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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1890-7-24, Page 6r% The ]sight Hind of a Fellow. The right klndof a fellow is modest and mellow, And generous and brave and benign His nature's apparent, and clear and trans- parent, Like yours, gentle reader and mine. He has no verbosity, no tongue tortuosity, And never is,boasttul and loud ; Be is gentle and quiet and plain in his diet, And never gets mad in a crowd. He is grand and Majestic, yetmeek and domestic, And spends his spare evenings; at Horne,;. Flue, a tireless searcher for all lands of virtue, ` Like the perpetrator of this pome," He don't play the fiddle, part his hair in the middle, Nor dross like an angelic dude ; When he goes to a party with Aleigs or McOarty He never is noiby and rude. He lives with frugality and sweethospitality, And wants pie but two times a day ; Re never eats onions nor treads on your bunions, Nor growls when you get in his way. Fie is wino and lie's witty, persevering and gritty And has a magnificent head; He's all light and sweetness, he's thorough com- pleteness, He's perfection, in short—but he's dead —Orchard Lake Howitzer. ADOPTED BY THE DEAN A TALE OP TWO OOQNTRIEf3. CHAPTER XXIV. The days passed by with terrible swift- ness, and when the Sunday was over, Esperance found it hard to make the most of her present happiness—her thoughts woald turn to the parting which was in store for her on the Wednesday. Gaspard had arranged to meet Mr. Seymour in town on Wednesday °:,evening, and they were to travel down to Southampton together, their ship sailing the next day. Unfortunately, Tuesday was the evening of the militia ball,•and Esperanoe foresaw a time of hurry and bustle, when she would most have wished for quiet. Sorrow was making her very patient, however, and though she was bent upon finishing Gas- pard's mendinge in time to paok for him that afternoon, she bore her ceaseless interruptions quietly. Never had Cornelia's room been invaded so rethlecely. First, Bertha appeared, with cheeks flushed rosy red, and a happy light in h• r usually languid eyes. ii cperance, yon must help me just for a moment. See 1 George has given me these beaetifal pink azaleas for tonight, so I mutt wear my white net instead of the blue. and here is the kilting all in ribbons." Esperanoe looked in dismay at the torn ekiri, which had been very roughly treated at some dance. '. No one will mend it so beautifully as you," said Bertha, persuasively, " and, indeed, all the servants are so busy this morning ; can you spare jest half an hour for it ? " Esperanoe could not refuse ; she put down Gaepard'e sock with a stifled sigh, and submitted to being half smothered by the folds of white net. Her dainty little fingers soon set matters right, and as she worked she could not help wondering when the very obvious attachment between George Palgrave and Bertha would be deol":red. Perhaps it might be that very night ; Bertha would look very beautiful in the white dress and the azaleas, and there would be music, and bright lights, and excitement. Ab, well! it was a good Bohr.: that some people oonld enjoy snob thin.. ' and the little French girl knew well eno Lbthat they wore enjoyable, but she was .o ill and sorrowful even to wish for "diaraotion" jest now. S le had just finished Bertha's dress when Mrs. Mortlake Dame in. " You are always out of the way when yon tl re wanted," she said, crossly. " The idea of shutting yourself up here when every one is so busy 1 I want you to come and see to Bella." Eeparanoe folded up her work with a heavy heart, and hastened away to the drawing -room, where she found Bella making herself a general nuisance. "' There, just hear her reading, will you," said Mrs. Mortlake, handing over her troublesome charge willingly enough. " She must be here because the other rooms are engaged—keep her quiet." This was more easily said than done, as Bella was in high spirits, and much more inclined to torment good-natured Mrs. Lowdell, with rough, teasing play, than to attend to her lessons. For at least half an hour such a battle as the following went on: " Now, Bella, c—a—t ; you know quite well what spells 1 " " C—a—t," droned Bella, stupidly. " The light is in my eyes, cousin." " Then move ; now, then 1" 44C—a—what is now, Lowdell singing for ? " ., Don't talk ; go on I " " C—a—t— Oh 1 there's a wasp on the window." " Bella, go on ! " " Will yon give me a chocolate if I say it right ?" 