1900-06-30 — Page 5

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HOMES OF ALL NATIONS.

WHERE THE ANGELS OF EVERY HEARTH

DWELL IN ANITY TOGETHER. Quaint little daughters of Japan, stately sen oritas of Spain, sweet-voiced għils from, Switzer- land, women from India and Chius, Norway, Italy, and the land of the Stars and Stripes; one is in touch with the home-life of all these widely different types of the eternal feminine here in the very heart of London, at the Earl's Court Exhibition.

China's daughters are more impressed with the gravity of life than their island neighbours, and richly robed in silks or glorious coloring, -it embroidering with the calm indifference, if not contempt, with which the Mongolian usually gards the tecidental world. There is a delight simplicity about the furniture of the Chinese; certainly there are no easy Jonging chairs, there are also none of the serious tables, stands, stools, photos, mad spintaments with which the Englishwoman Heights to cumber her drawing room, and, fooking at the few yet picturesque and artistic apnileonnces of a thinese; höme, there is a vaguesospecism in one's amint that they man. age these things better in the Flowery Land.

We me for quite sure if the "Some life” of The Swiss peasant girl consists of alternately jodelling to the Alps and knitting on a by-path to the jungtis, but the scene is charming, and the weinen even more so, with their picture- sque bodures and silver chains and trinkets, and Their very tugnish tyes which sparkle under the Voudois caps.

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THE HONGKONG TELL APH, SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1900.

all, the groups of beautiful and refined women, make it a study full of interest for the artist, the musician, the mere pleasure seeker, or the student of humanity.-M. Leader.

A TYRANT COCKATOO.

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They were in a side street of tall poor houses connecting Windsor Street and the Bank Square' when Alice Mounséy unmasked herself.

"Our engagement has been a mistake, Mr. Barkley," she said bluntly, and I hope you will agree with me that it had better end"

The words staggered George. He stopped and stared at the girl,

"Do you really mean that?" he said feebly. "I should have thought it has become plain, We don't suit each other on account of my hair":"

It just showed his ridiculous unpracticality that he should rush Gist of all after that, two- guinea arrangement of goklen tresses which from the area railings gound which it had belonged to Miss Mouusey. He plucked it lovingly twined itself, gave it to its owner and then dashed about after the cheques. There were thirteen of these, and he was lucky to re-

cover them all. But the 50 note was nowhere to be seen.

A policeman and gwo small boys helped in the search-in no purpose.

I am afflicted with a cockatoo! I can't "curse him and enst him out,” for in the first place I love him dearly, and in the next he is a sort of orphan grandchild towards whom I have serious duties and responsibilities. And The Land of the Lotus has sent sonic dainty then he arrived at such a moment when every and violent form of hurricane. A thick yellow The March wind had broken out into a short little dol-like Japanese women, their bright heart was softened by the thought of the Soudan bizare costumes in striking, but not foartistic, Campaign with its frightful risks and dangers. fringe brushed George's face and whisked off contrast to the soft time of the blossoming How could une turn away a suppliant cockatoote the left. In the same moment, the cheques

and note in his right hand slipped and went. trees so typical of their Eastern “Island of who suddenly and unexpectedly presented him-

hither and thither like dust mates. the Biest." A small toddler, black-haired and self on the eve of the Battle of Omdurman with almont-eyed, shutiles out and shyly watches a ticket to say his owner had gone up to the front the axed-haired youngsters' accompanying and he was left homeless iii Cairo? It would vistas, whilst her mother, smooth-faced and have been positively brutal, and then he was the chiktlike herself, ventable "Madame Butterfly,"friendliest of birds! No shyness or false pride laughs merrily as she plays on a quaint, mon about He had already invited my pretty tonotis, yet not unmusical, native instrument. little cook to "kiss him and love him,Ӈnit was

SOMPACONTRASTS.

paying the housemaid extravagant compliments when i appealed na the scene. To say he flew into his grandother's arms, is but feebly to express the dutiful warmth of his greeting. In less than ten minutes that, artful Bird had taken complete possession of the small house- hold, and assumed his place as its head and agety bad made her burn with shame,"

Miss Mounsey did not wait. That hair master, Ever since that moment he has reigned supreme, and I foresee that he will suppose can't do anything? she had mur. always so reign. But he certainly is the unstured, and, with a conventional hope that he mischievous and destructive of his mischievous would find all the bank stuff, had gone her way. After a quarter of an hour, George left the species. Nothing is safe from his sudden and unexpected fits of energy. I first put him in policeman in charge of the neighbourhood. He a little conservatory where he had light and returned to Mr. Mounsey to get the note's number. But Mr Mannsey had not taken it, air, and the chrestal society of spiller birds. This plan, however, only, worked for in or

