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diff --git a/75204-h/75204-h.htm b/75204-h/75204-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..645d509 --- /dev/null +++ b/75204-h/75204-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2580 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Chambers’s Journal, October 16, 1886 | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + + + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} + + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} +.poetry .attrib {text-align: right;} + +.ph3{ + text-align: center; + font-size: large; + font-weight: bold; +} + +.header {text-align: center; margin-top: 0;} +.header p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} +.header .floatl {float: left;} +.header .floatr {float: right;} +.header .floatc {padding-top: .5em;} + +.x-ebookmaker .header {text-align: center; margin-top: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker .header p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker .header .floatl {float: left;} +.x-ebookmaker .header .floatr {float: right;} +.x-ebookmaker .header .floatc {padding-top: .5em;} + + + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2em;} + + + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75204 ***</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_657">{657}</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="#CAVE-HUNTING_IN_YORKSHIRE">CAVE-HUNTING IN YORKSHIRE.</a><br> +<a href="#BY_ORDER_OF_THE_LEAGUE">BY ORDER OF THE LEAGUE.</a><br> +<a href="#KENTISH_HOPS">KENTISH HOPS.</a><br> +<a href="#GEORGE_HANNAYS_LOVE_AFFAIR">GEORGE HANNAY’S LOVE AFFAIR.</a><br> +<a href="#A_HUMBLE_SPRIG_OF_NOBILITY">A HUMBLE SPRIG OF NOBILITY.</a><br> +<a href="#A1_AT_LLOYDS">A1 AT LLOYD’S.</a><br> +<a href="#DESTRUCTIVE_INSECTS">DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS.</a><br> +<a href="#A_NURSE">A NURSE.</a><br> + +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter" id="header" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <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. 146.—Vol. III.</span></p> +<p class="floatr"><span class="smcap">Price</span> 1½<em>d.</em></p> +<p class="floatc">SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1886.</p> +</div></div></div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CAVE-HUNTING_IN_YORKSHIRE">CAVE-HUNTING IN YORKSHIRE.</h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> finest county in all England is the great +shire of York, with its rugged coast, and its rolling +plains dotted with many a noble church, its +wild moorlands and lofty fells, its fertile valleys +with their monastic ruins and crumbling castle-keeps. +Every Yorkshireman is proud of his +county, whether he be foxhunting Squire, lord +of thousands of its acres, or merchant-prince—a +brawny artisan, toiling in one of its great manufacturing +towns, or a stalwart dalesman—a miner +drifting for lead in the north-west, or a pitman +burrowing for coal in the south—the sturdy +yeoman-farmer of the wolds, or bluff fisherman +on the shores of the wild North Sea—for is it +not a very epitome of his country?</p> + +<p>Micklefell, Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent, +and many a mountain crest on the west, +the bold chalk headland and wondrous caverns +of Flamborough, with the romantic stretch of +cliffs round Robin Hood Bay to eastward, afford +scenery of the grandest description. Swaledale, +Teesdale, Wensleydale, Nidderdale, and Wharfedale, +with the rich plain of York beyond stretching +away to the tilled slopes of the wolds and +Hambleton Hills, are gems of softer beauty. The +big towns of Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, +are seats of busy commerce, whose black +smoke pollutes the air, whilst the snorting +engine and thundering steam-hammer resound +both night and day. The broad Humber bears +on its tide-ruffled bosom great fleets from Hull +and Goole, which carry their wares to every +corner of the world. Fountains, Bolton, Rievaulx, +Kirkstall, Pervaulx, and lesser abbeys, tell of +past glories; whilst York, Ripon, Selby, Beverley, +and Bridlington minsters are still glories of +to-day. The castles of York, Bolton, Knaresborough, +Wressle, Conisbrough, Pontefract, Helmsley, +Scarborough, and other relics of troublous +times yet look down upon this peaceful nineteenth +century. The battlefields of Stamford +Bridge, Northallerton, Wakefield, Towton, and +Marston Moor still speak of the share Yorkshire +had in making England’s history; and grand old +York, with its ancient churches and minster, its +frowning Bars, and encircling city walls, recalls +past fame and grandeur, when the legions garrisoned +it as ‘Eboracum,’ the chief seat of the +Roman power in Britain (when London was an +insignificant village) long before Saxon and Dane +fought in the narrow streets for possession of it +as ‘Eoforwic.’ For the archæologist, the botanist, +the painter, and the sportsman, old ‘Eurewicshire’ +is a happy hunting-ground indeed; the antiquary +and philologist alike find it a rich storehouse of +quaint customs and strange dialects; whilst to +the geologist and physiographist, it is a charming +text-book, written in bold graceful language, with +many beautiful and wondrous illustrations.</p> + +<p>But besides all this, Yorkshire offers vast delights +to the explorer and lover of adventure, +in the curious subterranean water-courses and +awesome caverns which abound in the limestone +ranges of the north-west. Less famous than the +underground chambers of Derbyshire, they are +yet more numerous, and, with two or three +exceptions, are utterly free from the desecrating +presence of the inveterate ‘guide,’ who +rushes you through them, working unseemly +havoc the while with Queen’s English, as he +waves his tallow candle, and bids attention to +the features of the show. It is true that Clapham +Cave and Stump Cross Caverns are regular stock +tourist properties, where the lessees give admission +and provide illuminants at a fixed charge per +head; but he who would see the weird, lonely +passages of Ingleborough and Penyghent must +find his own way, and carry a goodly supply of +candles with him, for the Great ‘Alum Pot’ is +not a Poole’s Cavern which glares bravely when +the gas is turned on; and no urchin hastens before +to stick torches in the crevices and fissures of +Catknot Hole. The real cave-hunter will rejoice +at this, and fixing his headquarters at one of the +little inns in the neighbourhood, will don his +canvas overalls and stiff felt hat, and go forth +jubilantly, well stocked with ‘dips’ and matches, +not forgetting luncheon and the cheering pipe. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_658">{658}</span>Of course, if the caves are only to be viewed and +peeped into, the ‘overalls’ are needless; but if +a thorough exploration is intended, then, in +addition, a stout rope some twelve yards long at +least, and two companions, should be taken, for +abrupt descents occur which are impassable without +a rope and strong arms to hold it.</p> + +<p>Ingleborough, with its younger brother Simon +Fell, is the central landmark of the great cave +district—a district lying between Penyghent and +Gragreth, Cam Fell, and the village of Clapham, +and measuring roughly nine miles square, which +contains all the chief Yorkshire caves and ‘pot +holes,’ with the exception of a group in the limestone +at the head of Nidderdale—one or two +at Settle and Kilnsey, and the famous ‘Stump +Cross’ Cavern, which lies a little off the mountain +road running over from Pateley Bridge +into Wharfedale. The picturesque village of +Ingleton is a pleasant headquarters from which +to see Clapham and Yordas Caves, and whence +Ingleborough and Whernside may be ascended; +but if intent on systematically doing the district, +the lonely <i>Gearstones Inn</i>, which stands on the +moors some seven or eight miles on the road +which runs up Chapel-le-dale over to Hawes in +Wensleydale, is the best place to put up at. +Here, within easy reach, are Douk Caves, long +water-worn tunnels piercing the limestone scaurs +which flank the Ingleborough range, wherein is +nothing curious except a circular opening like a +well, which brings down a beam of light, and +gives a glimpse of blue sky thirty feet up through +the rock.</p> + +<p>Higher up the scaurs are the curious holes, or +‘pots’ as they are locally termed, ‘Meregill,’ Barefootwives, +and Hardrawkin. The first is a slit in +the ground about forty yards long, ranging from +two to nine, and bridged now and again by +stones and turf; and you can plumb it to a depth +of a hundred feet, fifty at least being under water. +Hardrawkin is a pot or fissure nine yards deep, +which lies between two narrow caves, both of +which may be explored, though water often covers +the floors. Near the little gabled church of +Chapel-le-dale, rendered notable by Southey’s +<i>Doctor</i>, is Wethercote, and its complements Jingle +and Hurtlepots, one of the sights of the district. +The top of Wethercote is level with the ground, +about fifty yards long and sixteen wide, though it +narrows towards the ends. Descending fifty feet +we come upon a rough arch of rock, and passing +under it, are in the middle of the pot, and again +descend until the bottom is reached, forty good +yards below the surface of the ground. Right in +front and eighteen yards above is an opening in +the wall of rock; and from it a stream of water +leaps in a thundering cascade, filling the pot with +spray, and then diving with a shuddering rush +into a low cave, disappears on its underground +course to Jingle and Hurtle Pots, three hundred +yards lower down the dale. The first of these is +twenty yards long, and ten to three broad and +fifteen deep; and the last, twenty-five yards by +fifteen, and about twenty-five deep, with a sullen +black pool nine or ten yards deep, from which no +outlet is apparent. When the stream is low, it +flows far out of sight; but after heavy rain, it can +be heard and seen swirling in the dark depths of +these pots; and it ‘hurtles’ out of, and thus gives +name to, the larger of the two. But when the +‘floods are out,’ the sight is grand and terrible, +for then Wethercote fills entirely, and overflowing, +foams a torrent down the mossy ravine which +scores the land above the unseen water-course +below. In the hillside at the back of Gearstones +is a winding passage, Catknot Hole, which a +guide-book says ‘contains romantic cascades and +precipices, and is near four hundred yards long.’ +Three of us struggled again into our thick wet +boots one evening, after dining sumptuously in +the inn kitchen upon ham and eggs, and having +cajoled the buxom hostess into presenting us each +with a tallow dip of yellow hue and evil savour, +we forded the stream in the darkness, and groped +our way into the cavern’s mouth to view the said +cascades. A stream flowing a foot deep suggested +the advisability of doffing boots and stockings in +view of a long tramp on the morrow. So, barefooted +and with sputtering candles, we began the +ascent, and toiled on for fifty minutes, until the +dips being nearly used up, and the long passage—which +was so narrow that it was difficult to force +an onward way—seeming to wind on for ever, +the retreat was sounded, and we struggled back, +counting nine hundred paces till we reached the +entrance, with an ounce of candle among the +three. Of ‘cascades and precipices’ we saw +never a sign; but on squeezing past sharp bends, +we plentifully plastered ourselves with soft calcareous +deposits, which our jackets showed next +morning to be strongly impregnated with oxide +of iron.</p> + +<p>On the slopes of Penyghent are some half-dozen +‘pots,’ besides numerous openings into the +ground, each with a streamlet issuing from or +else plunging into it. The whole of this limestone +district is, in fact, completely honeycombed +by hidden passages and water-worn channels, and +often a fall of roof lets daylight and the explorer +into the dark passages which pierce the hillsides +in all directions. ‘Hull’ and ‘Hunt’ Pots are +the finest and chief of the Penyghent series; the +former a huge quarry-like hole with perpendicular +sides, some seventeen yards long by thirty +deep, and from ten to thirty wide, into which +a stream—or beck, as the local term is—leaps, +making in floods a fine fall. Hunt Pot is more +curious, and really is a pot in the floor of a +pot; the upper one being about thirty yards by +eighteen and ten deep, and having in the centre +a narrow chasm, five or six yards across at the +widest part, narrowing to three at a depth of +twelve yards. Into the narrow end, a beck from +Penyghent’s bold crest falls, filling the black +depths with mist, till it reaches the bottom of +the pot, sixty-five yards below; and then it flows +in darkness, crossing—so tradition says—the +stream from Hull Pot, until it issues in the +valley as Bransil Beck, and finds its way into +the infant river Ribble.