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AS GOOD AS GOLp. CHIAPTKH XV. liitptl the Hookg, or wua odb of those I who haU tu uocumpany t.b« waKgouii iotn At first mUs N.«w^oo'(I tiud^Ingi tlio oountry to fetch' away hUoUs that beauty was not rcgurdod with muchi had lx«n purcfcuted, thia sffii-tioii of Interest by anylxviy in Ca«t.rl>ridgo. i A'_;«1'8 "â- Â«'.Pri>^'"--Li^_« J^f '"""> L'V''"':*'" Donald Farfra«"s gaze, it is true, was now attra<ted t)y the Mayor's so-ralieil stepdaughter, but ho was only one. The truth ia that she wua Iml a, poor illiis- ; trntive instani« of the prophet Bar- i uch's sly definition: "The virgin that !oveth to gfo gay." This particular virgin wa.% just a shade twj far the other way; and she paid tl>e penalty. .Sober and discreet, she was yet so hearty, that her home^un simplicity ien(«. Kor two mornings in tlie pres- ent weeic he had kept the otlir-r.W'w ait- lug nearly an hour ; heuoe Henotaard's threat. It now remained to j)e seen what would happen to-morrow. Six o'cl^K-Jc Htriielc. and tln're was no Whittle. At half-paat six Henehard entered the yard ; the wagon was hors- ed thiit Alxil was to su^company ; and tlu' other man Ivad been waiting twen- ty minuted. Then Uenchard swore, and Whittlie (»mlng up breatbleaa at that Instant, the cornfactor turned to blni, and declared with an oath that this was the last time; that if he were l>e afforded none of (hoso piquant pro- ] ^ijid „ncB mure, l)y G he woiild come blems which are afforded liy the sim- i and dra« him oiit o' bed. plicity thiit U oaretuUy constructed l>y art. When she waUtwl aliroail aha •eemed to t>e oe<nipied with an inner chamlier of Ideas, and to have slight need for vLsible objects. In .short, it was obvious to real philo.-tophcrs that Oii.iterhrldge young-manhood of the deep-seeing sort ought to bavs had a scUcltous regard for her. So they took no notix)e of her at aVl. If the news got abroad that she was unweJl, Henchiird's door was not haunt- ed by young fcUowa with oigars, mak- ing some excuse for inquiring indi- rertly about her. But, to set against this, at inn gatherings of the rollick- inj? sort, where disou.'sions of the fe- male world 'were apt to take a turn Ir- reverent to the sex. the crltlcUm was Rtopped when It oame to Elizabeth with, 'I say, now, we'M leave her alone." Perhaps the young men were pene- trating ejiough tu see that she was too honest to be a woman of correct edu- eation. This view of her was helped by the curious re-ioHver tliat she had farmed on checking gay fancies in the matter of clothes, because it was incon- ostent with her past life to bloesom gaudily the moment she had become poosesserl of money. But nothing is more insidious than the evolutiim of wishes from mere fancies, and of want.s from mere wislies. Henchard gave BUzabeth-Jane a tiox of delicately tint- ed glovesone spring day. She wanted to wear them to show her appreciation of his kindness, but she had no >>onnet that would hurmonlse. An an artiHtio indulgence she thought she would have such a bonnet. When she had a bon- net that would go with the gloves, she bad DO dre.<« th-it would go with the oonnet It was now alisolutely neces- sary to finisb ; she ordered the requisite article, and found that .she bad no •unshado to go with the dress. In for a iM'nny in for a pound ; she tiought the sunHluide, and the whnle structure was at last complete. (Everybody was attracted, and some aaid that her bygone simplicity wSs the art that cnnoealfl art, the "delicate Im- position" of Rochefoucauld ; she had produ(Md an effect, a uuntraat, and it had been done on purpose. An a mat- ter of fact thij* was not true, but it had its re.iult; for as soon as young. Cas- terbrldge thotighc oer urltul it thought h>!r worth uotl(«. "It is tiMi first, timo in my life Ituit I hive lieen so much admired," .she said to herselX ; "though perhaiM it U by ihose wtiotw! admira- tion IS not worth luving." But Donald I'arfra*- admired her too; nnd altogether the time wBii an ex- rltiug one; Hex hod never tiefore as- ferteil its«lf in her so strongly, for ti former day.