Then Gierge went on to the bank and received the wigging that was his due. One Sunday morning I was three days

"It is a most disgraceful thing, Barkley, that } awakened by car-pisicing shrieks and yelis

at your age (twenty-three) you should carry six from Master Cockie, unly slightly softened by distance. These went on for some time,

ne seven hundred pounds worth of paper foose until I perceived a gradual increase of their

in your bands in the public streets. The matter will be reported to the directors." jubilant note, which I felt sure betokened mist hief, so i hastily got myself into a dress. ing-gown and slippers and started off to inves igate what trouble was "toward." It was so early that the glass doors, were still shut, and was able to contemplate Master Cockie's manœuvres unseen. The tour of the little greenhouse was strewn with fern-leaves, for gardening, or rather pruning, had evidently | been his first idea. The door of his travelling cage-which I had left overnight securely fast ened-day Bar on the pavement, and Cackie, with extend

was solemnly executing in front of another tions, in which dwelt a goldrich and à nch side by side. Both doors were wide open, and the bullfinch's com pastnient was empty; but the goldfinch was erouched, paralysed with terror, on the floor of his abode. He evidently wanted to get out very badly, but did not dare to pass the yelling. doorkeeper, who apparently was inviting the trending hule, bird, to time fonb. The in- stant the artful villain perceived me he affect ed perfect innocence and harmlessness, return ing instantly to his cage, and commencing his best performance of a flock of sheep passing, doubtless in order to distract my attention. How could one scold with deserved severity a mimic who took off not only the barking dogs and bleating sheep, but the very shuffle of their fert, and the despairing cry of a lost lamb, And

more dead than alive at last emerged from the shelter of a thick creeper where he had found sanctuary, asking repeatedly after his health in persuasive tones.--From Bird Noter, in the Cornhill Magazine.

"Thong's vision and the vil gan's dream,

Tiranobs, with as windbug stream, The city of the Mour" Memories of Bobilik, the last af the Moorisic king, and the surrender of the city to Ferd nad and Isabella, dit across one's mind as the beautifully earsed arches of Granada's famous plare, come into view, with dusty-haired Spanish women, brilliantly dressed and pic turquely grouped Sanchowe me never associates pots and pans or comumonplace win; with the Spanian!; she is graceful and ille at all costs, and the dirt of a fan or the twist of a mantilla means faune to her than the bill; liance of her domestic tensils,

No so with the Hallander: cleanliness is restamly next godlings with the Dutch "frau." You can see it in every movement ei her optic form, the bright glance of her honest eyes, and the snowy whiteness of be linen cap.

Denmark's daughters are sittingly framed in an apartment with the wide of chimney and quaint heavy furniture of the Danish house. the dark curved mak table and chairs setting on their national dess to perfection. The shor velvet bodice over one of spotless white linen, the short skirt aul uld but charming caps make one years for a national dress for the

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a sort of cage divide

So sail the manager.

At one o'clock diat day George went home to his dinner, feeling quite miserable. Though Alice was false in the matter of hair (and therefore no doubt in other details also), the blow of her withdrawal from him was acute. And he had, for a year or two, at least, lost all chance of promotion.

II...

The 30 notes was duly advertised for. Notices were also dispersed about the shop windows in the adjacent streets. But at the end of three weeks it had not been found.

Those three weeks had made much differ- ence to fieorge. For one thing, he had pluck- ed Alice Mounsey from his hears with great determination. The news of her engagement to Eric Cardew was just the sort of added Shack to convince him that he had been a fool,

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I was standin' up lookin' at the 'osses, as they was walkin' 'em round just before the race, 'longside of two sportiu' lookin' swells, when one of 'em started talkin.

"That," said the girl simply, "is what makes | in the city of Washington,last Juno, the "kiss-off 1 knowed all the ladies was admirin' me, me so thankful about it. But-are you serious, | ing-bug"@care spread over almost the entire 'cos they all turned round to fave another look Mr. Barkley, in asking me to work for you ?” United States, and even crossed the Atlantic, when I walked by 'em.

"Quite serious, That is, it is an experiment.. aförding an interesting case of widespread I expect the pay is not high, but two or three popular alarm arising from a comparatively a week—I think I can hope that my influence significant cause. A plant-cating heter --that is, if the drawings are as good as opterous insect found in England, and allied these..

structurally to the vampires that have been named, is the pretty, brown and grech bage, Lygge salts, Mr. Howard condudes prosaically, enough be syng "Che, goud result of the 'kissing-bug 'excitement may be in the end in relie spiders fmai nuch unnecessary discred."--Koltz Chrauicte.

“OLD SIMPKINS' SKELETON."

