ABOVE NORMAL.
A TALE OF TWO FEVERS.
(Specially written for the " Hongkong Telegraph."
By J. DALZIEL.
Sixiena ship's in Sourabaya, Niau o' them
were 'Diamand K. Old Song. There is nothing edifying about this tale; an even doubtful if it contains a moral. It is a common tale mie of vulgar folks; of Peter Schwermans, a common sailor-man, a common "square-head" sailor-man, the despised of his fellows before the mast; and of Idya, a dark eyed daughter of Malaya; and of a great wharf, a dingy coal wharf, that runs for a mile straight from the sea into the heart of a trepic swamp, the virgin forest closing in as a wall behind the shiny galvanised-iron cral sheds, and stretch- ing:
very sea of verdure, to the foot of a majestic volcano some twenty miles away; and of what befell there.
So let the fastidious take warning and pass by, lest they find herein something to offend; for this is but an act from the rugged drama called life, set forth as it happened, nothing exaggerated, neither anything omitted nor vencered
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1901.
"Bhovs," be cried, "allow me to introdjace a friend of moine, Mister Ching Ching, no less, como all the way from Cheenay to be a fa-ather to the poor sailor-mon la-anded dishalute wit out the rhino ir foto par-arts. He's agreeable to find us wan rupa, a piece on condition that we pay him back twice over on Saturday night, such being the innocence of the crathur, God sink his sowl in hill for the issence of a thafe !" The old Celestal smiled depreciatingly through his horn spectacles at his friend's vo lubility, and jingled a handful of guilders before the man. With the artfulness of his class, he at once spoite! Peter as the most simple, among his intended dupes, and addressing him said. You wantchee rupes. Captain? Never mind pay back. Ching Chow plenty money, Bye and bye can do And there was the bright silver coin in Peter's horny palm.
That was enough. "Spill 'em aout, ald Tea Leaves cried the Cockney.
"Gib us yer dollah here sah!' declaimed an Americani.ed-on of Ham,
Me nonish! Me muish shouted an Excitable Portugnuse dancin and snapp ng his fingers on the outskirts of the men crowding roun the old crimp.
Now then, bboys," said the Ir shman, when all had been served, "our frind here says he can get us a ta tự of the roight stuff. S come on! Never mind the vigitables, Dutchy; yell get a billyfall of thim bye-and-bye."
till he came to a wider patch of sand on which few, native fishing praus were drawn up, Here a path led inland at right angles to the beach, and Peter turned in it and tramped joyously along its shady windings. Here was no glaring heat, but a most delicious and exhi- larating coolness. Nor was the forest of a like denseness, but rejoiced in glades and leafy vistas, in which the deep greens of the tree ferns and cacti beneath faded into the pale emerald of the tall palms and tamarinds that waved their symetrical heads against the perfect blue; The scent flowers and the sweetness of damp canh came delightfully to the sailor fresh from his long sojourn at sea. Loriquets chattered in the tam rinds, tiny doves with blue and scarlet breasts cooed amid the ferns' and bamboos; audacious Java sparrows, gaudy of plume and huge of bill, hopped and twittered in the grasses beside the path; red-brown squirrels raced up the smooth trunks of the coco trees to criticise the intruder from behind the clustering nuts, and once he was startled by a great rustling of tree tops, and a couple of dark hairy forms swinging rapidly from branch to branch passed overhead, leaving behind them a wake of quivering greenery. All the storied life of the tropic forest rejoiced around him; for the time being he was his own master; so, in the pure joy begat of youth and mere existence, he, the down-trodden, 'ordinary sea- man. the butt of foe's'le lifted up his voice and sang
"Janmast is op zee geboren,
Niets kan hem zoozeer bekorea,
Dan die schoone litauwe zee," -
Sa singing, he found himself suddenly stayed by a narrow, sullen, yellow creek; and lifting his eyes to the oppsite bank, saw a small rectangular enclosure surrounded by a high fence of plaited split bamboo, over the top of which showed the steep thatched roof of a miniature dwelling, set in a studied shade of coco palms and wide-leaved tree-ferns. One side of the inclosure abused on the creek; in the middle of the fence there was a barrow gateway; from the gate a little ladder of bam booled down on to a small raft constructed of lengths of the same ubiquitous plant bound together and moored to the bank; and on the raft the water rippling about her slim brown ankles, stood Idya,
You will be very careful, of it e fever--the malaria, Captain Here dere is much malaria. The Chinaman dive. between the coal sheds, You will not let the men sleep on deck, Cap and led the way along a narrow path that tain; and you will give dem quinine-five grain struck into the forest the mum filling the night so much as he on your finger end, sont with rude jests and foolish laughter,' as in night time and at morning time, eh-ands ngle file the stumbled after him into the yin-he is very good for tever you will give darness. Peter sorrowful y bringing up the den yio schnaps two times one day den rear. Shortly they came to a little clearing, you will have, no sick mans. Goodbye, cap in which stood half-a-dizen low-roofed taip, I come and see you tomorrow." So say; native shanties. The guide entered the lar ing, the Dutch Health Officer, a stout little gest, the men followeil; and after the first man, wearing a cheese-center cap with a white glass of the unholy mixture of arrack and san. cover and a load gold land, and a suit of shoo palmed off on them as square-face gin, immaculate linen starched to such an extent the Chinagian lud it all his own way. A that it crackled when he moved. waddled to night the revelry was kept up; all night the the poop ladder and so down into his steam
sound of drunken chorus and obscene jest and launch.