-* she had perhap.s l)een oo i mpersonally human to l)e distinc- (ivejy feminine. After an unpreced- ented auc(5en« one day she came in- Uoors, went upstairH, an<l leant upon per Ijed f.iw (fownwards, quite forget- ting the poHsili'e erea-sing and dam- ligp. "Uood Heaven," slie whispered, '"ran it Iw! f Here am I wdting up as I lie town Ijeauty I" When she had tboiiylit it over, her usual fi-ar of exaggerating appearances . .!»„« «a»,.„.. ''There is l>ngend<!red a deep sadness rong in all luey <«ily knew what an â- omething wrong in all this," she «'.d. ' If tluey <«ily unflnttluMi girl 1 amâ€" that I can't talk tUIUM'.C It.ii.IiAn, or use glolies, or show any of the accumpliiihmonts Ihi'y learn at lK>ardinK-s*'ho«l«, bow tbey would de- â- filsi' me I Better sell all this finery and buy myH<>Lf grammer-liooks, and dictionaries, and a history of all the pliLosuphies I" She l<K)ked from the svindow, anil naw Henclurd and l-'arfrao in the bay-yard talking, with that impetuous cordiality on the Mayor's part, and genial niod- Mtty on tbe younger man'.s, that was now HO generally dlist'rvabUi in their iolercourM). Kriendship between man and man ; wluit a ruggi'd slreugth there was in it, as evinco<l liy lliesi! two. And yet the seed that twis to lift tbe foun- dation of tluA friendship wa.s at that moment taking root Ui a chink of its â- txui;ture. It was about six o'nUick ; the men %v^re drui>|>ing off homew.ird one by one. The last to le.ive was a round-sboul- dcred, blinking young m m of nineteen or twenty, wfiot* nmuth feJJ ajar on the Hlignieit proviH»tion, wiomingly t>«>cau.se tljere wa.s no chin to support It. Ilem^hard cjilled aloud to blin aa he went out of the gate. "Hereâ€" AIm-I Wlutflel" Whittle turned, and ran hack n few •teps. "Yes, sir," lie said, in breathless depre<-atlon, a» if he knew what was eoming next. "Once more â€" 1>« in time tomorrow morning. You see what's to Im< done, and you hear what I say. and you know I'm not. going to lie trifled with any konger." "Yes. sir." Then AIm'1 Whittle left, anil Ilenelmrd and h'arfrae ; and i'Zi/u- beth ffiw Tio more of I hi in. Now Ihi'ro w.'i.s good nuLsoii for this on Henetiard's part. i'oor Aliel, a.s ho wms called, hail an inveterate habit of ever-.sle<'pinK liiniself and coining late to his work. His anxious will was to be amontj; the earliiesi : but if his e^ini- rade.s omitted to pull the string that he â- ,l;w«ys tied round tiiia ^reat toe and luft hanging out of the window for that purpose, his wit'A was as wind. He did not arrive In time. | Am he was often second liand at the ^)r>w»iglilng, or at tbe crane which 1 "There is .soinniU_ wrong in my maku, vour worship I" said Abel, "eapecially In the inside, whereas my poor dumb brain gets as dead as a clot afore I've Bald my few scrags of prayers. Yes â€"it came oo as a stripling, ju-st afore I'd got man's wages, whereas I never .enjoy my L«ed at all, for no sooner do 1 lie down thin I lie asleep, and afore I lie awake I be up. I've fretted my gizzard green aliout ' It, maister, but what can I do! Now last night, afore 1 went to bed. I only had a scantling o' cheese and " "I don't want to hear it I" roared Henchard. "To-morrow the wagons must start at four, and if you're not here, ntand clear, I'll mortify thy flesh for thee 'I' "But let me clear up my points, your wor.shipfiU " Henchard turned away. "He asked me and he questioned me, and th£!n a' wouldn't hear my points I" .