To himself he said firmly, "That fifty must come out of may savings. Li's a certain thing

They were soon "busy" on the subject of draughtmanship, about which George himself new something. Every minute deepened his interest in Madge Durrell,

Al parting she suddenly mentioned the note. "I-we have so few frients in whose opioinn we can trust that I wonder if I may tell you something," she said, with shining eyes, · She told him of the note's coming.

"Have we the right to use it if it is not claimed?" she asked.

tinctly yes, you have.

He hesitated, squiled and said, "Yes, dis-

"Ah," said she with a sigh, "you make me feel so happy. Somehow, I do not think it will be claimed."

No, nor 1," said George, kokling not his band.

"But," he added, when he was out on the stairs and descending them, “I feel somehow the finder of the note. This is a great aigist as if by-and-by I might he wanting to claim for you, George Barkley. I always felt there was something personal to me in that photo- graph" -4. Jadio.

A BATTLESHIP'S "TEETH."

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· BY "W, B. 4.”

I always thought there was a mystery in the back pages of Old Simpkins history Oligh, as I passed through the shop for my evening soll, would he be pensively gazing into spice beyond the strings of polonies and piles of pork pies temptingly displayed on the inarble.stab in his window; or contemplating sadly the remains of a fa poker. And I have on more than sinc occasion heard him heaven sight as he wrapped one of his Lumous twopenny streaky rashers in a piece of newspaper for a venturesome customer. I had settled to my own satisfaction Some- were embedded in adiposity, his heart beat with the pangs of love. And why not? Oris there a law to prevent a mam with an aqueens eye worshipping at Beauty's shrine?

Yes, it was obvietis that Simpkins had been the victim of a tender passion, and the humidity The teeth of a British battleship are many which he displayed at times towards his leaner, and various. Her largest takers" are the if not better, half, convinced me that Simp foar 12-in. guns she carries in her barbettes--ins had gone astray after another goddess. the modern edition of the older turrets. These Probably some fair kitchen maid had intuned guns, like all our later pieces of ordnance, are [his vasty bosom. Who knows what electie wire-wound"--that is, they consist of a pair sparks of love may have flashed through the skewer, as he handed her sixpennyworth of of steel tubes, over which are wrapped between 119 and 113 miles of specially-designed steel tripe-Simpkins' special milk white," wire.

The gun itself weighs when finished, forty- six tons, and is mounted in all the latest battle- ships of the Majestie and Canopus class. It is 37 ft long, and of 12in. interior diameter.

THE FULL CHARGE ISAĞGANU,

of ordite, with which it can drive its Solis, jectile cle through nearly a yard of wrought finn „at 1,000 yards range, or 3i zin. at twice that distance.-

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The "secondary" but probably the most valuable portion of every battleship's arma- ment, consist of her twelve Gin, guns. These weapons are also wire-wound, are 20ft. in length, weigh 7 tons gewt, are constructed in much the same way as their larger brethren with fourteen to thirty-two layers of wire, will fire a cordite charge of 131lb. capable of send. ing its colb. projectile through trin. of

and was happily released from the damsel.ought iron at tooo yards, and fire fifteen

He received and burned the notes Miss Moun. sey returned to him, and, in compliance with her request, he sent her such of her letters to him as he could find.

And now, one Saturday evening, taking up the district newspaper in his rooms (he had just married a very desirable couple of his characters and covered them up with the blot. ting paper), he was startled to see, under the heading "Found" an intimation that his (tha: is, the bank's) £50 nute might after all be If anyone has lost a certain valuable piece of paper, he can have it hy giving particulars to Miss Durrell, No. 11, Bautendale Street,"

That was the very street in which the wind had uncloaked Alice Mounsey's falseness and scattered her father's cheques,

shows in a minute.

THE KISSING-BUG.

SIX OF THE SPECIES

But no! O shade of Sherlock Holmes! my deductions so plainly demonstrated are provect to be absurd. Mr. Simpkins has opened the cupboard door, and exposed to my astonishetl gaze a skelton of another species.

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"Nice ass that sir" 'e sez.

Well not so bad" sex 1, "but a litle thin," for 1 wasn't goin to lot on as I didn't know nothin' about racin,"

By gade sez, "there's Sir ́'Arry, ita' 'is Jess don't-cliou know," and another toff comes

up.

D'you know Sir 'Arry e sez "let me in trojuice you-Sir Arry Jenkins,, my friend Mister

"Samuel Simpkins," ser 1, "at your service." I was a gent now an' nii mistake a mixin' up with the harrystockiracy as 'ad race 'osses.

Pleased to meet you Mr. Simpkins," e' sez. "Ow dye like my 'oss?"

"Well," I sez knowin' like, "1 don't think 'e'll win, e's a little thin, don't you know,"

"What?" e sez, "I'll bet you a 'undred dollars to five use will".