</p> + +<p>But the grandest of all these Ingleborough pots +and caves, and the one which offers the most +risk, and needs withal a steady nerve as well +as a fearless heart if it is to be really seen and +properly known, is ‘Alum Pot,’ lying on the +north-west shoulder of Simon Fell, a mile above +the ruined and deserted village of Selside, whose +roofless and crumbling cottages and farmsteads +are a fit prelude to the weird loneliness and +awesomeness which seem to cling about this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_659">{659}</span>great chain of gloomy caverns. A rough stone +wall has been built to protect the main chasm, +or Alum Pot proper; and clambering over its +jagged edges, we are face to face with a tremendous +cleft, which can only be described by +the word awful—sixty yards long by from ten +to twenty wide. At the southern end, a beck +comes sliding over the mossy edge, and then +leaps shuddering into unseen depths, whilst a +thin cold mist rises up out of the blackness. +Across the pot, near the narrow end, are two +balks of timber, fixed years ago, when a party +of gentlemen descended this shaft; and carefully +walking along them, we reach the middle, and +look down into the tremendous hole, and see +nothing but slimy walls of rock covered with +lichens, and here and there great hartstongues +hanging in the gloom, and waving in a chill upcurrent +of air which blows steadily from the +sunless depths. The first impression is one of +nameless dread and shrinking, an effect only +heightened when a large stone is dropped into +the yawning gulf, and we strain ears for six long +seconds before it strikes at all; and then, for +several moments after, hear it falling still, rebounding +lower and lower in unknown abysses +beneath the plank which holds us up. After +gazing steadily downwards until the eye becomes +used to the chill gloom, we catch sight of a +sloping dark-green plain far below, from which +a stone will roll into deeper depths beneath, and +see, some thirty yards down the northern side, +a huge dark arch, which ends a passage coming +in from the hillside.</p> + +<p>Without a very long stout rope, it is impossible +to descend Alum Pot from the bridge-balks; +and to swing freely over a visible gulf which +is in all three hundred yards deep is a stiff trial +for ordinary nerves. So, rescaling the wall, we +climb some hundred and fifty yards westward +up the hillside, until we come upon several +openings in the ground known collectively as +Longchurn and Diccan Pots. Dropping into the +hollow, we see two passages leading in different +directions, and can hear in the unseen distance +the roar of water on its way to Alum Pot. +About ten yards down, the lower passage joins +one in which a stream is foaming; and a piece +of burning magnesium ribbon lights up a goodly +cavern, and shows a small cascade seven or eight +feet high which glistens milk-white in the brightness; +and plunging into the cold waters hurrying +onwards, we follow them in their winding +channel, often down abrupt descents and tiny +falls, for, say, sixty yards or more, until a roomier +passage strikes off to the right. The stream +flows straight on for some score yards, and then +joins one which flows at right angles on a lower +level, coming from a more westerly direction. +If wading be a weakness, this route may be followed; +but as underground becks are decidedly +cold, even in July, the drier and loftier channel +offers decided advantages. After many windings +and one or two steep drops, passing lesser openings +which branch off on either hand, a large +and lofty chamber is reached, studded with rough +rocks, terminating in a black and apparently +bottomless abyss, across which a gleam of twilight +struggles in from the Great Alum Pot through +the arch, which is seen when looking down from +the bridge. This gulf is about thirty-six yards +deep, and is curiously divided down the middle +by a long thin rock, which is reached after a +descent of some ten or twelve yards, and affords +a precarious resting-place before descending the +other fifteen yards, which brings us to the mossy +sloping rock visible from the top of the pot, and +which crosses it at the northern end. About +thirty yards along this is a break where a rock +slopes down to a lower level, and forms a bridge +over a depth of at least thirty-five yards; but +past this, the way is easy to the south end, where +the waterfall comes down from the edge of the +pot, seventy yards above, to fall still twenty yards +before it strikes the rocks. Descending to this +level, a series of steps down yet six or seven +yards leads to two further falls of some thirty +and ten feet each, and then the water goes +onward along a passage and disappears in darkness.</p> + +<p>The great descent of Alum Pot was made many +years ago, when the balks of timber already +mentioned were thrown across at the top by +several gentlemen in the neighbourhood, and the +engineers who were constructing a line of railway +near Settle. Upon the bridge thus formed +a winch was fixed, and the explorers were let +down in a bucket, two at a time, plumb seventy +yards to the rocks where the waterfall strikes, +thus avoiding the long tiring descent of the +passage from Longchurn. The last fifty feet +gave each bucket-load a drenching, for it brought +them directly under the falling water—a very +effective douche-bath. Leaving the pot, they +followed the stream for forty yards down the +passage until they came into a lofty cavern +where was a waterfall forty feet in height, formed +by another subterranean streamlet; and passing +through this, and continuing for thirty yards +further, they reached a circular hole where the +water sank in a miniature whirlpool; and that +was the end of the mysterious Alum Pot. Where +the water goes to, is uncertain; it is said to +flow under Selside village, and come to light +again either in a muddy pot called Footnaws, +twelve yards deep; or else to pass under the +bed of the Ribble, and reappear in Turn Dub, +a quiet pool ten yards across, out of which a +goodly stream flows steadily into the river. One +reason why the country-people hold Turn Dub +to be the outlet is that, when a marble quarry +which lies just above Longchurn Pot was being +worked, the water in the Dub was milky and +muddy like the stream which flowed into Alum +Pot.</p> + +<p>The next most curious group of caverns lies +out of the Ingleborough district altogether, at +the head of Nidderdale, about the hamlets of +Middlesmoor and Lofthouse, where comfortable +quarters may be had in their unpretentious inns. +On Howsteanbeck, which comes down a romantic +gorge, are several chambers easy of access; and +in a field on the Middlesmoor side is an opening +which leads into a long underground passage +known as Eglin’s Hole, of unknown extent. +The roof is in many parts so low that crawling +is an absolute necessity; and as the floor is often +covered with soft mud, and there is nothing +particular to see, no large chambers or curious +formations, the time required for this tunnel may +be far more advantageously spent in exploring +the most famous and interesting cavern of all, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_660">{660}</span>‘Goyden Pot,’ which lies two miles above Lofthouse, +close to the farmstead of Limley, and +which carries the river Nidd mysteriously underground +to below Lofthouse Church. The mouth +of this miscalled ‘pot’ is at the foot of a cliff +seven or eight yards high, on the boulder-filled +bed of what was the river before it broke its +way into the hillside, and which is swept by a +noisy torrent still in heavy floods, when the +waters fill the cavern to overflowing. A passage +varying in height from two to five yards, and +about one hundred yards long, with offshoots +running right and left, leads, after several descending +turns, into a huge chamber, filled with +the roar and unseen spray of falling waters; and +magnesium ribbon reveals a weird and frightful +scene—a deep abyss in front and below, a dome +of blackness overhead, on the left a plunging +cascade of flashing water, twenty feet at least in +height. Opposite and across the yawning gulf, +a dark archway marks where a passage leads +higher up into the mountain; whilst to right, +the stream still foaming after its leap, gurgles +and rushes round a bend into a lower pitch-dark +tunnel. In dry weather, a descent can be +made by the aid of a rope down the side of the +chasm, and the stream can be followed often +waist-high for a long distance. No one, in the +memory of living man, has succeeded in following +the water into daylight; but it certainly has +yet to be proved that it cannot be done, and +though twice baffled, we only wait a favourable +opportunity to make another determined attempt. +Long settled dry weather is absolutely necessary, +as, owing to the steepness of the sides of the +narrow valley, a single thunder-shower will raise +the level of the river several feet in half an +hour; and the tree-roots and other massive debris +which are plentifully wedged in the crevices of +the roof of the cavern are sufficient evidence of +the undesirability of being caught by the tide, +so to speak, in Goyden Pot.</p> + +<p>Such are some of the Yorkshire caves; and +those fond of adventure and rough healthy scrambling +will find many a day’s enjoyment therein, +and spend, moreover, many a pleasant hour +amongst the sturdy dalesmen, hearing quaint +country legends, told in a dialect homely and +rough, and seeing something of what life is like +unaffected by the hurry of the great world outside +the hills around. But let not the fastidious +venture in those wilds, for ham and eggs—eggs +and ham—become monotonous when doing duty +daily for breakfast, luncheon, dinner; and though +hospitable and open-hearted enough, yet the +dalesfolk look upon all, even Yorkshiremen who +are not natives, as ‘furiners.’</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak x-ebookmaker-important" id="BY_ORDER_OF_THE_LEAGUE">BY ORDER OF THE LEAGUE.</h2> +</div> + + +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was a little after five on the following afternoon +that Sir Geoffrey walked from his house +into the square. He seemed, by his uneasy air, +as if he was afraid of having his movements +watched, for he stopped, hesitated, and finally +walked away quickly in the direction of Upper +Brook Street. Calling a hansom, he was driven +to one of the quiet approaches, half town, half +country, beyond Paddington, where he dismissed +his cab. He then walked quickly on till he +reached his destination—a well-appointed though +sombre-looking establishment; and there, after +some hesitation, he knocked. The room he was +shown into was laid out with preparations for +dinner; and just as the little clock over the +mantel struck the half-hour after six, Le Gautier +entered. He greeted his guest quietly, almost +coldly, and rang the bell to order the meal. It +was a quiet little dinner, really irreproachable in +its way—the appropriate wines being perfect, for +Le Gautier by no means despised the pleasures +of the table, and, moreover, was not the man to +spare where he had a purpose to serve.</p> + +<p>‘Well, Sir Geoffrey,’ he said, toying with his +glass, when the meal had concluded—it was past +eight now, and the light was beginning to fail—‘do +you feel equal to the coming trial?’</p> + +<p>‘O yes,’ the baronet replied eagerly, though his +face was perturbed and the glass in his hand +shook. ‘Let us get it over; this suspense is killing +me. Sometimes I fancy you are playing some +devilish arts upon me. I doubt the evidence of +my senses.’</p> + +<p>‘You do not doubt,’ Le Gautier answered +sternly. ‘Listen!’</p> + +<p>The light in the room was fading, and nothing +distinctly could be seen save the glimmer of the +waning day upon glass and silver. At the +moment, the strains of music were heard, low +and soft at first, then swelling louder, but always +melancholy. It was quite impossible to tell +whence it came—it seemed to strike the ear as if +the earth was full of the sweet sounds. Suddenly +it ceased, and a sigh like a mournful wind broke +the stillness.</p> + +<p>‘It might be my dead brother himself playing,’ +Sir Geoffrey said, in great agitation. ‘The organ +was his favourite instrument. Strange that the +music should be so familiar to me!’</p> + +<p>‘Do you doubt now? Le Gautier asked. ‘Does +your unbelieving mind still run upon trickery or +mechanism, or are you convinced?’</p> + +<p>‘I must believe,’ the weak old man replied; +‘I have no alternative. I put myself in your +hands. Tell me what I am to do.’</p> + +<p>‘Your own conscience must guide you, and +what the spirits will to-night must be obeyed. +It is no question for me to decide; I am merely +the humble instrument, the medium between +one world and another. I dare not advise you. +When your nerves are sufficiently braced to meet +the dead, I will restore the communication.—Are +you afraid?’</p> + +<p>‘No, no!’ cried the baronet; ‘I am not afraid.’</p> + +<p>A cold, icy hand touched him on the cheek, +and a low voice whispered in his ear the words: +‘You are!’ Trembling, frightened, he rose from +his chair; and then suddenly the room was filled +with a great light, showing the baronet’s set face, +and Le Gautier’s pallid features wearing a sardonic +smile. Hardly had the light appeared, when it +was gone, leaving the room in double darkness at +the change. A yell of harsh, discordant laughter +rang out, dying away to a moan.</p> + +<p>‘What is that, Le Gautier?’ Sir Geoffrey asked. +‘Is this all real, or am I merely dreaming?’