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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1888-7-26, Page 7"ROUGHING IT IN THE BUSH love it, who once viewed it with hatred BO zling rain. We :teemed to have mede CHAPTER II, intense that I longed to die, that death a sadden leap from the torrid to the engeeo. might effeetitally eeeeeete na forever. frigid atm% Two htmrt before, my light liateasrkmaelrai.Yrredtliethcae4th'aftnnirceAtm geriraWtiohnere4fInha: mbOaerhdenuicrilobTeeenreednhiosedtanMt°n:mreatille'amTenir, and the girls, vsho were old enough to A dark and stariese •night closed in, work, procured eituatioes as eervants in the aocoMpenied by *old Winds and driz• ety. Je!ore nigh greatly reduced, The old dragoon and bis badly, two Seotelt fildlere of the name of Damen, a Highlander called Tam Grant,. and his we and little On, and our own party, were all that rerneined of the seventy. Ju an ineffiment tweet: from the Inclemency two passengers that left the rot of Leith of the wether. After Wittehing for some , iu the brig Anne time the angular effect the weather re- ' In spite of •the earliest eareatiee ot young wife, the said Tam Grant, who was ehe most mercurial fellow in the world, would insist upon going on short3 to tee all the lions of the place. Ant Tam I Tam I Fe will db o' the cholera," cried the weep, nig Maggie. "My heart will braly if ye dinna bide wa me an' the bairnie.' Tam Was deaf ae Ansa Praig. Regardless of tears and entreaties, he jumped into the boat, like a wilful man as he was, and my husband went with him. Fortunately for me, thaaatter returned safe to the vessel in time to proceed with her to Montreal, in tow of the noble steamer British America ; but Tam, the volatile Tam, was missing, During the reign of the cholera, what at another time would have appeared but a trifling incident was now Invested with doubt and terror. The distrese of the poor wife knew no bounds, I think I see her now, as I paw her then, sitting upon the floor of the deck,her head buriedbetween her knees, rocking herself two and fro, and weeping in the utter abandonment of her grief. "Ke is dead 1 he is dead 1 My dear, dear Tam 1 The pestilence has seized upon him ; and I and the puir bairn are i left alone n the strange land." .4.I1 at. tempts at consolation were useless ; she obstinately refused to listen to probabilities or to be comforted. All through the night I heard her deep and bitter sobs, and the oft -repeated name of him that she had lost. The sun was sinking over the plague - stricken city, gilding the changing woods and mountain peaks with ruddy light.; the river mirrored back the gorgeous sky and moved in billows of liquid gold ; the very air seemed lighted up with heavenly fires, and sparkled with myriads of luminous particles, as I gazed my last upon the beau- tiful scene. The tow -line was now attached from our ship to the British America, and in company with two other vessels we followed fast in her foaming wake. Day lingered on the horizon just long enough to enable me to examine with deep interest, the rooky heights of Abraham, the scene of our immortal Wolfe's victory and death; and when the twilight faded into night, the moon rose in solemn beauty, and oast mys- terious gleams upon the strange landscape. The wide river, flowing rapidly between its rugged banks, rolled in inky blackness be neath the overshadowing crags; while the waves in inid-ohannel flashed along in dee zling light, rendered more intense by the surrounding darkness. In this luminous track the huge steamer glided Majestically forward, flinging showers of red earth -stars from the funnel into the clear air, and look- ing like some fiery demon of the night en- veloped in smoke and three. The lofty groves of pine frowned down in hearse -like gloom upon the mighty river, and the deep stillness of the night, broken alone by its hoarse wailings, filled my mind with sad forebodings ,--alas 1 too prophetic of the future. Keenly, for the first time, I felt that 1 was a stranger in a strange land; my heart yearned Intensely for my absent home. Home 1 the word had ceased to belong to thepresent—it was doomed to live forever in the past.; for what enugrant ever regarded the country of his exile as hie home ? To the land he has left, that name belongs forever, and in no instance does he bestow it upon another. "1 have got a letter from home!" "1 have seen a friend from home!" "1 dreamt last night that I was at home 1» are expressions of every day occurrence, to prove that the heart acknowledges no other home than the land of its birth. From these sad reveries I was roused by the hoarse notes of the bagpipe. That well- knawn sound brought every Scotchman on the decks of the other vessels. Datermived not to be outdone, our fiddlers took up the strain, and a lively cohtest ensued be- tween the rival musicians, which con- tinued during the greater part of the night, The shouts of noisy revelry were in no way congenial to my feelings. Nothing tends so much to increase our melancholy as merry music when the heart is sad; and I left the scene with eyes brimful of