<aid Abel, to the yard In general. "Now I shall t\vitch like a moment-hand all night to-night for fear o' him 'I' The journey to be taken by the wag- ons next <lay was a long one. Into White Hart Vale, and at four o'clock lanterns were moving aliout the yard. But Al>el was missing. Before either of the other men could rim to Aliel's and warn him, Henchard apiieared in the garden doorway. "Where's Atiel Whittlot Not oome after all Ive «iid» Now, I'll carry out my word, by my blessed fathersâ€" nothing etoe wtJI do him any good I I'm going up tliat way." Henchard went off, entered Aliel's house, a little ootla«e in Back Street the door of whiiih w;i» never locked, be- csiusp the inmates had nothing to lose, lle.iching Whittle's be.dside, the corn- factor shouted a bass note so vigorous- ly tluit Aliel started up Instantly, and behokl'mg Hencluird standing over him, was galvanisi-d into spasmodio move- raent.s which had not much relation to getting on hia clothes. "Out of tied, sir, and off to the gran- ary, or you leave my employ to-day I "I'ls to teach ye a l<wson. MarrJi on ; never mind your breaches I" The unh.ippy Whittle threw on his .sleeve waistcoat, and managed to get into his boots at the bottom of the .stairs, while Henchard thrust bis hat over hi« head. \Vhiitl« then trotted on down Ba<>k Street, Ui^ncluird walking sternly liehind. Just at thus time Farfrae, who had U-en to UencJiard's b<iu.se to look for him, uiiiie out of the back gate, and saw Hoiiiethlng while tittering in the morning gloom, wliich he soon per- ceived to lie the part of Abel's shirt that showed below hiB waistcoat. "Kor mercy's sake, what object's this?" said i''arfrae, following Aliel in- to the yard, Henchard being some way in ^ t lu' rc.ix by this time. "Ye see, Mr. Farfrae," gibbered Aliel with a reelgned smile, "he xaid he'd mortify my fhvsh if .^o be i didn't gel up sooner, and now he's a doing on't I Ye .see it can't lie helped, Mr. Farfrae; things do h.appcn (lueer sometimes. Yea -I II goto White Hart Vale half naked as I be, .since be do (x>mmand ; but I shilj kill myself afterward.s; I can't outlive the diagraco ; for the women- folk will lie looking out of their winders at my uiortifioation all the way along, and laUKhing me to acorn. You know h<iw 1 feel »uch things, iVLuater Kar- froe, and how forlorn thoughts got hold upon me. Yesâ€" I slvtll ilo my- self hjirmâ€" I feel it C4>intng on I" "Ciel back tiome,' and slip on your bree<hi«, and come to work like a man I If ye go not, you'll hae your <leath standing there." "I'm afeard I mustn't I Mr. Hen- chard aaid " , "I don't ciire wliiil Mr. Henchard .said nor anybody else I 'TLs simple fool- ishness to do this. Go and dress your- wlf instantly. Whittle." "Hnllo. hullo 1" Slid Henchard, com- int: up behind. "Who's sending hiiii back » " .VII tlie men looked towards Farfrae. "l am," said Donald. "I say thus joke hiis been c^vrried far nnougb." "And I .<i:iy It hJisn't. Get up In the wagon, Whittle." "Not if I am manager," .saiil Farfrae. "H" either g<).~s home, or I march out of !hls yiird for good." H"ni hard lonked at him with a tax-fi .stern ,ind red. Hut he paused for a, moinent, and i lieir eyes met. Donald went up to liliu, for he s:iw In Hen- chird's look thit he Itcguu to regret t his. "I'ome," .siiid lV)na.ld quietly, "yoii know lietter than all this, .sir. It is tyrannical and unworthy of you." "Tin tool, tyrainiicail I" murmuievl Henchard, like a sullen Iki.v". "It is t<- niake him reuieiuber !" He pre.senil.v added, in a tone of one liitterly hurl. "\Vb.v dill ymi .speak in ine liefore them like that, Farfrae^ You might hav« .sto|iped nil we were alone. Ahâ€" 1 know why 1 I've told ye thi' sacret n' my lifeâ€" fool that I wajs to do'tâ€" an i you lake mlvduuigo of me I" "1 had forgot it," .siild l''arfrae simply. Henchard looked on tiui ground, salil