senseless blasphemy cursed as with a night mare the sleeping forest; and the coming of the dawn was in the air before the last reveller reeled from the hut into the clearing, and Singing himself the dew-drenched ground, Blept the wooden sleep uf intoxication
The raft was Idya's laundry; and the family Peter had been allowed to escape after pay-washing had possessed her full attention when, ing for the first round; but, if he lost his stanied by Peter's heavy footsteps, she sprang money, he at least returned to ship with his to her feet, straight and lithe and graceful, wardrobe intact, which was more than could half frightened solemn wonder in her great be said of the others, all of whom had parted dark eyes. with some artiefe of their attire to provide the wherewithal to prolong their spree.
The Tonquin was in course of being towed up the harbour by two diminutive tng-boats. The Captain turned to the gate, disgust on every line of his strongly marked features.
What in hell next!" he exclaimed. Gin for the fee: The man must be mad. Pr haps he thinks Sharpe and MacFarline ran their ships as a pheck atropic institution. Gin, says he. Schraps twice a day! Great Scott! I fancy I see mysel and autd Mac. going over the ship's accounts and him coming to the entry gin for the hands." It wad be enough to send the auld, man straight to Gartnavel. It wad send me looking for another ship for certain. Gia: my certes? Do they wish they may get !" and the Skipper spit viciously over the rail.
So the good-hip Tonguin was brought to the wharf and mate fat but with ile if that 'singing out and noise that arstillenistinguish. es such nautical achievement, for the "native coalies are a silent race, and the climate had long ago absorbed any superfluous energy the Dutch wharfingers might have been possessed
of.
Then the old man took himself ashore to interview the ship's agents, and the Mate started the crew unbending the sails; but the sun had sunk in the daying West, and the pair stars had sunk in the blue-black Malayan sky, before the last vast sheet of canyas descended on the shadowy decks, and way stowed away in the sail lacker. Only then were the nondescript crowd that brased the crew of the Tarquin allowed to knock off and go forward: when, after four months of washing in brine, they could enjoy the unwonted luxury of free pump,' that is to say unlimited fresh water for toller purposes.
Daylight next morning found the decks in possession of a gang of lithe, copper-coloured, light-hearted Javanese candies, whose gorgenus sarongs, flowered in guudest wall-paper pat- ters, and short jackets of scarlet, and green, and saffron, gave a touch of colour and an un- usual air of gaicty to the sunlit decks of the gray old sugar-droguer! So at least thought Peter Schwermans, ordinary seaman' as be stood by the door of the fac'sile, a smile of wide. eyed enjoyment on his boyish, good humoured face; and Peter canic from the land where they assimilate colour with their mother's milk, and somewhere within his heavy slow-moving body hit the sense artistic. "Mine Yesus! But dese beople has der fine clothes!" he cominen.
ted.
Ere yare. Dutchy! Ere's a bloke with yer mother's bed-quilt for a pettycoat. Biv me, if there's a pair parts among the crawd!" jeered a Cockney A. B, as he passed along to the galley, for his morning coffee, hook-pot in hand. Punctually at five-thirty, the stentorian "Tum to there" of the Blue-nose Mate put the men in motion, and with a few shorifung decorated phrases of command he started the crew on the usual port, routine. First the cargo gear was rigged for the native stevedores; then the jib-boom was rigged in, and the running gear jacked up in the rigging, and the ship generally put in order for a prolonged stay in harbour.
In addition to taking his share in these duties our friend Peter, an. Peggy' for the week; had the pleasure of cleaning up the foc s'le in his watch below, but this troubled him little, for all the strange new glory of the tropics was about him,
the Bun shone s never before, the great green crowns of the cocopalms nodded and beckon ed to him above the bulwarks, and the twitter of the minals and the screaming of blue-jays and painted parakeets filled the warm air, and that night he was to go ashore.