tears, and my mind painfully agitated by sorrowful recollections and vain regrets. (To BE CONTINUED.) Queen of the West 1—Upon thy rocky throne, But oh ! beware eif &awing disparaging In solitary grandeur sternly placed; In awful maiesty thou wet st alone, By Nature's mestenhand supremely graced. The world has not thy counterpart—thy dower, Eternal- beauty, etrength, and matohles power. The clouds enfold thee in their misty vest, The lightning glances harmless round thy „ brow; The fiend -voiced thunder cannot shake thy ( nest, Ornvarring waves that idly chafe below The storm ebove—the waters at thy feet -- May rage and foam, they but secure thy Beat. The mighty river, as it onward rushes To pour its floods in ocean's dread +thrift, Cheeks at thy feet its fierce impetuous gushes, And gently fawns thy rooky base to kiss. Stern eagle of the crag! thy hold should be The mountain home of heaven -born liberty! True to themselves, thy children may defy The power and inalice of a world combined; While Britain' e flag, beneath thy deep blue Spreads its rieh fetes and wantons in the wind;• The offsprings of her glorious race of old May rest securely in their mountain hold. On the 51h of September, the anchor was weighed, and we bade a long farewell to Grosse Isle, As our vessel struck into mid - channel, I east a last lingering look at the beautiful shores we were leaving. Cradled in the arms of the St. Lawrence, and bask- ing in the bright rays of the morning sun, the island and its sister groundaooked like a second Eden just emerged from the waters of chaos. With whatjoy could I have spent the rest of the fall in exploring the romantic features of that enchanting scene 1 But our bark spread her white wings to the favoring breeze, and the fairy vision gradually reced- ed from my sight, totremain forever on the tablets of ray memory. The day WWI warm, and the cloudiest heavens of that peculiar azure tint which gives to the Canadian skies and waters a brilliancy unknown in more favored lati- tudes. The air was pure and elastic the sun shone out in uncommon splendor, light- ing up the changing woods with a rich mel- low coloring, competed of a thousand bril- liant and vivid dyes. The mighty river rolled flashing and sparkling onward, im- pealed by a. strong breeze, that tipped its short rolling -surges with a crest of snowy foam. Had there been no other object of interest in the landscape than this majestic river, its vast magnitude, and the depth and clear- ness of ite waters, and its great importance to the colony, would have been sufficient to have rivited the attention and claimed the {admiration of every thinking mind. Never shall I forget that short voyage from Grosse Isle to Quebec. I love to re- call, after the lapse of so many years, every object that awoke in my breast emo- tions of astonishment and delight. What wonderful combinations of beauty, and the precipitous ban upon which the city lies piled, refiectedir ite the still deep waters at its base, greatly enhances the romantic beauty of the eituation. The mellow and serene glow of the autumnal day harmonized so perfectly, with the solemn grandeur of the scene around me, and sank so silently and deeply into my soul, that my spirit fell prostrare before it, and I melted involuntarily lute tears. Yea, regardless of the eager crowds around me, I leant upon the aide of the vessel and cried like a child—not tears of sorrow, but a gush from the heart of pure and halloweddelight. I heard not the many voices murmuring in my ears—I saw not the anxious beings that thronged our narrow deck—my soul at that moment was alone with God. The shadow of His glory rested visibly on the stupendous objects that composed that magnificent scene; words axe perfectly inadequate to describe the impression it made upon my mind—the emotions it produced. The only homage I was capable of offering at such a shrine was tears—tears the most heartfelt and einem e that ever flowed from human eyes. I never before felt so overpowering my own insignificance, and the boundless might and majesty of the Eternal. • Canadians, rejoice in your beautiful city ! Rejoice and be worthy of her --for few, very few, of the sons of men clan point to such a spot as Quebec—and exclaim, "She is ours! —God gave her to us in her beauty and strength 1—We will live for her glory—we will die to defend her liberty and rights -- to raise her majestic brow high above the nations 1 Look at the situation of Quebec !