nothing more, and lurned away. Dur- ing the day h'lirfnwi li,'»riii from the men that Henchard bad kept Abel's old mother in co.ils and snufi all tlin pre- vious winter, which made him Icssunta- gonLstic to the ciirn-f.ictor. ItuI Hen- chiird continued iiidody and silent, ami whin one of the men inquired of bini If some oats .sboiiUl lie hoisted to an upper floor or not. lie .s>ild shortly. "A.sk Mr. I'arfrne. He's master here!" Morally he was' there i^ould be no doulil of it. Iluncbard, who had hither- to been the most admired man in hi>' circle. wa<i the most lulmired no long- er. One day tbe daughters of a de- ceased fanner in Dummerford wanted an opinion on the value of their hay- stack, and m'Ut a me.ssage to ask Mr Farfrae to oblige them witli one. The me.s^nger. who was a child, met in thr yard not Knrfrfte, but Henchhrd. 'Very well," he said. "I'll oomo." "But please, will Mr. Farfrae come?" said the child. "I am going that way.- .^ . 'Why Mr. Farfrae 7" Maid Henchard, with a fixed loojt ot thought. "Why do peo- ple always want Mr. Farfrae f" "I suppose lccau.se they like him so that's what thiy say." "Ohâ€" I .seeâ€" that's what they sayâ€" hey'< They like him because he's clev- erer than Mr. Henchard, and Ijecause he knows more; and. in short, Mr. Hen- (ihard can't hold a candle to himâ€" hey ?" "Yesâ€" that's just it, sirâ€" some of it." "Oh. there's more. Ot course there's more. Whit besides? Come, here's six- pence for a fairing." "'And he's letter tempered, and Henchard'* a fool to him," they say. And when some of the women were a walking home they said, "He's a diment â€"he's a chap o' wax â€" he's ihe best â€" he's the horse for my money," says I hey. And they said, "Ile'.s the most under- standing man o' them (two by long chalks. I wish he was the master in- stead of Henchard,"' they said. "They'll talk any nonsense," Hen- chard r«iplied, with covered gloom. "Well, you can go now. And I am coming to value the hay, d'ye hear? â€"I." The boy departed, and Hen- chard niurmure<l. "Wish he were master here, do theyt" He went towards Dummertord. On hia way he overtook Farfrae. They walked on toget her. Henchard look- ing mcwtly on the ground. "And are ye not right to-day?" Don- ald inquired. "Yea, I am very well," .said Hen- chard. "But ye are do\vnâ€" surely ye are ilown? Why, there '.s nothing to be an- gry about. 'Tis splendid .stuff that we've got from White Hart Vale. By the bye, the people in Dummerford want their hay valueil." "Yes. I am going there." "I'll go with ye." As Henchard did not reply, Donald practised a piece of music sotto voice till, getting near the liereayed people's door h<5 stopped himself with â€" "Ah, as their father is dead, I won't go on with such as that. How could t forget ?" "Do you ein so very much' aliout hurting folks' feelings?" olwerved Hen- chard, with a half (.neer. "Tou do, I knowâ€" especially mine." "I am sorry if I have hurt yours, air," replied Donald, standing still, with a second erpiression of the same .sen- timent in the regretfulness of his face. "Why should you say itâ€" think it?" The cloud lifted from Henchard's brow, and aa Donald finished tbe corn- merchant turned to him. regarding his breast rather than his face. I have lieen ht-aring things thai vexed me." be said, ""fwas that made rae short in my manner â€" made me over- look what you really are. NoWj I don't want to go Id h-re aliout this hayâ€" arfrae, you can do it lietter than I. 