Kawartha Lakes Public Library Digital Archive

Fenelon Falls Gazette, 23 Sep 1892, p. 7

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a»... W... rm.- W>pnul~wu<iu~Lyh w. " PAT” WOBE THE v.0. ly you will climb a long, steep street to the castle; and there you may see a. very inter- esting thing which is not mentioned in the guidebooks. As you stand upon the King's’ Bastion, If ever vou go to Edinburgh, undoubted- ! l looking down over the beautiful city, drop i your eyes upon it little triangular bit of the ' l i great rock just outside the wall you are' caning on. You will be surprised to find a tiny garden upon this narrow coign of van- ta c. It is full of bright flowers, yet it is not all a garden ; for behind the flowers stands a row of modest gravestones, brown and gray, with an inscription upon each. Thcstonesare far mosniall to record human virtues, and you see at once that they must be put there in honor of a race which can- not speak for itsalf. So they are ; they mark the restingoplace of good dogs once livingiu garrison here, and each is the memorial ofa faithful life. There are eight or ten of these stones, and each onc has its story; but read the first inscription on the stone in the right- hand corner. It runs as follows : ix union or ” PAT " W110 Fontowsn Tm: 72x9. Hmni..\.\'nsits run res YEARS IN PEACE AND wan DIED Srii Manon 1888. To this scant-y record I shall add one chapter of a most, stirring life. To begin at the beginning, I must own that “ Pat” like some other heroes, had no satisfactory family tree. Judging from his portrait in oil, which was to be seen at the Naval and Military Exhibition in Edinburgh in 1889, I should say he came of many families. There is a dispute about his pedi- gree, but no one denies that he had a great deal of bulldog blood, and an equal part of pug. Though not wholly a “ blue-blood,” he was allied to the aristocracy on both sides. His early life is also wrapped in mystery; he was a full-grown dog when he followed the boys in from parade one bright morning, and no subsequent inquiry ever unlocked the sealed book of his puppyhood. That is almost a pity, for he must have been a Winsome, affectionate puppy, full of tricks and wiles. His bright face shows this. I never saw a countenance, human or canine, more open or alert. The soldiers christened him “ Pat” direct- ly, from a humorous twinkle in his eyes and a certain twist of his comical little month which they thought like the colonel’s body- servant, who bore his name. This man was always good-natured, and consequently a great favorite with the rank and file. Give a dog a good name, and there is no telling to what heights he may attain. Put the elder married a widow who tend- cd bar High Street,and~ left the service soon after his namesake joined the 72nd. This circumstance heightened the value of Pat. the younger. He became thus more highly rized from his fancied resemblance to the ost comrade. Pat had at first no one master. He was a general favorite, and took up his quartets now with one friend, now with another, at his own caprice. In this way he studied men and life from various points of view. The soldiers in garrison devoted apart of their idle time to teaching Pat to fetch and carry, to salute and to go through simple military drill. In the early part of 1878 there was trouble between England and Afghanistan and the British forces in that part of the world were increased. Among the regiments sent to India was the 72nd Highlanders. When you think of the difficulties and dangers attending a journey to Afghanistan, you will wonder tlrnt Pat did not hesitate and desert. The matter was fully explain- ed to him by the color-sergeant, Jem Mc- Pherson, the night before the troops march- ed out, but the dog only winked ins know- ing way, and wagged his brief tail with emphasis, as if to say : “I accept the situa- tion and mean to do my part.” He kept the promise to the letter. Pat grew in favor constantly during this Afghan war. He was present at diplomatic meetings, assisted in planning the details of the campaign when the days of diplomacy were over, shared the discomforts of the underground huts, and prepared to march upon Candahar when a hostile advance upon that city had become inevitable. Meantime a tide in the affairs of Pat had borne him on to fortune, for he had become attached to the fates and fortunes of a good master. He was no longer an adventurer, u. canine Bohemian, but the rightful prop- erty of the color-sergeant, his good friend, who had once tried to dissuade him from entering the field of glory. It happened in this way. McPherson