—the city founded on the rock thaseproudly holds the height of the hill. The queen sitting enthroned above the waters, that curb their swiftness and their strength to kiss her lovely feet. Canadians 1—as long as you remain true to yourselves and her, what foreign invader could ever dare to plant a hostile flag upon that rock.defended height, or set his foot upon a fortress rendered impregnable by the hand of Nature? United in triend- ship, loyalty, and love, Whit wonder': may you not achieve)? to what an enormous alti- tude of wealth and importance may you nob arrive? Look at the St. Lawrence, that king of streams, that great artery flowing from the heart of the world, through the land, carrying wealth and fertility in its course, and transporting from town to town along its beautiful shores the riches and produce of a thousand distant climes. What •.elements of future greatness and prosperity ( encircle you on every side I Never yield up theth soled advantages to become an humbie dependent on the great republic—wait • patiently, loyally, lovingly, upon the inure trious parent from whom you sprang, and • by whom you have been fostered in life and • political importance ; in the fulness of time She will proclaimyour childhood past, and bid you i stand up n your own strerigth, a free Canadian people 1 Britith mothers of Canadian sons 1—learn to feel for their country the same enthusiasm which fills your hearte when thinking of the glory of your own. Teach them to love Canada—to look upan her as the firet, the happiest, the most independent country be the world 1 Exhort them to be Worthy of her—to have faith in her present prosperity, in her future greathese, and to devote all their talents, when theyithemsellies are men to accomplish this noble object. IVIalte your children proud of the land of their birth, the) land Whieh hes given them bread—the land in Whieli you lialre [found an altar and a bottle ;do thie, and you will then teeth te latheilt your :Separation froin the mother country, and the 1000 a those hituriee whath you mild not, in home to yourself, erijOy ; you Will soon learn to love Canada ae I new contrasts between the colony and its illue tTIOUB parent. An Boob comparisons are cruel and unjust ; yon cannot exalt the one at:the expense of the other without commit ting An act of treason againet both. But I have wandered away from my sub- ject int* the regions ot thought, and must again descend to common work -a -day mall - ties. The pleasure we experienced upon tour first glance at Quebec was greatly damped by the sad conviction that the cholera - plague raged within its walls, while the almost ceaseless tolling of bells prooleimed a mournful tale of woe and death. Scarcely a person visited the -vessel who was not in black, or who spoke not in tones of subdued grief. They advised us not to go on shore if we val- ued our lives, as strangers most common- ly fell the first victims to this fatal malady. This was to me a severe disappointment, who felt an intense desire to climb to the crown of the xock, and survey the noble landscape at my feet. I yielded at last to the wish of my husband, who did not him. self resist the temptation in his own person, and endeavored to content myself with the means of enjoymentplaced within my reach. My eyes were never tired of wandering over the scene before me. It is curious to observe how differently the objects which call forth intense admira- tion in some rain& will :affect others. The Scotch dragoon, Mackenzie, seeing nse look long and intently at the distant Falb o Montmorency, dryly observed, "It may. be a' vera Atte ; but it looks me butter to my thinken than hanks o' white woo' hung out o'er the bushes.'" " Weel," oried another, "thee fa's are just bonnie; 'tie a brew land, nae doubt; but no' just so braw as anid Scotland." " Hout, man 1 hauld your °lavers, we shall a' be lairds here," said a third, "and ye mann wait a muckle time before they wad think aucht of you at hame." I was not a little amused at the extrava- gant expectations entertamed by some of our steerage passengers. The sight of the Canadian shores had changed them into per- sons of greet consequence. The poorest and the worst dressed, the least deserving and the most repulsive in mind and morals, ex- hibited most disgusting traits of self- importance. Vanity and presumption seemed to possess them altogether. They talked loudly of the rank and wealth of their connections at home, and lamented the great sacrifices they had made in order to join brothers and imusins who had foolishly settled in this beggarly wooded country. aammer clothing was almost insupportable, " and now a heavy and well -lined plaid formed Girls, who were scarcely able to wash a floor decently, talked of service with con- tempt, unless tempted to change their reso- lution by the offer of twelve dollars a month. To endeavor to undeceive them was a use- less and ungracious task. After having tried it with several without success, I left it to time and bitter experience to restore them to their, sober senses. In spite of the remonstrances' of the captain, and the dread of the °lidera, they all rushed on shore to inspect the land of Goschen, and to endeavor to realize their absurd anticipations. We were favored, a few minutes after our arrival, with another visit from the health officers ; but in this instance both the gentle- men were Canadians. Grave, melancholy looking men, who talked much and ominous- ly of the prevailing disorder, and the :im- possibility of strangers escaping from its fearful ravages. This was not very consol- ing, and served to depress the cheerful tone of mind which, after all, is one of the best antidotes against this awful scourge. The cabin eeemed to lighten, and the air to oir- culate more