1900-04-21 — Page 5

THE" WELSDACH" SYSTEM OF INCANDESCENT GAS LIGHTING.

(Compiled from Various Sources.)

While the improvement in the different gas buniers used, indicated the path of progress, they all failed to realise the full advantage which we now know to be obtainable.

It was reserved for Dr. Ausr van Welsbach to introduce the system now so well known by

his name.

The first public exhibition of Dr. Von Welsbach's system of incandescent gas light, was made in London in February, 1887. At that time there were many feare expressed na as to the possibility of the new system being successfully placed on the market la com- mercial basis, and for a short while the com pany had a hard struggle to overcome the difficulties, which are generally met, by who seek to introduce original work.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1900.

maid in a case like this? And she began to where she was. Sylvia's little cry, the ghastly sat her hair right in front of the glass in a change in her face, arrested her; but before she quick, businesslike fashion,

had time to think the stranger was on bis What are you going to do?" asked Mrs. knees by the boside, and the girl could see his Dynever, as Daisy caught up her hat.

big hands tremble as they stretched towards Going to see if I can be of any use. the tiny figure which reclined there. "Can't you imagine what it must be to he ill in "Sylvia, my darling-my poor little wife! It isn't true--I can't believe it! You must live, a strange place with only a servant near you?"

And the grizzled head buried "I suppose it is rather harrid," returned her you must!" grilling can wait here till it's cooler. Tell my visitor comfortably, at the sun is simply itself among the bedclothes, while the mans

body shook with tearless sobs.

aunt where I am, and not to fash if I don't come home to lunch.;" and without another word Daisy Hayward hurried out of the room.

"You

walked

now."

"Heary Daisy's eyes opened wide as the significance of the situation dawned upon her, "You came--you-

"Did you think 1 would not? your telegram was addressed to Thornton, but He's he's away, and they brought it to me. been away some time now, Didn't I tell you? and has gone to stay down there He's engaged to one of the Grainger girls,

The villa where Mrs. Sylvester lived was at same distance from the Haywards' hotel, and Mrs. Dyaevor had not exaggerated the heat of the are fast in spite of everything. The girl Cannes at midday; but Daisy

Daisy felt her heart stop beating as these was very fond of the woman she was going to ace. Something about the fragile, dark-eyed words struck her ear. She made a step for woman, who mixed so little with the other ward, but at that moiset Sylvia's eyes met visitors, bad attracted her from the first, and hers and then, without a word, the sick though Lady Hayward, the girl's aunt and woman's head drapped upon her husband's chaperon, had but half approved of the friend-shoulder, and Miss Hayward -stole softly from ship, since so little was known of this Mrs. the suom.-8. Times. Sylvester, still Daisy had chosen to cultivate her, and she was the one person with whom the tenant of the Villa des Acacias could be said to be at all intimate.

WHEN HER MAJESTY IS AFLOAT, THE ROUTINE IS MOST CAREFULLY PLANNED.

occasion the crew were unable to get at the grog cask because the Queen's chair was in front of it. On being apprised of this her Majesty consented to move, on condition that she was permitted to taste the grog, to the delight of the Blue-jackets.

On one occasion only has the Queen visited a royal yacht on Sunday. It was during the convalescence of the Prince of Wale seighteen months ago, when he was in the "Osborne," recovering from the injury to his knee. Divine service was read in the hearing of the royal patient, and her Majesty remained for some time to cheer her son.

THE ODD MAN ON THE JURY,

"There you are, miss, said the police-con- stable, throwing open the door of cell No. 11. His prisoner, a fair young woman of great per sonal autractions, shuddered as she looked into the bare place. The officer was about to lock her in when she spoke to him.

"At what time will the heating be?" she in- quired.

"Can't any exactly. Somewhere between eleven and twelve most likely," answered the officer, who then turned the key and went off

There was a moment's dead silence. The judge then gravely called upon the prisoner to surrender in due time to a second trial, allowed the bail tendered to stand good, and disinissed the case.

Winifted cast one heartbroken look upon her lover, and fell half fainting into the matron's arms. As they were taking the wretched girl to a carriage that was awaiting the hospital party, a bystander stepped deliberately into the sister's path.

It was the odd man on the jury; and sò urgent, so appealing, were the looks he cast upon Winifred that she involuntarily stepped. Dr. Stanmore, however, anxious to get hits betrothed away, hurried her into the carriage. The Sister glanced from the window as they moved off. "On the kerb stood the jurymun, his sambre eyes pursuing her to the lash it

As Nurse Doris, in one of the East-End charitable institutions, with whose bend physi, cinn her family had 'a personal acquaintance, Winifred Rymer began a new and burdened life. Secretly and quickly she had disappeared from St. Margaret's, determined to efface her self as far as possible for the present. Letters and messages were left for all concerned, but until the time of the second trial should be at hand Winifred's fixed resolve was to see no one save the solicitor who had acted for her in the

case.