44 No, certainly not ; now ceniokly 1" " Mamma always does," said Bella, with an ominous drooping at the corners of her month. " Ara you going to read this word or not?" No ; you're only French, and you don't know a bit how to teach me," whined Bella. Whereupon Esperance shut the book and carried her provoking little pupil to the corner, where she roared with all her might. " A very diffionit child to manage, I should think," said Mrs. Lowdell, with a commiserating glance, as she hastily left the room to be oat of the sound of Belle's screams. Esperance, heartily ashamed that her pupil should be driving people away by her naughtiness, longed to take her up to the tannery ; but this was against Mrs. Mort - lake's rules, and Miss Bella's two hours down -stairs were apt to make visitors beat to hasty retreat to their bedrooms. She screamed on without the smallest diminuendo for some minutes, and Esper anoe at down despairingly with her hands clasped over her forehead, half distractedly by the double noise of cryingand singing. . On and on it want like some frightful nightmare. But men must work and women must weep' "—from Miss Lowdells Bear, roar -from Bella. " Though storms be sudden and waters deep.' " She was very inattentive and rude said poor Esperanto, looking down. Rude, indeed ! it is your ridiculous pride which is so ready to take offense; oho is never rude to any one else, and I'm not going to have your French system of punishment brought in ; eo pieaa° remem- leer, no one °punishes Bella but myself. Nothing tends more to make a child deceitful than constant, punishment your national oharaoter is quite accounted for." Then, as Esperance would have begun an indignant remonetrance : • r" No, no, I will not have arguing before Bella; you have wasted quite enough of easy timealready ; the beak think you oan do now ie to leave the room, for the Child Can't bear the eight of you. I wish, instead of eittbp at might burning other people's oodles, you would learn to make yourself useful by day. You think so mnob,, oftrimmerstrimmers Fronoh trimmers ; but for my part - --w." Mrs. Mortlake broke off in dismay, for looking round she saw Gaspard standing in the doorway, and from the expression of his face, she knew he must have heard mast Of her angry speech. Esperanoe turned, too, and with a ory of relief ran, to him. " Gaspard! Geepard 1" and she clung to him as if for protection. He put his arms around her holding her closely, deaf to all Mrs. Mortlake's greet- ings, and only growing more and more angry as he felt how Esperance was trembling. As ecce ae he ooutd trust him• Self to epeek he turned upon ileus. Mortlake, but Christabal with an i.netinotive dread of what was Doming, tried to intercept hie speech. Good -morning ; you are later than usual today ; have you come to take Esperanoe fora walk ? Her cool, clear voice so angered him that he dared not speak to her. He just bowed an assent. Christabel fairly trembled before that calm, ei tnified auger, and she never forgot Gasparn'e look—the clear., unflinching eyes, the proud, sensitive month,and the whole face rigid with repressed indignation. She gave a sigh of relief when he turned away, and led Esperanoe from the room. When they had reached Cornelia'a study, however, Esperance had recovered herself ; and, indeed, though unable to help a feeling of relief in having Gaspard for a protector, she was very sorry that he had heard one of Mrs. Mortlake's moldings ; and tired ont as she was she roused herself, trying to talk lightly of the morning 000urrenoes, and to laugh him out of his anger. "' yon see, mon ami, it is a busy day people oan't help being a little °rose ; there is to be a ball to -night, you know." " It was not crossness, it was downright insolence," said Gaspard, angrily. " Yon may be patient for yourself, mon ce;ur, but I can't be patient for you. It is unbearable to think of leaving you with such people." She stooped down and kissed his fore. head. " I think it oan be borne, when we believe that in three or four years it may perhaps he all over." " Three or four years ! yes. Bat till then?" Esperance could not answer; she turned away to hide her quivering lips, till Gas• pard, ashamed of his despondency, hurriedly rose and drew her toward him once more. " Cherie, I have been a wretch! you who have the heavier burden to bear are preach- ing courage to me. We must, we will endure, darling, and the waiting may not be so hard as we think." Esperance was soon at work again, in spite of Gaspard's entreaties tbat she would spare herself. " And by the bye," he said, suddenly, " what did Mrs. Mortlake mean by that reference to the burning of candles ? " " I am sorry yon heard that," said Esperanoe, coloring. " It was only that I used to sit up sometimes at night, and she thought it extravagant; and was vexed." '" Yon eat up over my outfit ? You naughty ohild; that accounts for your white cheeks, and you mean that that woman grudged you the candles ? " " Yes ; she puts liotle half-hour Dandles in my room now," said • Esperanoe, laugh- ing at Gaspard's indignant acorn. '" I only wish she were a man, and that I could have it out with her," he said, between his teeth. " But there, we will not waste any more of our time over snoh a disagreeable subject." By the afternoon most of Gaspard's things were ready, and Esperance was much relieved at receiving from Cornelia a dis- pensation from the cathedral