freely, after the departure of these professional ravens. The captain, as if by instinct, took an additional glass of grog, to shake off the sepulchral gloom their presence had inspired. The visit of the doctors Wag "followed by that of two of the officials of Customs ;— vulgar, illiterate men, who, seating then'. selves at the cebin table, with a familiar nod to the captain and a blatik stare at us, commenced the following dialogue: taustomehouse. officer (after making in- quiries as to the general cargo of the vessel)— " Any good brandy on board, captain ?" Captain (gruffly): "Yes." Officer "Beat remedy for the cholera known. The only one the doctors can de- pend upon." Captain (taking the hint): "Gentlemen, I'll send you up a dozen bottles this after- noon." Officer: "Oh,thank you. We are sure to get it genuine from you. Any Edinburgh ale in yaut freight ?" Captain (with a slight skr-ug): "A few hundreds in cases. rn send you a dozen with the brandy." Both: " Capital! ' First officer :• "Any short, large -bowled, Scotch pipes, with metallic lids?" • Captain(quite impatiently): "Yes, yes; I'll send you some to smoke, with your brandy.—What else ? Officer: "We will now proceed to bud. My readers would have laughed, as I did, could they have seen how doggedly the old man shook his fist after these worthies as they left the vessel "Scoundrels 1" he Muttered to himself; and then turning to me, "They rob us in this barefaced manner, and we dare not resist or complain, for fear of the trouble they put us to. If 1 had those villains at sea, I'd give them a taste of brandy and ale they would not relish." The day wore away, and the lengthened shadows of the mountains fell upon the waters, when the Horsley BA a large three -masted vessel from Waterford, that we had left at the quarantine station,oast anchor s little above us. She was quickly boarded by the health -officers, and ordered round to take up her station below the castle. To accomplish this ooject she had toeietwe her anchor; when lo 1 a great pine tree, which had been sunk in the river, be, came entangled in the chains. Uproarious was the mirth to which the incident gave rise among the orowds that thronged the deeks of the many vessels then at anchor in thetriver. Speaking -trumpets resounded on everyaside ; and my readers triay be assured that the sea -serpent was not forgotten in the multitude of jokes which followed. Laughter resounded on all sides ; and in the wield of the noise and confusion the captain of the Horsley Hill hoisted his col - ore downwards, as if making signals of ale. trete, a mistake which ',revoked renewed and long continued Mirth. I laughed until my sides ached ; littbe thinking how the Horsley Hill would pay us oft fee our mistimed hilartty, Towards eight, most of the steerage pits-. sengere reterned, greatly dissatiefied 'with theit first visit to the city, *Molt they • de elered to be a filthy hole, that looked a great deal better from the ship's side than it did ' on shore. This, I have often been told, is duced'by the lights in the town reflected in the water, and weary with a long day of an- ticipation and excitement, I made up my mind to leave the deck and retiresto resa nad just settled down my baby in her berth, when the vessel struck with a sudden crash that sent a shiver through her whole frame. Alarmed, but not aware of the real danger that hung over Us, I groped mY Way to the •cabin, and thence aecen.ded to the deok. •Here a scene of confusion prevailed that Whet deeeription. By some strange fatal- ity, the Horsley Hill had chaegeci her posi- tion, and run foul of ue in the dark. The Anne was a small brig, and her unlucky neighbor 56 heavy three -masted vessel, with three hundred Irish emigrants on board; and as her bowsprit was directly across the bowe of the Anne and she anchored, and un- able to free heraelf from the deadly embrace, there was no small danger of the poor brig going down in the unequal struggle. Unable to comprehend what was going on, I raised my head above the companion ladder, just at the critical moment when the vessels were grappled together. The Shrieks of the women,' the :Mouth and oaths of the men, and the Lathing of the dogs in either, ship, aidedthe dense darkness ot the night in producing a most awful and stun- ning effect. , "What is the matter ? " I gasped out. uio f"Whatsn7s the reason of this dreadful con - The captain was raging like a, chafed bull, in the grasp of several frantic women, who were clinging, shrieking, to his knees. With great difficulty I persuaded the women to accompany me below. The mate hurried off with the cabin light upon the deck, and we were left in total darkness to await the result. A deep, strange silence 'fell upon my ears. It was not exactly fear, but a sort of nerving of my spirit to meet the worst. The cow- ardly behavior of my companions inspired nee with courage. I was ashamed of their pusillanimity and want of faith in the Divine Providence. I sat down and cahnly begged them to follow my example. An old women called Williamson, a sad reprobate, in attempting to do so, set her feet within the fender, which