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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..65fe8d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65567 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65567) diff --git a/old/65567-0.txt b/old/65567-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 54034e1..0000000 --- a/old/65567-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2155 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, -Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 17, Vol. I, April 26, 1884, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, - Fifth Series, No. 17, Vol. I, April 26, 1884 - -Editor: Various - -Release Date: June 8, 2021 [eBook #65567] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Susan Skinner, Eric Hutton and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The Internet - Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR -LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 17, VOL. I, APRIL 26, -1884 *** - - - - -[Illustration: - -CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL - -OF - -POPULAR - -LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART - -Fifth Series - -ESTABLISHED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, 1832 - -CONDUCTED BY R. CHAMBERS (SECUNDUS) - -NO. 17.—VOL. I. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1884. PRICE 1½_d._] - - - - -POST-OFFICE LIFE-ASSURANCE AND ANNUITIES. - - -The numerous aids which the government have from time to time afforded -through the agency of the Post-office for the encouragement of thrift -and providence amongst the poorer classes have generally been attended -with so much success, that it is surprising to hear of even one -exception in regard to such efforts. There is no doubt, however, as -was pointed out two years ago in this _Journal_, that the existing -scheme of Post-office Life-assurance and Annuities, which has been in -operation since 1865, has sadly hung fire, and but little advantage -has been taken of the system, as may be inferred from the fact, that -although it has been established almost twenty years, the total number -of policies for life-assurance issued during that period is not more -than six thousand five hundred and twenty-four; while the number -of annuity contracts granted during the same period is only twelve -thousand four hundred and thirty-five. Taking the latest returns, too, -we find that the life policies now existing have dwindled down to so -low a number as four thousand six hundred and fifteen; while the number -of annuity contracts now only reaches nine thousand three hundred and -seventy-three. These figures at once show how trifling and unimportant -have been the results from this branch of Post-office business; but -perhaps the causes for this want of success are not far to seek, if we -consider how circumscribed and restricted the present system is in its -action. - -It was but natural, therefore, that so energetic a reformer as Mr -Fawcett should speedily turn his attention to this important subject, -on taking the helm in the affairs of the great department over -which he has so ably presided during the past four years. A select -Committee of the House of Commons was appointed in 1882, of which the -Postmaster-general was chairman; and after thoroughly inquiring into -the whole subject, that Committee unanimously recommended in their -Report the adoption of a scheme for the amelioration of the present -system of Post-office Life-assurance and Annuities which had been -put forward and explained to them by Mr James J. Cardin, the present -Assistant-receiver and Accountant-general to the Post-office. An Act of -Parliament was passed during the same session legalising the proposed -changes; and as it is understood that the new system will be brought -into operation on the first of May this year, it seems desirable, and -indeed important, that the undoubted benefits and privileges that will -accrue therefrom should be made known as widely as possible. - -The essential feature of the new Post-office scheme for assuring lives -and granting annuities is, that every person wishing to assure his or -her life or to purchase an annuity through the Post-office shall become -a depositor in the Post-office savings-bank—a plan that will offer to -the public numerous facilities, and a large amount of convenience in -respect of this kind of business, which have hitherto not existed. In -the first place, the intending insurants or annuitants will in future -be able for that purpose to go to any post-office savings-bank in -the country—of which there are now over seven thousand. At present, -life-assurance and annuity business can be transacted at only two -thousand post-offices; but the intended system will at once place five -thousand additional post-offices at the disposal of the public in this -respect. In the next place, the cosmopolitanism of the savings-bank -system will apply equally to the assurance and annuities business -under its new conditions; and this it may be pointed out will prove -an advantage of no mean order to the classes for whom Post-office -Assurance and Annuities would appear to be chiefly designed, if it be -remembered how frequently working-men move about from place to place. -Under the present system, the insurant or annuitant is tied to the -particular post-office at which the insurance or the contract for -the annuity was originally effected, excepting by going through the -formalities involved in giving notice to the chief office in London of -a desire to change the place of payment of the premiums, which by most -persons of the classes concerned is regarded as a somewhat irksome job. - -The great idea of the whole scheme seems to be to afford the public -in respect of Post-office Assurance and Annuities a maximum amount -of convenience with a minimum amount of trouble; and nothing could -probably further this object more successfully than Mr Cardin’s scheme -of working the assurance and annuities business in with that of the -savings-bank; for all the advantages and benefits which the public now -enjoy in regard to the latter-named branch of the Post-office will be -equally shared by those who intend to assure their lives or purchase -annuities through the same department. Mr Fawcett, who is a true -champion of the principles of thrift, has in all his schemes to this -end recognised the supreme importance of simplicity in the necessary -machinery, so far as the public at all events are concerned; and it -was probably the fact of such simplicity being a predominating feature -of the new insurance scheme that commended it so favourably to Mr -Fawcett’s mind. - -Any person desiring to assure his life or to purchase an annuity -through the Post-office, will first of all procure the form or forms -applicable to his case, and such information as he may require from a -post-office at which savings-bank business is transacted, the number -of such offices in the United Kingdom being, as already stated, over -seven thousand. On completion of the necessary preliminaries, which -will be reduced to the smallest limits compatible with the safe conduct -of the business, he will be furnished, if not already a Post-office -savings-bank depositor, with a deposit book; and a deposit account -will be opened in his name, and he will then be asked to authorise the -transfer of the amount of all future premiums as they become due, from -his savings-bank to his assurance or annuity account. He will pay into -the savings-bank account thus opened such sums as he conveniently can -from time to time; and these sums, together with any accumulations -by way of interest, or from dividends on stock purchased under the -savings-bank regulations, will form the fund from which the Post-office -will take the premiums as they annually become due. So long, therefore, -as the annuitant or insurant, as the case may be, takes care to have a -sufficient balance in his savings-bank account when the premiums become -due, he will have no further trouble in the matter. In the event of the -balance being insufficient, the fact will be specially notified to him, -and reasonable time allowed for making good the deficiency. - -The advantage in this scheme which the classes for whom it is -designed will probably best appreciate is the liberty, and consequent -convenience, of paying the premiums not in one annual lump sum and -on a specific date, but from time to time as may be agreeable to the -insurant or annuitant, and in such sums as may at the time suit his -pocket. He may indeed save a penny at a time for his annual premiums by -using the savings-bank stamp slip, which has spaces on it for twelve -stamps, and which when filled up may be passed into the post-office. -It is astonishing what benefits can be procured by the saving of only -a penny a week. For instance, a youth of sixteen, by putting a penny -postage-stamp each week on one of the slips referred to, might either -secure for himself at sixty, old-age pay of about three pounds a -year, or insure his life for about thirteen pounds; and if the saving -commenced at five years of age, the old-age pay would be about five -pounds a year. Another appreciable benefit which the new system will -afford as regards payment is, that by allowing the premiums to be paid -in as savings-bank deposits, the higher charges necessarily made when -premiums have to be collected in regular periodical instalments will be -saved to the insurant or annuitant, as the case may be. - -To make a providence or thrift scheme at all successful it is of course -essential that the general working of such a scheme should be adapted -to the character of the classes whom it is intended to reach; and it is -precisely in this respect that the new scheme of Post-office Assurance -and Annuities would seem to succeed. As Mr Fawcett is himself ready -to admit, the purchase of an annuity or the keeping up of a policy of -insurance is at present a constant source of trouble to the person -concerned. Attendance at a particular post-office is necessary for the -payment of a premium, a special book has to be kept, and other rules -have to be observed. All this will be changed under the new system; and -when once the annuity has been purchased or the assurance effected, no -further action on the part of the person concerned will be necessary. -The premiums will be transferred at the chief office in London from -his savings-bank account to his assurance or annuity account without -trouble to him. He will thus be saved the task of remembering the -precise amount of premium due or the particular day on which it is to -be paid; and this arrangement will also abolish the necessity for a -special insurance or annuity book. - -The operation of the new scheme will, so far as can be seen, lead to -some collateral advantages, of which not a few persons will be ready -to avail themselves. A depositor, for instance, in the Post-office -savings-banks, or a holder of government stock obtained through that -medium, will be able to give authority to the Postmaster-general -to use the interest or the dividends as the case may be, which may -accrue, for the purposes of purchasing a life policy or an annuity, or -both, as might be directed. Thus, as Mr Cardin tells us, a man at the -age of thirty, with one hundred pounds deposited in the Post-office -savings-bank, will be able to give an order directing that half the -interest thereon shall be applied to the assurance of his life for -fifty-three pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence, and the other -moiety to the purchase of a deferred annuity of eight pounds six -shillings and eightpence, commencing at the age of sixty; and if his -one hundred pounds were invested in government stock, the amounts of -his life-assurance and his deferred annuity would be greater, as the -dividends would be of greater amount than the interest received on a -mere deposit. - -It may be briefly pointed out that under the Act of Parliament for -legalising the changes about to be wrought in the Post-office Assurance -and Annuities system, some important alterations in the limits will -be made. It has been long recognised that the present limits were ill -adapted to the kind of business sought. The higher limits were too low, -and the lower limits too high. The former will now be raised to the -useful maximum of two hundred pounds; while the present lower limit -of twenty pounds has been altogether abolished, so that an assurance -can be effected or an annuity purchased for any sum below two hundred -pounds. There will also be some beneficial changes as to the limits of -age. There can be no doubt that the first steps taken by the young to -make provision for the future act as a powerful incentive to greater -efforts, and that thus an annuity or life policy of considerable amount -is gradually built up. Mr Fawcett and the select Committee over which -he presided, recognising this fact, felt that such beginnings of thrift -could not be made too soon, and consequently recommended that the -present limits of age which restrict life-assurance to sixteen, and the -grant of annuities to ten, should be respectively reduced to eight and -five years; and these proposals have been sanctioned by the Act. It -should be added, that for obvious reasons, it was considered expedient -to limit the amount of the assurance to be effected upon the life of -a very young child; and the Act provides, therefore, that the amount -shall not exceed five pounds on the life of a child between the ages of -eight and fourteen years. - -In conclusion, there can be no question that the changes which we -have indicated here will prove of the greatest value, now that the -importance of life-assurance and of making provision for old age is -becoming more appreciated among the people. It is true, of course, that -numerous benefit and friendly societies exist which offer various kinds -of privileges; but from causes that are not far to seek, the poor have -come to view such societies with a certain amount of distrust; and it -is needful that the government should step in to render the poorer -classes not only all the facilities at its command, but also that -assurance as regards stability which alone a government department can -impress on such classes. - -We have attempted to show some of the principal advantages which will -accrue from that system, and there is one more that should not be -omitted. It is, that any person who may suddenly or unexpectedly become -possessed of a certain sum of money may invest it in the Post-office, -and by a single payment secure either an annuity in old age or a -life-assurance. The advantage of being able to make a single payment -is obvious; for it at once removes all further trouble and anxiety -from the mind of the person so investing his money as to the future; -a reflection which, to most persons, must be a source of infinite -satisfaction. - - - - -BY MEAD AND STREAM. - - -CHAPTER XXV.—A WORD IN SEASON. - -The suspicion which Philip now entertained regarding his uncle’s habits -rendered the letters received from him the more surprising—they were so -calm, kindly, and firm. He did not receive many: Mr Shield preferred -that his instructions should be conveyed to him by Messrs Hawkins and -Jackson. There was one waiting for him, however, on the morning on -which he took possession of his chambers in Verulam Buildings, Gray’s -Inn. - -Wrentham had tried to persuade him to take chambers in the West End, -indicating Piccadilly as the most suitable quarter for the residence of -a young man of fortune who was likely to mix in society. There he would -be close to the clubs, and five minutes from every place of amusement -worth going to. - -But Philip had notions of his own on this subject. He had no particular -desire to be near the clubs: he expected his time to be fully occupied -in the enterprise on which he was entering. What leisure he might have -would of course be spent at Willowmere and Ringsford. The chambers -in Verulam Buildings were all that a bachelor of simple tastes could -desire. They were on the second floor, and the windows of the principal -apartment overlooked the green square. To the left were quaint old -gables and tiles, which the master-painter, Time, had transformed into -a wondrous harmony of all the shades and tints of green and russet. - -Sitting there, with the noisy traffic of Gray’s Inn Road shut out by -double doors and double windows on the other side of the building, he -could imagine himself to be miles away from the bustle and fever of the -town, although he was in the midst of it. And sitting there, he read -this letter from Mr Shield, which began as usual without any of the -customary phrases of address: - - ‘I now feel that you have begun your individual life in - earnest; and I am glad of it. By this step you secure full - opportunity to show us what stuff you are made of. As already - explained, I do not intend to interfere with you in any way. I - do not wish you to seek my advice, and do not wish to give any. - Once for all, understand me—my desire is to test by your own - acts and judgment whether or not you are worthy of the fortune - which awaits you. - - ‘When I say the fortune which awaits you, I mean something more - than money. - - ‘I hope you will stand the test; but you must not ask me to - help you to do so. Circumstances may tempt me at times to - give you a word of warning; but my present intention is to do - my best to resist the temptation. You must do everything for - yourself and by yourself, if you are to satisfy me. - - ‘I admire the spirit which prompts your enterprise, and - entirely approve of its object. But here let me speak my first - and probably my last word of warning. No doubt you are anxious - to convince me that the capital which has been placed at your - disposal is not to be thrown away; and it is this anxiety, - backed by the enthusiasm of inexperience, that leads you into - your first blunder. You calculate upon reaping from six to - eight per cent. on your investment. I do not pretend to have - gone thoroughly into the subject; but considering the kind of - investment and the manner in which you propose to work it, my - opinion is that if you count upon from two to three per cent., - you will be more likely to avoid disappointment than if you - adhere to the figures you have set down. At anyrate, you will - err on the safe side. - - ‘Further: you should also, and to a like extent, moderate your - calculations as to the degree of sympathy and co-operation you - will receive from the people you intend to benefit. I should - be sorry to rob you of any part of the joy which faith in his - fellow-men gives to youth. I think the man is happier who fails - because he has trusted others, than he who succeeds because he - has trusted no one but himself. I have failed in that way, and - may fail again; yet my belief in the truth of this principle of - trust is unchanged. - - ‘At the same time, whilst you have faith in others, your eyes - should be clear. Before you give your confidence, do what you - can to make sure that it is not given to a knave. Should you, - with eyes open, allow yourself to be deceived, you would be a - fool, not a generous man. I was a fool. - - ‘Pardon this allusion to myself; there was no intention of - making any when this letter was begun. - - ‘Briefly, whilst hoping that your enterprise may be completely - successful, I wish to remind you of the commonplace fact that - greed and selfishness are elements which have to be reckoned - with in everything we attempt to do for or with others, whether - the attempt be made in the wilds of Griqualand or in this - centre of civilisation. It is a miserable conclusion to arrive - at in looking back on the experience of a life; but it is the - inevitable one. The only people you will be able to help are - those who are willing to help themselves in the right way—which - means those who have learned that the success of a comrade - is no barrier to their own success. You will have to learn - that the petty jealousies which exist amongst the workers in - even the smallest undertakings are as countless as they are - incomprehensible to the man who looks on all around him with - generous eyes. You will be a happy man if twenty years hence - you can say that your experience has been different from mine. - - ‘You are not to think, however, that I consider all people - moved by greed and selfishness alone: I only say that these - are elements to be taken into account in dealing with them. - The most faithful friends are sometimes found amongst the most - ignorant of mankind: the greatest scoundrels amongst those who - are regarded as the most cultivated. - - ‘Do you find this difficult to understand? You must work out - its full meaning for yourself. I say no more. You have your - warning. Go on your way, and I trust you will prosper.’ - -This was signed abruptly, Austin Shield, as if the writer feared that -he had already said too much. - -‘How he must have suffered,’ was Philip’s thought, after the first few -moments of reflection over this letter. It was the longest he had ever -received from his uncle, and seemed to disclose more of the man’s inner -nature than he had hitherto been permitted to see. ‘How he must have -suffered! Would I bear the scar so long if—— What stuff and nonsense!’ - -He laughed at himself heartily, and a little scornfully for allowing -the absurd question even to flit across his mind. As if any possible -combination of circumstances could ever arise to take Madge away from -him! The tombstone of one of them was the only barrier that could ever -stand between them; and the prospect of its erection was such a long -way off, that he could think of it lightly if not philosophically. - -But as he continued to stare out at those quaint russet gables and -the green square, a dreamy expression slowly filled his eyes, and -visions of the impossible passed before him. He had thrown himself -into this work which he had found to do with such earnestness, that he -had already passed more than one day without going to see Madge. Her -spirit was in the work, and inspired his devotion to it, and all his -labour was for her. In that way she was always with him, although her -form and clear eyes might not be constantly present to his mind. That -was a consolatory thought for himself; but would it satisfy her? Was -it sufficient to satisfy himself how he had allowed three days to pass -without his appearance at Willowmere? - -He was startled when he recollected that it was three days since he had -been there. Three days—an age, and how it could have passed so quickly -he was unable to understand. He had certainly intended every evening -to go as usual. But every day had been so full of business—details of -plans and estimates to study and master—that he had been glad to lie -down and sleep. The task was the more laborious for him, as he had -not had previous knowledge of its practical intricacies, and he was -resolved to understand thoroughly everything that was done. - -‘I suppose she will laugh, and say it is like me—always at extremes; -either trying to do too much, or doing too little. At anyrate, she -will be convinced that I have taken kindly to harness. We’ll see this -afternoon.’ - -There was another influence which unconsciously detained him in town. -He shrank somehow from the interview with his father which must take -place on his return to Ringsford. He had hoped to be able to take -with him some friendly message from Mr Shield which would lead to the -reconciliation of the two men; and as yet he was as far as ever from -being able to approach the subject with his uncle. - -His reverie was interrupted by the arrival of Wrentham, spruce and -buoyant, a flower in his button-hole, and looking as if he had made a -safe bet on the next racing event. - -‘Came to tell you about that land,’ he said. - -‘I suppose you have made arrangements for the purchase?’ rejoined -Philip, as he folded his uncle’s letter and replaced it in the envelope. - -Wrentham followed the action with inquisitive eyes. He was asking -himself, ‘Has that letter anything to do with this coolness about the -bargain, on which he was so hot a few days ago, or is it accident?’ -Then, with a little real wonder, and some affectation of amusement at -the innocence of his principal: - -‘My dear Philip!’—Wrentham was one of those men who will call -an acquaintance of a few hours by his Christian name, and by an -abbreviation of it after an intimacy of a couple of days—‘you don’t -mean to say that you imagine a question of the transfer of land in this -greatest city of the world is to be settled off-hand in a forenoon?’ - -‘O no; I did not think that, Wrentham; but as the land is very much on -the outskirts of the city, and has been for a long time in the market, -I did not expect that there would be much delay in coming to terms -about it.’ - -‘Ah! but you forget that it is within easy distance of an existing -railway station, and close by the site of one which will be in working -order before your houses can be built.’ - -‘Exactly. That is why I chose the spot.’ - -‘Just so; and you can have it; but the fellows know its full value, and -mean to have it. Look at that.’ - -He handed him a paper containing the statement of the terms on which -the land in question was to be sold. Philip read it carefully, frowned, -and tossed it back to his agent. - -‘Ridiculous!’ he exclaimed. ‘They must have thought you were acting -for the government or a railway company. I believe it is considered -legitimate to fleece _them_. Half the money is what I will give, and no -more.’ - -When a clever man thinks he has performed a particularly clever trick, -and finds that, by some instinct of self-preservation, the person to -be tricked upsets all his calculations, whilst there still remains -a chance of persuading him that he is making a mistake, there comes -over the clever person a peculiar change. It is like a sudden lull in -the wind: he shows neither surprise nor regret on his own part, but a -certain respectful pity for the blindness of the other in not seeing -the advantage offered him. So with Wrentham at this moment. He left the -paper lying on the table, as if it had no further interest for him, and -took out his cigar-case. - -‘You don’t mind a cigar, I suppose?... Have one?’ - -‘Thank you. Here is some sherry: help yourself.’ - -Wrentham helped himself, lit his cigar, and sank back on an easy-chair, -like a man whose day’s work is done, and who feels that he has earned -the right to rest comfortably. - -‘I’ve been trotting between pillar and post about that land all day,’ -he said languidly, ‘because I fancied you had set your mind on it; -and now I feel as tired as if I had been doing a thousand miles in a -thousand hours. Glad it’s over.’ - -‘You do not think it is worth making the offer, then?’ - -‘My dear boy, they would think we were making fun of them, and be -angry.’ - -Wrentham rolled the cigar between his fingers and smiled complacently. - -‘Surely, they must be aware that the price they are asking is -absurd—they cannot hope to obtain it from any one in his senses. Look -at this paragraph: there is land bought by the corporation yesterday—it -is almost within the city, and the price is more than a third less than -these people are asking from us.’ - -Wrentham’s eyes twinkled over the paragraph. - -‘Ah, yes; but, you see, these people were obliged to sell; ours are -not. However, we need not bother about it. They require more than you -will give, and there is an end of it. The question is, what are we to -do now?’ - -‘Take land farther out, where the owners will be more reasonable, and -we can reduce our rents so as to cover the railway fares.’ - -‘But the farther out you go, the more difficulty you will have in -finding workmen.’ - -‘I have thought of that, and have secured an excellent foreman, who -will bring us the labourers we require; and for the skilled workmen, an -advertisement will find them.’ - -‘And who is the man you have engaged?’ - -‘Caleb Kersey.’ - -Wrentham laughed softly as he emitted a long serpentine coil of smoke. - -‘On my word, you do things in a funny way. I am supposed to be your -counsellor as well as friend; and you complete your arrangements before -you tell me anything about them. I don’t see that my services are of -any use to you.’ - -‘We have not had time to find that out yet. What advice could you have -given me in reference to Kersey?’ - -‘Oh, I have nothing to say against the man, except that, as soon as you -had your establishment ready to begin operations, he would have every -soul in your employment out on strike for higher wages or for new terms -of agreement, which will cause you heavy loss whether you knuckle down -or refuse. I know the kind of man: he will be meek enough until he gets -you into a corner—or thinks he has—and then he turns round and tells -you that he is master of the situation, whatever you may be. That’s his -sort.’ - -‘I think you are mistaken, Wrentham. I am sure that you are mistaken so -far as Kersey is concerned. He managed that business of the harvest for -my father when nobody else could, and he managed it admirably. He wants -nothing more than fair-play between master and man, and he believes -that my scheme is likely to bring about that condition.’ - -‘All right,’ said Wrentham, smiling, and helping himself to another -glass of wine; ‘here’s good luck to him—and to you. We are all -naturally inclined to be pleased with the people who agree with us. -We’ll say that I am mistaken, and, on my honour, I hope it may be so.’ - -Philip flushed a little: he could not help feeling that Wrentham was -treating him as if he were a child at play, and did not or could not -see that he was a man making a bold experiment and very much in earnest. - -‘It is not merely because Kersey agrees with me that I have engaged -him,’ he said warmly. ‘I know something about the man, and I have -learned a good deal from him. He has the power to convey my meaning to -others better than I could do it myself. They might doubt me at first; -they will trust him; and he is one of those men who are willing to -work.’ - -‘That is everything you want in the meanwhile, except the land on -which to begin operations. I promised to take your answer back to -these people by four o’clock. I shall have just time to drive to their -office. I suppose that there is nothing to say except that we cannot -touch it at the price?’ - -‘Nothing more.’ - -‘Very well. I will report progress to-morrow; but I have no expectation -of bringing them down to your figure. Good-day.’ - -Although Wrentham bustled out as if in a hurry, he descended the stairs -slowly. - -‘He may have gone in for a mad scheme,’ he was thinking; ‘but he is a -deal ’cuter in his way of setting about it than I bargained for.... -This is confoundedly awkward for me.... Must get out of it somehow.’ - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -MY OLD COLLEGE ROOMS. - - -No easy task would it be to analyse the medley of conflicting emotions -that run riot in the heart of an old ’varsity man revisiting the haunts -of his academical ‘auld langsyne.’ Even were I equal to it, I would not -publish the results of my experiment. Far too sacred, too personal, at -least for the pages of a magazine, were my own thoughts and memories -the other day, as I stealthily stole up my old staircase in ——’s, -Oxford. ‘Stealthily stole,’ I say advisedly; for I felt unpleasantly -more like a burglar in my pilgrim-ascent, than a respectable country -clergyman. In a university sense, generations had passed away since my -college days; since I, in my generation, was wont to rollick in and -out of those ancient ‘oaks’ and about those venerable banisters. One -felt a kind of sad impression that one belonged to a bygone age; that -one’s only rightful _locus standi_ in the university now was a shelf -in the fossil department of its museum; that one was _de trop_ in this -land of the living; that one was ‘unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown,’ -a sort of college ghost that ought long since to have been laid. But -now, the gray goose-quill would fain flutter on, by the page, with -emotions which, as I have said, are too sacred for publication. I will -confine myself to more exoteric details. At the funny old cupola-like -entrance—where, on the first impulse, I found myself all but taking -off my hat to the ‘silent speaking’ stones of its venerable, unsightly -pile—I had met a porter, but not _the_ porter. On the staircase I -had met a scout, but not _the_ scout. No civil salute and smile of -recognition from either of those; only a curious stare—a look that -seemed to ask, ‘What business have you to come back and revisit -earth’—(I beg the reader’s pardon!)—‘_college_, disturbing us in our -day and generation?’ - -Then, at last, well ‘winded’ by my climb, I actually stood once -again in front of my own old ‘oak;’ and much I wonder if ever pious -Druid stood with deeper feelings of reverence before his own! It was -superscribed with a most unusual, though not foreign, name; one which -to me at least was new. So far, this was a comfort; for ‘Jones’ would -have made me very sad and at ‘Smith’ I feel I should have wept. As -it was, I found myself already speculating with some curiosity what -manner of man might own to it. Somehow, with perhaps pardonable vanity, -I seemed to have expected ‘Ichabod;’ but that was not the present -occupant’s name. At the inner door, which was ajar, I knocked, honestly -trying not to peep; but the gentleman was not at home. Just then, a -jolly young fellow, books under arm, and obviously out from lecture, -came bounding up the stairs, two or three steps at a time, in the -real old style. Oh, how the aged, nearly worn-out parson envied now -the limbs and wind that could perform that once familiar feat! There -used to be a _je ne sais quoi_—a sense of freedom, I suppose it was, -after being ‘cribbed, cabined, and confined’ for an hour at lecture, -that always made one sadly forgetful for the nonce of one’s dignity -in that matter of going up-stairs. At other times, the leisurely -step which betokened the importance of the (newly fledged) ‘man’ was -carefully observed; and used, no doubt, to make due impression upon the -freshman—that junior Verdant who always had what Carlyle would call a -‘seeing eye’ for such details of deportment. But coming from lecture, -even the old hand, the third-year man, now, as of yore, involuntarily -betrays a lingering trace of schoolboy days by a very natural, but most -undignified, hop, skip, and jump up-stairs, to doff cap and gown and -don flannels for the river. - -Well, up he came, this embryo bishop, statesman, or judge—I know not -which—and fixing him Ancient Mariner-wise with my eye, I told him my -story; feeling rather sheepish until I had satisfactorily accounted for -my being discovered hovering about the coal-bin on his landing. More -than one kind of expression flitted over the youth’s features as he -listened to me; but the predominating one, which his politeness in vain -struggled to conceal, was characteristic of the antiquary surveying -some newly dug up relic of a past epoch. ‘I am not Mr Ichabod’ (let -us suppose the name), he said; ‘but I am his neighbour on this floor; -and I’m sure he would wish you to go into your old rooms. I will -explain it to him. He will be sorry that he was out when you came.’ -With this and a mutual touch of hats, we parted; he to his rooms, and -I, after an absence of some forty-five years, to mine. Suggestive -enough was the very first object that caught my eye upon entering; for -over the bedroom door was placed, by way of ornament, a real skull, -with crossbones! There it serenely rested on a black cushion fixed to -a small shelf, horribly grinning at me. I could have wished a more -pleasant welcome to greet me after my long absence. - -‘Eheu! fugaces, Postume, Postume’ (The years fly by, and are lost to -me, lost to me), I had said to myself all the morning, as I wandered -about the old college haunts of my far-away youth; and if my perception -of that sad fact needed quickening, that skull certainly brought it -home to me with a vengeance! Clearly, my successor was a bit of a -‘mystic.’ Weird prints on the walls; curious German literature on the -shelves and tables; outlandish ornaments everywhere: these and such as -these spoke for their absent owner, and I felt that I could conjecture -the man by his various kickshaws. I pictured him to myself reading -for ‘a class’ by the midnight oil, and occasionally stimulating his -flagging interest in the classics by casting a philosophic glance at -the skull, to bethink him of the flight of time and man’s ‘little -day’ for work. Or, again, I could see him as he refreshed himself on -the sofa with a grim legend or two of the Rhine, and meditated upon -the fate of some medieval fool wandering about to sell his soul, _si -emptorem invenerit_, until he met and did fatal business with the dread -merchant of the nether world. At such times, no doubt, his death’s head -would have a specially attractive charm for him, and elicit some such -sigh as ‘Alas! poor Yorick,’ in reference to the deluded Rhinelander. -Two more clues to the character of my young friend were obvious, and -right glad I was to obtain them. In the first place, he was not, as -are too many of his university generation, so ‘mad,’ through much -‘learning,’ as to deny or ignore his God. Witness a well-worn Bible -and Prayer-book; and even an illuminated text opposite his bed—the -gift, perhaps, of a pious mother, or handiwork of a pious sister, whose -holy influence he did not despise. And, again, he was not one of our -unhealthy ascetics of modern society, secular ascetics, I mean—if I may -coin such an expression—whose artificial merits are purely negative. -Witness his rack of grotesquely shaped and well-cleaned pipes, no less -than that three-handled jorum, with the shrivelled peel of the previous -evening still therein! - -Having taken notice of such apparent trifles on every side, and not -liking to trespass longer, I prepared to leave. But if the ‘man’ who -occupies my Old Rooms is brought as safely to his journey’s end as I -have now well nigh been brought to mine, my last half-minute alone in -that ancient ‘upper chamber’ was not spent there in vain. - - - - -MY FELLOW-PASSENGER. - - -IN TWO CHAPTERS.—CHAPTER II. - -The next afternoon, I landed at Southampton; and having left my luggage -with Raynor’s at the railway station, and exchanged my twenty-five -sovereigns for their equivalent in Bank of England notes, I started -off to see some relatives living a short way out of the town. After -a few pleasant hours at Hambledon Hall, I drove back to Southampton, -took an evening train to London, and by half-past nine was comfortably -installed in my old quarters, No. 91 Savile Street, W. - -In the morning arrived a telegram from Raynor: ‘Heard of a good -thing in Dublin. Going there at once. May be a long business. Better -countermand my rooms. Will write.’ Here without doubt was an end, at -least for the present, of our partnership. Whether Paul intended me to -gather that the ‘good thing’ was to involve my presence in Ireland, I -knew not; but having already come to a very distinct understanding with -him that the _venue_ of any future operations must, as far as I was -concerned, be laid in or near London, I was able to decide at once that -even the claims of friendship did not demand my expatriation to the -other side of the Irish Channel. - -London was hot, airless, and uninviting this 21st of July. Two days had -elapsed, during which I had heard nothing more from Raynor; and as I -loitered down to my club, there came into my mind the recollection of -Keymer, a breezy little homestead among the Sussex downs, where lived a -middle-aged bachelor cousin of mine, and of his cordial invitation to -repeat a visit I had paid him the previous summer. Half an hour later I -had posted my letter to Henry Rodd, whose reply by return post was all -I could wish: On and after the 24th, he would be delighted to see me -for as long as I cared to stay. - -On the morning of the 26th, the day upon which I was to leave for -Keymer, my landlady presented herself in my sitting-room, and with an -expression as of one who has intelligence to convey, opened upon me -with: ‘Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, but there was a gentleman called -yesterday, askin’ whether we had any one lodgin’ here as was jest back -from furrin parts, because he’d got a friend who he thought was goin’ -to some lodgin’s in this street, and he couldn’t find him out—not the -gentleman, couldn’t, that is, sir. I’m sure he knew you, sir, because -he said, when I called you Mr Rodd, “Ah! is that Mr _P._ Rodd?” says -he. “Yes,” says I to the gent; “it’s Mr Peter Rodd.” “O yes,” says -he, careless-like, “I know Mr Peter Rodd by name.” Then he give me -five shillin’s, sir, and told me be sure and not trouble you about his -’avin’ been, seein’ as ’ow you wouldn’t know who he was—he didn’t give -no name, sir—but I thought I’d best tell you, sir, because it didn’t -seem right-like his givin’ me five shillin’s to say nothin’ about it. -Excuse me for mentionin’ it, sir; but it’s what I call ’ush-money, and -it’s burnin’ ’oles in my pocket ever since.’ - -Here the worthy woman paused for breath; and wondering much who -this lavish unknown might be, and how he came to know so obscure an -individual as myself by name, I, perhaps indiscreetly, asked for a -description of his appearance, being then unaware of the curious fact, -that people in good Mrs Morton’s station of life are wholly incapable -of conveying to a third person the faintest impression of a stranger’s -exterior. Thus she could not say whether he was dark or fair, tall or -short, young or old, stout or thin. Upon one point only did her memory -serve her: ‘His necktie was a speckly, twisted up in a sailorses’ -knot.’ Having triumphantly furnished me with this useful clue to the -visitor’s identity, Mrs Morton took herself down-stairs. - -A sudden thought struck me, and I ran to the window. No; there was -not a soul to be seen in the quiet little street save a very ordinary -looking person in a gray dustcoat, sunning himself against the -pillar-box at the corner some fifty yards away; evidently a groom -waiting for orders, I thought. An hour later, I went out to make some -purchases, lunched at Blanchard’s, and drove back to Savile Street to -prepare for my journey to Sussex. There, in friendly converse with a -policeman at the same corner, was Citizen Gray-coat. I looked sharply -at him as my cab passed. His tie was _not_ ‘speckly,’ nor had he any -outward pretensions to the title of ‘gentleman.’ - -I reached Keymer without adventure late in the afternoon, my cousin -himself driving over in his trap to meet me. Turning round on the -platform, after our first hand-shaking, to look for my travelling-bag, -I saw stooping in the act of reading the card attached to the -handle—_the man in the gray dustcoat_. - -It could not be a chance! No; look at it which way I would, there -scowled at me the unpleasant but undeniable fact that I was being -‘watched.’ For what purpose, it was of course impossible to tell, -though I had no difficulty in connecting the visitor of the day before -with the apparition in gray at the little Sussex junction. I waited -till the evening to mention the matter to my cousin Henry, who, -after a ringing laugh and many small jokes at my expense, suddenly -became serious, and remarked: ‘But I say, Peter, it is an excessively -disagreeable thing to be followed about in that sort of way. Can’t you -account for the mistake in any way, so as to be able to get rid of the -fellow to-morrow?’ - -At that moment the suspicion against which I had fought so hard was -borne in with irresistible force upon my mind, and almost dizzy with -the physical effort to conceal its effect, I muttered my concurrence -with Rodd, that for his sake no less than my own, steps should at once -be taken to come to an understanding with the man and relieve him of -his duty. Looking forward with interest to learning the nature of the -mistake next day, we parted for the night. - -That circumstances were so shaping themselves as to do away with -the necessity of any action from our side, did not, and could not -enter into my calculations, as, bitterly wondering when and how this -miserable suspicion would become a sickening certainty, I fell into a -dream-haunted and unquiet sleep. - -We had breakfasted, and were leaving the house towards eleven o’clock -the next morning, intending, if we could sight him, to interview -the gray-coated sentry, when a station fly drove up to the door and -deposited a well-built and gentlemanly looking person, who, slightly -raising his hat, said: ‘May I ask if either of you gentlemen is Mr -Peter Rodd?’ - -Casually noticing that the speaker wore a speckled tie, I replied: -‘That is my name.’ - -‘Then it is my duty to inform you, sir, that I have a warrant for -your arrest on a criminal charge, and at the same time to caution you -against saying anything which may hereafter be used in your disfavour.’ - -‘What is the charge?’ I asked, ‘with the air,’ as Henry afterwards -observed, ‘of a man who is in the habit of being arrested every morning -after breakfast.’ - -‘Suspicion of having stolen on or about the 23d June a sum of one -thousand five hundred and fifty pounds in gold from the Alliance Bank, -Cape Town, in which you were an employee under the name of Percival -Royston.’ - -‘And what evidence have you that this gentleman is the person for -whose arrest you have a warrant?’ interposed my cousin. - -‘Strictly speaking, I have told you all I am permitted to do,’ was -the courteous answer. ‘But it will not be a very grave breach of duty -if I say that my prisoner is known to have reached England in the -_Balbriggan Castle_, to have exchanged gold for notes at Southampton, -and to be in possession of a quantity of luggage marked P. R., some of -which has been found upon examination to contain clothes, books, and -letters bearing the name Percival Royston, Alliance Bank, Cape Town; -while in other boxes were found similar articles with the name Peter -Rodd, showing the adoption of the alias.’ - -‘Would it be within your province to release your prisoner upon -undoubted proof that he is not the person wanted?’ - -The officer thought for a moment, and replied: ‘If such proof -could be confirmed by a magistrate—and after communicating with -headquarters—_yes_.’ - -‘Then,’ said my cousin, ‘will you be good enough to bring your prisoner -to the manor-house, and ask the squire—who is a magistrate—three simple -questions?—The name of your prisoner—How long it is since they last -met—What is to his knowledge the total duration of the prisoner’s -recent absence from England?’ - -This my captor readily consented to do; and after the three questions -had been answered by the squire—at whose house I had dined just a year -before—telegraphed to Scotland Yard, asking whether it was known how -long Royston had been continuously in the service of the bank. The -answer came speedily: ‘Five or six years;’ followed half an hour later -by a second message: ‘A mistake has occurred. Do not arrest Rodd. If -already done, express regret, and return at once.’ There was just -time for him to catch an up-train; and after carrying out his last -instructions with great politeness, the detective drove off, stopping, -as I observed, at the end of the drive to pick up a man who was leaning -against the gate-post, his hands buried deep in the pockets of a gray -dustcoat. - -The next post from London brought a very ample explanation and apology -for ‘the painful position in which I had been placed through an -exceedingly regrettable mistake. This had arisen through the imperfect -information furnished to the authorities in the first instance as to -the movements of the real culprit, who, they had unfortunately no room -whatever to doubt, was the passenger going under the name of Paul -Raynor. This person, it was now ascertained, had taken passage on board -a sailing-ship for South America. The similarity of initials, with -other facts of which I was aware, had combined to mislead those engaged -in the case; while the discovery of Royston’s luggage in my possession -had of course confirmed their suspicions. - -‘They were directed to add that the alias under which I knew him had -of course been assumed only after the _Balbriggan Castle_ had actually -sailed, as the message brought by the next homeward-bound steamer -to Madeira, and thence telegraphed to England, did not contain this -important item of information.’ - -Opening the newspaper two or three days later, I read at the head of -a column, in conspicuous type: ‘Arrival of the Cape Mail. Audacious -Robbery from a Cape Town Bank’—then in smaller print: ‘A considerable -sensation has been caused at Cape Town by the discovery of a robbery -planned and carried out with an audacity which it is not too much -to describe as unique in the annals of crime. The circumstances -are briefly these. On the morning of Wednesday the 16th June, the -mail-steamer _Turcoman_ arrived in Table Bay from England, having on -board some five thousand pounds in gold for the Alliance Bank, to -whose care it was duly delivered on the same day. A portion of this -amount, namely, fifteen hundred pounds, was destined for the use of -the bank’s Diamond Fields branch at De Vriespan, where it was required -with all expedition. The overland service between Cape Town and the -Diamond Fields is a bi-weekly one, leaving the former place at six -A.M. on Monday and Thursday, and covering the whole distance of seven -hundred miles in about five days nine hours. In order, therefore, to -insure the despatch of the case containing the specie by the mail-cart -on the following day, Mr Percival Royston, the assistant-cashier, -was requested to undertake, in conjunction with the senior clerk, Mr -Albertus Jager, the duty of counting and repacking the gold, after the -completion of their ordinary work at six or seven o’clock. According to -the latter gentleman’s statement, the task was not commenced till after -dinner at about eight o’clock. They had made some considerable progress -when Royston remarked how pale and tired his companion was looking. -Upon Mr Jager’s admitting that he was feeling far from well, the other -asked him if he would not give up the work and go home to bed, saying -that he (Royston) would finish the counting himself and have everything -ready in plenty of time for to-morrow. Knowing how thoroughly the -assistant-cashier was trusted by the bank, Mr Jager allowed himself to -be persuaded, and left at once for his own quarters. The case was duly -despatched in the morning, in charge of a clerk proceeding to the De -Vriespan office on promotion, the fact being reported by Royston to the -head-cashier. - -‘Nothing further appears to have transpired until Tuesday the 21st -June, when the head-cashier addressing Royston, asked: “By the way, -when is that gold due at De Vriespan? To-day?” - -“Yes, sir,” was the answer; “we ought to get the telegram announcing -its arrival in half an hour or so.” - -‘It is the custom of the bank to send a junior clerk to the home-going -mail-steamer with late letters for England, which may be posted on -board upon payment of an extra fee. This duty Royston asked to be -allowed to perform on the present occasion, stating that he would be -glad of the opportunity of seeing some friends off who were leaving by -the steamer that day. He left the bank at three forty-five, was seen to -go on board with a travelling-bag ten minutes later, and has not since -been heard of. His other luggage, consisting of two portmanteaus, had -been removed from his lodgings before daybreak, Royston having somehow -obtained the services of a coolie, who states that, following his -instructions, he first carried the luggage to an inn near the docks, -subsequently transferring it thence by hand-truck to the ship as soon -as the dock gates were opened. It should be remarked that Royston -occupied rooms on the ground-floor, the landlord and his wife and the -other lodgers sleeping on the first and second floors. But for this -fact, it would probably have been impossible to effect the removal of -the luggage without disturbing the other occupants of the house. - -‘At five o’clock a telegram was received at the Alliance Bank: “De -Vriespan, four thirty. Case just arrived. On being opened, found to -contain nothing but lead-sheeting to exact weight of gold expected. -Clerk in charge denies all knowledge. Wire any instructions.” A cab -dashed furiously to the docks, its occupant the head-cashier, who, as -he turned the corner towards the quay, was just able to descry the -smoke of the vanishing steamer now four or five miles on her way. “Too -late!” shouted the Steam Company’s agent as he passed on foot. “Ship -sailed sharp at four thirty!” - -‘The above incident will most probably give a sharp impetus to the -movement, already initiated in Cape commercial circles, for the -establishment of ocean cable communication with Great Britain direct, -the importance of which, from an imperial as well as a colonial point -of view, has long been recognised.’ - - * * * * * - -A keen east wind was blowing in my teeth as I hurried along the Strand -towards Temple Bar one morning in March, and as I bent my head to meet -a more than usually piercing gust, I came against a passer-by, who -answered my apology with a smile of recognition. ‘Mr Rodd, I think?’ - -It was no other than the polite detective, more polite than ever, -because of the whirling dust and biting wind, against which the best of -good-humour is so rarely proof. - -‘Ah, sir,’ he went on, as we drew into a low archway for a moment’s -talk, ‘you would be astonished to hear the story of the wildgoose chase -we had after Mr Percival Royston last summer and autumn. If you would -care to call in at my quarters any day after four o’clock, I should be -very pleased to tell you about it.’ - -‘Thank you,’ I replied; ‘I will see. Meanwhile, how did it end?’ - -‘All wrong for _us_, I am sorry to say. He got clean away from us; and -I don’t suppose we shall ever hear of him again.’ - -The sun shone out for a moment, and the wind seemed to have lost -something of its bitter chill as I wished Detective Elms good-morning -and passed on my way eastward. - - - - -THE MONTH: - -SCIENCE AND ARTS. - - -The abnormally mild winter—if winter it can be called—which has been -experienced this year, has once more raised hopes in the minds of -farmers that brighter times are in store for them. The extreme mildness -of the season has not only been favourable for all field operations, -but it has been most beneficial for stock. Lambs have never been so -numerous as they are this year in many of the southern counties, for -not only have they had the climate in their favour during the most -critical time of their lives, but there has been a wonderful number of -twins. Indeed, the proportion of these latter to single births has on -some farms been as high as sixteen out of twenty. - -A silver lining to the dark cloud which has so long overshadowed the -British farmer may also perhaps be discerned in certain operations -which are now being pushed forward at Lavenham, in Suffolk. A private -Company has been formed to recommence, under the more favourable -conditions which the progress of scientific agriculture has rendered -possible, the making of beet-sugar in this country. Between the years -1869 and 1873, Mr James Duncan tried a similar experiment, and the -present Company has acquired his works at Lavenham, to take up once -more the industry which he tried to establish. The recently devised -methods of extracting sugar from the beet are much easier and simpler, -and far less costly, than the processes employed by Mr Duncan; and the -promoters of the enterprise are sanguine of success, if they can only -induce the farmers to grow sufficient beetroot for them to operate -upon. The Company has arranged favourable terms of transport with the -railway authorities; for instance, a truck-load of roots can be brought -to Lavenham from Bury—a distance of eleven miles—for eighteenpence a -ton. For the same distance, Mr Duncan formerly paid four shillings and -twopence a ton. The experiment will be watched with extreme interest by -all agriculturists. - -Mr Wood’s lecture to the Institute of Agriculture on the subject of -Ensilage gave some valuable particulars of experiments he had made -with the object of ascertaining which are the crops that can be most -profitably cultivated for that method of preservation. He first of all -took the value of ensilage at twenty-six shillings and eightpence, -or about one-third the value of hay. An acre of heavy meadow-grass -produced twelve tons of compressed food; and the same quantity dried -into hay weighed only two tons seven hundredweight. After allowing for -the cost of producing each, the lecturer showed a balance in favour of -the ensilage over hay of nearly five pounds sterling an acre. Buckwheat -cultivated for treatment as ensilage, against the same valued as a -seed-crop, showed a gain in favour of the silo of two pounds eight -shillings and threepence per acre. Oats compared in like manner show a -balance of five pounds per acre; and here there is a further gain, for -oats cut in the green state have not had the time to exhaust the soil -as if they had been left to mature. There is still a further gain in -favour of ensilage, when it is remembered that the ground is cleared -before the usual time, and is therefore ready very early for new crops. -The lecturer concluded by throwing out a useful hint that dairymen and -cowkeepers in towns could be with great advantage supplied with the new -form of fodder in casks, a sixty-gallon cask holding about thirty-one -stone-weight of the compressed material. - -Mr W. F. Petrie, whose recently published book upon the Pyramids of -Gezeh we noticed two months ago, has just undertaken some excavations -in another part of Egypt, which are likely to bear fruitful results. -Amidst a desolation of mud and marsh, there lies, in the north-eastern -delta of the Nile, a place far from the track of tourists, and which -is therefore seldom visited. This now remote spot, Sàn-el-Hagar (that -is, Sàn of the Stones), was once a splendid city, in the midst of the -cornlands and pasturage which formed part of the biblical ‘field of -Zoan.’ Excavations were begun here in 1861 by Mariette Pasha, and he -unearthed the site of the principal temple; but lack of funds and want -of support generally, caused him to give up the work, though not before -several treasures had found their way from his diggings to the Boulak -Museum at Cairo, and to the Louvre. Mr Petrie, under the auspices of -the newly formed Egypt Exploration Fund, commences the work anew in -this promising field of research; and before long we may possibly have -very important finds to chronicle. - -At the recent meeting of the Scottish Meteorological Society, held in -Edinburgh, an interesting account was given of the daily work which has -been carried on in the Ben Nevis Observatory since its first occupation -in November last, and which is telegraphed daily from the summit of the -mountain. Several new instruments have been added since that date, and -improvements in the buildings costing a thousand pounds will shortly -be commenced. Referring to the new marine station at Granton, near -Edinburgh, Mr Murray of the _Challenger_ expedition gave an interesting -account of the work going on there. The laboratory is now in working -order, and there is accommodation for five or six naturalists. It is -intended to offer this accommodation free of expense to any British or -foreign naturalist having a definite object of study in view. - -The French Academy of Sciences has just received an interesting account -of a meteorite which fell not long ago near Odessa. A bright serpentine -trail of fire was seen one morning to pass over that town; and the -editor of one of the papers, surmising that a meteoric mass might have -fallen from the sky, offered a reward to any one who would bring it to -him. A peasant, who had been terribly frightened by the stone falling -close to him as he worked in the fields, and burying itself in the -ground, answered this appeal. He had dug the stone out of the soil, -and preserved it, keeping the matter quite secret from his neighbours, -as he feared ridicule. This stone was found to be a shapeless mass -weighing nearly eighteen pounds. The fall of another meteorite, which -in its descent near the same town wounded a man, was also reported; but -it had been broken into fragments and distributed among the peasants, -who preserved them as talismans. - -The visitors to Cliff House, San Francisco, had recently the rare -opportunity of viewing a marvellous mirage, during which the headland -of North Farallon, which is under ordinary circumstances quite out -of sight, indeed absolutely below the horizon, not only came into -view, but appeared to be only a few miles from the shore. The strange -sight fascinated the onlookers for many hours, and marine glasses and -telescopes were brought to bear upon these veritable castles in the air. - -It seems strange that Samuel Pepys, whose famous Diary is known to -all English readers, should have been left without a monument in the -old London church where his remains repose, until one hundred and -eighty years after his death. This may be partly explained by the -circumstance that Pepys’ Diary was not published until the year 1825. -It was originally written in cipher, and the key to it, strange to say, -was not made use of until that time. Although Pepys was a well-known -man in his day, and occupied a good official position as ‘Clerk of the -Acts’ and Secretary to the Admiralty, his fame is due to his unique -Diary. At last, however, Pepys has a monument to his honour, which -was unveiled the other day in the ancient city church of St Olave’s, -near the Tower of London. The question has been raised whether Pepys, -in using a cipher alphabet, did not intend his Diary as a private -document. But still he left the key behind him, which he might have -easily destroyed. However this may be, the book has delighted thousands -of readers, giving as it does in a very quaint style a picture, and a -true picture too, of London life two hundred years ago. - -A curious record of the year 1478 is quoted in the _Builder_, which -points to an early case of water being laid on to a town-house. The -ingenious individual who thus tapped the conduit or watercourse running -along the street, seems to have paid more dearly for the privilege than -even a London water-consumer has to pay to the Companies in the present -day. The man was a tradesman in Fleet Street, and is thus referred to: -‘A wex-chandler in Flete-strete had by crafte perced a pipe of the -condit withynne the ground, and so conveied the water into his selar; -wherefore he was judged to ride through the citie with a condit uppon -his hedde.’ This poor man was nevertheless only adapting to his own -purposes a system of water-conveyance that had been known and practised -in many countries ages before his time. - -It is expected that nearly one thousand members and associates of the -British Association will cross the Atlantic in August next to take part -in the meeting which is to be held this year at Montreal. All visitors -to the Dominion know well that the Canadians understand the meaning of -the word hospitality in its broadest sense, and they are, according to -all reports, taking measures which will cause their British cousins to -long remember the welcome which they will receive. The Association is -taking good care that the members shall be seen at their best, and no -new members will be allowed to join the party except under stringent -conditions. This will very rightly prevent an influx of people who will -take a sudden interest in scientific research for the sake of getting a -cheap trip to Canada. The names of the representative men under whose -care the various sections are placed, are sufficient guarantee that -plenty of good work will be done. We may mention that special attention -will be paid in section D, under Professor Ray Lankester, to the vexed -question of the supposed connection between sun-spot periods and -terrestrial phenomena. This question has long been a bone of contention -among scientific men, one side bringing forward figures giving -remarkable points of agreement, the other side disclaiming them with -the assertion that statistics can be made to prove anything. Perhaps -this meeting of the Association may guide us to a right solution of the -problems involved. - -‘The Mineral Wealth of Queensland,’ the title of a paper recently -read before the Royal Colonial Institute by Mr C. S. Dicken, was full -of matter which should be interesting to those who are seeking an -outlay for their capital. Queensland is five and a half times larger -in area than the United Kingdom. Its gold-fields are estimated to -cover a space of seven thousand square miles, and it produces large -quantities of silver, copper, and tin. According to the official -Reports of geologists, coal crops out on the surface over some -twenty-four thousand square miles. Hitherto, these vast resources -have been comparatively untouched. Men and capital are required for -their development; and as the climate is a healthy one, and the laws -administered by capable and impartial men, there is every incentive to -Europeans to turn their attention to the country. - -A Bill now before the House of Commons is of extreme interest and -importance to students of natural history, to artists, and many others. -We allude to Mr Bryce’s ‘Access to Mountains (Scotland) Bill.’ In the -preamble to this proposed measure, it is set forth that many large -tracts of uncultivated mountain and moorland, which have in past times -been covered with sheep and cattle, are now stocked with deer, and in -many cases the rights which have hitherto been enjoyed by artists and -others of visiting such lands, have been stopped by the owners. It is -now proposed that it should be henceforward illegal for owners of such -property to exclude any one who wishes to go there ‘for the purposes -of recreation, or scientific or artistic study.’ At the same time the -Bill clearly provides that any one committing any kind of poaching or -damage is to be regarded as a trespasser, and dealt with accordingly. -Parks and pleasure-grounds attached to a dwelling-house are of course -excepted from the operation of the Act. - -Mr Johnston’s book upon _The River Congo_ is full of interesting -particulars of his wanderings through that part of Africa and his -meeting with Stanley. He certainly throws some new light upon the -climate of the country; for whereas previous travellers have described -it as fever-breeding, and full of terrors to the white man, Mr Johnston -tells us that the climate of the interior table-land is as healthy -as possible, and that any European taking ordinary precautions as -to temperate eating and drinking, need never have a day’s illness -there. This is perhaps a matter of personal constitution and physique. -Because one man has had such a pleasant experience of African climate, -it is no reason why every one else should expect the same exemption -from illness. Still, we trust that Mr Johnston’s deductions may prove -correct. - -We are all of us now and then astonished by the report of some sale in -which a fancy price, as it is called, has been paid for something of no -intrinsic value, and very often of no artistic value either. Hundreds -of pounds have been paid within recent years for a single teacup, -provided that the happy purchaser can be sure that it is unique. Even -thousands have been paid for a vase a few inches high simply because -it was rare. The mania for collecting curiosities which prompts people -to pay these large sums, is by no means confined to articles of virtu. -Natural history claims a large army of such collectors. A single -orchid was sold only the other day for a small fortune. At the time -of the Cochin-China fowl mania, which John Leech helped to caricature -out of existence, a single rooster fetched five hundred pounds. Only -last month, in London, some enormous prices were obtained under the -hammer for a collection of Lepidoptera, vulgarly known as moths and -butterflies. Single specimens fetched three and four pounds apiece, -and even more; whilst a common white butterfly, apparently having a -particular value because it was caught in the Hebrides, was actually -knocked down for the sum of thirteen guineas. It would be extremely -interesting to ascertain the exact nature of the pleasurable sensations -with which the owner of this butterfly doubtless regards his purchase. -The export of a few white butterflies to the Hebrides might prove a -profitable venture, if not overdone. - -It may be that the age of big prices for little teacups and vases is on -the eve of passing away, for it would seem that the secret processes -by which the old workers could endow the china with a depth of colour -and richness of tone impossible to achieve by more modern hands, have -been rediscovered. It is reported that M. Lauth, the Director of the -Sèvres state porcelain manufactory, has attained this result. Moreover, -his discovery does not, like too many others, resolve itself into a -mere laboratory experiment, but represents a manufacturing success. The -results, too, can be looked for with certainty, whereas there is little -doubt that the old workers had many a failure as well as successes. - -The recent opinion of Mr Justice Stephen that cremation, if properly -conducted, is not illegal, has again opened up a subject, which, -although of a somewhat delicate, and to some people actually repulsive -nature, is bound sooner or later to force its importance upon public -attention. There is every reason to believe that public opinion is -fast undergoing a very great change, as the subject becomes better -understood. A like alteration of public feeling is also observable -in other European countries. Sir Spencer Wells has lately published -an account of the public cemetery in Rome, where, in the four months -previous to his visit, no fewer than forty bodies had been submitted -to the new form of sepulture. Dr Cameron’s Bill for the regulation -of the practice of cremation will possibly come before the House of -Commons before these lines appear in print, and we shall then have an -opportunity of gauging the feeling for and against a practice which, -after all, is not new, but very old indeed. - -Lovers of nature will be glad to hear that otters are yet extant in -the Thames; but unless possessed of that unfortunate instinct which -causes the average Briton to kill and slay anything alive which is not -actually a domestic animal, they will be disgusted to learn that these -interesting creatures are no sooner discovered than they are shot and -stuffed. In January 1880, an otter weighing twenty-six pounds was shot -at Hampton Court; another shared the same fate at Thames-Ditton in -January last; and one more has recently been slaughtered at Cookham. - -We have recently had an opportunity of visiting the steep-grade tramway -which is being laid, and is now on the point of being finished, on that -same quiet Highgate Hill where tradition tells us Dick Whittington -heard the bells prophesying his future good-fortune. This tramway is -the first of its kind in this country, and will probably prove the -pioneer line of many others in situations where the hilly nature of -the ground forbids horse-traction. Briefly described, it consists of -an endless cable, a steel rope kept constantly moving at the rate of -six miles an hour by means of a stationary engine. This cable moves -in a pipe buried in the ground midway between the rails; but the pipe -has an opening above. Through this opening—a narrow slit about an inch -wide—passes from the car a kind of grip-bar, which by the turn of a -handle in the car is made to take hold of the travelling-rope below, or -to release its hold, as required. This system has been in successful -operation in San Francisco for many years, and there is no reason why -it should not succeed in this country. The only question seems to be -whether the traffic up and down Highgate Hill is sufficient to make the -enterprise pay. - -The profits of the International Fisheries Exhibition amount to -fifteen thousand pounds. Two-thirds of this sum will be devoted to the -benefit of the widows and orphans of fishermen, presumably through -the instrumentality of some Society or Insurance Association to be -formed for the purpose; three thousand pounds will go to form a Royal -Fisheries Society for scientific work in connection with the harvest of -the sea; whilst the balance remains in hand, at present unappropriated. - - - - -THE PROGRESS OF PISCICULTURE. - - -Of late years, no feature of fishery economy has excited more attention -than the progress we have been making in what is called ‘Pisciculture.’ -Fish-eggs are now a common article of commerce—the sales of which, -and the prices at which they can be purchased, being as regularly -advertised as any other kind of goods. This is a fact which, a century -ago, might have been looked upon by our forefathers as something -more than wonderful. Such commerce in all probability would have -been stigmatised as impious, as a something ‘flying in the face of -Providence.’ - -But in another country there was buying and selling of fish-eggs more -than a thousand years ago. The ingenious Chinese people had discovered -the philosophy which underlies fish-culture, as well as the best modes -of increasing their supplies of fish, long before any European nation -had dreamt of taking action in the matter. A few years ago, a party -of fisher-folks from the Celestial Empire, on a visit to Europe, were -exceedingly astonished at the prices they had to pay for the fish they -were so fond of eating. They explained that in China any person might -purchase for a very small sum as much as might serve a family for a -week’s food. They also mentioned that some fishes which we reject, -such as the octopus, were much esteemed by the Chinese, who cooked -them carefully, and partook of them with great relish. The capture -of the octopus, indeed, forms one of the chief fishing industries of -China, these sea-monsters being taken in enormous numbers at some of -the Chinese fishing stations, notably at Swatow. They are preserved -by being dried in the sun; and then, after being packed in tubs, they -are distributed to the consuming centres of the country. In the inland -districts of China there are also to be found numerous fishponds, where -supplies of the more popular sorts of fish are kept, and fed for the -market. These are grown from ova generally bought from dealers, who -procure supplies of eggs from some of the large rivers of the country. -The infant fish, it may be mentioned, are as carefully tended and fed -as if they were a flock of turkeys in the yard of a Norfolk farmer. -In the opinion of the Chinese fishermen, who were interviewed by the -industrious Frank Buckland, hundreds of thousands of fish annually die -of starvation; and if means could be adopted for the feeding of tender -fry, fish of all kinds would become more plentiful than at present, and -we would obtain them at a cheaper rate. In China, the yolks of hens’ -eggs are thrown into the rivers and ponds, that kind of food being -greedily devoured by the young fish. - -It has long been known to those interested in the economy of our -fisheries, that only a very small percentage of the ova of our chief -food-fishes comes to maturity, while of the fish actually hatched, -a very small percentage reaches our tables for food-uses; hence -the desire which has arisen to augment the supplies by means of -pisciculture. In the case of a fish like the salmon, every individual -of that species (_Salmo salar_) which can be brought to market is -certain, even when prices are low, of a ready sale at something like -a shilling per pound-weight; and it is not, therefore, to be wondered -at that the proprietor of a stretch of salmon-water should be zealous -about the increase of his stock of fish. A quarter of a century since, -the salmon-fishery owners of the river Tay in Scotland, impressed with -the possibilities of pisciculture, had a suite of salmon-nurseries -constructed at Stormontfield, where they have annually hatched a -very large number of eggs, and where they feed and protect the young -fish till they are ready to migrate to the sea, able to fight their -own battle of life. This may be said to be the earliest and longest -sustained piscicultural effort of a commercial kind made in Great -Britain, an example which was followed on other rivers. The chief -salmon-fisheries of Scotland being held as private property, are, of -course, more favourably situated, in regard to fish-culture, than -salmon-fisheries which are open to the public, and which, in a sense, -are the property of no person in particular. These latter must be left -in the hands of mother Nature. The salmon, however, being an animal of -great commercial value, is so coveted at all seasons of the year, both -by persons who have a legal right to such property, and by persons who -have no right, that such fisheries have a tendency to become barren of -breeding-stock; for although each female yields on the average as many -as twenty thousand eggs, extremely few of these ever reach maturity; -hence, it has come about that many proprietors are resorting to the -piscicultural process of increasing their supplies. - -But the chief feature of the pisciculture of the period is that -‘fisheries’ are now being worked quite independently of any particular -river. There is, for example, the Howietoun fishery, near Stirling, -which has been ‘invented,’ as we may say, by that piscatorial giant, -Sir James Gibson-Maitland. From this establishment, the eggs of -fish, particularly trout, and more especially Loch Leven trout, are -annually distributed in hundreds of thousands. From Howietoun, and from -some other places as well, gentlemen can stock their ponds or other -ornamental water with fecundated ova in a certain state of forwardness; -or they can procure, for a definite sum of money, fish of all ages -from tiny fry to active yearlings, or well grown two-year olds! -Sporting-waters which have been overfished can be easily replenished by -procuring a few thousand eggs or yearlings; while angling clubs which -rent a loch or important stream can, at a very small cost, keep up the -supplies, whether of trout or salmon. In the course of the last three -summers, several Scottish lakes have had their fish-stores replenished -by means of drafts on the piscicultural bank, which is always open at -the Howietoun ‘fishery.’ The distance to which ova or tender young fish -require to be transported offers no obstacle to this new development of -fish-commerce; thousands of infantile fish were brought from Russia to -Edinburgh with perfect safety on the occasion of the Fishery Exhibition -held in that city. The loss in transit was not more, we believe, than -two per cent. - -It may prove interesting to state the prices which are charged usually -for ova and young fish. A sample lot of eyed ova of the American brook -trout, to the extent of one thousand, may be obtained for thirty -shillings; and for ten shillings less, a thousand eggs of the Loch -Leven trout, or the common trout of the country, may be purchased. For -stock supplies, a box containing fifteen thousand partially eyed ova -of _S. fontinalis_ (American) may be had for ten pounds. The other -varieties mentioned are cheaper by fifty shillings for the same number. -Fry of the same, in lots of not fewer than five thousand, range from -seven pounds ten shillings to five pounds. Yearlings are of course -dearer, and cost from fifteen and ten pounds respectively per thousand. -Ten millions of trout ova are now hatched every year at the Howietoun -fishery. - -The fecundity of all kinds of fish is enormous. A very small trout will -be found to contain one thousand eggs; a female salmon will yield on -the average eight hundred ova for each pound of her weight; and if even -a fifth part of the eggs of our food-fishes were destined to arrive at -maturity, there would be no necessity for resorting to pisciculture -in order to augment our fish commissariat. But even in America, where -most kinds of fish were at one period almost over-abundant, artificial -breeding is now necessary in order to keep up the supplies. In the -United States, fish-culture has been resorted to on a gigantic scale, -not only as regards the salmon, but also in connection with various -sea-fishes, many hundred millions of eggs of which are annually -collected and hatched; the young fry being forwarded to waters which -require to be restocked. Apparatus of a proper description for the -hatching of sea-fish has been constructed, and is found to work -admirably. Some of these inventions were shown last year in the -American department of the International Fishery Exhibition, where -they were much admired by persons who feel interested in the proper -development of our fishery resources. In the United States, the art -of pisciculture has been studied with rare patience and industry, the -fish-breeders thinking it no out-of-the-way feat to transplant three -or four millions of young salmon in the course of a season. In dealing -with the shad, the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries have -been able to distribute the young of that fish by tens of millions per -annum; the loss in the hatching of eggs and in the transmission of the -animal being very small. - -Some writers and lecturers on the natural and economic history of our -food-fishes have asserted that no possible demand can lead to their -extermination or to any permanent falling-off in the supplies; but the -economy of the American fisheries tends to disprove that theory. In -the seas which surround the United States, certain fishes would soon -become very scarce, were the supplies not augmented each season by -the aid of the pisciculturists. The fruitfulness of the cod is really -wonderful, individuals of that family having been taken with from five -to nine millions of eggs in their ovaries. The fecundity of the common -herring, too, has often proved a theme of wonder. That an animal only -weighing a few ounces should be able to perpetuate its kind at the rate -of thirty thousand, is indeed remarkable. But fruitful in reproductive -power as these and other fishes undoubtedly are, it has been prophesied -by cautious writers, that by over-fishing, the supplies may in time -become so exhausted as to require the aid of the pisciculturist. If -so, we believe the mode of action which has been found to work so well -in the American seas will be the best to follow. No plan of inclosed -sea-ponds, however large they might be, will meet the case; the -fish-eggs will require to be hatched in floating cylinders specially -constructed for the purpose, so as to admit of the eggs being always -under the influence of the sea-water, and at the same time exposed to -the eye of skilled watchers. It is believed by persons well qualified -to judge, that the eggs of our more valuable sea-fishes may in the way -indicated be dealt with in almost incredible numbers. We have only to -remember that twenty females of the cod family will yield at least one -hundred millions of eggs, to see that the possibilities of pisciculture -might extend far beyond anything indicated in the foregoing remarks. - -In resuscitating their exhausted oyster-beds, the French people have -during the last twenty years worked wonders; they have been able to -reproduce that favourite shell-fish year after year in quantities -that would appear fabulous if they could be enumerated in figures. -Pisciculture was understood in France long before it was thought of -as a means of aiding natural production in America; but our children -of the States—to use a favourite phrase of their own—now ‘lick all -creation’ in the ways and means of replenishing river and sea with -their finny denizens. - - - - -A PLEA FOR THE WATER-OUSEL. - - -In a paper which appeared in this _Journal_, in June 1883, on the -Salmon, a few words were said in defence of the water-ousel against -a _fama_ which had found vent in newspaper correspondence, accusing -that most interesting bird of destroying salmon spawn. An English -gentleman, after reading those remarks, has written to us, giving a sad -illustration of misdirected zeal, which had arisen from the reading of -such newspaper letters. - -During the previous winter, he was one of a party that spent a few -days on the banks of a favourite salmon river in Wales. The party were -all enthusiastic anglers; and, fired by the recent outcry against the -ousel, they made a raid upon these birds, killing thirty in one day. -Like the ‘Jeddart justices’ of old, the party then proceeded to convict -the slain; when, lo! on examination by one of their number—a well-known -English analyst—not a grain of salmon roe could be found in all the -thirty crops examined, though it was then the height of the salmon -spawning season. Like Llewelyn, after slaying Gelert, they had time to -repent, ‘For now the truth was clear.’ They had slain the innocent, -which feed upon insects that prey on salmon ova. They had therefore -killed one of the salmon’s best protectors. - -No better instance could be adduced of the caution with which popular -theories in natural history should be received. But besides branding -the innocent little ousel as a salmon-destroyer, some writers went so -far as to assert that the bird had no song, and was not worth listening -to. The best observers fortunately have defended the bird against the -charge of being songless; and in respect to its alleged crime of eating -salmon-roe, the evidence above given is surely conclusive in favour of -its innocence. - -The water-ousel is one of our most unique birds. It is a wader and a -diver, and though not web-footed, by using its wings it can propel -itself under water. Its habits are always a delightful study to the -observer. The domed nest, with its snow-white eggs, is a wonderful -structure; and there is a fascination in watching the bird tripping -in and out of the water in pursuit of its food, popping overhead ever -and again, and reappearing for a moment, only to dive and reappear -elsewhere. When rivers are largely frozen over, it is interesting to -see how boldly the little bird dives from the edge of an ice-sheet -into a stream two feet or more in depth, how long it can remain under -water, and how often it rises to breathe and dive again without leaving -the stream. The singing of the water-ousel is low, but remarkably -sweet, and long-continued in the winter-time of the year, when no other -bird but the redbreast is heard; and when trilled out, as the notes -frequently are in the clear frosty air, as the bird sits perched on a -rocky projection, or takes its rapid flight up or down the stream, -they sound clear and melodious. - - -THE WATER-OUSEL’S SONG. - - Whitter! whitter! where the water - Leaps among the rocks, - And the din of the linn - Swelling thunder mocks, - Cheerily and merrily - I sing my roundelay, - Whitter! whitter! bright or bitter - Be the winter day! - - Whitter! whitter! down the water - Speeding with the stream, - Snow around wraps the ground - In a silent dream! - Wood and hill, all are still, - Birds as mute as clay, - Whitter! whitter! what is fitter - For a winter day? - - Whitter! whitter! in the water - Busily I ply; - Ice and snow come and go, - Nought a care have I. - Mountain waters flee their fetters, - So I feed and play, - Whitter! whitter! pitter! pitter! - All the winter day. - - Whitter! whitter! o’er the water - Still and smooth and deep, - Round the pool, clear and cool, - Where the shadows sleep, - Snowy breast, shadow-kissed, - Whirring on its way, - Whitter! whitter! titter! titter! - Ho! the winter day! - - Whitter! whitter! through the water, - By the miller’s wheel, - Where the strong water’s song - Rings a merry peal; - Wet or dry, what care I, - Sporting in the spray? - Whitter! whitter! twitter! twitter! - Flies the winter day. - - Whitter! whitter! with the water - Where the burnies run, - ’Mong the hills, where the rills - Dance unto the sun, - In the nooks, where the brooks - Ripple on for aye, - Whitter! whitter! bright or bitter - Be the winter day! - - J. H. P. - - - - -BOOK GOSSIP. - - -We have on more than one occasion drawn attention in these pages to the -good work which Miss Ormerod is accomplishing by the dissemination of -knowledge on the subject of insect life as it affects agriculture. She -has now published a _Guide to Methods of Insect Life, and Prevention -and Remedy of Insect Ravage_ (London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.), -which cannot fail greatly to advance the object she has in view. The -_Guide_ was written at the request of the Institute of Agriculture, -and its chief purpose is to give some information on the habits, and -means of prevention, of crop insects. The book is written in a style -which will render it useful to agriculturists, gardeners, and others, -even although they happen to have no scientific knowledge whatever of -entomology. The various insects, their eggs and larvæ, are described -in terms as free from scientific terminology as is possible; and -such scientific terms as must occasionally be used are explained in a -glossary at the end of the book. The illustrations are numerous; and -between these and the verbal descriptions given, no difficulty should -at any time be felt in identifying any particular insect pest, and -applying to it the treatment which the author suggests. The methods -of prevention are mainly taken from the reports which Miss Ormerod -has been in the habit of receiving annually from a large number of -agriculturists, so that the reader has here, in one little book, the -united experience and observations of a large body of practical men. - -⁂ - -Last year we had the pleasure of publishing in this _Journal_ two -papers on the subject of Shetland and its Industries, by Sheriff -Rampini, of Lerwick. Since then, the same gentleman has delivered -two lectures before the Philosophical Institution, Edinburgh, which -lectures are now published in a neat little volume, under the title of -_Shetland and the Shetlanders_ (Kirkwall: William Peace and Son). In -the papers which appeared in our pages, the author confined himself -to the industries of the island, its agriculture and fisheries; in -these lectures, however, he gives himself greater scope, and treats of -the history, traditions, and language of the people, introducing many -anecdotes characteristic of them and of their habits. - - - - -OCCASIONAL NOTES. - - -AMERICAN LITERARY PIRACY. - -In the _London Figaro_, the editor thus writes: Those literary men who -are agitating for a copyright convention with the United States have -doubtless suffered in the following way, which seems to me particularly -hard on some of the authors of this country. I am, let it be assumed, -then, the writer of a number of short stories, which, at anyrate, for -the purposes of my statement, I will conclude to have been good enough -to earn sufficient popularity to bring them within the purview of the -American book pirates. Very well—my stories are taken as quickly as -they appear and published in the States, not only in a book-form, but -in all the principal newspapers which devote some of their columns to -fiction. - -For this honour I, of course, receive never a cent, and that is a -distinct hardship, I take it. But that is not all. My stories having -appeared in the States, slightly altered to suit American tastes, -and without my name attached, are read and admired by the editors -of English provincial journals, who straightway proceed to cut out -the fictions in question, and alter them back again, to suit the -idiosyncrasies of their British readers. Thus my handiwork appears a -second time in this country; and in not one, but possibly a dozen or a -score of provincial newspapers. - -The result is this. When I go, a month or two after, and offer a -collection of my short stories to a London publisher, he reads them, -and replies in effect: ‘Yes, I like your stories very well; but what -is the use of my publishing them, when they have appeared in half the -country papers in the kingdom?’ It is in vain I explain. The injury -has been done; and an apology from the country editors is but a slight -and unsatisfactory atonement for an act which has kept me out of scores -or hundreds of pounds. - -Besides this, there are other publishers who, seeing that my fiction -appears in the _Little Pedlington Mirror_ or the _Mudborough Gazette_, -mentally determine that my calibre as a writer cannot be very great -if I am reduced to dispose of my copy to such papers as these. And -therefore, through no fault of my own, but, as a matter of fact, -in actual consequence of my success, my reputation as a writer is -positively injured in quarters in which it is most important to me it -should be sustained. I have been describing incidents which have really -occurred, I may add; and I think that the grievance is one that needs -serious attention, with a view to its redress. - - [The editor of _Figaro_ has our fullest sympathy. We, too, are - the victims of American malpractices. Many of the short stories - which appear in _Chambers’s Journal_ are copied into the - American newspapers without leave, and _without acknowledgment - of the source whence taken_. These papers reach Great Britain - with the purloined material, which our provincial press in - turn transfers to its pages. Expostulation is of no avail: - the British journalist sees a story in an American newspaper - which will suit his purpose, and at once takes possession of - property, which of course he believes to be American (and - therefore legitimate spoil), but which has in reality been paid - for and previously published by ourselves. We thus doubtless - lose many subscribers, who, finding our Tales and Stories given - at full length in the penny papers, are pleased to have them at - a slightly cheaper rate than the original.—_ED. Ch. Jl._] - - -SOWING AND HARVESTING. - -Farmers, besides being subject to the risks incurred by all engaged -in commercial enterprises, are in addition peculiarly dependent on -the very variable weather of our climate. In 1877, Professor Tanner -was deputed by the Science and Art Department to make an inquiry into -the conditions regulating the growth of barley, wheat, and oats. He -found that on a certain farm the portion of the barley-crop which was -harvested in fine harvest-weather yielded per acre forty bushels, -each of which weighed fifty-six pounds; while on the same farm the -part harvested after some rain had fallen—in bad harvest-weather—also -yielded forty bushels per acre; but in this case each bushel weighed -only forty pounds—thus showing that there was a loss of six hundred and -forty pounds of food on each acre. Barley is also peculiarly sensitive -to the condition of its seed-bed. Two parts of the same field were -sown with similar seed; but in one case the seed was got down in good -spring-weather, and in the other, after heavy rain; and the result -was that the former grew freely, and yielded per acre forty bushels, -weighing fifty-eight and a half pounds each; while in the latter case -the seed never grew freely, and yielded per acre only twenty-four -bushels, weighing fifty-four pounds per bushel—thus showing a loss of -one thousand and forty-four pounds of grain per acre. - -In the case of wheat, and particularly of the finer varieties, the -losses arising from bad harvest-weather tell very materially on the -prices. Of the same crop of fine white wheat grown in 1877 under -similar conditions, the part harvested in good weather yielded per acre -forty bushels, each weighing sixty-six pounds; while the part which -could not be harvested before being damaged by rain yielded an equal -number of bushels; but the weight of each bushel was decreased by five -pounds, and this latter was sold at two-and-sixpence per bushel lower -than the former. Besides this, if ungenial weather should prevent -the farmer sowing his wheat in good time, the yield is still further -lessened, if indeed he does not deem it expedient to sow barley instead. - -One would think that oats—the hardiest of our cereals—would suffer -little from the effects of bad weather; but in a case in which two -portions of oats grown under similar conditions were examined, it was -found that the portion harvested in good weather produced thirty-three -bushels, each weighing forty-one and a half pounds; while that stacked -after some rain had fallen was found to give thirty-two bushels, -weighing thirty-nine and a half pounds each. - - -RUSSIAN LONGEVITY. - -From a correspondent, who has passed some years in Russia, we learn -that in the village of Velkotti, in the St Petersburg government, an -old woman is living who has just attained her one hundred and thirtieth -birthday! The old lady is in the enjoyment of good health, but -complains of her deafness (and no wonder). Her hair is still long and -plentiful, considering her age. She spent her youth in great poverty, -but is now pretty well off. She has outlived three husbands; and has -had a family of nineteen children, all of whom have been married, and -are now dead, the last one to die being a daughter of ninety-three. She -lives with one of her great-grandchildren, a man of fifty. - -Our correspondent also informs us that a few months ago an unusually -curious wedding took place in Ekaterinoslav, in Russia. The -bridegroom was sixty-five years old, the bride sixty-seven. By former -marriages, each of them have children and grandchildren, and even -great-grandchildren, living in the same town. The bridegroom’s father, -now in his one hundred and third year, and the bride’s mother, in her -ninety-sixth year, are still alive, and were at the wedding. - - * * * * * - -The Conductor of CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL begs to direct the attention of -CONTRIBUTORS to the following notice: - -_1st._ All communications should be addressed to the ‘Editor, 339 - High Street, Edinburgh.’ - -_2d._ For its return in case of ineligibility, postage-stamps - should accompany every manuscript. - -_3d._ MANUSCRIPTS should bear the author’s full _Christian_ name, - Surname, and Address, legibly written; and should be written on - white (not blue) paper, and on one side of the leaf only. - -_4th._ Offerings of Verse should invariably be accompanied by a - stamped and directed envelope. - -_If the above rules are complied with, the Editor will do his best to -insure the safe return of ineligible papers._ - - * * * * * - -Printed and Published by W. & R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row, LONDON, -and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH. - - * * * * * - -_All Rights Reserved._ - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR -LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 17, VOL. I, APRIL 26, -1884 *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 17, Vol. I, April 26, 1884</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Editor: Various</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 8, 2021 [eBook #65567]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Susan Skinner, Eric Hutton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 17, VOL. I, APRIL 26, 1884 ***</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">{257}</span></p> - - -<h1>CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL<br /> -OF<br /> -POPULAR<br /> -LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.</h1> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='center'> - - - -<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> - -<a href="#POST-OFFICE_LIFE-ASSURANCE_AND">POST-OFFICE LIFE-ASSURANCE AND ANNUITIES.</a><br /> -<a href="#BY_MEAD_AND_STREAM">BY MEAD AND STREAM.</a><br /> -<a href="#MY_OLD_COLLEGE_ROOMS">MY OLD COLLEGE ROOMS.</a><br /> -<a href="#MY_FELLOW-PASSENGER">MY FELLOW-PASSENGER.</a><br /> -<a href="#THE_MONTH">THE MONTH: SCIENCE AND ARTS.</a><br /> -<a href="#THE_PROGRESS_OF_PISCICULTURE">THE PROGRESS OF PISCICULTURE.</a><br /> -<a href="#A_PLEA_FOR_THE_WATER-OUSEL">A PLEA FOR THE WATER-OUSEL.</a><br /> -<a href="#BOOK_GOSSIP">BOOK GOSSIP.</a><br /> -<a href="#OCCASIONAL_NOTES">OCCASIONAL NOTES.</a><br /> - -<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> - -</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter w100" id="header" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/header.jpg" alt="Chambers’s Journal of Popular Literature, Science, -and Art. Fifth Series. Established by William and Robert Chambers, 1832. Conducted by R. Chambers (Secundus)." /> -</div> - - -<hr class="full" /> -<div class="center"> -<div class="header"> -<p class="floatl"><span class="smcap">No. 17.—Vol. I.</span></p> -<p class="floatr"><span class="smcap">Price</span> 1½<em>d.</em></p> -<p class="floatc">SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1884.</p> -</div></div></div> - -<hr class="full" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="POST-OFFICE_LIFE-ASSURANCE_AND">POST-OFFICE LIFE-ASSURANCE AND -ANNUITIES.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> numerous aids which the government have -from time to time afforded through the agency -of the Post-office for the encouragement of thrift -and providence amongst the poorer classes have -generally been attended with so much success, -that it is surprising to hear of even one exception -in regard to such efforts. There is no doubt, -however, as was pointed out two years ago in -this <i>Journal</i>, that the existing scheme of Post-office -Life-assurance and Annuities, which has -been in operation since 1865, has sadly hung fire, -and but little advantage has been taken of the -system, as may be inferred from the fact, that -although it has been established almost twenty -years, the total number of policies for life-assurance -issued during that period is not more than -six thousand five hundred and twenty-four; while -the number of annuity contracts granted during -the same period is only twelve thousand four -hundred and thirty-five. Taking the latest -returns, too, we find that the life policies now -existing have dwindled down to so low a number -as four thousand six hundred and fifteen; while -the number of annuity contracts now only reaches -nine thousand three hundred and seventy-three. -These figures at once show how trifling and -unimportant have been the results from this -branch of Post-office business; but perhaps the -causes for this want of success are not far to seek, -if we consider how circumscribed and restricted -the present system is in its action.