'rh<'y sent for ye. too. I have to at- tend a meeting of the Town Council at eleven, and "ti.s drawing on for't." They parted thas in renewed friend- hip. Donald fori earing to ask Hen- chard for meanings that were very plain to him. On Hencb ird's part there â- was now again repose ; and yet, wlienever he thought 01 F'arfrae, it was with a dim dread; and \w often regretted that he had told the young man his whole heart, and confideil to him the secrets of bis life. CONDITION OF RUSSIA'S ARMY. ing, or sheep-fair that required more space than the streets would afford. Cm one si<le it sloped to a river, and from any point a view was obtained of tbe oountry round for many miles. This pleasant upland was to lie the scene of Honchard's exploit. , _ He advertised aliout Ihe town, in ! miHitm combatants, it long posters of a pink colour, that games of all sorts would take place, ..7.. ,, ..••„,„,,tA here; and set to work a little l.-dtta- that d(«s not of U self mean war would lion of men under his own eye. They ; lie required to enable any nation ot erected greasy-pole« for climlilDg, "''h i western Europe to settle the Eaatemi Two llllllaB PtsbtUtc Men. Armed WU» Modern Klflm Bendy for AcUea. As the military forces of Russia oK a war footing contains upward of tbre« would appear that something more than "coercion « nams ami locai cueesea ai i ue ; . r.-^t /.nnun'timo' They placed hurdlers in. rows iorlQ^eslum without first consu-tuig tb« smoked hams and local cheeses at the top. They placed hurdlers in rows (or . â-  j ^u w_ jumping over; .across the river they! Czar. The vasrt army is raised throii«tt- laid' a sliuiiery pole, with a live pig of | out )[„, Russiaji empire, lialillity to »er» the nei«hl.orhood tied at the ol^er end i i , . . universal. As a rule to liecome the property of the man who, » »„, fi„« v,.ar« .juld walk over and get It. There were ' service with the colors last for five years also provided wheellierrows for racing, I and in the event of a mobalization of donkeys for the same, a stage for liox- ing, wrestling, and drawing lilood gen- erally; sacks for jumping it. Moreover, not forgetting his principles, Henchard provided n mammoth tea. of which ev- eryliody who lived in a burough was invited to partake without payment. The tables were hiid parallel with the inner slope of the rampart, and awn- ings were stretched overhead. fTo be Continued.) CHAP'TKR XVI. Un thiA aocotuit Henchard's manner lowardd Farfrae insousildy became mure re.'.erved. He â- was courteoiLSâ€" loo cour- teousâ€"and Farfrae was quite .surprised at the good breeding which now for the first lime showeti itself among the- >|ualiiie«i of a man who had faitbertn ihi'Ughi undisciplined, if warm and sin- cere. I'bo ciirn-factor seldom or never again put hi^ arm upon the young uian's shoulder so as to nearly weigh him down with the pressure of mei-h- anised friendship. He left off coming to Donald's lodgings and shouting into the piuisago, "Hoy, Farfnui, Uiy, come inil hive Houie dinner with us I Don't I «it here in solitary confinement I" Hu in the daily routine of their business I heir wad little change. Thus their lives rolled on till a day ' f public rejoicing was suggested tu tbe country at large in celeuration of a naii>,nal event tlial had recently taken place. For some time Casterbridge, by na- ture slow, made no response. Then one day Donald Farfrae broached the auli- ject to Henchard tiy asking if he would nave any suiijection to lend some rick- cloitus to himself and a few others, who conleniplated getting up an eutertain- mem of some sort on the day named and required a shelter for the same to wluch they might charge admission at the rate of ho much a head. "Have OS many cloths as you like," Henchard replied. When his manager bad gone alHiut the business Henchard was fired with emulation. It certainly had lieen very remiss ot him. as Mayor, he thought, 111 call no meeting ere this, to <liscu.s8 what should le dome on this holiday. But l''arfrae had Ijeen so cursed quick in his movements as t« give old-fash- ii.ned paople in authority no chance of the initiative. However, it was not too late; and