the captain had converted into a repository for empty glass bottles; the smash that ensued was echoed by a shriek from the whole party. "God guide us," said the ancient dame ; " but we are going into eternity. I shall be lost; my sins are more in number than the hairs of my head." This confession was followed by oaths and inaprecations too blasphemous to repeat, faiShocked and disgusted at her profanity, I bade her •pray, and not waste the few moments that might be hers in using oaths and bad language. "Did you hear the orash ?" said she. "1 did; it was of your own making. Sit down and be quiet." Here followed another shook, that made the -vessel heave and tremble;and the drag- ging of the anchor increasethe uneasy motion which began to fill the boldest of us with alarm. "Mrs. Moodie, we are lost," said Mar - [sera Williamson, the youngest grand- daughter of the old woman, a pretty girl, who had been the belle of the ship, flinging herself an her knees before me, and (grasp- ing both my hands in hers. " Oh, pray for me ! pray for me 1 I cannot, I dare not pray for myself ; I never was taught a prayer." Her voice was choked with con- vulsive sobs, and scalding team fell in tor. rents from her eyes over my hands. I never witnessed such an agony of despair. Before I cotild say one word to comfort her, another shook seemed to lift the vessel up. wards. I fhlt my.own blood run cold, ex peoting instantly to go down; and the thoughts of death, and the unknown eter- nity at our feet, flitted vaguely through my mind. "11 we stay here, we shall perish," cried the girl, springing to her feet. "Let us go on deck, mother, and take our chance with the rest." "Stay," I said; ",yon are safer here. British sailors never leave women to perish. You have fathers,husbands, brothers on board, who will ret forget you. I beseech you to remain patiently here until the danger is• past." X might as well have preached to the winds. The headstrong creatures would no longer be controlled. They rushedsimultaneously on deck, just as the Horsley Hill swung off, carrying with her part of the outer frame of our deck and the larger portion of our stern. When tranquility was restored, fatigued ooth in mind and body, I sunk in a pro- found sleep, and did not wake until the sun had risen high above the wave -encircled for- tress of Quebec. ' • The stormy clouds had all dispersed dur- ing the night; the air was clear and balmy; the giant hills were robed in a blue, soft mist, which roiled around them in fleecy volumes. As the beams of the sun pene- trated their shadowy folds, they gradually drew bp like a curtain, and dissolved like Wreaths of smoke into the clear air. The moment I came on deck, my old friend Oscar greeted me with his usual joy- ous bark, and, with the sagacity peculiar to his species, proceeded to skew rae all the damage done to the vessel during the night. It was laughable to watch the motions of the poor brute, as he ran from place to place, stopping before, Or jumping upon, every fractured portion of the deck, and barking out his indignation at the ruinous condition in which he found his marine home. Oscar had made eleven voyages in the Anne, and had twice saved the life of the captain. He was an ugly specimen of the Sootoh terrier, and greatly resembled a imindle of rope -yarn ; but a more faithful or attached creature I never BMW. The captain was not a little jealous of Oscar's friendship for me. 1 was tho only person the dog had ever cleigned,to notice, and his master regard. ed it es an act of treason Oe the part of his four - tooted favorite, When my arms were tired with nursing, I had only to lay my baby on my cloak oto deck, and tell OBOBT to wateh her, and the good dog would He down by her, and suffer her to tangle his long curls in her little hands, and pull hie tail and Evicted Crow. Crow. It is a truly logical mind which succeeds in rightly apportioning praise and blame. Evenaheaingine of the law isnot alwrys able to crush the real oluprit, when there is another person who can be put forward to shield the actual offender. The crow of India is •both knowing and impudent, and of him the author of "Turbans and Tails" tells the following story: I once incurred a crow's displeasure, and I do not wish to do it again. There was a pandanus tree near my veranda, and in this o pair of crows determined to build. At first I offered no objectiona, but when the task was finished, the cock -bird found his energies--aroueed by the task of build- ing—suddenly deprived of direction. He therefore occupied his leisure moments by digging. intsg with his strong beak at the pandanus hooNow this was a piece of the most wanton rniethief, and one which threatened the tree's life. I expostulated with the bird; he would desist from his work and listen, with mock gravity, and the moment I had finished would dig mit a fresh piece of the plant and throw it down to me. , Then I gave my servant orders to remcvs the nest from the tree altogether. This was done, and the servant remained in favor, while I was visited by the most serious displeasure. Whenever I ventured into ta • garden, that crow would signal to his f, .ends, and, in an instant, from twenty to fifty others would floc& About me, making the most unpleasant remarks. 