</p> + +<p>‘The spirits laugh at your audacity. You +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_661">{661}</span>boasted you were not afraid, whilst you are +trembling in every limb. You dare not say it +again!’</p> + +<p>‘I am alarmed, mystified,’ he said; ‘but I am +not afraid.’</p> + +<p>A mocking shout of laughter followed this +speech, and the words, ‘You lie!’ as if uttered +in chorus, were distinctly heard. A cold hand +clutched Sir Geoffrey by the throat, holding him +till he could hardly breathe. In his intense +agitation, he snatched at a shadowy arm, and +suddenly the hand relaxed its grip. Le Gautier +struck a match and lighted the candles.</p> + +<p>‘Are you afraid now?’ he asked quietly.</p> + +<p>‘O yes, yes; anything to save me from that +horrid grasp! My throat is aching with the +pressure.’</p> + +<p>Le Gautier looked at the finger-marks calmly. +He was acting splendidly, not overdoing the +affair in the slightest, and, on the other hand, +not appearing altogether indifferent. He was +playing for a high stake, and it required all his +cunning, all his cool audacity, to win. To the +casual observer, he might have been an enthusiastic +believer.</p> + +<p>‘You have seen enough,’ he commenced quietly, +but with an air of the most profound conviction—‘you +have seen enough to know that the time for +delay is past, and the hour for action has arrived. +The spirits to-night are incensed with you; they +are furious at this delay; and unless you solemnly +promise to carry out my proposals, I shall not +risk our lives by any manifestation to-night.’</p> + +<p>‘What am I to do?’ Sir Geoffrey cried piteously. +‘I put myself entirely in your hands. Tell me +my duty, and I promise to follow it.’</p> + +<p>‘So much the better for you,’ quoth Le Gautier +sternly. ‘Listen! You know I am a member of +a great Secret Society. In the first place, you +must join that; and let me tell you, your late +brother was a member, and took the keenest +interest in its movements. You must join!’</p> + +<p>‘I knew my brother was embroiled in some +rascally Socialist plots,’ said Sir Geoffrey incautiously; +‘but I really do not see why I’—— He +stopped abruptly, for the same mournful sigh +was heard, and a voice whispered in the air, +‘Beware!’ With increased agitation, he continued: +‘If that is part of my penance, I must +do so; though it is on the strict understanding +that I’——</p> + +<p>‘It is on no understanding at all!’ Le Gautier +thundered. ‘Who are you, poor mortal, that you +should make stipulations? We must have all or +nothing. Take it, or leave it!’</p> + +<p>He looked straight across into the other’s face, his +eyes burning with their intensity. For a moment +they sat thus, striving for the mastery. Then Sir +Geoffrey looked away. He was conquered.</p> + +<p>‘Let it be so,’ he said. ‘Your will has conquered +mine. Proceed, for I see you have something +more yet to say.’</p> + +<p>Again the sigh was heard, and a voice said +distinctly: ‘It is well.’ The music burst out +again triumphant this time. When the last +pealing strains died away, Le Gautier continued: +‘Your brother died at New York, as you know; +but at that time, he was on the business of the +Society. No man had his heart so firmly set +upon the cause as he, no man has been so missed. +You would never be able to take his place; but +you can help us indirectly; you can aid us with +what we most need, and that is money. You +shall see the shade of Sir Ughtred presently, and +hold converse with him; but, on the peril of +your life, do not move from the spot where I +shall place you.’</p> + +<p>‘Let us go now,’ Sir Geoffrey cried eagerly. +‘Why should we waste any more time talking +here?’</p> + +<p>‘Because things are not prepared. The shades +from another world do not come forth at a +moment’s bidding to show themselves to mortal +eyes, though the air is full of them now.’</p> + +<p>Sir Geoffrey looked uneasily around for any +traces of these ghostly visitors, though he could +see nothing; nevertheless, the idea of a chamber +full of supernatural bodies was by no means +pleasant.</p> + +<p>‘Then our pact is complete,’ Le Gautier continued. +‘Briefly, it stands thus: I am to show +you such things as you wish to see; and in +return, you become a member of our Brotherhood, +swearing to promote its welfare by all the +means in your power. Quick! say the word, +for I feel the unseen influence upon me.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes—agreed; only show me my brother.’</p> + +<p>As Sir Geoffrey spoke, a change came over +Le Gautier’s face; the baronet watching him, +perfectly fascinated. The medium’s eyes grew +larger and more luminous, his features became +rigid, and he moved like a man who walks in +a dream. His gaze was fixed upon the other, but +there was no sense of recognition there—all was +blank and motionless. He rose from his chair, +moving towards the door, his hands groping for +it like the action of the blind, and he beckoned +to Sir Geoffrey to follow him out along the dark +passage.</p> + +<p>‘Come!’ he said in a strange hollow voice—‘come +with me! The spirits are abroad, and +have need of me!’</p> + +<p>The room they entered was situated at the +back of the house, having a large old-fashioned +bay window of the shape and form one sees in +the banqueting-room of old country-houses—a +long narrow room, draped entirely in black; +and the only light in the place proceeded from +two small oil-lamps held by white Parian statues. +As the twain entered, the draperies were violently +agitated, as if by a sudden wind; an icy current +seemed to strike them full in the face. A chair, +impelled forward by an unseen hand, was pushed +across the bare floor, and Sir Geoffrey, at a motion +from his companion, seated himself therein. Le +Gautier stepped forward towards the window, +and lighted a flat brasier, sprinkling some sort +of powder upon it, and immediately the room +was filled with a dense violet mist, through +which the oil-lamps shone dimly. The weird +music commenced again, and as it died away, a +loud report was heard, and the curtains across +the window were wrenched apart, disclosing an +open space. As Sir Geoffrey gazed into it, a +form began to appear, misty at first, then getting +gradually clearer, till the watcher saw the figure +of a girl, dim and slight, for he could see the +woodwork of the window behind, but clear enough +to see she was fair and young, with thick masses +of long yellow hair hanging over her shoulders, +and half hiding her face from sight. There was +a look of sadness on the brow.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_662">{662}</span></p> +<p>‘You may speak,’ the strange hollow tones of +Le Gautier came through the mist. ‘If you +have any questions to ask, put them; but, at +the peril of your life, do not attempt to move.’</p> + +<p>With the most reverent and holy belief in the +reality of the scene before him, Sir Geoffrey gazed +at the downcast features. To his diseased mind, +he was on the borderland of another world, and +the very thought of speaking to the bright vision +was full of awe.</p> + +<p>‘Who are you?’ he said at length in tremulous +tones. ‘Let me know who it is with whom I +speak.’</p> + +<p>‘I am your better self,’ the vision spoke; and +the voice sounded faint and distant, yet very +sweet, like music on the waters. ‘I am your good +spirit, your guardian angel. I stand by you night +and day, the presiding deity of the honour of the +House of Charteris.’</p> + +<p>This artful stroke gave the listener confidence, +and flattered his family pride. ‘Has every man +a spirit such as you?’ he asked.</p> + +<p>‘Every man who is by nature noble—yes. To +every one who has courage and genius, one of +my sisters belongs. I am the guiding star of +your House. I have stood by you and yours +in the hour of need. I saw your father die. I +saw your brother’s deathbed. It is of him you +would speak?’</p> + +<p>‘It is,’ the baronet cried boldly. ‘What of +him?’</p> + +<p>‘You owe him a heavy debt of reparation,’ +the vision continued sadly. ‘In life, you were +not always friends; in death, you were not with +him. He left a family. Are you aware of that, +selfish mortal?’</p> + +<p>‘I did not know; I never knew. But it is +not yet too late to atone. Tell me where they +are, and I will go to them.’</p> + +<p>‘It is too late!’ the figure replied in tones of +deepest sorrow. ‘They are dead—dead of neglect; +nay, more, starvation. They will not dispute +your sway now. While you had flattery and +adulation, while you lived in luxury and splendour, +your kith and kin lacked bread.’</p> + +<p>‘But surely some atonement can be made?’</p> + +<p>‘Too late—too late! Nothing can avail them +now, no specious sophistry, no outward appearance +of remorse. You can atone, though slightly, +by completing the work your brother began in +life. Know that at your very door, proud man, +thousands of your fellow-creatures are starving, +ground down in the dust by injustice and oppression. +You can help to lighten this burden; you +can help these men, who, poor and savage as they +are, are yet men, and brothers.’</p> + +<p>‘I will!’ Sir Geoffrey cried eagerly—‘I will! +Only show me how; and let me see my brother, +if only for a brief moment.’</p> + +<p>‘That is well,’ the figure replied with a radiant +smile. ‘As for the means, I must leave that to +you. But you shall see your brother, if only for +a moment.—And now, farewell.’</p> + +<p>‘But stay another minute. I’——</p> + +<p>The farewell was repeated, coming to the +listener’s ears as from afar off, fainter and fainter, +as the violet mist rose again, filling the room +with a dense fragrant smoke, through which the +rigid figure of Le Gautier could be dimly seen +erect and motionless.</p> + +<p>When the mist cleared away again, the figure +of a man grew visible. Perfect, yet intangible, +he stood there, muffled in a long cloak, and his +features partially hidden by a soft broad-brimmed +hat. At this spectacle, Sir Geoffrey’s agitation +increased, and great drops stood upon his forehead.</p> + +<p>‘It is he—my brother!’ he groaned, starting +from his feet; but again the word ‘Beware!’ +seemed to be hissed in his ear. ‘My dear brother, +do not look at me like that. It was no fault +of mine, I swear.’</p> + +<p>The figure answered not, but looking the +wretched man in the face, pointed down to +his feet, where two thin, emaciated children +crouched, evidently in the last stage of disease +and starvation.</p> + +<p>‘What atonement can you make for this?’ +was asked in the stern tones the listener knew +so well. ‘Man! in the enjoyment of what +should, under happier auspices, have been mine, +what do you say to this?’ He pointed down +to the crouching children again, sternly yet +sadly.</p> + +<p>‘Anything,’ the baronet exclaimed—‘anything, +so that you do not torture me like this! It is +no fault of mine. I did not know. But anything +in my power I will do, and do gladly.’</p> + +<p>‘Well for you that you have spoken thus! +You shall complete the work I began in life, +and the man called Hector le Gautier shall +help you with his aid and counsel.—You have +a daughter?’</p> + +<p>‘I have—your niece Enid. What do you know +of her?’</p> + +<p>‘Much; perhaps more than you.—Listen! and +interrupt me at your peril. You may have +views for her; perhaps she has chosen for herself. +Am I right? But this must not be! +Hector le Gautier must wed her!’</p> + +<p>‘But I have other views. There is already’——</p> + +<p>‘Do you dare to cross me?’ the vision sternly +asked. ‘Have not I and mine suffered enough +at your hands? Promise, or’——</p> + +<p>He stopped abruptly, and again the sighing +voice whispered ‘Beware!’ In an agony of +terror, the baronet looked round; but the dark +eyes never seemed to leave him. So frightened +was he, so stricken by this cunningly devised +display, that he dared not defy the figure standing +there before him.</p> + +<p>‘I promise,’ he shouted at last—‘I promise.’</p> + +<p>‘’Tis well,’ the vision said. ‘From this moment, +you are free. You will see me no more; but +if you dare swerve a hairbreadth from our compact, +then you shall find my vengeance swift +and terrible. Geoffrey, farewell!’</p> + +<p>‘But, Ughtred; one moment more—I’——</p> + +<p>A deep shuddering sigh broke the silence, +and the figure was gone. Almost distracted, +Sir Geoffrey rushed forward to the curtains, +which had again fallen, but nothing was there. +The smoke cleared away, and once again the +room was quiet.</p> + +<p>Le Gautier opened his eyes, and gradually life +and motion came back to him, as he awoke like +a man from a trance. ‘Are you satisfied,’ he +asked, ‘with what you have seen?’</p> + +<p>‘Wonderful!’ the trembling baronet replied. +‘It was my brother to the life—the very voice +even. You heard the compact?’</p> + +<p>‘I, my dear Sir Geoffrey? No, indeed,’ Le +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_663">{663}</span>Gautier exclaimed in a voice of great surprise. +‘Recollect, I heard nothing; my faculties were +torpid; they formed the medium through which +sights and sounds were conveyed to you.’</p> + +<p>‘And you heard absolutely nothing?’</p> + +<p>‘Absolutely nothing.—But, of course, if there +happened to be anything which concerned me, +you can tell me at your convenience.—And +now, I think we have had enough of spirits for +one night, unless you would like something to +steady your nerves?’