was taken ill with a. low fever, and Pat was left on guard in his tent to warn thieving natives offthc promises. He performed this duty faithfully, and the lonely. homesick man, during his days of convalesccuce, turned to his dumb nurse for comfort. With dogs and men of noble type, the process is much the same : they rise into ovc through the needs of the people about; them. “ Those who trust us educate us" in all the. essentials of life. When M r. McPherson could once more wall: out in the sun, the dog's joy was nu. bounded. He leaped and ran round the sick man like a dog distaught, giving the short, quick yelp of ecstasy which denotes a full bronze cross, worth a six pence possibly, which is the highest reward and mastic be desired from this very fact, that it has no vulgar money value. It is an honor opcn alike to officer and private ; and when a man has won it, he has the letters V. C. placed after his name. There has been but one dog in the British Fmpire who might have claimed this dis- tinctian. The wonderful march from Cabal to Can~ dahar was over. More than three hundred miles had been accomplished in fifteen days, without loss or delay, throu h the heart of an enemy's country and the fierce heat. The climate of this region is peculiarly trying; but so well had the troops been managed A small body of English. troops held the city, and the Afghan army lay before it, growing stronger each day. It was plain that this Afghan army must be dispersed, if English arms were to maintain their power in Asia. It was at the close of a. long day’s weary fight before Cundahar. The cannon had ceased, and the night. had fallen at lastâ€" the blessed night, welcome alike to victor and vanquisher, which covers the many horrors of a battle-field. The weary soldiers re-entersd the :ity, now secure in holding it and, worn with the toil of the day, sank down to rest. Out on the plains beyond the walls luy many a stalwart form, clad in the Macken- zie tartan, then, then the distinctive dress of the 72nd Highlanders. It is a beautiful blue and green plaid, crossed with fine white lines, which become conspicuous when it is kilted. “ When the boys are moving,’ said an old Highlander, ‘ they seem tobe passing headless through the light snow-fall. ” Hccd- less of danger, they had pressed on to the front; and that is why so many lay out under the stars. . And where was Pat? The question was going around among those who had seen McPherson carried off the field after braving death again and again to keep the colors flying. An Afghan’s knife had pierced. his right arm, and a bullet had torn his right hand cruelly; yet he had held the flag in the wounded hand with the vise-like strength of desperation, and out his way through the ranks of the enemy with his left hand till the colors were safe. Many had seen him fall at the head of the line, faint from lO-JS of blood and agony. The Colonel himself, it is said, had gone to his bedside, had expressed anxiety for his life, and muttered something of “in the despitchcs. ” McPherson, if he lived, might hope for the V. C. To be sure, he had given his right hand to his country ; it would never be used again. But no one said much of that just then. After this story had been told briefly and without comment, as becomes a soldier’s tale, the question was repeated concerning Pat. He had been seen at intervals through the day up to the time his master was first wounded. Then all trace of him was lost. “ He must have been trampled to death, the poor wee beast, ” they said. The night. passed. The morning came, and when the surgeon went upon his early round, he found by the side of the brave color-sergeant’s bed, asmall bundle of mud- dy-white substance, emitting low moans. He stooped to examine it, when Jem called out eagerly in a shaken voice : “ It is Pat, sir; he is badly hurt, I think. Be good enough to look at him first. I would not lose him for my other hand. But for him I’d be out; yonder on the ground. Don’t let him suffer, sirâ€"’twas he saved the flag. I’ll tell you just the way of it when you’ve time to stop a bit.” Meanwhile the skilful doctor had found the broken bones, and, sternly bidding McPherson not to speak again, set and splintered poor Pat’s broken paw in short order, while the faithful animal bore it as heroically as only a dog can, licking the ministering hands gratefully and fervently at the close. There was also a wound in the side,â€"an ugly cut, clotted and stiff; this also, the humane surgeon hastily dressed. Pat recovered fast. He was soon limping about, and was fully well, and probably had forgotten his part