on second thought be determined to take upon his own shoul- ders the responsibility of organising some .imusement.s, if the other coun- lilmen would leave the matter in his handa. To this they quite agreed, the majoriiy lK>ing fine old crusted char- acters who had a decided taste for liv- ing without worry. So Henchard ^Bt about his prepara- lions for a really brilliant thingâ€" such ;i.s ihould Ik- worthy of the venerable I own. As for Farfrae 's little affair. Henchard nearly forgot it ; except I'uce now and then when, on it com- ing into his mind, he said to himself, "( harjje adini.ssiim a' .so much a head just like him Iâ€" who is gouip to pay anything a head 1" Tho diversions which the Mayor intended to provide were to Iki entirely free. He hail grown so dependent upon Donald that he could scarcely resist c.illing him In to consult. Hut liy sheer .sidf-coercion he refrained. No, he ihoughl, Farfrae would be suggesting such improvements in his dâ€" d lumin- ous way, that in spite of himself be, Henchard, would sink to the position of second fiddle, and only .scrajie har- monics to his manager's talents. Kverybixty applauded the Mayor's propased entertainment, especially when it liecame known that he meant to pay tor jt all himself. Close lo the town was an elevat- ed green epot surrounded by an moient square earthworkâ€" earthworks square, and not squaro, were as com- mon us blaokberries haTcalioiit- n spot whereon the Casterbridge people usually held any kind of merry-|u«k>n«, laeet- FALL FUN. "That hair-restorer 1 Ijought of you I found very efficacious." remarked Cawker to his liarber. "So?" replied the knight of the razor. "I must try it my.selt." Athwart these melancholy days U casts a gleam of cheer To find you've half a ton of coal Left over from laat year. "Yes," .said one of the tramps to the farmer, "Dusty an' me just came in on our wheels." "What kind of wheels do you use f" "Car wheel.s." Sheâ€" "1 see ihey have now a 'Wo- man's Dictionary.' Do you suppose that differs from any other?" Heâ€" "Proba- bly has more words in it." Heâ€" "I would be willing to die a hunilred dea'ibs for your sake." Sheâ€" "So would anybo<ly else, 'ihe trouble is that one death Is all that we can get." Bingoâ€" "How Ls the new cook doing I" Mrs. H;ngi>â€" "Splendidly. Why. she has only been here three days, and she can already ride my wheel quite nicely." Aâ€" "My wife has given me a birth- day present of a keyring." Bâ€" "Well, if I wera you, on my next liirthday I'd see to it that she gave me the hou.se key !" Tilings never evenly befall, 'Mongst men though we are brothers. Thank.sgiving was designed for all. But some have more than others. Lateâ€" "What ! Have all your daugh- ters liecome engaged this summer? 1 wished to ask for the han.l of Frau- lein .Marie my.selt!" 'Ob, she is the most engaged of all I" Smithâ€" "I ttiab I had studied boxing when i was a l)t.y. You see, I need it so much in my profession." Jones (sur- prised)â€" "What ! as a lawyer ?" Smith "No. As a lather." "Why do you beg?" asked the kind- hearted woman. "I can't help it, ma'- am, " ^.aid ihe lieggar. "My wife's a widder, with five children, and they looks to me for support." Someliody has invemed a tablet to facilitate writing on railroad trains, 'things are gelling .so that a travel- ing man won't have any excuse left for not writing letters to bis wife. Tho apprcachedâ€""Why don't you go to work?" The trampâ€" "I'm trying to work, sir." The approachedâ€" "Ai what?" The trampâ€" "At preisonl, sir, I'm trying to work you." Mrs.â€" "iVm 1 still ihe star of your life,' as 1 was when you ased to write love letters Ui me?" Mr.â€" "Of course, dear. ' Mrs.