</p> - -<p>It was but natural, therefore, that so energetic a -reformer as Mr Fawcett should speedily turn his -attention to this important subject, on taking the -helm in the affairs of the great department over -which he has so ably presided during the past four -years. A select Committee of the House of Commons -was appointed in 1882, of which the Postmaster-general -was chairman; and after thoroughly -inquiring into the whole subject, that Committee -unanimously recommended in their Report the -adoption of a scheme for the amelioration of the -present system of Post-office Life-assurance and -Annuities which had been put forward and explained -to them by Mr James J. Cardin, the present -Assistant-receiver and Accountant-general to the -Post-office. An Act of Parliament was passed -during the same session legalising the proposed -changes; and as it is understood that the new -system will be brought into operation on the -first of May this year, it seems desirable, and -indeed important, that the undoubted benefits -and privileges that will accrue therefrom should -be made known as widely as possible.</p> - -<p>The essential feature of the new Post-office -scheme for assuring lives and granting annuities is, -that every person wishing to assure his or her life -or to purchase an annuity through the Post-office -shall become a depositor in the Post-office savings-bank—a -plan that will offer to the public numerous -facilities, and a large amount of convenience -in respect of this kind of business, which have -hitherto not existed. In the first place, the -intending insurants or annuitants will in future -be able for that purpose to go to any post-office -savings-bank in the country—of which there -are now over seven thousand. At present, -life-assurance and annuity business can be transacted -at only two thousand post-offices; but the -intended system will at once place five thousand -additional post-offices at the disposal of the public -in this respect. In the next place, the cosmopolitanism -of the savings-bank system will apply -equally to the assurance and annuities business -under its new conditions; and this it may be -pointed out will prove an advantage of no mean -order to the classes for whom Post-office Assurance -and Annuities would appear to be chiefly designed, -if it be remembered how frequently working-men -move about from place to place. Under the present -system, the insurant or annuitant is tied -to the particular post-office at which the insurance -or the contract for the annuity was originally -effected, excepting by going through the formalities -involved in giving notice to the chief office in -London of a desire to change the place of payment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">{258}</span> -of the premiums, which by most persons of the -classes concerned is regarded as a somewhat irksome -job.</p> - -<p>The great idea of the whole scheme seems to -be to afford the public in respect of Post-office -Assurance and Annuities a maximum amount of -convenience with a minimum amount of trouble; -and nothing could probably further this object -more successfully than Mr Cardin’s scheme of -working the assurance and annuities business in -with that of the savings-bank; for all the advantages -and benefits which the public now enjoy in -regard to the latter-named branch of the Post-office -will be equally shared by those who intend to -assure their lives or purchase annuities through -the same department. Mr Fawcett, who is a true -champion of the principles of thrift, has in all his -schemes to this end recognised the supreme -importance of simplicity in the necessary machinery, -so far as the public at all events are -concerned; and it was probably the fact of such -simplicity being a predominating feature of the new -insurance scheme that commended it so favourably -to Mr Fawcett’s mind.</p> - -<p>Any person desiring to assure his life or to purchase -an annuity through the Post-office, will first -of all procure the form or forms applicable to his -case, and such information as he may require from -a post-office at which savings-bank business is -transacted, the number of such offices in the -United Kingdom being, as already stated, over -seven thousand. On completion of the necessary -preliminaries, which will be reduced to the -smallest limits compatible with the safe conduct -of the business, he will be furnished, if not -already a Post-office savings-bank depositor, with -a deposit book; and a deposit account will be -opened in his name, and he will then be asked -to authorise the transfer of the amount of all -future premiums as they become due, from his -savings-bank to his assurance or annuity account. -He will pay into the savings-bank account -thus opened such sums as he conveniently can -from time to time; and these sums, together with -any accumulations by way of interest, or from -dividends on stock purchased under the savings-bank -regulations, will form the fund from which -the Post-office will take the premiums as they -annually become due. So long, therefore, as the -annuitant or insurant, as the case may be, takes -care to have a sufficient balance in his savings-bank -account when the premiums become due, he -will have no further trouble in the matter. In -the event of the balance being insufficient, the fact -will be specially notified to him, and reasonable -time allowed for making good the deficiency.</p> - -<p>The advantage in this scheme which the classes -for whom it is designed will probably best appreciate -is the liberty, and consequent convenience, -of paying the premiums not in one annual lump -sum and on a specific date, but from time to time -as may be agreeable to the insurant or annuitant, -and in such sums as may at the time suit his -pocket. He may indeed save a penny at a time -for his annual premiums by using the savings-bank -stamp slip, which has spaces on it for -twelve stamps, and which when filled up may -be passed into the post-office. It is astonishing -what benefits can be procured by the saving of -only a penny a week. For instance, a youth of -sixteen, by putting a penny postage-stamp each -week on one of the slips referred to, might either -secure for himself at sixty, old-age pay of about -three pounds a year, or insure his life for about -thirteen pounds; and if the saving commenced -at five years of age, the old-age pay would be -about five pounds a year. Another appreciable -benefit which the new system will afford as -regards payment is, that by allowing the premiums -to be paid in as savings-bank deposits, the higher -charges necessarily made when premiums have to -be collected in regular periodical instalments will -be saved to the insurant or annuitant, as the case -may be.</p> - -<p>To make a providence or thrift scheme at all -successful it is of course essential that the general -working of such a scheme should be adapted to -the character of the classes whom it is intended -to reach; and it is precisely in this respect that -the new scheme of Post-office Assurance and -Annuities would seem to succeed. As Mr Fawcett -is himself ready to admit, the purchase of an -annuity or the keeping up of a policy of insurance -is at present a constant source of trouble to the -person concerned. Attendance at a particular -post-office is necessary for the payment of a -premium, a special book has to be kept, and other -rules have to be observed. All this will be -changed under the new system; and when once -the annuity has been purchased or the assurance -effected, no further action on the part of the -person concerned will be necessary. The premiums -will be transferred at the chief office in -London from his savings-bank account to his -assurance or annuity account without trouble to -him. He will thus be saved the task of remembering -the precise amount of premium due or the -particular day on which it is to be paid; and this -arrangement will also abolish the necessity for a -special insurance or annuity book.</p> - -<p>The operation of the new scheme will, so far -as can be seen, lead to some collateral advantages, -of which not a few persons will be ready to avail -themselves. A depositor, for instance, in the -Post-office savings-banks, or a holder of government -stock obtained through that medium, will -be able to give authority to the Postmaster-general -to use the interest or the dividends as -the case may be, which may accrue, for the -purposes of purchasing a life policy or an annuity, -or both, as might be directed. Thus, as Mr -Cardin tells us, a man at the age of thirty, with -one hundred pounds deposited in the Post-office -savings-bank, will be able to give an order directing -that half the interest thereon shall be applied -to the assurance of his life for fifty-three pounds<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">{259}</span> -thirteen shillings and fourpence, and the other -moiety to the purchase of a deferred annuity of -eight pounds six shillings and eightpence, commencing -at the age of sixty; and if his one -hundred pounds were invested in government -stock, the amounts of his life-assurance and his -deferred annuity would be greater, as the dividends -would be of greater amount than the -interest received on a mere deposit.</p> - -<p>It may be briefly pointed out that under the -Act of Parliament for legalising the changes about -to be wrought in the Post-office Assurance and -Annuities system, some important alterations in -the limits will be made. It has been long recognised -that the present limits were ill adapted to -the kind of business sought. The higher limits -were too low, and the lower limits too high. The -former will now be raised to the useful maximum -of two hundred pounds; while the present lower -limit of twenty pounds has been altogether -abolished, so that an assurance can be effected -or an annuity purchased for any sum below two -hundred pounds. There will also be some beneficial -changes as to the limits of age. There can -be no doubt that the first steps taken by the -young to make provision for the future act as -a powerful incentive to greater efforts, and that -thus an annuity or life policy of considerable -amount is gradually built up. Mr Fawcett and -the select Committee over which he presided, -recognising this fact, felt that such beginnings -of thrift could not be made too soon, and consequently -recommended that the present limits -of age which restrict life-assurance to sixteen, -and the grant of annuities to ten, should be -respectively reduced to eight and five years; and -these proposals have been sanctioned by the -Act. It should be added, that for obvious reasons, -it was considered expedient to limit the amount -of the assurance to be effected upon the life of -a very young child; and the Act provides, therefore, -that the amount shall not exceed five pounds -on the life of a child between the ages of eight -and fourteen years.</p> - -<p>In conclusion, there can be no question that -the changes which we have indicated here will -prove of the greatest value, now that the importance -of life-assurance and of making provision -for old age is becoming more appreciated among -the people. It is true, of course, that numerous -benefit and friendly societies exist which offer -various kinds of privileges; but from causes that -are not far to seek, the poor have come to view -such societies with a certain amount of distrust; -and it is needful that the government should -step in to render the poorer classes not only all -the facilities at its command, but also that -assurance as regards stability which alone a -government department can impress on such -classes.</p> - -<p>We have attempted to show some of the principal -advantages which will accrue from that -system, and there is one more that should not -be omitted. It is, that any person who may -suddenly or unexpectedly become possessed of -a certain sum of money may invest it in the -Post-office, and by a single payment secure either -an annuity in old age or a life-assurance. The -advantage of being able to make a single payment -is obvious; for it at once removes all further -trouble and anxiety from the mind of the person -so investing his money as to the future; a reflection -which, to most persons, must be a source of -infinite satisfaction.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak x-ebookmaker-important" id="BY_MEAD_AND_STREAM">BY MEAD AND STREAM.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3>CHAPTER XXV.—A WORD IN SEASON.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> suspicion which Philip now entertained -regarding his uncle’s habits rendered the letters -received from him the more surprising—they -were so calm, kindly, and firm. He did not -receive many: Mr Shield preferred that his -instructions should be conveyed to him by Messrs -Hawkins and Jackson. There was one waiting -for him, however, on the morning on which he -took possession of his chambers in Verulam -Buildings, Gray’s Inn.</p> - -<p>Wrentham had tried to persuade him to take -chambers in the West End, indicating Piccadilly -as the most suitable quarter for the residence of -a young man of fortune who was likely to mix -in society. There he would be close to the clubs, -and five minutes from every place of amusement -worth going to.</p> - -<p>But Philip had notions of his own on this -subject. He had no particular desire to be near -the clubs: he expected his time to be fully -occupied in the enterprise on which he was -entering. What leisure he might have would of -course be spent at Willowmere and Ringsford. -The chambers in Verulam Buildings were all that -a bachelor of simple tastes could desire. They -were on the second floor, and the windows of the -principal apartment overlooked the green square. -To the left were quaint old gables and tiles, -which the master-painter, Time, had transformed -into a wondrous harmony of all the shades and -tints of green and russet.</p> - -<p>Sitting there, with the noisy traffic of Gray’s -Inn Road shut out by double doors and double -windows on the other side of the building, he -could imagine himself to be miles away from -the bustle and fever of the town, although he -was in the midst of it. And sitting there, he -read this letter from Mr Shield, which began as -usual without any of the customary phrases of -address:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>‘I now feel that you have begun your individual -life in earnest; and I am glad of it. By -this step you secure full opportunity to show us -what stuff you are made of. As already explained, -I do not intend to interfere with you in any -way. I do not wish you to seek my advice, and -do not wish to give any. Once for all, understand -me—my desire is to test by your own acts -and judgment whether or not you are worthy -of the fortune which awaits you.</p> - -<p>‘When I say the fortune which awaits you, I -mean something more than money.</p> - -<p>‘I hope you will stand the test; but you must -not ask me to help you to do so. Circumstances -may tempt me at times to give you a word of -warning; but my present intention is to do my -best to resist the temptation. You must do everything -for yourself and by yourself, if you are to -satisfy me.</p> - -<p>‘I admire the spirit which prompts your -enterprise, and entirely approve of its object. -But here let me speak my first and probably<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">{260}</span> -my last word of warning. No doubt you are -anxious to convince me that the capital which -has been placed at your disposal is not to be -thrown away; and it is this anxiety, backed by -the enthusiasm of inexperience, that leads you -into your first blunder. You calculate upon -reaping from six to eight per cent. on your -investment. I do not pretend to have gone -thoroughly into the subject; but considering the -kind of investment and the manner in which -you propose to work it, my opinion is that if you -count upon from two to three per cent., you will -be more likely to avoid disappointment than -if you adhere to the figures you have set down. -At anyrate, you will err on the safe side.</p> - -<p>‘Further: you should also, and to a like extent, -moderate your calculations as to the degree of -sympathy and co-operation you will receive from -the people you intend to benefit. I should be -sorry to rob you of any part of the joy which -faith in his fellow-men gives to youth. I think -the man is happier who fails because he has -trusted others, than he who succeeds because he -has trusted no one but himself. I have failed -in that way, and may fail again; yet my belief -in the truth of this principle of trust is unchanged.</p> - -<p>‘At the same time, whilst you have faith in -others, your eyes should be clear. Before you give -your confidence, do what you can to make sure -that it is not given to a knave. Should you, with -eyes open, allow yourself to be deceived, you would -be a fool, not a generous man. I was a fool.</p> - -<p>‘Pardon this allusion to myself; there was no -intention of making any when this letter was -begun.</p> - -<p>‘Briefly, whilst hoping that your enterprise -may be completely successful, I wish to remind -you of the commonplace fact that greed and selfishness -are elements which have to be reckoned with -in everything we attempt to do for or with others, -whether the attempt be made in the wilds of -Griqualand or in this centre of civilisation. It is -a miserable conclusion to arrive at in looking back -on the experience of a life; but it is the inevitable -one. The only people you will be able to help -are those who are willing to help themselves -in the right way—which means those who have -learned that the success of a comrade is no barrier -to their own success. You will have to learn that -the petty jealousies which exist amongst the -workers in even the smallest undertakings are as -countless as they are incomprehensible to the man -who looks on all around him with generous eyes. -You will be a happy man if twenty years hence -you can say that your experience has been different -from mine.</p> - -<p>‘You are not to think, however, that I consider -all people moved by greed and selfishness alone: -I only say that these are elements to be taken -into account in dealing with them. The most -faithful friends are sometimes found amongst the -most ignorant of mankind: the greatest scoundrels -amongst those who are regarded as the most -cultivated.</p> - -<p>‘Do you find this difficult to understand? You -must work out its full meaning for yourself. I -say no more. You have your warning. Go on -your way, and I trust you will prosper.’</p> -</div> - -<p>This was signed abruptly, Austin Shield, as if -the writer feared that he had already said too -much.</p> - -<p>‘How he must have suffered,’ was Philip’s -thought, after the first few moments of reflection -over this letter. It was the longest he had ever -received from his uncle, and seemed to disclose -more of the man’s inner nature than he had -hitherto been permitted to see. ‘How he must -have suffered! Would I bear the scar so long -if—— What stuff and nonsense!’</p> - -<p>He laughed at himself heartily, and a little -scornfully for allowing the absurd question even -to flit across his mind. As if any possible combination -of circumstances could ever arise to take -Madge away from him! The tombstone of one -of them was the only barrier that could ever stand -between them; and the prospect of its erection -was such a long way off, that he could think of it -lightly if not philosophically.</p> - -<p>But as he continued to stare out at those quaint -russet gables and the green square, a dreamy -expression slowly filled his eyes, and visions of -the impossible passed before him. He had thrown -himself into this work which he had found to do -with such earnestness, that he had already passed -more than one day without going to see Madge. -Her spirit was in the work, and inspired his -devotion to it, and all his labour was for her. -In that way she was always with him, although -her form and clear eyes might not be constantly -present to his mind. That was a consolatory -thought for himself; but would it satisfy her? -Was it sufficient to satisfy himself how he had -allowed three days to pass without his appearance -at Willowmere?</p> - -<p>He was startled when he recollected that it was -three days since he had been there. Three days—an -age, and how it could have passed so quickly -he was unable to understand. He had certainly -intended every evening to go as usual. But every -day had been so full of business—details of plans -and estimates to study and master—that he had -been glad to lie down and sleep. The task was -the more laborious for him, as he had not had -previous knowledge of its practical intricacies, and -he was resolved to understand thoroughly everything -that was done.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose she will laugh, and say it is like -me—always at extremes; either trying to do too -much, or doing too little. At anyrate, she will -be convinced that I have taken kindly to harness. -We’ll see this afternoon.’</p> - -<p>There was another influence which unconsciously -detained him in town. He shrank somehow -from the interview with his father which -must take place on his return to Ringsford. He -had hoped to be able to take with him some -friendly message from Mr Shield which would -lead to the reconciliation of the two men; and -as yet he was as far as ever from being able to -approach the subject with his uncle.</p> - -<p>His reverie was interrupted by the arrival of -Wrentham, spruce and buoyant, a flower in his -button-hole, and looking as if he had made a safe -bet on the next racing event.</p> - -<p>‘Came to tell you about that land,’ he said.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose you have made arrangements for -the purchase?’ rejoined Philip, as he folded his -uncle’s letter and replaced it in the envelope.</p> - -<p>Wrentham followed the action with inquisitive -eyes. He was asking himself, ‘Has that letter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">{261}</span> -anything to do with this coolness about the -bargain, on which he was so hot a few days ago, -or is it accident?’ Then, with a little real -wonder, and some affectation of amusement at -the innocence of his principal:</p> - -<p>‘My dear Philip!’—Wrentham was one of -those men who will call an acquaintance of a -few hours by his Christian name, and by an -abbreviation of it after an intimacy of a couple of -days—‘you don’t mean to say that you imagine -a question of the transfer of land in this greatest -city of the world is to be settled off-hand in a -forenoon?’</p> - -<p>‘O no; I did not think that, Wrentham; -but as the land is very much on the outskirts of -the city, and has been for a long time in the -market, I did not expect that there would be -much delay in coming to terms about it.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! but you forget that it is within easy -distance of an existing railway station, and close -by the site of one which will be in working -order before your houses can be built.’</p> - -<p>‘Exactly. That is why I chose the spot.’</p> - -<p>‘Just so; and you can have it; but the fellows -know its full value, and mean to have it. Look -at that.’</p> - -<p>He handed him a paper containing the statement -of the terms on which the land in question -was to be sold. Philip read it carefully, frowned, -and tossed it back to his agent.</p> - -<p>‘Ridiculous!’ he exclaimed. ‘They must have -thought you were acting for the government or -a railway company. I believe it is considered -legitimate to fleece <i>them</i>. Half the money is -what I will give, and no more.’</p> - -<p>When a clever man thinks he has performed -a particularly clever trick, and finds that, by some -instinct of self-preservation, the person to be -tricked upsets all his calculations, whilst there -still remains a chance of persuading him that -he is making a mistake, there comes over the -clever person a peculiar change. It is like a -sudden lull in the wind: he shows neither -surprise nor regret on his own part, but a certain -respectful pity for the blindness of the other in -not seeing the advantage offered him. So with -Wrentham at this moment. He left the paper -lying on the table, as if it had no further interest -for him, and took out his cigar-case.</p> - -<p>‘You don’t mind a cigar, I suppose?... Have -one?’</p> - -<p>‘Thank you. Here is some sherry: help -yourself.’</p> - -<p>Wrentham helped himself, lit his cigar, and -sank back on an easy-chair, like a man whose -day’s work is done, and who feels that he has -earned the right to rest comfortably.</p> - -<p>‘I’ve been trotting between pillar and post -about that land all day,’ he said languidly, -‘because I fancied you had set your mind on -it; and now I feel as tired as if I had been -doing a thousand miles in a thousand hours. -Glad it’s over.’</p> - -<p>‘You do not think it is worth making the offer, -then?’</p> - -<p>‘My dear boy, they would think we were -making fun of them, and be angry.’</p> - -<p>Wrentham rolled the cigar between his fingers -and smiled complacently.</p> - -<p>‘Surely, they must be aware that the price -they are asking is absurd—they cannot hope to -obtain it from any one in his senses. Look at -this paragraph: there is land bought by the -corporation yesterday—it is almost within the -city, and the price is more than a third less than -these people are asking from us.’</p> - -<p>Wrentham’s eyes twinkled over the paragraph.</p> - -<p>‘Ah, yes; but, you see, these people were -obliged to sell; ours are not. However, we need -not bother about it. They require more than you -will give, and there is an end of it. The question -is, what are we to do now?’