1899-10-21 — Page 5

(Published by Arrangemini.)

·DADDY JACK & DADDY JIM,

Unx

M. E. FRANCIS, `(Author of “In a North Country Village

Dan" etc., etc.) [COPYRIGHT.]*

A PART II ¦

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1899

bold blue eyes. The eyes had pink rims to them to-day, though, and the sandy lashes stuck together: Annie Davis had been crying.

Jim realised the fact by slow degrees, and also observed that the girl, though she had responded to his greeting, did not seem to care to pursue the conversation; continuing to drum on the step of the stile with her foot, and to gaze disconsolately down the road..

A smile crept gradually over his face. He opened his mouth as though to speak, shut it The bad had been green on Maggie's grave again, and then winked to himself. He was for nearly three years, and "the little wench thinking of making a joke, and a joke was no was a well-known personality in the neighbourlight matter to him, and could not be under- hood of the Upper Farm. A sturdy little taken without due preparation. He had very monkey, standing firm on her plump brown nearly got it now, though. legs, and taking notice of her small world with a pair of bright dark eyes that might have been Maggie's own. "Sharp?" said her grandmother,

Eh, hoo is thot. Theer's know I welly believers nought hoo' doesn't other day, soombry axed her wheer boo coomed fro' nn' who har mother wur. Ah hoo telly 'em as hoo lives at

A tear welled up in the comer of Annie's eye, and rolled slowly down her round red check.

"Hasn't he coom?" asked Jim, ready at last

Who? queried Annic pettishly. and grinning with glee.

"Why, him. Him as yo're lookin' out fur." Now as it happened, he hadn't come, and cause to fear that he had no intention of

[BY AM]

Well on what if I wir settin' ''astile wi' a fi syS THE BEAUTY OF RACE, wench?"

"Well, that's what I say; thou's coopany. keepin'"

wonnot say whether i am or not," cried Jim angrily, "but I'll say as I wonnot be barg ed at,"

My wond, Jim, I'll barge if I've a mind to, I tell thee I'm not not the man to start countin' my words at this time' o' th' day. Nay, I see how it is w' thee. Thou cares nought fur our Maggie, nor our Maggie's folks. Thou's takken wi yon illfavoured impudent lass up o Davis's, a thou thinks to set her our Maggie's place. But I tell 'ee, my lad, thou needs na think i fetchin her up t our house. Hoo's no place theer, an' thou's ta' no place theer if thou goes coortin' other wenches. Thou con pack up, bag and bag gage, nu' tak' thysel, soomwher else. dunnot want Annie Davis's chap up yonder -we'n nobbut kep' thee fur bein' our Maggie's husband."

Well, an' if yo' have kep' me yo' hannot

in arms. "I've worked 'ard, and addled my mate if iver a mon did. But I'll not be behow den to no one. I con soon find some, little do for Curly an' me." iver a body sich a thing! Thou's thinkin' to

Curly!!! tak Curly off us! Nay, may, we're noan sich fools as to let her go. Thou can go if thou keepin's-but we's keep th' little vench connot do wi' cut thy coortin's an' company Jim rolled his head from side to side, and snorted.

"We'll see thot Hoo's my wench. Coom? Dost thou reckon hoo is or no?"

the shape of the eyes rather than for the colour, Italian eyes are beautiful for the simplicity of which is almost alwas one shade too dark, so that the pupil is not distinguishable, and the variety of those two and different concentric. circles is lost. But the eyelids are drawn with the single sweep that used to be taught in the copies ser in drawing-books. An uncomplicated line, along corner where the light folds gather smoothly to their close-these are the signs of the Italian eyes, set, as it wore, at leisure in an ample width

arise beneath the brows' that were founded in the West. It is much to be desired that Persian beauty, for instance, should be not only more much, mutual understanding to be brought accessible, but more intelligible. There is still about between the beautiful of many races, who scan one another now with an adruigation doubtful or eshanged.-P. J. Gazelle.

A WALK TO THE SUN. AGGREGATE MÁN TAKES A STROLL OF

70,000 MILES EVERY SECOND.

sedentary habits were told that shuring his life If the average old man of comparatively he had walked as many miles as would com pass the earth at the Equator six times he would probably be very much suprised. And yet such a pedestrian effort only represents an average walk of six miles a day for a period of sixty-eight years."

Similarly, the man who is content with the himself an athlete on learning that every year he walks a distance equal to a trip from Lon- dun to Athens.

th' Upper Farm Ibaven't got no inother," Annic had gong Annie had had a quarrel kept me for nought," put in Jim, alt his pride/long, and droop aslant. Velasquez' had their daily average walk of four miles will consider

hoo says, “but I've two dadies," hoo says. Ah, hoo towd us all about it when hoo coom whom. Did yo' iver hear sich a tale?" "Two dadies," says hoe."