in the great day, before his history was told to his fellow heroes. And this was the story : Jem, bearing the colors in his left hand, and with his bayonet well advanced in his right, was struck by a ball which tore off two of his fingers, and compelled him to drop his weapon. Quick as thought he forced the staff of colors upon the wounded stump, and seized the sword of a fallen enemy in his left hand. He was not quick enough, however. An immense Afghan, seeing his defenccless condition, had leaped upon him and lifted his terrible knife for the fatal blow, when Pat's teeth closed decisively upon the calf of the Asiatic’s leg. The sudden, sharp pain so unnerved the man that he missed his aim, and the swing- ing blade fell only upon Jem’s uplifted arm, not upon his head. Jem rose slowly and with difficulty, while the enraged Afghan turned upon his smaller enemy, who hung upon his flesh with the double devotion ofa pug to his master and a bulldog to his prey, and bent to deal the dog a mortal blow. “’ith speechless agony, Pat gave one quick glance at his master, and then began the death struggle ; for, Without thought. of loosening his hold to save hislife, Pat meant to sell it dearly. He twisted and turned his lithe body, and ) heart, quite as “lusiczguy as do huuu‘n gobs the knife inflicted but a flesh “'Ollnd. The and gasps. Part of this joy may have been upon his own account, you say? Be that as it may, quick, and drawing his coat sleeve across his eyes, “ to keep out the sun,” .‘alcl‘herson registered a silent vow to take Pat under his roteetion. \V ith no more ado was Pat adopted, and find a collar with his name upon it before the camp broke up. It was a broad metal band with a ring init for the attachment of acliain. Who could have dreamed what other thing this ring would hold 2 And new events were hurrying on, and the Highlanders were hurried on by them to Candahur. What it all meant to Pat. and how far be approved the march to that city, no one knew; but it is a matter of history that he was present at that battle of Candahar, and that can result of his be- havior there he wore the “ V. C." unequal conflict could have had but one , issue had not a flying bullet lodged in the i heart of the Afghan, who fell, dragging Pat it touched the rough soldier's heart to the; down With him “1d CWShlng his PM" by "‘0 fall. All this passed in a moment. Jem, with a sick heart, turned from his preserver and hurried on. Why not? He would have turned and left his brother at the stern call of duty. What- Scotchman would not? He felt his strength ebbing fast, the moment of his own fall was drawing near, and the flag must not lie upon the ground. The poor fellow sta gercd on with the desperate effort of a ying man, and reached his Col- onel's side before darkness fell upon his e es. yHe thought Pat dead. and had time to re- gret his poor friend during the night of suffering which succeeded the battle. But i at dawn Pat had crawled into his bedside ; The Victoria Cross is the reward given by and, unable to reach the hands he longed to the Queen herself for rent valor in battle. afress, had lsio down upon J eni's gar- “ hen a soldier has rit 'ed his life to save a moms. and given vent to his afl'ectionate cow a le, or done any other heroic deed. he receives, at the Queen's own hand, the little heart in moans and tears. How the dog had wroncbed himself free, â€"-â€"â€"‘ \and how he had found his master, no one that they marched into Caudahar in good condition after a single dav's rest. and made his painful way upon three legs, l could tell. devotion by reiteration of the statement that it was Pat who had saved the flag; and said the brave fellow, “ It is himself t e of his . Jem wound up he “I i now Bent-y Ward Beecher Read the Great UR OLE TOM'S CABIN. Story. I was talking with Mrs. Henry “"ard shall share the V. C. you are all talking ; Beecher a few evenings ago (writes Mr. Ed- abont, if I ever hold it. For four and twenty hours he shall wear it through Edinburgh streets, in the ring of his collar there." And in fact so he did. There are plenty of witnesses who saw this strange sight. liars V. Titoursox. TO PREVENT OHOLBRA. Stateâ€"Measures to be Taken for the Prevention of the Scourge. A special meeting of the Provincial Board of Health was held the other day in Toron- to to consider measures which should be taken for the prevention of the importation and spread of Asiatic cholera in the prov- ince. There were present zâ€"Dr. Cassndy (chairman), Dr. Norman Allen, of 'l oronto ; Dr. Macdonald, of Hamilton ; Dr. Kitchen, of St. George ; and Dr. Vaux, of Brock- villc.. A