1.f I even showed myself on the upper veranda, that offended bird would tit once fly to its balustrade, and, stretching out his neck, would &donee me of every conceiv- able enormity, in such deep and sepulchral tones an wont far toward making life miser- able. This rancorous hatred was maintained for a long time, till, finding that his nest without offerieg the least opposition ; bu eine in the 111086 approved baby Mahlon; wee not again molested, his Wroth beguile appeaSed, a.nci I was once more et liberty if any one tiered to approach his oharge, he was alive on the instant, placing his paved to walk in the earden. over the child and growling furiously. He Good Ad Goo Svioe would have been a bola man who had ap- ome • proeched the child to do her an injury. Mr. Ham (the tat edian)—X think that Other was the best plaything, aid as sure a the advice Which Ham et gives the player is protector as Katie had. I miegnalled, Thoth is nothing the theatrical During the day, many of our passengers professiot Should give more heed to, took Mole depertere ; tired of the close Priend—Any better, Iain, than the ea. confinement of the Ship, and the longvoy. vice, " Vithea the Whistle bloWslook out for age; they were too impatient to remain on , the leen:waver IMISCILLABNODO UBttrO,‘ AN OGEAN-GOING BALLOON. To think we are able is almoet to be so: to determine linen attainment is frequently attainment ',teen, "Billg, old boy, you look like a summer moretog. What's happened to glorify yon 7" <4 TOMMYp eld fel, eopgratuhte me. 1 pro- posed to Mtes Flyway last night and she accepted me." "Shake, old men. S3 she did nee 1" Poor -Goring 'Thomas, the ,Britisitacom- poser, is likely to he begootted in Germany. The Berlin papers, in referring be the an- nouncement that hie opera Nadjesda had, been aceepted for performance at the Berlin Opera house, maliciously stated that the conipoaer we the brother of Sir Morell Mackenzie. The mistake, of course, could not have been made through ignorance. Beerstee—Sift flour, into which put a tea. spoonful of salt, half a cup ot white sugar and a teaspoonful of lard; boil Ave or six potatoes, mash and mix in ; pour over the boiling water in which they were cooked, let cool and pour in a teacup of yeast knead thoroughly and let rise; work down again; when light, make into loaves and put in tine to rise ; then bake. Recent trials in England have given rise to a protest against oases that are sub ndice being commented on by the • public press. The system is entirely wrong and cannot fail to beprejudicial to i to one aide or the other, bat n no countries on the face of the earth b it so common as in the United States and Canada, where an impartial, unprejudicial and fair trial is really in danger of becoming a hard matter to secure. , The annual resolution providing for the payment of members was introduced into the Imperial Parliament last week. In a house of 327 members 135 voted for and 192 against the motion, proving that the idea is growing. That the system of paying the people's representatives will be adopted some day is almost certain and that day will be hastened by members being asked to sit nine months in the year. Four or nye months were found way wearying by some, but when it comes to twice that period the duties are apt to be thought by the majority rather more irksome than glorious. They may stand it in 1888, when an adjournment is only to be made from • August to October, but such a protracted terra of gratuitous labor must become tire- some ay repetition and then will follow a re duotion in the number and renumeration of The late Emperor Frederick appears to have been an apt illustration of the saying that when doctors fall out the patients die. The whole host of German physicians have been using all their spare time to prove that Sir Morell Mackenzie's treatment of his illus- trious patient was entirely wrong. Sir Morell announces that he, too, will make a report, probably when his critics get through, and states, what is more important, that all the published interviews with him are fabricatione. In support of this we lookedin vain in the English pa- pers for the report that Sir Morell had said that he concealed the can- cerous nature of the late Emperor's ailment for fear that a regency would be created. None could be found. At last the state- ment was copied frotn a Yankee paper into B. Tont0h journal and then was promptly contradicted. Schemes for the building of bridges on a colossal scale are at present rife. The Ger- man Government has expressed an interest in the plan for building a bridge across the English Channel, and has been examining into its practicability, although it is not likely that the bridge scheme wonld meet with any more encouragement from the English people than has the tunnel .project. A bill has lately been introduced into the United States House of Representatives for the construction of a, bridge across the Hud- son River to connect New York city with New