service, so that she had time to pack for him. This seemed to make her realize things mach more fully, and she began to feel that she could not keep up much longer. '" Is there anything I can do to help you, Cornelia ? " asked Esperanoe in her tired voice. " No, I am ready, thank you. I hope yon were with your brother ; Christabel has not been hindering you, has she ? " "" There were several things to do ; but we shall have a little time after you are gone," said Esperance. "" Very well, go to my study then, and you will not be interrupted. Ab ! I hear the carriage," and Cornelia reluctantly closed her book, and took off her spectacles. After some trouble, Esperance gathered up the last of the dresses, and the party set off, Bertha turning back once more to wish her cousins good -night. The footman closed the front door, and then turned to Esperance. "" If you please, miss, the dean wished me to tell you that he is engaged in watch- ing an eclipse of the moon, and there will be no family prayers to -night." Gaspard, who had arrived, stroked his + mustache to hide a smile. " Well, oherie, where shall we go? I must have a few minutes with you." Esperance led the way to Cornelia's study, but when the door was shut, her strength all at once deserted her she turned suddenly faint and giddy, and clung sobbing to Gaspard. Bien aimee, what is it ? Yon are ill, Esperanoe." "' I—I don't know," she sobbed. " I wish it would all stop, I am so tired! " Her ears were ringing with the words of Miss Lowdell'B song : " For men must work, and women must weep, And the sooner 'tis over, the sooner to sleep." Gaspard did not quite understand her, 'but he Saw that she was quite worn out. " Yon are tired, darling, and overdone," be said, gently. " There, Dome to your old place, and be a baby once more." He took her on his knee, and made her rest her head on his shoulder ; but the quivering, tearless sobs alarmed him. " Where are your tears gone to, oherie— yon used to have no lank ? " " 1 am better," she faltered, still struggling bravely to conquer herself ; and Gaspard, relieved, did not question her further, but began to talk of other things. There were still many matters to be dis- cussed, and on this last evening they both instinctively dwelt on old times. The clock had jast straok one when he was startled by approaobing foetateps, and the door was opened by Cornelia. She was of course surprised to find her cousin still up. Gas- pard made a low toned explanation, and Cornelia, touched by the very unwonted sight before her, was unusually gracious. One of the Misses Lowdell turned faint, and I came home early with her, I am sorry yon and Esperance had an interrupted evening." "-I am afraid she is overtired h overtired, she been slaving over my outfit," said Gaspard, an:tionely. " I wish I could have left her butter. Yon will know, Miss Cotillion, sanely she is very hot and feverish 1 I wish I knew what was wrong with her." Cement, felt her hand in a hesitating way, painfully eongoioug of her own ignorance, " I know nothing about Ill g Hasa," elle said, bat certainly she is very hot. I think, ae you say, ehe hoe overtired hereon." Gaspard's face only grew more troubled, and Cornelia would have given worlds for dict womanly skill and wiedoni which she felt the need of no much. Their *olden were making Beperanoe restiese, she moved her arms nueaeily, and talked in her sleep, at first unintelligibly, but afterward with terrible distinotnese, though always in. Frenoh. Cornelia and Gaspard each received some wounds from the nnconeaious tongue. Now it was in relation to Gas- pard's journey. " To -morrow, to -morrow 1 How shall I bearit ? And yet it will be good for you, Gaspard." Then again, with little convulsive sobs between the words, " It is so far away,' so very far, and I am so lonely. If Duly they would love me a little ! ' By degrees she grew a little more quiet, and Gaepard looked up at Cornelia, groat tears in his eyes. " Mies Collinson," be said, eerneetly, "' she is all 1 have left ; you will take care of her." "" Indeed I will," said Cornelia, with real sympathy, and Gaspard trusted those three words more than he would have done ;countless protestations from Mrs. Mortlake. He turned once more to his sister, while Cornelia watched them sadly, yet with a sort of envy. At last Esperanoe woke, wearied and confused, and Gaspard proposed that she should go up to her room. " Yes, come," urged Cornelia, " you will never rest down here ; I will help you." She lighted a candle, and would have offered to help her up the stairs, but Gas pard was before her. '" Now, cberie, hold tight round my neok, and you shall feel as if you were going up the old pigconnier at home." Esperance obeyed, and was carried up staire in hie arms, Cornelia staying to see her safely in bed. The next morning dawned brightly, too brightly for poor Esperanoe. It reminded her of that fatal 30th of November, when the earn had shone down ao