Ostensibly to ask for his stick actually to discover if he were the victim of a practical joke! Some jests, like sweet dishes, have sour sauces. The liveried giant at the Palace door whistled him up a cab, and taking instructions from the lare, called up to the driver Maismoje Mansions, t. John's Wood." For the second time that night, filled with different feelings on each occasion, Percy Lisle was driven in a north-westerly diiectiou. To Mrs. Eastons flat. (To be eontimmd.)
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The death is announced of Thomas Kingdom, of Lasland-road, Neath. He was 83 years of age and had been Borough Toll's colector for 44 years. The funeral took place on Thursday, the interment being at Cadoxton Cemetery.
LADIES' LETTER.
LADIES' LETTER. Their Majesties' Crui&fe Last year the Queem was storm-bound for two or thre-i days at Portsmouth, before being able to proceed on her yachting cruise, and it is singular that ahe Royal yacht should have been again dWayed by rough weather at Marseilles, when their Majesties embarked for their present cruise in the Mediterranean. One would imagine from pictures of the Riviera that the scene there was always set over the calm blue waters of a sunlit sea, but the Mediterranean can be exceedingly rough at times, and altogether unpleasant. The Queen, however, is' an excellent sailor- more so than Princess Victoria—and the Royal yacht is never very far from some harbour where it can put in if necessary. The cruise is to last some weeks, and their Majesties are not expected back much before Whit- suntide. London, in fact, will see little of the Royal family this season. After the Courts the King will entertain large parties at Windsor for Ascot, but the Queen will be at Sandringham, and the coronation in Nor- way, and the Royal marriage in Madrid will probably be attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who will consequently be away a good deal during June and July. 0 The Warwick Pageant. Next month rehearsals will be held of the historical pageant which is to take place in the grounds of Warwick Castle in July. It is to be upon similar lines to the Sher- borne panorama last summer, and another of these pageants will be held at Bury St. Ed- munds next year. The one now in prepara- tion will represent in picturesque fashion not- able incidents in the history of Warwick from the time of the resistance to the Roman conquerors, and a special feature will be the fascinating subject of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, the king-maker, and the times of Henry VIII., and Queen Elizabeth, "when literature and adventure were at their zenith in England." The lawn in front of Warwick Castle will provide a beautiful set- ting for the various scenes, and such is the demand for tickets that tliere-is little doubt they will all be disposed of long before July. Lord and Lady Warwick and all the county famines will bring large parties, and the pageant will attract a great many American isitors. It A Society Engagement. The engagement of an elder son is always of interest to society, and this especially when the future bridegroom is the heir to so popular a peer as Lord Glasgow. The announcement that Viscount Kelburne is to marry an American heiress is, however, scarcely correct, as Miss Hyacinthe Bell, the lady re- ferred to, is the daughter of I\:1¡. William A. Bell, who resides at Pendell Court, near Redhill, in Surrey. Mr. Bell has large in- terests in America, and is a frequent visitor to that country, but he comes of a Northamp- ton family who settled in Ireland in the seventeenth century, and became large land- owners in Queen's County. Lord Kelburne, who has served in the Navy, and is in his thirty-second year, takes his title from Kil- burne Castle in Ayrshire, where the Earl of G.asgow usually resides. **«**«• General Booth. Few men have crowded more into a life's work than General Booth, who, this we* i completed his seventy-seventh year. His wife —Catherine Booth-was no little instrumental in making the Salvation Aimy the great power for good which it is, but her death some years ago was never allowed by the General to diminish his ardour and love in his work, and he is still—as ever—full of energy and plans for extending the social and spiritual work of the Army. 48 a youth he began his mission in life by preaching in the slums of Nottingham, where his father was a small house-jobber, unsuccessful in business, and it was many years afterwards that he trans- ferred the scene of his labours to the slums of London. It is perhaps not generally known that the Salvation Army owes its name to an after-thought. General Booth was dictating the sentence, "The