Jersey. A structure with a single spen 1,210 feet longer than that of the Brooklyn bridge is something which almost i bewilders the marination by its mitgnifi- °eine. Still, as the obstructions presented are engineering and not political difficulties, the possibilities of the scheme are not so very remote. American inventive genius has often accomplished what has seemed to be utterly impracticable. The New York Herald has published a list of the defalcations which occurred in the United States during 1878, and, although there were 34 of them, aggregating a loss of $2,784,805 92, our contemporary declares it was not a good year for defalcations, by which it means to say that they were rather fewer than usual. Nearly three millions of dollars is a rather tidyish sum for honest men to lose through the crimes of dishonest ones in a single twelvemonth, but it is one which has been exceeded in re- spective similar periods and is likely again to be, unless lets and hindrances are put up against the temptations to which trusted employees are constantly subjected. So long as there are bank and other corporation di- rectors who do not direct their officials in high places of responsibility, and so long as the extradition treaty gives immunity to big thieves, the list of the offences of these latter is not likely to grow shorter. Temp- tation Is possible to all men ; and if contin- uous, and if there go with it immunity from legal punishment, it is pretty apt to prove too strong for some men to resist. If it were as clear as the sun at noonday that the heavy hand of the law would bees certainly laid upon the defaulter in Canada, or in any other country, defalcations would be fewer and the lossea from them by honest men be less. lef. Surrel, the French consul at Chi- cago, has recently sent a report to his gov- ernment concerning the cattle industry of America which is deserving of notice aa an outside and disinterested opinion, and, par- ticularly, as if the statements contained in it are true, they have not received the atten- tion with us that their intrinsic merits de- serve. Having asserted that the losses sus- tained by cattle raisers during the winter of 1886 and the summer of 1887 Were equal to 1,500,000 heed, arid that there was during 1887 a falling off in the annual production �f calve e equal to 60 per ent., he goes on to say that tho effect of thisenormous change las dot yet been experienced in the price of meat in America for the reason that raisers C apt .1 ovI TC F o roes rem Anierlue tee leugepe in the atr The French Aeronautic Soeiety, under • the direction of Capt. Jovis, one of the most daring aeronauts will soon undertake an expedition detainee to cact in the ailed° all those previously attempted—an expedi- tion to cost 640,000, The higher AMOS- pherie ourrento (trade winds) are to be util- bed for the people of a balloon from America to Europe. 4 few days ago heard Monsieur H. Faye, a member of the Insitute, give his opinion with reference to, the result of the proposed voyage. Said the eminent scientist "rue there are higher atmospheric currents, whose direc- tion is from .A.tnerice to Europe, but it is also true that m then currents are found the tempests. Starting, fer,htattot", fr°"1 Car- acas, Venezuela, 10 degrees north latitude, and ascending very high, a balleon has always B. chance of encountering one of these currents, but in this latitude they tra- vel very slowly—slow enough to make a. voyage last from ten to twelve days. Be - ides, these currents do not immediately take a course that will lead them to the NORTHERN PORTION OP EDROPE their first direction is west and north until 30 degrees or 35 degrees, then north, then east; and finally northeast. A current above Car - aces will travel first towards the Gulf of Mex- ico then enter the United Stater: by Texas, then leave the continent by some point be- tweenPhiladelphia and Newfoundland, cross the Atlantic in an oblique direction and at last reach the coast of Ireland, Sweden, or Norway. It must not be forgotten that in these higher currents ot the atmosphere are found the cyclones and I beg those who contemplate making the voyage to think of the terrible risks to which • they expose. themselves. Certainly, it would be grand*, describe the course of these winds that year an irnporant role in sciences and navigation ;...„ but if, as has been toad, the fate of Bulgaria: is not worth:the bones of a Pomeranian.gmen- adier, a hundred times more true is the fact that the lives of three enterprising,, Frenohtnen are worth more than a scientie fio conquest." • • "Yes. Here is the model of L'Atlantiegue, , the largest balloon ever constructed. It wino contain 25,000 cubic metres (a metre is 39" inches), be 36 metres in iiameter and 112 metres in circumference. The balloon will be made of a stuff manufactured especially for the purpose. This stuff will be coated. with a varnish, my invention. This varnish, will render the stuff absolutely impermeable,, at the, same tittle augmenting its dynamo - metric force. So light is the varnish the bal- loon will not weigh more than two tons and will