â€" "1 don't .seem to be draw- ing a star salary, though." "Sti you feel ill, my little lail?" ask- ed the kind minister. "You should go and tell your mother. She will give you .sage advice." "That's jest it," said the lioy. "I'm doggone sick o' sage." Ihe Clergymanâ€" "I had no idea pro- fanity was so prevalent till l began lo rule a wheel. " His Wifeâ€" "Do yuu hear much of it on the road?" ihe C'iergymanâ€" "Why. nearly everyone 1 run into swears frightfully I " "Harry, before we were married, you beggtxl me to go hand In hand with you down life's pathway." 'â- So I did." â- 'And now you get mal when I ask you where you go without me five nights in the week." Wattsâ€" "Lei's walk along till a car overtakes us." I'ottsâ€" "No. Let's walk the oiher way until a car meets us. We will catch it sooner; we will go down-town just as quick, and we will get more ride for our money." An easy livingâ€" "Where are you working now. Mary?" "Ain't workm' nowheres. 1 am in business for myself. I got a couple dozen ladies that pays me a quarter a week to come around and a,sk 'em for a place, and it makes Ihe hired girl they got mad and she won't leave." WHEN THE HEART RESTS. Nature takes tbe time when one is lying <lown to give the heart rest, and that organ con.sequently makes 10 .strokes less a minute than when one Ls in an upright posture. Multiply that by Co minutes, and it is 600 strokes. Therefore, in eight hours spent in ly- ing down the heart is saved nearl.v ii.OOO strokes, and, as the 'heart pumps six ounces of blood with each stroke it lifts 30.000 ounces le.ss of lilood in ii night of eight hours spent in lied than when one is in an upright position. As the lilood flow^s so much more slowly through Ihe veins when one is lying down, one must .supply with extra cov- ering tbe warmth unusually furnished by circulation. A WONDERFUL FLOWER. 'The Flor del Esiuritu Santo, or Holy (Ihoet flower, found in the region of the Isthmus of Panama, has within its petals the perfect image of a dove. The leaves are very pale green in color, as though in harmony with tbe delicate purity of the blossom, which is of ala- baster whiteness, (n the center of the blossom, nestling In its very heart, is the perfect image of a dove. Right in the cup of the blossom, wth the snow- white canopy about it, rests thi>t won- drous image, its delicately molded wings drooiiing, half extended at ils side, its gold-tmted head bent slightly forward, and Its tiny, crlmson-t ippeil bill almoat touching its .snowj breast. the forces, the field troops would be brought up to war strength by calllnci in reservists who had served five years in the ranks. The field, troops and field reserve troops, together numbering two millions of men, woudd be formed Into field armies, which would each com- prise a number of army corps, rifle bri- gades, and reserve divisions. The re- mainder of the forces consist of fortress and depot troops and Imperial militia. The "three-line rifle, iiattem 1891," has been introduced in puace of the single-loading Berdan rifle. The new rifle carries five roonda In the maga,- aine, is of small calibre, 3 Inch, and haa a limokeleas ammunition. On service the tayonei scabarde are left at home, and the quadrangular bayonet is carried fix- ed. The bsurei of the nfie is uncaaed aad screwed into the liody, an arrange- luent which helps to lessen the weight ajid, in tact, the rifle, with bayonet lix» ed, weighs only 9 1-2 pounds, or about 1 pound less than the Lee-Metford rifle aad bayonet used m the Britism service. The regulations recognize four kinds of infantry, viz., volley fire, wbiohf may be used at all ranges; individual fire, which is empiloyed up to »00 or tiOO paces; individual concentrated lire (the fire of 3,11 the mem of a section or squad at a common object), up to 1,200 paces; a mass tire at greater dis- tances than 1,201) paces. \V hen within 200 or 300 [laces of the enemy fire