</p> + +<p>Sir Geoffrey declined the proffered refreshment, +pleading the lateness of the hour and his desire +to get home. Le Gautier did not detain him; +and after a few words, they parted; the one +to dwell upon the startling events of the evening, +and the other to complete his plans. It was a +neat stroke of Le Gautier’s to disclaim any knowledge +of the conversation, the rather that the +delicate allusion to his relations with Enid were +mentioned, and besides which, it acquitted him +from any awkward confidences.</p> + +<p>‘The game is in my hands,’ the schemer mused +an hour later, as he sat over his last cigar. +‘Would any one believe that a man of education, +I almost said sense, could be such a fool?—Hector, +<i>mon ami</i>, you will never starve as long +as there is a Charteris in the world. The +opportunity has long been coming, but the prize +is mine at last;’ and with these words, the +virtuous young man went to bed, nothing in his +dreams telling him that his destruction was only +a question of time, and that his life was in the +hands of two vengeful women.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="KENTISH_HOPS">KENTISH HOPS.</h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> country can show few prettier pictures than +a hop-garden in a sunny August. The bines +twine vigorously round the rustic poles, while the +side-shoots hang down in graceful festoons or from +pole to pole in tasteful wreaths. Rich clusters of +burr hanging from every joint bend down the +slender tendrils, until it seems that every moment +they must break; and but for tying and stringing, +break they often would. But if the graceful +plants are picturesque in themselves, it is when +viewed as a whole that the hop-garden has its +greatest charm. Stretching away in endless succession, +until lost in the narrowed distance, is +bower upon bower, in which Robin Goodfellow +and all his merry crew would be at home. +Everywhere there is a wanton luxuriance which +seems to belong to nature rather than to industry. +The artificial stiffness of the long lines of poles +is hidden by their wealth of greenery. In many +gardens, too, the hops are still planted in the +good old-fashioned style—in groups of three on +‘hills’—festooned in irregular triangles, each of +them a verdant arbour. Through the masses of +foliage, the sunshine gleams merrily, lighting up +the bright yellow catkins, and creating a thousand +contrasts of light and shade. The pungent sweetness +of the air gives an added charm to the +picture, which appeals to the several senses with +a rare witchery. We have little need, while we +have our hop-gardens, to envy the vineyards of +more sunny climes; and it may be a national +prejudice, but we take leave to doubt whether +in point of the picturesque they do not bear the +palm. But the comparison is superfluous.</p> + +<p>We, as a nation, are proud of our hop-growing +counties. We point triumphantly to the +‘fruit,’ which is, or ought to be, the staple of +our national beverage. In one respect, however, +the culture of the hop sadly resembles that of +the grape. Both are terribly hazardous. Not +even the dreaded phylloxera is more devastating +than the red spider. The oidium is not more +deadly than mould, and both diseases, curiously, +require to be treated by sulphuring. Hops, like +vines, are subject to plagues of vermin. The +hop-fly is a terrible pest, and when, as often +happens, it attacks the bines at the same time +as mildew, the case is almost hopeless, for sulphuring +cannot be employed. According to the +popular theory, sulphur, although it revives the +blighted bines, makes the fly more vigorous; so +that, as the fresh sap rises, it effects such a lodgment +in the plant that recovery becomes hopeless. +No more dismal spectacle can be imagined than +a blighted hop plantation. The blackened bines +cling listlessly to the poles. Here and there, a +few young but sickly shoots give proof of a +vain effort to throw off the pestilence, which +seems to threaten the very existence of the +parent stem.</p> + +<p>Hop-culture, indeed, has manifold dangers in +our treacherous climate. In dry seasons, the +crop is often so light as hardly to pay for the +picking; while, unless there be sunshine and +to spare, and, above all, a long spell of warm +nights, the burr hardly ripens, and the hops cannot +be got in anything like condition. It is not +perhaps generally known that although this is +a special branch of agriculture, and calls for a +high degree of skill and care, there are many +varieties of hops which are suited to many +different soils, and will thrive under different +conditions. It is a common saying in hop +counties that one good crop every seven years +will pay; so that it may well be asked whether, +notwithstanding the risk, a much greater area +could not be advantageously put under hops in +England? On soils and in situations where the +famous ‘Goldings’ or ‘Whitebines’ will not do +well, ‘Grapes’ often thrive. Then a kind known +by the familiar name of ‘Jones’s’ have long been +profitably grown on light and poor land; and +on stiff soils, ‘Colegates,’ a late and very hardy +variety, have done well. Flemish red bines, too, +although an inferior sort, often succeed in bad +years, since they are less susceptible to blight. +So there is plenty of choice for agriculturists.</p> + +<p>There is good reason for believing that hops +were known to the Anglo-Saxons, whether or +not they introduced them into Britain; for the +name is admittedly derived from the Anglo-Saxon +<i>hoppan</i>, ‘to climb.’ There is, however, a distich:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Turkey, carps, hoppes, pickard, and beer,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Came into England all in one year—</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>whence has arisen the notion that the plant was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_664">{664}</span>not known in this kingdom until the time of +Henry VIII. But although the method of +cultivating the plant in vogue in the Low +Countries may then have been first introduced +into England, as early as the year 1428 Parliament +was petitioned against the hop as a +‘wicked weed,’ showing that it was then coming +into use. It was not, however, until a century +later that it became a general ingredient in the +manufacture of malt liquors, and it was long +chiefly imported; for the plant was not extensively +cultivated with us until the beginning of the +seventeenth century. The city of London did +not look with favour upon the new industry, for +they petitioned the Long Parliament against ‘two +nuisances or offensive commodities which were +likely to come into great use and esteem; and +that was Newcastle coal in regard of their stench, +and hops in regard that they would spoyl the +taste of drink and endanger the people.’ The +petition, however, does not seem to have met +with very great success, for both industries soon +increased to prodigious proportions. Hops were +presently taxed, and became a source of considerable +revenue.</p> + +<p>Kent was always the chosen hop county. Some +seventy thousand acres are now under this crop, +and of these, forty thousand are in Kent alone. +Farnham is the centre of the hop district of +Surrey. Then parts of Hants and Sussex, Essex +and Suffolk, Hereford and Worcester, and even +so far north as Notts, have long been cropped +with hops; and although success has been +checkered with failure, the returns as a whole +have proved fairly remunerative. The yield is, +of course, very variable, ranging from eight to +ten hundredweight per acre in a good season, +the heaviest crop on record being twenty-five +hundredweight, to five and even three or less +in a bad one. The prices realised, too, depend so +much upon condition and quality that it is only +possible to give here the slightest indication. As +much as twenty-five pounds per hundredweight +has been paid for the first ‘pockets’ on sale in +the Borough; but this is, of course, a phenomenal +price. Owing to the immense quantities of +foreign hops in the market, prices in an ordinary +year seldom rule higher, for all but the very +finest sorts, than from nine to thirteen pounds +per hundredweight. But although hop cultivation +is steadily on the increase in England, it by no +means keeps pace with the import trade. Every +year we import many hundred thousand hundredweight, +of which about half comes from the +United States, and the remainder from Australia, +Belgium, France, Würtemberg, Central Germany, +and Holland. Against this we export only a few +thousand hundredweight to India and some of +the colonies.</p> + +<p>From all this, it will be seen that there is room +for a considerable increase in the land under hop +cultivation in this country. Nor, if the culture of +the plant be strictly subordinated to that of other +crops, need the risk be prohibitive. Moreover, a +variety of uses have lately been introduced for +the waste of the crop. Little, for instance, has +hitherto been made out of the bines in this +country; but within the last few years they have +been experimentally converted into ensilage and +found to form at once a valuable feeding material +and a useful tonic. Other uses have been found +for them abroad. Thus, in Sweden, they have +long been treated so that they could be woven +into a rough kind of cloth. The process was +formerly very tedious, consisting chiefly of soaking +them in water all the winter; but it has been +greatly expedited by treating them successively +with alkaline lye and acetic acid, when the fibre +is at once ready for bleaching. This use for hopbine +has, however, for some unknown reason, +never attracted much attention in Great Britain. +An English patent was once taken out for using +the plant for tanning purposes; but, so far as we +know, it has never been very successfully used; +and the bine is still to a large extent regarded as +a waste product, or at best used as litter.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="GEORGE_HANNAYS_LOVE_AFFAIR">GEORGE HANNAY’S LOVE AFFAIR.</h2> +</div> + + +<h3>CHAPTER III.—SUCCESS AT LAST.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Alfred Roberton</span> was too politic to make +known the full extent of his discomfiture. He +made light of the matter: most authors had +had their difficulties at first, and why should +he expect to escape? He made himself very +agreeable to the old gentleman. The short +experience he had had of trying to earn money +had led him to reflect that a man having a +snug going business and a farm worth four or +five thousand pounds might not be such an +undesirable father-in-law after all, even though +he <i>was</i> an innkeeper. He threw greater fervour +than ever into his manner towards Anne, and +talked in a gay and hopeful way of the future. +But she was too keen-sighted to be deceived; +she read the secret of his crushed hopes in his +sunken eyes and cheeks, and was not at all +misled by his forced cheerfulness of manner. +She forbore to annoy him with prying questions, +and affected in the meantime to see as roseate +a prospect as he himself did. When the colour +came back to his cheeks and he began to look +more like his former self, she spoke to him +seriously. Would he allow her to see the returned +manuscripts?</p> + +<p>‘You know, Alfred,’ she said, ‘I have been a +great reader of what is called “light literature” +in my day, and perhaps I might—from a reader’s +point of view, you know—happen to light on the +secret of your want of success. Give me two or +three of your stories, and I will have a look at +them before I go to bed to-night.’</p> + +<p>He was astonished! To think of this simple +country girl proposing to criticise his literary +work!</p> + +<p>‘Well, Nan, I’ll select two or three of my +best,’ he said; ‘but I fear you will prove far too +indulgent a critic to be a just one.’</p> + +<p>‘No, Alfred,’ the girl replied gravely; ‘you +need not fear that. You may depend that any +faults that I may perceive will be carefully +pointed out to you. Don’t look for any kidglove +treatment at my hands; and be prepared, +in any case, to keep your temper.’</p> + +<p>The next morning, after breakfast, she handed +him his papers back. He could not possibly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_665">{665}</span>guess from her countenance what her impression +had been. Her face had an earnest, but not +an altogether unhopeful look about it; certainly, +it did not show any signs at all of a wondering +admiration for his genius.</p> + +<p>‘Well, sir, I’ve read your stories, as I promised +I would. I will say all my disagreeable +things about them first. To begin: I think +they lack the narrative power which leads a +reader on, once he has commenced a story, and +almost compels him to read it to the finish. +Of course he is disappointed at the denouement; +but he is equally ready to be cheated again by +the next book he takes up, provided the author +has the same power to lure him on. I think +the first aim of a magazine writer should be to +make his stories readable.’</p> + +<p>‘And are not mine readable?’ he said, biting +his lips and a frown overshadowing his brow.</p> + +<p>‘Ah, I see you are wincing, Alfred! But +didn’t I warn you I would be a severe critic? +No; I did not say your stories were <i>not</i> readable; +but they might be made much more so.’