PAYING THE LAST DEBT.

of administering capital punishment in vogue HOW MURDERERS DIE IN MANY COUNTRIES, There are quite a suprising number of ways. in the civilised countries of the world. In Great, Britain condemned murderers are still "hanged by the neck until dead, "and it is doubtful if., any other system will ever be used as long as punishment by death continues.

Some authorities, however, aver that death by means of the guillotine is

MORE HUMANE

than the British system of banging. Be that as it may, the former is certainly a very simple: method. The condemned criminal is made to kneel down and place his head on a block of wood. When he is in the required position the huge blade which is suspended above is allowed 10 drop. The knife descends with terrible swiftness and force, so that the man's head is in an instant completely severed from bis body.

In France, however, a strange kind of machine has recently been invented, which it is said will soon replace the guillotine. It is the When one considers the aggregate walking acicatial, named Francois Eschangon, and is outcome of the genius of a well-known French records of the world the figures are even more called "L'excautioneer." In cutward appear Assuming that each individualance it greatly resembles a helmet such as was usually worn by warriors in by-gone years. averages a

FOUR-MILE WALK & DAY

There are two holes in it facing the victim's which are eyes, and directly opposite these are two tubes:

That even curve, with one intention, is most unlike to the contracted, deterred, and con tradicted curves of the most celebrated eyelids in all portraiture. I mean the bampered eye Welids, of subtle and yet violent cut-lines, in the narrow head of Philip IV. of Spain. Sec'how the jostled forms of those shortened eyes make themselves room, and hollow their way side-

trick and their intricate perspective.

But even with bones less bent, less strait, less compressing than those which underlie the calm of this ambiguous face, few are the brows board enough, except in young America and Nay some of the interest of races is in some minor interruption of mingled of the line, some slight complexity that opens an irregular (unt this cannot be considered in extripganl shape, broader at this point, drooping at that estimate when one remembers that Mr. Tha- mas Phipps, of Kingham, has walked 440,000 tellectual eyelids should be these complex eye-miles on postal duty alone) the startling con- with a noble gravity. Strange is it that the in- lids of the narrow head, whereas the broad clusion is arrived at that the world covers a brows rise over the simply-drawn eyes of mere journey of 69,444 miles every time the clock intelligence.

ticks, night or day.

"Daddy Jack" and "Daddy. Jim." were in from him indeed, with the assurance that nook as all the grandfather, "Eh, did Italy, to let the eyelids draw that simple curve. surprising.

deed little Carly's devoted sinves. (She had been christened Maggie after her mother, but the members of the bereaved household found it as yet difficult to pronounce that once fami- liar name, and so thlittle wench" was generally entitled Curly in allusion to the thick wavy golden-brown crop which adomed her little round head,)

She slept in her grandmother's room, so Daddy Jack had generally the first of the day's enjoyment. She would crawl out of her cat on to the big bad with early dawn, creeping cautiously over Mrs. Buxton's sleeping form, and smuggle close to Daddy Jack; bestowing aundry attentions on him, which is less good. humoured or affectionnte man would have found a trifle trying. But he only siniled sleepily when she pulled open his eyes, and patted his nose, and twisted his whiskers; im- prisoning the dimpled little tormenting hand.

"Eh, thou'rt a little rogue, thou art 1-Why the birds are not wakkened up yet. Whativer will thy granny say? See, coom in here wi thee-thou'rt welly starved wi' cowd-thy little teet's near perished."

more

Sometimes Curly accepted the invitation, but more frequently she declined, first by vigorous shakes of the mop aforesaid; then, by little mattered remonstrances, and finally by shrill defiance which ultimately awoke her grand- mother, who thereupon invariably petted her, and scolded Daddy Jack a state of things of which "th' little wencht entirely approved.

The poor innocent knows no better," Mrs. Buxton would grumble. "But a body 'ad think theu'd ha

sense, nor to be encouragin' her sich ways......See, lovey, get under th blankets, do.. Eb, boo's as cowd I wonder at thee, Jack, thot I do! Thou might know better. The child's got no sense

I got no sense," Curly echoed reprovingly one day, crossing one fat leg over the other, and looking severely at her grandfather; apon which Jack's lecture was cut short for once, and the old pair chuckled and winked at each other in equal rapture, "Sense indeed," as Jack remarked, hoo's more nor a many grown men!"

with him on the Sunday before, and she had announced her intention of giving over keeping company" with him, parting he needn't ever come asking her to go out with him again, for she had walked her last with him. Nevertheless, when the end of the week came she had cooled down a good deal, and was, In fact, quite ready to forgive her swain when he came, as she expected, to be once more restored to favour.