Christian mission is a voluntary army," when he stopped and substituted "salvation" for "voluntary." Thus was the Salvation Army born and christened. • It Cushions and Footstools. The time for house renovations is at hand and in the matter of cushions it is well to bear in mind the fact that frills are out of date. Cushions, too, are smaller than we have had them for several seasons past, and they are fasnioned for the most part of brocade, covered with an all-over design in ribbon work. Footstools are quite the rage again, and it is now the rule rather than the exception to see one placed under every chair in the drawing-room. In the dining-room many people have a raised stool beneath the table which rune all round, so that guests may keep their feet from the draughty floors if they are so disposed. To sit through a lengthy dinner in their slippers, and with icy cold feet is a fate that has overtaken many of us, and needless to say, the guest who refuses the comfort of the foot-stool is a rarity indeed. it Day and Artificial Light. That the art of lighting is still a greatly neglected one is a fact patent to all. Rooms invariably are either over or under-lighted both these extremes being fraught with dis- advantages, to all save quite young and very good-iooKing people. Lnsufticient light sharpens ttie features, accentuates hollow cheeks, and wrinkled throats, indeed a glare is preferable. The really becoming thing is to have plenty of light, only properly shaded. Blinds, and soft window draperies, shou cl be called into requisition—despite the prevailing fashion for bare and unfurnished casements—and all artificial light, whether of the electric, gas, or lamp persuasion, should be shielded with a soft-toned silk shade, lined with white. Yellow is perhaps best, pinic ranking next in the matter of becom- ingness. h nat a hostess should aim at is a soft radiance, which makes the room and everyone in it appear to the greatest advantage, when she wili find conversation floW" easily, and a seuse of well-being pervade the whole assembly. • •*•••• Colors and Combinations of Colors. There are some wonderful colour combina- tions to be seen this spring, but unless one possesses special taste in this direction, or a dressmaker in whom one may place implicit trust, it is wiser to go straight to Nature. The forget-me-not will guicie us, as to the union of blue and mauve—so modish again this spring-and when the blend- ing of pink and yellow is in question we cannot do better than study the tea rose. The peacock's outspread tail, too, will teach us wonderful lessons in the mixing of blues and greens. Regarding the choice of colours and fabrics, red is at its best in airy fairy mate- rials, in heavy ones it prove a terror; blue is good in muslin, velvet, face cloth, and serge, but not in silk or satin, or even crepe de chine. Green is delightful in chiffon, velvet, rich brocade, or taffetas, but in cloth, silk, or satin, is more or less a failure. Yel- low, like violet, needs good fabric; it is pretty in tulle, and perfect in velvet, but most unlovely in serge, cloth, siUc, or satin, Pink is at its best in tulle, chiffon, and brocade, tnough a pink muslin or cotton is aelightful for morning wear in the country OJ: at the seaside. y
High Combs...
High Combs. The fashionable poise for the hat is the sharp downward gradient, from the top of the head to above the nose, a poise difficult to obtain and keep, without the assistance of the high, old-world comb. Those among us who possess such treasure should unearth it and the older it is the better. Many women are wearing these high combs in the evening very ornamental specimens much studded with diamonds, but for day and outdor wear, the perforated or carved tor- toise-shell examples are in better taste.
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A» a thank-offering foa- the recovery of his JSttte daughter, a well-known general in the Army ha<s contributed £ 30 to thig Ohurcih Army, th*(t bering the amount to pay for the emigration of & poor family t-o 0^na<ia>. The donor re- qu«rted that, if possible, ah ex-soldier with one wwugfhffcer like biulself--should he given pre- ference. r. Mr. W. B. Gentle, Chief Constable of Brigh. ton, vrae thrown from his horse, receiving slight concussion am} several severe bruiees. Writing to Mr. W. B. Redfern, J.P., of Cam- bridge, from Bombay, K. S. Ranjitsinhji states that he has nearly completed his book work, and will be back in England in May. He has just had a month's big game shooting with Lord Hawke in his province, and has had a pleasant <atne, their bag including two lions and two panthers.
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ION MATTERS LITERARY.