</p> + +<p>And to his amazement, this young girl launched +into a critical analysis of the plots, characters, +and treatment of his three stories; and her +remarks, strange to say, pretty closely agreed +with those expressed by the ignorant London +editors! Nan had verily profited by her old +lover’s literary conversations; but Alfred knew +nothing at all of that. She was then graciously +pleased to say a few words of commendation.</p> + +<p>‘Your style of composition is far too even for +that sort of work. It lacks eccentricity’——</p> + +<p>‘Pardon, Nan!’ he interrupted; ‘but are you +serious? I have hitherto understood eccentricity +was considered a blemish in any author’s +style.’</p> + +<p>‘Nonsense!’ she said. ‘If not overdone, it lends +a piquancy to writings that without it would +attract no attention and be passed by as prosy. +When an author happens to hit on a good original +phrase, he should “ring the changes” on it. +The reader recognises it as an old friend met +under new circumstances, and is not at all displeased. +An author who can originate a few +phrases, put them in his mental kaleidoscope, so +to speak, and sprinkle the resulting combinations +through his book, is said to have acquired “a +style,” and his books are sought after.’</p> + +<p>‘By Jove, Nan, but you surprise me!’ he +cried, looking at her with a puzzled air. ‘What, +then, would you advise me to do?’</p> + +<p>She was prepared for this question, and had +been framing an answer to it in her mind for +some days past. Obviously, the most sensible +advice was for him to abandon his literary +dreams, and settle down to the pursuit of his +profession. But then sensible advice is rarely +palatable, and still more rarely adopted. That +he was determined to make a mark of some kind +in literature, was evident, and she rather admired +her lover’s indomitable pluck, in refusing to +accept as final the unfavourable criticisms of +London editors. If he hadn’t been her lover, +she would probably have called it ‘stupid obstinacy.’ +She therefore determined to urge him on +in his literary projects; he was undoubtedly +clever, and was certain, sooner or later, to see his +productions in print. When he reached that goal, +the glamour which possessed him would probably +vanish; and he would then most likely return +to his profession, as a surer road to success +and distinction.</p> + +<p>‘Did you ever try the <i>Olympic</i>, Alfred?’ she +said.</p> + +<p>‘O no,’ he rejoined. ‘You see, it is more of +a review. Besides, it is a very high-class, exclusive +magazine, and one not at all likely to +encourage beginners like me.’</p> + +<p>‘I know they don’t publish stories,’ continued +Nan; ‘but they have often short descriptive +articles. Now, I was thinking if you were to +send the editor a short sketch of some kind in +your very best style, he might perhaps put it +in.’</p> + +<p>‘And what kind of sketch would you propose?’ +he inquired.</p> + +<p>‘What would you think of “A Summer Ramble +in Kirkcudbright?” she replied. ‘The editor +belongs to that quarter; and if the description +of the scenery and folks were well done, I think +he might put it in.’</p> + +<p>‘A capital idea, Nan. Why, I’ll set about +it at once,’ he said impetuously.</p> + +<p>Alfred went to work with renewed hope and +vigour. After ten days’ alternate rambling and +writing, he one evening announced that his +paper was finished, and read it over to Nan in +the parlour. On the whole she gave a favourable +verdict on its merits; and it was sealed up +and duly addressed to the editor of the <i>Olympic</i>. +She had insisted on him using a <i>nom de plume</i>. +He chose that of ‘Ariel;’ and the address was: +‘Post-office, Glenluce.—To lie till called for.’</p> + +<p>The evening passed pleasantly in chat and +song; and when Nan rose to bid good-bye for +the night, she said: ‘By-the-bye, Alfred, you had +better give me your letter with the manuscript. +I will see the postman as he passes in the morning, +and hand it to him.’</p> + +<p>‘Nonsense, Nan!’ he returned. ‘Why, the +mail-gig passes before six o’clock. There’s no +use in disturbing you so early. I will hand it +to him myself.’</p> + +<p>She was inexorable in her request, however, and +ended the dispute by playfully seizing the letter, +and tripping up-stairs before he could prevent +her. Once in the privacy of her own room, a +strange change came over her. With knitted +brow and compressed lips, she slowly paced the +apartment. Evidently, she was making up her +mind on some important resolve. At last she +clasped her hands and whispered to herself: +‘Yes; I’ll do it—but is it fair?’</p> + +<p>She had a tired and drowsy look next day; and +when Alfred asked if she had been in time to +give the postman the all-important letter, she +answered somewhat petulantly in the affirmative. +After a time he took to walking to Glenluce daily +to see if there were any letters for ‘Ariel.’ For +ten days he came back empty-handed and +dispirited; on the eleventh he bounced into +Nan’s private parlour in a state of wild delight.</p> + +<p>‘I knew it—I was sure of it, Nan!’ he cried, +‘that the moment my writings came before a competent +judge they would be fully appreciated. +Look! here is a bank draft for twenty pounds. +It only took me ten days to write the sketch. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_666">{666}</span>Why, it is payment at the rate of six hundred +a year!’</p> + +<p>‘Was there a note with it?’ she asked quietly.</p> + +<p>‘Yes; a precious short one, though. “The +editor of the <i>Olympic</i> acknowledges receipt of +Ariel’s manuscript, which he accepts, and begs +to inclose bank draft for twenty pounds as an +honorarium.” That is all.’</p> + +<p>‘The editor has remunerated you very handsomely, +I think,’ she said, continuing her sewing. +‘But mind that one swallow does not make a +summer. Don’t be too sanguine. Other editors +may not be so generous to you.’</p> + +<p>‘Stuff!’ he replied loftily. ‘Do you mean to +say he would have sent so much unless he knew +he had got value, good value for it too? Do you +know, Nan, I made up my mind, after getting the +letter, to start for London to-morrow? I’ll call +on the editor of the <i>Olympic</i>—perhaps he +may’——</p> + +<p>‘On no account must you do that, Alfred!’ she +cried, dropping her sewing, and with a terrified +look in her face. ‘Go to London, if you think +proper; though I think you would be foolishly +spending money in doing so. But you mustn’t +call on the editor.’</p> + +<p>‘And why mustn’t I call on him?’ he said in +a displeased tone of voice.</p> + +<p>‘I have reasons—private reasons of my own, +Alfred, to wish you to refrain from doing so,’ +she replied a little awkwardly. ‘I cannot explain +them to you just yet; perhaps I may again. +Meantime, you must promise me solemnly not +to call on him, or send him any more contributions, +unless you choose to do so in your own +name. On no account must he be made aware +that you are “Ariel.” Remember, it was through +my advice you scored this first success; continue +to follow it, for I can assure you it is for your +own good.’</p> + +<p>He grumbled a good deal, but in the end +agreed to the restriction imposed on him. He +held firm, however, to his intention of going to +London; and Anne did not press her objections +further. He could not understand why she was +not more elated at this auspicious beginning of +his literary career. In fact, he fancied he saw a +pained expression passing over her countenance, +when, in the exuberance of his spirits, he enlarged +on the brilliancy of his prospects in the metropolis. +Somehow or another, the success of ‘A +Summer Ramble in Kirkcudbright’ detracted +from rather than added to the happiness of the +lovers. The slightest possible degree of coldness +sprung up between them. He was annoyed, and +even felt some distrust at the prohibition put +on him regarding the <i>Olympic</i>. That Nan was +annoyed at something, was apparent; but whether +it was his anxiety to leave her and be off to +the scene of his future triumphs, or what it +was, was not very apparent. The only one +who enjoyed unalloyed satisfaction from the +event was old Mr Porteous. The bank draft +convinced him more than a thousand arguments +that there was money in literature, and that his +proposed son-in-law possessed the Open Sesame +to its stores. He had far too high an opinion +of his old friend the editor’s sense than to +suppose he would have given twenty pounds +for a short sketch unless it was of real merit. +These reflections made him a trifle more cordial +to Alfred than he had yet been; and when he +and Nan drove him to the railway station, they +all parted the best of friends, the lovers promising +to correspond punctually as before.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_HUMBLE_SPRIG_OF_NOBILITY">A HUMBLE SPRIG OF NOBILITY.</h2> +</div> +<p class="ph3">A RED RIVER STORY.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Towards</span> the close of the last century, Mr +Beauchamp, a young Englishman of good family—a +friend of Pitt, Fox, Burke, and Sheridan—entered +a large mercantile house in London with +a view, it was supposed, of ultimately becoming +a partner therein. With this firm he passed the +earlier years of his manhood. With the single +exception of having lost both his parents in his +youth, he was regarded as a singularly fortunate +individual; and at the age of nineteen he formed +a matrimonial engagement with Julia Middleton, +a young lady of considerable prospective wealth, +and of remarkable personal attractions. But +just at the time when an announcement of the +marriage was expected by the friends on both +sides, Mr Beauchamp disappeared in a mysterious +manner; and neither the parents nor Miss +Middleton had any explanation of the cause of +his disappearance, or whither he had gone. It +was, however, but a nine days’ wonder; and all +minds, but one, ceased to trouble themselves +further about the matter. <i>That</i> one was the poor +girl herself, who was deeply attached to her lover. +Whenever any hint was thrown out which cast a +doubt over the moral rectitude of Henry Beauchamp’s +character, she indignantly repudiated the +idea, and would believe no evil concerning him +that originated in mere conjecture on the part of +the speaker.</p> + +<p>It must be borne in mind that at the period of +which we are writing, international communication +was not carried on with the same speed and +facility as in these days, and a considerable time +elapsed ere it became known that Henry Beauchamp +had embarked for Canada. But of his +real whereabouts nothing was known for years. +The facts we are about to record were divulged +to us by a lady to whom we shall hereafter refer. +He had, it appeared, entered into business with a +Fur Trading Company, and with them he passed +many years in a country called ‘The Kepigong,’ +between Lake Superior and James Bay. Half a +century ago, traders were often men of low type, +who led lax and vicious lives. As ill-luck would +have it, it was amongst such a class that the +young adventurer chanced to fall. Out in that +wild territory, with no sort of restraint on his +actions, in the midst of lawless and strange companions, +he often fell a victim to their evil +influence and example, and his very weakness +and ignorance made him an easy prey to their +wiles and cupidity. If he made money, they +cheated him out of it. He was often reduced to +the brink of starvation; and at one period he +subsisted for two months on a miserable species of +fish called ‘suckers.’</p> + +<p>After countless trials and vicissitudes, he obtained +employment at Lake Winnipeg, where he +passed another decade; but even there his evil +genius seemed to pursue him, for he received +accidentally the contents of a loaded gun in his +leg, which wound caused him at times great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_667">{667}</span>suffering throughout his whole life. But he was +a man of pluck and courage, and would never +yield to any obstacle which perseverance could +overcome. Having resolved to try his fortunes +on his own account in a district involving several +hundred miles of travel, he provided himself with +a couple of horses, and set out attended by one +serving-man. On they went till nightfall through +a wild uninhabited region, where nature asserted +her right to repose in their wearied limbs and +failing spirits. So, having first picketed their +horses, they lay down to rest in the best shelter +they could find. Feeling amply refreshed by +daybreak, they determined to continue their +journey with no further halt till eventide. But +alas for their horses! The animals had either +decamped or been stolen, probably the former. +After some cogitation as to the next step to be +taken, Mr Beauchamp decided to send his servant +in quest of the animals, whilst he remained at +his post. The day passed, the night pressed +onwards, and morning dawned without either +horses or man having appeared. Unprovided +with a compass, chart, or guide of any description, +Mr Beauchamp then felt how futile his +hopes must prove—that the poor man had probably +lost his way, and that there would be no +more meeting between them.