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should, Every one is kind, every one ́helps a little; the landlady does not press for her rent, i employers in many cases have given weekly. gums to the wives of their workmon, or mates have subscribed and offered the wife ten shil- lings a week. Everywhere the story runs of generosity, good fellowship, self-denial, and kindness.

The dock labourer's wife fares worst. At best the work is precarious, the pay small, the. employers varied, and therefore feeling no | responsibility to help the wives. A few shill- tags a week to each of these means a great deal the difference between starvation and comfort; such a thin line separates the two.

After a week or two of acquaintance the woman's stern face of self-repression changes, shờ“Vimmilės, sho greets you as a friend, she waxes garrulous. She tells of her troubles, of her health, of her child. ren; she shows you her letters, proud in the possession of a communication from her man. "He fought in the big fight, ma'am," she says; "there was a lot of his regiment killed, but he came out safe." This is looked upon almost as a sign of personal intelligence by some, by others as a special interposition of Providence. These poor souls are very simple; they rarely realize their tights, in many cases they know not the sums they are entitled to The pale prisoner laid her face upon her

from the War Offe, they cannot write, and if hands and sobbed pitcously. Two hours go

The girl was the mere shadow of her beauti-they could they don't know to whom to write. freedom and hope unlimited were hers, and as The occasions during her lifetime upon Sister Winifred, of St. Margaret's-one of the

ful and buoyant self the slimme, the mystery, The ladies are their friends, their helpers, their which the Queen has passed a night at sea may most popular hospitals of South-western Lon

of that tragical charge being ever with her, advisers. They write in commanding officers, be counted upon the fingers. They were all in

The thought of that dissenting juryman pursued tell the women to whom to apply, what don--she rejoiced in the possession of the cou

her, too. Something deeper than a passing in do, where to go, how to obtain medical the early days of her reign, when sailing from

fidence and respect alike of the heads of the London to Scotland, and later un when cruis

phy seemed to actuate the man when he sought institution and her fellow-workers. Now behold

her out after the trial. Yet what interest "I knew you would come," said the sicking down Channel and in the Hebrides. Within

her charged with a disgraceful theft; and with. woman, "Oh, I wanted you so badly, you can't the last twenty years her Majesty had paid

out the means of proving her innocence.

could she, a complete stranger, bave for him? seventeen visits to Germany, France, and italy | think!"

One morning it was within three days of Winifred had been on That afternoon Daisy bent and kissed her. "Pm going to in the spring, but during each voyage, if the the point of going off duty when she ind been

the second trial-Nurse Doris was pondering stay here," she said quietly. "Can I send one night was spent on board at all, the royal yacht arrested on a charge of having taken a lady's

the matter wium a poor creature who had been run over was brought to the accident ward of the servants back with a message?" was always safely moored in harbour. The bicycle-not her own from a suburban june- "Is it very bad?" asked Miss Hayward of Queen has occupied a sleeping cabin no fewer-ion. Doctor Stanmore, the house surgeon

where Winifred was on duty. the maid whom she met in the hall. She looks than 1 so times all told, but she has been aboard a St. Margaret's and Winifret Kymer's devoted

"Internal injury. No hope. An hour at the ghastly. Where is the mischief?"

during daylight trips-as' when crossing the but as yet unacknowledged lover, and the minst," whispered the doctor after a brief ex Solent-about 150 times as well.

In spite of her strong nerves and her de- termination, not to be startled, the girl felt her colour leave her face as she entered the darkened room, where her friend was; the pale face set in its loosened dark hair, the cager, dilated eyes frightened her.