I ON MATTERS LITERARY. BY HKRRICK McLEOD, B.A. The literary harvest which comes regularly twice a year "ere winter's storms begin," and when they are over, is the booklover's joy. In the case of publishers and writers this joy is largely admixtured with uncertain hope and anxiety, for there is always looming the possibilities of "the nipping frost of co.d neglect" and the hurricanes of criti- cism. The publishers, though, by prudential negotiations for which they are famous, sur- vive these adverse conditions far better than the poor authors, who, when the wreckage is complete, often have 'little else to console them than the bare fact that they wrote, and, unfortunately, published a book. x x x Mr. Winston Churchill has been spared this bitter experience of disappointment, for in addition to his other successes in litera- ture, his Life of his eminent father secure's for him a topmast place in the art of bio- graphy. The sale of this" Life" has been very extensive, so much so as to enable the pub.ishers, Macmillan, to reap a handsome profit. This is remarkable, when we re- member tltat the author was paid the sum of £ 8,000 for his work, ere it was begun Somewhat parallel in the history of the same firm is the case of Mr. Morley, who received £ 10,000 for his 'Life of Mr. Gladstone.' x x x lile present publishing season is remarkable for the inauguration of Dent's "Every Man's Library," which is an attempt to provide English readers with a library similar to the Bibliothique Nationale" of France. Mr. Dent's ambitious enterprise has inspired a rival firm, that of Messrs. Hutchinson, to produce a new library of standard authors, "un- abridged, reprinted from the best editions, ana. furnished with biographical matter, notes, inuex where necessary, bibliography, etc. bound tastefully in cloth for tenpence. There wixi. also be a beautiful edition in leather bind- ing at eighteenpence. We wish" Hutchin- son's Popular Classics all possible success. x x x The Editor's very intersting note in this paper on the iiteraxy contributions of Pem- brokeshire men to "Every Man's Library," re- minds me that a Welsh paibou, the Rev. R. Yvil iams, vicar of Llandilc-fawr, Carmar- thenshire, is the author of the Introduction to the Mabinogion" in the same series. Mr. Williams was tormerly Professor of Welsh and Modern History at Lampeter College. x x x Among the multiplicity of magazines, there is none comparable, I think, to that ever- green old favourite, "Cornhill." It has the right flavour. Most of its rivals cloy, but this never does. The current number has a distinct political tang. Mr. J. H. Yoxha.l, M.P.'s articie on "The New House of Com- mons is a most amusing and entertaining contribution, and a delicious skit on the new member. This is how Mr. Yoxhall deals with the new oratory: "And the New Member spoke so well, as a rule; particularly the Labour Men; to whom Mr. Titmouse listened with admiration adulterated with dread. News- paper leading articles had often warned him of the Socialist peril, and he belonged to that diminishing number of readers who take lead- ing articles for gospel, authoritatively pro- mulgated by persons who believe what they write. Listening to the Pailiamentary voice of Labour, he used to grow terribly uneasy with forebodings; suppose these eloquent and forcible members should orate like that out- side, to some incendiary end? Mr. Titmouse thought of his hereditary mansion and estate at Yatton, his stocks and shares, his coal mine, and his heirloom jewels; and with Cacandra vision foresaw Westminster turned into a concierge—motor tumbrils tuff-tuffing up Whiteha.l—an electric guillotine ensan- guining Trafalgar Square!" x x x Next week I shall have something to say about the influence of newspapers.