be furnished with a valve superior to any ever before used." It will be remembered that Capt. Jovis was illustrating hie explanations and an last he showed me the car. " said, be "18 constructed and managed in a spe- cial manner. Naturally 'I could not under- take such a voyage with an ordinary car, and my sole object in the construction of this one was to prepare something for our safety in case the balloon itself, from one cause or another, should fall into the ocean. The car is of osier and measures only four raeters by three xneters ano a half. On each side are two cork bladders covered with imperraeable cloth to keep it afloat, as we MIGHT DE DROWNED IN THE WATER that would fill tn.e car. 1 have raade double bridge, 10 that only our feet would be under water. The space between the bottom cf the car and the bridge will serve as &storage room for the ballast; this b to. be small shot instead of sand. On one side are two cabins provided with anattresses that may serve for life preservers. Suspend. ed beside these cabins is a life -boat, thoro- ughly equipped. Besides there • will be cordage, scientific instruments, and, as the voyage will last for more than three days, some thought must be expended upon food. A stove surrounded by metallic -plates like the Davy lamp, will be of service in our gastronomical arrangements." "How will the balloon be inflated?" • "By hydrogen, because this gas has an aseensional force of 1,150 grammes a cubic metre. Thus we could ascend with 54,000 pounds weight, but las our balloon -car, travellers, etc, will weigh altogether not more than 20,000 pounds, we are aisle to carry 34,000 pounds, of 'ballad." "How much ballast will be needed?" "That we have carefully calculated. The balloon will lose daily 1,000 metres, a loss produced by the dilation of gas. We are to travel sixty miles an hour, and shall in all probability be eighty-five hours en route, consequently abou, 8,000 pounds of ballast will be utilized." " What do you think of the clangers to which you and your two aides, Lieut. Mal- let and Paul Arene, expose your lives ?" "1 have made no mistake in my cal- culations. In the past ten years I have made 220 ascensions and fallen in the water twenty-nine times, twice against my will, but twenty -even times for the purpose of perfecting my experiments. Once I remained seven hours before aid reached me, and then my car was an ordinary one, not like that of '12 Atlantique.' We have been asked by the managers of the Exposition of 1889 to postpone our crossing until next spring, and make a sensation at the Champ de Mars by appealing in the midst of the spectators gathered theredor the inauguration of the 'World's Fair,' but our preparations will be convicted, I hope, for the coming au- tumn. In October our material will be trans- ported to New York. At some point chosen we shall inflate the balloon and wait for a favourable atmospherical disturbance, then start for Europe and land—I know not on what coast." The Stomaohs of Horses, Horses have small stomachs; remember this. A good plan is to divide corn rations into three daily portions—the !hay, bo. Many object to giving hay just previous to work, as it distends the stomach and causes the animal inconvenience. Delicate feeders must be tempted to take their rations, and should never be fed too strongly at one time. A " Scotch plate" is a rule very generally observed in England— everything , cleaned up before placing other food in the racks or mangers. A little linseed boiled to a jelly arid mixed with the corn is seductive. Hay dampened end mated will tempt others, nide= sell their anima before they reach the age of three years and this diminution 13eana, a double It endful, are a Midi in ID stook would only be apparent in the sea- weakly subjeets ; peb male for the convalle son of 1889 and esee. more thae the,, sthe scent or indispottecl ; damp bran and oats are enga,ging for others. Some grooms give difficulty oi providing food for their cattle has induced many of the raisers to place carroth and tares in small ghat:titles, Car- rots stiperiuduce diabetea if given in estmein them on the market, thus forcing down the sive qualatitie:s. The peciular bagel of home recent price of beef at the expense of its future price. M. de Surrel is of the opinion, dehland the ettehtlen af alI litrse-eathere and gthones. A suffielency rof flesh is all and he states that he is supported in this by that is required, and not " hog fat" or tome of the best informed buttiness mon of With end of " beestly fat" as some phrase it. the continent, that, beginning 3888, the price of beef in America will be • higher by quite 30 per cent. than it ie at the It le in the school of maternal tentiernese present time. U this ohange is to take that the Iiind affections must be Ant armee plitee in the price of a otaninodity Of general ed and made habitual—the early tentithent use, It is well thet Our people ehould be in- of piety aweltened and direoted— the senie formed of the bat in advance, told inake of duty and Moral responsibility 'unfolded such preparatiofte to Meet it as they tan. and enlightened,