letter was received from Dr. Bryce, secretary of the Provincial Board of Health, who is at present absent on the Cholera Commission. The letter is dated. at New York, anti begins by calling atten‘ tion to the inefficiency of the Grease Isle quarantine. Dl‘: Bryce, however, goes on to say _:-â€"-“ If ships arriving within the next week do not pass cholera up the St. Law- rence, and I do not see how they can with the action both at quarantine station and at Quebec for delaying all suspects there, there ought to be supplement the action of the President of the United States by a. twenty days’ quaran- tine of immigrant ships on the St. Lawrence. This will practically stop immigration this season, and till the frost comes,thc St. Law- rence route will be safe.” If this is not; done, the letter goes on to say, a large num- ber of Russian Jews and other immigrants will come through Quebec, up the St. 1 aw- reuce, and this, together with the immigra- tion from the United States by way of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, will subject On- tario to considerable danger. Dr. Bryce advises that a staff of inspectors be placed at Niagara Falls, and'also that measures be taken to place in the hands of the public proper regulations with respect to the treat- ment of the disease. . ' A discussion upon- the various points sug- gestedin the doctor’s letter followed, and the following resolution was carried :â€" “That in view of the action of the Presi- dent of the United States. who has issued an order establishing a quarantine of twenty days of vessels carrying immigrants, so as to prevent; the introduction of cholera into the ports of the United States, thereby de~ fleeting the stream of immigration to our shores, and also seeing the unprepared con- dition of THE QUARANTINE STATION at Grosse Isle and other Canadian ports, the Provincial Board of Health of Ontario, through the hon. the Minister of Agricul- ture, desires to urge most strongly on the | Government of the Dominion of Canada the dy of issuing immediate regula- NO FURTHER DANGER this season, if the Dominion Government tions enforcing a quarantine of twenty days against all vessels carrying immigrants to Canadian ports.” It was further decided to u-rgc upon the Ontario Government the advisability of placing sanitary inspectors at Niagara Falls and other ports, and the following resolution was passed :â€"-“ That we recommend the Government of On- tario to pass an order-in-Council authoriz- ing the appointment of sanitary inspectors whose office it. shall be to board all trains I and steamboats, etc. , passing from the State of New York into the Province of Ontario, in order that they may take such steps as may prevent the importation of cholera into this province.” The bcard then took into consideration the best means of preventing the spread of the disease. The importance of checking the disrrhma, which is nearly always a fore- runner of cholera, was emphasized by Dr. Cassidy. “ Boil your ice, boil everything you eat,” said Dr. Allen, “ if. is the best safeguard; cholera must come directly or indirectly through polution of the water supply.” After a lengthy discussion upon this subject the following resolution was carried :-“In consideration of the danger to be apprehended from Asiatic cholera. the Committee on Epidemics be instructed to revise our former direction in case of Asia- tic cholera, and to prepare a pamphlet emâ€" bodying instructions for its treatment and regulations for its prevention, and to have' the same printed and distributed freely to the people of Ontario.” Dr. Allen then introduced the subject of the abolition of p ivy pits, 12,000 of which, he said, existed in Toronto. The sewage question was of the greatest importance, and should be treated at once by the board. He advised the building of an intercepting trunk sewer, and said he thought the intro- duction of a trunk scwcr would do a great deal to obviate the danger arising from cholera. The board passed the fol- . lowing resolnton upon this subject :â€" “ The Provincial Board of Health dc- sires to emphasize an opinion already ex- pressed, that all privy pits should be abolish- ed in every municipality in the province, as it regards these as a most potent factor in the spread of Asiatic cholera and other in- fectious diseases.” The board then adjourned. THE LATEST RIFLE. It is (sec! “'10: Smokeless Powder and Proves Successful. Some good practice has recent] beenmade with the new magazine mile, 3 out which weapon such unsatisfactory reports were circulated a few years ago. The gun was em- ployed experimentally