These were soon surmounted, and the public are indebted to their untiring exertions for the benefits conferred by such an enormous stride in artificial illumination by means of gas,

The essential feature is the #Mantle which is woven of "Sea Island "Egyptian" Colton, which has been washed to remove earthy matter and grease. The mantle is at first a network of cylindrical shapes almost twice the size of the finished article. It is then immersed in the lighting fluid, which is com posed of the nitrates of thorinum and cerium in the proportions of 99% thorium oxide and 4 percent of cerium oxidle, the solution contain- ing about 14% of these salts. The excess of the solution, is then removed from the cotton by passing the latter through small wringing rollers, the pressure of which is so regulated, as to leave a definite determined quantity of the s slution in the fibres. The mantle is now dried on a mould in a hot air chamber. When dry, the mantles are stretched out to uniform shape, by haul, and then carried to the fixing room, where the top of the impregnated mantle is fixed with it huid composed of a mixture of another group of rare earths vizanthanum, zirconium, and traces of magnesia, the object being to ensure the shrinkage of that end of the mantle, in the asbestos thread with which it is subsequently, shwa, to form the thickened and supporting end of the mantle. When dried, the mantle is sewn and trimmed, and then handed to the "burners" whose duty it is to frat shape the mantfe on a wooden would, and thes to burn off the cotton by means of a skeleton Bunsen burner flame, thus leaving a of the catiom thread composed of the oxides off me to write to your husband, unless they have Vittoria and Albert" have cost upwards of ted, as stated, to the solitude of cell No. 11, thorinum and cerium. This skeleton is then. heated from the top. downwards, over a high pressure Bunser burner for 3 minutes, during which process it gradually shrinks to almost half "its original size, and is caused to take the required -shape. The mantle is now finished and ready for use, but as it is too brittle for transit, it has to be stiffened. This is done by dipping it into a solution of collodion and camphor, after which it is dried by hot air, and thence passed to the packers and wriminers.

The extent to which this industry has deva. lopet, may be indicated by the fact that at the Palmer Street works of the Welsbach Company over 30,000 mantles are manufactured daily, no less than goo girls being employed.

In an interesting account of the Welsbach system read by the chemist of the Company Mr. W. Mackcan, F.CS. before Society' of Chemical Industry in 1891, it is shown, that by altering the nature and composition of the fluid employed for impregnating the mantles, the light obtained can be varied from an intense white light, to a golden yellow or greenish colour, which differ to a certain extent in tacir diffusive power, the following mixtures giving the lights raferred to:-

WHITE LIGHT:

111.

11. per cent.

per cent. per cent. Zirconium oxide a Zirconium oxide Yum oxide 30 Lonths

Thorinum, S Lanthanum. * Thorinum

These may be considerably altered without affecting the colour of the light.

YELLOW LIGHT.

Lanthanum oxide 4 per cent. Zirconium oxide 47 per cent. Thorina

$5.

Lanthanun.. Zirconium

Cerium Cecjuni

ORANGE LIGHT.

Thorinam Anconium Itidyni

ちね

14

per cent,

14

10 Thorinum

17

III.

per cent.

per cont.

Lanthanum a

F1

"Something internal. The doctor says it will be a miracle if she pulls through ? but I say she can't she's so delicate."

"It's awful" murmured Daisy, choking down a sob, and trying to compose her face before she re-entered, the sick-room.

"You've been asking them about me? I don't mind really, you know, except that it's horrid having it happen like this,"

"Don't talk like that Sylvia. In fact, I don't believe you ought to talk at all, or they'll be sending me away. But, of course, you'll want

wired already h

"I wouldn't let them; but I should like you to do something for me."

"Anything 1

Ci

ff the time spent by he? Majesty afloat were collected into one continuous cruise, instead of being scattered over about seventy years, it would not fill six months. The Queen has never travelled farther north than Loch Brora, near Dunrobin, or farther south than Hyeres, distance by latitude of in the Mediterranean, 900 miles. The most westerly point of any of her journeyings is Killarney, and the most easterly is Germany. Yet the three yachts which in their tun have borne the name of £600.000 in initial expense, and an equal amount in repaïts, apart from the pay of the crews, and many other items of maintenance.

In the year 1933 the second "Victoria and Really-you mean that?" and the dark Albert "was launched, and her cost up to that" eyes fixed her with painful intensity.

time was £1304at. She is a wooden, copper- sheathed paddle beat of 2,470 tons, with a Of course I do."

length of 338 feet, a maximum, indicated horse. power of 2,co, and a normal speed of fifteen or sixteen knots.

"Then I want you to wire to-somebody who is

"Sylvia y husband."

Something like a laugh or was it a gasp of pain?-came from the bed.

"I don't understand," stammered Daisy

"How should you? It seems an unpar- donable thing to ask you to do you, a girl. But I'm dying, Daisy-I know it--and my life hasn't been a happy one."

"Tell me," returned the girl in an uncertain vnice.

A new yacht, to bear the same name, has been Inched at Pembroke in the present year. She will cost before her first voyage £360,000, and is a twin-screw steel vessel with a length of 430 feet, a tonnage of 4,700, an indicated horsepower of 11,000, a speed of twenty knots, and accclnmodation for a crew of 378. Her most interesting feature will be the electric installation, which, lighting the Leessel, will also beat the State cabins, work the lifts from deck to deck, the pumps, hoists, capsinn, and ventilating fans.

