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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..1316d2a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66800 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66800) diff --git a/old/66800-0.txt b/old/66800-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6ba4ed0..0000000 --- a/old/66800-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2134 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, -Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 9, Vol. I, March 1, 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. 9, Vol. I, March 1, 1884 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: November 23, 2021 [eBook #66800] - -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. 9, VOL. I, MARCH 1, -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. 9.—VOL. I. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1884. PRICE 1½_d._] - - - - -BIRDS OF SPRING. - -BY RICHARD JEFFERIES, AUTHOR OF THE ‘GAMEKEEPER AT HOME,’ ETC. - - -The birds of spring come as imperceptibly as the leaves. One by one the -buds open on hawthorn and willow, till all at once the hedges appear -green, and so the birds steal quietly into the bushes and trees, till -by-and-by a chorus fills the wood, and each warm shower is welcomed -with varied song. To many, the majority of spring-birds are really -unknown; the cuckoo, the nightingale, and the swallow, are all with -which they are acquainted, and these three make the summer. The loud -cuckoo cannot be overlooked by any one passing even a short time in -the fields; the nightingale is so familiar in verse that every one -tries to hear it; and the swallows enter the towns and twitter at the -chimney-top. But these are really only the principal representatives of -the crowd of birds that flock to our hedges in the early summer; and -perhaps it would be accurate to say that no other area of equal extent, -either in Europe or elsewhere, receives so many feathered visitors. -The English climate is the established subject of abuse, yet it is the -climate most preferred and sought by the birds, who have the choice of -immense continents. - -Nothing that I have ever read of, or seen, or that I expect to see, -equals the beauty and the delight of a summer spent in our woods and -meadows. Green leaves and grass, and sunshine, blue skies, and sweet -brooks—there is nothing to approach it; it is no wonder the birds are -tempted to us. The food they find is so abundant, that after all their -efforts, little apparent diminution can be noticed; to this fertile -and lovely country, therefore, they hasten every year. It might be -said that the spring-birds begin to come to us in the autumn, as early -as October, when hedge-sparrows and golden-crested wrens, larks, -blackbirds, and thrushes, and many others, float over on the gales from -the coasts of Norway. Their numbers, especially of the smaller birds, -such as larks, are immense, and their line of flight so extended that -it strikes our shores for a distance of two hundred miles. The vastness -of these numbers, indeed, makes me question whether they all come from -Scandinavia. That is their route; Norway seems to be the last land they -see before crossing; but I think it possible that their original homes -may have been farther still. Though many go back in the spring, many -individuals remain here, and rejoice in the plenty of the hedgerows. -As all roads of old time led to Rome, so do bird-routes lead to these -islands. Some of these birds appear to pair in November, and so have -settled their courtship long before the crocuses of St Valentine. Much -difference is apparent in the dates recorded of the arrivals in spring; -they vary year by year, and now one and now another bird presents -itself first, so that I shall not in these notes attempt to arrange -them in strict order. - -One of the first noticeable in southern fields is the common wagtail. -When his shrill note is heard echoing against the walls of the -outhouses as he rises from the ground, the carters and ploughmen know -that there will not be much more frost. If icicles hang from the -thatched eaves, they will not long hang, but melt before the softer -wind. The bitter part of winter is over. The wagtail is a house-bird, -making the houses or cattle-pens its centre, and remaining about them -for months. There is not a farmhouse in the south of England without -its summer pair of wagtails, not more than one pair as a rule, for they -are not gregarious till winter; but considering that every farmhouse -has its pair, their numbers must be really large. - -Where wheatears frequent, their return is very marked; they appear -suddenly in the gardens and open places, and cannot be overlooked. -Swallows return one by one at first, and we get used to them by -degrees. The wheatears seem to drop out of the night, and to be -showered down on the ground in the morning. A white bar on the tail -renders them conspicuous, for at that time much of the surface of the -earth is bare and dark. Naturally birds of the wildest and most open -country, they yet show no dread, but approach the houses closely. They -are local in their habits, or perhaps follow a broad but well-defined -route of migration; so that while common in one place, they are rare -in others. In two localities with which I am familiar, and know every -path, I never saw a wheatear. I heard of them occasionally as passing -over, but they were not birds of the district. In Sussex, on the -contrary, the wheatear is as regularly seen as the blackbird; and in -the spring and summer you cannot go a walk without finding them. They -change their ground three times: first on arrival, they feed in the -gardens and arable fields; next, they go up on the hills; lastly, they -return to the coast, and frequent the extreme edge of the cliffs and -the land by the shore. Every bird has its different manner; I do not -know how else to express it. Now, the wheatears move in numbers, and -yet not in concert; in spring, perhaps twenty may be counted in sight -at once on the ground, feeding together and yet quite separate; just -opposite in manner to starlings, who feed side by side and rise and -fly as one. Every wheatear feeds by himself, a space between him and -his neighbour, dotted about, and yet they obviously have a certain -amount of mutual understanding; they recognise that they belong to the -same family, but maintain their individuality. On the hills in their -breeding season they act in the same way; each pair has a wide piece -of turf, sometimes many acres. But if you see one pair, it is certain -that other pairs are in the neighbourhood. In their breeding-grounds -they will not permit a man to approach so near as when they arrive, -or as when the nesting is over. At the time of their arrival, any one -can walk up within a short distance; so again in autumn. During the -nesting-time the wheatear perches on a molehill, or a large flint, or -any slight elevation above the open surface of the downs, and allows no -one to come closer than fifty yards. - -The hedge-sparrows, that creep about the bushes of the hedgerow as mice -creep about the banks, are early in spring joined by the whitethroats, -almost the first hedgebirds to return. The thicker the undergrowth -of nettles and wild parsley, rushes and rough grasses, the more the -whitethroat likes the spot. Amongst this tangled mass he lives and -feeds, slipping about under the brambles and ferns as rapidly as if -the way was clear. Loudest of all, the chiff-chaff sings in the ash -woods, bare and leafless, while yet the sharp winds rush between the -poles, rattling them together, and bringing down the dead twigs to the -earth. The violets are difficult to find, few and scattered; but his -clear note rings in the hushes of the eastern breeze, encouraging the -flowers. It is very pleasant indeed to hear him; one’s hands are dry -and the skin rough with the east wind; the trunks of the trees look -dry, and the lichens have shrivelled on the bark; the brook looks dark; -gray dust rises and drifts, and the gray clouds hurry over; but the -chiff-chaff sings, and it is certainly spring. The first green leaves -which the elder put forth in January have been burned up by frost, and -the woodbine, which looked as if it would soon be entirely green then, -has been checked, and remains a promise only. The chiff-chaff tells the -buds of the coming April rains and the sweet soft intervals of warm -sun. He is a sure forerunner. He defies the bitter wind; his little -heart is as true as steel. He is one of the birds in which I feel a -personal interest, as if I could converse with him. The willow-wren, -his friend, comes later, and has a gentler, plaintive song. - -Meadow-pipits are not migrants in the sense that the swallows are; but -they move about and so change their localities, that when they come -back they have much of the interest of a spring-bird. They rise from -the ground and sing in the air like larks, but not at such a height, -nor is the song so beautiful. These, too, are early birds. They often -frequent very exposed places, as the side of a hill where the air is -keen, and where one would not expect to meet with so lively a little -creature. The pond has not yet any of the growths that will presently -render its margin green; the willow-herbs are still low, the aquatic -grasses have not become strong, and the osiers are without leaf. If -examined closely, evidences of growth would be found everywhere around -it; but as yet the surface is open, and it looks cold. Along the brook -the shoals are visible, as the flags have not risen from the stems -which were cut down in the autumn. In the sedges, however, the first -young shoots are thrusting up, and the reeds have started, slender -green stalks tipped with the first leaves. At the verge of the water, a -thick green plant of marsh-marigold has one or two great golden flowers -open. This is the appearance of his home when the sedge-reedling -returns to it. Sometimes he may be seen flitting across the pond, or -perched for a moment on an exposed branch; but he quickly returns to -the dry sedges or the bushes, or climbs in and out the willow-stoles. -It is too bare and open for him at the pond, or even by the brook-side. -So much does he love concealment, that although to be near the water -is his habit, for a while he prefers to keep back among the bushes. As -the reeds and reed canary-grass come up and form a cover—as the sedges -grow green and advance to the edge of the water—as the sword-flags lift -up and expand, opening from a centre, the sedge-reedling issues from -the bushes and enters these vigorous growths, on which he perches, and -about which he climbs as if they were trees. In the pleasant mornings, -when the sun grows warm about eleven o’clock, he calls and sings with -scarcely a cessation, and is answered by his companions up and down -the stream. He does but just interrupt his search for food to sing; -he stays a moment, calls, and immediately resumes his prying into -every crevice of the branches and stoles. The thrush often sits on a -bough and sings for a length of time, apart from his food, and without -thinking of it, absorbed in his song, and full of the sweetness of the -day. These restless sedge-reedlings cannot pause; their little feet -are for ever at work, climbing about the willow-stoles where the wands -spring from the trunk; they never reflect, they are always engaged. -This restlessness is to them a great pleasure; they are filled with -the life which the sun gives, and express it in every motion; they -are so joyful, they cannot be still. Step into the osier bed amongst -them gently; they will chirp—a note like a sparrow’s—just in front, -and only recede a yard at a time, as you push through the tall grass, -flags, and underwood. Stand where you can see the brook, not too near, -but so as to see it through a fringe of sedges and willows. The pink -lychnis or ragged robin grows among the grasses; the iris flowers -higher on the shore. The water-vole comes swimming past on his way -to nibble the green weeds in the stream round about the great branch -which fell two winters since and remains in the water. Aquatic plants -take root in its shelter. There, too, a moorhen goes, sometimes diving -under the bough. A blackbird flies up to drink or bathe, never at the -grassy edge, but always choosing a spot where he can get at the stream -free from obstruction. The sound of many birds singing comes from the -hedge across the meadow; it mingles with the rush of the water through -a drawn hatch—finches and linnets, thrush and chiff-chaff, wren and -whitethroat, and others farther away, whose louder notes only, reach. -The singing is so mixed and interwoven, and is made of so many notes, -it seems as if it were the leaves singing, the countless leaves, as if -they had voices. - -A brightly coloured bird, the redstart, appears suddenly in spring, -like a flower that has bloomed before the bud was noticed. Red is his -chief colour, and as he rushes out from his perch to take an insect -on the wing, he looks like a red streak. These birds sometimes nest -near farmhouses in the rickyards, sometimes by copses, and sometimes -in the deepest and most secluded coombes or glens, the farthest places -from habitation; so that they cannot be said to have any preference, -as so many birds have, for a particular kind of locality; but they -return year by year to the places they have chosen. The return of the -corncrake or landrail is quickly recognised by the noise he makes in -the grass; he is the noisiest of all the spring-birds. The return of -the goatsucker is hardly noticed at first. This is not at all a rare, -but rather a local bird, well known in many places, but in others -unnoticed, except by those who feel a special interest. A bird must be -common and plentiful before people generally observe it, so that there -are many of the labouring class who have never seen the goatsucker, -or would say so, if you asked them. Few observe the migration of the -turtle-doves, perhaps confusing them with the wood-pigeons, which -stay in the fields all the winter. By the time the sap is well up in -the oaks, all the birds have arrived, and the tremulous cooing of the -turtle-dove is heard by those engaged in barking the felled trees. -The sap rises slowly in the oaks, moving gradually through the minute -interstices or capillary tubes of this close-grained wood; the softer -timber trees are full of it long before the oak; and when the oak is -putting forth its leaves, it is high spring. Doves stay so much at -this time in the great hawthorns of the hedgerows and at the edge of -the copses, that they are seldom noticed, though comparatively large -birds. They are easily seen by any who wish; the coo-coo tells where -they are; and in walking gently to find them, many other lesser birds -will be observed. A wryneck may be caught sight of on a bough overhead; -a black-headed bunting, in the hedge where there is a wet ditch and -rushes; a blackcap, in the birches; and the ‘zee-zee-zee’ of the -tree-pipit by the oaks just through the narrow copse. - -This is the most pleasant and the best way to observe—to have an -object, when so many things will be seen that would have been -passed unnoticed. To steal softly along the hedgerow, keeping out -of sight as much as possible, pausing now and then to listen as the -coo-coo is approached; and then, when near enough to see the doves, -to remain quiet behind a tree, is the surest way to see everything -else. The thrush will not move from her nest if passed so quietly; -the chaffinch’s lichen-made nest will be caught sight of against the -elm-trunk—it would escape notice otherwise; the whitethroat may be -watched in the nettles almost underneath; a rabbit will sit on his -haunches and look at you from among the bare green stalks of brake -rising; mice will rustle under the ground-ivy’s purple flowers; a mole -perhaps may be seen, for at this time they often leave their burrows -and run along the surface; and indeed so numerous are the sights and -sounds and interesting things, that you will soon be conscious of the -fact, that while you watch one, two or three more are escaping you. It -would be the same with any other search as well as the dove; I choose -the dove because by then all the other creatures are come and are busy, -and because it is a fairly large bird with a distinctive note, and -consequently a good guide. - -But these are not all the spring-birds: there are the whinchats, -fly-catchers, sandpipers, ring-ousels, and others that are occasional -or rare. There is not a corner of the fields, woods, streams, or hills, -which does not receive a new inhabitant; the sandpiper comes to the -open sandy margins of the pool; the fly-catcher, to the old post by the -garden; the whinchat, to the furze; the tree-pipit, to the oaks, where -their boughs overhang meadow or cornfield; the sedge-reedling, to the -osiers; the dove, to the thick hedgerows; the wheatear, to the hills; -and I see I have overlooked the butcher-bird or shrike, as indeed in -writing of these things one is certain to overlook something, so wide -is the subject. Many of the spring-birds do not sing on their first -arrival, but stay a little while; by that time, others are here. Grass -blade comes up by grass blade till the meadows are freshly green; leaf -comes forth by leaf till the trees are covered; and like the leaves, -the birds gently take their places, till the hedges are imperceptibly -filled. - - - - -BY MEAD AND STREAM. - -BY CHARLES GIBBON. - - -CHAPTER XIV.—IN HARVEST-TIME. - -Meanwhile the harvest-work on the lands of Ringsford Manor was -progressing rapidly—to the surprise of the neighbours, who had heard -that Mr Hadleigh could not obtain hands, owing to his craze about the -beer question. He did not obtain much sympathy in the district in this -attempted social revolution. It was known that he was not a teetotaler -himself; and most of the proprietors and farmers and all the labourers -took Caleb Kersey’s view, that apart from the question whether beer -was good or bad for them, this autocratic refusal of it to those who -preferred to have it was an interference with the liberty of the -subject. As he passed through the market-place, a band of labourers had -shouted in chorus the old rhyme: ‘Darn his eyes, whoever tries, to rob -a poor man of his beer.’ - -But in spite of this determined opposition, here was a strong troop -of men and women clearing the ground so fast that it looked as if the -Ringsford cutting and ingathering would be completed as soon as that of -any other farm. And the beer was not allowed on the field. - -This was wonderful: but a greater wonder still was the fact that the -hands who had been so swiftly brought together were working under Caleb -Kersey himself—Caleb, the peasants’ champion, the temperance defender -of every man’s right to get drunk if he liked! There were mutterings -of discontent amongst his followers: there were whispers that he had -been heavily bribed to desert their cause; and those who had previously -deserted him, shook their heavy heads, declaring that they ‘knowed what -was a-coming.’ - -‘It ain’t fair on him—he ain’t acting square by me,’ Jacob Cone, the -Ringsford bailiff, had been heard to say in the _Cherry Tree_ taproom. -‘He comes and he takes my place, and does whatever master wants, when I -was a-trying to get master to let folk have their own way, as they’ve -been allays ’customed to.’ - -That was Jacob’s first and last grumble; for Caleb, hearing of it, took -him to every one of the hands, and each made the same statement: - -‘We can do without the beer. We gave it up because we choose to, and -not because we’re forced to.’ - -For the rest, Caleb contented himself with saying simply: ‘I ain’t -working for Mr Hadleigh, and I wasn’t hired by him.’ - -‘Daresay he contracted with some un?’ - -A nod would be the response to his inquisitive friend; and Caleb -would proceed with his work as earnestly as if his life depended upon -accomplishing a given task within the day. His example inspired the -younger men with some spirit of emulation, and the women, old and -young, with admiration. The old stagers bluntly told him at the close -of the first day that they could not keep pace with him, and did not -mean to try. - -‘Do the best you can, lads, and you’ll satisfy me,’ was all he said. - -The whispers as to his treason to the cause of the ‘Union,’ which -floated about, and of which he was perfectly conscious, had no other -effect upon him than to make him labour with increased zeal. But he -smarted inwardly; for, like all popular leaders, he felt keenly the -signs of waning favour amongst his followers—felt them the more keenly -because he had so often, to his own serious detriment, proved his -integrity, and knew that he was faithful as ever to the cause he had -espoused. - -It is doubtful if he would have been able to hold up so stoutly against -the swelling tide of unpopularity, if there had not been a compensating -influence upon him, strengthening his arm, although it did not always -keep his head cool, or his pulse steady. - -Every morning, when the white mist was rising from the hollows, and -the trees appeared through it like shadows of themselves, whilst the -long grass through which he tramped to the field sparkled and glowed -around him, as the sun cleared the atmosphere, his way took him by the -gardener’s cottage. Every evening, when the harvest-moon was rising -slowly over the tree-tops, his way homeward took him again by the -cottage. He frequently caught a glimpse of Pansy, and generally had an -opportunity of exchanging greetings with her. - -‘A fine morning,’ he would say; and he was under the impression that -he spoke with a smile, but always looked as solemn as if he were at a -funeral. - -‘Yes, a fine morning,’ she would say with a real smile, and a tint on -her cheeks as if they reflected the radiance of the sun. - -Then he would stand as if he had something more to say; but first he -had to look up at the sky; next strain his eyes over the rolling-ground -in the direction of the Forest, as if much depended upon his noting -the development of the trees through the mist; and again up at the -chimney-top, to observe which way the wind was blowing. The result of -all this observation being: - -‘We’ll have a rare drying wind to-day.’ - -Then she, in a modified way, would go through the same pantomime and -answer pleasantly; ‘Yes, I think you will.’ - -And he would pass on, leaving that great ‘something’ he wanted to -say still unspoken. Yet Caleb was reputed to be a man possessed of a -special gift of speech. He showed no lack of it in the presence of any -one save Pansy. - -‘I wonder what gars him come round this way ilka mornin’ and night,’ -said Sam Culver one day to his daughter, looking at her suspiciously. -‘He’d be far sooner hame if he gaed round by the wood, like other folk.’ - -‘I cannot tell, father,’ she answered, her gypsy cheeks aglow: ‘maybe -he has to go up to the House for something.’ - -Sam shook his head thoughtfully: he did not relish the idea which had -entered it. - -‘Kersey is a decent enough lad; but he is wildish in his notions of -things, and a’ the farmers round about are feared to trust him with ony -work. That’s no the right way to get through the world, my lass, and I -wouldna like to see you with sic a man.’ - -Pansy was a little startled by this plain way of suggesting why -Caleb chose to take the longest route to his work; and she proceeded -hurriedly to clear away the breakfast dishes. That evening, Caleb did -not see her as he passed the cottage. - -Whatever Sam Culver’s opinion of Caleb Kersey might have been, it -underwent considerable modification, if not an entire change, as he -watched him work and the harvest rapidly drawing to a close under his -care. At anyrate, one evening, as Caleb was exchanging that stereotyped -greeting with Pansy, and was about to pass on, her father came up and -asked him in to supper. - -‘It’s just a plate o’ porridge and milk, you ken; but you’re welcome, -if yer not ower proud to sup it. Mony’s the great man has sought -naething better.’ - -A little shyness on Caleb’s part was quickly overcome. He entered the -cottage, and was presently seated at the same table with Pansy. He was -amply compensated for all that he had suffered on account of yielding -to Madge’s request that he should take the Ringsford harvest in hand. - -The gardener, since he had settled in the south, had, like many of his -countrymen, considerably loosened the Puritanical stays which he had -been accustomed to wear in the north. Indeed, it was said that he had -been discovered in the greenhouse on a Sabbath, when he ought to have -been in church. He still, however, felt the influence of old habits, -and so he said grace in this fashion: - -‘Fa’ tae, fa’ tae, and thank the Lord for a guid supper.’ - -When the meal was finished, Sam took his guest out to see a new -geranium which he was cultivating; and then he revealed to him a fancy -which he had been cultivating as largely as his geranium. - -‘I was thinking, Kersey, that you have been getting on bravely with the -harvest. Noo, if you could just manage to cut the last stook on the day -of Mr Philip’s dinner, it would be a real surprise to the folk at the -house, and a grand feather in your cap.’ - -‘I think it can be done,’ said Caleb quietly. - -And it was done. On the evening fixed for the festival, the last sheaf -of the Ringsford grain was placed on the lawn in front of the Manor. -Whilst the guests were arriving, Madge had been told by Sam Culver that -this was to be done; so she went out with Uncle Dick and Mr Hadleigh to -congratulate Caleb on the good harvest he had gathered in, and to thank -him on her own part for having undertaken the task. - -‘It’s the best job you have ever done, Caleb,’ cried Uncle Dick, giving -him a hearty slap on the shoulder. ‘Stick to this kind of thing, my -lad, and leave speechifying to them that cannot do any better.’ - -‘I am always ready to work,’ replied Caleb, avoiding the second part of -his well-wisher’s speech. - -‘I offer you my sincere thanks, Kersey,’ said Mr Hadleigh in his -reserved way; ‘and it would please me to hear of anything I could do -for you.’ - -‘I am obliged to you.’ - -This ungraciously, but with a slight movement of the head, which might -be called half a nod. - -‘You can bear it in mind. Had I known that you would be finished -to-day, I should have arranged for our harvest-home gathering to take -place this evening. I am sure that would have gratified Miss Heathcote -and my son.’ - -Another half-nod, and Caleb moved away. - -The gong sounded. Mr Hadleigh gave his arm to Madge, and led her -towards the house. - -As they entered the hall, they were met by the butler. - -‘Do you know where Mr Philip is, sir?’ asked the man nervously. ‘Dinner -is quite ready, and he is not in the house; and nobody has seen him -since he started for town this morning.’ - -The butler’s anxiety was equally divided between the danger of having -the dinner spoiled and the question as to what had become of Philip. - -‘Have you sent to his room?’ - -‘I have been there myself, sir. His things are all lying ready for him; -but he is nowhere about.’ - -Mr Hadleigh frowned. - -‘This is very annoying. I told him he should not go to town to-day. He -has missed his train, I suppose. Give him a quarter of an hour, Terry, -and then serve dinner.... Excuse me, Miss Heathcote, one moment.’ - -He beckoned to a footman, who followed him into a small sideroom. - -‘Send Cone to the station,’ he said in a low voice; ‘and bid him -inquire if there has been an accident on the line.’ - - -CHAPTER XV.—THE BANQUET WAITS. - -The explanation that Philip, having important business in town, had no -doubt been detained so long as to have missed his train, satisfied all -the guests except one. She, however, maintained as calm a demeanour -as Mr Hadleigh himself; and he regarded her at times with a curiously -thoughtful expression. - -‘How brave she is,’ was his thought. ‘Can she have misgivings and he so -firm?’ - -Madge had misgivings; for Philip had told her that he had only to put -his seal on the despatch-box containing the important papers he was -to carry with him to Uncle Shield, and that he expected to return -early enough to call at Willowmere before going home. This, she had -suggested, would be waste of time, for she would be busy with her -elaborate toilet, and unable to see him. They both enjoyed the fun -of the idea that she should be so long engaged in dressing for this -important occasion as to leave no time to see him. - -‘Well, I shall see Uncle Dick at anyrate, and of course he will be -a first-rate substitute. Indeed, now I think of it, he would be far -more interesting than a coquettish young person whose mind is wholly -absorbed in the arrangement of her bows and laces. He would tell me -all about the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease, and that would be -useful information at anyrate. Eh?’ - -They parted, laughing, and thus it was only a half-promise that he -should call. She was not surprised, therefore, when he did not appear. - -When, however, the hour of dinner at the Manor arrived and he had -not yet returned, she felt that vague anxiety which is almost more -difficult to hide in the presence of others than the pain of some -definite calamity. She knew quite well that if he had only missed a -train, he would have telegraphed. But no one looking at her would have -suspected that her mind was disturbed by the least unhappy thought. - -Miss Hadleigh only said: ‘That careless boy! To be late on such an -occasion as this when he knows that papa is always put out when -anybody is late’—and went on doing her best to remember her duty as -a hostess by not giving all her attention to ‘Alfred.’ Miss Caroline -only whispered in reply: ‘He is so stupid.’ As for Miss Bertha, she -was so busily engaged in conversation with one of her brother Coutts’s -friends, that she was unconscious of any disarrangement of the -evening’s programme. - -So the party in the drawing-room buzzed like a hive of contented bees -on a warm summer day, and no one showed the slightest symptom of being -aware that the hour appointed for dinner had passed. - -The vicar, Paul Havens, was a hale, sunny-faced man of about fifty -years, with bushy iron-gray hair and whiskers, and square muscular -frame. He was one of those men whose strong, kindly nature reflects -itself upon all who come in contact with him, and inspires them too -with a sense of strength. His genial presence was like fresh air in -the mansion or the peasant’s cot. He was no ‘sporting parson;’ but he -chatted with Crawshay with as much interest as if he were, about the -prospects of sport on the stubble this season, and how the pheasants -were likely to turn out when their time came. Then, as Dr Guy came up, -the vicar turned to little Mrs Joy in time to relieve her from utter -distraction at the cynical jokes and compliments of Coutts Hadleigh. -The latter delighted in bewildering this good lady, whose wits were not -particularly quick, although, with her husband, Dr Edwin Joy, she was -an enthusiastic social reformer. - -‘My husband and I believe,’ she would say, with her little head bending -slightly to one side, ‘that want of thrift is at the bottom of all -the poverty and misery of the working-classes in town and country. -Now we endeavour to inculcate that great fact on all who come under -our influence; and Dr Joy, as my father’s partner, you know, has many -opportunities for speaking a word in season. And we always speak it! -Thrift, thrift, thrift, is our text; and I assure you we have succeeded -in making _some_ improvements in our district.’ - -And they did preach from this text with untiring enthusiasm; they -diligently perused every book and pamphlet published on the subject, -and their own affairs were continually in a hopeless muddle. They could -always see exactly what other people ought to do under any given -circumstances, and were always ready with the best advice; but they -were like children in dealing with the most ordinary difficulties of -their own lives. They were a good-natured couple, however, thoroughly -sincere and well meaning, so that these little idiosyncrasies amused -their friends, and did no harm to the working-people on whose behalf -they were specially exercised. - -Mrs Joy’s father, Dr Guy, smiled grimly at the profound wisdom they -displayed in other people’s business, and the folly which invariably -cropped up whenever they had anything to do for themselves. At the -beginning of every year, they made a serious calculation of the least -amount their income was likely to be for the coming twelve months, and -resolved to live within it; they even determined to lay aside some -portion to meet contingencies. At the end of every year, they were -amazed to find how far they had exceeded their calculated expenditure, -and spent days in wondering how it could be. - -‘Edwin, I cannot understand it,’ Mrs Joy would exclaim helplessly. - -‘Neither can I,’ he would answer with a puzzled look at the figures -before him. Then, brightening up, he would say: ‘We must try again, my -dear.’ - -‘Yes, we must try again, dear,’ she would say, also brightening up, and -comforted by visions of the surplus which the mighty thrift would give -them next time. - -Then they would make another serious calculation of ways and means, -and with light hearts, go on just as before, studying and preaching -the doctrines which, by some inscrutable twist in their natures, -they were unable to practise. They were so like children playing at -housekeeping, that although Dr Guy had to bear the consequences of -their mismanagement, he could not be angry with them long at a time. -Besides, he had consolation in two facts: first, that Fanny was his -only child, and would inherit everything he possessed; and second, that -Edwin Joy was really a clever surgeon, successful in his practice, -and much liked by his patients, notwithstanding his stupidity in -money matters. Indeed, the greater part of the practice rested on his -shoulders now, and nothing delighted him more than to be up to the eyes -in work. - -Dr Guy belonged to the old school of country practitioners, and was as -much interested in agriculture as in physic. He had a small farm, in -the management of which he found agreeable occupation. So he took the -first opportunity of getting Crawshay into a corner to discuss the best -means of stamping out the rapidly spreading foot-and-mouth disease and -the advantages of ensilage. - -Madge and Mrs Crawshay looking on, were well pleased to see that for -once Uncle Dick did not regret coming to Ringsford. But although Madge -found time to think of this, and to give intelligent attention to any -one who addressed her, she glanced often at the door expectantly. - -At length the door opened, the butler entered, spoke a few words to his -master, and then withdrew. Mr Hadleigh immediately advanced to Madge. - -‘I am glad to tell you, Philip has returned,’ he said in a quiet voice. - -A flush of pleasure on her calm face expressed her gratitude for this -good news. - -‘Then he was only detained—nothing has happened?’ - -‘I presume that nothing particular has happened; but we shall learn -presently from himself. His message to me was only to desire that we -should proceed to dinner at once, and allow him to join us in the -dining-room. So you must permit Coutts to take you down.’ - - - - -CALLS BEFORE THE CURTAIN. - - -It has often been said that an actor exists upon the breath of -applause; and to a certain extent this is literally as well as -figuratively true; for during a long period of his early career he is -fated to undergo many hardships, and frequently finds himself playing -week after week for one of those unscrupulous ‘managers’ who can -hardly be got to pay their company their salaries, while revelling -in all possible comfort themselves. Indeed, a long chapter might be -written upon the sorrows incident to ‘the profession;’ but this would -be entirely beside our present purpose. Suffice it to remark, as an -introduction to our immediate theme, that no histrion ever yet trod the -boards who was unmindful of the public recognition of his talents; and -so soon as an opportunity offers in which to distinguish himself, and -his efforts are rewarded with a round of applause, from that moment -will he devote himself the more assiduously to his calling, by reason -of the enviable stimulus so received. - -It has been placed upon record how Fanny Horton, a once celebrated -actress, won her first applause in a somewhat singular manner. During -her performance in a particular scene, she was loudly hissed, when, -advancing to the footlights, she asked: ‘Which do you dislike—my -playing or my person?’ ‘The playing, the playing!’ was the answer from -all parts of the house. ‘Well,’ she returned, ‘that consoles me; for my -playing may be bettered, but my person I cannot alter!’ The audience -were so struck with the ingenuity of this retort, that they immediately -applauded as loudly as they had the moment before condemned her; and -from that night she improved in her acting, and soon became a favourite -with the public. - -It will scarcely be denied that applause is not only welcome, but -necessary to the actor; and even so great an artiste as Mrs Siddons -was susceptible to the force of this truth, though not so much in its -regard to professional adulation, as for personal convenience. ‘It -encourages,’ she was wont to say; ‘and better still, it gives time -for breath!’ On this account, as well as for other obvious reasons, -the managers of the Parisian theatres have organised a regular system -of hired applause, termed the _claque_; and this not only saves the -audience the trouble of applauding, but it is frequently the means -of influencing the success of a new production, while it affords -the actors engaged an opportunity of purchasing a too frequently -questionable notoriety by a monetary arrangement with the _claque_, or -at anyrate with the head of that department who grandiloquently styles -himself ‘the contractor for success.’ - -But it must not by any means be imagined that the _claque_ is a -modern institution. From the time of the ancient drama downwards, -the approbation of the spectators has always been eagerly courted by -the performers, and hired persons to applaud their acting regularly -attended the representations. Both the Greeks and the Romans made use -of the device. It has been well attested that Nero, the Roman emperor, -who at all times took an active part in the theatrical representations -of his day, enforced applause at the point of the sword; and Suetonius -tells us that one day when Nero sang the fable of _Atis and the -Bacchantes_, he deputed Burrhus and Seneca to incite the audience to -applaud. On one occasion, while the emperor was on the stage, singing -to his own accompaniment on the lyre, an earthquake shook the imperial -city; yet not one among that enormous assemblage dared so much as -attempt to flee from the danger, or leave his seat, fearing the summary -wrath of the tyrant, whose will held them so powerfully in bondage. At -another time, a poor woman fell asleep during the performance, and on -one of Nero’s soldiers descrying her situation, she narrowly escaped -with her life. - -But the Romans could not give Nero the honour of a call before the -curtain, for the simple reason that drop-curtains were not then in use. -Indeed, the introduction of stage-curtains belongs to a comparatively -late period. In the reign of Elizabeth, we find that the theatres—or -playhouses, as they were termed—were of the most primitive kind. For -the most part the performances were conducted on a rude platform in -the London inn yards; while the few regular stationary playhouses were -little better furnished in the way of proper dramatic accessories. -The use of scenery is, of course, nowhere to be traced, and the only -semblance to a proscenium consisted of a pair of tapestry curtains, -which were drawn aside by cords when the performance began. The same -arrangement has also been found in all examples of the early Spanish, -Portuguese, and other continental theatres. - -Among the earliest permanent English playhouses were ‘The Theatre’ -and ‘The Fortune,’ neither of which, however, possessed a proper -drop-curtain. But ‘The Red Bull,’ another old theatre, had a -drop-curtain; and when, in the year 1633, that playhouse was -demolished, rebuilt, and enlarged, it was decorated in a manner almost -in advance of the time, the management particularly priding itself -upon ‘a stage-curtain of pure Naples silk.’ It was not until the year -1656 that the first attempt of Sir William Davenant to establish the -lyric drama in England brought with it the use of regular painted -scenery on our stage. As an introductory venture, and fully aware that -the performance of everything of a dramatic tendency had long been -prohibited throughout the country, he announced a miscellaneous kind of -entertainment, consisting of ‘music and declamation,’ which was duly -held at Rutland House in Charterhouse Yard, on the 23d of May. Thus -far encouraged, he immediately followed with the first genuine opera, -entitled _The Siege of Rhodes_, employing a libretto, music, costumes, -and five elaborate scenes. Further representations of opera were always -signalised by the use of scenery, and the example was naturally soon -followed by the drama, so soon as the altered condition of the times -had sufficiently permitted its revival. In place of a drop-curtain -of tapestry, silk, or other material, a painted scene also came into -fashion, on which was generally shown some incident in the opera -about to be enacted. The painted crimson curtain used in _The Siege -of Rhodes_ had upon it also a representation of the arms and military -trophies of the several nations which took part in this memorable siege. - -Still, for all that, the green curtain retained its position in all -permanent theatres—and even in the puppet-shows, so popular in their -day—nor was it until quite recently that the more fashionable houses -thought proper to dispense with it altogether. - -Touching upon stage-curtains of our own time, it will scarcely be -necessary to dilate upon the peculiarly constructed proscenium of the -present Haymarket Theatre, London, which is nothing more or less than -an elaborate picture in its gilt frame. The curtain of course forms the -picture, and no orchestra-pew being visible, the frame or proscenium -is continued on the lower side without interruption. The footlights -are not discovered until the rising of the curtain, and the ‘calls’ -are necessarily responded to on the stage itself, for which purpose -the curtain is again drawn up. Perhaps the most interesting curtain -of the ordinary character is that now in use at New Sadler’s Wells -Theatre, which conveys to the eye a very perfect idea of that famous -‘musick-house’ on the banks of the New River in ‘merrie Islington,’ as -it appeared rather more than a hundred years ago. - -Mr Henry Irving in his established dramatic home at the Lyceum Theatre -has always preferred to take his ‘calls’ on the stage itself; indeed, -he never appears in front of the curtain except on the night of the -opening or the termination of his season, which is always looked -forward to in London as an event. The production of _Romeo and Juliet_ -afforded him an agreeable opportunity, however, of making a new -departure in his manner of responding to the congratulations of his -patrons—the living ‘Prologue’ opening the tragedy by stepping forward -from between a pair of truly magnificent curtains of yellow plush, -when, having recited his lines, the withdrawal of these curtains -unveiled the first scene representing ‘the public place’ at Verona. Mr -Irving, further, took occasion at the close of each act of leading Miss -Ellen Terry before the footlights in the same manner, thus obviating -the necessity of raising the curtain proper before these calls could be -replied to. - -So much for theatrical curtains in general. We will now go on to -narrate several notable incidents connected with ‘Calls before the -Curtain.’ - -When David Garrick made his re-appearance at Drury Lane, after an -absence of two years during a provincial tour, the theatre was packed -from floor to ceiling, and the audience were quite beside themselves -with enthusiasm. The play was announced to be _Much Ado About Nothing_; -but, as the actor expected, he had first to show himself in front of -the curtain. He had prepared an address to the audience, which he -delivered previous to beginning the play. When he came upon the stage, -he was welcomed with three loud plaudits, each finishing with a huzza. - -When R. W. Elliston was manager of the ‘Royal Circus,’ to which he -gave the present name of the ‘Surrey Theatre,’ he was one night called -before the curtain under rather exceptional circumstances. On that -occasion, an actor named Carles, who had long been a popular favourite -at that house, was absent, having unfortunately been arrested for debt -while on his way to the theatre, and another actor, possibly not very -much his inferior in regard to talent, had to be substituted. The -performance, however, had not long commenced, when the audience missed -their favourite, and called loudly for ‘Carles!’ Carles not appearing, -the uproar became general; and as soon as the curtain had fallen upon -the first act, the manager was summoned. Elliston duly appeared and -asked, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, what is your pleasure?’ But to all that -he said they cried only ‘Carles!’ Not yet aware of their intentions, he -exclaimed: ‘One at a time, if you please;’ and singling out a puny yet -over-energetic malcontent in the pit, he begged pardon of the audience, -saying: ‘Let me hear what _this_ gentleman has to say.’ Then addressing -the man: ‘Now, sir, I’ll attend to you _first_, if the rest of the -gentlemen will allow me.’ - -The man, as might be imagined, was not a little taken aback at this -remark; yet he managed to say: ‘Carles’ name is in the bill, and where -is he?’ At this, Elliston assumed a grave air, and folding his arms, -addressed the people as follows: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, with your -leave I will say a few words. I admit that Mr Carles’ name _is_ in -the bill; I do not wish to deny it; but’—here he assumed a decidedly -tragic tone—‘but are you to be reminded of the many accidents that may -intervene between the issuing of that bill and the evening’s fulfilment -of its promise? Is it requisite to remind the enlightened and thinking -portion of the public here assembled that the chances and changes of -human life are dependent upon circumstances, and not upon ourselves?’ - -Here all shouted: ‘Ay, ay; bravo!’ - -The manager, pointing to the man in the pit, went on: ‘And you, sir, -who are so loud in your demand for Mr Carles, cannot _you_ also -imagine that his absence may be occasioned by some sore distress, -some occurrence not within human foresight to anticipate or divert? -Cannot you picture to yourself the possibility of Mr Carles at this -moment lying upon a sick—nay, perhaps a dying bed, surrounded by his -weeping children and his agonised wife’ [Mr Carles was a bachelor!], -‘whose very bread depends upon the existence of an affectionate devoted -husband and father, and who _may_ be deprived of his exertions and -support for ever? Is it so _very_ difficult to imagine a scene like -this taking place at the very moment when you are calling for him so -imperiously to appear before you, selfishly desirous of your present -amusement and unmindful of his probable danger!’ Great and general -applause. - -Inwardly, Mr Elliston felt struck at the success of his diplomacy, -especially as at this point the audience turned against the man who had -spoken, and joined their voices in cries of ‘Turn him out!’ to which -sentence the manager found it best to lend countenance; and having -given his permission, the unlucky ‘pitite’ was summarily ejected from -the theatre, and in a little while the performance was continued in -perfect order. - -Calls for the author after the first representation of a new play are, -of course, frequent, the more especially when the work has given entire -satisfaction. In some instances, the audience summon that individual -to appear for no other purpose than to hiss him for the unskilfulness -of his performance; in which case, the author will most probably -retaliate with a speech wherein mention of ‘an organised opposition’ -comes uppermost. Speaking of the former, some curious examples might -be noted. An author frequently announces, through the medium of the -manager, that he has betaken himself abroad, or, say, to Scotland, -fearing the result of his piece, whereas he may be quietly looking on -at the back of the pit, or has concealed himself behind the curtains -of a private box. In another case, the successful author will attempt -to make a speech, while bowing his acknowledgments, and signally fail, -retiring considerably more abashed than triumphant. But the crowning -episode to be narrated in this connection occurred some years ago at -one of the Dublin theatres, when one of the tragedies of Sophocles was -put on the stage. At the close of the performance, the ‘gods’ loudly -called for the author; whereupon the manager explained that as the -author had been dead more than two thousand years, he could not very -well appear. Nothing disconcerted, a very small gallery-boy called out: -‘Then let’s have his mummy!’ - -Dramatic, including operatic, artistes taking their benefits are almost -invariably honoured with a call before the curtain. On such occasions, -too, they may fairly be entitled to considerable latitude in various -ways, as, for instance, in their own selection of the programme for -that evening. Notwithstanding this, they should not suffer themselves -to infringe the ordinary regulations of the establishment. Not very -long ago, a star _prima donna_ of the very first magnitude, when taking -her benefit at the Imperial Opera, St Petersburg, found herself called -before the curtain more than twenty consecutive times. In the end -she occupied the centre of the stage, and addressed her enthusiastic -patrons a few words in the Russian language, then offered to show -her gratitude for their favours by singing them a song in their own -tongue. This was received with rapturous applause; but judge of her -surprise when, after retiring from the stage, the management fined her -two thousand francs for addressing the audience without permission! -The proceeds of her benefit were thus considerably reduced; and her -experience was only in one degree removed from that of the French -pantomimist and dancer, as related by Charles Kemble. This individual -was in the habit of taking a benefit at regular intervals, but always -with a loss. One night, however, he came before the curtain with a -beaming countenance, and after a polite bow, he acknowledged his thanks -in these terms: ‘Dear public, moche oblige; very good benefice; only -lose half a crown dis time. _I come again!