</p> + +<p>For a while utterly disconsolate, the solitary +traveller bethought him of retracing his steps; +but when he attempted to walk, he found himself +so broken down by fatigue and over-exertion that +he could only limp along, or drag his wearied +body on all-fours. Finally, ‘worn out,’ as he himself +expressed it, ‘both in body and mind,’ and +when within but ten miles of his trading-post, +he lay down with the fervent hope that death +would put an end to such torture; but not +liking the idea of his body being devoured by +wild animals, he crawled about to get together +branches of trees wherewith to cover himself. +But in spite of all the man had suffered, death +was still to be balked of its prey. Some Red +Indians fortunately came upon him, and by his +discoverers he was kindly cared for and nourished, +and taken to his post, where, after some weeks, he +gradually recovered.</p> + +<p>Was it retribution or destiny, or what, that +made him again such a cruel martyr to circumstances +in the next episode of his career? After +Lord Selkirk began to colonise the Red River, +Mr Beauchamp gave up his prospects in the Fur +Company and turned settler. In opposition to +the Hudson’s Bay Company, another had been +formed, called the North-West Company. Between +the two there was great rivalry and jealousy. +At the instigation of some of its people, +Mr Beauchamp was made prisoner, thrown into +a dungeon in Fort-William, and from thence +taken to Montese, where his alleged trial was to +take place, without his ever having been told of +the crime whereof he was accused. After weeks +of weary waiting and dread expectation, he was set +at liberty without a single question having been +put to him, the sole object of his oppressors +having been to detach him from Lord Selkirk’s +interest, which they considered was synonymous +with that of the Hudson’s Bay Company.</p> + +<p>Lord Selkirk’s agents having meanwhile discovered +that a plot was hatching at M‘Gillivray’s +house in Montreal—and the nucleus of the North-West +Company—to upset altogether the infant +settlement at Red River, Mr Beauchamp volunteered +to set off at once and convey the first +intelligence of this Guy Fawkes business to the +poor unsuspecting colonists. To this end, he +started for Moose Factory, in James Bay, in an +Indian canoe. When about midway, he was +overtaken by the rigours of a Canadian winter, +with all its impediments to continued and safe +travel. He had to walk to the above-named +Factory, and thence along the coast of Hudson’s +Bay to Albury, Severn, and York factories, and +on to Red River—a journey of two thousand +miles, a feat which only a nature inured to privation +and hardship such as we have described, +together with the substratum of an iron constitution, +could possibly have performed.</p> + +<p>On the night of Mr Beauchamp’s arrival at his +destination, there happened to be some kind of +bacchanalian revelries going on in true military +style, got up by the commandant at Fort Douglas, +Red River. In these our adventurer took part, +but in a way that did not greatly redound to +his credit. Nothing, it may be presumed, was +known there of his antecedents, and as he was +heart and soul devoted to Red River, he was +advised to find a wife amongst the native women +of Caledonia residing on the spot. The choice +was soon made of a widow, and in the absence +of any clergyman, the knot was tied by the +civil magistrate. Shortly after, his pecuniary +affairs being now in a satisfactory condition, +he resolved to return to England. Whilst +there, a longing came over him to see once +more the love of his youth and to ask her +forgiveness for the past and the boon of her +friendship in his declining years. More than +thirty years had elapsed since they parted, but +the lady had never married. After the death of +her parents, she had come into possession of a +fortune, and had a handsome establishment in +Portman Square. There she resided for the rest +of her life, and there, too, she saw again the friend +of her youth, and received his explanation. What +that explanation was, never passed her lips. We +may be sure that no man of birth, fortune, and +social position would have sacrificed all for a +trifle, and become to all intents and purposes an +outlaw.</p> + +<p>It was during this sojourn in England that he +formed the plan of a ‘Buffalo Wool Company,’ +making himself the managing partner. It turned +out a miniature South Sea Bubble, for it left +Mr Beauchamp minus six thousand pounds. He +had returned to Canada in 1820, and an occasional +interchange of letters with Miss Middleton +followed. In his perfect diction and finished +phrases there was still much to remind her of the +fascinating polished friend of her youth, from +whose pen she had received an unvarnished +account of his strange career. In testimony of +this, a touching record was found amongst her +papers at her decease, which took place some +years after that of Mr Beauchamp. When the +news reached him in 1826 of the failure of his +last venture, the shock it gave him reduced his +fine athletic form in a few weeks to a shadow. +He was first attacked by delirium, and then fell +into a state of absolute despondency. But his +mental faculties completely recovered their power; +and just at the most critical period of his illness, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_668">{668}</span>he was received and cared for by the English +chaplain and his wife. When sufficiently restored, +he sought some new means of employment which +involved neither risk nor outlay. His last occupation +was the mastership of a private boarding-school +for the families of the Company’s officers at +the Red River. In this way he managed to support +himself and his family until his death. He +used to speak of himself to the clergyman’s wife +as ‘a humble sprig of nobility,’ and had ingeniously +drawn out a genealogical tree—still in the +possession of this lady’s family—tracing his +descent from Richard Cœur-de-Lion.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="A1_AT_LLOYDS">A1 AT LLOYD’S.</h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A1</span> at Lloyd’s is a sufficiently familiar expression; +it meets our eye in the newspaper paragraph; +it stares at us from the wall-placard; and it +haunts us in Fenchurch Street, E.C., Water +Street, Liverpool, and other chosen homes of shipowners. +Every one recognises in it a nautical +equivalent for ‘first quality;’ but here information +on the subject usually ends. As Lloyd’s +Register of British and Foreign Shipping, the +institution granting the title in question, has not +long since celebrated its jubilee, we believe a +short account of the origin of that undertaking +and of the work in which it is engaged may +prove of interest.</p> + +<p>The business of underwriting or insuring against +marine risks is of very ancient date; to say that +it existed among the Phœnicians takes us back +a long way in the world’s history; and as a +necessary preliminary to legitimate underwriting, +as distinguished from mere chance-work, lies, and +must ever have lain, in knowing that the vessel +proposed to be insured is seaworthy, we may +also claim for the business of the ship-surveyor +a respectable antiquity.</p> + +<p>The primitive underwriter was probably a man +with a practical knowledge of ships, and who, +when asked to insure a certain vessel, surveyed +it himself. As business increased, however +the inconvenience attending this system would +soon make itself felt, and the obvious expedient +of the underwriter employing a skilled man to +make the survey for him and send in a report, +would be adopted. From an underwriter receiving +reports of the condition of individual ships, +to his arranging these in tabular form, is but a +step; and from individual underwriters drawing +up such lists for their own guidance, to their +agreeing generally to place them at the service +of their brothers in the business, is but another, +although the length of time that elapsed ere this +latter result was reached was doubtless considerable. +The oldest classified list of shipping extant +dates only from the beginning of the reign of +George III.; but this document—of which more +anon—bears unmistakable internal evidence of +being at the time no novelty.</p> + +<p>Our story opens during the early years of the +reign of Charles II.; English colonies across the +sea were beginning to prosper; English commerce, +notwithstanding oppressive fiscal laws, was on +the increase, and the business of the underwriter +naturally followed. London was then, as now, +the headquarters of the marine insurance business +of the country; and the city coffee-houses, then +but of recent origin, were the common meeting-places +of all connected with the shipping interest: +it is the name of the proprietor of one of these +establishments that now lives in that of the great +corporation of Lloyd’s.</p> + +<p>Edward Lloyd is one of those men of whom +we would gladly know more than history has +brought down to us, but of whose personality +apart from his work we know practically nothing, +even his proper name having been lost, until +recovered by the researches of a recent writer. +Finding his house in Tower Street regularly +frequented by underwriters, Lloyd—who must +have been a man of great ability and foresight—appears +to have formed the resolution of making +it the headquarters of the business; and to this +end, gave facilities for meetings, arranged for +sales of vessels and cargoes, started a newspaper, +and practically identified his interests with those +of his patrons. The newspaper was short-lived, +being suppressed by government; but his labours +were rewarded by his seeing his establishment—latterly +removed to Lombard Street—the centre +of marine insurance business not only for London +but for the kingdom. Three generations of underwriters +met at the Lombard Street coffee-house, +and when, in 1770, having formed an association, +they removed to premises of their own, and +shortly after to the Royal Exchange, they took +the name of their old headquarters with them; +and thus it has come about that the greatest +marine insurance corporation the world has +seen owes its name, and to a certain extent its +origin, to a London coffee-house keeper at the +time of the Restoration, to whose memory the +foreign shipowning Companies’ titles of ‘Austrian +Lloyd’s,’ ‘North German Lloyd’s,’ ‘Argentine +Lloyd’s,’ &c. are additional tributes. The classified +list of shipping already referred to as the +oldest extant is dated 1764, but is, unfortunately, +somewhat mutilated. The work is arranged in a +form very similar to that of the register books +of to-day, giving in parallel columns the name +of the vessel, tonnage, date of building, owner, +&c.; and also what is evidently intended for a +character or class, one or other of the vowels A, +E, &c., in conjunction with the letters G, M, or B. +The key to this system of classification is missing; +but Mr Martin, the historian of Lloyd’s, +has surmised, with every appearance of justice, +that the vowels refer to the character of the hull +of the vessel; and the accompanying letters, being +the initials of the words <i>good</i>, <i>middling</i>, and <i>bad</i>, +to the character of the equipment; AG being +thus a good, well-equipped ship, and UB the +reverse.</p> + +<p>How to express satisfactorily the condition of +a ship by means of symbols was evidently about +this time a disputed point, as in a register dated +four years later an entirely new system appears, +the letters <i>a</i>, <i>b</i>, <i>c</i> being used in conjunction with +the Roman numerals 1, 2, 3, 4. Under this +system, <i>a</i>1, an approximation to the now familiar +character, represented a good vessel; and <i>c</i>4 its +antithesis. Seven years later still, in 1775, the +vowels again make their appearance for expressing +the character of the hull, the Roman numerals +being retained, and A1, as the symbol for a first-class +ship, comes on the scene. To decide what +shall be the classification letters or numerals used +in describing ships of varying character is one +thing; to give to each ship the class to which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_669">{669}</span>it is justly entitled is another and decidedly +more difficult matter. So the London underwriters +found; but instead of treating the question +as one in which many interests were involved, +they treated it as concerning themselves alone, +and, during the closing years of last century, +came to a decision the sole merit of which was +its simplicity. The London shipbuilders of the +day got a better price for their work than the +builders at other ports, and consequently were +able to, and admittedly did, turn out a better +ship. Further, it might be <i>primâ facie</i> supposed +that a ship, built even on the Thames, was not +so good after being afloat ten years as on the day +of its launch. Putting these two things together, +the compilers of the Register decided to class +ships simply according to their age and where +they were built; such events as a ship newly +built on the Tees being occasionally better than +a Thames-built craft of the same size that had +been knocking about the seas for five years; or +a thirteen-year-old ship under good management +being actually in better repair and more seaworthy +than an eight-year-old one in careless +hands, being held to be contingencies needless to +provide against. It was hardly to be supposed +that the shipowners would agree to a system of +classification which practically placed a monopoly +in the hands of certain builders, and which +decreed that existing ships after a certain period +would lose their class, no matter how perfect +their state of repair; and the result of indignation +meetings on the subject was the starting of a +new Register of shipping; thereafter known as +the ‘Red Book;’ the former, or underwriters’ +register, being known as the ‘Green Book.’ From +the date of founding of the Red Book, the history +of ship-classification, from being fragmentary, +becomes continuous; and, had the popular saying, +that competition is the life of trade, been of +universal application, great advance might have +been looked for; the law of supply and demand, +however, stopped the way. There was not sufficient +work for the two Registers; each found +it difficult to meet its expenses without taxing +its supporters; and although, during the thirty +odd years the rivalry lasted, some advance was +made, still, during the whole of that period the +relationships of shipbuilders, shipowners, shippers, +and underwriters one to the other were on an +unsatisfactory footing. Nowadays, it is recognised—and +no one thinks of disputing the justice +of the arrangement—that the shipowner, being +clearly the person most interested in his ship +bearing a high class, should pay the expense of +all surveys. This apparently elementary truth +was, however, far from being recognised sixty +years ago, the opinion then being that the +interested parties were the shippers and underwriters.</p> + +<p>After the close of the war with Bonaparte, +when privateering was a thing of the past, and +convoys of frigates were no longer required, the +shipping trade of England rapidly increased; +each Register was impelled to keep pace with +its rival in adding to its number of ships +registered, and the expense of surveys increased +in proportion, the number of subscribers remaining +but little altered. This was the beginning +of the end. By the time that a fourth of the +present century had elapsed, the rival Registers +were in a hopeless condition; but ten years +more of trouble and dispute had to pass ere +differences were adjusted, jealousies set at rest; +and the ‘Red’ and the ‘Green’ now united, +commenced a fresh career of usefulness under +the title of ‘Lloyd’s Register of British and +Foreign Shipping,’ the new departure dating +from January 1835. The Committee of management +of the new Register was supposed to +represent in equal proportions the interests of +the shipowners, shippers, and underwriters, and, +so far as London was concerned, it doubtless did +so. With, however, that preference for men +and things metropolitan, not unknown yet on +the banks of the Thames, the interests of the +other shipping ports of the United Kingdom +received scant recognition, and the result was +the perpetuation of grievances, the effects of +which have lasted to our own day. Of much +greater importance than the mere union of the +rival Registers was the adoption of the system +of surveying and classification, which, although +improved in detail to an extent then undreamt +of, is in operation still. It was settled that +henceforth vessels were to be classed on their +own merits as at date of survey; that the class +should be fixed by the committee on the report +of the surveyor; that vessels built with a view to +class should be under survey during the course +of construction; and that the shipowner should +pay the survey fees.</p> + +<p>At the date of the founding of Lloyd’s Register, +and for untold generations before, the one +material used for building ships was wood. +Long experience had made its properties common +knowledge, and it might reasonably be supposed +that shipbuilders would long since have come +to an agreement as to the dimensions, say, of +the ribs, keel, or planking of a ship of given +size; such, however, was far from being the +case. Owing, possibly, in part to the fact of ships +built at one port being assumed inferior to those +built at another, and the builders accepting +the situation, and certainly in part to the fact +that the rule of thumb was then the leading +rule in British naval architecture, the practice +in one part of the country differed widely from +that in another. To induce the adoption of a +uniform scale of ship scantlings founded on the +best practice was one of the first tasks attempted +by the Committee; but while its members were +yet considering the proportions of wooden ships, +an influence was at work in the world that was +shortly to render their labours of small account. +Along with the old familiar click of the calker’s +mallet, the dwellers by river-banks began to +hear mingle a new sound, the rattle of the +riveter’s hammer; and by the time Lloyd’s +Register had completed its tenth year of work, +the <i>Great Britain</i> had crossed the Atlantic, and +the Iron Age had come. The ship-designer +found his business brought back at a single step +to the experimental stage, and the Committee +and surveying staff of Lloyd’s Register found +that they had a new business to learn. It is +probable that every branch of human industry +has been, at one period or another of its history, +the subject of trade secrets; iron shipbuilding +in its earlier days was no exception, +and, as no builder thought it his interest to +initiate Lloyd’s Register, that body had no share +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_670">{670}</span>in the development of the iron ship. This was +probably the best arrangement; the days of +competitive tenders and ‘poor man’s ships’ were +yet in the future; and the men who launched +the <i>Great Britain</i>, the <i>Persia</i>, and the <i>Great +Eastern</i>, were more in a position to teach than to +be taught. In 1844, Lloyd’s Register agreed, for +the first time, to give the A1 class to iron ships +built under their survey, on the surveyors’ +report that they were of good and substantial +materials and workmanship; and eleven years +later, their first rules for iron ship-construction +were issued.</p> + +<p>Landsmen who voyaged in the wooden ships +of the past were but too familiar with the +creaking that went on without intermission +whenever weather of a certain degree of roughness +was met with. This was due to a slight +rubbing of the timbers one on another, and was +no sign of weakness, it being impossible with +a yielding material like wood to drive bolts +absolutely tight. The amount of straining and +actual distortion that a wooden ship might +undergo and yet remain fairly seaworthy, was +astonishing; and a go-ahead skipper preferred +a springy ship to a stiff one. With iron, the +conditions were entirely changed; rigidity proved +essential to safety, and loose fastenings were +fatal. It was this necessity for rigidity that +made it possible to frame constructive rules from +the observation of the behaviour of comparatively +<i>new</i> ships, old and tried ones not being +then in existence. On examining an iron ship +after a single voyage, the surveyor, provided +always the painter had not been at work before +his arrival, could point unchallenged to the weak +points of her structure—started joints, cracked +plates, and bent bars, telling their tale only too +plainly. For reasons which are not far to seek, +but which need not be entered upon here, the +rules for the construction of iron vessels issued +by Lloyd’s Register in 1855 did not meet the success +their framers intended. Greatly improved +rules were issued in 1863; but it was not until +1870 that the Committee emancipated itself from +various obsolete ideas, and, under the guidance +of the honoured gentleman who now holds the +position of Secretary to the Register, issued rules +in the form now existing. Various editions of +these rules appeared from time to time, each +more comprehensive than its predecessor; for +some years past they have been issued annually; +and those now current leave little to be desired +so far as completeness is concerned. Lloyd’s +Register grants three leading classes—namely, +100A, 90A, and 80A; the numeral 1, making +100A1, being added to keep up the time-honoured +classification mark. The system of +classification a century ago provided, as we have +seen, for differing qualities of outfit in ships +otherwise bearing the same character, and the +numerals 1, 2, 3, &c. were used accordingly; +but the fact has come to be recognised that a +good ship with a bad or insufficient outfit is +practically a bad ship, and the 100A class is +not granted unless the outfit be up to the +requirements of the numeral 1.</p> + +<p>In addition to the above-named classes, Lloyd’s +Register will survey and grant the class A for +a vessel designed for almost any desired service, +the plans being submitted for their approval; +for instance, the swift steamers that carry the +mails in connection with the South-Eastern Railway +are classed ‘A. Folkestone and Boulogne +Passenger Service.’ These special classes, however, +are not taken advantage of to any great +extent.—Two classes of surveys are held—the +‘Ordinary’ and the ‘Special.’ The first consists +in a given number of visits paid to a ship at +certain periods during construction; the second, +in a systematic inspection of the vessel at short +intervals, from the time of laying the keel to +that of certifying to the anchors and cables being +the proper weight. The first of these, as might +be imagined, is open to various drawbacks; and +few shipowners who desire a class at Lloyd’s +hesitate to incur the somewhat greater expense +of a ‘special survey,’ which, as it includes the +machinery also if the vessel be a steamer, practically +saves the expense of a private inspector. +Lloyd’s survey only extends to the <i>structure</i> of +the ship, and takes no account of the fitting-up +of the cabins and other work connected with +the accommodation or comfort of crew and passengers; +the class meaning simply that, in the +opinion of the Committee, the ship is strong and +seaworthy. The work of surveying is carried +on in the United Kingdom by about one hundred +surveyors, who give their whole time to it; +in addition, about three-fourths of this number +scattered throughout the world give their services +in part. The Committee of management, whose +headquarters is in Cornhill, consists of fifty members, +representing the different ports of the +country, although by no means in proportion +to their relative standing, London securing about +half the total representation. The Register Book, +which represents the results of the labours of +Committee and surveyors, is a ponderous volume, +and gives the particulars of all the vessels now +afloat that have received Lloyd’s classification, +in addition to the particulars of numbers of other +vessels not so classed; in fact, the Register Book +is a great shipping directory, the ship, not the +owner, being the leading feature.</p> + +<p>Lloyd’s Register is not alone in the field of +surveying and classifying ships. Liverpool up +till a year ago had a registry of its own, the +‘Liverpool Underwriters’ Registry.’ This has +now united itself with Lloyd’s Register, a fact +which, for some reasons, is to be regretted. Paris +is the headquarters of the ‘Bureau Veritas,’ an +undertaking whose classification is in repute in +Scandinavia, North Germany, the Netherlands, +and France; and which maintains a staff of surveyors +in the United Kingdom. This undertaking +is not a representative one, and on this +ground has been objected to. It is doing useful +work, nevertheless; and its system of classification +is superior to Lloyd’s, inasmuch as it takes +into account the service for which the vessel is +intended. A kindred institution to the ‘Bureau +Veritas’ looks after the shipping of Italy, and is +known in this country as the ‘Italian Veritas;’ +while the ‘American Lloyd’s’ controls to a certain +extent the building of ships on the Delaware, +but is unknown in this country, on account of +the well-known navigation laws by which only +native-built craft can sail under the stars and +stripes.</p> + +<p>Classification Societies are not an unmixed +benefit to the community, still less have they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_671">{671}</span>an unmixed influence for good on the design of +ships. Theoretically perfect rules would proportion +the strength of every individual ship to +the <i>work</i> it had to do; but, as Lloyd’s Committee, +through whose hands the designs for over eight +hundred ships probably pass in the course of a +year, have no possible time for going into such +detail, standard types of vessel have been adopted, +the designs submitted being compared with these +on the basis of their <i>dimensions</i> alone. The +natural result of this is that ships are in many +cases built to suit Lloyd’s type; and the art of +the ship-designer but too often has degenerated +into getting the maximum of advantage out of +certain dimensions which are known to bring +the vessel just within the limits of one of these +types.