The mutine observed when her Majesty goes to sea is carefully planned out. As soon, for ex ample, as it has been determined that the Court shall move to the Isle of Wight, the Equerry in-Waiting notifies the railway authorities con

"It isn't what you think-at feast, not as bad, only Oh, how can I make you understand? I've been married nearly ten years.

3ly husband is kind enough, good enough, but I'in no more to him than anything else in his house-just a part of the establishment, don't you know, like the old Dresden in the drawing, and also the commander of the royal room: something which is necessary well appointed rooni It would grieve him if it were yacht, who thereupon arranges to be alongside broken: he will be sorry when I die. You can't quite replace either-that's ali." A bitter little laugh came from the white lips, and she paused a moment. "The only things my husband really cares for are Egyptian nummies and Sanskrit inscriptions, and that sort of thing, I am too modern to count, you see; but there is-I mean he has a secretary, a distant relation of same sort, and-" she stopped, and a faint flush had gathered on her pale check.

a wharf at Portsmouth or Gosport the night be- fore.

All men an furlough are recalled from leave, and everything is made spick and span, The heavy baggage arrives by an carly train, or is conveyed by another vessel the day before. The personal luggage of the members of the Household, and the boxes which always accom pany the Queen, are transferred from the train to the hold of the yacht within a space of twenty minutes or so.

At length everything is in readiness to depart and the Queen is assisted into a.wheeled chair, which is conveyed to that part of the yacht Thence she is conveyed to the level of the main deck, where she walks along the broad and handsome corridor which leads to her own apartments.

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Iron and chaplain had all three seen the police officer, and smilingly assured hian that it was a case of mistaken identity.--

Their assertions had been received with stolid indifference, and in the end a cah was called, and Sister Winifred was carried off to the police station. On this painful errand the doctor and matron accompanied the terrified girl, and offer ed bail, on behalf of the hospital authorities, to whatever amount might be required. This-by an excess of duty as afterwards appeareri-was refused, and poor Winifred was finally commit-

there to await conveyance on the morrow to Wandsworth Polic Court.

The morning was well on when the prismuer received her summons. She turned quite faint upan finding herself face to face with a crowded court, and it was all she could do to keep back the tears of shame and terror,

The doctor and matron were present, and both smiled at her in the most heartening manner. These smiles, however, slowly eva- porated as the case took its painful course. Appearances, alast were dead against the pri soner, and the railway company, who had lately been severely victimised by the "bicycle thief," seemed determined to make an example of the present offender.

The chief witness was Grimsby, the railway porter, who swore most positively to Sister Winified as the person who had presented a paper signed Ellen Humphries, and to whom he,

in consequence, had delivered the bicycle. The machine in question was the property of Nurse Ellen, also an official of St. Margaret's. She had been spending her holiday in Staines, and in returning to London had left the bicycle at the Junction to be called for between four and five unable to go herself, Nurse Ellen lind pur- o'clock the same day. Subsequently, being posed sending a messenger, and had written an order, authorising the bearer to receive the machine

This order had most mystericusly disappear ed, and had, it was alleged, been appropriated by Sister Winifred, she being the only person who knew that the bicycle was deposited at the Junction, and herself desperately eager-as was well known-to possess a machine. On the afternoon of the theft, moreover, the pris oner had unexpectedly made a request for a few hours' leave to see an aunt of hers, and was absent from the hospital from three to six.

Now this aunt was known to live

Batter-

amnation.

Nurse Doris drew the screen about the bed, and sat down beside the dying woman, P're sently she opened her dull eyes and, lifting her head, looked fixedly at the nurse,

"Sister Winifred!" she said with a gasping breath, and fell back upon the pillow.

"You know me?" whispered Winifred "I was there-m the count when-it wasn't you who-who-the lids dropped over the failing eyes.

Winified sank down at the bedside.

"You know the truth!" she sobbed. "Oh, as you are a dying woman, as you hope for mercy, tell me who was the thief"

The poor sout made one, expiring effort to speak: but with the words on ficr lips she died. Later Nurse Doria was found stretched in a deep swoon across the body of the dead

woman.

I

gratis, nr 1 tefs hospitals for many of them are ill from fretting, many are expectant mothers, and many need a welcome change to a convalescent home. In return for all this they coufide to you their opinion, that the *bisepital is a regular slaughter-ouse," that manage lines me a kind of magic fetish, that the War Citics is a genat mysterious antity" fraught in them with the omnipotence of a god. "My Pusband let so suddenly," they explain, "he bad ao time to tell me nothing, but he thought it would be all right; "and the absent- minded beggar did not trust in vain.