So it happened that after darkness had fallen, and just as the Starboard watch turned out to wet down the decks, l'eter and his fellows of the Port watch slouched over the gang plank and down, on to the wharf. Whero the Tan quin lay all was in darkness, but many lights gleamed a little way along the quay and, at- tracted to the illumination, the little band of explorers found themselves in the midst of a busy scene. Here Netherland's troopship was moored, and the wharf alongside her had been turned into u market, and between baskets of purple mangosteens and tables laden with slices of cocoa nut and sticks of sugar cane and cakes and confections in endless variety, lay piles of green and golden fruit, bananas and mangoes and durians and pine-apples, gliatening in the yellow light of the kerosene flares, and filling the still night air with their sickly fragrance. Round-checked, full- bosomed little women were the stall-keepers, prodigal of smiles and rippling laughter, of flash of darkest eyes and perfect ivories, and the bright hues of whose garments rival Ied the plunge of the feathered denizens of the brooding jungle behind them. The pale faced orang blanda warriors, in their heavy blue cloth uniforms, waniteted in twos and threes from stall to stall, each little group with its complement of chattering dami-mandaines; for the trail of the C. D. Act lies over these sunny islands, sentiment having no place in the hard headed Hollander's scheme of things.
The onlinary seaman' also had the pleasure by the Mate as they slut over the gangway of seeing his watch our by one soundly cuffed three hours after should have been at work, the ter a tard sanding by ready to chip in sould any of the delinquents object to this ough and ready » ethod of correction.
That's the lot. sir?" replied the Bo's'n, gazing almiringly at his superior officer.
Then ge the stages over and start them on chipping her round. This is a fine chance; the Skipper says we'll have two months here
sure.
So these two young things entered into a ștate of inutual admiration, and gared in silence, at one another across the stream, till Feter's soft white kabaj that lay on Idya's shapely heart crossed the water and nestled under the bosom. But as for the woman's heart, who shall say: Then a little smile rippled over the girl's oval brown face; and lifting the boy's eyes on her own, she carried his gaze up the stream till it rested on the trunk of a tree that formed a natural bridge. Then she skipped FP the bank and was gone, even while her low-pitched musical laughter trembled above the sun-lit water.
For this young son of Neptune expressed even his thoughts in his queer foc's'le Dutch
itself was swept away. Whether there is anything in it remains, of course, open to debate but these are the facts, and they are certainly remarkable enough. Moreover, there are few scoffers among the soldiers who, thrice in a few months, stood round the open grave of a comrade "dead through misadventure, " P. M. Gævette,
THE COAL TAX.
INTERVIEW WITH MR. MIGGS.
I thought Mr. Miggs more subdued than usual when I entered the bar parlour of the Cat and Compasses, and found him in his usual seat by the fire, which burned very low. The lorryman also seemed subdued, and the little man with the white face glanced from the one to the other uncasily.
"Give it a voice, ote, frien', said the lorry man: "make a effort and throw it off yer chest." in doing that," said Mr. Miggs thoughtfully, as it ain't as if there would be any difficulty he reached out a crapulous hand for his glass, in which the most contemp'ble Government as "What bamfuddles me is the unexpected way ever lived on the earnings of the workin' man has give itself away, I will not deny as it has took me in the wind, for I did not expec' it. If you had told me a month ago as the Govery. ment, which I consider as beneath the notice of the present comp'ny, was going to tax the kitchen fire of the workin' classes, I would have said, without givin' or takin' offence, that you was a liar. But yet, bein' only mortial, I will not deny that in so doing the error would be mine. For such the fact is, and no honest man can deny it.*.
"Some one explain to me," said the little man with the white face, "but I don't suppose he knew what he was talking about, leastways not to the extent of being mentioned with Mr. Miggs, as it was the furriner who would have to pay the extry price in coals. But I only mention as having heard the remark passed, and not wishin' for in any way to seem to args with Mr. Miggs.
"Ah, that's better hearing, ole frien," said the lorryman. "Let the furriner, pay, and serve him right. Them's my sentiments, and I
don't care who hear them."
And may 1 ask the honourable member from the country," said Mr. Miggs, rolling his head from side to side, and fixing the little man with a glassy stare, from whom he got the interesting information which he have been kind enough to give to this camp'ny without being asked?"