_’ - -At an American theatre, an actor once took his benefit, and selected -as the play for the occasion, _Uncle Tom’s Cabin_. The company being -small, he found it necessary not only to subject several of the -incidental characters to being doubled—that is, one actor to sustain -two different characters in the same piece, rapidly changing his -costume from one to the other as occasion requires—but he also accepted -a double himself. His was that of Sambo with St Clair. St Clair -appears in one act, and Sambo in the next. Having won considerable -honours as the first individual, the actor, directly the curtain had -descended, hurried away to his dressing-room to prepare in all haste -his toilet and costume for Sambo. His face and hands had of course to -be blacked; and in the midst of this operation of applying the burnt -cork, the prompter entered his room to announce that the audience were -uproarious for him to appear before the curtain. ‘But I can’t,’ he -exclaimed; ‘it is impossible; I’m just making up for Sambo!’ Nothing, -however, would satisfy his patrons short of responding to his call; so -boisterously demanded, that, without his compliance, the performance -could not possibly proceed. At length our hero made his appearance. -But the audience were scarcely prepared to receive him in his altered -person, and, failing to recognise the metamorphosed St Clair in the -half-made-up Sambo, they shouted: ‘Go away! Who sent for you?’ - -Floral offerings are, of course, pleasantly associated with artistes’ -benefits, and long may they so continue. The Emperor Nero, it is -said, always provided the Roman spectators with the thousand-and-one -bouquets which were thrown at his feet when he occupied the stage. But -bouquets _voluntarily_ offered are worthy to be prized very highly. -Not very long ago, Mr Edward Terry, when taking his leave of an Irish -audience, was honoured with the reception of a beautiful floral wreath, -which must have been infinitely more acceptable than that wreath -of _immortelles_ which some insulting ruffian cast at the feet of -Mademoiselle Favart, at a French theatre, a few years ago, in order -to indicate that her age had placed her beyond the power of playing -youthful parts. Had she been composed of the same metal as was the -actor in the following example, she would have enjoyed the opportunity -presented of paying the wretch back in his own coin. The story may be -accepted as true. - -At the close of his own benefit performance, a certain favourite -comedian was called before the curtain at a theatre in Vienna. In the -midst of a shower of bouquets, some insulting individual threw a bunch -of vegetables on the stage. Very complacently the _bénéficier_, having -marked from what portion of the house it had proceeded, picked up the -article, and said: ‘We have here an interesting collection of carrots -and turnips. From my slight knowledge of natural history, I believe -this to be the proper food for asses; I therefore return it to its -owner, for who knows in these hard times he may be in want of such a -meal in the morning!’ With these words, he threw the object whence it -came; and the individual being discovered, was immediately expelled -from the theatre amid mingled hisses and applause. - - - - -THE MINER’S PARTNER. - - -IN FOUR CHAPTERS.—CHAPTER I. - -There was a good deal of excitement in the mining camps at and near -Flume City, which, as every mining reader knows, was prominent among -the gold-diggings, and gold-washings also, of Colorado twenty years -ago. A meeting of miners was being held at the largest building in -the city—a wooden shed, which called itself a restaurant, at which -there were assembled some forty or fifty men, rough-looking, roughly -clad, and armed with revolver and knife, although no intention existed -of using such weapons at this gathering. The assembly, indeed, had -been called together with an object calculated to promote union and -comradeship—to assist in maintaining individual rights and to support -the law generally. - -There was a president, of course, and his discourse, if not polished, -was much to the point. ‘I reckon,’ he said, after the meeting had -lasted perhaps an hour, and several speeches had been made, with a good -deal of shouting in the way of approval—‘I reckon that the citizens who -have spoken are about right. We have got some traitors among us, and -that’s where the worst comes in. It wasn’t by chance that any outside -loafer knew just when to steal the washings at the Long Placer last -night, or that Scotch Ned was sent away when the stamp-mill was broken. -We know who broke the mill—it was Bill Dobell. But who told him to come -in then? And who could have known that the Kentucky boys at the Long -Placer had got the best washings they had seen this year? Who could -have known that but one among us?’ - -The president said much more to this effect; but the remainder of his -speech, with the various orations which followed, need not be given, as -we have shown what was the nature of the excitement which had called -the miners into solemn conclave. - -The language used was odd and quaint enough; to many it would have -sounded absurd in its phraseology; but no fault could have been found -with the matter. That was direct and shrewd, and evinced a strong -determination to put down the mischief which was making itself felt. - -At the conclusion of a pithy harangue, in which the speaker urged -vigorous and brief proceedings against any one detected in such -unpardonable conduct, or reasonably suspected of complicity in -the crime—for robbing the troughs in a mining country is looked -upon as worse than murder, and is considered to be quite as bad as -horse-stealing—a voice exclaimed: ‘You air right, colonel!’ - -Every one started at the sound, and looked in the direction of the -speaker, who, having recently joined the meeting, with several others, -stood near the door. A dozen men whispered to their next neighbours: -‘Why, it is Rube Steele!’ And significant glances were exchanged. - -‘I thought the other day there was Injuns lying around to thieve,’ -continued the man; ‘so, when’—— - -‘You told us so, Rube,’ interrupted the president; ‘and the Kentucky -boys from the Long Placer came into committee on the subject; and their -troughs were robbed while they were gone. You know _that_, I estimate?’ - -A murmur as of approval of the president’s language ran through the -meeting. Rube noted this, but it did not disturb him. A peculiarly -sinister glance which he threw around him was perhaps natural to his -not greatly attractive features. - -‘Yes; I expect I know that; and I expect that I know the tale about -the Injuns was a fraud,’ returned Rube. Something like a sarcastically -approving laugh ran through the meeting at these words; but the speaker -continued, without appearing to notice it: ‘That stranger from San -Francisco was the man who brought the news. You believed him; so did I.’ - -‘We believed you, Rube; you said the man was reliable,’ again -interrupted the president. - -‘That is so,’ replied Rube. ‘He brought messages from leading Frisco -citizens, men known to me, and so I believed him. But I tell you he is -no good; and he has gone off with nigh upon three thousand dollars in -gold-dust which I trusted to him. He brought me an order from Ben, my -pardner, to say he was to have the dust; and though I did not like the -idea, I parted with it. And on coming into camp and asking Ben about -it, I find he never gave any order at all. And it is my belief that -this is the man who robbed the washings at the Kentucky boys’ placer.’ - -‘And where is Ben?’ began the president, who would probably have said -more, but that a man burst hastily into the saloon as the question was -asked, and shouted in answer: ‘Here! Here is Reuben Steele’s pardner. -Who wants him?’ - -‘We want you to hear what has been said,’ returned the president, ‘and -to give us your opinion about Californy Jones—the stranger who was -introduced by your pardner, but who, Rube now says, is the man who -robbed the placer, and has robbed him of three thousand dollars.’ - -‘I can’t say anything about the placer; maybe Rube knows more about -that than I do,’ replied the new-comer. ‘But the man has gone off with -three thousand dollars; that’s a sure fact; and as Rube gave him the -dust, it’s a sure fact too, he knows more about that than I do.’ - -‘I know no more than yourself,’ retorted Rube. ‘The man produced an -order from you. I could not tell that it was a forgery, and you have -always considered yourself as the boss of our outfit.’ - -‘Wal, gentlemen, and Mr President,’ continued Ben, ‘I can tell you -we have got murderers among us. Yes, gentlemen, that is so—real -cold-blooded murderers, that will lie in wait for honest, law-abiding -citizens and shoot them from behind rocks.’ - -A louder murmur ran through the assembly here; and the president asked -Ben his meaning. - -‘My meaning is this,’ continued Ben. ‘You know I am clearing out, and -shall leave the camp in a day or two, so that we are realising all our -property, and this gold-dust was a part of what I am going East with. -So, I kinder felt like riled at losing it; and when my pardner told me, -as cool as maybe, that he concluded this stranger had vamoosed with my -dust’—— - -‘And mine!’ interjected Rube. - -‘Wal, let every man speak of his own business,’ returned Ben, who was -evidently in anything but a good temper. ‘I say he had cleared out -with mine, anyhow; and I was riled, I tell you. But at that minute, I -saw, crossing the Mule Back Ridge, two men on horseback. The Ridge is -distant a good piece; but I could swear one was that stranger. “Send -some of the boys on,” said I to Rube. “I shall go through the cañon, so -shall meet them. They must cross there, if they don’t mean to go into -the mountains.” And I was sure they did not want the mountain road. So -I sot off. But I was waited for. There are as bad men left in the camp -as have gone out of it; and at the very entrance of the cañon, when -them horsemen must have been a good two miles away, some desperadoes -fired at me from behind a rock. There was more than one shot fired -at the same time, I know; and—see here, Mr President!—they took good -aim.’ As he said this, he threw off his long outer coat, and handed it -to the president, who, after a momentary examination, held it up, and -exhibited an unmistakable bullet-hole in the skirt. - -‘That was near—that is a fact!’ exclaimed the president. ‘And what did -you do then?’ - -‘I turned back,’ said Ben. ‘It was of no use my pushing on alone, with -the rocks lined with murderers, with men who expected me, and were in -league with Californy Jones.’ - -‘And where was Rube?’ asked the president. - -‘I was at the head of a bunch of boys of the right sort, seven or eight -of them, that I had looked up in the camp. They are here now: Long Sim, -Missouri Rob, Major Dimey and friend, with some others, all first-class -citizens.’ - -An assenting exclamation from each of those he named confirmed the -speaker. - -‘I could not do more than that,’ continued Rube. ‘And when I found my -pardner on the return-track, it was no use my proceeding. I came back -to the city, and then right away to this here convention.’ - -‘I could have raised twice the force in a quarter of the time he took!’ -cried Ben, intercepting some remark which it was evident the president -was about to make. ‘And why I did not come straight here was because -there was something in my tent I thought I had best look after. I had -left my tent in the care of a friend; but you don’t know what may -happen, with such loafers and scoundrels hanging around.’ - -‘Wal, fellow-citizens,’ said the president, ‘this convention didn’t -assemble, I reckon, to hear the rights of any difference between two -pardners; and it ain’t our business nohow. We are here to discuss the -existence of thieves and scallawags amongst us, and to decide upon the -beet means of clearing them out—that is all.’ - -Thus recalled to business, the assembly resumed its former discussion, -and the quarrel between the partners was not again openly referred -to; but it coloured all that was said, and many remarks upon it were -made in the body of the meeting. It was clear that public feeling was -much against Rube Steele, although a few of those present were his -partisans; but these latter appeared to consist only of the ‘bunch’ -of citizens he had referred to, and were not altogether free from -suspicion themselves. - -The gathering separated without having come to any formal resolve, -beyond appointing a few of their members to act in committee and to -decide what steps should be taken; but as it was notorious that each of -the chosen ones was a leader among the Regulators, as they were once -called—or the Vigilantes, to use their now familiar Spanish name—there -was probably more significance in their appointment than at first -appeared. - -For that night at anyrate no fresh outrages were apprehended; the -thieves, whoever they were, possessed information too prompt and too -certain to allow them to venture on a renewal of their attempts during -the excitement and watchfulness which would prevail for a time in the -vicinity of Flume City. - -In its neighbourhood, few persons were abroad after nightfall; it was -dangerous, indeed, for any one to approach a tent without making his -presence loudly known; a shot would probably be the first intimation -that he was trespassing on dangerous ground; while a few of the miners -possessed large and savage dogs, which would be loosed on hearing -a footstep near the tent. So those who had business which led them -abroad, were careful to confine themselves to the main street of Flume -City, if such a title could fitly be applied to the straggling avenue -which ran from end to end of the place. But spite of these drawbacks, a -few persons were moving in the environs of the city, and even at a good -distance beyond its boundaries, dark though the night was, and only -relieved from utter gloom by the starlight, for moon there was none. - -One man who was going towards the town, stopped suddenly, as his quick -ear caught the sound of an approaching footstep, and with the caution -of one accustomed to frontier-life, drew himself up by the side of one -of the very few trees which remained in the vicinity of Flume City, so -that in the obscurity it was almost impossible for any passing eye to -detect him. The next instant a single man hurried by, passing between -the first comer and the starry sky, so that his figure was visible -with tolerable distinctness to the concealed watcher. This second man -did not look to the right or left—it would have been almost impossible -for him to detect the spy, had he done so—but went quickly on in a -direction which seemed to surprise the hidden observer. - -‘What can he want there?’ exclaimed the latter, stepping from his -hiding-place, when the other had fairly gone past. ‘There ain’t no -shanties nor no living soul in that direction. It was surely Rube -Steele; and without he has gone crazy, I can’t fix anyhow why he should -be going towards the cañon after nightfall. I will see where he _is_ -going; and if he has turned crazy, I may help him; and if not, I shall -find out what he wants in the mountain pass. - -He was moving carefully but quickly in the direction the other had -taken, while he was muttering these disinterested sentiments; and -although he could only see the figure he followed, at intervals, when -the man climbed a ledge and stood for an instant in relief against -the sky, yet there was no difficulty in the pursuit. He could hear -his steps as they disturbed the loose stones which strewed the way, -and knew besides, that in the wild spot which they had reached, there -was no means of turning to the right or left, so that he could not -easily miss the chase. Presently the tread of the foremost man became -slower, and the pursuer, as a matter of course, moved at a slower rate -also—slower and slower still, until the former stopped, or only moved -about the same spot of ground. - -‘What on airth is he going to do?’ muttered the other man. ‘It’s so -dark—for he is right under the shadow of Big Loaf Rock—that he can’t -see to dig, nor hunt after any buried—— Wal! that means something!’ -This exclamation was caused by a low whistle which Rube Steele—if -indeed it were that person—suddenly gave. This was repeated, and -then answered from a distance. ‘I feel like seeing the end of this,’ -continued the spy; ‘and I mean to.’ - -Acting upon this determination, he crawled carefully forward, for he -was too near to venture upon standing upright; and moreover, as the -answering whistle had proved that others were in the neighbourhood, -he was compelled to be on his guard against discovery from other -quarters. His quick ear soon caught the sound of an approaching tread, -and directly after, he heard words spoken. The spy’s curiosity was -now raised tenfold, especially as one of the two men who were now, as -he well knew, close to him, struck a match to light his pipe, and the -momentary flash showed him both figures in a brief glimpse. They were -unluckily placed with their backs towards him, so that he could not -see their features. He now felt confident that the first one was Rube -Steele, and that the second was not entirely unknown to him, but more -than this he could not tell. - -This was terribly tantalising; and after the brief illumination of the -match, a more impenetrable darkness seemed to have settled upon the -pass and the rocks around; so, at all hazards, he resolved to get still -nearer. He was perhaps a little unguarded in his eagerness, and made -some slight noise, and it is certain that he had not calculated all the -hazards which might environ him, for a low fierce growl showed that a -dog was with the men, and the spy shuddered with horror as he heard the -sound. - -‘Did you hear anything?’ said a harsh voice. ‘The dog would not have -growled like that, unless some one was hanging around.’ - -‘Nonsense!’ returned the other; and the voice was certainly the voice -of Rube Steele. ‘He heard a jack-rabbit, perhaps, or scented a polecat. -I reckon there ain’t a soul within a league of this cañon to-night. The -miners are all at Flume City, and the Indians have left the district -for more than a week past.’ - -‘You may be right,’ returned the first speaker. ‘But the dog is uneasy, -and I never knew him give them signs for game or venison; no, nor for -Injun neither. I should have said there was a white man near. But we -air a little too much in the line of the main pass to show a light, -which we must do. Come behind this rock.—Good dog!—mind ’em!’ These -last words were of course addressed to the dog, which had continued to -growl at intervals while his master was speaking, although the unseen -watcher had lain as still as death. The animal was apparently soothed -by being thus noticed, and probably followed the men, whose footsteps -could be heard as they removed to the proposed cover behind the Big -Loaf Rock. - -The spy had no inclination to follow them to learn more, but crawled -carefully and noiselessly over the ground until he was at a safe -distance from the pass; so far, indeed, that he judged that even the -acute ears and scent of the dog could not detect him when he rose, and -hurried in the direction of the city as fast as his legs could carry -him. - -On the outskirts, he knocked at the door of a shanty, a log-built hut -with earthen floor, such as the Mexican peasantry, and even their -betters, often reside in; and in answer to a gruff challenge from -within—for the inmates were in bed, or stretched on such pallets as -served for beds—he returned an answer which seemed to satisfy the -questioner, for after a little more gruff grumbling, the door was -opened, and he was admitted. - -In answer to his inquiry, the gruff voice said: ‘No; nary drop of -anything but water; ye kin have that. Your voice sounds all of a -tremble, Absalom; and if ye don’t get shot over the cards or drown -yourself, I guess ye won’t last long as a miner, anyhow.’ - -Absalom, as he was called, hesitated for a moment, as though about to -say something in his defence, but eventually decided on making no reply -to this rather unpleasant speech, and threw himself down on a buffalo -skin which the other man pushed towards him. No further conversation -took place, and the shanty was as dark and silent as were the remainder -of the scattered dwellings on the outskirts of Flume City. - - - - -CURIOSITIES OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT. - - -The first curiosity of the electric light was of course its discovery -in 1802 by Humphry Davy, then an assistant-lecturer at the Royal -Institution. With one of the new batteries which Volta had invented -two years before, Davy was surprised to get a brilliant white light -when the poles of the battery were joined through two pieces of carbon. -Later on, his astonishment was increased when he found how intensely -hot was this ‘arch’ of carbon light—the hottest known artificial -source. ‘Platinum,’ he wrote, ‘was melted as readily as is wax in the -flame of a common candle; quartz, the sapphire, magnesia, lime, all -entered into fusion.’ Even the diamond swells out into a black mass -in the electric arc, and carbon itself has been known to soften. Dr -Siemens, as is well known, utilised this fervent heat to fuse metals -in a crucible. With the arc from a dynamo capable of giving a light -of five thousand candles, he fused fifteen pounds of broken files in -as many minutes. Indeed, the temperature of the arc ranges from two -thousand to five thousand degrees Centigrade. Another curiosity of -the arc is that it can be shown in water or other liquids without -quenching. Liquids have a diffusive action on the light; and a globule -of fused oxide of iron between platinum wires conveying the current, -produces a very fine golden light. The fused plaster of Paris between -the carbons of the Jablochkoff candle also forms a brilliant source of -light in the arc; as does the marble separator which answers the same -purpose in the _lampe soleil_. Indeed, this white-hot marble, rendered -luminous by the arc, gives out a mellow radiance so closely resembling -sunshine as to give the lamp its name. Such a light is very suitable -for illuminating picture-galleries. - -Electric light is also produced by sending a discharge through vacuum -tubes like those of Geissler; and the varied colours thus produced -are exceedingly pretty. Phosphorescent substances, too, such as the -sulphide of barium, or the platino-barium cyanide, become highly -luminous when inclosed in a tube and traversed by the electric current. - -Besides the voltaic arc, we have now, however, another kind of electric -light—namely, the incandescence which is produced by sending the -current through a very slender filament of platinum wire or carbon -fibre inclosed in a glass bulb exhausted of air. Such are the lamps -of Swan, Edison, and others. These lamps have also their curious -features. The temperature of the filament is of course much lower than -the temperature of the arc. It is only about eighteen hundred degrees -Centigrade, for if it were higher, the delicate filament would be -dissipated into vapour which would condense like smoke on the cool -glass. With a platinum filament, the metal would ‘silver’ the interior -of the bulb. Curiously enough, when the copper ‘electrodes’ or wires -conveying the current inside the bulb to the filament of an Edison lamp -are accidentally dissipated by excess of current, the carbon thread -seems to shelter the glass from the copper shower, for Dr J. Fleming -has observed that there is always a blank line on the glass opposite -the filament, while all the rest is coated with a film of copper. When -the carbon itself is dissipated, this blank line is not seen, and -the whole interior of the bulb appears to be smoked. According to Dr -Fleming, this means that the molecules of copper move in straight lines -in the vacuum. - -During the ordinary action of one of these lamps there is believed to -be a kind of molecular bombardment between the two sides of the carbon -filament, which is usually bent into a loop. This battery of atoms in -time disintegrates the filament near its junction with the wires where -it is severest, and a patent has recently been taken out by Mr Brush, -the well-known inventor, for the insertion of a mica screen between the -legs of the filament to shield them from the pellets. - -The spectrum of the voltaic arc consists of the continuous ribbon -spectrum of the white-hot solid carbons, and certain bright lines -due to the glowing vapours of the arc. The light is rich in the -blue or actinic rays so productive of chemical action, and hence it -is, perhaps, that Dr Siemens found it so effective in forcing fruit -and flowers by night in lieu of the sun. It helps the development of -chlorophyl; and perhaps the electricity itself has also something to -do with assisting growth, apart from the light, for several French -experimenters have found that electrified soil and air seem to foster -plants better than unelectrified. It is remarkable, too, that young -bamboo shoots grow very rapidly after the thunderstorms which usher in -the Indian monsoons. - -The power of the arc-light is something unrivalled by any other light, -whether of limelight or magnesium. At the famous Crystal Palace -Electrical Exhibition, an arc reputed to be one hundred and fifty -thousand candles in power was lighted every evening. The carbons -were stout copper-plated bars nearly two and a half inches thick. -This intensity of illumination renders the arc eminently adapted for -lighthouses and search-lights. Hence it is that the French government -have decided to light forty of their coast lighthouses by electricity, -and that most of our warships and military trains are now equipped -with electric lamps for searching purposes. We read that the fleet at -Alexandria explored the Egyptian forts by night with powerful arcs; and -that the French Admiral at Madagascar struck terror into the breasts of -the simple Hovas by a similar display. - -For scouring the sea in search of torpedo-boats by night, or icebergs -and other ships during a fog, the value of the arc-light cannot be -too highly estimated. The screw-steamer _Faraday_, while engaged some -time ago in laying a new Atlantic cable, would have run right into an -iceberg in a Newfoundland fog, but for the electric beam projected -from her bows into the misty air ahead. Fog, however, has a peculiarly -strong quenching power over the arc-light, owing to the preference it -has for absorbing all the blue rays, and to the comparative poverty of -the orange colour. Hence it is that electric arc-lamps look so white -and dim in a dense fog. A single gas-jet can be seen about as far as a -two-thousand-candle arc-lamp. This is because the gas-jet is rich in -those red rays which penetrate a fog without being absorbed; whereas it -is poor in the blue rays which are quenched. For this reason, also, the -incandescence lamp is preferable to the arc for a misty atmosphere. - -The incandescence lamp can also burn under water, and owing to its -pretty shape, its pure light, its cleanliness, and independence of -everything except wires to bring the current to it, is highly suitable -for decorative purposes. It particularly lends itself to ornamental -devices of a floral order; and a great variety of chandeliers and -brackets have now been designed representing various plants with leaves -of brass or filagree, and flowers composed of tinted crystal cups -containing the lamps. Fruit is also simulated by lamps of coloured -glass. For example, at a Drury Lane Christmas pantomime, both holly and -mistletoe berries were imitated by incandescence lamps of crimson and -opal glass. Artificial lemon-trees, with fruit consisting of yellow -lamps, also make a pretty dining-table ornament. So do vases of roses -with incandescence lamps hid in them, an ornament devised by Mr J. -W. Swan for his residence at Bromley. Aquaria, too, can be lighted -internally by incandescence bulbs, and it would be very pretty to see -the lamps lying beside growing sea-anemones, whose expansion might seem -the more lovely under the stimulus of their rays. - -A Christmas-tree looks very pretty when lighted by a hundred -incandescence lamps; the first attempted being in all probability that -in the Swedish section of the Electrical Exhibition held in Paris -two years ago. At the Vienna Electrical Exhibition there are, while -we write, some novel effects of electric illumination; for instance, -there is a hall lighted entirely from the ceiling by electricity. The -ceiling is painted a deep blue to represent the sky, and studded with -innumerable stars in the shape of incandescence lamps. This reminds -us of the allegorical sun produced in the window of Mr Mayal, the -well-known photographer, by means of the same illuminant. - -From its cool brightness and safety from fire, the incandescence -light is very well adapted for theatres, and there are now several -opera-houses and theatres lighted by it. The Savoy Theatre, London; the -Princess’s Theatre, Manchester; the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, &c., -are all lit by incandescence lamps owing to its brilliance as compared -with gas. Some change was necessary in the making-up of the actors -and actresses, and the painting of the scenes; but at the New Grand -Theatre, Islington, the changes have been avoided by the use of yellow -glass bulbs which soften the light. At the Electrical Exhibition, -Vienna, there is a model theatre with numerous scenic effects never -before attempted by gas; and moonlight, sunrise, sunset, twilight, -and night are all imitated with great fidelity. In the drama of _Love -and Money_ at the Adelphi Theatre, a flood of daylight bursting in -upon some entombed miners through a hole cut in the coal by a rescuing -party was very well imitated by a beam of ‘arc’ light. The practice -of wearing tiny star lamps on the hair or dress has also come more -into fashion. Probably the first use of it was by the fairies in the -comic opera of _Iolanthe_ at the Savoy Theatre. Each fairy carried a -small accumulator on her back half concealed by her wings, and this -gave electricity to a miniature Swan lamp mounted on her forehead. -Ladies are sometimes to be seen with miniature lamps attached to their -dresses, and lighted by a touch of their fingers upon a small key hid -in their belts. One might have glowworm or firefly ornaments at this -rate. The ‘death’s-head’ pin worn by gentlemen in Paris a year or two -ago was a similar application of the electric current. On touching a -key to complete the electric circuit of a small pocket battery, the -eyes of the death’s-head in the wearer’s breast began to shine like -sparks of fire. - -The use of the electric light for sporting purposes has had some -curious developments. Polo, cricket, base ball, skating, and so on, -have all been played by night. At the Montreal Ice Carnival last -winter, the huge ice palace was illuminated both out and in with -thousands of electric lights, and skating, curling, snow-shoeing, and -toboganning went on by night as well as day. - -Gnats are fascinated by a powerful electric lamp, and dance about it as -they do in a beam of evening sunshine. Light has an attraction for many -animals besides insects. Flying-fish spring out of the sea when sailors -hang a lantern by the ship’s side; and in California now it is the -custom to submerge a cluster of Edison lamps from the bows of a boat -with a net expanded below. When the fish gather round the light the net -is closed on them, and after being hauled out of the water they are put -into water-tanks, and sent alive on special cars by overland rail to -New York and the Eastern States. The French _chasseur_ also makes a bag -sometimes by employing an electric light to attract his feathered game; -pigeons especially being lured by it. - -Owing to its power, the arc-light is very well suited for signalling -purposes; and hence it is now used with the heliograph to signal the -approach of cyclones between the British island of Mauritius and -Reunion in the Indian Ocean. It has also been proposed to signal by -transparent balloons lit by incandescence lamps. The balloon is raised -to a good height by a rope which also carries the wires conveying the -current to the lamps; and flashes according to an understood code of -signals are made by working a key to interrupt the current, as in the -act of telegraphing. - -Diving operations under the sea are greatly facilitated by the electric -light; and a trial was recently made of a powerful lamp at Marseilles -in lighting up the hull of a sunken ship. The amber hunters of the -Baltic are also using the light for seeking the fossil gum on the -sea-bed, instead of waiting until the waves cast it on the shore. -Sea-water is remarkably clear, and the rocks of the seashore are often -beautifully covered with weeds and shells. It is no wonder, then, that -a submarine balloon has been devised by one Signor Toselli at Nice, -for going under water to examine them. This observatory holds eight -people, and has a glass bottom and an electric light for illuminating -the sea-caves. - -The electric light is not free from danger; but, from not being -explosive, it is far from being as fatal in its effects as gas. There -have been several deaths from electric shock caused by the very -powerful currents of the Brush and Jablochkoff machines. For instance, -a man was killed instantly on board the late Czar’s yacht _Livadia_ -when crossing the Bay of Biscay. He had accidentally grasped the bare -connections of one of the electric lamps and received the current -through his breast. Others have been killed by touching bare wires -conveying the current; a man in Kansas City, United States, met his -death quite recently in repairing some electric light wires without -knowing that the current flowed in them. Carelessness of some kind -was the source of these misfortunes; but the use of such very deadly -currents is to be deprecated. When the electromotive force of an -electric current exceeds five hundred volts it becomes dangerous, and -hence it is that the Board of Trade prohibits the use of more powerful -currents for general lighting. The use of overhead wires, sometimes -uninsulated and never wholly insulated, such as obtains in some parts -of the United States, ought also to be eschewed, and underground -cables, safe out of harm’s way, employed instead. With cables buried -in the earth, we should not have a repetition of the curious incident -which recently happened at the Luray Cavern in Virginia, where -lightning ran into the cave along the electric light conductors and -destroyed some of the finest stalactites. - -The plan of having tall masts with a cluster of very powerful lights -reflected from the height by mirrors is a very good one, since it -obviates the distribution of wires and lamps. By imitating the sun, in -this way a Californian town is entirely lighted from one or two masts; -and it is satisfactory to know that the system is being tried at South -Kensington. - -The dynamos of electric machines have been known to explode, or rather -burst from the centrifugal force due to the rapid revolution of the -armature. An accident of this kind recently caused great alarm in a New -York theatre. Sparks from the red-hot carbons of arc-lamps, or between -wire and wire of the conductors, have also led to many small fires; -but none of any great consequence. A spark is so feeble a source of -heat that, unlike the spilling of an oil-lamp, it does not produce a -powerful fire, provided the materials it falls among are not highly -inflammable. On the whole, the danger of fire with electric lighting, -especially incandescence lighting, has probably been exaggerated. The -incandescence lamp itself is very safe, since if one be enveloped in -light dry muslin and broken, the muslin is not burnt. In fact, the rush -of air caused by the broken vacuum entirely dissipates the red-hot -filament. - -From its injurious aspects we turn now to its beneficial qualities. -The arc-light by its brilliance is not good for the eyesight when -looked at direct, but there is probably nothing harmful in the light -itself, unless it should be the excess of violet rays. It is a cool -light; and hot lights, by drying the natural humours of the eye, are -the most prejudicial to the sight. The incandescence light which -is free from excess of violet rays is also a cool light; and as it -neither pollutes nor burns the air of a chamber, it is the best light -for a student. Small reading-lamps, fitted with movable arms carrying -incandescent bulbs, are now manufactured for this purpose. Even with -the incandescence lamp, however, it is advisable not to look at the -brilliant filament. - -Surgeons and dentists find these little incandescence lamps of great -service in examining the teeth and mouth. Some are made no larger than -a pea. Others are fitted into silver probes (cooled by circulating -water) for insertion into the stomach to illuminate its coats, or -enable a physician to diagnose other internal organs. Dr Payne, of -Newcastle-on-Tyne, recently made an examination of the liver by -inserting one of these endoscopes into it through an incision made in -the abdomen. M. Trouvé has also fitted a small lamp to a belt which -goes round the physician’s forehead, thereby enabling him to direct the -light to where he is looking. Another experimenter has so applied the -light that he has been able to photograph the vocal chords while in -the act of singing; and a third has illuminated the whole interior of -a living fish, so that all the main physiological operations could be -witnessed by a class of students. Such services as these could not be -rendered by any other known illuminator. - - - - -HUSH-MONEY. - - -Out of the countless variety of evil-doers who thrive upon the -misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, and are enabled to gain a means -of livelihood by the folly and timidity of their dupes, one class above -all others seem to conduct their depredations with much success, on -account of the defenceless position of the unhappy individuals upon -whom they prey. We allude to those who make it their business to levy -what is termed ‘hush-money.’ - -There are innumerable miscreants who thrive upon the possession of some -discreditable secret or family skeleton, which throws a desolating -blight over many a life, to all appearance surrounded by every comfort -and luxury wealth can command. Scoundrels of this description, secure -in the helplessness of their victims, pursue with impunity their -merciless system of extortion, being well aware that the terror of -exposure is so great, that silence will be purchased at any price. -If persons who are threatened by ruffians of this kind with exposure -of some private matter, were once and for all to refuse to pay one -penny for the silence of these extortioners, how much misery would -be avoided! Each instalment of hush-money only serves to whet the -appetites of these social harpies. It is infinitely preferable to face -boldly at first the worst, no matter of how serious a nature, than -to supply blackmail for the purchase of what can never be security. -The majority of malefactors are cowards at heart, although a craven -nature is in such cases concealed often by bluster and braggadocio. It -therefore becomes all the more important at once to withstand their -infamous importunities. - -The ordinary observer, while reading in some sensational novel the evil -deeds and extortion perpetrated by the class of knaves who subsist -on hush-money, would be inclined to attribute them to romance. It -is, however, well known to those who have had experience in criminal -matters, that the novelist’s fertile imagination pales before stern -reality. Innocent persons have been threatened with an accusation of -some infamous crime, and at the same time money has been demanded as -the price of silence. The dread caused by even an accusation of such a -nature has often, unfortunately, induced persons so situated to accede -to extortionate demands. There are plenty of _mauvais sujets_ hovering -about society who make it their business to become intimate with the -private history of those upon whose infirmities they intend to trade. -Not many years since, a notable instance of this occurred. A gentleman -in a high social position was ruthlessly assailed and socially ruined -by a miscreant, who traded upon the possession of some information of -a dubious nature reflecting discredit upon his wife. For a lengthened -period this gentleman had paid considerable sums of money for the -silence of his persecutor; at last, however, driven to desperation by -continual and increased demands for hush-money, he preferred rather to -face a public trial than continue longer subject to such tyranny and -extortion. - -The following apt illustration of blackmailing, which came under the -writer’s personal cognisance, will show the rascality in vogue amongst -these wretches. A wealthy merchant was for some years completely in -the power of a thorough-paced scoundrel who had previously been in his -employ. This knave became acquainted with a delicate family matter, -which, if disclosed, could but entail shame and misery upon his late -employer. He threatened to make this information public unless well -paid for his silence. This gentleman, although surrounded by every -luxury, was in truth a thoroughly miserable man. Living in a constant -state of fear lest his family skeleton should be revealed in all its -hideousness, he continued from time to time to supply his tormentor -with large sums of money. The continual mental strain caused his health -to give way, until at last he wisely determined to consult his legal -adviser upon what was the bane of his life. Prompt steps were then -taken, which for ever freed him from further extortion. These things -daily happen, and yet, unfortunately, frequently remain unpunished. - -What can be more terrible than to exist in constant fear of pending -ruin—entirely at the mercy of some miscreant, who by one word -can destroy a hitherto stainless reputation! It is a true saying -that ‘there is a skeleton in every house,’ and if discovered by -any designing knave, may be transformed into a sword of Damocles. -Confidential servants and discharged valets often wring large sums from -their former employers by means of extortionate demands combined with -threats of disclosing certain family matters calculated to bring shame -upon their late masters’ or mistresses’ good name. - -The payment of any illicit demand as a price of secrecy rarely, if -ever, permanently obtains the object in view, the donor being more or -less in constant fear lest a disclosure should take place. This usually -transpires sooner or later, when the torturer has abstracted the -uttermost penny from his victim. No greater delusion can possibly exist -than that ‘hush-money’ will secure durable secrecy. - -Happily, however, the legislature, having in view the nefarious -practices of such criminals, has provided a most potent remedy against -this class of robbers, which remedy cannot be too generally known. -The Act of Parliament 24 and 25 Vict. s. 49, enacts, _That whosoever -shall accuse or threaten any person with a view to extort money or -valuable security, shall be guilty of felony, and be liable at the -discretion of the court to be kept in penal servitude for life, or for -any term not less than five years_. All demands for hush-money met at -the outset by firm and unyielding refusal, is the best and only course -to adopt. In the majority of instances, a villain would at once be -completely checkmated; and even should he venture to extremities, the -law is powerful enough to put an end to his shameful trade. Anything -is better than to live in constant terror of exposure, and to be -remorselessly plundered by such a vampire. We often hear of strange -suicides, the reason for which is wholly incomprehensible. It is by -no means surprising that, at times, persons wanting in resolution, -are made desperate by a system of exquisite mental torture, when -unmercifully applied by these extortioners. Innumerable unhappy persons -are unquestionably thus tormented, like Prometheus on his rock. Such -anguish, although unseen, is far greater than physical suffering, as -all mental tribulation is more severe than mere bodily pain. - -If any one who is assailed by a miscreant in quest of ‘hush-money’ were -at once to place the matter in the hands of some respectable solicitor, -a course of misery would be avoided, as any attempt to extort money -through threats or otherwise comes clearly within the provisions of the -Act above mentioned; and criminal proceedings will be found the most -effectual means for exterminating so great a social pest. - - - - -DONALD—A PONY. - - - Are thy tired feet on this rough earth yet walking, - Thou patient silent one; - Maybe, with humble cart, and poor wares hawking, - Thy life-course nearly run? - - Be thankful that thou dost not e’er remember - One radiant summer day; - That dreams of June come not in _thy_ December, - When skies are cold and gray! - - He rode on thee along the sunny highway, - To meet me where I stood - Out from the village, in a soft green by-way— - Our young hearts were in flood. - - He saw me—swift as thought from off thee leaping, - He led thee by one hand; - And with the other clasped me, sweetly keeping - Me under Love’s command. - - Ah! then began a walk through Eden’s glory— - We wandered slowly on; - While I, deep blushing, saw and read the story - That through his blue eyes shone. - - We sat, and let thee browse—came some light laughter - To ease our brimming hearts, - That could not tell their too full joy; till—after— - When pierced by parting’s darts. - - The hour flew on—ah me! ’twas our last meeting - Ere he would cross the sea; - And when again we two should offer greeting, - I was his bride to be. - - So we clung close, each costly moment counting, - Wild with our vain self-pity!— - The hour was o’er—then slowly on thee mounting, - He rode back to the city. - - O Donald! Yesterday, to Wemyss Bay going, - I passed that very spot; - I saw thee browse, whilst our swift tears were flowing— - (I have not yet forgot). - - He sailed across the sea; but came not hither - For me, his bride, again; - And Hope and Joy fled far—I know not whither, - But left me Love and Pain. - - My lonely days are dull and cold and common, - And thine mayhap are done; - But—a _new_ day dawns for man and woman - After this setting sun. - - K. T. - - * * * * * - -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. 9, VOL. 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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> - -<p 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. 9, Vol. I, March 1, 1884</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Various</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: November 23, 2021 [eBook #66800]</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. 9, VOL. I, MARCH 1, 1884 ***</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">{129}</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="#BIRDS_OF_SPRING">BIRDS OF SPRING.</a><br /> -<a href="#BY_MEAD_AND_STREAM">BY MEAD AND STREAM.</a><br /> -<a href="#CALLS_BEFORE_THE_CURTAIN">CALLS BEFORE THE CURTAIN.</a><br /> -<a href="#THE_MINERS_PARTNER">THE MINER’S PARTNER.</a><br /> -<a href="#CURIOSITIES_OF_THE_ELECTRIC_LIGHT">CURIOSITIES OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.</a><br /> -<a href="#HUSH-MONEY">HUSH-MONEY.</a><br /> -<a href="#DONALD_A_PONY">DONALD—A PONY.</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. 9.—Vol. I.</span></p> -<p class="floatr"><span class="smcap">Price</span> 1½<em>d.</em></p> -<p class="floatc">SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1884.</p> -</div></div></div> - -<hr class="full" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="BIRDS_OF_SPRING">BIRDS OF SPRING.</h2> -</div> -<p class="ph3">BY RICHARD JEFFERIES, AUTHOR OF THE ‘GAMEKEEPER -AT HOME,’ ETC.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> birds of spring come as imperceptibly as the -leaves. One by one the buds open on hawthorn -and willow, till all at once the hedges appear -green, and so the birds steal quietly into the -bushes and trees, till by-and-by a chorus fills the -wood, and each warm shower is welcomed with -varied song. To many, the majority of spring-birds -are really unknown; the cuckoo, the nightingale, -and the swallow, are all with which they -are acquainted, and these three make the summer. -The loud cuckoo cannot be overlooked by any -one passing even a short time in the fields; the -nightingale is so familiar in verse that every one -tries to hear it; and the swallows enter the towns -and twitter at the chimney-top. But these are -really only the principal representatives of the -crowd of birds that flock to our hedges in the -early summer; and perhaps it would be accurate -to say that no other area of equal extent, either -in Europe or elsewhere, receives so many feathered -visitors. The English climate is the established -subject of abuse, yet it is the climate most preferred -and sought by the birds, who have the -choice of immense continents.