at- tains its maximum intensity by the em- ployment of magazine fire. After a successful bayonet charge the shooting Una must continue ils advance to the far side of the captured position, and press the enemy by a rapid fire. A irontal attack must be supported by one o<n the Tank. When acting on the de- fensive, infantry must put forth every effort to shaite the enemy by fire, and then attacJc him with tbe bayonet. Throughout the Pussian cavalry the men are armed with a curved sword, 34 1-2 inches long, and rifle and bayonet. In the Cossacks the front rank carry a lance. In artillery the Russians are particularly at rong, and their armament and projectiles are of the latest ajid most approved patterns. The active army and field reserve troops alone con- tain upward of five hundred batteries manning over four thousand guns. General staff officers form a closed corps, and are recruited from those who pass the General Staff Academy. The duties of the general staff, broadljy speaking, include the movements and i>perations of the army, intelligehce of the enemy, and reconnoissance of the theatre of war. It Is laid down that on martvhesnyhem at a distance from the enemy, it is of the first importance to study the com- fort and convpnience of the troops by separating arms, and sending on billet- ing parties and bakers to provide for t he wants of the troops beforehand. \Vhen, near the enemy, however, and on a march that may lead to an en- counter, the troops advance closed up as much as possible, in columns, and aim mainly at swiftness and secrecy. ROYALTY'S MARRYING AGE. Royalties, as a rule, marry early. Tbs Emperor of Austria married, when ho was "24, a bride of 16 years and 4 months; one of bis two daughters married at the age of l(i years and 9 months, and bis son's bride was only 17. The King of Belgium was a youth of 18 when ha married a girl of 17, and his two dauglv- tors were marritid while mere school girls In age, 17 years, ffing Christian of Denmark, purdently waited till ha was 24, and then took for a wife a Prin- cess sit months older than himself; bat tbe Princess Alexandra, was married to the Prince of Wales at the age of 18. The German Emperor was 22, and his bride only three months younger. When the King of Greece married he w;ia also 22 ; but bis Russian wife had only just passed her I6th blrtbday. The fCing of Italy did not marry till lie was 24. which is mature for the sunnv Seuib. bis wife not being 161-2. The King of PortugaJ was 22 1-2. and bis wife al- most .1. The King of Roumania at 20 married a young girl rising 16. The Czar of Russia was 26 and his wife 23 when they married. Tbe King of Sweden and Norway was 28, and his wife under 21. Queen Victoria was a ftiw months under 21, and the I^ince Consort three months younger when the royal wedding took place ; tbe I'lince of Wales was 21 years 4 months, the Ouke of Edlnburgn a tl^w months .short of 30 the Duke of Connaugbt very near- ly 29, Prince Leopold just over 29, the Duchess of Fife a Ultfo over 22, Prin- i-eas Alice 19. l^incess Heleni 22, Prin- cess Louise 21, and Princess Beatrice 28 1-2 yeiirs. The Queen's father bad reached tho .sen8U>le ago of 50 1-2 years when he took a bride aged 32. JUKr LIKE A WOMAN. None has a better wife than I, Ami every morn she seems more sweet When at the door she says good-by And sees me vanish down the street. , But though she tremUea at my kiss (A lonely day to her remains), She has no other words than thisâ€" '"Vurn up your trousers, if it rains." Without her love I oould not live, I'd sooner die than give offense; Hut why does not my sweet wife give Me credit for a little sense f [f I were leaving her for yeara, rhougji racked her breast with cruel pains I his same remark would greet my ears, "Turn up your trousera whan it rains?'