Mr. Miggs as if that gentleman were exception "It come me," said the little man, smiling at ally facetious, even for a confirmed was "from our mutual friend, the barber, which don't think as Mr. Miggs will deny as he is n friend having met there frequent on the same business. And he being a farriner it seem to me as he might know, being to that extent what you might say implicated.”
I
the honourable member was to think more and to speak less if might better for everybody,"
"There's somethink in what he says, how somedever," said the lorryman." "Now, why should the masters want the men to strike ole frica? Answer the question straight, and no backbiting."
"They want 'em to strike for the same reason' as the men want to strike," said Mr. Miggs; "to save their own pockets'; but they'll find 'emselves mistaken. The men ain't goin' to strike for nothink, my friends, not if they takes my advice, which I offer 'em free."
น
I see it said as they won't strike after all," said the little man with the white face.
"You fathead !" said Mr. Miggs-Pall Mall Gazette.
DON'T CAGE BIRDS.
The caging of birds, writes Miss Edith Car. rington in the Humane Review, must be re- garded as mischievous and as cruel.
The former consideration, that of doing harmi many a man who is obdurate as regards the to himself and his property, will, alas, appeal to second, for by a curious menial process the vast majority of the human race has arrived at the comfortable conclusion that all other beings were created expressly to become their victims or their toys.
end to end with the harsh, metallic shout of In every town many streets re-echo, from
the thrush, blackbird, and sklark, or are made doleful to humave ears by the melancholy twitter of linnets, goldfinches, and their kin. Those who carry them away captive require of them a song and melody in their heaviness, But their carols are changed, they cannot sing their native woodlands ring again. To a train- in a strange land (bose sweet strains that make ed ear the sound of a caged bird's song is fraught with disappointed desire, with cutter able cravings, or with an iron stoical despair. It is without a trace of joy.
|
cut on the ancient scientific plan. Miss Ros amund's discomfiture 'would have been com- plate had it not been that the umpire promptly no-balled her opponent, Mr. Magog, on several occasions, for serving over the table. It should be said that the umpire had taken Miss Ros amund to the Coronet to a five-shilling sant, and, therefore, stood even better with her then. Mr. Magog,
The various rounds proceeded for a couple of hours or so, but did not result in any very excit- ing contest until in the final, Mr. Forceps, the medical student before mentioned aädc Mr. Torts, a student of the Bar,, hammered at one another in terrific,style, Amidst the crash of celluloid, the loud ponging of the race quets, and swift exchange of shots, the ladies got very alarmed indeed, and feared that mortal | damage might done. However, beyond the
untimely death of two or three balls crushed- between the hammer and anvil of fate, nothing very serious resulted
Then there was an adjournment upstairs, and all the performers got their little parlour tricks ready. Meanwhile, the successful combatants. cordant note-I am not talking of the plano received their prizes. Positively the only dis which was chockful of discord-was sounded by the aged Mrs. Drew, whose day was equally divided between discussing the Royal Family her knowledge of the upper circles bad no bounds-and in quarrelling with the equally. remote Miss Geezer on the subject of the door:, was it to be open or shul? Mrs. Drew hazarded the remark, when the champions came up, Aushed with victory, that she "oped she would 'ear no more of that orrid row," alluding to the sharp ping-pong of the rackets which floated` up from the downstairs room to the drawing- room.--Pall Mall Gazette.
THE QUEEN OF GREECE'S QUESTION.
Things are even worse in the country, where outside nearly every cottage door hangs the wretched box with wired front, in which the filthy scrap of withered sod, gazing at the blue bird of all birds who loves to spar sits on a placed?" sky he will never reach again, and thrilling forth his woes within sight and sound, of his free mates he pines away, and another takes his place. The last poor fragment of excuse is taken from the countryman, who can hear the lark afield all day long.
crowned heads and royalties to answer the The Queen of Greece has asked various question, "What do you consider the most awkward position in which one can be written: The first most awkward position The Emperor of Austria has in the world is that of a king with a crown, the second that of a man without a crown." The Duke of Cornwall and York writes: "The most awkward position in the world is when you are sitting in the dentist's
Duke of Teck answers: "The most awkward chair; the most annoying.position when the dentist tells you, It won't hurt!"" The position for a man is when he proposes;
for a man is when she refuses; the most awful he does not propose. The most awful position the most awkward position for a woman when
position for a woman is when she has not a chance of refusing."—The Morning Leader.