cruelly upon their desolation. She was too much worn oat now to feel more than a dull, aching pain at her heart, as she remembered what day it was ; she dressed wearily and went down to the breakfast room, with only one. idea strongly impressed on her mind—that for Gaspard's sake she must keep up. As if in a dream, ehe went through the usual routine, walked to the cathedral, meeting Gaspard at the door, stood, eat, and knelt mechanically through the service, went back to the deanery, and talked with Gaspard still dreamily, in Cornelia's mond. At lanoh she was pale and quiet ; only when in the afternoon the time for Gas- pard's departure really Dame, and the omnibus drove up with his luggage, a glow of intense Dolor rose to her cheeks, and the composure which all the morning had been her aid, forsook her. She could hardly see or stand, bat true to her resolution she struggled on, talking still, though she oonld eoarcelyhear her voice because of a strange ringing in her ears. Gaspard was much more visibly agitated. He hurried through his good-byes in the drawing -room, and came out into the hall where Esperanoe and Cornelia were wait- ing, looking so haggard and miserable that Cornelia's heart ached for him. The eight seemed to give new courage to Esperanoe, she clung to him with whispered words of hope and comfort, and soft caresses. He turned for one moment to Cornelia. " Your promise—you will remember ? " "Yes, alwaya," replied Cornelia, earnestly, pressing his hand. Then, with one long embrace, the brother and sitter parted, and Gaspard with bowed head passed down the steps, and gave directions to the driver in Frenoh. Esperanoe with a great effort still stood at the door ; the floor seemed rocking beneath her, a black mist was gathering before her eyes, but she smiled and waved her hand braveley. Gaspard looked back relieved, and when the omnibus turned the corner of the Vicar's Court, he saw her standing on the steps still watching him, while Cornelia had Dome forward, too, and was holding her hand. The sound of the wheels died away in the quiet court, and Cornelia turned to Esper• once, speaking gently. " My dear, you will oome upstairs and rest." Bat rest had already Dome to Esperance, and she sank back senseless in Cornelia's arms. Every one Dame flocking out of the drawing -room at Cornelia's call, and gathered round the white, still figure, with exclamations of pity. The dean was greatly distressed, and bent over her with more. anxiety and earnestness than he had ever shown before to a body that was not " heavenly." " Some one should go for a doctor, surely, my dears, she is very cold, poor child, poor child 1 I'm afraid this has been a grief to • her." " My dear father," said Mrs. Mortlake, impatiently, " she has only fainted. Frenoh people always do faint when they think it becoming, they like to make a scene." The Misses Lowdell looked on wonder- ingly, Bertha made pitying remarks in an undertone to George Palgrave,, Cornelia knelt on the ground supporting Esperanoo'e head, and looking at the faces around her with angry impatience. " Will no one do anything ? Why do you all stand staring like this ; can't you fetch some water ? " Just then Mrs. Lowdell came downstairs. " Some one fainting ? Dear me? poor child!" and she began to chafeEsperance's hands in a capable sort of way, which relieved Cornelia. " What ought we to do with her ? " she asked, turning with confidence to the motherly old lady. " I should carry her up to bed," said Mrs. Lowdell, " she can't breathe with every one standing round her here." Cornelia did not hesitate for a moment but to the surprise of all, suddenly rose, took Eeperanoe'e inanimate form in her strong arms, and quietly walked upstairs. Mrs. Lowdell followed, bringing various restoratives, and together they did all in their power for the poor child ; but it seemed as if nothing would bring her to life again, and Cornelia growing frightened, was just proposing to send, for a dootor,. when faint signs of returning coneoioneness began to show themselves.' The eyelidsuivered at last and slowly opened, Es eranoe looked up half hopefully, then rememberingeall with a swift pang turned her fade way and relapsed pinto oemi•conscionsnees. But Mrs. Lowdell insisted on hertelling some sal volatile, and then a terrible idea crossed her mind and roused her felly. • " Cornelia," ehe said, in a weak yet eager voice, " Gaspard did not see me faint, did he?" " No ; he was quite out of sight," said Cornelia, reassuringly. " Yon are quite certain ? " " Perfeotly." And with that Esperanoe was satisfied ; she had kept up to the last; for momen he was quite soothed by the relief 0 knowing it, then the reaction set in, her desolation broke upon her, ' and ebe her into a passionate fit of sobbing. The tearlese sobs whish had so alarmed Gaspard on the previone evening were even more alarming to Cornelia, Was it poseiblo that her stern words had really Checked Esperance a tesre ? Good gra. Lowdell'e exhortations made her feel the more miserable. " Cry, trey dear, have d good cry, and you will be better." But still there were only those heartrending sobs, and a gasping, quivering agony, terrible to witness. CHAPTER• $XV. a The deanery was 11 in commotion the next day, for before long it was known that Esperanoe was ill with typhoid fever, Mee. Mortlake wee, es usual, sure that she could have helped it, " I do think it is very iuooneiderate of people to be ill in other people's honses," she grumbled ; "jest think of the expense it will be, and there's my father being persuaded by Mrs. Lowdell to have a trained nurse, who will eat dreadfully, those nurses are always regular cormor- ant.e" " My dear Christabel, the money does not Dome out of your pocket," said Cornelia, impatiently. ., it's alt very well to say so," replied Mrs. Mortlake. " But you know it comes to the same thing, it will be ours some day, and why should my poor little Bella be defrauded of her own rights ? And besides, it's very awkward to have illness in the house, and there's no knowing that' it isn't infections ; perhaps the water is poisoned or something wrong with the drainage." " Probably," said Cornelia, with flinch coolness. " We shall have everything looked to, and in any case you and Bella had better go away, for that ohild is unbearably noisy." This was more true than polite and Mrs. Mortlake colored angrily. " It is all very well for you to talk, but I do feel being turned out of my own father's house by a foreigner. If you had been left a widow with one little child, I think you would have been rather more considerate, Cornelia." " Should I ? " said Cornelia, with sarcasm, " well, all I ask is that you will consider somebody but yourself, Christabel ; perhaps you would have the goodness to order the carriage in time for the 8,35 ; the Lowdells are going this evening." With this, Cornelia swept out of the room, to be waylaid on the stairs byGeorge, with a telegram form in his hand. " I am jest going to the office with this," he said, showing it to her ; " my mother will be delighted to have Bertha, I am sure and she ought not to stay here, ought she?" (To be continued). Scotch Notes. Mr. William McEwen, M. P., has given £5,000 to purchase pictures for the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh. Mr. Mungo Campbell Gibson, senior partner of George Gibson d; Co., ship- owners, Leith, died on the 25th alt., at his residence at &bercromby Place, Edin- burgh. Dulwich Park, London, was opened on the 26th ult., by the Earl of Rosebery, as Chairman of the London County Council. It contains 72 acres, and has been pre- sented to the public by the Governors of Dulwich College. Mr. R. M. Molierrell, of Hillhonee, Irvine, baa been selected as the Unioni't candidate for the representation of Paisley at the next election. It will be remembered that he led the forlorn hope there on a former occasion. The Lord Mayor of London was enter- tained to a banquet in Edinbnrgh on Jane 21st by the Lord Provosts and Provosts of of Scotland, and was presented with an address of welcome from the Convention ..of Royal and Parliamentary Burghs. Loohore estate, in Fifeshire, was offered for sale at Edinburgh the other day, the reserve price being £50,000, but it did not change hands. The eldest son of Sir Walter Scott married the heiress of Loohore, but the property passed out of the family. Mr. Gladstone will probably visit Ayr- shire when he is in Scotland in October, in which case he is to etay at Dalquharran Castle, near Maybole, as the guest of Sir Andrew Clark, who has arranged to rent' that beautiful place for the autumn months. As intimated recently in our Scotch news, the Dowager Lady Howard De Walden, lady of the manor, is presently staying at Kilmarnock the first owner of the manor who has taken up residence there for a great number of years. She has intimated her intention of commemorating her visit by presenting £1,200 to the Kil- marnock Infirmary for the erection of a ohildren'a ward in the infirmary. Sir Sames Gowans, Lord Dean of Guild of Edinburgh, who was so prominently as• sociated with the exhibition there in 1986, diedon the 26th ult., aged 70 years. He was an arohiteot ani contractor, and laid many tramway lines in various cities and towns, besides constructing numerous lines of railways. Musical and Dramatic Notes, Mr. Julian Sturgis is Sir Arthur Sulli- van's collaboratenr. Pauline L'Allemand will head an English opera company next season. Mme. Minnie Hank is engaged to sing with the German Opera Company in New York for a part of next Beason. Mrs. Gilmore, wife of the famous band - meter, arranges most of the music for the band, and in many ways assists her hus- band in his professional work. The Agnes Huntington Opera Company will fill the engagement held for lYime. Sara Bernhardt in this country next season, as the latter named artist does not come. It is said that the subject