</p> - -<p>Nothing that I have ever read of, or seen, or that -I expect to see, equals the beauty and the delight -of a summer spent in our woods and meadows. -Green leaves and grass, and sunshine, blue skies, -and sweet brooks—there is nothing to approach -it; it is no wonder the birds are tempted to us. -The food they find is so abundant, that after all -their efforts, little apparent diminution can be -noticed; to this fertile and lovely country, therefore, -they hasten every year. It might be said -that the spring-birds begin to come to us in the -autumn, as early as October, when hedge-sparrows -and golden-crested wrens, larks, blackbirds, and -thrushes, and many others, float over on the gales -from the coasts of Norway. Their numbers, -especially of the smaller birds, such as larks, are -immense, and their line of flight so extended that -it strikes our shores for a distance of two hundred -miles. The vastness of these numbers, indeed, -makes me question whether they all come from -Scandinavia. That is their route; Norway seems -to be the last land they see before crossing; but -I think it possible that their original homes may -have been farther still. Though many go back in -the spring, many individuals remain here, and -rejoice in the plenty of the hedgerows. As all -roads of old time led to Rome, so do bird-routes -lead to these islands. Some of these birds appear -to pair in November, and so have settled their -courtship long before the crocuses of St Valentine. -Much difference is apparent in the dates recorded -of the arrivals in spring; they vary year by year, -and now one and now another bird presents itself -first, so that I shall not in these notes attempt to -arrange them in strict order.</p> - -<p>One of the first noticeable in southern fields -is the common wagtail. When his shrill note -is heard echoing against the walls of the outhouses -as he rises from the ground, the carters and ploughmen -know that there will not be much more frost. -If icicles hang from the thatched eaves, they will -not long hang, but melt before the softer wind. -The bitter part of winter is over. The wagtail is -a house-bird, making the houses or cattle-pens -its centre, and remaining about them for months. -There is not a farmhouse in the south of England -without its summer pair of wagtails, not more -than one pair as a rule, for they are not gregarious -till winter; but considering that every -farmhouse has its pair, their numbers must be -really large.</p> - -<p>Where wheatears frequent, their return is very -marked; they appear suddenly in the gardens -and open places, and cannot be overlooked. -Swallows return one by one at first, and we -get used to them by degrees. The wheatears -seem to drop out of the night, and to be showered -down on the ground in the morning. A white -bar on the tail renders them conspicuous, for -at that time much of the surface of the earth -is bare and dark. Naturally birds of the wildest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">{130}</span> -and most open country, they yet show no dread, -but approach the houses closely. They are local -in their habits, or perhaps follow a broad but -well-defined route of migration; so that while -common in one place, they are rare in others. -In two localities with which I am familiar, and -know every path, I never saw a wheatear. I -heard of them occasionally as passing over, but -they were not birds of the district. In Sussex, -on the contrary, the wheatear is as regularly seen -as the blackbird; and in the spring and summer -you cannot go a walk without finding them. -They change their ground three times: first on -arrival, they feed in the gardens and arable fields; -next, they go up on the hills; lastly, they return -to the coast, and frequent the extreme edge of -the cliffs and the land by the shore. Every bird -has its different manner; I do not know how else -to express it. Now, the wheatears move in numbers, -and yet not in concert; in spring, perhaps -twenty may be counted in sight at once on the -ground, feeding together and yet quite separate; -just opposite in manner to starlings, who feed -side by side and rise and fly as one. Every -wheatear feeds by himself, a space between him -and his neighbour, dotted about, and yet they -obviously have a certain amount of mutual understanding; -they recognise that they belong to the -same family, but maintain their individuality. -On the hills in their breeding season they act -in the same way; each pair has a wide piece of -turf, sometimes many acres. But if you see one -pair, it is certain that other pairs are in the -neighbourhood. In their breeding-grounds they -will not permit a man to approach so near as -when they arrive, or as when the nesting is over. -At the time of their arrival, any one can walk -up within a short distance; so again in autumn. -During the nesting-time the wheatear perches on a -molehill, or a large flint, or any slight elevation -above the open surface of the downs, and allows -no one to come closer than fifty yards.</p> - -<p>The hedge-sparrows, that creep about the bushes -of the hedgerow as mice creep about the banks, -are early in spring joined by the whitethroats, -almost the first hedgebirds to return. The thicker -the undergrowth of nettles and wild parsley, -rushes and rough grasses, the more the whitethroat -likes the spot. Amongst this tangled -mass he lives and feeds, slipping about under the -brambles and ferns as rapidly as if the way was -clear. Loudest of all, the chiff-chaff sings in the -ash woods, bare and leafless, while yet the sharp -winds rush between the poles, rattling them -together, and bringing down the dead twigs to -the earth. The violets are difficult to find, few -and scattered; but his clear note rings in the -hushes of the eastern breeze, encouraging the -flowers. It is very pleasant indeed to hear him; -one’s hands are dry and the skin rough with the -east wind; the trunks of the trees look dry, and -the lichens have shrivelled on the bark; the brook -looks dark; gray dust rises and drifts, and the -gray clouds hurry over; but the chiff-chaff sings, -and it is certainly spring. The first green leaves -which the elder put forth in January have been -burned up by frost, and the woodbine, which -looked as if it would soon be entirely green then, -has been checked, and remains a promise only. -The chiff-chaff tells the buds of the coming April -rains and the sweet soft intervals of warm sun. -He is a sure forerunner. He defies the bitter -wind; his little heart is as true as steel. He is -one of the birds in which I feel a personal interest, -as if I could converse with him. The willow-wren, -his friend, comes later, and has a gentler, -plaintive song.</p> - -<p>Meadow-pipits are not migrants in the sense -that the swallows are; but they move about and -so change their localities, that when they come -back they have much of the interest of a spring-bird. -They rise from the ground and sing in the -air like larks, but not at such a height, nor is -the song so beautiful. These, too, are early birds. -They often frequent very exposed places, as the -side of a hill where the air is keen, and where -one would not expect to meet with so lively a -little creature. The pond has not yet any of -the growths that will presently render its margin -green; the willow-herbs are still low, the aquatic -grasses have not become strong, and the osiers are -without leaf. If examined closely, evidences of -growth would be found everywhere around it; -but as yet the surface is open, and it looks cold. -Along the brook the shoals are visible, as the flags -have not risen from the stems which were cut -down in the autumn. In the sedges, however, -the first young shoots are thrusting up, and the -reeds have started, slender green stalks tipped -with the first leaves. At the verge of the water, -a thick green plant of marsh-marigold has one -or two great golden flowers open. This is the -appearance of his home when the sedge-reedling -returns to it. Sometimes he may be seen flitting -across the pond, or perched for a moment on an -exposed branch; but he quickly returns to the -dry sedges or the bushes, or climbs in and out -the willow-stoles. It is too bare and open for -him at the pond, or even by the brook-side. So -much does he love concealment, that although to -be near the water is his habit, for a while he -prefers to keep back among the bushes. As the -reeds and reed canary-grass come up and form -a cover—as the sedges grow green and advance to -the edge of the water—as the sword-flags lift up -and expand, opening from a centre, the sedge-reedling -issues from the bushes and enters these -vigorous growths, on which he perches, and about -which he climbs as if they were trees. In the -pleasant mornings, when the sun grows warm -about eleven o’clock, he calls and sings with -scarcely a cessation, and is answered by his companions -up and down the stream. He does but -just interrupt his search for food to sing; he stays -a moment, calls, and immediately resumes his -prying into every crevice of the branches and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">{131}</span> -stoles. The thrush often sits on a bough and -sings for a length of time, apart from his food, -and without thinking of it, absorbed in his song, -and full of the sweetness of the day. These -restless sedge-reedlings cannot pause; their little -feet are for ever at work, climbing about the -willow-stoles where the wands spring from the -trunk; they never reflect, they are always engaged. -This restlessness is to them a great pleasure; they -are filled with the life which the sun gives, and -express it in every motion; they are so joyful, -they cannot be still. Step into the osier bed -amongst them gently; they will chirp—a note -like a sparrow’s—just in front, and only recede -a yard at a time, as you push through the tall -grass, flags, and underwood. Stand where you -can see the brook, not too near, but so as to see -it through a fringe of sedges and willows. The -pink lychnis or ragged robin grows among the -grasses; the iris flowers higher on the shore. -The water-vole comes swimming past on his way -to nibble the green weeds in the stream round -about the great branch which fell two winters -since and remains in the water. Aquatic plants -take root in its shelter. There, too, a moorhen -goes, sometimes diving under the bough. A -blackbird flies up to drink or bathe, never at the -grassy edge, but always choosing a spot where he -can get at the stream free from obstruction. The -sound of many birds singing comes from the -hedge across the meadow; it mingles with the -rush of the water through a drawn hatch—finches -and linnets, thrush and chiff-chaff, wren -and whitethroat, and others farther away, whose -louder notes only, reach. The singing is so mixed -and interwoven, and is made of so many notes, it -seems as if it were the leaves singing, the countless -leaves, as if they had voices.</p> - -<p>A brightly coloured bird, the redstart, appears -suddenly in spring, like a flower that has bloomed -before the bud was noticed. Red is his chief -colour, and as he rushes out from his perch to -take an insect on the wing, he looks like a red -streak. These birds sometimes nest near farmhouses -in the rickyards, sometimes by copses, -and sometimes in the deepest and most secluded -coombes or glens, the farthest places from habitation; -so that they cannot be said to have any -preference, as so many birds have, for a particular -kind of locality; but they return year by year -to the places they have chosen. The return of -the corncrake or landrail is quickly recognised by -the noise he makes in the grass; he is the noisiest -of all the spring-birds. The return of the goatsucker -is hardly noticed at first. This is not at -all a rare, but rather a local bird, well known in -many places, but in others unnoticed, except by -those who feel a special interest. A bird must -be common and plentiful before people generally -observe it, so that there are many of the -labouring class who have never seen the goatsucker, -or would say so, if you asked them. Few -observe the migration of the turtle-doves, perhaps -confusing them with the wood-pigeons, which -stay in the fields all the winter. By the time -the sap is well up in the oaks, all the birds have -arrived, and the tremulous cooing of the turtle-dove -is heard by those engaged in barking the felled -trees. The sap rises slowly in the oaks, moving -gradually through the minute interstices or -capillary tubes of this close-grained wood; the -softer timber trees are full of it long before the -oak; and when the oak is putting forth its leaves, -it is high spring. Doves stay so much at this time -in the great hawthorns of the hedgerows and at -the edge of the copses, that they are seldom -noticed, though comparatively large birds. They -are easily seen by any who wish; the coo-coo tells -where they are; and in walking gently to find -them, many other lesser birds will be observed. -A wryneck may be caught sight of on a bough -overhead; a black-headed bunting, in the hedge -where there is a wet ditch and rushes; a blackcap, -in the birches; and the ‘zee-zee-zee’ of the -tree-pipit by the oaks just through the narrow -copse.</p> - -<p>This is the most pleasant and the best way to -observe—to have an object, when so many things -will be seen that would have been passed unnoticed. -To steal softly along the hedgerow, keeping out -of sight as much as possible, pausing now and -then to listen as the coo-coo is approached; and -then, when near enough to see the doves, to remain -quiet behind a tree, is the surest way to see -everything else. The thrush will not move from -her nest if passed so quietly; the chaffinch’s -lichen-made nest will be caught sight of against -the elm-trunk—it would escape notice otherwise; -the whitethroat may be watched in the nettles -almost underneath; a rabbit will sit on his -haunches and look at you from among the bare -green stalks of brake rising; mice will rustle -under the ground-ivy’s purple flowers; a mole -perhaps may be seen, for at this time they often -leave their burrows and run along the surface; -and indeed so numerous are the sights and sounds -and interesting things, that you will soon be -conscious of the fact, that while you watch one, -two or three more are escaping you. It would -be the same with any other search as well as the -dove; I choose the dove because by then all the -other creatures are come and are busy, and because -it is a fairly large bird with a distinctive note, -and consequently a good guide.</p> - -<p>But these are not all the spring-birds: there -are the whinchats, fly-catchers, sandpipers, ring-ousels, -and others that are occasional or rare. -There is not a corner of the fields, woods, streams, -or hills, which does not receive a new inhabitant; -the sandpiper comes to the open sandy margins -of the pool; the fly-catcher, to the old post by the -garden; the whinchat, to the furze; the tree-pipit, -to the oaks, where their boughs overhang meadow -or cornfield; the sedge-reedling, to the osiers; the -dove, to the thick hedgerows; the wheatear, to the -hills; and I see I have overlooked the butcher-bird -or shrike, as indeed in writing of these things -one is certain to overlook something, so wide is -the subject. Many of the spring-birds do not -sing on their first arrival, but stay a little while;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">{132}</span> -by that time, others are here. Grass blade comes -up by grass blade till the meadows are freshly -green; leaf comes forth by leaf till the trees are -covered; and like the leaves, the birds gently -take their places, till the hedges are imperceptibly -filled.</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> -<p class="ph3">BY CHARLES GIBBON.</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER XIV.—IN HARVEST-TIME.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">Meanwhile</span> the harvest-work on the lands of -Ringsford Manor was progressing rapidly—to the -surprise of the neighbours, who had heard that -Mr Hadleigh could not obtain hands, owing to -his craze about the beer question. He did not -obtain much sympathy in the district in this -attempted social revolution. It was known that -he was not a teetotaler himself; and most of the -proprietors and farmers and all the labourers -took Caleb Kersey’s view, that apart from the -question whether beer was good or bad for them, -this autocratic refusal of it to those who preferred -to have it was an interference with the liberty -of the subject. As he passed through the market-place, -a band of labourers had shouted in chorus -the old rhyme: ‘Darn his eyes, whoever tries, -to rob a poor man of his beer.’</p> - -<p>But in spite of this determined opposition, here -was a strong troop of men and women clearing -the ground so fast that it looked as if the Ringsford -cutting and ingathering would be completed -as soon as that of any other farm. And the beer -was not allowed on the field.</p> - -<p>This was wonderful: but a greater wonder still -was the fact that the hands who had been so -swiftly brought together were working under -Caleb Kersey himself—Caleb, the peasants’ -champion, the temperance defender of every man’s -right to get drunk if he liked! There were -mutterings of discontent amongst his followers: -there were whispers that he had been heavily -bribed to desert their cause; and those who had -previously deserted him, shook their heavy heads, -declaring that they ‘knowed what was a-coming.’</p> - -<p>‘It ain’t fair on him—he ain’t acting square -by me,’ Jacob Cone, the Ringsford bailiff, had -been heard to say in the <i>Cherry Tree</i> taproom. -‘He comes and he takes my place, and does whatever -master wants, when I was a-trying to get -master to let folk have their own way, as they’ve -been allays ’customed to.’</p> - -<p>That was Jacob’s first and last grumble; for -Caleb, hearing of it, took him to every one of -the hands, and each made the same statement:</p> - -<p>‘We can do without the beer. We gave it up -because we choose to, and not because we’re -forced to.’</p> - -<p>For the rest, Caleb contented himself with -saying simply: ‘I ain’t working for Mr Hadleigh, -and I wasn’t hired by him.’</p> - -<p>‘Daresay he contracted with some un?’</p> - -<p>A nod would be the response to his inquisitive -friend; and Caleb would proceed with his work -as earnestly as if his life depended upon accomplishing -a given task within the day. His -example inspired the younger men with some -spirit of emulation, and the women, old and -young, with admiration. The old stagers bluntly -told him at the close of the first day that they -could not keep pace with him, and did not mean -to try.</p> - -<p>‘Do the best you can, lads, and you’ll satisfy -me,’ was all he said.</p> - -<p>The whispers as to his treason to the cause of -the ‘Union,’ which floated about, and of which -he was perfectly conscious, had no other effect -upon him than to make him labour with increased -zeal. But he smarted inwardly; for, like all -popular leaders, he felt keenly the signs of waning -favour amongst his followers—felt them the more -keenly because he had so often, to his own serious -detriment, proved his integrity, and knew that -he was faithful as ever to the cause he had -espoused.</p> - -<p>It is doubtful if he would have been able to -hold up so stoutly against the swelling tide of -unpopularity, if there had not been a compensating -influence upon him, strengthening his arm, -although it did not always keep his head cool, or -his pulse steady.</p> - -<p>Every morning, when the white mist was rising -from the hollows, and the trees appeared through -it like shadows of themselves, whilst the long -grass through which he tramped to the field -sparkled and glowed around him, as the sun -cleared the atmosphere, his way took him by the -gardener’s cottage. Every evening, when the -harvest-moon was rising slowly over the tree-tops, -his way homeward took him again by the cottage. -He frequently caught a glimpse of Pansy, and -generally had an opportunity of exchanging greetings -with her.</p> - -<p>‘A fine morning,’ he would say; and he was -under the impression that he spoke with a smile, -but always looked as solemn as if he were at a -funeral.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, a fine morning,’ she would say with a -real smile, and a tint on her cheeks as if they -reflected the radiance of the sun.</p> - -<p>Then he would stand as if he had something -more to say; but first he had to look up at the -sky; next strain his eyes over the rolling-ground -in the direction of the Forest, as if much depended -upon his noting the development of the trees -through the mist; and again up at the chimney-top, -to observe which way the wind was blowing. -The result of all this observation being:</p> - -<p>‘We’ll have a rare drying wind to-day.’</p> - -<p>Then she, in a modified way, would go through -the same pantomime and answer pleasantly; ‘Yes, -I think you will.’</p> - -<p>And he would pass on, leaving that great ‘something’ -he wanted to say still unspoken. Yet -Caleb was reputed to be a man possessed of a -special gift of speech. He showed no lack of it -in the presence of any one save Pansy.</p> - -<p>‘I wonder what gars him come round this way -ilka mornin’ and night,’ said Sam Culver one -day to his daughter, looking at her suspiciously. -‘He’d be far sooner hame if he gaed round by -the wood, like other folk.’</p> - -<p>‘I cannot tell, father,’ she answered, her gypsy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">{133}</span> -cheeks aglow: ‘maybe he has to go up to the -House for something.’</p> - -<p>Sam shook his head thoughtfully: he did not -relish the idea which had entered it.</p> - -<p>‘Kersey is a decent enough lad; but he is -wildish in his notions of things, and a’ the farmers -round about are feared to trust him with ony -work. That’s no the right way to get through the -world, my lass, and I wouldna like to see you -with sic a man.’</p> - -<p>Pansy was a little startled by this plain way -of suggesting why Caleb chose to take the longest -route to his work; and she proceeded hurriedly -to clear away the breakfast dishes. That evening, -Caleb did not see her as he passed the cottage.</p> - -<p>Whatever Sam Culver’s opinion of Caleb Kersey -might have been, it underwent considerable modification, -if not an entire change, as he watched him -work and the harvest rapidly drawing to a close -under his care. At anyrate, one evening, as -Caleb was exchanging that stereotyped greeting -with Pansy, and was about to pass on, her father -came up and asked him in to supper.</p> - -<p>‘It’s just a plate o’ porridge and milk, you ken; -but you’re welcome, if yer not ower proud to sup -it. Mony’s the great man has sought naething -better.’</p> - -<p>A little shyness on Caleb’s part was quickly -overcome. He entered the cottage, and was presently -seated at the same table with Pansy. He -was amply compensated for all that he had suffered -on account of yielding to Madge’s request -that he should take the Ringsford harvest in -hand.</p> - -<p>The gardener, since he had settled in the south, -had, like many of his countrymen, considerably -loosened the Puritanical stays which he had been -accustomed to wear in the north. Indeed, it was -said that he had been discovered in the greenhouse -on a Sabbath, when he ought to have -been in church. He still, however, felt the influence -of old habits, and so he said grace in this -fashion:</p> - -<p>‘Fa’ tae, fa’ tae, and thank the Lord for a guid -supper.’</p> - -<p>When the meal was finished, Sam took his -guest out to see a new geranium which he was -cultivating; and then he revealed to him a fancy -which he had been cultivating as largely as his -geranium.</p> - -<p>‘I was thinking, Kersey, that you have been -getting on bravely with the harvest. Noo, if you -could just manage to cut the last stook on the -day of Mr Philip’s dinner, it would be a real -surprise to the folk at the house, and a grand -feather in your cap.’</p> - -<p>‘I think it can be done,’ said Caleb quietly.</p> - -<p>And it was done. On the evening fixed for -the festival, the last sheaf of the Ringsford grain -was placed on the lawn in front of the Manor. -Whilst the guests were arriving, Madge had -been told by Sam Culver that this was to be -done; so she went out with Uncle Dick and Mr -Hadleigh to congratulate Caleb on the good -harvest he had gathered in, and to thank him on -her own part for having undertaken the task.</p> - -<p>‘It’s the best job you have ever done, Caleb,’ -cried Uncle Dick, giving him a hearty slap on the -shoulder. ‘Stick to this kind of thing, my lad, -and leave speechifying to them that cannot do -any better.’</p> - -<p>‘I am always ready to work,’ replied Caleb, -avoiding the second part of his well-wisher’s -speech.</p> - -<p>‘I offer you my sincere thanks, Kersey,’ said -Mr Hadleigh in his reserved way; ‘and it would -please me to hear of anything I could do for -you.’</p> - -<p>‘I am obliged to you.’</p> - -<p>This ungraciously, but with a slight movement -of the head, which might be called half a nod.</p> - -<p>‘You can bear it in mind. Had I known that -you would be finished to-day, I should have -arranged for our harvest-home gathering to take -place this evening. I am sure that would have -gratified Miss Heathcote and my son.’</p> - -<p>Another half-nod, and Caleb moved away.</p> - -<p>The gong sounded. Mr Hadleigh gave his -arm to Madge, and led her towards the house.</p> - -<p>As they entered the hall, they were met by -the butler.</p> - -<p>‘Do you know where Mr Philip is, sir?’ asked -the man nervously. ‘Dinner is quite ready, and -he is not in the house; and nobody has seen him -since he started for town this morning.’</p> - -<p>The butler’s anxiety was equally divided -between the danger of having the dinner spoiled -and the question as to what had become of -Philip.