The soldiers are splendid at correspondence to their wires. They wris constantly to their mothers also, graphic, vivid sketches of their life, which bring betere us the grim realities of war. For Tommy can write, sometimes with a lead pencil on the field of battle, even if his wife can't.

One soldier on the Orange River told his mother: "We are having a rough time of It; we have nothing to eat but dry biscuits and coffee, and the same for tea. Another, a Seaforth Highlander in the awful battle of Magersfontein, thus describes its fierce reality: When "The enemy was waiting for us. we came up to within one hundred yards of their trenches they opened fire; then someone 'gave the order to retire. If we had advanced we should have taken the hill at the point of the bayonet. The enemy's fire was just like a hailstorm. It is a wonder there is any of my company left. From 4.30 in the morning till two or three o'clock we lay in the one place. I believe the enemy took us to be dead. As soon as we began to move a hail of bullets would come out, and the men were dropping "Sister Winifred" he gasped.

like a flock of birds being shot.... We all Silence" said she sternly. I am Nurse returned to camp, and that night many a hard Doris here."

man went on his knees to God,"

In the evening of that day Winifred, white and worn from the morning's shock, had a summons to go to see a visitor who had arrived at the hospital in connection with the deceased

woman.

On entering the waiting-room Nurse Doris found herself face to face with the odd man on the jury.

"Nurse Doris answered he, and his face went white. Then it was you who attended that poor soul now lying dead ?"

"Yes. Do you know her?” cried Winifred; and a wild hope of restitution, of salvation, thrilled her from head too foot. “This woman was in the court on the day of the trial. She called me by my true name. She would have told me the truth, but she-she-died. Do you know," asked she chokingly, what "it is she would have said to me? Ah, you do! Speak, man. Who is this woman?"

So we share their simple joys and sorrows, and their quiet pride in the brave boys fighting. The worst is when new-made widows, who have learned their loss only that day, come up with stifled sobs, still white faces, and mar- vellous self-repression, to tell us the news of their husbands' death. The old mothers sob. most, and are inere demonstrative in their grief. The young wives look dazed; they neither complain nor murmur. "He is gone "that's all; the breadwinner, the stalwart young follow of twenty-three, and they will never see him "She was my wife," answered he brakenly. again.. Baby will miss his daddy," till, grow. "Your wife! She was your wife 1 Ah, nowing older and more wise, he ceases to remem. I understand," she cried, breaking into a storm ber that he ever had a father.-Exchange. of tears, "it was she who stole the bicycle; and you knew it, and tried to save me by dissenting from the other jurymen. Oh, cruel, cruel!"

To this Arthur Longman answered not a ward. Shame and contrition hield him dumb.

"How did she-your wife—know about this bicycle?" asked Winifred then,

"Yes. He cares. Ah, I know I've known it for years; though he never said a word, we Lanthanum oxidisen Lanthanum oxide go Thorinum oxidego understand each other. Can't you realise,

so can't you see that there is only once chance of which is most nearly upon a level with the quay.sea; but the accused had no means to prove habits," he explained. "My wife discovered 23 Niobium » Erblum "happiness left for me 2-to meet him again, to According to Mr. Mackean, any other oxides feel his arms round me for the first and last may be employed in the compositions, but the time, and to whisper the words my heart has

been breaking to say all these years." prosence of some, such as alumina, and mag- nesia, ato very detrimental to the duration of the illuminating power.

The mantle is used by suspending it over a Bunsen burner in which the air and gas are mixed before arriving at the point of ignition, so that there is a complete absence of the ordi- nary white flame, but in place of which the metallic oxides of which the mantle is com posed become heated to incandescence, and yield the brilliant light now so well-known.

it

At the time of the introduction of the Wels back system in 1887, the company obtained a duty from ordinary 16 candle gas of about 10 candles. Their 1893 burner increased this to about 17 candles, whilst the latest form the 1898 patern is claimed to yield a duty of no less than 27 candles of light per cubic foot of gas consum. ed, and this even with such a low consumption in the case of their smallest sized burner, of no more than cubic feet per hom. This is truly a marvellous lovelopment, and when is considered in relation to the best results obtainable at the time of the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1882-3 shows the wonderful ad- vance which has been made since then, an advance which promises to be paralleled in the case of the incandescent electric light as by the application of the same principles, viz. the incandescence of these rare metallic oxides, there is every reason to anticipate some early pronouncement of an equally startling charac ter, but of which at present we can only hint, as the initial experiments are not yet fully com pleted and ready for publication.