</p> - -<p>‘Take land farther out, where the owners will -be more reasonable, and we can reduce our rents -so as to cover the railway fares.’</p> - -<p>‘But the farther out you go, the more difficulty -you will have in finding workmen.’</p> - -<p>‘I have thought of that, and have secured an -excellent foreman, who will bring us the labourers -we require; and for the skilled workmen, an -advertisement will find them.’</p> - -<p>‘And who is the man you have engaged?’</p> - -<p>‘Caleb Kersey.’</p> - -<p>Wrentham laughed softly as he emitted a long -serpentine coil of smoke.</p> - -<p>‘On my word, you do things in a funny way. -I am supposed to be your counsellor as well as -friend; and you complete your arrangements -before you tell me anything about them. I -don’t see that my services are of any use to -you.’</p> - -<p>‘We have not had time to find that out yet. -What advice could you have given me in reference -to Kersey?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I have nothing to say against the man, -except that, as soon as you had your establishment -ready to begin operations, he would have -every soul in your employment out on strike -for higher wages or for new terms of agreement, -which will cause you heavy loss whether you -knuckle down or refuse. I know the kind of -man: he will be meek enough until he gets -you into a corner—or thinks he has—and then -he turns round and tells you that he is master -of the situation, whatever you may be. That’s -his sort.’</p> - -<p>‘I think you are mistaken, Wrentham. I am -sure that you are mistaken so far as Kersey is concerned. -He managed that business of the harvest -for my father when nobody else could, and he -managed it admirably. He wants nothing more -than fair-play between master and man, and he -believes that my scheme is likely to bring about -that condition.’</p> - -<p>‘All right,’ said Wrentham, smiling, and helping -himself to another glass of wine; ‘here’s good -luck to him—and to you. We are all naturally -inclined to be pleased with the people who agree -with us. We’ll say that I am mistaken, and, on -my honour, I hope it may be so.’</p> - -<p>Philip flushed a little: he could not help feeling -that Wrentham was treating him as if he were -a child at play, and did not or could not see that -he was a man making a bold experiment and very -much in earnest.</p> - -<p>‘It is not merely because Kersey agrees with -me that I have engaged him,’ he said warmly. -‘I know something about the man, and I have -learned a good deal from him. He has the power -to convey my meaning to others better than I -could do it myself. They might doubt me at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">{262}</span> -first; they will trust him; and he is one of those -men who are willing to work.’</p> - -<p>‘That is everything you want in the meanwhile, -except the land on which to begin operations. -I promised to take your answer back to -these people by four o’clock. I shall have just -time to drive to their office. I suppose that -there is nothing to say except that we cannot -touch it at the price?’</p> - -<p>‘Nothing more.’</p> - -<p>‘Very well. I will report progress to-morrow; -but I have no expectation of bringing them -down to your figure. Good-day.’</p> - -<p>Although Wrentham bustled out as if in a -hurry, he descended the stairs slowly.</p> - -<p>‘He may have gone in for a mad scheme,’ he -was thinking; ‘but he is a deal ’cuter in his way -of setting about it than I bargained for.... This -is confoundedly awkward for me.... Must get -out of it somehow.’</p> - -<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MY_OLD_COLLEGE_ROOMS">MY OLD COLLEGE ROOMS.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">No</span> easy task would it be to analyse the medley -of conflicting emotions that run riot in the heart -of an old ’varsity man revisiting the haunts of -his academical ‘auld langsyne.’ Even were I -equal to it, I would not publish the results of -my experiment. Far too sacred, too personal, at -least for the pages of a magazine, were my own -thoughts and memories the other day, as I -stealthily stole up my old staircase in ——’s, -Oxford. ‘Stealthily stole,’ I say advisedly; for -I felt unpleasantly more like a burglar in my -pilgrim-ascent, than a respectable country clergyman. -In a university sense, generations had -passed away since my college days; since I, in -my generation, was wont to rollick in and out of -those ancient ‘oaks’ and about those venerable -banisters. One felt a kind of sad impression that -one belonged to a bygone age; that one’s only -rightful <i>locus standi</i> in the university now was -a shelf in the fossil department of its museum; -that one was <i>de trop</i> in this land of the living; -that one was ‘unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown,’ -a sort of college ghost that ought long -since to have been laid. But now, the gray goose-quill -would fain flutter on, by the page, with -emotions which, as I have said, are too sacred -for publication. I will confine myself to more -exoteric details. At the funny old cupola-like -entrance—where, on the first impulse, I found -myself all but taking off my hat to the ‘silent -speaking’ stones of its venerable, unsightly pile—I -had met a porter, but not <i>the</i> porter. On the -staircase I had met a scout, but not <i>the</i> scout. -No civil salute and smile of recognition from -either of those; only a curious stare—a look that -seemed to ask, ‘What business have you to come -back and revisit earth’—(I beg the reader’s -pardon!)—‘<i>college</i>, disturbing us in our day and -generation?’</p> - -<p>Then, at last, well ‘winded’ by my climb, I -actually stood once again in front of my own old -‘oak;’ and much I wonder if ever pious Druid -stood with deeper feelings of reverence before his -own! It was superscribed with a most unusual, -though not foreign, name; one which to me at -least was new. So far, this was a comfort; for -‘Jones’ would have made me very sad and at -‘Smith’ I feel I should have wept. As it was, -I found myself already speculating with some -curiosity what manner of man might own to it. -Somehow, with perhaps pardonable vanity, I -seemed to have expected ‘Ichabod;’ but that -was not the present occupant’s name. At the -inner door, which was ajar, I knocked, honestly -trying not to peep; but the gentleman was not -at home. Just then, a jolly young fellow, books -under arm, and obviously out from lecture, came -bounding up the stairs, two or three steps at a -time, in the real old style. Oh, how the aged, -nearly worn-out parson envied now the limbs -and wind that could perform that once familiar -feat! There used to be a <i>je ne sais quoi</i>—a sense -of freedom, I suppose it was, after being ‘cribbed, -cabined, and confined’ for an hour at lecture, -that always made one sadly forgetful for the -nonce of one’s dignity in that matter of going -up-stairs. At other times, the leisurely step -which betokened the importance of the (newly -fledged) ‘man’ was carefully observed; and used, -no doubt, to make due impression upon the freshman—that -junior Verdant who always had what -Carlyle would call a ‘seeing eye’ for such details -of deportment. But coming from lecture, even -the old hand, the third-year man, now, as of yore, -involuntarily betrays a lingering trace of schoolboy -days by a very natural, but most undignified, -hop, skip, and jump up-stairs, to doff cap and -gown and don flannels for the river.</p> - -<p>Well, up he came, this embryo bishop, statesman, -or judge—I know not which—and fixing -him Ancient Mariner-wise with my eye, I told -him my story; feeling rather sheepish until I -had satisfactorily accounted for my being discovered -hovering about the coal-bin on his landing. -More than one kind of expression flitted -over the youth’s features as he listened to me; -but the predominating one, which his politeness -in vain struggled to conceal, was characteristic -of the antiquary surveying some newly dug up -relic of a past epoch. ‘I am not Mr Ichabod’ -(let us suppose the name), he said; ‘but I am -his neighbour on this floor; and I’m sure he -would wish you to go into your old rooms. I -will explain it to him. He will be sorry that he -was out when you came.’ With this and a mutual -touch of hats, we parted; he to his rooms, and I, -after an absence of some forty-five years, to mine. -Suggestive enough was the very first object that -caught my eye upon entering; for over the bedroom -door was placed, by way of ornament, a -real skull, with crossbones! There it serenely -rested on a black cushion fixed to a small shelf, -horribly grinning at me. I could have wished -a more pleasant welcome to greet me after my -long absence.</p> - -<p>‘Eheu! fugaces, Postume, Postume’ (The years -fly by, and are lost to me, lost to me), I had -said to myself all the morning, as I wandered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">{263}</span> -about the old college haunts of my far-away -youth; and if my perception of that sad fact -needed quickening, that skull certainly brought -it home to me with a vengeance! Clearly, my -successor was a bit of a ‘mystic.’ Weird prints -on the walls; curious German literature on the -shelves and tables; outlandish ornaments everywhere: -these and such as these spoke for their -absent owner, and I felt that I could conjecture -the man by his various kickshaws. I pictured -him to myself reading for ‘a class’ by the midnight -oil, and occasionally stimulating his flagging -interest in the classics by casting a philosophic -glance at the skull, to bethink him of the flight -of time and man’s ‘little day’ for work. Or, again, -I could see him as he refreshed himself on the -sofa with a grim legend or two of the Rhine, -and meditated upon the fate of some medieval -fool wandering about to sell his soul, <i>si emptorem -invenerit</i>, until he met and did fatal business with -the dread merchant of the nether world. At such -times, no doubt, his death’s head would have a -specially attractive charm for him, and elicit some -such sigh as ‘Alas! poor Yorick,’ in reference to -the deluded Rhinelander. Two more clues to the -character of my young friend were obvious, and -right glad I was to obtain them. In the first -place, he was not, as are too many of his university -generation, so ‘mad,’ through much ‘learning,’ -as to deny or ignore his God. Witness a well-worn -Bible and Prayer-book; and even an illuminated -text opposite his bed—the gift, perhaps, of -a pious mother, or handiwork of a pious sister, -whose holy influence he did not despise. And, -again, he was not one of our unhealthy ascetics -of modern society, secular ascetics, I mean—if I -may coin such an expression—whose artificial -merits are purely negative. Witness his rack of -grotesquely shaped and well-cleaned pipes, no less -than that three-handled jorum, with the shrivelled -peel of the previous evening still therein!</p> - -<p>Having taken notice of such apparent trifles -on every side, and not liking to trespass longer, -I prepared to leave. But if the ‘man’ who -occupies my Old Rooms is brought as safely to -his journey’s end as I have now well nigh been -brought to mine, my last half-minute alone in -that ancient ‘upper chamber’ was not spent there -in vain.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MY_FELLOW-PASSENGER">MY FELLOW-PASSENGER.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3 title="CHAPTER II.">IN TWO CHAPTERS.—CHAPTER II.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> next afternoon, I landed at Southampton; -and having left my luggage with Raynor’s at the -railway station, and exchanged my twenty-five -sovereigns for their equivalent in Bank of England -notes, I started off to see some relatives living a -short way out of the town. After a few pleasant -hours at Hambledon Hall, I drove back to -Southampton, took an evening train to London, -and by half-past nine was comfortably installed -in my old quarters, No. 91 Savile Street, W.</p> - -<p>In the morning arrived a telegram from -Raynor: ‘Heard of a good thing in Dublin. -Going there at once. May be a long business. -Better countermand my rooms. Will write.’ -Here without doubt was an end, at least for -the present, of our partnership. Whether Paul -intended me to gather that the ‘good thing’ -was to involve my presence in Ireland, I knew -not; but having already come to a very distinct -understanding with him that the <i>venue</i> of any -future operations must, as far as I was concerned, -be laid in or near London, I was able to decide -at once that even the claims of friendship did -not demand my expatriation to the other side -of the Irish Channel.</p> - -<p>London was hot, airless, and uninviting this -21st of July. Two days had elapsed, during which -I had heard nothing more from Raynor; and as -I loitered down to my club, there came into my -mind the recollection of Keymer, a breezy little -homestead among the Sussex downs, where lived a -middle-aged bachelor cousin of mine, and of his -cordial invitation to repeat a visit I had paid him -the previous summer. Half an hour later I had -posted my letter to Henry Rodd, whose reply -by return post was all I could wish: On and -after the 24th, he would be delighted to see me -for as long as I cared to stay.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 26th, the day upon -which I was to leave for Keymer, my landlady -presented herself in my sitting-room, and with -an expression as of one who has intelligence to -convey, opened upon me with: ‘Oh, I beg your -pardon, sir, but there was a gentleman called -yesterday, askin’ whether we had any one lodgin’ -here as was jest back from furrin parts, because -he’d got a friend who he thought was goin’ to -some lodgin’s in this street, and he couldn’t find -him out—not the gentleman, couldn’t, that is, sir. -I’m sure he knew you, sir, because he said, when -I called you Mr Rodd, “Ah! is that Mr <i>P.</i> Rodd?” -says he. “Yes,” says I to the gent; “it’s Mr -Peter Rodd.” “O yes,” says he, careless-like, “I -know Mr Peter Rodd by name.” Then he give -me five shillin’s, sir, and told me be sure and not -trouble you about his ’avin’ been, seein’ as ’ow you -wouldn’t know who he was—he didn’t give no -name, sir—but I thought I’d best tell you, sir, -because it didn’t seem right-like his givin’ me -five shillin’s to say nothin’ about it. Excuse me -for mentionin’ it, sir; but it’s what I call ’ush-money, -and it’s burnin’ ’oles in my pocket ever -since.’</p> - -<p>Here the worthy woman paused for breath; -and wondering much who this lavish unknown -might be, and how he came to know so obscure -an individual as myself by name, I, perhaps -indiscreetly, asked for a description of his appearance, -being then unaware of the curious fact, that -people in good Mrs Morton’s station of life are -wholly incapable of conveying to a third person -the faintest impression of a stranger’s exterior. -Thus she could not say whether he was dark or -fair, tall or short, young or old, stout or thin. -Upon one point only did her memory serve her: -‘His necktie was a speckly, twisted up in a -sailorses’ knot.’ Having triumphantly furnished -me with this useful clue to the visitor’s identity, -Mrs Morton took herself down-stairs.</p> - -<p>A sudden thought struck me, and I ran to the -window. No; there was not a soul to be seen -in the quiet little street save a very ordinary -looking person in a gray dustcoat, sunning himself -against the pillar-box at the corner some fifty -yards away; evidently a groom waiting for orders, -I thought. An hour later, I went out to make -some purchases, lunched at Blanchard’s, and drove<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">{264}</span> -back to Savile Street to prepare for my journey -to Sussex. There, in friendly converse with a -policeman at the same corner, was Citizen Gray-coat. -I looked sharply at him as my cab passed. -His tie was <i>not</i> ‘speckly,’ nor had he any outward -pretensions to the title of ‘gentleman.’</p> - -<p>I reached Keymer without adventure late in -the afternoon, my cousin himself driving over in -his trap to meet me. Turning round on the -platform, after our first hand-shaking, to look for -my travelling-bag, I saw stooping in the act of -reading the card attached to the handle—<i>the man -in the gray dustcoat</i>.</p> - -<p>It could not be a chance! No; look at it -which way I would, there scowled at me the -unpleasant but undeniable fact that I was being -‘watched.’ For what purpose, it was of course -impossible to tell, though I had no difficulty in -connecting the visitor of the day before with the -apparition in gray at the little Sussex junction. -I waited till the evening to mention the matter -to my cousin Henry, who, after a ringing laugh -and many small jokes at my expense, suddenly -became serious, and remarked: ‘But I say, Peter, -it is an excessively disagreeable thing to be -followed about in that sort of way. Can’t you -account for the mistake in any way, so as to be -able to get rid of the fellow to-morrow?’</p> - -<p>At that moment the suspicion against which -I had fought so hard was borne in with -irresistible force upon my mind, and almost -dizzy with the physical effort to conceal its -effect, I muttered my concurrence with Rodd, -that for his sake no less than my own, steps -should at once be taken to come to an understanding -with the man and relieve him of his -duty. Looking forward with interest to learning -the nature of the mistake next day, we parted for -the night.</p> - -<p>That circumstances were so shaping themselves -as to do away with the necessity of any action -from our side, did not, and could not enter into -my calculations, as, bitterly wondering when and -how this miserable suspicion would become a -sickening certainty, I fell into a dream-haunted -and unquiet sleep.</p> - -<p>We had breakfasted, and were leaving the house -towards eleven o’clock the next morning, intending, -if we could sight him, to interview the gray-coated -sentry, when a station fly drove up to the -door and deposited a well-built and gentlemanly -looking person, who, slightly raising his hat, said: -‘May I ask if either of you gentlemen is Mr -Peter Rodd?’</p> - -<p>Casually noticing that the speaker wore a -speckled tie, I replied: ‘That is my name.’</p> - -<p>‘Then it is my duty to inform you, sir, that I -have a warrant for your arrest on a criminal -charge, and at the same time to caution you -against saying anything which may hereafter be -used in your disfavour.’</p> - -<p>‘What is the charge?’ I asked, ‘with the air,’ -as Henry afterwards observed, ‘of a man who is -in the habit of being arrested every morning after -breakfast.’</p> - -<p>‘Suspicion of having stolen on or about the -23d June a sum of one thousand five hundred -and fifty pounds in gold from the Alliance Bank, -Cape Town, in which you were an employee under -the name of Percival Royston.’</p> - -<p>‘And what evidence have you that this gentleman -is the person for whose arrest you have a -warrant?’ interposed my cousin.</p> - -<p>‘Strictly speaking, I have told you all I am -permitted to do,’ was the courteous answer. -‘But it will not be a very grave breach of duty -if I say that my prisoner is known to have -reached England in the <i>Balbriggan Castle</i>, to -have exchanged gold for notes at Southampton, -and to be in possession of a quantity of luggage -marked P. R., some of which has been found -upon examination to contain clothes, books, and -letters bearing the name Percival Royston, Alliance -Bank, Cape Town; while in other boxes -were found similar articles with the name Peter -Rodd, showing the adoption of the alias.’</p> - -<p>‘Would it be within your province to release -your prisoner upon undoubted proof that he is -not the person wanted?’</p> - -<p>The officer thought for a moment, and replied: -‘If such proof could be confirmed by a magistrate—and -after communicating with headquarters—<i>yes</i>.’</p> - -<p>‘Then,’ said my cousin, ‘will you be good -enough to bring your prisoner to the manor-house, -and ask the squire—who is a magistrate—three -simple questions?—The name of your -prisoner—How long it is since they last met—What -is to his knowledge the total duration of the -prisoner’s recent absence from England?’</p> - -<p>This my captor readily consented to do; and -after the three questions had been answered by -the squire—at whose house I had dined just a -year before—telegraphed to Scotland Yard, asking -whether it was known how long Royston had -been continuously in the service of the bank. -The answer came speedily: ‘Five or six years;’ -followed half an hour later by a second message: -‘A mistake has occurred. Do not arrest Rodd. -If already done, express regret, and return at -once.’ There was just time for him to catch an -up-train; and after carrying out his last instructions -with great politeness, the detective drove off, -stopping, as I observed, at the end of the drive to -pick up a man who was leaning against the gate-post, -his hands buried deep in the pockets of a -gray dustcoat.</p> - -<p>The next post from London brought a very -ample explanation and apology for ‘the painful -position in which I had been placed through an -exceedingly regrettable mistake. This had arisen -through the imperfect information furnished to -the authorities in the first instance as to the -movements of the real culprit, who, they had -unfortunately no room whatever to doubt, was -the passenger going under the name of Paul -Raynor. This person, it was now ascertained, -had taken passage on board a sailing-ship for -South America. The similarity of initials, with -other facts of which I was aware, had combined -to mislead those engaged in the case; while the -discovery of Royston’s luggage in my possession -had of course confirmed their suspicions.</p> - -<p>‘They were directed to add that the alias under -which I knew him had of course been assumed -only after the <i>Balbriggan Castle</i> had actually -sailed, as the message brought by the next homeward-bound -steamer to Madeira, and thence -telegraphed to England, did not contain this -important item of information.’</p> - -<p>Opening the newspaper two or three days later, -I read at the head of a column, in conspicuous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">{265}</span> -type: ‘Arrival of the Cape Mail. Audacious -Robbery from a Cape Town Bank’—then in -smaller print: ‘A considerable sensation has been -caused at Cape Town by the discovery of a robbery -planned and carried out with an audacity which -it is not too much to describe as unique in the -annals of crime. The circumstances are briefly -these. On the morning of Wednesday the 16th -June, the mail-steamer <i>Turcoman</i> arrived in Table -Bay from England, having on board some five -thousand pounds in gold for the Alliance Bank, -to whose care it was duly delivered on the -same day. A portion of this amount, namely, -fifteen hundred pounds, was destined for the use -of the bank’s Diamond Fields branch at De -Vriespan, where it was required with all expedition. -The overland service between Cape Town -and the Diamond Fields is a bi-weekly one, leaving -the former place at six <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on Monday and -Thursday, and covering the whole distance of -seven hundred miles in about five days nine -hours. In order, therefore, to insure the despatch -of the case containing the specie by the mail-cart -on the following day, Mr Percival Royston, the -assistant-cashier, was requested to undertake, in -conjunction with the senior clerk, Mr Albertus -Jager, the duty of counting and repacking the -gold, after the completion of their ordinary work -at six or seven o’clock. According to the latter -gentleman’s statement, the task was not commenced -till after dinner at about eight o’clock. They had -made some considerable progress when Royston -remarked how pale and tired his companion was -looking. Upon Mr Jager’s admitting that he was -feeling far from well, the other asked him if he -would not give up the work and go home to bed, -saying that he (Royston) would finish the counting -himself and have everything ready in plenty of -time for to-morrow. Knowing how thoroughly -the assistant-cashier was trusted by the bank, Mr -Jager allowed himself to be persuaded, and left at -once for his own quarters. The case was duly -despatched in the morning, in charge of a clerk -proceeding to the De Vriespan office on promotion, -the fact being reported by Royston to the head-cashier.</p> - -<p>‘Nothing further appears to have transpired -until Tuesday the 21st June, when the head-cashier -addressing Royston, asked: “By the way, when -is that gold due at De Vriespan? To-day?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” was the answer; “we ought to get -the telegram announcing its arrival in half an -hour or so.”</p> - -<p>‘It is the custom of the bank to send a junior -clerk to the home-going mail-steamer with late -letters for England, which may be posted on board -upon payment of an extra fee. This duty -Royston asked to be allowed to perform on the -present occasion, stating that he would be glad -of the opportunity of seeing some friends off who -were leaving by the steamer that day. He left -the bank at three forty-five, was seen to go on -board with a travelling-bag ten minutes later, -and has not since been heard of. His other -luggage, consisting of two portmanteaus, had been -removed from his lodgings before daybreak, -Royston having somehow obtained the services -of a coolie, who states that, following his instructions, -he first carried the luggage to an inn near -the docks, subsequently transferring it thence by -hand-truck to the ship as soon as the dock gates -were opened. It should be remarked that Royston -occupied rooms on the ground-floor, the landlord -and his wife and the other lodgers sleeping -on the first and second floors. But for this fact, -it would probably have been impossible to effect -the removal of the luggage without disturbing the -other occupants of the house.