Consignees.
kindly, loving, gentle, sympathetic men and How is it, one cannot help thinking, that women can bear to see so piteous an object
and, strangest thought of all, plume them ment to their houses, as a chearing sight, as a caged bird, can look on it as an orna-
selves on keeping caged birds as a proof of goodness of heart and "fondness" for their captives? Positively there are people who persuade themselves, that the bird likes his comforts, supplied in captivity, such as they cage, that "human society" and creature are, amply compensate him for the loss of his earthly all! They persuade themselves that he pities all with a "snug cage"! Few people realise the THE P. & O. 5. N. Co.'s Steamship
poor outside dickies not blessed moral ugliness of the thing, or notice its actual hideousness. of liberty
What can make amends to a bird for the loss Nothing. Every sane, well- informed and well-disposed person, acquainted ever so slightly with the structure, habita, and that the bird has wings must answer-Noth
NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES.
"The honourable member will excuse my surprise," said Mr. Miggs, still rolling his head So Peter sought the bridge, his heart from side to side, when I team of a rough So all day beneath the pitiless vertical rays aflame with love and exaltation, crying de.he had heard it from a member of the Govern of the tropic san, the crew of the Tonquin sat lightedly," Der boys say dey all had a girl, and ment to whom he carries the milk. Sich being on the plank stagings hung round the ship,dis is going to be mine girl. She knocks der the case, I was na'rally prepared for to argy the and with chipping hammer and scraper 1
stuffin' out of der oder girls easy,"
matter on its understanding. But the comp'ay moved the rust and paint from her weather
will perhaps sympathize with the disgust, which scarred sides. One or two had the sense to
fill me when I am told as I am expected for to most had only the usual greasy stem caps; fime-juicers, since the day when a good likewise a furriner on a matter on which he is nd sime, in utter carelessness or ignorance, hearted skipper took him, ragged hungry supposed to have the better of me for the rea were entirely destitute of headgear save that urchin of ten, off the quay at Rotterdam. which is his shame that he is a furriner. But provided by nature. Nor was a word of re-
Peter passed in at the gate, and having I hope I know my own vally better nor that. monstrance wasted on them by their officers: bestowed his bright new ringgit on Idya, was but let the tap-tap of the hammers cease for entertained sumptuously all day on the friendship, and across it this futt will never There is a limit even to the impositions of an instant, and a volley of curses, or a "Git shady verandah of the little house, partaking move." startled them into renewed activity. on there, now!" let dy from the deck above, of many fruits and dishes strange to him, I ask Mr. Miggs's parding," said the little and washing everything down with liberalman, "for being mistook as to his feelings for draughts of the juice of the cool green coco. the barber. But I will say as his allusions to nuts. Idya's household appeared to Peter to milk was not what I would have expected from consist only of a dried up old woman he took a man of Mr. Migg's position in this district. five years who frisked about entirely innocent milk line, but seeing as my present line is ile to be her mother, and a plums little sister of I ain't ashamed of anythink I ever done in the of clothing, a living small image in bronze. If think the remark was wrong, or to put it she had any male belongings, that day they milder, Mistooken." were not in evidence. So Peter returned to his ship by a short cut through the jungle known good humour with himself and all the world. to Idyn just as the sun was setting, in high
protect their heads with old slouch hats; but English, having spent all his life on board enter into an argyment with a barber which is tastes of a bird-nay, even grasping the fact vessel are hereby informed that their, Goods
(To be continued.)
ACCIDENT OR---?
Anglo-Saxon will have difficulty in dismissing A weird story, which even the most prosaic
as a mere aggregation of coincidences, has come home from India. The facts are in themselves easy of verification, and the whole circumstances, from the thoughtless beginning to the tragic end, are well known to the officer to be disputed. commanding the district, whose word is not
The Doctor boarded the ship that afternoon; and it was surmised that his reception by the 'old man was far from cordial, as he was but ing, God dommed Engelandert as he hur too evidently in a rage when he left, splutter ried over the gangway. The fact was he had timed his visit most unfortunately, as the Skipper was asleep when he called, and had suffered from swelled head all day, having come on board late the previous night, in the condition admirably pictured by the Second Mate in the words, raising hell and as full as a blooming tick." So when the Doctor asked the Captain what precautions he was taking against the malaria, he was promptly invited to betake himself a region whose climate has been the subject of much popular animadversion, which unexpected answer sent hit quickly to the right about, but not before he had informed the Skipper that all hands on the Tonguin would be doubly damned and dead before he would set foot on the ship again,
That night the Starboard watch had shore teave, but the fact was that the Tonquin was left pretty much in the charge of the old Russian Fin who had been chosen as night watchman: Three subalterns, stationed at an outlying as the Captain being ashore for the night at the post of a large garrison being dissatisfied with house of his friend, the Jew stevedore, the their quarters, decided to rent a certain hun Mates celebrated the event by a debauch gelow, prettily situated near the river, but on their own account, in which half-a-which had for some years stond empty. Before dozen bottles of stane gin, that the native the arrangements were fully completed an aged mandoor (coolie foreman) had procured for fakir called on the officers. He begged that them, and pair of Japan's giggling daughters the house, which was built on "sacred ground formed the chief extractions.