It's only the price of a 'am I thought, a 'am against a cartload of pigs.

"Done!" 1 sez like a sport, “ make it double," Right you are" e sez, and the other two gents laughs and calls im a fool. Stand to see the race. The 'osses was all.

Then we went over in front of the Grand

ranged up in a line, and then the man in the red coat coines along with a flag on a big stick, and shouts and waves it about at the 'osses, and frites 'em so that bey all runs away as art as they can.

We was all cranin' our necks to see 'emi come round the beni somebody was standin on top o'my corn all the time, but I didn't care a bit was that excited. A lot of 'em ad tailed of by the time they got round the corner, but there was a bunch of four or five comin' along like mad, the jockeys a-kickin' 'em and beatin' 'em with sticks. Sir 'Arry's 'oss was one of 'em, but 'e wer'n't no good and got left behind.

But didn't seem to care much, 'e paid up two 'undred dollars, and sed I knew more about osses than im, and I must be right, the 'oss was too thin, and couldn't { put i'm up to what. You must know, gentle reader, that I am to do to fat 'n up same. Ised as 'ow I thought what is generally known as a literary man, and, barley meal ada ba the best thing. Twas a like many of my brethren of the pen, am not capital idea, 'e sez, e' couldn't take out 'ow 'e well blessed with this world's goods, for too in't thought of it 'isself, wouldn't I come and often the lines are many, but the pennies few.ave a drink with 'im, 'e was proud to drink Se it comes about that my mansion and study with a cove as knew so much about 'osses.. are comprised in Mr. Simpkins' second floor back, site in that aristocratic throughfire, Wells Lane Borough.

Yes, it certainly requires a strong imagina tion to compose an Arcadian Ode, or dash off a sparkling seaside article, with no better pros pect than a broken chimney-pot and an ungeo- metrical water-spout to inspire one-but to Mr. Simpkins' skeleton.

The wicked editors had been particularly hard hearted, and Mr. Simpkins' rent was long overdue, Pegasus.had been running and rug- ing, but had gained no prize. So yesterday morning, in desperation, I bought a third-class return ticket to Epsoni Downs, and took the gambler's chance.

Of course I stood drinks too, cos I'd won such a lot of money, and Hon. Peter Stubbs and Mr. Patrfax (that was the other gents' nami), stood drinks, and bye an' bye we was quite jolly.

Then there was a race for some lady's purse. A lot of the swells was in love with one of the ladies, who was awfully good lookin', a reg'lar smasher, and she sed as she'd give 'er purse to the one as could win a race. So they all dressed up like jockeys and raced, and she gave 'er purse to in as won.

We had more bets, and I won quite a lot of money from 'em. but they was quite friendly, and we all ad drinks together where 't was finished Sir Arry sez, when he came back to England 'c was goin' to take me to Newmarket and introjuice me to the Prince o' Wales, 'cos I was such a good judge of 'osses, and a horna- ment to the Turf. And they would 'ave it as I should go and 'arc dinner with 'em. So wo all went off in Kickshaws (them man-cabs you

peasantry and liver closs of England that shall he pretended great joy when the bullfinch secured. The advertisement was as follows: beings. They are all heteropterous, thus belong rent on the spot, not forgetting the little know) to their diggins.'

abolish the terrible caricatures of fashion to which one is now accustomed but never re- conciled.

The Norwegian bomestead, with its long, ow room, rare ok China, and cumbersome rniture and broul, low casements, is delight

and the women kom the fords, bušily iting thick mittens and stockings are as charming as their sisters, front the neighbouring land of Sweden, whase handsome national costumes are, well set off by the scene of the Stockholm Exhibition.

THE LAND OF THE PASSION PLAY

The women of Austria, with their volumi nous-sleeved white chemisettes and, bright shawls, are shown at work in lovely Schue brunn, the favourite palace of the Hapsburgs. which the Austrians regard with awe as being haunted by a lady in white. A characteristic Alpine home is that of the Bavarian women, now brought into such prominent notice bv theber-Ammergau Passion Play. Its beautiful windows, broad hatched roof, and general air of comfort attract one's notice, even amid so nany other and delightful distractions, and the sturdy woinen themselves, with their ice axes, alpenstacks, and gukle ropes, are equally worthy of admiration,

The Venetian scene, typical of life in Italy, is naturally full of life and color, and from the beautiful balcony overlooking the grand canal, Italian women in the well-known artistic national dress are picturesquely moving to and fco, or grouped at ease, sing the songs of the laughter-loving children of the South to the accompaniment of guitars,

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SHORT STORY.

WHITHER THE WIND BLEW IT.

George could not feel that he was to blame. The coldness, if coldness it was, which had begun at times to insinuate itself between-him and Alice Mousey was there quite in spite of himself. He admired her just as much as ever, and looked forward just as eagerly to the time when they twain might marry and live happily ever-afterwards, like the characters in the short stories which he had begun to write in his lelsure hours.

Still, only the previous evening the feeling that something was wrong had stood up in him more vigorously than at any time. The paote- graph of that pretty little late school,friend of Alice's had something to do with it. In turn ing the leaves of the album, George had made

a remark.

"There's character and beauty in that face," he had said. "I should like to see the original,

Alice Mounsey's nose had lifted slightly. "You have said so before," she remarked, with a one that jarred.

"Yes, Alice. Don't you ever see her now?" I fancy I have told you that she and I are not likely to have anything to do with each other now. Her father failed three years ago, and-"

She threw the photograph in the fire.

Life on the Nile seems to drift along pretty easily if we may judge from the languid beauties from Egypt who, with flowing gar "I'm rather tired of seeing it," she explained, ments and softly-falling veils, sit stumberouslyftushing. "Not that you are to suppose I am embroidering. India's women, of slighter jealous, Mr. George Barkley. Please don't build, dusky, dreamy, yet with an alert eye take that Battering unction to your soul." upon occasion, are tolerably familiar to their The irony in her voice was worse than the English fellow subject but the dark-eyed words. daughters of the Southern Pampas of America "You need not have done that, Alice." are less known in England'; and the handsome "I suppose I may please mysdif?" Creole women working in gold and silver wire h, of course. But-" are an endless source of interest to visitors. "And another thing. I must ask you not to put me in any more of those short stories you write. I don't care for it. Afr. Cardew says it's very cheap port of fame, and I quite agree with him."

Muscovite, life is exemplified by a group of beautiful Russian women, ic handsome dresses embroidered in the well-known Russian cross- stitch, busy with art work in a luxurious room. Without, snow and ice are in cold contrast to the warmth and cheerfulness within, and the samovar, or (ca;urn-that indispensable feature of a Russian home-suggests cheerful chatter to banish the thoughts of rigorous winter.

The land of the Maple has a pretty pictur esque group of fair women outside a country kouse, around which the pine trees, soowladen,

suggest King Frost; and sleighs and snowshoes remind one of the charms of a Canadian winter.

IRELAND AND FRANCE.

La belle France, of course, is represented by a bevy of girls, smart, chic, obviously French, attired in the infest dresses from Paris, drawing-room light, elegant, and ornate, typical of La Ville Lumière Pretty, piquant Yankee girls represent America; the broad. shady verandait of the house, with its capacious rockers, is most alluring, and the daughters of Columbia are, as is ever their wont, gracefully And fashionably dressed.

After this conversation, George was, no doubt, right in fancying when he had said "good-night that things were not as they ought to be between him and Alice. But they had had small tiffs are this, and his Alice, with the beautiful golden bair and blue eyes, bad smiled on him afterwards and confessed that

she had not meant to be unkind. The reference

to Cardew the solicitar was worst.

1he, next morning, with a regular March roarer in the air, George found that he had to collect a goodly bill at the office of Alice's father.

Be careful about that, Barkley," said the bank cashier who gave George the bill, with others.

George nodded, smiled, and went his way. His mind was very active and hopeful that day. He duly presented himself at Mr. Mounsey's office, and was received with a smile by that opulent merchant.

There it lay my boy," said Alice's father, The natural rugged beauty of Ireland is sug. pushing towards him a pile of cheques (greasy), gested by the scene surrounding the little, one so Bank of England note (ragged), and cabin, where pretty brogac. Their homespun

colleens gather and chatter 34 in gold. with their rich, dresses and bright hoods are in strong contre to the fashionable soft-colored gowns of the Englishwomen in the modern English drawing room, where the hostess and her visitors linger good-morning," she said. "What a aver five o'clock tea, or employ their white hond wind! Are you going straight back to fingers in the manufacture of tam o akantera the bank?”

George counted it-found-it-right, and gave Mr. Mounsey the acquittal bill. In that mo mat Alice came in with wind-blown cheeks and air.

"Then you shall escort me."

and other articles, showing the keen intent"As straight as possible." evinced by all sections of the community in the welfare of the soldiers fighting for Britain in.South Africa.

There and then George toak his hat.

His asked for Miss Durrell at No. 11 and was invited to mount to the fourth floor. The house was none of the nicest and the fourth floor was the attic. He tould not knock at the wrong door.

"Oh, do come in "" cried a lively voice. alone with a sprightly I idle woman whose white He turned the handle and found himself

hair rather belied her face. The room was clean and even comfortable and a bright fire burned in it. On a table were drawing materials and several half-finished sketches.