She had taken up her position on the stile, which conimanded a good view of the road usually taken by Sunday couples, and had there waited for the young man-waited first smilingly, then anxiously, then furiously, then despairingly. Jim's jo ular query was the last drop in an already full cup: Annie began tu sob in good earnest,

Jim could not leave off smiling all at once, partly because he was so enchanted to find that his surmise was correct, and partly be caused he thought he had said a very funny thing But presently he began to feel sorry for the girl. He leaned against the fence, and looked at her compassionately,

If I war yo' I'd give ower," he remarked, "I would, fur sure. Theer's a mony lads i' th' parish."

The corners of Annie's mouth began to go up, and she gave her head a little toss..

"Well,' she said coquettishly, "an' who said theer was na?"

Jim was nonplussed for a moment, quick! ness of repartee not being his strong point, But after pushing back his hat, and scratch- ing his head-processes which always seemed to brighten his intellect, he observed.--

It was no

A mon'ud think to see yo' as theer wur but one lad ' th' place, an' he wur a bad 'un." Annie began to laugh, loud and long, after the manner of young persons of her standing and jun, charmed' at his own brilliancy, joined her.

Their mirth was at its height, when a couple came sauntering down the road, at sight of whom the girl suddenly changed her note. other than her own particular young man, who now strolled leisurely past, arm-in-arm with her most special enemy. On they came, talk ing very eagerly, and laughing a great deal. The young man exceedingly affectionate to the new love, as, with the comer of his eye, he caught sight of the blue draperies of the aid, fluttering behind the hedge; the maiden coy and witty. Jin meanwhile was still cheerfully chuckling,

"Eh, a body ud think as he wur'a bad un!"

When Curly's toilet was completed, Daddy Jim's innings began. She sat on his knee at breakfast, and ate occasionally out of his plate; she rode on his shoulder, afterwards, when he went his round of the shippens and pigsties, varying that form of exercise by an occasional Jaunt on the back of a cart horse, or even a COW. Once indeed, she insited on riding a pig, and after a sharp altercation carried her point; Daddy Jim selected a matronly and safe old lady for her steed, and placed his folded coat for Gurly to sit on. But the experi-sayin', theer's mony a lad i'th parish." ment was not a success-both Curly and the coat speedily slipping off into the mire.

he repeated, quite unconscious of the proximity of the person in question.

"An' they think reet cried Annie, with flashing eyes. He was actually passing with out a sign of recognition. "But as yo' were

Theer is," agreed Jim, "an' good 'uns too. Eb, a lass same as yo' has no need to tuk' up wi' wastrils."

for a second of time is equal to two trips round This incans that the world's walking record

tween London and Naples. Every minate the the Equator and more than thirteen jaunts be aggregate man walks a distance equal to eight return-trips to the moon, supplemented by over fifteen walks round the earl's waist.

Are, hoo is thy wench reet enough, but loo's Maggie's wench too, when all's said an' said, is this healthy Southern eye with its Simply drawn, too simply coloured, as I have done, and Maggie wur mine, th' only child I iver had. Eh, my word it seems as if 'twere round and sharp, ia unsoftened contrast, two unclouded white and is single black (or all but), nobbut t' other day as our Maggie were trottin' colours in all, and a shape that might be drawn about just same as th' little un yonder." "Ah," by heart with a little practice; it needs much he added in a softened tone, "I like as if 1 beauty to make this eye charming, but the could see her now in a little yaller dress hoo beauty is seldom lacking. I compare it with had, an' her white pinny all full o' flowers.

In an hour he could walk as far as the sun the many-coloured eye of a girl whose check and back again, take a trip to the moon (from Hoo was allus fair mad about flowers,"

has an innocent red, and whose hair is so fine the earth) 140 times, while still leaving himself Jim began to walk on, slowly, with head a

that it floats on the smallest breezes. little bent. Jack followed, talking half to him here is the pupil swallowed up in the dark lit at the commencement of his journey of sixty Not a stroll of 190,000 miles to finish the cigar be self.

colour of the iris, and not only is it a clear minutes. But considering the rate of his pro- An' hoo'd coom runnin' to meet me just the and significant sparkle of black, but round gress it is probable that even a slow smoker same as Curly might do now, wi' th' little curds-the iris of broken brown and grey is a dark might require a second cigar before finishing tossin', an' th' little legs welly flyin', an' soon as iver hoo'd see me hoo'd strike out, Daddy, and deeply open, suddenly swerve, tragically

outer ring and the eyelids, deep above the walk. daddy. Eh, dear of me! To think hoo's layin' and humorously, down in their abrupt corners, in her grave now!”