</p> - -<p>‘Have you sent to his room?’</p> - -<p>‘I have been there myself, sir. His things are -all lying ready for him; but he is nowhere -about.’</p> - -<p>Mr Hadleigh frowned.</p> - -<p>‘This is very annoying. I told him he should -not go to town to-day. He has missed his train, -I suppose. Give him a quarter of an hour, Terry, -and then serve dinner.... Excuse me, Miss -Heathcote, one moment.’</p> - -<p>He beckoned to a footman, who followed him -into a small sideroom.</p> - -<p>‘Send Cone to the station,’ he said in a low -voice; ‘and bid him inquire if there has been an -accident on the line.’</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER XV.—THE BANQUET WAITS.</h3> - -<p>The explanation that Philip, having important -business in town, had no doubt been detained -so long as to have missed his train, satisfied all -the guests except one. She, however, maintained -as calm a demeanour as Mr Hadleigh himself; -and he regarded her at times with a curiously -thoughtful expression.</p> - -<p>‘How brave she is,’ was his thought. ‘Can -she have misgivings and he so firm?’</p> - -<p>Madge had misgivings; for Philip had told her -that he had only to put his seal on the despatch-box -containing the important papers he was to -carry with him to Uncle Shield, and that he -expected to return early enough to call at Willowmere -before going home. This, she had suggested, -would be waste of time, for she would be busy -with her elaborate toilet, and unable to see him. -They both enjoyed the fun of the idea that she -should be so long engaged in dressing for this -important occasion as to leave no time to see -him.</p> - -<p>‘Well, I shall see Uncle Dick at anyrate, and -of course he will be a first-rate substitute. Indeed, -now I think of it, he would be far more interesting -than a coquettish young person whose mind is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">{134}</span> -wholly absorbed in the arrangement of her bows -and laces. He would tell me all about the spread -of the foot-and-mouth disease, and that would be -useful information at anyrate. Eh?’</p> - -<p>They parted, laughing, and thus it was only -a half-promise that he should call. She was not -surprised, therefore, when he did not appear.</p> - -<p>When, however, the hour of dinner at the -Manor arrived and he had not yet returned, she -felt that vague anxiety which is almost more -difficult to hide in the presence of others than the -pain of some definite calamity. She knew quite -well that if he had only missed a train, he would -have telegraphed. But no one looking at her -would have suspected that her mind was disturbed -by the least unhappy thought.</p> - -<p>Miss Hadleigh only said: ‘That careless boy! -To be late on such an occasion as this when he -knows that papa is always put out when anybody -is late’—and went on doing her best to remember -her duty as a hostess by not giving all her -attention to ‘Alfred.’ Miss Caroline only whispered -in reply: ‘He is so stupid.’ As for Miss -Bertha, she was so busily engaged in conversation -with one of her brother Coutts’s friends, that -she was unconscious of any disarrangement of -the evening’s programme.</p> - -<p>So the party in the drawing-room buzzed like -a hive of contented bees on a warm summer day, -and no one showed the slightest symptom of -being aware that the hour appointed for dinner -had passed.</p> - -<p>The vicar, Paul Havens, was a hale, sunny-faced -man of about fifty years, with bushy iron-gray -hair and whiskers, and square muscular -frame. He was one of those men whose strong, -kindly nature reflects itself upon all who come -in contact with him, and inspires them too with -a sense of strength. His genial presence was -like fresh air in the mansion or the peasant’s -cot. He was no ‘sporting parson;’ but he chatted -with Crawshay with as much interest as if he -were, about the prospects of sport on the stubble -this season, and how the pheasants were likely -to turn out when their time came. Then, as -Dr Guy came up, the vicar turned to little -Mrs Joy in time to relieve her from utter distraction -at the cynical jokes and compliments of -Coutts Hadleigh. The latter delighted in bewildering -this good lady, whose wits were not particularly -quick, although, with her husband, -Dr Edwin Joy, she was an enthusiastic social -reformer.</p> - -<p>‘My husband and I believe,’ she would say, -with her little head bending slightly to one side, -‘that want of thrift is at the bottom of all the -poverty and misery of the working-classes in -town and country. Now we endeavour to inculcate -that great fact on all who come under our -influence; and Dr Joy, as my father’s partner, -you know, has many opportunities for speaking -a word in season. And we always speak it! -Thrift, thrift, thrift, is our text; and I assure you -we have succeeded in making <i>some</i> improvements -in our district.’</p> - -<p>And they did preach from this text with -untiring enthusiasm; they diligently perused -every book and pamphlet published on the subject, -and their own affairs were continually in -a hopeless muddle. They could always see -exactly what other people ought to do under -any given circumstances, and were always ready -with the best advice; but they were like children -in dealing with the most ordinary difficulties -of their own lives. They were a good-natured -couple, however, thoroughly sincere and well -meaning, so that these little idiosyncrasies amused -their friends, and did no harm to the working-people -on whose behalf they were specially -exercised.</p> - -<p>Mrs Joy’s father, Dr Guy, smiled grimly at -the profound wisdom they displayed in other -people’s business, and the folly which invariably -cropped up whenever they had anything to do -for themselves. At the beginning of every year, -they made a serious calculation of the least -amount their income was likely to be for the -coming twelve months, and resolved to live within -it; they even determined to lay aside some -portion to meet contingencies. At the end of -every year, they were amazed to find how far -they had exceeded their calculated expenditure, -and spent days in wondering how it could be.</p> - -<p>‘Edwin, I cannot understand it,’ Mrs Joy would -exclaim helplessly.</p> - -<p>‘Neither can I,’ he would answer with a puzzled -look at the figures before him. Then, brightening -up, he would say: ‘We must try again, my -dear.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, we must try again, dear,’ she would say, -also brightening up, and comforted by visions of -the surplus which the mighty thrift would give -them next time.</p> - -<p>Then they would make another serious calculation -of ways and means, and with light hearts, -go on just as before, studying and preaching the -doctrines which, by some inscrutable twist in -their natures, they were unable to practise. They -were so like children playing at housekeeping, -that although Dr Guy had to bear the consequences -of their mismanagement, he could not -be angry with them long at a time. Besides, he -had consolation in two facts: first, that Fanny -was his only child, and would inherit everything -he possessed; and second, that Edwin Joy was -really a clever surgeon, successful in his practice, -and much liked by his patients, notwithstanding -his stupidity in money matters. Indeed, the -greater part of the practice rested on his shoulders -now, and nothing delighted him more than to -be up to the eyes in work.</p> - -<p>Dr Guy belonged to the old school of country -practitioners, and was as much interested in -agriculture as in physic. He had a small farm, -in the management of which he found agreeable -occupation. So he took the first opportunity of -getting Crawshay into a corner to discuss the -best means of stamping out the rapidly spreading -foot-and-mouth disease and the advantages -of ensilage.</p> - -<p>Madge and Mrs Crawshay looking on, were well -pleased to see that for once Uncle Dick did not -regret coming to Ringsford. But although Madge -found time to think of this, and to give intelligent -attention to any one who addressed her, -she glanced often at the door expectantly.</p> - -<p>At length the door opened, the butler entered, -spoke a few words to his master, and then withdrew. -Mr Hadleigh immediately advanced to -Madge.</p> - -<p>‘I am glad to tell you, Philip has returned,’ he -said in a quiet voice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">{135}</span></p> - -<p>A flush of pleasure on her calm face expressed -her gratitude for this good news.</p> - -<p>‘Then he was only detained—nothing has -happened?’</p> - -<p>‘I presume that nothing particular has happened; -but we shall learn presently from himself. -His message to me was only to desire that we -should proceed to dinner at once, and allow him -to join us in the dining-room. So you must -permit Coutts to take you down.’</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CALLS_BEFORE_THE_CURTAIN">CALLS BEFORE THE CURTAIN.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> has often been said that an actor exists upon -the breath of applause; and to a certain extent -this is literally as well as figuratively true; for -during a long period of his early career he is -fated to undergo many hardships, and frequently -finds himself playing week after week for one of -those unscrupulous ‘managers’ who can hardly -be got to pay their company their salaries, -while revelling in all possible comfort themselves. -Indeed, a long chapter might be -written upon the sorrows incident to ‘the -profession;’ but this would be entirely beside -our present purpose. Suffice it to remark, as an -introduction to our immediate theme, that no -histrion ever yet trod the boards who was -unmindful of the public recognition of his talents; -and so soon as an opportunity offers in which to -distinguish himself, and his efforts are rewarded -with a round of applause, from that moment will -he devote himself the more assiduously to his -calling, by reason of the enviable stimulus so -received.</p> - -<p>It has been placed upon record how Fanny -Horton, a once celebrated actress, won her first -applause in a somewhat singular manner. During -her performance in a particular scene, she was -loudly hissed, when, advancing to the footlights, -she asked: ‘Which do you dislike—my playing -or my person?’ ‘The playing, the playing!’ was -the answer from all parts of the house. ‘Well,’ -she returned, ‘that consoles me; for my playing -may be bettered, but my person I cannot alter!’ -The audience were so struck with the ingenuity -of this retort, that they immediately applauded -as loudly as they had the moment before condemned -her; and from that night she improved -in her acting, and soon became a favourite with -the public.</p> - -<p>It will scarcely be denied that applause is not -only welcome, but necessary to the actor; and -even so great an artiste as Mrs Siddons was -susceptible to the force of this truth, though not -so much in its regard to professional adulation, -as for personal convenience. ‘It encourages,’ she -was wont to say; ‘and better still, it gives time -for breath!’ On this account, as well as for -other obvious reasons, the managers of the -Parisian theatres have organised a regular system -of hired applause, termed the <i>claque</i>; and this not -only saves the audience the trouble of applauding, -but it is frequently the means of influencing -the success of a new production, while -it affords the actors engaged an opportunity of -purchasing a too frequently questionable notoriety -by a monetary arrangement with the <i>claque</i>, or at -anyrate with the head of that department who -grandiloquently styles himself ‘the contractor for -success.’</p> - -<p>But it must not by any means be imagined -that the <i>claque</i> is a modern institution. From -the time of the ancient drama downwards, the -approbation of the spectators has always been -eagerly courted by the performers, and hired -persons to applaud their acting regularly attended -the representations. Both the Greeks and the -Romans made use of the device. It has been well -attested that Nero, the Roman emperor, who at -all times took an active part in the theatrical -representations of his day, enforced applause at -the point of the sword; and Suetonius tells us -that one day when Nero sang the fable of <i>Atis -and the Bacchantes</i>, he deputed Burrhus and Seneca -to incite the audience to applaud. On one occasion, -while the emperor was on the stage, singing -to his own accompaniment on the lyre, an earthquake -shook the imperial city; yet not one -among that enormous assemblage dared so much as -attempt to flee from the danger, or leave his seat, -fearing the summary wrath of the tyrant, whose -will held them so powerfully in bondage. At -another time, a poor woman fell asleep during -the performance, and on one of Nero’s soldiers -descrying her situation, she narrowly escaped -with her life.</p> - -<p>But the Romans could not give Nero the -honour of a call before the curtain, for the simple -reason that drop-curtains were not then in use. -Indeed, the introduction of stage-curtains belongs -to a comparatively late period. In the reign of -Elizabeth, we find that the theatres—or playhouses, -as they were termed—were of the most -primitive kind. For the most part the performances -were conducted on a rude platform in the -London inn yards; while the few regular -stationary playhouses were little better furnished -in the way of proper dramatic accessories. The -use of scenery is, of course, nowhere to be traced, -and the only semblance to a proscenium consisted -of a pair of tapestry curtains, which were drawn -aside by cords when the performance began. The -same arrangement has also been found in all -examples of the early Spanish, Portuguese, and -other continental theatres.</p> - -<p>Among the earliest permanent English playhouses -were ‘The Theatre’ and ‘The Fortune,’ -neither of which, however, possessed a proper -drop-curtain. But ‘The Red Bull,’ another old -theatre, had a drop-curtain; and when, in the -year 1633, that playhouse was demolished, rebuilt, -and enlarged, it was decorated in a manner almost -in advance of the time, the management particularly -priding itself upon ‘a stage-curtain of pure -Naples silk.’ It was not until the year 1656 that -the first attempt of Sir William Davenant to -establish the lyric drama in England brought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">{136}</span> -with it the use of regular painted scenery on our -stage. As an introductory venture, and fully -aware that the performance of everything of a -dramatic tendency had long been prohibited -throughout the country, he announced a miscellaneous -kind of entertainment, consisting of ‘music -and declamation,’ which was duly held at Rutland -House in Charterhouse Yard, on the 23d -of May. Thus far encouraged, he immediately -followed with the first genuine opera, entitled -<i>The Siege of Rhodes</i>, employing a libretto, music, -costumes, and five elaborate scenes. Further -representations of opera were always signalised -by the use of scenery, and the example was -naturally soon followed by the drama, so soon as -the altered condition of the times had sufficiently -permitted its revival. In place of a drop-curtain -of tapestry, silk, or other material, a painted -scene also came into fashion, on which was generally -shown some incident in the opera about to -be enacted. The painted crimson curtain used -in <i>The Siege of Rhodes</i> had upon it also a representation -of the arms and military trophies of the -several nations which took part in this memorable -siege.</p> - -<p>Still, for all that, the green curtain retained its -position in all permanent theatres—and even in -the puppet-shows, so popular in their day—nor -was it until quite recently that the more fashionable -houses thought proper to dispense with it -altogether.</p> - -<p>Touching upon stage-curtains of our own time, -it will scarcely be necessary to dilate upon the -peculiarly constructed proscenium of the present -Haymarket Theatre, London, which is nothing -more or less than an elaborate picture in its gilt -frame. The curtain of course forms the picture, -and no orchestra-pew being visible, the frame or -proscenium is continued on the lower side without -interruption. The footlights are not discovered -until the rising of the curtain, and the ‘calls’ are -necessarily responded to on the stage itself, for -which purpose the curtain is again drawn up. -Perhaps the most interesting curtain of the ordinary -character is that now in use at New Sadler’s -Wells Theatre, which conveys to the eye a very -perfect idea of that famous ‘musick-house’ on the -banks of the New River in ‘merrie Islington,’ as -it appeared rather more than a hundred years ago.</p> - -<p>Mr Henry Irving in his established dramatic -home at the Lyceum Theatre has always preferred -to take his ‘calls’ on the stage itself; indeed, he -never appears in front of the curtain except on -the night of the opening or the termination of -his season, which is always looked forward to in -London as an event. The production of <i>Romeo -and Juliet</i> afforded him an agreeable opportunity, -however, of making a new departure in his -manner of responding to the congratulations of -his patrons—the living ‘Prologue’ opening the -tragedy by stepping forward from between a pair -of truly magnificent curtains of yellow plush, -when, having recited his lines, the withdrawal -of these curtains unveiled the first scene representing -‘the public place’ at Verona. Mr Irving, -further, took occasion at the close of each act -of leading Miss Ellen Terry before the footlights -in the same manner, thus obviating the necessity -of raising the curtain proper before these calls -could be replied to.</p> - -<p>So much for theatrical curtains in general. We -will now go on to narrate several notable incidents -connected with ‘Calls before the Curtain.’</p> - -<p>When David Garrick made his re-appearance at -Drury Lane, after an absence of two years during -a provincial tour, the theatre was packed from -floor to ceiling, and the audience were quite -beside themselves with enthusiasm. The play -was announced to be <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i>; -but, as the actor expected, he had first to show -himself in front of the curtain. He had prepared -an address to the audience, which he delivered -previous to beginning the play. When he came -upon the stage, he was welcomed with three loud -plaudits, each finishing with a huzza.</p> - -<p>When R. W. Elliston was manager of the ‘Royal -Circus,’ to which he gave the present name of the -‘Surrey Theatre,’ he was one night called before -the curtain under rather exceptional circumstances. -On that occasion, an actor named Carles, who had -long been a popular favourite at that house, was -absent, having unfortunately been arrested for -debt while on his way to the theatre, and another -actor, possibly not very much his inferior in -regard to talent, had to be substituted. The -performance, however, had not long commenced, -when the audience missed their favourite, and -called loudly for ‘Carles!’ Carles not appearing, -the uproar became general; and as soon as the -curtain had fallen upon the first act, the manager -was summoned. Elliston duly appeared and -asked, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, what is your -pleasure?’ But to all that he said they cried only -‘Carles!’ Not yet aware of their intentions, he -exclaimed: ‘One at a time, if you please;’ and -singling out a puny yet over-energetic malcontent -in the pit, he begged pardon of the audience, -saying: ‘Let me hear what <i>this</i> gentleman has -to say.’ Then addressing the man: ‘Now, sir, -I’ll attend to you <i>first</i>, if the rest of the gentlemen -will allow me.’</p> - -<p>The man, as might be imagined, was not a little -taken aback at this remark; yet he managed to -say: ‘Carles’ name is in the bill, and where is he?’ -At this, Elliston assumed a grave air, and folding -his arms, addressed the people as follows: -‘Ladies and gentlemen, with your leave I will say -a few words. I admit that Mr Carles’ name <i>is</i> -in the bill; I do not wish to deny it; but’—here -he assumed a decidedly tragic tone—‘but are you -to be reminded of the many accidents that may -intervene between the issuing of that bill and -the evening’s fulfilment of its promise? Is it -requisite to remind the enlightened and thinking -portion of the public here assembled that the -chances and changes of human life are dependent -upon circumstances, and not upon ourselves?’</p> - -<p>Here all shouted: ‘Ay, ay; bravo!’</p> - -<p>The manager, pointing to the man in the pit, -went on: ‘And you, sir, who are so loud in your -demand for Mr Carles, cannot <i>you</i> also imagine -that his absence may be occasioned by some sore -distress, some occurrence not within human foresight -to anticipate or divert? Cannot you picture -to yourself the possibility of Mr Carles at this -moment lying upon a sick—nay, perhaps a dying -bed, surrounded by his weeping children and his -agonised wife’ [Mr Carles was a bachelor!], ‘whose -very bread depends upon the existence of an -affectionate devoted husband and father, and who -<i>may</i> be deprived of his exertions and support for -ever? Is it so <i>very</i> difficult to imagine a scene<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">{137}</span> -like this taking place at the very moment when -you are calling for him so imperiously to appear -before you, selfishly desirous of your present -amusement and unmindful of his probable danger!’ -Great and general applause.</p> - -<p>Inwardly, Mr Elliston felt struck at the success -of his diplomacy, especially as at this point the -audience turned against the man who had spoken, -and joined their voices in cries of ‘Turn -him out!’ to which sentence the manager found -it best to lend countenance; and having given his -permission, the unlucky ‘pitite’ was summarily -ejected from the theatre, and in a little while the -performance was continued in perfect order.</p> - -<p>Calls for the author after the first representation -of a new play are, of course, frequent, the -more especially when the work has given entire -satisfaction. In some instances, the audience -summon that individual to appear for no other -purpose than to hiss him for the unskilfulness of -his performance; in which case, the author will -most probably retaliate with a speech wherein -mention of ‘an organised opposition’ comes uppermost. -Speaking of the former, some curious -examples might be noted. An author frequently -announces, through the medium of the manager, -that he has betaken himself abroad, or, say, to -Scotland, fearing the result of his piece, whereas -he may be quietly looking on at the back of the -pit, or has concealed himself behind the curtains -of a private box. In another case, the successful -author will attempt to make a speech, while -bowing his acknowledgments, and signally fail, -retiring considerably more abashed than triumphant. -But the crowning episode to be narrated -in this connection occurred some years ago at one -of the Dublin theatres, when one of the tragedies -of Sophocles was put on the stage. At the close -of the performance, the ‘gods’ loudly called for -the author; whereupon the manager explained -that as the author had been dead more than two -thousand years, he could not very well appear. -Nothing disconcerted, a very small gallery-boy -called out: ‘Then let’s have his mummy!’</p> - -<p>Dramatic, including operatic, artistes taking -their benefits are almost invariably honoured with -a call before the curtain. On such occasions, too, -they may fairly be entitled to considerable latitude -in various ways, as, for instance, in their own -selection of the programme for that evening. -Notwithstanding this, they should not suffer -themselves to infringe the ordinary regulations -of the establishment. Not very long ago, a star -<i>prima donna</i> of the very first magnitude, when -taking her benefit at the Imperial Opera, St -Petersburg, found herself called before the curtain -more than twenty consecutive times. In the end -she occupied the centre of the stage, and addressed -her enthusiastic patrons a few words in the -Russian language, then offered to show her gratitude -for their favours by singing them a song -in their own tongue. This was received with -rapturous applause; but judge of her surprise -when, after retiring from the stage, the management -fined her two thousand francs for addressing -the audience without permission! The proceeds -of her benefit were thus considerably reduced; -and her experience was only in one degree -removed from that of the French pantomimist -and dancer, as related by Charles Kemble. This -individual was in the habit of taking a benefit at -regular intervals, but always with a loss. One -night, however, he came before the curtain with -a beaming countenance, and after a polite bow, he -acknowledged his thanks in these terms: ‘Dear -public, moche oblige; very good benefice; only -lose half a crown dis time. <i>I come again!