chosen by Mascagni for the opera he has been com- missioned to write by Sonzogno will be taken from Alexander Damns' well known drama, " The Daniohoffs." A Girl's Best Charm. My dear girla, keep yourselves looking re sweet and dainty as possible. Never under- value the charm of an agreeable appear- ance. It is the most delightful letter of introduction that oan be given to a stranger, and there is no reason in the world why every woman should not be pleasant to look upon. A famous woman once said : " There are no ugly women ; there are only women who do not under- stand how to make themselves beautiful." This is absolutely tree. So the right thing for yon to do is to sit down, think it over and make yourself the charming example that points' the moral of this.—Ladies' Home Journal. Making main Hear. Scene, a Swiss Cafe -I say, waitress, why did you shout so fond at the gentlemen sit• ting at the other table ? Is the poor fellow deaf?" not deaf, but he's an Englisman anddoesa t underskend a word of German —During the absence in Europe this summer of hie Honor the Lieutonartt-Gov, ernor, Sir Alexander Cai npbell, the Hon. Justice Sir Thomas Galt will be the Ad- ministrator of the Province. Mrs. Carl Di mble, of Cincinnati who had Some children in inetaiments the other day, was mneh tatty ri 01 p sed to learn that ono. of them had two lower front teeth as largo as an 8•yeer•old child Aught to have. LORNE'S AWFUL DAD. Tho Puke of Argyll, the Noblest of the British Mobility, proves a Grasping,, fleartless and Tyrannical Landlord. For many years the Dake` of Argyll has posed as the pattern Highland laird. If Islay one ventured to say a word about the poverty of the crofters, the duke was ever ready to declare that they were a lazy lot, and that their miserable condition was due to their own irnprovidenoe. Ae to their being rack -rented, there were no bounds to his indignation at snob a suggostiori. Had he not bestowed upon them all sorts of benefits, and made all kinds of improve- ments for their advantage ? He conveyed the impression that he was the " father of his people;" presiding over their interests in quite a patrtarebal fashion, and, indeed, acting the part of e benevolent providence. The defenders of Highland landlordism have kept the Duke of Argyll upon a pedestal as an object of veneration. But the idol has fallen, and it proves to be com- posed only of the common olay of which most of the Highland lairds are, meati. Fair rents have been fixed by the Crofters' Commission in Iona and the Ross of Mall.. It was of the crofters in the Rose of Mull ,that the Dake complained in a letter to the Napier Commission, that he could not get them to make 44a garden or even a kailyard." The lighthouse keepers there had" roost excellent gardens," yet, said the Duke, " within sight of these gardens, the croft. era, who often possess naturally ranch richer soil, have in no one• instance, so far as I know, attempted to imitate so excellent an example." Stones were " abundant for the building of inalcnnres," and the crofters. bad "" often plenty of time on hand, ' but they would not expend the " very moderate amount of exertion " which was. required to make and maintaia a eitohon garden. That was evidently why they were poor—in the Duke's opinion—because, he said, the posseseion of a garden " would often make all the difference to a family between soaroity and comfort." It appears, however, from the decisions of the crofters' commission, that alt the difference between comfort end scarcity has been made by the duke. He has kept the crofters in poverty by exacting exces- sive rents. The reductions of rent made in Iona show that their raokrenting has been bad enough, for the rents of the six- teen crofters who made applications have been reduced on the average by 27x, per eent., and of the amount of arrears claimed by the duke, upward of 70 per Dent. has been cancelled. Bat his raokrenting has been still worse in the Ross of Mull. There, in 47 casae, the commissioners have made an average reduction of no less than 39 per cent. in the rents, and have cancelled the arrears claimed to the extent of over 63 per cent. High as the averages are, they give 'but a faint idea of some of the duke's eaaotions We give below a Het of ten cases, showing the old rent hitherto charged by the duke, the fair rent fixed by the crofters' commission, and the percent- age of reduction : Old rent. Fair rent. Reduction. S8 00 £4100 44 22 10 0 12 10 0 44 3.0 9 0 5 100 451 20 0 0 10 15 0 46 3 15 0 2 00 47 9150 2 00 47 3 14 0 2 00 47 5 19 0 3 00 49 4 00 2 00 50 15 13 0 6 10 0 581 Do rot these figures show where the hard earnings of the crofters have gone, and how these people are poverty stricken ? Let us have no more cant about kitchen gardens. The judgment of the oroftere' commission pate an end to a long sustained hypocrisy. What did the supposed pattern of all that was good in Highland landlordism mean by claiming £.1,221. in