Colour and spirit are here, and the point of expression. In the black eyes with indistinct pupils there is no point in the look, but one broad, general, single eloquence, one thing at a time, with a dramatic childishness that is all and only found in its perfection among out-of- southern. But one beauty, too, is southern, door people living in the sun-the blue whites that not the clearest eyes in England show- not even the eyes of Cornish fishermen or of those sons of the north who mend their nets on the coast of Bamborough and Holy Isle. have I ever seen blue whites with blue eyes.

Nor

he

Jim quickened his pace, but not a word said But it's nought to thee as how 'tis, Thou's a fancy fur suminat new. Maggie wur a good lass to thee but hoo's dead now, an' thou reckons to give th' little 'un a step-mother. Hool break her little 'cart-an' th' missus yonder-it 'ull go near to kill her--but thou cares nought. Nay- thou' ha' thy Annie Davises as 'uli niver do fur the little wench same as us. Hon't be shovin' 'er 'ere an' theer out of the road, an' knockin er about as like as not. But I tell 'ee what it is, lad-thou may ha' thy Annie Davises te thysel-hoo'll ha' noan of our little un.-we's keep her."

Jack nodded his head looking determined. His face was red with anger and agitation, the vein in his forehead swollen; and he spoke loudly and disjomtedly for he was breathless, partly with eagerness, partly because he was obliged to walk quickly to keep up with Jim. But in spite of his withering emphasis in allud ing to Annie-numbering her name in the plural by way of denoting greater sarcasm and scorn-anyone who knew him would have guessed that for all his lofty air the tears were

not very far off,

They were nearly home now, and suddenly Curly little figure appeared trotting towards them, and her voice was heard uttering ecstatic crows of welcome.

Jim broke into a run, and stretched out his arms.

"Coom, little lass, coom to Daddy." "Nay, cried Jack, hoarsely, following Jim at "Don't 'ec go to

The little maid was alwaps seen with one or other of her daddies; and not unfrequently with

The couple were out of bearing, now, but both.

one or two more were approaching, and Annie, a kind of hobbling canter. The two men accommodating their paces to her little toddling steps, and stepping whose blood was up, determined to prove to awkwardly side-way that she might cling to a

all her a

er acquaintances that she was not depress- finger of each:

·ed by her lover's desertion.

When she had chicken-pox they nearly went mad, especially as kindly neighbours were not wanting sympathetic suggestions that happen her mother were callin' her. Hoo wanted her up yonder, very like, an' hoo'd coom fur her. However, these predictions were not realized. And luckily for the peace of mind of the two daddies, no other childish maladies found their way to the Upper Farm.

The days passed quietly and peacefully, Jim went on working for his father-in-law, just as he used to do during his brief wedded life, and Mrs, Buxton washed, and mended him, and "did for him," and occasionally "barged At him," almost as poor Maggie herself might have done. But it wasn't the same. "Eh dear no,” as Jim often sighed to himself "Theer's a deal o diffrence. Eh, Maggie!"

No one could say that he fretted much. The neighbours thought he bore up wonderful. He was never-scon-to-cry-and-never-mentioned his wife; when ho passed her grave on his way to the church door, he looked the other way. But he missed her in his dull, uncomplaining, unreasoning fashion, at every turn, in every hour. Only Curly had power to chase away the vague pain--only her sunny baby presence could fill the void.

When Curly was more than halfway through

her third year, event occurred which stirred the placid current of her daddies! lives.

It was on a Sunday in June a Sunday so warm and bright, that the eyes of the congrega. tion were tempted to wander to the church windows, through which the sky appeared very blue, and the woods very green and enticing.

was so warm that the sermon had had rather a soporific effect, and one or two prayer-books slipped out of the owners' hands long before the Rector had come to "Thirdly

Well, service was over, and dinner was over, and Daddy Jack was smoking on the bench outside the door, digesting his roast beef, and dozing now and then. Mrs. Buxton was rend- ing Letta Almanack" (which always came out on Sunday) in the parlour, and Ourly was fast asleep on the horsehair sofa with her legs

covered by.a. shawl,

"Theer's yor'sel to start wi, Mester Norris," she said, her rosy check dimpling, and her saubrose cocking itself knowingly as she amiled.

"Well," said Jim. That is a good 'un!" "Wunnol yo set down a bit?" enquired Annie. "Theer's lots o' room, an' settin's as cheap as standin!"