might be left, as heretofore, unoccupied; but as no very convincing arguments as to the alleged sanctity were forthcoming, and the ability, his request was refused. Thereupon native was unable to suggest any other dis the fakir became as one possessed, and can cluded a torrent of fierce abuse by pronounc ing a curse. "Within this year," he cried, all three of you shall die a violent death, and the house itself shall be destroyed." These words being in the nature of a threat, put the matter beyond compromise. Not one of the subalterns would, from that moment, hear of any other residence.
During the evening Peter and the ordinary ceedings by forming themselves into a fu-fu seaman' in the other watch enlivened the pro- band; and to the music of an unmelodious melodion and a squeaking Jew's harp, tramped noisily up and down the resounding wooden wharf; when on every silent ship as they passed gloomy shapes appeared to curse them with splendid. ardour and never failing volubility, till the third engineer of a Netherland's Indie Coaster, bethinking him of the feats of his cricketing days, arose in his wrath and the bath towel round his loins that served him for pyjamas, and with deadly aim sent a heavy boot crashing into the bellows of the melodion, when the music expired abruptly, in an as tonishing discord.
"Very properly spoke," said the lorryman, breathing heavily. "If any one was to call mes milkman I'd make him forget it for the rest of his natural life,"
It seem to me," said Mr. Miggs, rising to his feet and leaning against the mantelpiece, that every member of this comp'ny is sup- posed to have feelin's which is always being urt, except the humble individual
more which is now addressing the meetin,' but
in sorter than in love. Unless my memory have slipped me. think was addressin' the House on the question of the coal tax, which, in spite of barbers and furrit ers, milkmen, ilemen, and lorrymen, will put out the kitchen fires in multitudes of Christian 'omes. And that is why I will not have this coal tax at any price. Sooner nor pay it I will go to the work'ouse. For why? And I will tell you. All taxes, my friends, is paid for by the workin' man. It all come out of his porket. The man as has to pay income tax what does he he grudge himself his pampered pleasures, and do but est down his workmen's wages, or else the working man suffers accordingly. Don't think for a moment as I am on the side of them bloated gold-bags the mineowners, which puts up the price of coal and keep it there till one bank can't hold all the money and running the mines on social democratic which come in. I'm for distroying of 'em lines. Why wil not my fellow-workers listen to my vice! And yel it seem to me, my friends, that at last my teachin's has borne fruit, and have not lived and spoke. in vain. Did some one mention a strike? Yes, at, laat my advice has been taken. The miners will strike, but not for bigher wages, not for less hours of labour, not for more holidays, but against a tax which would rob the poor and grind the nose off their faces against a tax because it is a tax, and not something else! A strike on principle, for principle, and by principle."
g When bird-catchers, bird-cagers, and their up in cages, would like to be treated in the paymasters, the keepers of wild birds cooped same way themselves, then it will be just and merciful to treat birds in such a fashion. Not
before.
out. It lies in self-restraint, in a proper study And the remedy? That is very easy to point of creatures as parts of a grand universal whole,
right to life, freedom and enjoyment equal to without destroying the whole system. With a a chaia from which not one link can he taketi
our own, so long as they are harmless. This is the first and most promising remedy.
MORE PING-PONG,
HISTORIC ENCOUNTER AT KENSINGTON.
(By Our Own Expert.)
In my last notes 1 dealt with a tournament at Hampstead. The scene now shifts to Ken- sington, where, at the well-known, boarding house of the Misses Weekly Bills, an impart ant contest has just taken place. The pro- gramme said "Ping-Pong and a little Music.” As a Ping-Pong enthusiast, I strongly object to such a combination, Fancy being pulled off one's game to listen to a tinkly piece on the piano, or a stupid little song trolled out by the boarding-house widow, a veritable Diana of the chase-after a husband: fact remains that there was this grotesque However, the sad
marriage of true sport and poor music.
was .not
" JAVA," FROMANTWERP, LONDON, PORT SAID, ' SUEZ AND STRAITS. Consignees of Cargo by the above-named
Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown are being landed and placed at their risk in the Company's Godowns at Kowloon, where each and delivery can be obtained as soon as the consignment will be sorted out mark by mark Goods are landed
instructions are given to the contrary before Optional Goods will be landed here unless F.M., TO-DAY.