The passion of her speech was shaking the The bloodless hands were fragile frame

in entreaty. "It isn't

clasped in will eat cak, is it? Some women have love beside them all their lives; I ask for it only for one short hour, the last before the outer darkness."

The entrance of the doctor broke in sur

Daisy denly upon the strained situation. Hayward was waiting for him as he came out, "It's a bad case," he replied in answer to her lock. It's good of you to be with her, Miss Mayward; but you ought not to be alone."

"You think

"He nodded.

"Do it, whatever it may be. By the way I suppose her people have been communicated with? If I can be of any use, you know, I am quite at your service." in wild entreaty,

Daisy thanked him, and returned to Mrs. Sylvester's room.

Well" The word was little more than a whisper, but ita cager intensity was almost painful

"Where shall I find the address?" said Daisy quietly Queen Anne's Gate."

"I will dictate it to you-Thornton, 113.

་

Sometimes, especially when a crossing of less than an hour's duration is in progress, the Queen remains on the upper deck in the royal pavilion, This is twenty-five feet long each way, and it has three large square windows, enabling a view of the scenery to be obtained without exposure to the wind. There are a couple of sofas and several easy chairs and tables, and when her Majesty is afloat all the saloons used by her are made gay with flowering plants- There is a painted porcelain stove, which is al ways used during the winter journeys, and the windows are hung with frilled muslin curtains. When the Queen crosses the Channel, in nider to proceed across France to the Medi terranean, the preparations are far more clabe- Tate. As soon as her Majesty has embarked, the ships in harbour dress the yards, and every thing is made gay with bunting. By her ex- press command the royal salutes to which she is entitled are omitted, because the detonation causes discomfort. The usual arrangement is is for the Queen to embark overnight, and for the yacht to be hauled off shore to her moor- ings, which she leaves at an early hour on the following day. This enables the journey from, Windsor to Cherbourg to be accomplished in two days, and the nights are spent in barbour. Even if the crossing bo to Boulogne, as last year, arrangements for one night abroad are male. The vessel is accompanied by a Trinity House yacht and an Admiralty cruiser, and every precaution is taken against the intrusive ness of inquisitive boating parties when the yacht is in harbour. The new yacht, by means of a Marconi installation, will be able to main tain uninterrupted communication with the shore at every moment of the voyage,

Her Majesty's apartments are three in num ber. There is a cabin, with a brass four-poster canopy bedstead and a huge sofa; a dressing room, containing a writing and toilet table com bined; and a wardrobe-room, occupied by the dresser. In the new yacht each of these cabins is larger and more lefty. The dining-room is In mahogany, and contains portraits of former captains. The drawing-room is in maple, and "Ibears portraits of the Royal Family upon its walls. There are a piano, a book-case, and a portable electric lamp. In the new yacht also but on a larger scale.

**What shall I say 7”.

There's no time to break the news. Say, Sylvia dying-come at once.” '

You think he'll come?" Daisy could not refrain from asking, as she rose to get her hat. A proud light leapt into the colourless face: "I know it

And your husband will not think it odd that-»

C

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

Oh, I'm a fraud, really," laughed Daisy Hayward, as she sat up among the cushions of her low basket-couch and held out her hand so her visitor. "There's nothing more the matter with me than a bad attack of laziness. How energetic of you to climb all these stairs, Meg 1

"Your aunt gave n'most melancholy account of you," retumed Mrs. Dynever; but some- how I must confess that, as an interesting invalid, you fell flat. Every one is excitedSylvester, as Daisy re-entered the room. about poor little Mrs. Sylvester."

am going to be so good, so quiet, till then. want to save all my strength."

'Not at all. Henry will fancy it was done to save him the shock."

Daisy sent off the message herself. She had An uncomfortable sense of having been drawn into a situation which her nature revolted against, but that there would be absolute cruelty in refusing this one draught of joy to those parched lips and, after all, Sylvia was dying, and no harm could come of it.

રા

Why, what has she been doing?" "Extreme things--in the way of upsetting herself out of her pony-cart, and generally smashing things up."

"Not herself? she isn't hurt really?" asked Miss Hayward quickly,

"I am afraid she is badly; she's such a frail little thing at the best, that it seems rather awful."

"Who is with her?".

Mrs. Dyntvor shrugged her shoulders. "The English doctor and her maid."

Daisy Hayward was on her feet. "Ng one also?"

"He can be here by ten to-morrow," said Mrs

I

The doctor at his next visit was amazed ut finding his patient so much calmer.