The step was rather narrow for two, but with a good dead of giggling they managed to bu lance themselves,

It was very pleasant there; sunny and warm, with the scent of the clover strong in their nos trils, and the breeze rustling through the tailgreen wheat. Jin sat placidly beside Annie, listening to her rollicking talk and laughter, and putting in an occasional monosyllable. The neigh bours, passing by, stared and nudged each other, and made smiling half- audible comments.

So thor's it, is it?" Well, he is but a young chap." "Jim's in luck," and so forth.

Jim fidgetted with his stick, and looked over their heads, and now and then drew a long stalk of grass from the rank growth beneath the hedge, and chewed it.

But by-and-bye, the sound of a well-known him start. What should come rolling round voice coming from the opposite direction made the hedge, with Jim, tambling off the stile and but the portly figure of Daddy Jack! "Hallo looking rather foolish,

Jack paused, took a long frowning survey of Annic, and advanced more rapidly,

Art thoy commin' to thy tay "he enquired as soon as he was near enough.

"Is it ready?"

"Is it ready? I should think it wur ready, an it gone five. What han ya' agate here?"

Eh, nought to speak on."

"Well then, coom an wi thee.. Th' missus could na think whativer'd coom to thee, Who inay yon wench be?"

Annie. Davis, I b'lieve," "Thou cannot say fur sare, I s'pose. Well, hoo's no beauty as how t'is, is

"Hoo's reet enough," retorted Jim, the spirit of opposition taused within him by his father

in-law's tone.

Good arternoon, Annie," he called, nodding over his shoulder.

"Good day to 'yo', Mester Norris, an, thank yo' for you company."

him, Curly, come to Daddy Jack. Daddy Jack loves thee. Daddy Jack 'ull do aught th' wide world fur 'ee:"

"Daddy Jack and Daddy Jim" cried Curly running from one to the other with little screams of laughter, and thinking it the best fun in the world. But the two men were tremendously in earnest, daddy?" pleaded Jim.

"Eh, Curly, hasto ne'er a kiss fur thy own

In a single year the aggregate man walks a distance of 2,190,000 million miles, which, after all, inconceivably great as it is, would take him less than one-eleventh part of the way to the

nearest fixed star.

It is well for the aggregate man's exchequer that he walks these distances instead of cover ing them by rail. At the rate of a penny a mile the world's annual walk would cost 49,125,000,000, or ten times as much gold as is current throughout the entire world. To purchase a ticket for this distance it would be necessary to mortgage-the entire United dont to three fourths of its full value.

LOADED WITH MINUTE CARTRIDGES. discharged and immediately dart through the By the pressing of an electric button these are victim's eyes and enter his brain. Death by this method is instantaneous and plaintess, while the corpse bears no mark of disfigure

ment,

Much has lately been said for and against Many readers, however, are probably not the American form of capital punishment. aware of the procedure of death by electrocas tion. The condemned man after having been clean sharen on the crown of his head strapped into the fatal chair, and his legs and bead are connected with the electric apparatus. When the exectioner gives the signal the

ELECTRIC CURRENT

is turned on and the occupant of the chair is

no more.

The Spanish mode of execution by means of the garotte is supposed by many people to be very indignant at such an accusation and reply one of torture. The Spaniards, however, are that the principle of the garotte is just the saine as banging, only much surer and more humane.

This is how a man is garotted. The con- demned is securely fastened to a small stool: nected to this is a sharp bar, which is "locked" before which is placed an upright post, con across the throat of the victim, while a forked piece of steel is placed against the back of the King-chanism is moved, the forked piece of metal

neck. When the handle controlling the me

HUMOURS OF TESTIMONIALS,

Neuroses of the Stomach, by Dr. Johann

"In a pamphlet entitled Treatment of Tirschkron, specialist for nervous' diseases, Vienna, Austria, which appears to be intended to set forth the many and manifold virtues of a much-advertised narcotic preparation, the author states that he has seen only one case of antiperistaltic movements of the stomach soon as she had consulted him. naively adding that the patient left Vienna as

These are signs of race which everyone -knows by heart-colours which race lays up in the families of man, and redoubles in his

SOME STRANGE DISEASES ONLY TO BE brown and dark upon dark with a velvet pencil; children as though brown were laid upon