</p> + +<p>In the days gone by, ships were built for a +certain trade, and kept at it, the East Indiaman, +the West Indiaman, and the Atlantic packet +seldom interfering with each other. The leading +steamship Companies naturally adhere to this +system still; but, during recent years, hundreds +of individually owned ships have been set afloat, +designed for no special trade, but simply to carry +the maximum cargo on the minimum cost wherever +a freight offers itself. It is largely from +the necessity of making its rules applicable to +these privateers of trade that the frequently +grumbled-at oppressiveness of Lloyd’s Register +arises. This brings us to notice that some first-class +steamship Companies do not class their +vessels at all; and it may cause surprise to many +to know that of those steamers whose rapid +passages across the Atlantic have made their +names familiar, the majority are <i>not</i> A1 at +Lloyd’s. The reason for this is simply, that a +skilful designer who knows thoroughly the requirements +of the service for which a ship is +intended can always turn out a better and more +economical vessel than one built to class, a fact +which more of the leading steamship Companies +will doubtless come to recognise before long. +The rules of Lloyd’s Register for the construction +of iron vessels are growing in stringency +from year to year; a vessel built to class ten +years ago, and which has proved her efficiency +by doing the work for which she was designed +during all that period without a complaint, +would, if built to-day, require a large percentage +of additional weight put into her structure to +bring her strength up to the demands of the +current rules. That this is so is due to the fact +that, up till quite recently, Lloyd’s Register has +taken account of one element only out of the +several that the question of the safety of a ship +on the ocean involves. For years past, the aim +of the Committee has been to take from the +shipbuilder more and more of the responsibility +which he at one time bore for the strength of +the vessels he builds, until now his share is practically +<i>nil</i>; while it has been but too evident +for years past, from the disclosures that now +and again have been elicited before the Commissioner +of Wrecks, that a good ship may be +badly stowed, overloaded, or undermanned, and, +under such circumstances, be in much greater +danger from sea-risks than a far inferior ship +in good hands.</p> + +<p>The aim of Lloyd’s Register is the protection +of the shippers and underwriters against undue +risks, and the present high rates of marine insurance +show that this protection is not what it +might be. If the trouble and expense now +devoted to securing strong vessels are not to continue +to be thrown away, as they certainly are at +present in a fair percentage of cases, the Committee +will require to take steps to insure that +a ship bearing their highest class shall not take +the sea with a cargo badly stowed, an insufficient +crew, or too little freeboard. The question of +freeboard is already engaging attention; the other +points cannot long be left in their present state; +and the day will then come when shippers will +think with wonder on the times when premiums +at the rate of ten per cent. were paid for insuring +cargoes in ships that were 100A1 at +Lloyd’s.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="DESTRUCTIVE_INSECTS">DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS.</h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Agricultural Department has issued two +Reports by Mr C. Whitehead, F.L.S., F.G.S., +dealing with Destructive Insects. The first of +these treats of ‘Insects Injurious to Hop-plants.’ +In the opinion of the writer, there is an increased +and increasing risk of loss and destruction from +injurious insects to many of the crops cultivated +in this country. We scarcely grow anything +exempt from the ravages of these pests. They +attack corn of all kinds, fruit-trees, hop-plants, +clover, turnips, mangold-wurzel, &c. Although +some kinds are well known and long known, +others are new, or, at anyrate, they have only +recently been noticed. In certain instances they +appear to have been imported with the plant, as, +for example, the mangold-wurzel fly, <i>Anthomyia +betæ</i>, which, within the last five years—contrary +to the opinion of Curtis, who, writing in 1859, +thought its injuries would not be of much consequence—has +wrought much mischief. The +turnip-fly again, which originally fed upon +charlock and other cruciferous plants, has now +quitted these, because the turnip supplies more +suitable food. With its increased cultivation, this +fly has multiplied enormously, as the farmer +knows to his cost, for, in seasons favourable to +its development, it sometimes destroys whole +fields and causes great loss.</p> + +<p>Cultivation is not only favourable to such +old offenders, but it seems to have introduced +entirely new ones; at least, the farmer now +finds that wheat, clover, and other crops +raised by rotation in the same fields, suffer +injuries from insects, which, if they existed +formerly, escaped notice. It may be, however, +that the scientific spirit of late introduced into +agriculture has only just discovered what in many +cases has always been going on. At the same +time, it is universally admitted that the destruction +occasioned by insects is larger than ever it +was, and that there are insects at work in the +fields which were little, if at all, known to our +forefathers.</p> + +<p>One very good reason for the progressive +increase of agricultural plagues is that they +multiply proportionately at a much quicker +rate than the plants on which they feed. We +are actually rearing them artificially, and the +problem is how to cultivate crops without at +the same time cultivating these parasites. High-farming, +by pampering plants, no doubt renders +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_672">{672}</span>them more delicate and more liable to attack; +but perhaps we help to make our own trouble +by not exercising ordinary caution. Certain it +is that destructive insects are imported into, as +they are exported out of, this country. The agricultural +produce which we bring from various +parts of the world must contain many unwelcome +visitors, though, fortunately, our climate does not +agree with the majority of them. Like the +famous Colorado Beetle, even if allowed a fair +chance, they would scarcely thrive. Others there +are with the Scotsman’s reputation of being able +to do well anywhere. They only require a +suitable plant to feel perfectly at home. They +sometimes get ‘assisted’ emigration at the cost of +their favourites, like the hop aphis, which was +introduced into America among hop-roots sent +from England. The former country has by entomologists +been styled ‘the home of insects;’ but, +to Europe’s loss, one highly interesting though +destructive American crossed the Atlantic—namely, +the phylloxera, so destructive to vines. +An individual that undergoes various puzzling +transformations is not readily identified, and the +hop aphis, having these disguises, has alarming +opportunities of getting a footing where it +is least wanted. Indeed, all such destructive +insects should receive more study than they have +hitherto obtained. Within the last few years, +scale insects were introduced into the Californian +orange groves from Australia; and orange, citron, +and lemon growers in other parts of the world +are now complaining of pests of a similar nature. +Considering the evil which has been already +accomplished, it is highly important that farmers, +fruit-growers, gardeners, and all who cultivate +the land should be made acquainted with all +that is known regarding the insects which attack +their several crops.</p> + +<p>The hop-plant in particular has many enemies, +some of them so destructive, that if not checked, +they would soon ruin the grower. Within the +last thirty years, it is believed the liability of +this plant to attack by insects has considerably +increased. Hop-planters assert that insects now +destroy their crops which were not known in the +plantations until recently. Mr Whitehead selects +ten of the most troublesome species, and gives +descriptions of each insect, together with its life-history, +its modes of attack, and the injury to the +hop resulting therefrom; also a detailed account +of methods of prevention, and of measures which +have been found efficacious in stopping or alleviating +these attacks.</p> + +<p>Mr Whitehead originally intended to confine +his second Report to insects injurious to corncrops; +but as the work progressed, it was found +desirable to include those destructive to grasscrops, +as some insects are common to both. +While dealing with cereals, he also thought it +well to treat pulse, under which title are +included plants such as peas, beans, and tares, +and to describe the principal insects which affect +them, especially as they are all crops liable to +be attacked by the same insects. A description +of a genus the most injurious to different kinds +of clover, is also given. To include comparatively +harmless insects in a work which is +intended not so much for scientific purposes +as to enlighten farmers and others regarding +the pests which molest them most, was +not necessary. For sufficient reasons it has +been found most expedient neither to arrange +them alphabetically nor according to a recognised +scientific classification, but to take the +insects of each group as far as possible in the +order of their injurious effects. Indeed, there +are included what, in the scientific acceptation of +the term, are not insects at all. But the Report +was written to convey useful and practical +instruction to the cultivators of the soil, and +wisely it was done in the manner which was +likely to benefit them most. ‘With regard to +these’ (the chief pests), Mr Whitehead writes, +‘it has been endeavoured to collect all the information +that is known about them, and to bring +this down to the latest date. It is believed that +each monograph is a <i>résumé</i> of all that is known +of its subject, of its life-history, and the means +of prevention, and remedies against it. It is +admitted that in several instances the information +is still imperfect; and in compiling this series of +Reports, I have been more than ever impressed +with the necessity of enlisting skilled workers in +this cause, as well as of urging and encouraging +habits of observation amongst those who superintend +the cultivation of the land and those who +work upon it.’</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_NURSE">A NURSE.</h2> +</div> + + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><span class="smcap">A nurse</span>, a simple nurse; to the unthinking</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Only a nurse, and nothing but a name:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">A patient woman in her round of duty,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Living and dying all unknown to fame.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Only a nurse, a messenger of mercy,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">An angel sent unto our suffering race,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With quiet step, and tender hand of healing,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Divinest pity on her gentle face.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">When all the world lies wrapt in quiet slumber,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Save the poor sufferer moaning on his bed,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Whose watchful eye with Christian love keeps vigil</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Through the long night with silent softened tread?</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Only a nurse, in duty all unshrinking;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Before such scenes, man’s stouter heart would quail:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">See there! that sweet, fair girl, in sorest trial</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Is at her post, nor will her courage fail.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">The fever we but terror-struck encounter,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Or fly before with selfish, coward dread;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">While nurse and doctor hasten to the rescue,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And stand unflinching by the stricken bed.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Hark! that weird bell—an accident at midnight;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The nurse and doctor, wakeful, close at hand,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Who minister to suffering or dying,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The hospital’s heroic little band!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">There you or I may in our need find refuge,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">With kindly help and loving tender care;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Respect we give those brave, unselfish women,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And night and day, remember them in prayer.</div> + </div> + <div class="attrib">E. M. C.</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='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75204 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |