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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1907-7-18, Page 2Seecesea-4-celecee-o-4-0-4ese+c4-o+04,0-4-te+o+D-e mr.....mt.mott*mttl DARE H OR, A SAD LIFE STORY 4eo-e-e-e-0-4.0-4-0.4-0-e-c4seees-04-0+004-0-400-4-04-0,41-P-e-04-04-04-0+ 11Ice-one hears such contradictory ac- counts ; and If they are pleased with yee e, "If they are pleased with it we shall all probably move on there in a day or two," Ile would like to be sure thnt this sen- tence ends with a sigh, bid a prodigious storm of haed-elappmg from tho extem- pore theatre prevents his hearing whe- ther it has that regretful finish. "And they are going to leave you be- hind?" "Why not? there would not be much use in tatting me; and, as I tell you, they love being tete-a-tete." "And you love being alone?" The moment that the queetRen is out of his mouth, he realizes its full unkind - sea. He Is perfectly aware that she does not like being alone; that she is natur- ally a most social little being; Mat, even ncw, these frightened Ove minutes of un. satisfactory broken talk with himself has made herlook less chilled, less woe- begone, less white. Her answer, if it can be looked upon as one, must be taken by him as a rebuke. It Is only that she says nervously; "One artalnly does hear dreadfully Plainly here with the door open," Her tone is of the gentlest, her look eo angrier than a dove's, and yet he would be obtuser than he is if he did not at. once comprehend that her remark im- plies a wish that ho should presently shut that door behind him on the out- side. He complies. With that newly - gained knowledge as to to -morrows [laminate Beira, he can afford to coin - Ply. The next morning's light reveals that the weather, pleased with having so in- disputably proved its power of being odious, has recovered its good humor. Beyond the tree -tops a radiant sea Ls seen laughing far below; and the wet red tiles on the little terrace shine like jewels. A sea even more wonderful than radiant; no servile copy of the sky and clouds to -day, but with astonishing col - ore of its own -a faint yet glorious green for a part of its watery breadth; then what our poverty compels us to call blue; and then a great tablecloth of inky purple, which looks so solid that the tiny white boats that are crossing it seem to be sailing on dry land. From amongst the glossy green of the wooded hill, mosque and campagne start out, dazzling, in their recovered lustre; one cool entrancing villa in especial, backed with a broken line of dusky stone -pines, stands, snowy -arcaded, enthroned high up among the verdure. Jim is very anxious to be out of the way et the hour of the Le Merchants' departure. He has a panic fear of be- ing waylaid by the mother, and having some earnest, supplicaffon addressed to him to abstain, during her absence, from any converse with Elizabeth. He is not quite clear at what time they will set off, so, to insure himself against mis- takes, he resolves to spend the mornig and lunch at the Villa Watson. Arrived there, he is shown by an Arab mamser- vent into the court, and, finding it emp- ty, sinks down into a cane chair, and lets his eyes wander round to the foun- tain, tellingly dripping into ifs basin; to the tiles, the white-an:Med doorways, carved in low relief, and themselves so low that it must be a humble-statured person who enters them without stoop- ing. What a home for love in idleness! Who can picture any of the vulgar work of the world done in such a house? any harder labor ever entered upon than a listening to sense lady singing 'with ravishing division" to her lute? The lady who presently joins Jim op- pears, by her ruffled air, is have been engaged. upon no such soothing occupa- tion as luting to a recumbent lover. "You will not mnld staying here?" asks Cecilia.; "Dr. Crump is in the draw- ing -room with Sybilla; I am sure that you do not want to see Dr. Crump 1" "I cannot express how little I wish it." "I cannot think what has happened to Sybille"-wrinkling up her forehead in annoyed furrows -"but she is so dread- fully sprightly when he is there; she never was sprightly with Dr. Cold- stream, and he is such an impossible man 1 -the sort of man who, when first Ns COWS in, always says, 'Well, how are we this moraine Do not you think that it, stamps a man to say 'How aro we?,,' "I think it does." "He talks such nonsense to her I" - with irritation -11e tells her that he, too, is a bundle of nerves I if you could only see him I And one day he told her that when fleet he came here Ise had seen the Angel of Death waving IP fans above her head! and she swallows It all I" "I am not at all surprised." "It snakes me sick 1" eries she ener- getically; 'get us go into the garden." So into the garden 'they go; both the new one, whose luxuriant growth of ver- dure is the outcome of but eight or nine years; -and the old one, along whose slreight walks the Met of the Moorish ladles used lo palter under the orange trees. Beneath them now there are no white bundles of muslin; only en the ground the oranges Ito thick, no one in this plenteous land thinking it worth white to pick them up. Jim and his companion pace rather silentlyto a petty Moorish surnmer-house, dug, a few years ago, by the Reglish architect out of a farinhoese, into which it bed been PM. It is dainty end pal, with a little dome and lovely green and Pm thes; and an odd small spring, which be taught to wander by tiny snaky chan- nels into a little basin. They go into eummer-house and sit down. "Yese,, it is pretty," says the girl ab. sently; but her mind is evidently pro- m:weed by some other subject Mee the beauty of the giant bigrionia which is expending the multitude Of its oranges CHAPTER XXXV,-(Continued), As he epeake, he begins to retreat to - wade the door, but, so elowly as to give Pe plenty of MP to recall him had she so weined. But elle does not. She only stands Melting uncertain and distressed. 1 -In cannot, take such a melancholy im- pression of her little face away tor the whole night with him -It would give him the blues too seriously utter thbe dismal dey--so he takes a step or two forward again, "Are not you rather lonely?" he asks, with an expressive look round. She gives a small, uncomplaining smile. "Oh no; I do very well. I em gener- ally alone at thls time of day ; they like to have their evenings to themselves - at least, father likes to have mammy to himself; I am sure it is quite natural.' There is not the slightest trace esf any sense of being aggrieved in either words or tone. Again that picture of the adored Eliza- beth of former days, of whose prattle her father was never weary, whose jokes were always considered 30 unequalled, and whose pre-eminence in favor was so allowed that her intercession and in- fluence were always employed by the others as certain M their efficacy, rises before Jirres eyes. "They are like lovers still," continues Elizabeth softly; "It is very pretty when people are lovers still after nearly thirty years." And you -you write letters?" "No, I do not; I have not anyone to write to." A pang of shame at his unworthy sus- picion, coupled with a sense of astonish - mesh at her simple confession of friend- liness, 'prevent his speaking; and it is she who goes on: "I was writing an Italian exercise; I began to learn Italian in Florence" - with the inevitable low sigh that always accompanies her mention of that name - "and to -day, for something to do, I took 11 up.again. It has been a long day, has not it? Oh, what a long day 1" "Long!" repeats Jim emphatically; "It Might choose to call itself a day; but many a century has been shorter." "Someone was playing battledore and shuttlecock in the hall. I wonder to what number they kept it up? how many yenrs it is since I have played battledore and shuttlecock 1" There is a suppressed envy in her lone, which tells how far from disagree- able the innocent noisy pastime to which sh: alludes would be to her even now. She has sat down again on the straight- baelted chair from whose elevation she had commanded her Italian studies; a large greyish cloak, lined and heavily collared, and bordered with fur, hangs, unfastened at the throat, about her. Out of the dark beaver her delicate neck and head rise, like a pale primrose from out of piled dead oak -leaves in a yet wintry wood. Through tha door, which he has left, open behind him, come bursts of maniac mirth from the votaries of Dumb Crambo. "What a noise they are making !" "I should think they were r' "I wonder what they are doing?" "1 OM inform you on that point; they are playing Dtunb Crambo." She repeats the words after him with a lingering intonation, m which there again is, or, at least, he thinks that he detects it, a tinge of envy. "Dumb Crsuabo I" "Would you like to join them?" "No" -slowly -"not quite that; but - it sounds ridiculous -but I should like to play Dumb Crambo again. We used" - ill an affeetionale, lingering tone--"tao play it when we were children." It is the first time that she has ever voluntarily alluded to the Moat, and ha calls to retnel her earnest prohibition ad- dressed to him at Florence against any mention of it. "I know you did; once or twice I played with you." "You ?" She starts. It is evident that the un- important fact of his having taken part in their games bas quite. escaped her; hut, a sineetait later, her soft and cop- teeus nature evidently making her fear that be will Ilik upon her obliviousness a.e unkind— "Oh, yes, to be sure!" Then again lapsing into reminiscence, "what odd weeds we used to choose sometimes - words that nobody could guess! 1 won- der what words they have chosen?" He thinks ot saying jocosely, "shall I go and risk Mem?" but refrains, because he fears it would put it into her head to send him away. A sort, of piercing squeal makes itself heard from the salon. "Do you think that can be meant for a pig?" asks Elizabeth, hes fine ears pick- et! in unaffected inter:est, "Oh l" -with return of uneasiness -1 wish that they would not make so much noise; Dither does so dtslike noise. They might as well have put it off till to -morrow," "Why would to -morrow's noise be more endurable than to -night's?" "It would not have mattered to -mor- row ; Melee will not be here; he is go- ing to Hammen Mira," I3urgoyne's jaw drops, 1s this the al- ternative course 'decided upors, by Mrs. Le Merchant?' Having tailed to dislodge him from Algiers, 15 she going to remove herself and her daughter out of his . reach? "DO you mean -are you ell going to Hemmen Mira tomorrow? -all going away 7" • Is it some effect of light from the rime. seeded lamp that makes it seem to him . es 11 a tiny smile, and yet a smeller blush, swept aver Elizabeth's fate at the agliestness of his torm-an aghasheess much more marked than he had intend- ot it should be, "Not tomorrow; not ell 01 115 Feeler and mammy nre going 1ll0r0 PA' 0 OOLIPIO of nights to see what Um place is red olueters all over 0 Ion" wall, malting blesed eight you choose to ARIDA, only it tem op manning beep, and has called bIt me by which of Mein you would like forth en certain's:teen of delight from to begin to ride round." BlIreeyne. What that subject is Immo- cliately appease. ' "Do you know wee is In Males's- whom I saw driving through the Pine Beessant on Sunday afternoon?" "Who?" 'The Le Merchants. Ate you are not seri:pissed 1"-rateer suspiciously. You knew already 1' Jim hesitates a second; then refecting that whether or not he acknowledges the fact ILONVi Cecilia is certain to learn in 4 day or two at latest, he answers with a slight laugh; "It would be odd if I did not, Geeing thet they are staying at my hotel." "You knew that when you went there?" --very quickly. "Of course not 1" -with a movement of impatience, A pause, 1 suppose," says Cecilia, rather cam llously, as if aware that she is treading oe dungencels ground, "that you have not found out why they stampeded from Florence in thee extraordinary way Oh, no, of Purse vol l' -as this sugges- thus is recelved with a still more accent - el writhe than her fernier one. "ft is n t a thing upon which you could ques- tion then;, and, after all, It was their own affair ; it was no business of ours, was it?" Not the slightest." "1 always used to like them," continues Cecilia pensively ; "at leate-becoming aware of an involuntary movement of surprise at this statement on the part of her neighbor -"at least, they never gave me the chance of lilting them ; but I al- ways admired thern. 1 wonder are they more accessible Man they were in Flor- ence? There ere so few nice English here this year; everybody says that there never was a year when Mae were so few Ma English r The tentative, towards sociability im- plied in lies last speech is received by Jim in a diseouraglng silence. He has not the slightest desire to promote any over- ture OA tho part of Catlin towards in- timacy with Elizabeth. He knows leg they would be unsuccessful; and, more- over, he is conscious that he would be annoyed if they were not. "I can fancy that thts would be a very npleasant place if one had someone to go about with," continues she; "but father grows less and less Inclined to move. Poor dear 1 he is not so young as he was, and I am not quite old enough yet, I suppose, to go about alone." She makes a rather wistful pause -a pause which he rale that else intends him to 1111 by an offer of himself as es• cert. But none such comes, Reallzinz thts, she goes on with a sigh : "There are not many advantages in being old; bast, at least, one is freer, and ima youth spent as mine is, there is really not much profit or pleasure." The tone in which she makes this lugu- brious reflection is so extremely doleful that an cannot refrain from a laugh. "Cheer up, old girl 1 there is a good time comingi it is a long lane that has no turning." But he contents himself with these vague forms of consolation. He has no engagements of his own. Why, then, is Ise conscious of so strong a reluctance towards lying himself by any promise be the broadly-hinttng lady beside him- self? There is another pause, during which Cecilia looks down on the floor with a battled air, and traces the out- lines of the tiles with the point of her red sunshade. "There is a band plays twice a week in the Place de Gouvernement-plays admirably. Now, I suppose that there would be nothing odd; that no one could say anything; that it would not be the least improper, considering our connection and everything, if you were k take me to hear It some day ?" "I never have the slightest idea of what is improper and what is not,' re- plies -he; but there is more of alarm than of encouragement in his tone, "No more have I" -laughing rather awkwardly -"but in this case I am pret- ty sure. Tuesdays end Fridays are the days on which the band plays." "Oh 1" 'To -day is Tuesday, is not it?" wires." Another pause. "I thought that perhaps, if you hed nothing better to do, you might take me to -day?" The Weed proposal which he has In vain tried to avert has come. If he ac- cept it, of what profit to him will the absence of the Le Merchant parents be? Iia does not formulate this fact to him. self, not having, indeed, owned to his own heart that he has any set design upon Elizabeth's company for the after. 000'na "Iin afraid—" he begins slowly. "You are vamping* up an excuse!" cries Cecilia, reddening. "I see it in your oyes. You cannot have made any engagements here yet. You do not know anybody, do you, except the Le Mar. chants?" "And they have gone to Hamman Rhira," replies Ise precipitately. 110 is ashamed the moment that UM words are out of hia mouth, for he knows that they convey a falsehood, "Al least--" But sbe interrupts him before he on add his conscience 'clause. "To -morrow, then?" Again he hesitates. Tho same objeo. lions apply with even greater force to the morrow, r :vie! the bond does not play to -mor - "Oh 1 what does that matter?" sub. joins she impatiently. "I had just as soon go somewhere else -the Arab town, ties Kabyle village, anywhere." He is driven into a corner, and te. nialns there silent so long that there is a distinct element of offence in the tone and les -go sigh with which the girl re- sumes. "Well, times are thanged 1 I always used tic make one in those happy excur- sions at Florence; ,and somehow - thanks lo her, I suppose -I never felt a bad third." Sho rises as she speaks, and takes a couple 01 111511>' :steps toward the house; but he overtaltre and asps her. The nelusion to Amelia has annoyed and yet stirred in him the see of 0011101'30, Wilift11 is always lying but a very little way below the smeary in hes "Why. Cis I" hua snys1 a lone of affeelionnte rallying, "ate we ping lo quarrel et Ilts lime of tley-you end I? Cif cossam 1 will MP yee to the Pea and the leabyleyinage, tied any offset' ees he laves the house and the ap- pesesed fair ono, after luncheon, en hour and 1 emit Weer, he tells himself that he has got oft cheaply lit haeing vaguely sat:placed the whole of his Algerian fu- ture, but having presserVed to -day and toenorrow, (To be continued), SALESWOMEN OF PARIS WORK IIARD AND DAVE LONG IIOURS, RUT IT PAYS WELL, Educated Girls Preferred -Politics and Dry Goods-Prospeets ol Promotion. The dry pods stores of Paris employ about 0,000 saleswomen. They aro tt highly busInessliee lot of women. They mink hard and have long hours, but their pay is fair; they have prospects of advancement and they are taken care of in Illness and old age. The change from the old methods of business to the new is hardly greater than the change in the girls who wait on lee &schemers. The old time fine de boutigue wearing a cap and apron was half shop girl and half servant, but al- together gay and irresponsible. The modern saleswoman is, at least on duty, a prim aed self-possessed person In an impeccable black silk gown of up-to-date cut, with her hair carefully deessed, her hands manicured and her language as polished as that of a school reader. Nearly all of them now hold School diplomas of one grade or another. SOM9 of them have certificates of graduation from commercial high schools. The stores prefer these testimonials to ex- perience. The situations are in great demand. It is said that establishments employing from 500 te 900 saleswomen have from 7,000 to 8,000 applicants annually. Not only the aptitude but the family and per- sonal record oS each candidate is con- sidered, and after the sifting process is completed landing a place is very often a matter of pull. A TRYING BLUNDER. All the shopPris lieges as debits -ice or charge girls. The beginner receives her board or else a commutation of $120 a year in place of it. She undertakes a serious responsibility all the same. If sho makes a mistake to the detriment of the store she is liable for the amount. The position is a trying one. 11 18 the severe test by which they try out begin- ners. One debitrice in the confusion of a Christmas mob reported a vase marked at 195 francs as costing 19 Manes 50 centime's, a difference amounting to 835. When the mistake was discovered, the girl was requested to make good the difference at once. Her mother was a poor widow, and they had no resources save a few articles of jewelry, which they took at once to the Monte de Piete, but on which they could raise only $16. The girls in the store hearing of the misfortune at once started a collection to make up the difference, but just then the purchaser turned up at the store, having just realized the blunder herself, and made full payment. The debitrice WAS not discharged; but her promotion t) the rank of demoiselle de magazin was postponed six months. LIFE IS GAY. When the debitrice is promoted to be demoiselle de magazin, she is in a sense settled for life. Her whole career is likely to be spent in the department to which she is then assigned. But this does not mean that her life is narrowed nannyn.more than that of any other wo- She works long hours -8 am. to 7 p.m., with an hour about noon for dinner -but her life is gay- and much is done to make it pleasant. The girls as they troop to and from work through the streets of Paris are a spec- tacle of high spirits and discretion. They protect one another, and woe to the masher who attraots the attention of a group. WHEN SHE IS PROMOTED, Besides her commission the demoi- selle de magazin has the prospect of pro- motion to encourage her. As plain saleswoman her compensation all told may vary from 8500 in the lower grades to $700 in the best lines. But promotion to the rank of assistant forewoman means from 8800 to $1,200 a :rear, ac- cordtng to the department. In France $1,200 a year is the pay of the sub -prefect ot a department. And the salesworean's career may not end there. About 20 per cent of all sale,s- women become assistants -from these a small number reach the rank of fore- woman-practIcally heads of depart- ments, although they are alWays asso- ciated wills Male heads. Their pay ranges from $2,500 to 85,000 a year, with en interest in the profits of the de- partment. 1 MARRIAGE OF CONVICT. Yell in Love with Gaoler's Daughter, and the Two Were elarried. - A strange romance at Ypres, Bel- gium, culminated there in the marriage of a convict, who is undergoing life im- prisonment in the Meal prison, to the daughMe of. his gaoler. The ettolees daughter was in the habil of taking food 10 the convict, .end an atteehment was Netted which re - stilled in Ilse convict asking the gaoler's permission to marry her. The girl ad- mitted her love for the priso,ner, and the gaoler et lat consented. The convict was taken to the lown hall in a covered wagon, escorted by fete gendarmes wee acted asewitnesses. After the civil ceremony'. the bride and groom were driven back ,to the prison with the gendarmesand the religious ceremony was performed in the release chapel, sifter which the convict returned to his cell, The residents of Ypres are circelating a petition, which will be presented le the entherillys asking that theeconviet be pardons Di THE FARIT. ose- CAN WE' AFFORD TO FEED GRAIN TO OUR COWS? This question is ever present with Me dairy fanner, It will not dowts. Sema answer, it confidently by ming "Yes!" Son* Simko their Pada doubt- Iduelallya rfte1,11, Asbayprelenhat rpdgoeTioors.u'o'013.1,fhaearde it doesn't pay." If we take a cases af these farmers, we will lend on about this ground: That Mose dairy farmers who feed e grain ration, are, tie ss rule, the Most peosperous, They will tell you that It peys, providing you will take OM 10 00 iWO flillIgSt (I) Have good cows, fee Iher breed thens or buy them; don't keep a poor cew a 'minute longer than you are obliged to, for she is a constant loss. A COW must yield 200 pounds et butter a year to barely pay for her keeping. From this conclusion there seems to be no escape. If you went more, you must have a better cow. (2) Take care that the cow is stabled and handled in a way most favorable to milk production, If by your fault, you hinder her in her best worle she will surely charge you for it and you must pay the bill, These are the two general conclusions and conditions that, surround the ques- tion. From these two we may go on asid deduce a score or more of other im- peril:mt. conclusions. For instance: 11) The problem is so difficult that only men of active, well informed minds can make a good success 01 11. (2) That we must be dairymen, using dairy bred cows, and a