FOUND IN PRINT or which race, again, shatters into a thousanding article on "The Humours of Testimonials." The British Medical Journal has an amus- degrees, and scatters in gradations across a How many browns, and how beautifull the continent, as in the brown hair of nations. dors of 'proprietary medicines gauge the "How accurately," the writer says, "the ven mental capacity of their patrons may be judged cool and the warm, with all the tones of each. from the literature which they supply for their For these waves of one familiar colour all edification. One does not know which to ad-. men have eyes. It is the variety of construc-mire the most tion that they have hardly learned to know the

in these publications--the race by. Shoulders, and their carriage, for Pathology, the diagnosis, or the grammar. But the most interesting feature is the uncon- East, which does not change, has kept the rules instance, have bad niany a local history. The scious humour of the writers." of proportion sung by the poets; but Europe has broken more than once with its traditions; and once was when the Greco-Roman mended the Greek, and left the paltry Venus de' Medici to make laws for half the civilized world until she had persuaded all the feminine shoul ders painted by Sir Joshua and Gainsborough a stanza in "Childe Harold," and a post saying to be small and narrow. Then there was far, far more than he could stand to. There is one thing that gets no mercy at the hands of time, and this is the poetic fury de parti pris.tunities of studying, he discovered remarkable Benignly are other follies eased of their flag complications. One patient suffered from "In other cases which he had longer oppor.

raucy by a century and less; they are no boulimia, which is graphically described as 'a longer conspicuous, and, albeit keeping their condition of general distress, accompanied by place in the page and read, afresh by every weak legs and a voracious appetite this afflict- new reader, they are easily excused by their ed individual would think nothing of eating

or forgotten, as soon as read, in companies," what not. At any rate, they can be neglected be glad enough to have half his complaint. And the premeditated exaggerations, such as this in "Childe Harold" on the statue of the Uffizi, do but seem to sound louder as the book grows old, and to stand more exposed. might fancy that the lines and especially the Reading the phrase of that discredited zeal, we rhymes-must feel the discomfort of their own loudness and of their cold violence in a world grown indifferent. So does a man feel when mistaking the hour he runs needlessly, red and breathless, for a train, and sees the porters lounging as they took at him; or he has the weakness to feel thus forlorn, having done nothing but what was accidentally absurd.

——A-MAN-WITH-AN-APPETITE.

shonts forward and breaks the victim's neck over the bar. The whole operation is per formed in the tivinkling of an eye, and a black cloth is immediately thrown over the corpse-- Advocate of India."

200 MILES ANIHOUR.

AN AMERICAN ENGINEER'S SCHEME FOR FAST TRAVELLING. Are we on the eve of another marvellous development in railway travelling? American engineers are now seriously considering a pro- : posal to attain a speed of, roughly speaking, 200 miles an hour.

Society of Civil Engineers, held at Cape May,

At the recent Convention of the Americari.

the history of the society, Professor Oberlin the largest and most important gathering in Smith, of Bridgeton, N., in a carefully-pre pared paper dealing with the recent Improve ments in transportation, said the time was close at hand when the journey from New York to Philadelphia could be made in one-fourth the schedule time of the fastest express train. This was not a mere flight of the imagination, for he proceeded to convince his auditors, men of. the highest engineering skill and attainments, that his statement was easily within the bounds of possibility.

"Nay, coom thy ways to me, little wench," date, by their author's good faith, or twenty rolls at the least,' Many peopel would authority on mechanics. He is president of

cried Jack, who was fast losing every vistage of self-control. Coom. Daddy Jim cares nought for lasses as have no blue e'en an' red cheeks. He's gotten a new lass-he wants none o' thee now."

other of the angry faces, and finally uttering a Curly paused, posted, looked from one to the loud wall, announced that she would'nt have have no daddy at all, an' sh'd tell her grunny, she would. She went away, whiinpering and Jim turned round with a countenance working with fury.

"Ah, an' thou'd happen like to bit me now?" suggested Jack, nothing the clenched fist..

I would," said Jim. An' I'd dot too to ony other man. Thou-thou didn't need to say these things to th' little lass."

There was

quaver in his voice, but Daddy Jack would not let himself be softened.

It wur nobbut truth," he said. It is

na truth,” shouted fim, and thou

"I know as thee an' Annie Davis-" "Don Annie Davis," interrupted Daddy Jim, with an indignant sob

knows as

Daddy Jack's countenance cleared, and stepping hastily forward, he clapped Jim heartily on the shoulder. Then he drew back a little way, and looked at him with a kind of respectful admiration.

"Well Jim," he said, slowly. "Thou connot say no fairer than thot Naw, thou connot, lad. Theer, gi's thy hand. "Dom Annie Davis," says thou, and “Dom her," says I, an' Thou'rt a good lad, Jim, when all's said an nobody con say more. Eh, sbake honds, mon.

donc."

faced each other a moment in silence, a big He grasped Jim's hand warmly, and the two tear rolling down the old man's check, and Jim's broad chest bearing.