name of arrears when only £430 was justly due ? The duke would have liked to drag from these,eixty- three crofters no less than £791 which they did not owehim, and of which they have now been' relieved by the commiseion. Has he not got enough out of his wretched tenants ? From the evidence given before the croft- ers' commission it appeared that by succes- sive increases of rent, the last of which was in 1876, he raised the rental of hie Ross of Mull property by 70 par cent. In 1884, on the report of the Napier commission being published, he made a reduction of 19 per cent. and this was paraded as an ex- ample of his generosity. Had that reduc- tion not been made the crofters' commis- sion would have had to reduce the crofters' rents by an average, not of 39, but of 58, per cent. His treatment of bis tenants has been moat arbitrary and oppressive. One instance, with regard to rent, will suffice. It was stated before the crofters' commis- sion in Iona that in 1863 on a croft becom- ing vacant the factor insisted that the crofters in the township should share the pasture of the vacant croft, the arable part being added to the farm. The crofters, with two exceptions, petitioned the duke to grant them the arable portion as well. At the next term they were served with notices of removal, which were only with- drawn on the unfortunate petitioners agree- ing each to pay £5 additional rent, 16s. for the pasture, and £4 48. as a fine for object- ing to the factor's arrangement. The rents of the two crofters who did not petition were increased but 15a. eaoh. Woe to the poor crofter who dared to cross the duke. But he is mastered at last. His power has been broken by the crofters' commiseion. One other instance of the dukes arbitrary conduct may be given—this time with regard to the political rights of his tenants. Daring the hearing of the oases on the Ross of Mall estate the Chairman of the Crofters' Com- mission expressed surprise at the number of applicants whose names had been kept off the rent roll, although their right to be there could not bo disputed. The agent for the crafters explained, stating it as a fact within his knowledge, that this was done to deprive the crofters of the •parlia. mentery,franchise, and that year after year the ground officer attended the regis- tration mart to object to their claims. Such is the meanness of one who has lectured at large on morality, and particularly on political morality. Tho crofters who have appealed to the commission must now be pat upon the rent roll, and will be regis• tered as parliamentary electors. They will know how to exercise the oonstitu• tional righta so long intercepted by the Duke of Argyll, and it is not for any oandi: date supported by him that they are likely to vote.—Dundee (Scotland) People's Journal. ,< A Clinging Creature. " When I asked her to marryshe began to shrink like—like a flannel sirt." Thalia an odd comparison; what do you moan ?" "Just what 1 say: She got up around my neok."—Philadelphia Times. " He was awful," odd Ohappie, indign: antly. " He said If I opened my mouth again he'd put a head on me." "Why didn't you accept hie offer." Now the swagger girl' has adopted the dudeeilk sash, and with her blazer, shirt and. fourrin,band looks "too sweet; for anything. —The farmer's lot does not seen to be ae productive all of yore. Tag wHIPPTNO roar,. A Badlttontrelelor Gets ate,3eoona Dose or the Oat.. The St. Vinoent de Paul Penitentiary was the scone on Friday night of an nu.. MUM, oocurrenoe. A couple of weeks ago one Joseph Donnois, alias Curran, whohas been wandering round the country in the guise of a priest, was sentenced in virtue of the new Dominion law to two years irx the penitentiary and to receive thirty lashis for assaulting little girls. Corson. is an old offender, having received twenty lathes in the Montreal jail a couple of years. ago for a similar offenoe. The flogging was'. given with the greatest precision and de- spatch. After the day's work was over and the other convicts bad returned to their cells, the prison physician, accompanied by guards, went to Curson's cell and, after - examining him, made a written report that the prisoner was in fit condition to receive. the punishment. Curson maintained er stolid indifference as he was led forth to the basement where the flogging was to take place. Immediately after hies arrival the guards, keepers and officers,, to the number of forty, marched down. to the basement, where they formed three aides of a square. Within the square stood Warden Onimetand the chief keeper. The triangle to which Carson was to be tied. stood in the middle. After having divested. himself of his coat Carson stripped to the waist, walked with firm step to the triangle,, to which he was strapped by four guards.. A stuffed leather strap was then put around his nook to protect it. At a signal from. Deputy Warden McCarthy the officer who; was appointed to inflict the punishment stepped