</i>’</p> - -<p>At an American theatre, an actor once took -his benefit, and selected as the play for the -occasion, <i>Uncle Tom’s Cabin</i>. The company being -small, he found it necessary not only to subject -several of the incidental characters to being -doubled—that is, one actor to sustain two different -characters in the same piece, rapidly changing -his costume from one to the other as occasion -requires—but he also accepted a double himself. -His was that of Sambo with St Clair. St Clair -appears in one act, and Sambo in the next. -Having won considerable honours as the first -individual, the actor, directly the curtain had -descended, hurried away to his dressing-room to -prepare in all haste his toilet and costume for -Sambo. His face and hands had of course to -be blacked; and in the midst of this operation -of applying the burnt cork, the prompter entered -his room to announce that the audience were -uproarious for him to appear before the curtain. -‘But I can’t,’ he exclaimed; ‘it is impossible; -I’m just making up for Sambo!’ Nothing, however, -would satisfy his patrons short of responding -to his call; so boisterously demanded, that, -without his compliance, the performance could -not possibly proceed. At length our hero made -his appearance. But the audience were scarcely -prepared to receive him in his altered person, -and, failing to recognise the metamorphosed St -Clair in the half-made-up Sambo, they shouted: -‘Go away! Who sent for you?’</p> - -<p>Floral offerings are, of course, pleasantly associated -with artistes’ benefits, and long may they so -continue. The Emperor Nero, it is said, always -provided the Roman spectators with the thousand-and-one -bouquets which were thrown at his feet -when he occupied the stage. But bouquets -<i>voluntarily</i> offered are worthy to be prized very -highly. Not very long ago, Mr Edward Terry, -when taking his leave of an Irish audience, was -honoured with the reception of a beautiful floral -wreath, which must have been infinitely more -acceptable than that wreath of <i>immortelles</i> which -some insulting ruffian cast at the feet of Mademoiselle -Favart, at a French theatre, a few years -ago, in order to indicate that her age had placed -her beyond the power of playing youthful parts. -Had she been composed of the same metal as was -the actor in the following example, she would -have enjoyed the opportunity presented of paying -the wretch back in his own coin. The story may -be accepted as true.</p> - -<p>At the close of his own benefit performance, -a certain favourite comedian was called before -the curtain at a theatre in Vienna. In the midst -of a shower of bouquets, some insulting individual -threw a bunch of vegetables on the stage. Very -complacently the <i>bénéficier</i>, having marked from -what portion of the house it had proceeded, picked -up the article, and said: ‘We have here an -interesting collection of carrots and turnips. -From my slight knowledge of natural history, -I believe this to be the proper food for asses; I -therefore return it to its owner, for who knows -in these hard times he may be in want of such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">{138}</span> -a meal in the morning!’ With these words, he -threw the object whence it came; and the -individual being discovered, was immediately -expelled from the theatre amid mingled hisses -and applause.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MINERS_PARTNER">THE MINER’S PARTNER.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3 title="CHAPTER I.">IN FOUR CHAPTERS.—CHAPTER I.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a good deal of excitement in the -mining camps at and near Flume City, which, -as every mining reader knows, was prominent -among the gold-diggings, and gold-washings also, -of Colorado twenty years ago. A meeting of -miners was being held at the largest building in -the city—a wooden shed, which called itself a -restaurant, at which there were assembled some -forty or fifty men, rough-looking, roughly clad, -and armed with revolver and knife, although -no intention existed of using such weapons at -this gathering. The assembly, indeed, had been -called together with an object calculated to promote -union and comradeship—to assist in maintaining -individual rights and to support the law -generally.</p> - -<p>There was a president, of course, and his discourse, -if not polished, was much to the point. -‘I reckon,’ he said, after the meeting had lasted -perhaps an hour, and several speeches had been -made, with a good deal of shouting in the way -of approval—‘I reckon that the citizens who have -spoken are about right. We have got some -traitors among us, and that’s where the worst -comes in. It wasn’t by chance that any outside -loafer knew just when to steal the washings at -the Long Placer last night, or that Scotch Ned -was sent away when the stamp-mill was broken. -We know who broke the mill—it was Bill Dobell. -But who told him to come in then? And who -could have known that the Kentucky boys at -the Long Placer had got the best washings they -had seen this year? Who could have known that -but one among us?’</p> - -<p>The president said much more to this effect; -but the remainder of his speech, with the various -orations which followed, need not be given, as -we have shown what was the nature of the -excitement which had called the miners into -solemn conclave.</p> - -<p>The language used was odd and quaint enough; -to many it would have sounded absurd in its -phraseology; but no fault could have been found -with the matter. That was direct and shrewd, -and evinced a strong determination to put down -the mischief which was making itself felt.</p> - -<p>At the conclusion of a pithy harangue, in -which the speaker urged vigorous and brief -proceedings against any one detected in such -unpardonable conduct, or reasonably suspected -of complicity in the crime—for robbing the -troughs in a mining country is looked upon as -worse than murder, and is considered to be quite -as bad as horse-stealing—a voice exclaimed: ‘You -air right, colonel!’</p> - -<p>Every one started at the sound, and looked in -the direction of the speaker, who, having recently -joined the meeting, with several others, stood -near the door. A dozen men whispered to their -next neighbours: ‘Why, it is Rube Steele!’ And -significant glances were exchanged.</p> - -<p>‘I thought the other day there was Injuns -lying around to thieve,’ continued the man; ‘so, -when’——</p> - -<p>‘You told us so, Rube,’ interrupted the president; -‘and the Kentucky boys from the Long -Placer came into committee on the subject; and -their troughs were robbed while they were gone. -You know <i>that</i>, I estimate?’</p> - -<p>A murmur as of approval of the president’s -language ran through the meeting. Rube noted -this, but it did not disturb him. A peculiarly -sinister glance which he threw around him was -perhaps natural to his not greatly attractive -features.</p> - -<p>‘Yes; I expect I know that; and I expect that -I know the tale about the Injuns was a fraud,’ -returned Rube. Something like a sarcastically -approving laugh ran through the meeting at -these words; but the speaker continued, without -appearing to notice it: ‘That stranger from -San Francisco was the man who brought the -news. You believed him; so did I.’</p> - -<p>‘We believed you, Rube; you said the man -was reliable,’ again interrupted the president.</p> - -<p>‘That is so,’ replied Rube. ‘He brought -messages from leading Frisco citizens, men known -to me, and so I believed him. But I tell you he -is no good; and he has gone off with nigh upon -three thousand dollars in gold-dust which I trusted -to him. He brought me an order from Ben, my -pardner, to say he was to have the dust; and -though I did not like the idea, I parted with -it. And on coming into camp and asking Ben -about it, I find he never gave any order at -all. And it is my belief that this is the man -who robbed the washings at the Kentucky boys’ -placer.’</p> - -<p>‘And where is Ben?’ began the president, who -would probably have said more, but that a man -burst hastily into the saloon as the question was -asked, and shouted in answer: ‘Here! Here is -Reuben Steele’s pardner. Who wants him?’</p> - -<p>‘We want you to hear what has been said,’ -returned the president, ‘and to give us your -opinion about Californy Jones—the stranger who -was introduced by your pardner, but who, Rube -now says, is the man who robbed the placer, and -has robbed him of three thousand dollars.’</p> - -<p>‘I can’t say anything about the placer; maybe -Rube knows more about that than I do,’ replied -the new-comer. ‘But the man has gone off with -three thousand dollars; that’s a sure fact; and -as Rube gave him the dust, it’s a sure fact too, -he knows more about that than I do.’</p> - -<p>‘I know no more than yourself,’ retorted -Rube. ‘The man produced an order from you. -I could not tell that it was a forgery, and you -have always considered yourself as the boss of our -outfit.’</p> - -<p>‘Wal, gentlemen, and Mr President,’ continued -Ben, ‘I can tell you we have got murderers among -us. Yes, gentlemen, that is so—real cold-blooded -murderers, that will lie in wait for honest, law-abiding -citizens and shoot them from behind -rocks.’</p> - -<p>A louder murmur ran through the assembly -here; and the president asked Ben his meaning.</p> - -<p>‘My meaning is this,’ continued Ben. ‘You -know I am clearing out, and shall leave the camp -in a day or two, so that we are realising all our -property, and this gold-dust was a part of what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">{139}</span> -I am going East with. So, I kinder felt like -riled at losing it; and when my pardner told -me, as cool as maybe, that he concluded this -stranger had vamoosed with my dust’——</p> - -<p>‘And mine!’ interjected Rube.</p> - -<p>‘Wal, let every man speak of his own business,’ -returned Ben, who was evidently in anything but -a good temper. ‘I say he had cleared out with -mine, anyhow; and I was riled, I tell you. But -at that minute, I saw, crossing the Mule Back -Ridge, two men on horseback. The Ridge is -distant a good piece; but I could swear one was -that stranger. “Send some of the boys on,” said -I to Rube. “I shall go through the cañon, so -shall meet them. They must cross there, if -they don’t mean to go into the mountains.” -And I was sure they did not want the mountain -road. So I sot off. But I was waited for. There -are as bad men left in the camp as have gone -out of it; and at the very entrance of the cañon, -when them horsemen must have been a good two -miles away, some desperadoes fired at me from -behind a rock. There was more than one shot -fired at the same time, I know; and—see here, -Mr President!—they took good aim.’ As he -said this, he threw off his long outer coat, and -handed it to the president, who, after a momentary -examination, held it up, and exhibited an unmistakable -bullet-hole in the skirt.</p> - -<p>‘That was near—that is a fact!’ exclaimed -the president. ‘And what did you do then?’</p> - -<p>‘I turned back,’ said Ben. ‘It was of no use -my pushing on alone, with the rocks lined with -murderers, with men who expected me, and were -in league with Californy Jones.’</p> - -<p>‘And where was Rube?’ asked the president.</p> - -<p>‘I was at the head of a bunch of boys of the -right sort, seven or eight of them, that I had -looked up in the camp. They are here now: -Long Sim, Missouri Rob, Major Dimey and friend, -with some others, all first-class citizens.’</p> - -<p>An assenting exclamation from each of those -he named confirmed the speaker.</p> - -<p>‘I could not do more than that,’ continued -Rube. ‘And when I found my pardner on the -return-track, it was no use my proceeding. I -came back to the city, and then right away to -this here convention.’</p> - -<p>‘I could have raised twice the force in a quarter -of the time he took!’ cried Ben, intercepting some -remark which it was evident the president was -about to make. ‘And why I did not come straight -here was because there was something in my tent -I thought I had best look after. I had left -my tent in the care of a friend; but you don’t -know what may happen, with such loafers and -scoundrels hanging around.’</p> - -<p>‘Wal, fellow-citizens,’ said the president, ‘this -convention didn’t assemble, I reckon, to hear the -rights of any difference between two pardners; -and it ain’t our business nohow. We are here -to discuss the existence of thieves and scallawags -amongst us, and to decide upon the beet means of -clearing them out—that is all.’</p> - -<p>Thus recalled to business, the assembly resumed -its former discussion, and the quarrel between -the partners was not again openly referred to; -but it coloured all that was said, and many -remarks upon it were made in the body of the -meeting. It was clear that public feeling was -much against Rube Steele, although a few of -those present were his partisans; but these latter -appeared to consist only of the ‘bunch’ of citizens -he had referred to, and were not altogether free -from suspicion themselves.</p> - -<p>The gathering separated without having come -to any formal resolve, beyond appointing a few -of their members to act in committee and to -decide what steps should be taken; but as it -was notorious that each of the chosen ones was a -leader among the Regulators, as they were once -called—or the Vigilantes, to use their now -familiar Spanish name—there was probably more -significance in their appointment than at first -appeared.</p> - -<p>For that night at anyrate no fresh outrages -were apprehended; the thieves, whoever they -were, possessed information too prompt and too -certain to allow them to venture on a renewal of -their attempts during the excitement and watchfulness -which would prevail for a time in the -vicinity of Flume City.</p> - -<p>In its neighbourhood, few persons were abroad -after nightfall; it was dangerous, indeed, for any -one to approach a tent without making his -presence loudly known; a shot would probably -be the first intimation that he was trespassing -on dangerous ground; while a few of the miners -possessed large and savage dogs, which would be -loosed on hearing a footstep near the tent. So -those who had business which led them abroad, -were careful to confine themselves to the main -street of Flume City, if such a title could fitly -be applied to the straggling avenue which ran -from end to end of the place. But spite of these -drawbacks, a few persons were moving in the -environs of the city, and even at a good distance -beyond its boundaries, dark though the night -was, and only relieved from utter gloom by the -starlight, for moon there was none.</p> - -<p>One man who was going towards the town, -stopped suddenly, as his quick ear caught the -sound of an approaching footstep, and with the -caution of one accustomed to frontier-life, drew -himself up by the side of one of the very few -trees which remained in the vicinity of Flume -City, so that in the obscurity it was almost -impossible for any passing eye to detect him. -The next instant a single man hurried by, passing -between the first comer and the starry sky, so -that his figure was visible with tolerable distinctness -to the concealed watcher. This second man -did not look to the right or left—it would have -been almost impossible for him to detect the spy, -had he done so—but went quickly on in a -direction which seemed to surprise the hidden -observer.</p> - -<p>‘What can he want there?’ exclaimed the -latter, stepping from his hiding-place, when the -other had fairly gone past. ‘There ain’t no -shanties nor no living soul in that direction. It -was surely Rube Steele; and without he has -gone crazy, I can’t fix anyhow why he should be -going towards the cañon after nightfall. I will -see where he <i>is</i> going; and if he has turned -crazy, I may help him; and if not, I shall find -out what he wants in the mountain pass.</p> - -<p>He was moving carefully but quickly in the -direction the other had taken, while he was -muttering these disinterested sentiments; and -although he could only see the figure he followed, -at intervals, when the man climbed a ledge and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">{140}</span> -stood for an instant in relief against the sky, yet -there was no difficulty in the pursuit. He could -hear his steps as they disturbed the loose stones -which strewed the way, and knew besides, that -in the wild spot which they had reached, there -was no means of turning to the right or left, so -that he could not easily miss the chase. Presently -the tread of the foremost man became -slower, and the pursuer, as a matter of course, -moved at a slower rate also—slower and slower -still, until the former stopped, or only moved -about the same spot of ground.</p> - -<p>‘What on airth is he going to do?’ muttered -the other man. ‘It’s so dark—for he is right -under the shadow of Big Loaf Rock—that he -can’t see to dig, nor hunt after any buried—— -Wal! that means something!’ This exclamation -was caused by a low whistle which Rube -Steele—if indeed it were that person—suddenly -gave. This was repeated, and then answered -from a distance. ‘I feel like seeing the end of -this,’ continued the spy; ‘and I mean to.’</p> - -<p>Acting upon this determination, he crawled -carefully forward, for he was too near to venture -upon standing upright; and moreover, as the -answering whistle had proved that others were -in the neighbourhood, he was compelled to be -on his guard against discovery from other -quarters. His quick ear soon caught the sound -of an approaching tread, and directly after, he -heard words spoken. The spy’s curiosity was -now raised tenfold, especially as one of the two -men who were now, as he well knew, close to -him, struck a match to light his pipe, and the -momentary flash showed him both figures in -a brief glimpse. They were unluckily placed -with their backs towards him, so that he could -not see their features. He now felt confident that -the first one was Rube Steele, and that the -second was not entirely unknown to him, but -more than this he could not tell.</p> - -<p>This was terribly tantalising; and after the -brief illumination of the match, a more impenetrable -darkness seemed to have settled upon the -pass and the rocks around; so, at all hazards, -he resolved to get still nearer. He was perhaps a -little unguarded in his eagerness, and made some -slight noise, and it is certain that he had not -calculated all the hazards which might environ -him, for a low fierce growl showed that a dog -was with the men, and the spy shuddered with -horror as he heard the sound.</p> - -<p>‘Did you hear anything?’ said a harsh voice. -‘The dog would not have growled like that, unless -some one was hanging around.’</p> - -<p>‘Nonsense!’ returned the other; and the voice -was certainly the voice of Rube Steele. ‘He -heard a jack-rabbit, perhaps, or scented a polecat. -I reckon there ain’t a soul within a league of -this cañon to-night. The miners are all at Flume -City, and the Indians have left the district for -more than a week past.’</p> - -<p>‘You may be right,’ returned the first speaker. -‘But the dog is uneasy, and I never knew -him give them signs for game or venison; no, -nor for Injun neither. I should have said -there was a white man near. But we air a little -too much in the line of the main pass to show -a light, which we must do. Come behind this -rock.—Good dog!—mind ’em!’ These last words -were of course addressed to the dog, which had -continued to growl at intervals while his master -was speaking, although the unseen watcher had -lain as still as death. The animal was apparently -soothed by being thus noticed, and probably -followed the men, whose footsteps could be heard -as they removed to the proposed cover behind -the Big Loaf Rock.</p> - -<p>The spy had no inclination to follow them to -learn more, but crawled carefully and noiselessly -over the ground until he was at a safe distance -from the pass; so far, indeed, that he judged that -even the acute ears and scent of the dog could -not detect him when he rose, and hurried in -the direction of the city as fast as his legs could -carry him.</p> - -<p>On the outskirts, he knocked at the door of -a shanty, a log-built hut with earthen floor, -such as the Mexican peasantry, and even their -betters, often reside in; and in answer to a gruff -challenge from within—for the inmates were in -bed, or stretched on such pallets as served for -beds—he returned an answer which seemed to -satisfy the questioner, for after a little more gruff -grumbling, the door was opened, and he was -admitted.</p> - -<p>In answer to his inquiry, the gruff voice said: -‘No; nary drop of anything but water; ye kin -have that. Your voice sounds all of a tremble, -Absalom; and if ye don’t get shot over the cards -or drown yourself, I guess ye won’t last long as -a miner, anyhow.’</p> - -<p>Absalom, as he was called, hesitated for a -moment, as though about to say something in -his defence, but eventually decided on making -no reply to this rather unpleasant speech, and -threw himself down on a buffalo skin which the -other man pushed towards him. No further -conversation took place, and the shanty was as -dark and silent as were the remainder of the -scattered dwellings on the outskirts of Flume -City.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CURIOSITIES_OF_THE_ELECTRIC_LIGHT">CURIOSITIES OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> first curiosity of the electric light was of -course its discovery in 1802 by Humphry -Davy, then an assistant-lecturer at the Royal -Institution. With one of the new batteries which -Volta had invented two years before, Davy was -surprised to get a brilliant white light when the -poles of the battery were joined through two -pieces of carbon. Later on, his astonishment was -increased when he found how intensely hot was -this ‘arch’ of carbon light—the hottest known -artificial source. ‘Platinum,’ he wrote, ‘was -melted as readily as is wax in the flame of a -common candle; quartz, the sapphire, magnesia, -lime, all entered into fusion.’ Even the diamond -swells out into a black mass in the electric arc, -and carbon itself has been known to soften. -Dr Siemens, as is well known, utilised this -fervent heat to fuse metals in a crucible. With -the arc from a dynamo capable of giving a -light of five thousand candles, he fused fifteen -pounds of broken files in as many minutes. -Indeed, the temperature of the arc ranges from -two thousand to five thousand degrees Centigrade. -Another curiosity of the arc is that it can be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">{141}</span> -shown in water or other liquids without quenching. -Liquids have a diffusive action on the light; and -a globule of fused oxide of iron between platinum -wires conveying the current, produces a very fine -golden light. The fused plaster of Paris between -the carbons of the Jablochkoff candle also forms a -brilliant source of light in the arc; as does the -marble separator which answers the same purpose -in the <i>lampe soleil</i>. Indeed, this white-hot marble, -rendered luminous by the arc, gives out a mellow -radiance so closely resembling sunshine as to give -the lamp its name. Such a light is very suitable -for illuminating picture-galleries.</p> - -<p>Electric light is also produced by sending a -discharge through vacuum tubes like those of -Geissler; and the varied colours thus produced -are exceedingly pretty. Phosphorescent substances, -too, such as the sulphide of barium, or -the platino-barium cyanide, become highly luminous -when inclosed in a tube and traversed by the -electric current.</p> - -<p>Besides the voltaic arc, we have now, however, -another kind of electric light—namely, the -incandescence which is produced by sending the -current through a very slender filament of -platinum wire or carbon fibre inclosed in a glass -bulb exhausted of air. Such are the lamps of -Swan, Edison, and others. These lamps have -also their curious features. The temperature of -the filament is of course much lower than the -temperature of the arc. It is only about eighteen -hundred degrees Centigrade, for if it were higher, -the delicate filament would be dissipated into -vapour which would condense like smoke on the -cool glass. With a platinum filament, the metal -would ‘silver’ the interior of the bulb. Curiously -enough, when the copper ‘electrodes’ or wires -conveying the current inside the bulb to the -filament of an Edison lamp are accidentally -dissipated by excess of current, the carbon thread -seems to shelter the glass from the copper shower, -for Dr J. Fleming has observed that there is -always a blank line on the glass opposite the -filament, while all the rest is coated with a film -of copper. When the carbon itself is dissipated, -this blank line is not seen, and the whole interior -of the bulb appears to be smoked. According to -Dr Fleming, this means that the molecules of -copper move in straight lines in the vacuum.</p> - -<p>During the ordinary action of one of these -lamps there is believed to be a kind of molecular -bombardment between the two sides of the carbon -filament, which is usually bent into a loop. This -battery of atoms in time disintegrates the filament -near its junction with the wires where it is -severest, and a patent has recently been taken -out by Mr Brush, the well-known inventor, for -the insertion of a mica screen between the -legs of the filament to shield them from the -pellets.