good supply of deity in-: telligence in feeding as well as in Pro- viding the right conditions to surround Me cow. (3) That if we produce our COWS by breecitng, we must look into the laws and principles of dairy breeding. We must not come at it la loose, hap- hazard ways for we are doieg work ear a long time. We must understand that breeding of profitable dairy cattle is based on just as distinctive, well set- tled principles as is the breeding of trotting horses, beef cattle, mutton sbeep, or game fowls. (4) Because of loose, haphazard ideas .of dairy breed- ing among farmers, we have the abun- dance of poor cows and the scarcity of good cows, that is seen on every hand. 15) That breed is a very iniportanIthing 11 11 really means what 11 should; if the development of dairy qualities, dairy type, dairy individuality has been made the leading purpose. A cow or bull so bred is much more apt to give results, than any other. Hence, when we choose from a certain breed, it Is well to be assured of the skill and wise judg- ment of the breeder. There are wise men and foolish men among breeders. As he is, so are his cattle in a very large degree. (6) If we buy our cows, we must be a good judge of a cow, else we will be throwing away our money, feed and care. To be a good judge a the dairy quality of a cow, One must have a na- Meal love of the animal, well supple- mented by a study of the external signs of dairy capacity. (7) If we do well with the oow, we must have also a good judgment of true dairy conditions. Now, ail these things call for study, thought, ineormation. A successful dairy farmer must give himself a dairy education, the same as a good lawyer must have a good legal education. It is nonsense bo suppose that so deep a subject, one that means so much, can be solved successfully without a well informed mind. And all this talk has come logi- cally from the single question: Shall we feed grain to our cows? Verily, the pow is a fruitful subject. BETTER POULTRY ON THE FARM. Now that poultry is en such demand and at double the former prices for eggs and chicks, poultry on the farm has become a greater inlerestethan ever before. It is just as easy to grow good chickens as scrubs, and they eat no more and bring much more money, A lady who gives much attention to growing chickens on the farm sends the ollowing letter on the subject..She says: I would like to see snore and better poultry on our farms, and I believe there is no way In which we can more read - sly and surely increase the returns from our farm. The point at which we should stop increasing the size of our flocks is that at which there is nothing more for the fowls to 'clean from the fields in the way of bugs and MA grain. The tender grass and the young clover that are tobe found all over the farm in late summer and faltered:a goordfneiesd, for fowls and we should utilize thm e as much as possible by having a large' number of fowls to use IL We need more poultry on the farm, as is evidenced by the increasing price for poultry products. This nmans that the demand is ahead of the supply. When the Pips get high there is a tendency for the people to buy other food in. the place ot poultry products; therefore we are the los-ers. There la another reason why we should increase uhf amount of poultry on our terms and that is that poultry meat, is not as solid as other meat, and therefore, in ailing it we get more for the same feed value pasted with than from a like weight of beef or pork. The better the poultry the more we will get for the food consumed, settee is, of course, of great moment. we have in most of our (looks hens that cat and cat and never lay an esjg. Some of them have passed beyond the ap of teeing and the owners have lest 'Meek of 1110115 In the flock. We CAD get better flake by Watling out these unprolitehle layers. WHITEWASH THE QOARTHISS, This Is the season of tee year when Ilse hog quarters should all be put in- ' to the beet Idol of shispe by cleaning them out thoroughly, whilewnshing them inside and out wherever the Pas ketch them. Alt slaked lime sprInIcleil around the floor of the pens, especially us the corners and sides, is en excel- lent method of treating the floor. Troughs should be whilewashed inside and out and ale -slaked lime setter:eel freely Pound Mune tee pigs arts in the liabit of eating. 11 there is some lime in the troughs it doesn't Imre it is en 'advantage. By exercising care, sickness may he prevented. Cleanli»ness is one el the. essentials, It Is a greet pineventive, and the lino wash Is an excellent disinfect- ant, We cannot endorse this toe strongly. Give the hop ssome charcoal. lt is a regulator and an aid to good 51 - bastion. Have clean, :sweet, sleeping 'quarters. Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing MANY STRANGE BIRDS SOME BUILD THEMSELVES REGULAR PLAYGROUNDS. Australian Species Make Themselves Bowers Decorated with Shells and Parrot Feathers. Among birds, as among other adult animals, says the London Ulube, life in general is too much of a struggle for a sufficiency of food lo admit of play in the ordinary sense of the word. The family of bower birds, at any rate, are unique in, making for themselves special playing plates in the shape of hewers, or otheswise. -These blinds are nearacteristic of the Australian regime being found In the tropical and sub- tropical pets of Australia. The first example of a bower built, by one of these remarkable birds was brought tellies; oeunley by John Gould as a result his expedition to Australia in 1838-40. And It is a striking tribute to tbe skill and industry of this famous orintholo- gist that out of the eleven species of bower bird now known he was able to describe ten. All members of the faintly, with the exception of the cat bird of Queens- land, make thmeselves some sort of playground. Some interesting notes on some of these bowers are given in the current number of the Field. The regent bird, the most numerous of the family, makes a little avenue of 'twigs stuck into the ground, and NEARLY MEETING ABOVE. This avenue is rather less than a foot long and eight or nine inches high, knualed oe a platform of twigs, leaves and grass, At the entrance is a col- lection of shells, bits of bone, stenos ef fruits, gaily peered feathers and leaves. Having discovered a bower, the observ- e.' must hide himself, and wait primp for hours, if he velsees to see the birds a' play. A party of them appears of glossiest black and blazing yellow plump. Ono of them enters the 1:01iT1`, picks up a shell or leaf, performs a va- riety of entice with it and throws II away. The others meanwhile are per- forming outside, When the first per- former comes out the others enter in turn and do likewise. Darwin and other naturalists have considered that this is the bower bird's courting. In the bower of the satin bower bird are found numerous feathers of species et parsols. These are always blue or yellow, and the bird is said never to use red ones. The golden bower bird of Queensland first piles up a platform of slicks around two neighboeing trees. It then builds its bower between them. Besides the !nein bower it makes three or four =alter ones, PEAICED LIKE INDIAN WIGWAMS, round it. These latter are made by drawing together the tops of the grass and ferns and fastenIng them. In play- ing the birds run in and out of these bowers. The tooth -bitted bower bird, on the other hand, merely flattens out about a square yard of ground and bums it (.11 vegetation. On this it lays from seven to nine leaves of a premier spectes ef tree. It will play wile these leaves by the hour, tossing them over its back, and to end fro, A curious point is that it brings a fresh supply 01 leaves every morning to its playground and never uses the old ones. Milne of the bower birds are good mimics, but this species is aid* to ex- cel them all. It can Imitate oily bird, and does it so well as to deceive the birds themselves. It has been called the :nester mocIting bled of Australia. One species of bower btrd, it may be noted, has.developed an acquired taste, 'for it 'eves Rs collect in its playground the bleaehed bones of sheep. About a carload of these was f011110 in one bow- el'. From the fact that eight males end. twelve females were slsot at one bower It would appear that, these remarkable structures are the joint work of several Wets', 0 -- Ferdinand : "And do you really love me?" Penelope: "Love you, Ferdinand? Why, only yesterday papa asked me If 1 wouldn't, sooner have a pug dog, and I refused I" 00,440.04041.44414000041,),01 041•1)40 0 ...Scott's' Einctision strengthens enfeebled nursing mothers by increasing their flesh and • nerve force. 41)C5(/47,,!- It Provides bohY with the neoesiary fat 42, tI and mineral food for healthy growth. 4111 ALL DBUODISTS: SOo. AND 11.00. 40 041)4342900 04440.43A401) 0404 iseeeseneeseeseeliee00000000Cseseaceo-e YOUNG FOLKS 1 pcsoceemee-oceeeteeeceoeeeleeiste VellY? know a little boy-- liss name begins with C - Who, when he's busy playing, Is as seeing .as etrung OULL can lug a heavy bo.', Roll a ballet big as he, lice as nimble as a fox, When a bonfire there's to be, Ile cart pull his great, big Flyer-, Ile 10 feeling well, you see; It's astoeielling lies' very strong That lillieeboy can bel Llub whoa father waste the enowdietts Cloned away isefore the doer 01' Mother wanes 55 package From the corner grocery sloe°, Thal, tired feeling comes apace - 110 Is not well, you sis'e; less astonishing how vesy weak This elltie buy can be! "Pit, pit, patter, pitter-paller, pat pat," dripped the rainof the last shower on the piazza sips; and ctireedy hale way up the alty were the black clouds of another 0110 approaching. 