forward, and taking up the oat -o' - nine -tails waited for the word. In a min- ute there was a sound, and immediately afterwards the nine knotted ends lashed, the white flesh. Carson never winced, but at the third blow he groaned piteously and kept it up till the end. When the end was reaohed halt of the back from between the shoulders down was one mass of lacerated flesh. When he was unfastened from the triangle Carson walked over to the bench where hie olothee lay, and his back was covered with a oloth saturated with salt and` water. Cursen then dressed himself, and: accompanied by two guards walked firmly upstairs to his cell. The Favorite Figure of Speech. Probably there is nothing under the snit which is the basis of so large a number of figures of speech as water. A poor arga.. ment " wou't hold water," a babbler is " a leaky vessel," a half•dranken man is "" half seas over," " fishing in troubled. waters" is another name for getting into difficulty, " still waters run deep " is a hint that your quiet and demure person has more in him than the world supposes ; if tr man is in s bad peedioament he is in " hot , water," disappointment is " a wet blaket" ;, when a lover "gets the mitten" "cold water is thrown on his hopes " ; the hungry man's " month waters," the etrenghless man is " weak as water " sometimes it " rains" blessing ; when an orator begins to be tedious we say he has " run dry "; news is always " afloat"; speculators are often " swamped" ; many people find it impossible to "keep their heads above water," and very often, in the, absence of data for conjecture, we are "all at sea."—London Star. What the Word " Picnic " Means. This is the latest derivation of the word pionio, given by an exchange : " When a picnic 'was being arranged for, the °natant originally was that those who intended to. be present should supply the eatables and drinkables. A list of those was passed round and each picked ont the article of food or drink he or ehe was willing tq far- nisb, and the name of the article was nicked or ticked off the list. Toe open air entertainment thus became known as a pick and nick." The custom it is said to date from 1802, so that the picnic is wholly an institution of the nineteenth century. Typesetting Machines. The New York Press says : The aom- positors on the morning newspapera are: discussing what they shall do when they are ousted from their " frames " by the typesetting machines. They have received a "tip " that the Herald, World, Times and Sun, some time in the fall or early winter, are going to have such machines set up, and that at least halt the present forces of com- positors of those establishments will have to seek other employment. As there are nearly a thousand men at present employed on those papers, either as regulars or sub- stitutes, one can believe that it will be to mementoes subject. Won't Touch Honey. The Franoisoan monks have recently opened their first Canadian monastery in Montreal. These monks live entirely by alms and are allowed to touch no money.. It victuals aro not supplied they go forth and beg. They preach penance and con- version, and their principal occupation is prayer, meditation and penance. Their doors are always open to the poor, and with them the monks share mob as they have themselves. Stanley's Book. It was stated at the banquet given to Mr. Stanley by his publishers that the paper used to print tho various editions—Conti- nental, American and English—would, laid out in sheets, make a white carpet for a footpath from Zanzibar to the Congo ; and that, piled one upon another. they would reach to the height of the Eiffel Tower. A Watch for the Blind. A metal invention, accredited to Swiss watchmakers, is a watch for the blind. ' A. small pen is sot in the middle of each figure. When the honr hand is moving. towards a given hour, the peg for that hour drops. The owner, when he wants to know the time, finds which peg is down and then counts back to twelve. Thought She Used Both Feet. Thnmp•rattlety-ban went the piano. " What are you trying to play, Jane ?" called out her father from the next room.. '" It's an a ceroiso—'Firststeps in music,' she answered. Well, is there nothing g yon oan play with: year hands ?" ho asked. T--, a little boy of 9, handed in the following, composition on George Washing- ton : " George Washington was the father of his country one day he went into hie father's yard and oat down a tree. What are you doing asked hie father i am trying to tell a lie and oaranot when he grew up he was president and was killed by a man named petto who was jellish of him and the no 9 engine hoose was draped in blank."' Harper's Bazar. t.tWiiliamdon--bid Bragg say Anything"' when Colonel 'Shooter threatened to kill him? Henderson --Yee, he said his prayers.- If the person who is going wrong would stop toconsider der he would oonaider it wise to atop. —Tho work of excavating for g the !Mt telephone building has been begun.