"Miss urrell?" said George, and he was bustled into a chair in the heartiest manner.

But at the first mention of the note, the little woman became suffused with woe.

"Don't come to say that you are going to clains that gift from the skies upon which I have been counting so much ever since Madge found it between the flower pots!"

She began thus appealingly and having, so to speak, taken the bit between her teeth, she talked about domestic concerns as if she had known George for years. He soon learnt that Miss Durrell was the old lady's daughter and that she supp rted them both-with difficulty by doing black and white work for very mean little publications. He learnt, too, that not long ago they had both been in comfortable circumstances. The apparition of the Eso note, between the geraniums on their window sili had, in the old lady's esteem, been plain proof that Heaven meant to begin again to be kind to them.

"There are so many luxuries I should like my poor child to enjoy, Mr. Barkley, you under- stand. But she will buy nothing for herself.

Feeling rather distressed, George could only tack about the subject of his call and hope Miss Durrell herself would soon turn up. He gathered that neither of them was in the habit of looking at the bills in the shop windows. Also, that it had taken three weeks for Miss Durrell to persuade her mother that it was their duty to see if there might be an earthly clai- mant for the £5a

Ah, I hear her step," exclaimed the old lady at last "Now, Mr. Barkley, whatever you do, don't frighten my darling by making her think that you are after that little godsend of ours,"

Then she turned and opened the door. George started the moment he saw the old lady's daughter. Her face was familiar and yet he could not declare that he had ever seen her. She was a girl with a beautiful express sion, the more beautiful for its sadness. And at once, and before he had done more than bow and begin to puzzle about an explanation, he remembered.

It was the face of the photograph which Alice Mounsey had thrown into the fire.

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III. In his confusion, a sudden thought came to him,

"I am a writer, Miss Durrell," he said, "and I was wondering if you could do two or three illustrations for one of my stories." at first, clapped her hands and laughed.

The old lady, who had looked very anxious "That's it, Mr. Barkley," she said. "She does heaps and heaps of them."

The girl looked doubtfully at George, whose blushes were certainly profuse, then put her

arms round her mother's neck.

"Come dear," she said tenderly, "you shall go to your own room while I talk to Mr. Barkley."

The old lady nodded furiously at George and, allowed herself to be led away. But the my- Mr. Mounacy, glanced at George as if hestery of her conduct was soon declared. were sorry for him Mr. Cardew had paid him a vist at ten o'clock the previous evening.

"Good-morning, my boy," he said kindly to George."Always glad to see you, you know," George thanked the merchant and held the

It is a unique exhibition, the transition from the languorous South to the sprightly, vigorous North the works and handicrafts and their national songs; the playing of various instru ments, from the born of the Swiss mountaineer door for Alice. She smiled at him rather lolly. to the plaintive Japanare quitar; and, above „Es soon know why.

The girl returned, with tears in her eyes. "Perhaps," she said quietly, "I ought to apologise for my poor mother. She is entirely harmless; but we have had misfortunes, and they have been too much for her."

Oh so sorry?rald. Georga sagerly, # Ronily, I had an idea of 12?.

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The accomplished entomologist of the United States Department of Agriculture, Mr. L. O Howard, says the Times, has done useful work in' tracing out the insects which gave rise to illustrated six of the most prominent of these the kissing-bug scare last summer. He has

creatures, all of which pierce the skin of human ing to the order of insects of the true bugs The first of these is Redurius personatus, a European species known as the "cannibal" bug, as it preys upon the bed-bug, and probably it followed the latter from Europe Into the United States. If a fly or other insect is offered to the cannibal bug it is first touched with the antennie, a sudden spring follows, and at the same time the beak is thrust into the prey. The cannibal bug moves deliberately, with a long pause between each step, the step being taken in a jerky manner. It is practically cosmopolitan in its distribution, and may al- mast be termed a household insect. The "bite" of this species is said to be very painful to the human subject, more so than the sting of a bee, and to be followed by numbness: L. Conte, indeed, says the pain almost equals that of the bita of a snake, and the swelling and imitation will sometimes last for a week; in even prove fatal. very weak and irritable constitutions it may

The second species is Melanolestes picipes, abdominalis. These hide beneath logs and which is possibly identical with Melanolester stones, and run swiftly. The first reference to their "bite" was probably made in 1875. In a case recorded in 1888 a punctured finger under went rapid swelling, and was, very painful, These creatures appear to be night-fliers, and to be attracted through open windows by lights indoors in a case in which the victim was "bitten" upon the end of the middle finger the first paroxysm of pain resembled that following a hornet sting, but almost immediately the pain grew far more intense and a feeling of weak ness was followed by vomiting. The pain was felt to shoot up the arm to the under jaw, and the sickness lasted for some days. Another case is interesting as having occurred in bed, the hand being attacked with very painful results and bad swelling.

The half of that ticket was never used, for why should I not travel first-class when my pockets were bulging out with bank notes?

And so it came about that I was introduced to Old Simpkins' family skelecton,

"Much to his surprise I paid up my arrears of account for sausages and mashed and other luxuries of a similar nature which had of late served to raise my imagination to the proper pitch to describe an Alderman's Banquet or a West End, dinner for The Morning Tattler, and, in the fullness of my heart, had invited him to partake of a cigar and a little liquid refreshment in my apartment.

I had been through the day again from my departure in the morning with the recklessness of a desperado, to the mad moment, when I heard the almost incredible news, that the double event had come off.

Simpkins had been listening with suppressed excitement, the tallowy hue of his face now and then becoming streaked with pink, like his own" Prime Irish," his weak eyes wide open. His cigar had gradually become unwound and the end had made yellow smears across his double chin, as he unconsciously took it from his mouth and replaced it.

Ah, Mister Stafford Sir, I am an old i ntan, and a very poor one sir-thanking you for the rent sir-but I was a gent once, though perhaps you wouldn't think it,"

l'ave seen the world sir, ay, and if it 'adn't a bin for them 'osses, I shouldn't he cuttin' rashers now. It was two year ago, an' l'ad made my pile, an' kez I to Marin, "Maria, let's put Billy Stookes in as manager of the show, an be gents," that is, I'd be a gent and 'er a lady I always was a' ambishus cove and that's what 'ave been my rain. We wanted to do the thing proper, and be slap up to date, so we took on with the fastunable craze, and went globe trottin.' I wasn't goin' to 'ave no second rate bizness, an' made up my mind to do things in style, sol went to Cook & Co., tip-top people as fixes up 'igh class trips for all the harry stockmacy, you ain't never bin globe trottin' ave you sir? Ah well, it's a poor job 'ritin' them A third species, Ceriscus subeoleopius, books, pigs is the thing, "Tis worrelin' in the produces a sharp pain like the prick of a pin; summer at times 'tis true, the flies will pitch, it is one of the forms which are liable to carry an' sometimes yer bacon gets rowsty, but Lor pathogenic bacteria. The two spotted corsair, bless you, it don't taste made up in saveloys. Rasanus biguttatus evidently delights in

Well, Sir, we took a ticket round the world- human blood, but prefers taking it second. right round the bloomin' globe-a 'undred and hand, which it dues by preying upon the bed-twenty pounds; it's a lot of money, but we bug. It appears that nearly all the so-called *spider bites" met with in Southern California are produced by no spider at all, but this tw spotted con air. The explanation of the severity of the wound of this creature is that the insect introduces not any specific poison of its own, but only ordinary putrefactive germs which may adhere to it beak or piercer.

Perhaps the best known of all the species here to be referred to is the bloodsucking cone-nose, Conorkinut sanguisuga. This ferocious insect inflicts a most painful wound and is remarkable for sucking the blood of mammals, particul- arly of children. Its "bite" has been known to lead to very serious consequences, if patient not recovering from the effects for nearly a year, and there can be no doubt that these results are dus to the introduction of extraneous poison germs, the species frequenting the Pacific coast being attracted by carrion. A case is recorded in which a woman broka out over the body and limbs with red blotches and welts. from a single sting on the shoulder. Specimens of the blood-sucking cone nose veelved from Missisippi last July were accompanied by the statement, which is interesting in view of the popular idea that the "kissing-bug" prefers the lips, that a person was "bitten on the lip, and that the effect was a buming pain, intense itching, and much swelling, lasting three or four days. The writer of the letter had been bitten upon the leg and sim, and his brother had been bitten upon both feet and legs and on the arm, the symptoms being the same in all cases.

nothin' more till I woke up next day about one I got so full up on wine that I didn't know o'clock in bed, feelin' that bad and sick: Maria, she was carryin' on somethin' 'awful, callin' mé a drunken beast, and what was I doin' steppin' out all night, and bein' bro't ome dead drunk at 3 o'clock in the mornin' by them kickshaw

men?

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But when Maria card 'ow much I'd won, she changed wonderful, and kep on sayin' what a smart chap I was, and 'ow it must 'ave b'a standin' in the sun that 'ad made me bad.

There was a note waitin' from Sir Arry to say as they'd gone into the country for three weaks and would come and see me when they came back.

On the strength of them winnings we went to see some of the sight places, so as to do the thing proper. We wont to Kamunycura to sce the Diboots, that's the biggest idol in the world, nade out of solid gold, with a great big di'mond as big as a 'en's egg, what they calls the Ko-i-- nore stuck on 'is for cud. The Japanners is 'eathens you know and comes miles to pray to it.