"Perhaps there is just a loophole. She is very young, she may pull through," he said, as as fe bade Miss Hayward good-night.

It was early next morning when the girl Her friend was re-entered the sick-room, flushed, her eager eyes fixed on the clock; she had scarcely time to greet Daisy; her every fibre seemed to the stretched in an ecstasy of expectation, e

At last there was the sound of carriage wheels on the gravel outside. Daisy's own "I don't think so. Every one is 10 heart beat faster as a man's step came quickly along the small passage; another second, the But no one cares to help her," returned the door was opened and tall figure strode into girl rather scornfully, -"What's the use of a ❘ the room. In spite of hersell, Daisy stayed

the alibi which the solicitor for the defence set up, for Mrs. Rymer, the aunt mentioned, was absent from home at the time, and her niece had entered the Louse by means of the latchkey which she possessed. The statement made by the defence, to the effect that the accused had sat reading in her aunt's armchair until it was time to take the return journey, could in no wise he proved, unfortunately, for neither on arrival nor departure had Winfired been noticed even by a neighbour.

That which the girl herself, which her sup porters mostly feared, occurred. The magi strate sent the case for trial.

The next day, bail having now been accepted, the unfortunate sister returned to her post at St. Margaret's, in deference to the emphatic

desire of the authorities there. No stone was left unturned in collecting funds and evidence; yet it was with a quaking heart that the devoted lover saw the eventful day of the trial approach.

II.

The momentous morning arrived.

Mr. Octavius Graham, the noted popular counsel engaged for the defence, made shurt work of the minor witnesses. Nurse Ellen be- came his especial victim. It was knows that on a recent occasion Sister Winifred had caused the former to be reported for lapse of duty; and counsel openly taxed her with having in- volved his client in this shameful business from sheer spite and vindictiveness,

Finding he could not shake the testimony of Grimsby, the porter, he cast stinging ridicule upon the idea of a man in his position swearing to the identity of one particular woman among the hundreds he must see through the day. Finally he bore glowing witness to the blame- less life of the accused, and demanded of the jury the honourable acquittal which he declared was his client's due.

No one could mistake the judge's summing up no jury could possibly acquit in face of such evidence as had been put in. Winifred gave herself up for lost

Ecarcely a creature moved after the twelve men good and true" had left the court, for their immediate retum was expected by all. Yet they did not appear for some time. Well-nigh an hour passed before they re-entered the

court.

"We cannot agree, your lordship," said the foreman,

SHOULD LADIES SMOKE.7

In the Lady's Realm this vexed questioni is discussed at some length by five well-known ladies. Ayes, 4; Noes," 1. Majority in favour, 3. It should be remarked, however, that the Ayes are given with reservations.

Nurse Ellen was her sister, but the whole family disowned her because of her drunken

Of course they should, if they like it," says that the bicycle was at the Junction through Ellen calling at our house and speaking of it to

the Princess Gagarine, although she continues: me. She-my wife-got hold of the order which" Personally I dislike it heartily, and nothing her sister had written, and went and fetched the would make me take it up," and adds that "no. machine and sold it the same day to get drink.

woman would smoke cigars and look as horrid as she does unless she really found some plea- It was only while the trial was on the way that I

sure in it." On the whole, the Princess attached knew the truth; and when I had to choose bet

so many qualified protests to her vote that the ween you and her, who was the mother of my children and once the light of her home, I-oh, pro-smokers had better regard her as somewhat

of a broken reed. forgive me!-I determined, at every hazard, to save her. But we have all had our punishment. has been dismissed from her post; I have not Nurse Ellen, who must have guessed the truth, known an hour's peace since; and she-my wife-lies dead. Sister, will you-can you forgive me?'

The Hon. Mrs. Mhetwynd thinks that "it

the where and the "why?" "But few.will be depends upon the 'how' and the when, and disposed to contradict her when the asserts that Nothing can look worse than to sen a woman lounging about at a railway station she through her tears; "but I will forgive you

I have suffered a martyrdom," answered with perhaps a cigar in her month and A vulgar swagger worthy of that cigar." If, however, a woman is only to smoke if you will restore my honest name to me."

"All that mortal man can do shall be done," when she has satisfied herself that her doing cried he vehemently; and a telegram to Doc. so will annoy and shock no one, it is tor Stanmore shall be the first aci towards re- to be feared that her chances of enjoying a paration. Widely as your disgrace was known, cigarette will be at all events, for the pretent The oft-urged argument Sister Winifred, so shall your innocence now-greatly limited. be proclaimed 1”—Advocate of India.