NATURE NOTES
NATURE NOTES A RAVENOUS SFIDEX. Catch a large garden spider, and feed him with as much as be caree to ea.t for a day of 24 hours. Then count up the amount of food he has worried through, and imagine the spider to be a man eating the same quantity according to his eize. Such a man would have to lead off the day's repast with a bullock, roasted whole, for breakfast. Towards ditMne he would be clamorous for more, and would get through a steer and five sheep without feeling particu- larlv well fed. A short rest would be as much as he could endsro without further food after this dinner, so in two hours he would be ready for a snack of. say, two more sheep. By supper- time he would be calling hungrily for another repast, md would easily consume two bullocks, six sheep, &nd from four to five hogs- This would keep him going till bedtime, when he might, without in any way over-feeding, indulge in another light snack of five barrels of fish. This is in exa-ct proportion to the food a spider demolishes in a day, when flies, bees, and so forth, are plentiful. ——— ENVIOUS OR THEIB OWN COLOTTBS. The blue butterfly has no regard for the verooica-a. plant whose flowers are cerulean as hie own wings—rarely alighting to sip the sweets of this most beautiful plant. The red admiral ignores the poppy; the meadow-brown butterflies do not, as a rule, trouble spotted orchids, the markings of which usually agree with the .spoffi on their wings. It has been re- marked that while butterflies resent the elder blossoms, and as the colour of these are nearly like that of the insect's wings it Jould seem that change of hue is earnestly desired. THE JACKDAW. This bird is even more commonly known than the Rook, as it is generally in the neighbour- hood of the dwellings of man that it takes up its abode. Like that bird it is also gregarious, and some colonies attain to considerable num- bers. The length of the Jackdaw is about 15 inches, the female being possibly the larger; but otherwise it is very difficult, to dis- tinguish their sexes. When seen in flight the apearance of the Jackdaw seems one uniform black, but upon closer inspection it will be found to have an especially black cap upon the head, and from the ear coverts round to the back of the head a broad patch of grey. The beak, tongue, legs, and feet are black, but the eye is clear bluish-white. These birds are to be found generally throughout Europe, and are common to almost all parts of Great Britain. In this country they affect, as their nesting-places, the holes and crannies of ruins, towers, church- steeples, and other buildings, though often they may be found in chalk and other cliffs or de- serted chalk-pits, and at other times will build in the hollows of drees or in chimney-stacks. The nest is another instance of the wonderful amount of trouble birds will bestow upon its building; not that the Jackdaw's is an elaborate structure, but rather a chaotic arrangement of twigs as a foundation (and these almost infinite in number), upon which is laid dried grasses and straw, with an inner lining of wool (some- times feathers), or any other soft materials. There are few birds that have more frequently been made pets than the Jackdaw. Possibly, from having been accustomed to the might of man, much of the fear inseparably connected with hia presence seems to be eliminated from the mind of the Jackdaw, and if brought up from the nest (and they are very hardy), they will become exceedingly attached to their keepers. In confinement their favourite food is meat, but they are easily pleased, and in re- turn are most amusing. The droll expression of the half-turned head and the watchful white eye is a marked characteristic; added to this, Jack is something of a mimic, and will even learn to talk. He has, however, the failing be- longing to the rest of the tribe, and is much ad- licted to-hidiag uneatable objects. A TREE 6,200 YEARS OLD. The distinction of being the okleet living thing undoubtedly belongs to one of the giant trees, and many attempts to locate it and determine its ages have been made. A century ago De Cacdolle found two yews—one at Fortingal, in Perthshire, and one at Herusor, in Bucks-that were estimated to be respective-ly 2,500 and 3,240 years old. Both are still flourishing, and the older tree has a trunk 27ft. in circumference. A gigantic baobab on Central America, with a t' z7' trunk 29ft. through, was thought by Humboldt to be not less than 5,150 years old. Mexican botanists believe that they have now discovered a life span even greater than this, and from the annual rings a cypress of Chepultepee, whose trunk is 118ft. in circumference, is assigned an age of about 6,200 years. FASTEST SWIMMERS. Though they do not readily enter water, but only when put to it from necessity, the squirrel and the rabbit are amongst the fastest swimmers of all land animals. Curiously enough, each swims in what amms to be an awkward position, and the style of each is distinct. As the dia- gram shows, the squirrel swims with its head raised high, its buehy tail low down in the water. The-rahbit swims with its body sub- merged, save for its head aad tail. Each can swim as fact an a man can row, though the squirrel is a little faster of the two. THE BARBERRY. In some old cottage gardens the barberry, or berberry, bushes make a bright spot of colour with the clusters of long-red or yellowish-white berries. A delicious preserve is made from these, the peculiar acid flavour being very refresh- ing. From the inner bark a bright yellow dye is obtained, and the roots also yield a yellow dye used in Poland for colouring leather. In the old days, when remedies for various disease* were selected from some imaginary likeness of. the plant to the symptoms, the bark was used as a cure for jaundice, but its virtues were purely imaginary.
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