Then we went to Minnyoshta, where there's rivers of boilin' water full of brimstone. All the Japanners goes there when they're ill to drink out of the river for physic instead of takin' brimstone and treacle,

When Sir 'Arry and 'is friends came back, I was goin to give 'im a dinner so as to keep in with em, cos I wanted to be introjuced to the Prince 'Wales, so after three weeks we came back to Yokohama,

F'd brought papers with me as I could money for and always carried 'em done up in a get

packet in me pocket book. So I went down to

the Bank to get some out, and opened up the packet to get my papers, an' what d'you think? They was all gone, and there was all sheets of 'ritin' paper wraped up instead."

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The old man wiped his eyes with the corner of his greasy apron, swallowed a lump in his throated continued in a broken voice

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"An' there weren't no Honorable Stubbs an oss, an' they'd took it all out of the bank. there weren't no Sir 'Arry an' 'e did't 'ave no

'undreds of pounds what 'ad took me years and years to save!

weren't goin' to mix up with no commershall blokes, we was going with first-class assiety

If you want a hinterestin' account of forrin' countries, 1 tell you some day all about Haisha, and lots of other savage countries as

"Samuel Samuel: 'ow much longer are you them as don't travel ain't never 'eard tell of gain to sit guzzlin' up there?'ere's Sairey Smitiz an' you can make a book--"by Misters Simpave 'em, cos they smells "igh," comes up the ave brought back the rashers, an' sez she won't kins & Stafford," ch? the whisky was getting stairs in the acid voice of Mrs. Samuel. low down in the bottle by this time), but 1 was goin' to tell you about 'oss racin

We was in Japan, the, country what con. quered China and 'ave joined it on to Japan, which wasn't a 'ard job seein' as 'ow the China only fight with umberellas, and wo was stop- pin in the Grand Otel at Yokoliama, which is always chock full of American millionaires, as thick as fleas, when the races come off.

It was always my ambishus to be a sportin' man, and now I was a gent I made up my mind to start in,

"Comin', comin'! Don't say nothin' about it to Maria sir, she do go for me somethin' cruel, Comin', comin' Good night sir-good night- boxed up in its cupboard, and the door slammed And so old-Simpkins! skeleton was once more

to on its creaking bones.-J. Datly Mail.

BORN IN PURPLE.

ABOUT THE QUEEN'S HOUSEHOLD. The Young Woman contains some interesting I didn't say nothin' to Maria, but I just went information about the Queen's Household, and got some togs made like Josher Walker The Queen has six trumpeters, who draw pay, squire used to wear. A reglar swell he was at the rate of £100 per annum, These appoint as used to come in the shop every Saturday ments are not hereditary, and afford the Queen morning to order is Sunday pork-and mighty | an opportunity of rewarding soldiers who have pentickler 'e was no-with a white topper, and distinguished themselves. a brown tail coat with a big square pattern on it, and a great, big loss shoe pin, you'd take im for a Book

The Queen's Limner enjoys one of the most profitable postsat Windsor Castle. He decorates. books and MSS.-with initial letters, and illumi. When Marla saw me togged up, she wanted to nates parchments and commissions with bor kabw what was up, an' was awful testy when I ders and designs. The gentleman who holds sed I was goin' to the races, an was dead

agen this past performs his duties with great artistic me goin'-er people was Portsmouth Brether skill at a salary of £410 a year. enites you know. But I was dead set on goin' The clockmaker receives the same remunera-· and away I drove in a Kickshaw-that's what | tion, and it is his business to keep all the time- The general conclusions pre that the bite of they calls their little 'nnsom cabs, they don't'ava | pieces in repair. The historiographer, who is any one of these creatures-it is, indeed, a stalosses to the cabs in Japan, they keeps 'em all supposed to keep note of events, holds an here. rather than a bhe-may be, and frequendy la, | for racin,' so they 'ave to get men to drag ani, ditary office, with a salary of 500 a year. The mistaken for A spider bite, and that the so one is generally all they ave but I drove master of the music, Sir Walter Parratt, the called "kissing.bug" scare has been-based tandem with a "osher" too, that's a man as famous organist, receives £2000. The surveyor upon certain undoubted cases of the bite of shoves up beind.

of pictures is paid 5000 the librarian, Mr. one or the other, of them, but that other blies, The whole place was full of Lords and Ladies R. R. Holmen, receives 500, the examiner including those of mosquitoes, associated with and millionires, but Sam Simpkins was the of plays has 6320; the keeper of the awans is hysterical and survous symptome in the victim, maricat dressed man there, scept for the paid too and the barge, traster has a similar have added to the general Klarra, Originating in a red' cont as fast to fri'ten the asses | islaryz

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Consignees.