4
2
P.M., will be subject to rent.
Goods not cleared by the 9th instant, at
Godowns and a certificate of the damage ob- All damaged Packages must be left in the tained from the Godown Company within ten days after the Vessel's arrival here, after which no Claims will be recognised.
H. A. RITCHIE,
Superintendent.
No Fire Insurance will be effected by me in any case whatever.
Hongkong, 3rd June, 1001.
THE CHINA MUTUAL STEAM NAVIGA- TION COMPANY, LIMITED,
NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES.
FROM GLASGOW AND LIVERPOOL. THE Company's Steamship
"CHINGWO," "
having arrived from the above Forts, Consignees of Cargo are hereby informed that their Goods are being landed and placed at their risk in Company's Godowns at Kowloon, where each the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown consignment will be sorted out mark by mark goods are landed. and delivery can be obtained as soon as the
Goods not cleared by the roth instant, at to A.M., will be subject to rent.
No Fire Insurance will be effected. All damaged packages must be left in the obtained from the Godown Company within Godowns, and a certificate of the damage tan days after the vessel's arrival hore, after which no claims will be recognised.
where the scents of meat and other ingredients of The venue was the dining room after dinner, the "comfortable home" dinner mingled grate. fully with the aroma of cigars. The two sexes were equally divided in the tourpament. The opening event was somewhat tame. A medical his mother, a buxom and benevolent lady student, a young lion from St. George's, faced whose strong point, however, athleticism. Consequently Ma didn't stayin fact, as her son irreverently said, she simply didn't exist. After that a German lady with a very deep voice, which somehow made one think of the lower reaches of the river on foggy nights, took up the running, having as her vir d-vis a pale young man who, though of irre- proachable gentility, was not born Ping- Pongist. Which leads me to say that the Latin tag about the poet applies equally to Ping-Pong It is no use imagining that in middle life you success; unless you have a natural genius for can casually take up Ping-Pong and achieve THE P. &.O. S. N. Co.'s Steamship it, you must go through your novitiate prayer. fully and with searchings of heart.
Optional Goods will be landed here unless instructions are given to the contrary before 2PM., TO-DAY.
After maintaining for several weeks a watch against assassins, the soldiers, being healthy, fearless young Englishmen, forgot all about the prophet of evil, antil an accident occurred one As the sole means of ventilation provided for day which Awakened a sense of uneasiness. the foc's'le consisted of three, eight inch ports The senior of the three, an expert polo-player, on either side, it can easily; be believed that was killed in an inter-regimental match; and sleep in such a confined space in that climate till sunset next evening the shadow of the grims was not to be thought of. The men naturally Presence lay heavy on the darkened bungalow. took their blankets on deck, and as an awning But the Briton is not imaginative, and con- on the foc'le-head was an unheard of luxury fidence soon resumed its habitual sway. The for sailam on that ship, they had the pleasure two remaining men lived as usual, arguing of a 'soft plank for mattress, and all the stars that such a mischance might overtake any one. for canopy.
It was nearly six months later that the second burry. Let the imen of England strike now, serried little rank in the commer. There is to ba On Saturday evening each of the men blow fell. The junior subaltern was out hawk- received as pocket money for the week a ringing when his horse put a foot into a hole and gif, or two and a half guilders piece. That fell flinging his rider violently to the ground. night the Chinaman's grog shop again did good He was picked up with a broken neck. business, and the Tonquin sported a corres. pondingly large percentage of aching heads that the incidents effected his nerve, and gave The surviving officer, a brave man, admitted on Sunday morning. So it happened that up dangerous sports; but he refused the leave Peter, who had kept carefully out of the way that was proffered him, urging that no soldier the preceeding evening was able to slip ashore undisturbed, while his tyrants, the A.Bs. slept from the performance of his duty. The year could allow an impalpable dread to drive him off their liquor at their leisure, for Captain passed slowly on to its last week without fur McTurk prided himself on being a good, Scots ther incident, and the vague fear, thus calmly men, at least in so far as keeping the Sawbath' faced, had almost died away, was concerned. So, Peter, in clean. blue dun. garees, and with his face shining from a liberal application of bar soap set out on his explora- tions.
The sailors of the Tonguin strolled aimlessly around, their teeth watering for a taste of the luscious fruits about them, a luxury which their total lack of funds placed entirely beyond their He left the sun-baked wharf with the creosote reach.
So at least unsophisticated Peler boiling, out of its planks, and struck along the imagined, but he was soon to be undeceived, beach, a narrow strip of smooth black volcanic for one of the A. Bs, a hard-case son of sand between the danse wet green undergrowth Erin, came up having in tow an old China and the ocean, now rippling in softly to his feet, before the mild East monsoon of the Java Sus,
man.
JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.,
Agents.
Hongkong, 3rd June, 1991.
NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES.
"CHUSAN,"
[588c
FROM BOMBAY, COLOMBO AND
The lorryman gaped his admiration, and the little man feebly clapped his hands as Mr. Miggs paused to partake of some refreshment. countrymen 2 continued Mr. Miggs, putting What, then, is my advice to my fellow his glass down empty. I say the moment is lady and the pale young man played rather But to return to the game. The German
STRAITS. ripe for a strike against the rotten foundations wide of the table, and the ball described some vessel are hereby informed that their Goods aro Consignees of, Cargo by the above-named of society, and if this blow is not struck an wild parabolic flights. As at all sell respecting being landed and placed at their risk in the opportunity will be lost which the chances are boarding houses, the Misses Weekly Bills keep Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown ten to one it won't show its head ag'in in a the strange liquors of their guests on the left Company's Godowns at Kowloon, where each hand side on the dining-room" sideboard, in a dodder out of existence. If any man wants to found the Bulldog beer, the Big-Head brand of Goodevery can be obtained us soon as the consignment will be sorted out mark by mark as the Daily News say, the Government will read solemn thinking for solemn men let him Australian wine, and other weird potations, so This vessel brings on Cargo
are fanded infor read the Daily News, which is an honour to beloved of the boarding-house person. The fought. What, then, is my argyment? And little group of bottles tall and bottles squat in
From London, &c. r, S.S.. India and Itself and to the principles for which I have pale young man stooped so frequently over this
Arcadia my argyment is, Strike ard and strike 'ome an ostentatious search for the celluloid ball, that
From Persian Gulf, er B. I. S. N. and B. & P., for England, a full scuttle of coal and domestle the suspicions of the male members of the
S. N. Co.'s Steamers,
glanced disdainfully at his empty glass, while 'appiness" Mr. Miggs resumed his soat, and household were aroused.
Optional Goods will be landed here unless the lorryman made the table shake with his and other couples succeeded to the table and Goods not cleared by the 12th instant, at 4 instructions, are given to the contrary before Eventually, the German lady won the day2P.M., TO-DAY, applause.
to the battle over the gauze net: A young P.will be subject to rent ***If I'd 'a' known it was a bill of that sort," lady, who proclaimed her proclivities for the member of the ill-fated mess, when, sail
On the 28th December, the sole surviving he said, "I'd 'a' been ag'in it from the first." stage by always appearing in public with's ing in a small boat, was overset in a sudden of money," said the little man," as Mr. Migge one of the male guests, who had established "The coal-owners have been making a heap powdered nose, essayed to do combat with
of no great moment, but in some inexplicable couraging the men to strike. If I had a master ponent to the "Zoo on squall of wind. Being a strong swimmer this was say. And it seem to me as if they was en relations of friendship by taking his fair op manner he became entangled in the steering as encouraged me to strike it would set me
recent afternoon. gear, and was drowned before a horrified thinking
The gentleman, who was no longer young, spectator could get help to him.
based his play on recollections of a bygone SERIf it had that effect, now," said Mr. Miggs, tennis. His service was a double-screw, dread
effect, no Finally, on the last night of the year a fright | again assuming the offensive, it might be, as fully disconcerting to Miss Rosamund, the ful storm flooded the river, and the bungalow the statement goes, s'blessing in disguise. If | theatrical aspirant, and all ble returns were
No Fire Insurance will be effected by me in any case whatever
Godowns and a certificate, of the damage ob All damaged Packages must be left in the tained from the Godown Company within ten days after the Vessel's arrival here, after which no Claims will be recognised.
H. A RITCHIE,
Hongkong, 6th, June,
Superintendant,
Page 5Page 6
Insurance.
NORTH GERMAN FIRE INSURANCE
· COMPANY OF HAMBURG.
THE Undersigned AGENTS of the above Company are prepared to accept Firsi Class FOREIGN and CHINESE RISKS t CURRENT RATES.
·SIEMSSEN & Co.
Las
Hongkong, 28th May, 1805.
NEW
For Sale.
FOR SALE
EW EUROPEAN HOUSES at LEIGH-
TON HILL ROAD.
By investing a small sum of money, # person, in the course of a few years, would become the absolute owner of one of these houses, (Tontine System)
For Conditions of Sale, apply to
A. RUMJAHN.
Hongkong, 30th May, 1901
FOR SALE, CHEAP.