</p> - -<p>‘At five o’clock a telegram was received at -the Alliance Bank: “De Vriespan, four thirty. -Case just arrived. On being opened, found to -contain nothing but lead-sheeting to exact weight -of gold expected. Clerk in charge denies all -knowledge. Wire any instructions.” A cab -dashed furiously to the docks, its occupant the -head-cashier, who, as he turned the corner -towards the quay, was just able to descry the -smoke of the vanishing steamer now four or five -miles on her way. “Too late!” shouted the Steam -Company’s agent as he passed on foot. “Ship -sailed sharp at four thirty!”</p> - -<p>‘The above incident will most probably give a -sharp impetus to the movement, already initiated -in Cape commercial circles, for the establishment -of ocean cable communication with Great Britain -direct, the importance of which, from an imperial -as well as a colonial point of view, has long been -recognised.’</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A keen east wind was blowing in my teeth -as I hurried along the Strand towards Temple -Bar one morning in March, and as I bent my -head to meet a more than usually piercing -gust, I came against a passer-by, who answered -my apology with a smile of recognition. ‘Mr -Rodd, I think?’</p> - -<p>It was no other than the polite detective, more -polite than ever, because of the whirling dust and -biting wind, against which the best of good-humour -is so rarely proof.</p> - -<p>‘Ah, sir,’ he went on, as we drew into a low -archway for a moment’s talk, ‘you would be -astonished to hear the story of the wildgoose -chase we had after Mr Percival Royston last -summer and autumn. If you would care to call -in at my quarters any day after four o’clock, I -should be very pleased to tell you about it.’</p> - -<p>‘Thank you,’ I replied; ‘I will see. Meanwhile, -how did it end?’</p> - -<p>‘All wrong for <i>us</i>, I am sorry to say. He got -clean away from us; and I don’t suppose we shall -ever hear of him again.’</p> - -<p>The sun shone out for a moment, and the wind -seemed to have lost something of its bitter chill -as I wished Detective Elms good-morning and -passed on my way eastward.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MONTH">THE MONTH:<br /> -SCIENCE AND ARTS.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> abnormally mild winter—if winter it can -be called—which has been experienced this year, -has once more raised hopes in the minds of farmers -that brighter times are in store for them. The -extreme mildness of the season has not only -been favourable for all field operations, but it -has been most beneficial for stock. Lambs have -never been so numerous as they are this year -in many of the southern counties, for not only -have they had the climate in their favour during -the most critical time of their lives, but there -has been a wonderful number of twins. Indeed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">{266}</span> -the proportion of these latter to single births -has on some farms been as high as sixteen out -of twenty.</p> - -<p>A silver lining to the dark cloud which has so -long overshadowed the British farmer may also -perhaps be discerned in certain operations which -are now being pushed forward at Lavenham, in -Suffolk. A private Company has been formed -to recommence, under the more favourable conditions -which the progress of scientific agriculture -has rendered possible, the making of beet-sugar -in this country. Between the years 1869 and -1873, Mr James Duncan tried a similar experiment, -and the present Company has acquired his -works at Lavenham, to take up once more the -industry which he tried to establish. The recently -devised methods of extracting sugar from the -beet are much easier and simpler, and far less -costly, than the processes employed by Mr Duncan; -and the promoters of the enterprise are sanguine -of success, if they can only induce the farmers -to grow sufficient beetroot for them to operate -upon. The Company has arranged favourable -terms of transport with the railway authorities; -for instance, a truck-load of roots can be brought -to Lavenham from Bury—a distance of eleven -miles—for eighteenpence a ton. For the same -distance, Mr Duncan formerly paid four shillings -and twopence a ton. The experiment will be -watched with extreme interest by all agriculturists.</p> - -<p>Mr Wood’s lecture to the Institute of Agriculture -on the subject of Ensilage gave some valuable -particulars of experiments he had made with -the object of ascertaining which are the crops -that can be most profitably cultivated for that -method of preservation. He first of all took -the value of ensilage at twenty-six shillings and -eightpence, or about one-third the value of hay. -An acre of heavy meadow-grass produced twelve -tons of compressed food; and the same quantity -dried into hay weighed only two tons seven hundredweight. -After allowing for the cost of producing -each, the lecturer showed a balance in -favour of the ensilage over hay of nearly five -pounds sterling an acre. Buckwheat cultivated -for treatment as ensilage, against the same valued -as a seed-crop, showed a gain in favour of the silo -of two pounds eight shillings and threepence per -acre. Oats compared in like manner show a -balance of five pounds per acre; and here there -is a further gain, for oats cut in the green state -have not had the time to exhaust the soil as if -they had been left to mature. There is still a -further gain in favour of ensilage, when it is -remembered that the ground is cleared before -the usual time, and is therefore ready very early -for new crops. The lecturer concluded by throwing -out a useful hint that dairymen and cowkeepers -in towns could be with great advantage -supplied with the new form of fodder in casks, -a sixty-gallon cask holding about thirty-one stone-weight -of the compressed material.</p> - -<p>Mr W. F. Petrie, whose recently published -book upon the Pyramids of Gezeh we noticed -two months ago, has just undertaken some excavations -in another part of Egypt, which are likely -to bear fruitful results. Amidst a desolation of -mud and marsh, there lies, in the north-eastern -delta of the Nile, a place far from the track of -tourists, and which is therefore seldom visited. -This now remote spot, Sàn-el-Hagar (that is, Sàn -of the Stones), was once a splendid city, in the -midst of the cornlands and pasturage which -formed part of the biblical ‘field of Zoan.’ Excavations -were begun here in 1861 by Mariette -Pasha, and he unearthed the site of the principal -temple; but lack of funds and want of support -generally, caused him to give up the work, though -not before several treasures had found their way -from his diggings to the Boulak Museum at Cairo, -and to the Louvre. Mr Petrie, under the auspices -of the newly formed Egypt Exploration Fund, -commences the work anew in this promising field -of research; and before long we may possibly -have very important finds to chronicle.</p> - -<p>At the recent meeting of the Scottish Meteorological -Society, held in Edinburgh, an interesting -account was given of the daily work which has -been carried on in the Ben Nevis Observatory -since its first occupation in November last, -and which is telegraphed daily from the summit -of the mountain. Several new instruments have -been added since that date, and improvements -in the buildings costing a thousand pounds will -shortly be commenced. Referring to the new -marine station at Granton, near Edinburgh, Mr -Murray of the <i>Challenger</i> expedition gave an -interesting account of the work going on there. -The laboratory is now in working order, and -there is accommodation for five or six naturalists. -It is intended to offer this accommodation -free of expense to any British or foreign -naturalist having a definite object of study in -view.</p> - -<p>The French Academy of Sciences has just -received an interesting account of a meteorite -which fell not long ago near Odessa. A bright -serpentine trail of fire was seen one morning to -pass over that town; and the editor of one of -the papers, surmising that a meteoric mass might -have fallen from the sky, offered a reward to -any one who would bring it to him. A peasant, -who had been terribly frightened by the stone -falling close to him as he worked in the fields, -and burying itself in the ground, answered this -appeal. He had dug the stone out of the soil, -and preserved it, keeping the matter quite secret -from his neighbours, as he feared ridicule. This -stone was found to be a shapeless mass weighing -nearly eighteen pounds. The fall of another -meteorite, which in its descent near the same town -wounded a man, was also reported; but it had -been broken into fragments and distributed -among the peasants, who preserved them as -talismans.</p> - -<p>The visitors to Cliff House, San Francisco, had -recently the rare opportunity of viewing a -marvellous mirage, during which the headland -of North Farallon, which is under ordinary circumstances -quite out of sight, indeed absolutely -below the horizon, not only came into view, -but appeared to be only a few miles from the -shore. The strange sight fascinated the onlookers -for many hours, and marine glasses and -telescopes were brought to bear upon these -veritable castles in the air.</p> - -<p>It seems strange that Samuel Pepys, whose -famous Diary is known to all English readers, -should have been left without a monument in -the old London church where his remains repose, -until one hundred and eighty years after his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">{267}</span> -death. This may be partly explained by the -circumstance that Pepys’ Diary was not published -until the year 1825. It was originally -written in cipher, and the key to it, strange to -say, was not made use of until that time. -Although Pepys was a well-known man in his -day, and occupied a good official position as -‘Clerk of the Acts’ and Secretary to the -Admiralty, his fame is due to his unique Diary. -At last, however, Pepys has a monument to his -honour, which was unveiled the other day in the -ancient city church of St Olave’s, near the Tower -of London. The question has been raised whether -Pepys, in using a cipher alphabet, did not intend -his Diary as a private document. But still he -left the key behind him, which he might have -easily destroyed. However this may be, the book -has delighted thousands of readers, giving as it -does in a very quaint style a picture, and a true -picture too, of London life two hundred years ago.</p> - -<p>A curious record of the year 1478 is quoted in -the <i>Builder</i>, which points to an early case of -water being laid on to a town-house. The ingenious -individual who thus tapped the conduit or -watercourse running along the street, seems to -have paid more dearly for the privilege than -even a London water-consumer has to pay to the -Companies in the present day. The man was a -tradesman in Fleet Street, and is thus referred -to: ‘A wex-chandler in Flete-strete had by crafte -perced a pipe of the condit withynne the ground, -and so conveied the water into his selar; wherefore -he was judged to ride through the citie with -a condit uppon his hedde.’ This poor man was -nevertheless only adapting to his own purposes a -system of water-conveyance that had been known -and practised in many countries ages before his -time.</p> - -<p>It is expected that nearly one thousand -members and associates of the British Association -will cross the Atlantic in August next to -take part in the meeting which is to be held -this year at Montreal. All visitors to the -Dominion know well that the Canadians understand -the meaning of the word hospitality in its -broadest sense, and they are, according to all -reports, taking measures which will cause their -British cousins to long remember the welcome -which they will receive. The Association is -taking good care that the members shall be seen -at their best, and no new members will be -allowed to join the party except under stringent -conditions. This will very rightly prevent an -influx of people who will take a sudden interest -in scientific research for the sake of getting a -cheap trip to Canada. The names of the representative -men under whose care the various -sections are placed, are sufficient guarantee that -plenty of good work will be done. We may -mention that special attention will be paid in -section D, under Professor Ray Lankester, to -the vexed question of the supposed connection -between sun-spot periods and terrestrial phenomena. -This question has long been a bone of -contention among scientific men, one side bringing -forward figures giving remarkable points of -agreement, the other side disclaiming them with -the assertion that statistics can be made to prove -anything. Perhaps this meeting of the Association -may guide us to a right solution of the -problems involved.</p> - -<p>‘The Mineral Wealth of Queensland,’ the title -of a paper recently read before the Royal Colonial -Institute by Mr C. S. Dicken, was full of matter -which should be interesting to those who are -seeking an outlay for their capital. Queensland -is five and a half times larger in area than the -United Kingdom. Its gold-fields are estimated to -cover a space of seven thousand square miles, and -it produces large quantities of silver, copper, and -tin. According to the official Reports of geologists, -coal crops out on the surface over some twenty-four -thousand square miles. Hitherto, these vast -resources have been comparatively untouched. -Men and capital are required for their development; -and as the climate is a healthy one, and -the laws administered by capable and impartial -men, there is every incentive to Europeans to -turn their attention to the country.</p> - -<p>A Bill now before the House of Commons is -of extreme interest and importance to students -of natural history, to artists, and many others. -We allude to Mr Bryce’s ‘Access to Mountains -(Scotland) Bill.’ In the preamble to this proposed -measure, it is set forth that many large tracts of -uncultivated mountain and moorland, which have -in past times been covered with sheep and cattle, -are now stocked with deer, and in many cases -the rights which have hitherto been enjoyed by -artists and others of visiting such lands, have -been stopped by the owners. It is now proposed -that it should be henceforward illegal for owners -of such property to exclude any one who wishes -to go there ‘for the purposes of recreation, or -scientific or artistic study.’ At the same time -the Bill clearly provides that any one committing -any kind of poaching or damage is to be regarded -as a trespasser, and dealt with accordingly. Parks -and pleasure-grounds attached to a dwelling-house -are of course excepted from the operation of the -Act.</p> - -<p>Mr Johnston’s book upon <i>The River Congo</i> is -full of interesting particulars of his wanderings -through that part of Africa and his meeting with -Stanley. He certainly throws some new light -upon the climate of the country; for whereas -previous travellers have described it as fever-breeding, -and full of terrors to the white man, -Mr Johnston tells us that the climate of the -interior table-land is as healthy as possible, and -that any European taking ordinary precautions -as to temperate eating and drinking, need never -have a day’s illness there. This is perhaps a -matter of personal constitution and physique. -Because one man has had such a pleasant experience -of African climate, it is no reason why -every one else should expect the same exemption -from illness. Still, we trust that Mr Johnston’s -deductions may prove correct.</p> - -<p>We are all of us now and then astonished by -the report of some sale in which a fancy price, -as it is called, has been paid for something of no -intrinsic value, and very often of no artistic value -either. Hundreds of pounds have been paid -within recent years for a single teacup, provided -that the happy purchaser can be sure that it is -unique. Even thousands have been paid for a -vase a few inches high simply because it was rare. -The mania for collecting curiosities which prompts -people to pay these large sums, is by no means -confined to articles of virtu. Natural history -claims a large army of such collectors. A single<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">{268}</span> -orchid was sold only the other day for a small -fortune. At the time of the Cochin-China fowl -mania, which John Leech helped to caricature -out of existence, a single rooster fetched five -hundred pounds. Only last month, in London, -some enormous prices were obtained under the -hammer for a collection of Lepidoptera, vulgarly -known as moths and butterflies. Single specimens -fetched three and four pounds apiece, and -even more; whilst a common white butterfly, -apparently having a particular value because -it was caught in the Hebrides, was actually -knocked down for the sum of thirteen guineas. -It would be extremely interesting to ascertain -the exact nature of the pleasurable sensations -with which the owner of this butterfly doubtless -regards his purchase. The export of a few -white butterflies to the Hebrides might prove a -profitable venture, if not overdone.</p> - -<p>It may be that the age of big prices for little -teacups and vases is on the eve of passing away, -for it would seem that the secret processes by -which the old workers could endow the china -with a depth of colour and richness of tone impossible -to achieve by more modern hands, have been -rediscovered. It is reported that M. Lauth, the -Director of the Sèvres state porcelain manufactory, -has attained this result. Moreover, his -discovery does not, like too many others, resolve -itself into a mere laboratory experiment, but -represents a manufacturing success. The results, -too, can be looked for with certainty, whereas there -is little doubt that the old workers had many -a failure as well as successes.</p> - -<p>The recent opinion of Mr Justice Stephen that -cremation, if properly conducted, is not illegal, -has again opened up a subject, which, although -of a somewhat delicate, and to some people actually -repulsive nature, is bound sooner or later to -force its importance upon public attention. There -is every reason to believe that public opinion is -fast undergoing a very great change, as the subject -becomes better understood. A like alteration -of public feeling is also observable in other -European countries. Sir Spencer Wells has lately -published an account of the public cemetery in -Rome, where, in the four months previous to -his visit, no fewer than forty bodies had been submitted -to the new form of sepulture. Dr -Cameron’s Bill for the regulation of the practice -of cremation will possibly come before the House -of Commons before these lines appear in print, -and we shall then have an opportunity of gauging -the feeling for and against a practice which, after -all, is not new, but very old indeed.</p> - -<p>Lovers of nature will be glad to hear that -otters are yet extant in the Thames; but unless -possessed of that unfortunate instinct which causes -the average Briton to kill and slay anything -alive which is not actually a domestic animal, -they will be disgusted to learn that these interesting -creatures are no sooner discovered than they -are shot and stuffed. In January 1880, an otter -weighing twenty-six pounds was shot at Hampton -Court; another shared the same fate at Thames-Ditton -in January last; and one more has recently -been slaughtered at Cookham.</p> - -<p>We have recently had an opportunity of visiting -the steep-grade tramway which is being laid, and -is now on the point of being finished, on that -same quiet Highgate Hill where tradition tells -us Dick Whittington heard the bells prophesying -his future good-fortune. This tramway is the -first of its kind in this country, and will probably -prove the pioneer line of many others in situations -where the hilly nature of the ground forbids horse-traction. -Briefly described, it consists of an -endless cable, a steel rope kept constantly moving -at the rate of six miles an hour by means of a -stationary engine. This cable moves in a pipe -buried in the ground midway between the rails; -but the pipe has an opening above. Through -this opening—a narrow slit about an inch wide—passes -from the car a kind of grip-bar, which by -the turn of a handle in the car is made to take -hold of the travelling-rope below, or to release -its hold, as required. This system has been in -successful operation in San Francisco for many -years, and there is no reason why it should not -succeed in this country. The only question seems -to be whether the traffic up and down Highgate -Hill is sufficient to make the enterprise pay.</p> - -<p>The profits of the International Fisheries -Exhibition amount to fifteen thousand pounds. -Two-thirds of this sum will be devoted to the -benefit of the widows and orphans of fishermen, -presumably through the instrumentality of some -Society or Insurance Association to be formed -for the purpose; three thousand pounds will go -to form a Royal Fisheries Society for scientific -work in connection with the harvest of the sea; -whilst the balance remains in hand, at present -unappropriated.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_PROGRESS_OF_PISCICULTURE">THE PROGRESS OF PISCICULTURE.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Of</span> late years, no feature of fishery economy has -excited more attention than the progress we have -been making in what is called ‘Pisciculture.’ -Fish-eggs are now a common article of commerce—the -sales of which, and the prices at which -they can be purchased, being as regularly advertised -as any other kind of goods. This is a fact -which, a century ago, might have been looked -upon by our forefathers as something more than -wonderful. Such commerce in all probability -would have been stigmatised as impious, as a something -‘flying in the face of Providence.’</p> - -<p>But in another country there was buying and -selling of fish-eggs more than a thousand years -ago. The ingenious Chinese people had discovered -the philosophy which underlies fish-culture, -as well as the best modes of increasing -their supplies of fish, long before any European -nation had dreamt of taking action in the matter. -A few years ago, a party of fisher-folks from the -Celestial Empire, on a visit to Europe, were -exceedingly astonished at the prices they had -to pay for the fish they were so fond of eating. -They explained that in China any person might -purchase for a very small sum as much as might -serve a family for a week’s food. They also mentioned -that some fishes which we reject, such as the -octopus, were much esteemed by the Chinese, who -cooked them carefully, and partook of them with -great relish. The capture of the octopus, indeed, -forms one of the chief fishing industries of China, -these sea-monsters being taken in enormous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">{269}</span> -numbers at some of the Chinese fishing stations, -notably at Swatow. They are preserved by being -dried in the sun; and then, after being packed -in tubs, they are distributed to the consuming -centres of the country. In the inland districts -of China there are also to be found numerous -fishponds, where supplies of the more popular -sorts of fish are kept, and fed for the market. -These are grown from ova generally bought from -dealers, who procure supplies of eggs from some -of the large rivers of the country. The infant -fish, it may be mentioned, are as carefully tended -and fed as if they were a flock of turkeys in the -yard of a Norfolk farmer. In the opinion of the -Chinese fishermen, who were interviewed by the -industrious Frank Buckland, hundreds of thousands -of fish annually die of starvation; and if -means could be adopted for the feeding of tender -fry, fish of all kinds would become more plentiful -than at present, and we would obtain them at -a cheaper rate. In China, the yolks of hens’ eggs -are thrown into the rivers and ponds, that kind -of food being greedily devoured by the young -fish.</p> - -<p>It has long been known to those interested in -the economy of our fisheries, that only a very -small percentage of the ova of our chief food-fishes -comes to maturity, while of the fish actually -hatched, a very small percentage reaches our -tables for food-uses; hence the desire which has -arisen to augment the supplies by means of pisciculture. -In the case of a fish like the salmon, -every individual of that species (<i>Salmo salar</i>) -which can be brought to market is certain, -even when prices are low, of a ready sale at something -like a shilling per pound-weight; and it -is not, therefore, to be wondered at that the -proprietor of a stretch of salmon-water should -be zealous about the increase of his stock of -fish. A quarter of a century since, the salmon-fishery -owners of the river Tay in Scotland, -impressed with the possibilities of pisciculture, -had a suite of salmon-nurseries constructed at -Stormontfield, where they have annually hatched -a very large number of eggs, and where they feed -and protect the young fish till they are ready -to migrate to the sea, able to fight their own -battle of life. This may be said to be the earliest -and longest sustained piscicultural effort of a commercial -kind made in Great Britain, an example -which was followed on other rivers. The chief -salmon-fisheries of Scotland being held as private -property, are, of course, more favourably situated, -in regard to fish-culture, than salmon-fisheries -which are open to the public, and which, in a -sense, are the property of no person in particular. -These latter must be left in the hands of mother -Nature. The salmon, however, being an animal -of great commercial value, is so coveted at all -seasons of the year, both by persons who have -a legal right to such property, and by persons -who have no right, that such fisheries have a -tendency to become barren of breeding-stock; -for although each female yields on the average -as many as twenty thousand eggs, extremely few -of these ever reach maturity; hence, it has -come about that many proprietors are resorting -to the piscicultural process of increasing their -supplies.