Daddy Jim strolled down the path a little way just to pass the time. He was disappointed that the little 'un should have selected, to take.

Presently Curly-peeped round the corner ber nap just then, but it was good for her, no

"Daddy Jack !" she said, advancing slowly, doubt. Very like it was-butt was lonesome Daddy Jack and Daddy Jim marched off, each all ready to whimper again at the slightest pro here in the field without her. He sauntered on; for the first time in their simple lives on bad vocation. switching at the hedge, and whistling. Present- terms with the other. Jack, indignant at what ly the sudden turn in the path, described he took to be a slight to Maggio's memory, hand and clapped his own together,

Daddy Jack loosed his grip of her father's before, brought him in sight of the high road; Jim, furious at his and the stile, leading to it. And who might to be

put upon.ustice, but determined not walked on in silence at

"Jest in time, little wench! Hurry now- that be sitting on the stile ?... A buxom girl in a first, but the elder man presently paused, prod-

run to Daddy Jim." bright blue dress," with reddish hair" much ding the soft earth with his stick

Im went on, without turning his head

to

Doubtless to the Elgin marbles is due the correction of the taste for which Byron-making belleve to defy certain pedants "that gull. Folly," but quite sure of his public none the less-wrote his stanzas. Especially have that headless group of Fates sat as tribunal during a great space of the present century, judging sence and session, And when the race has tended many things of nature and art, by their mere pre

beauty, their blind rebuke has been there.

become mannered. in its sense of human Against all rule, howbelt, there has been such a charm in fugitive beauties-local or modish- as only Byron's pedant could altogether deny, especially when they were of the invention of the eighteenth century. When the painter Cosway was apt to boast of the "fall in his back" who would withhold applause from the back, from the coat? A long coat, cut according to the line of the "fall" so much prized for its gentility "it is not indeed a thing to inspire a stanze of "Childe Harold"; the gazer not does not otherwise profess himself. "Dazzled only remains well master of his emotions, but and drunk with beauty, till the heart reels with its fulness" Is not precisely the word; but a fall in the back is a graceful thing, and the last century was altogether fortunate in all its affects of beauty, natural and decorative, how. ever transitory.

NUMBER-PHOBIA."'

Professor Smith has the réputation in the engineering profession of being a modest, con servative man of sound judgment, and an the Ferracute Machine Company at Bridgeton, N.J. Professor Smith bas given much attention to the problems which restrict the speed of railway trains, and has come to the conclusion that the limit of speed by the use of steam has been almost reached.

"Another was a neurasthenic and 'suffered later on from a number phobia-that is to say, no one could speak of them in his presence, 'he was terrified by all figures and numbers;

think we have seen instances of this strange and he had all the faces of his clocks covered

Electricity, however, presenta a force which

malady in lads confronted with a stiff paper at over so as not to see a single figure. We is restricted only by the ability of the engineer to utilise it. Thus, quicker travel is a problem which the machinist and civil engineer rather 2 mathematical examination, and symptoms of than the scientist must solve. it are produced in many grown-up persons by

Frofessor Smith thinks the first rallway on- kind. We are not sure that we have not our- the mere sight of a page of statistics of any

which electricity will take the place of steam will be built between New York and Philadel selves suffered from number-phobia in a mild

phia, because of the comparatively short dis form on the delivery of suspicious-looking docu-tance, the great travel between the two cities, ments marked 'On Her Majesty's Service."

and the large profits to be derived from such a road.

RELIEVED THE COMFLEXION."

"In another collection of medical testi. monials to the efficacy of a preparation which is modestly put forward as theutirine tonic,' one learned doctor somewhat ambiguously says 'In an active practice of twelve years, I have which rather reminds us of the unwashed never prescribed a remedy with such success, ganileman who used a certain soap two years go, and since then has used no other. An- plexion' of a young lady, which reminds us of other doctor says the elixir frelieved the com. barber who used to recommend a powder of his concoction as 'allaying the face after the fiery touch of his razor.

a

AFTER EIGHT BOTTLES.. after eight bottles had been taken, came a dis

"Another witness testifies that a patient, tance of 40 miles to see him. This suggests the arithmetical problem: If ten bottles had been taken, would she have come so miles, and being in direct ratio to the number of bottles so on, the attractive power of the preparation consumed

bicycles you let me look at some safety He turned away to get information about the stock, and, returning, said, with a winsome smile:

"I am very sorry, miss, but we're out of

matches."

ed," he said," to do away with grade crossings, "Of course the road would have to be elevat and it would be an air line, for curves would not permit of the high rate of speed desired, le would be a double or triple track road, con Electric power would be transmitted through trolled by an automatic electric block system. the rails, and transmitting station could be focated at intervals of twenty or thirty miles have its own motor and would be run singly. There would be no trains, but each car would