</p> - -<p>The spectrum of the voltaic arc consists of the -continuous ribbon spectrum of the white-hot solid -carbons, and certain bright lines due to the -glowing vapours of the arc. The light is rich in -the blue or actinic rays so productive of chemical -action, and hence it is, perhaps, that Dr Siemens -found it so effective in forcing fruit and flowers by -night in lieu of the sun. It helps the development -of chlorophyl; and perhaps the electricity -itself has also something to do with assisting -growth, apart from the light, for several French -experimenters have found that electrified soil -and air seem to foster plants better than unelectrified. -It is remarkable, too, that young bamboo -shoots grow very rapidly after the thunderstorms -which usher in the Indian monsoons.</p> - -<p>The power of the arc-light is something unrivalled -by any other light, whether of limelight -or magnesium. At the famous Crystal -Palace Electrical Exhibition, an arc reputed to -be one hundred and fifty thousand candles in -power was lighted every evening. The carbons -were stout copper-plated bars nearly two and -a half inches thick. This intensity of illumination -renders the arc eminently adapted for -lighthouses and search-lights. Hence it is that -the French government have decided to light -forty of their coast lighthouses by electricity, and -that most of our warships and military trains are -now equipped with electric lamps for searching -purposes. We read that the fleet at Alexandria -explored the Egyptian forts by night with powerful -arcs; and that the French Admiral at Madagascar -struck terror into the breasts of the simple -Hovas by a similar display.</p> - -<p>For scouring the sea in search of torpedo-boats -by night, or icebergs and other ships during a -fog, the value of the arc-light cannot be too -highly estimated. The screw-steamer <i>Faraday</i>, -while engaged some time ago in laying a new -Atlantic cable, would have run right into an -iceberg in a Newfoundland fog, but for the -electric beam projected from her bows into the -misty air ahead. Fog, however, has a peculiarly -strong quenching power over the arc-light, -owing to the preference it has for absorbing all -the blue rays, and to the comparative poverty -of the orange colour. Hence it is that electric -arc-lamps look so white and dim in a dense -fog. A single gas-jet can be seen about as -far as a two-thousand-candle arc-lamp. This -is because the gas-jet is rich in those red rays -which penetrate a fog without being absorbed; -whereas it is poor in the blue rays which are -quenched. For this reason, also, the incandescence -lamp is preferable to the arc for a misty atmosphere.</p> - -<p>The incandescence lamp can also burn under -water, and owing to its pretty shape, its pure light, -its cleanliness, and independence of everything -except wires to bring the current to it, is highly -suitable for decorative purposes. It particularly -lends itself to ornamental devices of a floral order; -and a great variety of chandeliers and brackets -have now been designed representing various -plants with leaves of brass or filagree, and flowers -composed of tinted crystal cups containing the -lamps. Fruit is also simulated by lamps -of coloured glass. For example, at a Drury -Lane Christmas pantomime, both holly and -mistletoe berries were imitated by incandescence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">{142}</span> -lamps of crimson and opal glass. Artificial -lemon-trees, with fruit consisting of yellow -lamps, also make a pretty dining-table ornament. -So do vases of roses with incandescence -lamps hid in them, an ornament devised by -Mr J. W. Swan for his residence at Bromley. -Aquaria, too, can be lighted internally by -incandescence bulbs, and it would be very pretty -to see the lamps lying beside growing sea-anemones, -whose expansion might seem the more -lovely under the stimulus of their rays.</p> - -<p>A Christmas-tree looks very pretty when lighted -by a hundred incandescence lamps; the first -attempted being in all probability that in the -Swedish section of the Electrical Exhibition held -in Paris two years ago. At the Vienna Electrical -Exhibition there are, while we write, some novel -effects of electric illumination; for instance, there -is a hall lighted entirely from the ceiling by electricity. -The ceiling is painted a deep blue to represent -the sky, and studded with innumerable stars -in the shape of incandescence lamps. This reminds -us of the allegorical sun produced in the window of -Mr Mayal, the well-known photographer, by means -of the same illuminant.</p> - -<p>From its cool brightness and safety from fire, -the incandescence light is very well adapted for -theatres, and there are now several opera-houses -and theatres lighted by it. The Savoy Theatre, -London; the Princess’s Theatre, Manchester; the -Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, &c., are all lit by -incandescence lamps owing to its brilliance as -compared with gas. Some change was necessary -in the making-up of the actors and actresses, and -the painting of the scenes; but at the New Grand -Theatre, Islington, the changes have been avoided -by the use of yellow glass bulbs which soften -the light. At the Electrical Exhibition, Vienna, -there is a model theatre with numerous scenic -effects never before attempted by gas; and moonlight, -sunrise, sunset, twilight, and night are -all imitated with great fidelity. In the drama -of <i>Love and Money</i> at the Adelphi Theatre, -a flood of daylight bursting in upon some -entombed miners through a hole cut in the coal -by a rescuing party was very well imitated by a -beam of ‘arc’ light. The practice of wearing tiny -star lamps on the hair or dress has also come -more into fashion. Probably the first use of -it was by the fairies in the comic opera of -<i>Iolanthe</i> at the Savoy Theatre. Each fairy carried -a small accumulator on her back half concealed -by her wings, and this gave electricity to a -miniature Swan lamp mounted on her forehead. -Ladies are sometimes to be seen with miniature -lamps attached to their dresses, and lighted by -a touch of their fingers upon a small key hid -in their belts. One might have glowworm or -firefly ornaments at this rate. The ‘death’s-head’ -pin worn by gentlemen in Paris a year or two -ago was a similar application of the electric -current. On touching a key to complete the -electric circuit of a small pocket battery, the -eyes of the death’s-head in the wearer’s breast -began to shine like sparks of fire.</p> - -<p>The use of the electric light for sporting -purposes has had some curious developments. -Polo, cricket, base ball, skating, and so on, have -all been played by night. At the Montreal Ice -Carnival last winter, the huge ice palace was -illuminated both out and in with thousands of -electric lights, and skating, curling, snow-shoeing, -and toboganning went on by night as well as -day.</p> - -<p>Gnats are fascinated by a powerful electric -lamp, and dance about it as they do in a beam -of evening sunshine. Light has an attraction for -many animals besides insects. Flying-fish spring -out of the sea when sailors hang a lantern by the -ship’s side; and in California now it is the -custom to submerge a cluster of Edison lamps -from the bows of a boat with a net expanded -below. When the fish gather round the light -the net is closed on them, and after being hauled -out of the water they are put into water-tanks, -and sent alive on special cars by overland rail to -New York and the Eastern States. The French -<i>chasseur</i> also makes a bag sometimes by employing -an electric light to attract his feathered game; -pigeons especially being lured by it.</p> - -<p>Owing to its power, the arc-light is very well -suited for signalling purposes; and hence it is -now used with the heliograph to signal the -approach of cyclones between the British island -of Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean. -It has also been proposed to signal by transparent -balloons lit by incandescence lamps. The -balloon is raised to a good height by a rope which -also carries the wires conveying the current to -the lamps; and flashes according to an understood -code of signals are made by working a -key to interrupt the current, as in the act of -telegraphing.</p> - -<p>Diving operations under the sea are greatly -facilitated by the electric light; and a trial was -recently made of a powerful lamp at Marseilles -in lighting up the hull of a sunken ship. The -amber hunters of the Baltic are also using the -light for seeking the fossil gum on the sea-bed, -instead of waiting until the waves cast it on the -shore. Sea-water is remarkably clear, and the -rocks of the seashore are often beautifully covered -with weeds and shells. It is no wonder, then, -that a submarine balloon has been devised by one -Signor Toselli at Nice, for going under water to -examine them. This observatory holds eight -people, and has a glass bottom and an electric -light for illuminating the sea-caves.</p> - -<p>The electric light is not free from danger; -but, from not being explosive, it is far from being -as fatal in its effects as gas. There have been -several deaths from electric shock caused by the -very powerful currents of the Brush and Jablochkoff -machines. For instance, a man was killed -instantly on board the late Czar’s yacht <i>Livadia</i> -when crossing the Bay of Biscay. He had accidentally -grasped the bare connections of one of -the electric lamps and received the current through -his breast. Others have been killed by touching -bare wires conveying the current; a man in -Kansas City, United States, met his death quite -recently in repairing some electric light wires -without knowing that the current flowed in them. -Carelessness of some kind was the source of these -misfortunes; but the use of such very deadly -currents is to be deprecated. When the electromotive -force of an electric current exceeds five -hundred volts it becomes dangerous, and hence -it is that the Board of Trade prohibits the use of -more powerful currents for general lighting. The -use of overhead wires, sometimes uninsulated -and never wholly insulated, such as obtains in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">{143}</span> -some parts of the United States, ought also to be -eschewed, and underground cables, safe out of -harm’s way, employed instead. With cables buried -in the earth, we should not have a repetition of -the curious incident which recently happened at -the Luray Cavern in Virginia, where lightning -ran into the cave along the electric light conductors -and destroyed some of the finest stalactites.</p> - -<p>The plan of having tall masts with a cluster -of very powerful lights reflected from the height -by mirrors is a very good one, since it obviates -the distribution of wires and lamps. By imitating -the sun, in this way a Californian town is entirely -lighted from one or two masts; and it is satisfactory -to know that the system is being tried at -South Kensington.</p> - -<p>The dynamos of electric machines have been -known to explode, or rather burst from the centrifugal -force due to the rapid revolution of the -armature. An accident of this kind recently -caused great alarm in a New York theatre. -Sparks from the red-hot carbons of arc-lamps, or -between wire and wire of the conductors, have -also led to many small fires; but none of any -great consequence. A spark is so feeble a source -of heat that, unlike the spilling of an oil-lamp, it -does not produce a powerful fire, provided the -materials it falls among are not highly inflammable. -On the whole, the danger of fire with -electric lighting, especially incandescence lighting, -has probably been exaggerated. The incandescence -lamp itself is very safe, since if one be -enveloped in light dry muslin and broken, the -muslin is not burnt. In fact, the rush of air -caused by the broken vacuum entirely dissipates -the red-hot filament.</p> - -<p>From its injurious aspects we turn now to its -beneficial qualities. The arc-light by its brilliance -is not good for the eyesight when looked at -direct, but there is probably nothing harmful in -the light itself, unless it should be the excess of -violet rays. It is a cool light; and hot lights, -by drying the natural humours of the eye, are -the most prejudicial to the sight. The incandescence -light which is free from excess of violet -rays is also a cool light; and as it neither pollutes -nor burns the air of a chamber, it is the best -light for a student. Small reading-lamps, fitted -with movable arms carrying incandescent bulbs, -are now manufactured for this purpose. Even -with the incandescence lamp, however, it is advisable -not to look at the brilliant filament.</p> - -<p>Surgeons and dentists find these little incandescence -lamps of great service in examining the -teeth and mouth. Some are made no larger than -a pea. Others are fitted into silver probes (cooled -by circulating water) for insertion into the stomach -to illuminate its coats, or enable a physician to -diagnose other internal organs. Dr Payne, of -Newcastle-on-Tyne, recently made an examination -of the liver by inserting one of these -endoscopes into it through an incision made in -the abdomen. M. Trouvé has also fitted a small -lamp to a belt which goes round the physician’s -forehead, thereby enabling him to direct the light -to where he is looking. Another experimenter has -so applied the light that he has been able to -photograph the vocal chords while in the act of -singing; and a third has illuminated the whole -interior of a living fish, so that all the main -physiological operations could be witnessed by a -class of students. Such services as these could -not be rendered by any other known illuminator.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="HUSH-MONEY">HUSH-MONEY.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Out</span> of the countless variety of evil-doers who -thrive upon the misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, -and are enabled to gain a means of -livelihood by the folly and timidity of their dupes, -one class above all others seem to conduct their -depredations with much success, on account of -the defenceless position of the unhappy individuals -upon whom they prey. We allude to those who -make it their business to levy what is termed -‘hush-money.’</p> - -<p>There are innumerable miscreants who thrive -upon the possession of some discreditable secret -or family skeleton, which throws a desolating -blight over many a life, to all appearance -surrounded by every comfort and luxury -wealth can command. Scoundrels of this description, -secure in the helplessness of their victims, -pursue with impunity their merciless system -of extortion, being well aware that the terror -of exposure is so great, that silence will be -purchased at any price. If persons who are -threatened by ruffians of this kind with exposure -of some private matter, were once and for all to -refuse to pay one penny for the silence of these -extortioners, how much misery would be avoided! -Each instalment of hush-money only serves to -whet the appetites of these social harpies. It is -infinitely preferable to face boldly at first the -worst, no matter of how serious a nature, than to -supply blackmail for the purchase of what -can never be security. The majority of malefactors -are cowards at heart, although a craven -nature is in such cases concealed often by bluster -and braggadocio. It therefore becomes all the -more important at once to withstand their -infamous importunities.</p> - -<p>The ordinary observer, while reading in some -sensational novel the evil deeds and extortion -perpetrated by the class of knaves who subsist -on hush-money, would be inclined to attribute -them to romance. It is, however, well known -to those who have had experience in criminal -matters, that the novelist’s fertile imagination -pales before stern reality. Innocent persons have -been threatened with an accusation of some infamous -crime, and at the same time money has been -demanded as the price of silence. The dread -caused by even an accusation of such a nature -has often, unfortunately, induced persons so situated -to accede to extortionate demands. There -are plenty of <i>mauvais sujets</i> hovering about society -who make it their business to become intimate -with the private history of those upon whose -infirmities they intend to trade. Not many -years since, a notable instance of this occurred. -A gentleman in a high social position was ruthlessly -assailed and socially ruined by a miscreant, -who traded upon the possession of some information -of a dubious nature reflecting discredit upon -his wife. For a lengthened period this gentleman -had paid considerable sums of money for the -silence of his persecutor; at last, however, driven -to desperation by continual and increased demands -for hush-money, he preferred rather to face a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">{144}</span> -public trial than continue longer subject to such -tyranny and extortion.</p> - -<p>The following apt illustration of blackmailing, -which came under the writer’s personal cognisance, -will show the rascality in vogue amongst these -wretches. A wealthy merchant was for some -years completely in the power of a thorough-paced -scoundrel who had previously been in his -employ. This knave became acquainted with a -delicate family matter, which, if disclosed, could -but entail shame and misery upon his late -employer. He threatened to make this information -public unless well paid for his silence. -This gentleman, although surrounded by every -luxury, was in truth a thoroughly miserable man. -Living in a constant state of fear lest his family -skeleton should be revealed in all its hideousness, -he continued from time to time to supply his -tormentor with large sums of money. The -continual mental strain caused his health to -give way, until at last he wisely determined -to consult his legal adviser upon what was the -bane of his life. Prompt steps were then taken, -which for ever freed him from further extortion. -These things daily happen, and yet, unfortunately, -frequently remain unpunished.</p> - -<p>What can be more terrible than to exist in -constant fear of pending ruin—entirely at the -mercy of some miscreant, who by one word can -destroy a hitherto stainless reputation! It is a true -saying that ‘there is a skeleton in every house,’ -and if discovered by any designing knave, may -be transformed into a sword of Damocles. Confidential -servants and discharged valets often -wring large sums from their former employers -by means of extortionate demands combined with -threats of disclosing certain family matters calculated -to bring shame upon their late masters’ or -mistresses’ good name.</p> - -<p>The payment of any illicit demand as a price -of secrecy rarely, if ever, permanently obtains the -object in view, the donor being more or less in -constant fear lest a disclosure should take place. -This usually transpires sooner or later, when the -torturer has abstracted the uttermost penny from -his victim. No greater delusion can possibly -exist than that ‘hush-money’ will secure durable -secrecy.</p> - -<p>Happily, however, the legislature, having in -view the nefarious practices of such criminals, has -provided a most potent remedy against this class of -robbers, which remedy cannot be too generally -known. The Act of Parliament 24 and 25 Vict. -s. 49, enacts, <i>That whosoever shall accuse or threaten -any person with a view to extort money or valuable -security, shall be guilty of felony, and be liable -at the discretion of the court to be kept in penal -servitude for life, or for any term not less than -five years</i>. All demands for hush-money met -at the outset by firm and unyielding refusal, is -the best and only course to adopt. In the -majority of instances, a villain would at once be -completely checkmated; and even should he -venture to extremities, the law is powerful enough -to put an end to his shameful trade. Anything -is better than to live in constant terror of exposure, -and to be remorselessly plundered by such a -vampire. We often hear of strange suicides, the -reason for which is wholly incomprehensible. It -is by no means surprising that, at times, persons -wanting in resolution, are made desperate by a -system of exquisite mental torture, when unmercifully -applied by these extortioners. Innumerable -unhappy persons are unquestionably thus tormented, -like Prometheus on his rock. Such -anguish, although unseen, is far greater than -physical suffering, as all mental tribulation is -more severe than mere bodily pain.</p> - -<p>If any one who is assailed by a miscreant in -quest of ‘hush-money’ were at once to place the -matter in the hands of some respectable solicitor, a -course of misery would be avoided, as any attempt -to extort money through threats or otherwise -comes clearly within the provisions of the Act -above mentioned; and criminal proceedings will -be found the most effectual means for exterminating -so great a social pest.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="DONALD_A_PONY">DONALD—A PONY.</h2> -</div> - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><span class="smcap">Are</span> thy tired feet on this rough earth yet walking,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Thou patient silent one;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Maybe, with humble cart, and poor wares hawking,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Thy life-course nearly run?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Be thankful that thou dost not e’er remember</div> - <div class="verse indent8">One radiant summer day;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That dreams of June come not in <i>thy</i> December,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">When skies are cold and gray!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He rode on thee along the sunny highway,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">To meet me where I stood</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Out from the village, in a soft green by-way—</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Our young hearts were in flood.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He saw me—swift as thought from off thee leaping,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">He led thee by one hand;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And with the other clasped me, sweetly keeping</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Me under Love’s command.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Ah! then began a walk through Eden’s glory—</div> - <div class="verse indent8">We wandered slowly on;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">While I, deep blushing, saw and read the story</div> - <div class="verse indent8">That through his blue eyes shone.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">We sat, and let thee browse—came some light laughter</div> - <div class="verse indent8">To ease our brimming hearts,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That could not tell their too full joy; till—after—</div> - <div class="verse indent8">When pierced by parting’s darts.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">The hour flew on—ah me! ’twas our last meeting</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Ere he would cross the sea;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And when again we two should offer greeting,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">I was his bride to be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">So we clung close, each costly moment counting,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">Wild with our vain self-pity!—</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The hour was o’er—then slowly on thee mounting,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">He rode back to the city.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">O Donald! Yesterday, to Wemyss Bay going,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">I passed that very spot;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">I saw thee browse, whilst our swift tears were flowing—</div> - <div class="verse indent8">(I have not yet forgot).</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">He sailed across the sea; but came not hither</div> - <div class="verse indent8">For me, his bride, again;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And Hope and Joy fled far—I know not whither,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">But left me Love and Pain.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">My lonely days are dull and cold and common,</div> - <div class="verse indent8">And thine mayhap are done;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">But—a <i>new</i> day dawns for man and woman</div> - <div class="verse indent8">After this setting sun.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse right">K. T.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<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. 9, VOL. 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