</p> - -<p>But the chief feature of the pisciculture of the -period is that ‘fisheries’ are now being worked -quite independently of any particular river. -There is, for example, the Howietoun fishery, near -Stirling, which has been ‘invented,’ as we may -say, by that piscatorial giant, Sir James Gibson-Maitland. -From this establishment, the eggs of -fish, particularly trout, and more especially Loch -Leven trout, are annually distributed in hundreds -of thousands. From Howietoun, and from some -other places as well, gentlemen can stock their -ponds or other ornamental water with fecundated -ova in a certain state of forwardness; or they -can procure, for a definite sum of money, fish of -all ages from tiny fry to active yearlings, or well -grown two-year olds! Sporting-waters which -have been overfished can be easily replenished -by procuring a few thousand eggs or yearlings; -while angling clubs which rent a loch or important -stream can, at a very small cost, keep up the -supplies, whether of trout or salmon. In the -course of the last three summers, several Scottish -lakes have had their fish-stores replenished by -means of drafts on the piscicultural bank, which -is always open at the Howietoun ‘fishery.’ The -distance to which ova or tender young fish -require to be transported offers no obstacle to -this new development of fish-commerce; thousands -of infantile fish were brought from Russia -to Edinburgh with perfect safety on the occasion -of the Fishery Exhibition held in that city. The -loss in transit was not more, we believe, than -two per cent.</p> - -<p>It may prove interesting to state the prices -which are charged usually for ova and young -fish. A sample lot of eyed ova of the American -brook trout, to the extent of one thousand, may -be obtained for thirty shillings; and for ten -shillings less, a thousand eggs of the Loch Leven -trout, or the common trout of the country, may -be purchased. For stock supplies, a box containing -fifteen thousand partially eyed ova of -<i>S. fontinalis</i> (American) may be had for ten -pounds. The other varieties mentioned are -cheaper by fifty shillings for the same number. -Fry of the same, in lots of not fewer than five -thousand, range from seven pounds ten shillings -to five pounds. Yearlings are of course dearer, -and cost from fifteen and ten pounds respectively -per thousand. Ten millions of trout ova are -now hatched every year at the Howietoun -fishery.</p> - -<p>The fecundity of all kinds of fish is enormous. -A very small trout will be found to contain one -thousand eggs; a female salmon will yield on -the average eight hundred ova for each pound -of her weight; and if even a fifth part of the -eggs of our food-fishes were destined to arrive -at maturity, there would be no necessity for -resorting to pisciculture in order to augment -our fish commissariat. But even in America, -where most kinds of fish were at one period -almost over-abundant, artificial breeding is now -necessary in order to keep up the supplies. In -the United States, fish-culture has been resorted -to on a gigantic scale, not only as regards the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">{270}</span> -salmon, but also in connection with various sea-fishes, -many hundred millions of eggs of which -are annually collected and hatched; the young -fry being forwarded to waters which require to -be restocked. Apparatus of a proper description -for the hatching of sea-fish has been constructed, -and is found to work admirably. Some of these -inventions were shown last year in the American -department of the International Fishery -Exhibition, where they were much admired -by persons who feel interested in the proper -development of our fishery resources. In the -United States, the art of pisciculture has been -studied with rare patience and industry, the -fish-breeders thinking it no out-of-the-way feat -to transplant three or four millions of young -salmon in the course of a season. In dealing -with the shad, the United States Commission of -Fish and Fisheries have been able to distribute -the young of that fish by tens of millions per -annum; the loss in the hatching of eggs and -in the transmission of the animal being very -small.</p> - -<p>Some writers and lecturers on the natural and -economic history of our food-fishes have asserted -that no possible demand can lead to their extermination -or to any permanent falling-off in the -supplies; but the economy of the American fisheries -tends to disprove that theory. In the seas which -surround the United States, certain fishes would -soon become very scarce, were the supplies not -augmented each season by the aid of the pisciculturists. -The fruitfulness of the cod is really -wonderful, individuals of that family having been -taken with from five to nine millions of eggs in -their ovaries. The fecundity of the common -herring, too, has often proved a theme of wonder. -That an animal only weighing a few ounces should -be able to perpetuate its kind at the rate of thirty -thousand, is indeed remarkable. But fruitful in -reproductive power as these and other fishes -undoubtedly are, it has been prophesied by -cautious writers, that by over-fishing, the supplies -may in time become so exhausted as to -require the aid of the pisciculturist. If so, we -believe the mode of action which has been found -to work so well in the American seas will be the -best to follow. No plan of inclosed sea-ponds, -however large they might be, will meet the case; -the fish-eggs will require to be hatched in floating -cylinders specially constructed for the purpose, -so as to admit of the eggs being always under -the influence of the sea-water, and at the same -time exposed to the eye of skilled watchers. It is -believed by persons well qualified to judge, that -the eggs of our more valuable sea-fishes may in -the way indicated be dealt with in almost incredible -numbers. We have only to remember that -twenty females of the cod family will yield at -least one hundred millions of eggs, to see that -the possibilities of pisciculture might extend far -beyond anything indicated in the foregoing remarks.</p> - -<p>In resuscitating their exhausted oyster-beds, -the French people have during the last twenty -years worked wonders; they have been able to -reproduce that favourite shell-fish year after year -in quantities that would appear fabulous if they -could be enumerated in figures. Pisciculture was -understood in France long before it was thought -of as a means of aiding natural production in -America; but our children of the States—to use -a favourite phrase of their own—now ‘lick all -creation’ in the ways and means of replenishing -river and sea with their finny denizens.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_PLEA_FOR_THE_WATER-OUSEL">A PLEA FOR THE WATER-OUSEL.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> a paper which appeared in this <i>Journal</i>, in -June 1883, on the Salmon, a few words were -said in defence of the water-ousel against a -<i>fama</i> which had found vent in newspaper correspondence, -accusing that most interesting bird -of destroying salmon spawn. An English gentleman, -after reading those remarks, has written -to us, giving a sad illustration of misdirected -zeal, which had arisen from the reading of such -newspaper letters.</p> - -<p>During the previous winter, he was one of -a party that spent a few days on the banks -of a favourite salmon river in Wales. The -party were all enthusiastic anglers; and, fired -by the recent outcry against the ousel, they -made a raid upon these birds, killing thirty -in one day. Like the ‘Jeddart justices’ of -old, the party then proceeded to convict the -slain; when, lo! on examination by one of -their number—a well-known English analyst—not -a grain of salmon roe could be found -in all the thirty crops examined, though it was -then the height of the salmon spawning season. -Like Llewelyn, after slaying Gelert, they had -time to repent, ‘For now the truth was clear.’ -They had slain the innocent, which feed upon -insects that prey on salmon ova. They had -therefore killed one of the salmon’s best protectors.</p> - -<p>No better instance could be adduced of the -caution with which popular theories in natural -history should be received. But besides branding -the innocent little ousel as a salmon-destroyer, -some writers went so far as to assert that the -bird had no song, and was not worth listening -to. The best observers fortunately have defended -the bird against the charge of being songless; and -in respect to its alleged crime of eating salmon-roe, -the evidence above given is surely conclusive -in favour of its innocence.</p> - -<p>The water-ousel is one of our most unique birds. -It is a wader and a diver, and though not web-footed, -by using its wings it can propel itself -under water. Its habits are always a delightful -study to the observer. The domed nest, with its -snow-white eggs, is a wonderful structure; and -there is a fascination in watching the bird tripping -in and out of the water in pursuit of its food, -popping overhead ever and again, and reappearing -for a moment, only to dive and reappear -elsewhere. When rivers are largely frozen over, -it is interesting to see how boldly the little bird -dives from the edge of an ice-sheet into a stream -two feet or more in depth, how long it can -remain under water, and how often it rises to -breathe and dive again without leaving the -stream. The singing of the water-ousel is low, -but remarkably sweet, and long-continued in the -winter-time of the year, when no other bird but -the redbreast is heard; and when trilled out, as -the notes frequently are in the clear frosty air, -as the bird sits perched on a rocky projection,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">{271}</span> -or takes its rapid flight up or down the stream, -they sound clear and melodious.</p> - - -<h3>THE WATER-OUSEL’S SONG.</h3> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! where the water</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Leaps among the rocks,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the din of the linn</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Swelling thunder mocks,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Cheerily and merrily</div> - <div class="verse indent8">I sing my roundelay,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! bright or bitter</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Be the winter day!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! down the water</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Speeding with the stream,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Snow around wraps the ground</div> - <div class="verse indent8">In a silent dream!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wood and hill, all are still,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Birds as mute as clay,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! what is fitter</div> - <div class="verse indent8">For a winter day?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! in the water</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Busily I ply;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Ice and snow come and go,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Nought a care have I.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Mountain waters flee their fetters,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">So I feed and play,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! pitter! pitter!</div> - <div class="verse indent8">All the winter day.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! o’er the water</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Still and smooth and deep,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Round the pool, clear and cool,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Where the shadows sleep,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Snowy breast, shadow-kissed,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Whirring on its way,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! titter! titter!</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Ho! the winter day!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! through the water,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">By the miller’s wheel,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Where the strong water’s song</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Rings a merry peal;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Wet or dry, what care I,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Sporting in the spray?</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! twitter! twitter!</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Flies the winter day.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! with the water</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Where the burnies run,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">’Mong the hills, where the rills</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Dance unto the sun,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">In the nooks, where the brooks</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Ripple on for aye,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Whitter! whitter! bright or bitter</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Be the winter day!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse right">J. H. P.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="BOOK_GOSSIP">BOOK GOSSIP.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">We</span> have on more than one occasion drawn attention -in these pages to the good work which Miss -Ormerod is accomplishing by the dissemination -of knowledge on the subject of insect life as it -affects agriculture. She has now published a -<i>Guide to Methods of Insect Life, and Prevention -and Remedy of Insect Ravage</i> (London: Simpkin, -Marshall, & Co.), which cannot fail greatly to -advance the object she has in view. The <i>Guide</i> -was written at the request of the Institute of -Agriculture, and its chief purpose is to give -some information on the habits, and means -of prevention, of crop insects. The book is -written in a style which will render it useful -to agriculturists, gardeners, and others, even -although they happen to have no scientific -knowledge whatever of entomology. The various -insects, their eggs and larvæ, are described in -terms as free from scientific terminology as is -possible; and such scientific terms as must occasionally -be used are explained in a glossary at -the end of the book. The illustrations are -numerous; and between these and the verbal -descriptions given, no difficulty should at any -time be felt in identifying any particular insect -pest, and applying to it the treatment which -the author suggests. The methods of prevention -are mainly taken from the reports which Miss -Ormerod has been in the habit of receiving -annually from a large number of agriculturists, -so that the reader has here, in one little book, -the united experience and observations of a large -body of practical men.</p> - -<p class="center">⁂</p> - -<p>Last year we had the pleasure of publishing in -this <i>Journal</i> two papers on the subject of Shetland -and its Industries, by Sheriff Rampini, of -Lerwick. Since then, the same gentleman has -delivered two lectures before the Philosophical -Institution, Edinburgh, which lectures are now -published in a neat little volume, under the title -of <i>Shetland and the Shetlanders</i> (Kirkwall: William -Peace and Son). In the papers which appeared -in our pages, the author confined himself to the -industries of the island, its agriculture and -fisheries; in these lectures, however, he gives -himself greater scope, and treats of the history, -traditions, and language of the people, introducing -many anecdotes characteristic of them -and of their habits.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="OCCASIONAL_NOTES">OCCASIONAL NOTES.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3>AMERICAN LITERARY PIRACY.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the <i>London Figaro</i>, the editor thus writes: -Those literary men who are agitating for a -copyright convention with the United States have -doubtless suffered in the following way, which -seems to me particularly hard on some of the -authors of this country. I am, let it be assumed, -then, the writer of a number of short stories, -which, at anyrate, for the purposes of my statement, -I will conclude to have been good enough -to earn sufficient popularity to bring them within -the purview of the American book pirates. Very -well—my stories are taken as quickly as they -appear and published in the States, not only -in a book-form, but in all the principal newspapers -which devote some of their columns to -fiction.</p> - -<p>For this honour I, of course, receive never a -cent, and that is a distinct hardship, I take it. -But that is not all. My stories having appeared -in the States, slightly altered to suit American -tastes, and without my name attached, are read -and admired by the editors of English provincial -journals, who straightway proceed to cut out the -fictions in question, and alter them back again, -to suit the idiosyncrasies of their British readers. -Thus my handiwork appears a second time in -this country; and in not one, but possibly a -dozen or a score of provincial newspapers.</p> - -<p>The result is this. When I go, a month or two -after, and offer a collection of my short stories -to a London publisher, he reads them, and replies -in effect: ‘Yes, I like your stories very well; but -what is the use of my publishing them, when they -have appeared in half the country papers in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">{272}</span> -kingdom?’ It is in vain I explain. The injury -has been done; and an apology from the country -editors is but a slight and unsatisfactory atonement -for an act which has kept me out of scores -or hundreds of pounds.</p> - -<p>Besides this, there are other publishers who, -seeing that my fiction appears in the <i>Little -Pedlington Mirror</i> or the <i>Mudborough Gazette</i>, -mentally determine that my calibre as a writer -cannot be very great if I am reduced to dispose -of my copy to such papers as these. And therefore, -through no fault of my own, but, as a matter -of fact, in actual consequence of my success, my -reputation as a writer is positively injured in -quarters in which it is most important to me it -should be sustained. I have been describing -incidents which have really occurred, I may add; -and I think that the grievance is one that needs -serious attention, with a view to its redress.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>[The editor of <i>Figaro</i> has our fullest sympathy. -We, too, are the victims of American malpractices. -Many of the short stories which appear in -<i>Chambers’s Journal</i> are copied into the American -newspapers without leave, and <i>without acknowledgment -of the source whence taken</i>. These papers -reach Great Britain with the purloined material, -which our provincial press in turn transfers to its -pages. Expostulation is of no avail: the British -journalist sees a story in an American newspaper -which will suit his purpose, and at once takes -possession of property, which of course he believes -to be American (and therefore legitimate spoil), -but which has in reality been paid for and previously -published by ourselves. We thus doubtless -lose many subscribers, who, finding our Tales -and Stories given at full length in the penny -papers, are pleased to have them at a slightly -cheaper rate than the original.—<i><span class="smcap">Ed.</span> Ch. Jl.</i>]</p> -</div> - - -<h3>SOWING AND HARVESTING.</h3> - -<p>Farmers, besides being subject to the risks -incurred by all engaged in commercial enterprises, -are in addition peculiarly dependent on the very -variable weather of our climate. In 1877, Professor -Tanner was deputed by the Science and -Art Department to make an inquiry into the -conditions regulating the growth of barley, wheat, -and oats. He found that on a certain farm the -portion of the barley-crop which was harvested -in fine harvest-weather yielded per acre forty -bushels, each of which weighed fifty-six pounds; -while on the same farm the part harvested after -some rain had fallen—in bad harvest-weather—also -yielded forty bushels per acre; but in this -case each bushel weighed only forty pounds—thus -showing that there was a loss of six hundred and -forty pounds of food on each acre. Barley is -also peculiarly sensitive to the condition of its -seed-bed. Two parts of the same field were sown -with similar seed; but in one case the seed was -got down in good spring-weather, and in the -other, after heavy rain; and the result was that -the former grew freely, and yielded per acre forty -bushels, weighing fifty-eight and a half pounds -each; while in the latter case the seed never grew -freely, and yielded per acre only twenty-four -bushels, weighing fifty-four pounds per bushel—thus -showing a loss of one thousand and forty-four -pounds of grain per acre.</p> - -<p>In the case of wheat, and particularly of the -finer varieties, the losses arising from bad harvest-weather -tell very materially on the prices. Of -the same crop of fine white wheat grown in 1877 -under similar conditions, the part harvested in -good weather yielded per acre forty bushels, each -weighing sixty-six pounds; while the part which -could not be harvested before being damaged by -rain yielded an equal number of bushels; but -the weight of each bushel was decreased by five -pounds, and this latter was sold at two-and-sixpence -per bushel lower than the former. Besides -this, if ungenial weather should prevent the -farmer sowing his wheat in good time, the yield -is still further lessened, if indeed he does not -deem it expedient to sow barley instead.</p> - -<p>One would think that oats—the hardiest of -our cereals—would suffer little from the effects -of bad weather; but in a case in which two -portions of oats grown under similar conditions -were examined, it was found that the portion -harvested in good weather produced thirty-three -bushels, each weighing forty-one and a half -pounds; while that stacked after some rain had -fallen was found to give thirty-two bushels, -weighing thirty-nine and a half pounds each.</p> - - -<h3>RUSSIAN LONGEVITY.</h3> - -<p>From a correspondent, who has passed some -years in Russia, we learn that in the village of -Velkotti, in the St Petersburg government, an old -woman is living who has just attained her one hundred -and thirtieth birthday! The old lady is in -the enjoyment of good health, but complains of her -deafness (and no wonder). Her hair is still long -and plentiful, considering her age. She spent her -youth in great poverty, but is now pretty well -off. She has outlived three husbands; and has -had a family of nineteen children, all of whom -have been married, and are now dead, the last -one to die being a daughter of ninety-three. She -lives with one of her great-grandchildren, a man -of fifty.</p> - -<p>Our correspondent also informs us that a -few months ago an unusually curious wedding -took place in Ekaterinoslav, in Russia. The -bridegroom was sixty-five years old, the bride -sixty-seven. By former marriages, each of them -have children and grandchildren, and even -great-grandchildren, living in the same town. -The bridegroom’s father, now in his one hundred -and third year, and the bride’s mother, in her -ninety-sixth year, are still alive, and were at the -wedding.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p>The Conductor of <span class="smcap">Chambers’s Journal</span> begs to direct -the attention of <span class="smcap">Contributors</span> to the following notice:</p> - -<div class="blockquot_ans"> - -<p><i>1st.</i> All communications should be addressed to the -‘Editor, 339 High Street, Edinburgh.’</p> - -<p><i>2d.</i> For its return in case of ineligibility, postage-stamps -should accompany every manuscript.</p> - -<p><i>3d.</i> <span class="smcap">Manuscripts</span> should bear the author’s full <i>Christian</i> -name, Surname, and Address, legibly written; and -should be written on white (not blue) paper, and on -one side of the leaf only.</p> - -<p><i>4th.</i> Offerings of Verse should invariably be accompanied -by a stamped and directed envelope.</p> -</div> - -<p><i>If the above rules are complied with, the Editor will -do his best to insure the safe return of ineligible papers.</i></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="center">Printed and Published by <span class="smcap">W. & R. Chambers</span>, 47 Paternoster -Row, <span class="smcap">London</span>, and 339 High Street, <span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="center"><i>All Rights Reserved.</i></p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 17, VOL. I, APRIL 26, 1884 ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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