"The cars would be two or three times the length of the ordinary railroad passenger car and would be built of steel upon the principle recognised in bicycle construction--that of of passenger trains in proportion to the num attaining lightness with strength. The weight bers of passengers carried is something tremen dous when you figure it to keep the train from jumping the track. But

out. This is necessary.

this is a track which will the feature of the electric road that will obviste

derailment im possible. With such a track the highest atë, tainable speed will be devoid of danger. The cars should be tapering at the ends to minimise rubber tyres to minimise noise and fart the air resistance, and the wheels might have

frizzled, and a very firis hat, indead in hat with Hoy shouted Daddy Jack."Coom back tunities of observing the Iron Duke during the curls, against all, laws of proportion, and safety bicycles; but we have some fine safety that would stand the test.

22

as may ribbons, and flowers, and feathers, could possibly be piled on It The youngere, I want ec, His son-in-law retraced his woman's whole "get up" was so smart, and the steps: difference between it, and her, ordinary week. Thqu's started company-keepin', I see," said day attire so great, that it was not until he was Jack unite close to her that jim recogunted Annie Who says thot?" growled Jim, borrowing Davis, the blacksmith's niece, she had recentlyleaf from Annie's book coms to live in the village...

:

TOO CLEVER BY HALF. He was a new assistant in the big retail establishment, and he was anxious to make a It was guided by better luck than its pre-record as a salesman. A young lady inquired: decessor; and its successor, again, has been the "Can' sport of every kind of ill-fortune, Nor is it easy to understand why an ago that had deserved the displeasure of some of the greatest muses should have been so inspired in its very fashions that it could not go wrong, but must "Basil Jackson" who had frequent oppor- cut a long waistcoat with a grace, pile powdered terrible Sunday of Waterloo said that the only approved, and tie the wig and hang the word sign of nervousness he betrayed was moving and even turn out the foot, with all agreeable in and out the folds of the powerful field glass rests. It had every self.confidence and was

Please, ma'am, won't you read the letter?" which he made use of

The voice was that of a little boy, by whose of the period were so much lactopes funified; although it was an age of finish and side stood a smaller, child carrying a great

superior stones that they were considered great astrous. Dolly's mobcap, had a perverse the note and read Good person, please Cars its very slovenliness was not absolutely.hasket upon his am Thaledyaddressed took battles against Soult he was able to read that world then was like a child dressing itself un-motherless-a penny

y able generals intentions by his gestures to reasonably la odds and ends, and looking well an Aide-de-Camp, and accordingly took prompt in the worst. measures to counteract his plans; and years afterwards when they were both old men he astonished the Marshal by telling him how he defeated filmi

make

neer to fix a definite maximum speed for such Professor Smith is too conservatiue an engi. an electric road as he describes. There are no insurmountable problems in mechanics that would prevent cars being run at three miles a minute, but in going much beyond that speed. centrifugal force would have to be reckoned with, and it is doubtful if wheels could he made

Such a road will be built,. Professor Smith thinks, just as soon as capitalists can be con vinced that it is a physical possibility, and is likely to be a financial scceess. He studied the engineering, preplems involve handed is neither a projector nor a promotor of railway lieves he bar solved thom nearly ally but wh

capitalist to develop the plans he had sketched fer the benefit of the members of his profession. A'railroad of the kind described by Professor Smith has already been planned between Phi ladelphia and Atlantic City, and a company fonned with capital of six million dollars A Advocats of India, po

Good diternoon, observed lim, passing wenches fur, if thou has na a mind to keen prize when captured. In one of Wellington's charm of farm or of formlessness), and the give these starving little ones-fatherless and schemes, it remains for the organiser and the

### | Bay't. What art thou settin' o' stiles along

company

..

with a nod and grin of greeting

Nice day, Mr Norris," replied Annie,Theer wurn't nobbut one wench," replied ***Jim looked up at the sky, then at the feathers Jim stolidly,

In Annie's hat and then, casually, at the face Nobbut one! Anthots's enough, Aure. beneath it a pleasant face enough inu Tho does na reckon to coort moor nor one at tosed, red cheeked, freckled, with bright, eather & time?”

The reader regarded the beggars with tearful eyes as she inquired in a voice choked with emotion: "Who wrote this note for you, children ?"-

Even as the beauty of time, the beauty of race teaches our eyes new habits, or proves to us how much good fortune there may be in the With a sniffle of expectancy the elder ans mingling of blood, and how Oriental-lights may i wered suavály, “ Me muyver, ma'am 1993

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