13y tbe time the lingering pit -pat, of the last splashed upon the steps, the brisk pit. Ler-patter of tee next would wire:sena. tetra made a face at the window, and thee turned away, half sobbing, "'Taint, no use 'tall to watch," her tremulous lips quivered; "Mainsna said I mustn't step the least, teeny outside 1111 it all stopped clear, an' now the sky's just acting ugly as ever it can. I s'pose it's mad 'cause 1 made a face at it for eltining in my eyes yes'day, tr maybe it's trying to keep the tulips all for itself, and don't mean for one to pick 'em, Any way, it's' acting Ranh- ty's can be, and 1 hope the cloUds'll just ram down -side up end wet It good so there! 11 an keep the old tulips 11 11 wants to; but I'm ping lo sena Coyle out to jump on '0111 every which way and smash 'can down. They'd be pienty good for a common old wet sky. And lel make a face at IL whenever 1 want to, it's so mean." She walked Irresolutely to the centre of the pettily furnished p1ay room, and looked about, discontentedly. There were easy choirs text pillows. 'end pic- ture books and doll houses and blocks; but she del not want any of them; sea weeted the tulips outside Mal were be- ing splashed with the ram. A kitte11 rubbed conctliatingly nosiest her shoe, end a pretty, Mixen-halred doll gazed up at her with pensive blue eyes. But Cora spurned Ilse one, and took no no- tice of the Other. She weni to another window, against which the rain was pattering merrily. Low in the sky was n narrow ribbon of light. But of course another bank of cletels was just below Mat, so the two reins could lap over each other a lite ile. Presently her Mee grew thought- ful. "I wonder 1111 really is 'cause I made lhat face yes'day," she said aloud; "folks dotet like lo be made faces nt, and maybe IP sky's mad and trying tic get even with me. And of course," and after another few minutes of thoughtfulness, "Ilia sky Mae truly hurt me; 11 wee only just a little And 1 like bright sky lots better Mau this old rale. i select I was some cross and -and disreasonable. Pwonder if I stopped leaking faces and llsinp, if others would.' • She reached deem and sleeked the kitten, and then picked up the doll and placed it in a more comfortable pose ten. The playroom sees in confusion, and with the odd little frown of thought- fulness still on her face she began to straighten things out and put them back in their places. Then she took her little broom and 'swept the flour, and after that dusted, everything care- fully. At last She stood buck and look- ed around. The room certainly did and for the first, time that day elle gave a pleased little laugh. AL thab moment, a Itrie of sunshine shot across the floor, and she hurried to a window. It had slopped raining, and there were ne clouds behind to lap over. COMPENSATION FREAKS. Curious Cases of Masters' Liability Un- der Britain's New Act. An important point to be borne in mind in connection with the nets Com- pensation Act, which ceme into opera- tion in Great Britain on July 1, is that even serious and wilful misconduct on the part of a workman does not invali- date the right to compensation ff an M- essy results in death or poetic/nen', clis- ablemen t. Theeefore, if n domestic Nerviest who, of course, comes uncles Ilse definition "workman," in a fit of negee wilfully leaves the gas lap unmet on, and lin ex- plosion follows which mires her, she will be entitled to a handsome sum of money as compilation. Casual worlters are among the few who are exoluded from 1150 advantages of neW oot but 11, is likely that serious difference of opinion will arise as to what a casuel worker realey.is. Ftlr instep°, according 1015 hoc& is- sued be an Insurance company, to sweep- er employed to clear, ,away snow will probably be excepted, but a window - cleaner, engaged regularly, may be ire eluded. Another curious provision is Ilsek where a workman 001111`0CIS WWI Iwo or mora employers, his average weeltly earnings will be computed as if his earnings In the service: of the employee ter Whom tie was worktng al tee lime ot the accident, 0' "The now firm is goingeo melte 'shoes OM of all kinds of 'Skims,' "Not, out cf banana stens?" "Yes, ineeedl 'ehey'll. rake slippers out of 1150151." Teacher : "Is there any conneeting lbubs betweet the animal teed tito vegelnble tringdores?" Bright Pupil "Yes, mune there's hash!" , • I II 45