Against smoking, on the ground of the smell of stale tobacco, Mrs. Chetwynd dismisses at once. "This," she says, "any refined woman gets rid of very easily while the chief argu- ment upon which she bases ber defence is that wonien have to bear, often in silence, much that so essentially tries the nerves, that no solace or shooting influence should be denied them.Men can get away from those “idces sant little worries" which often make woman's existence so harassing. She adds, however, that "Where those whom a woman is bound to consider have a fixed and rooted objection to a woman smoking. (even the postprandial cigarette,) of course she must resign hörself to the deprivation."

RESERVISTS' WIVES AT HOME.

[BY LADY V. GREVILLE.}

A yellow fog outside, a long, low, dismal room, barn-like, draughty, il-lighted by a couple of gas-jets, scantily furnished, boasting a table and benches. At the table a sprinkling of ladies, on the benches some women, quict, pailid, wrapped in shawls, mostly carrying babies. It is the relief committee of the East- End branch of the S. S..F.A. engaged in doling out the weekly pittances. The women wait with stolid patience, taking their turn. They advance to the table, decently dressed, wearing the Sunday bonnet or hat of feathers this is a mark of respect to the ladies, for the denizen of the East End usually walka abroad bareheaded or with a shawl thrown over her head like the Irish peasant, The practice tends to economy, and is also picturesque, so to be commended.

Each women tells her talo: usually the same one, which falls on, the car with a sad monotony. She has not yet received hor money from the War Office, or if she has, it barely does more the pay the rent, which may be in arrear. The Laty is ill, has fretted for this presses the pany infant wearily 10

Miss Maresia Navil argues that what is th

for the gander is also sauce for the goose. She alsoisstrongly of opinion that it depends on how it is dons and 'where' it is done, and a lady will never do it when it is likely to annoy or give offence."

Mrs. Hugh Fraser assures us that "any woman who sits, as I do, seven and sometimes eight hours a day at her writing-table will find that: there are moments when a good cigarette is like the gift of a new head." She half, apolo gises for her old-fashioned belief that in such matters we should consult the feelings of our men, and concludes with the sound-advice: "Learn how to do it before making an exhibis. and avoid cheap cigarettes."

the Queen will have similar accommodation, "You cannot agree!" cried. the judge in its daddy, and the mother her bosom. They tion of yourself; don't make faces; don'tinhule, -

All the crew of the royal yach! are petty officers, of a certain height, and having the best characters, They are reduced in rank and pay, and begin at 149. per week, but afterwards rise to 285. per week, with free clothes, better food, and less exacting duties than in the regular service. They do no washing, they have no working clothes, and are obliged to volunteer for a twelvemonth as a minimum. In the new yacht they will have hot and cold baths, electric ventilation, natural light to all cabins, and generally speaking will be in very comfortable quarters.

astonishment.

No your lordship; eleven of us are of the same mind, but the other man disagrees."

"Do you mean," asked the judge, "that eleven of you are for a verdict of guilty, and the twelfth man is not?"

"Yes, your lordship; according to the avid ence we were bound to find the prisoner guilty "It's me that's the odd-man amongst us," here sald a dark, sad-faced individual, seeing the judge's gaze travel slowly over the group of jurymen. "I don't see how the witness Grimsby could swear to one woman in all that crowd, your lordship and by bringing the A story which is always repeated whenever prisoner in quilty I should go against my man of the royal yacht mest, runt, that on one | conscience.”

are strangely kind to their children, these poor women; humour their fancies, bear with their Mise Evelyn Lang, on the contrary, replies

one,

to this delicate question, "In my opinion, most try- crying, the shrill wail of a sickly little ing, to tell its pain and disappointment with decidedly not. Who can imaging, she says, life. Some women have a look of hopeless smoking mother tending her child, or a smok resignation; others show traces of tears ing nurse watching a patient? The argument some are fairly cheerful, and smile as they are of the unhealthiness of the habit, so lightly. spoken to; but all wear the stamp of patience disposed of by some of the writers, weighs strongly printed on their faces. There is no heavily with her. She is probably right in her murmuring, no wild rebellion; they have given idea that a woman who wants to smoke will their nearest and dearest to the nation, and they smoke, but," she exclaims, "I think her.a are prepared that he should shed his heart's Horrid, unfeminine creature for all that, and I blood for his country. They don't complain ;.3 hope men will shun her as she deserves. there it is natural, it jäigevitable, it is fate. Only is nothing more, likely to bring her to her baby frets for his daddy, and won't ant na hi Usnsey."

Page 5Page 6

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