at the Hythe School of Musketry, and it was fired with smoke- less powder, ata body of dummy figures at a. distance of 800 yards. The number of hits was 18 per cent., which speaks well for the new arm. when it is remembered that it iss well-ascertain- ed fact that in warfare not more than 1 per cent. of the bullets fired do any damage whatever. In testing the new rifle against the old one fired with black mm powder, the value of the new explosive was seen to great advantage ; the smoke emit-ted from each rifle being only about as much as would proceed from the end of a cigar. get back to England to ’ ward \V. Bok), and the conversation hap- pened to turn on “ Uncle Tom's Cabin." I asked her if Mr. Beecher had ever ex res:- ed an opinion of his sister‘s famous k, and she told me this interesting story of ' how the famous preacher read the story : When the story was first published in “ The National Era,” in chapters, all our family, excepting Mr. Beecher, looked im- patiently for its appearance each week. at, try as we might, we could not persuade spam gun“: or um pmvmdnl Board Mr. Beecher to read, or let us tell him any; offlnflthâ€"A Quarantine or New York thin about 1t- l “ t‘s folly for you to kee in constant \ excitement week after week,” ewould say. " I shall wait till the work is completed, and take .it all at one dose.” | When the work was finished, the book came to Mr. Beecher on the morning of a aday when he had a meeting on hand for the afternoon and a speech for the even- ; ing. The book was quietly laid on one side ,for he always scrupulously avmded every- ;thing that could interfere with or retard I work he was expected to do. But. the next T day was a free day. Mr. Beecher rose even learlier than usual, and soon as dressed be- 3 gau to read “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin. ” When ; breakfast was ready he took his book with ihim to the table, and reading and eating 5 went on together, but speaking never a word. After morning prayers, he threw ; himself on the sofa, forgot everything but ; his book, and read uniiitcrruptcdly till din- ‘ner time. Though evidently beginning to : be intensely interested, for a long time he 5 controlled any marked indication of it ; but before noon I knew the storm was gath- ering that would conquer his self-control, l as it had done with us all. He frequently i “gave away to his pocket-handkerchief,” to = use one of his old humorous remarks, in a . most vigorous manner. I could not refrain in return for his teasing me for reading the 3 work weekly, from saying demurely, as I ; passed him once : “ You seem to have a ; severe cold. How could you have taken it?” But what did I gain ? Not even a half an- ~ noyed shake of the head, nor the semblance l of a smile. I might as well have spoken to l the Sphinx. When reminded that the dinner-bell had ,rung, he rose and went to the table, still i with his book in his hand. He asked the blessing witha tremor in his voice, which , showed the intense excitement under which 'he was labouring. \Ve were alone at the l table, and nothing to distract his thoughts» He drank his coffee, ate but little, and re- turned to his reading, with no thought of in- dulging in his usu 1 afternoon nap. Evi- dences of almost uncontrollable excitement, gin the form of half-suppressed sobs. were I frequent. Mr. Beecher was never a rapid reader. I -. was gettin uneasy over the marks of great ' feeling and excitement, and longed to have him finish the f ook. I could see that he entered into the whole story, every scene, as if it was being acted right before him, and he himself was the sufferer. He had always i been a pronounced Abolitionist, and the ' story he was reading roused all he had felt on the spbject intensely. The night came on. It was growinglate, and I felt impelled to urge him to retire. Without raising his eyes from the book he :replied : _ . , ‘ "‘ Soon, soon ; you go ; I’ll come soon." g Closing the house, I went to our room; 5 but not to sleep. The clock struck twelve, : one, two, three, and then, to my great rc- ; lief, I heard Mr. Beecher coming upstairs. jAs he entered, he threw “ Uncle 'Iom’s 3 Cabin ” on the table, exclaiming : “ There ; ‘ I’ve done it! But if Hattie Stowe ever ,writes anything more like that, I’llâ€" well ? She has nearly killed me anyhow l” . And he never picked up the book from I that. day. l A FEW NEW THINGS. l I i A recent invention is a waterproof white- ; wash. 1 A patent has been issued for a lock which :can be 0 ened only by a magnetized key. A Ber in inventor has invented an in- , strumcnt which measures the 1,000th psrt ' of a second, 1 French florists are cultivating a plant g which bears a flower that is white in the {morning, red at noon and blue at night. A Frenchman has invented an envelope stamp which makes the postmark. Thus the inclosure will bear official proof of the date on which it was posted. In a. new kind of shears which has been mechanicisn the cutting blades are connect- ed byacapsiule, in which a simple lever movement, on the closing of the instru- ment, causes the one blade to be drawn under by the other. Tholowor check then acts asasupport, and the upper check as a knife, which sevcrs the object on the sup- port. Can Man Change the Olimate? The fact that man has been able to pro- duce many great changes on the face of the earth is a tribute to his industry nndingen- uity.’ But it is possible that he is bringing about effects of equal importance without intending them. This reflection issnggest- ed by a recent article of Doctor J. E. Tay- lor on the question whether the British climate is changing. It is only within the last ten years that the great part that dust plays in weather making has come to be properly understood. The colors of sunrise and sunset are largely, perhaps mainly, due to the presence of in- visible dust in the atmosphere. The wind and the temperature of the air are also af- fected by dust. The existence of clouds may be entirely dependent upon the presence of dust particles. Doctor To for sug cats that the immense quantity of ust- disc urged into the air by the innumerable fuel-consuming engines of this age of mechanical progress may increase the cloudiness of a country like England, and thereby lead to colder and gloomier seasons. When we recall the minnteness of man in comparison with the great globe that he in- habits and the vast ocean of h '. that s'pr- rounds him, it a pears very ' risin t at he should beablepto bring about such effects. But it must be remembered that he is dealing continually with giant powers of nature which are so delicately balanced theta more touch, as it were, suffices some- times to set their. operating in a new way. which exposes a part of the letter to the I brought on the market by an ingeniouso W__ LATE BRITISH KENS. Queen Victoria's new dining room '6 gsbopfie cost $00,000. She paid for it erse . The youngest man in the new British House of Commons is 2‘2,yeara old; the oldest, 90. _In London a rat cleverly opened a black- bird‘s cage pcrsumably to feast on the bird seed. The bird flew away and the door closed. This time the rat was unable to open it. Nearly 1‘200 bunches of grapes ripened this season on the great vine at Hampton Court. They were sent to Queen Victoria. This vine is the largest in England, and is about 125 years old. Recruiting sergeants in England have no longer a monopoly of rewards for obtaining young soldiers. By an order just issued, any person, civilian or soldier, who brings a suitable recruit for enlistment will be re- munerated. Owing to the continued spread of glanders in London special measures have becnadopt- ed tostamp cut the disease, which is the most serious outbreak for many years. The spread of the diserse is attributed to the public horse tron ha, and an order has been issued to close t em for a period of two months, by which time it is hoped that the epidemic will be stamped out. About twenty years ago the Mintir g Park Estate, of 461 acres, in the Horncastle district of Lincolnshire, was mortgaged for £14,000, and the other day it was purchas- ed by Mr. Robert Vyner, of Gautby, for £6000. In 1885 the property was sold by the mortgagees to the late owner for £3000. Fleet street, in the heart of London, has been visited by a plague of tiny but pcrsis~ tent and venomous mosquitoes. It is believ- ed that they were of the Algerine variety and that they were imported with “esparto grass," of which paper is made in the Lon- don mills. In one consignment recently a feather dealer in London received 6000 birds of par- adise, 350,000. birds of various kinds from the East Indies, and 400,000 humming birds. In three months another dealer im- ported 356,398vbirds from the East Indies. Sir William Fraser has resigned his a. - pointment as Deputy-Keeper of the R060“ s at Edinburgh, and he retires on a pension of £400 a year. He was one of the most ef- ficient public officials in Scotland. Sir William is to he succeeded by Mr. Matthew Livingstone, who has for several years held an important post in the Register House at Edinburgh. A retriever dog, belonging to a visitor at one of the Edinburgh hotels, went mad on the 15th, and hit its master and an attend- ant at the Dick Veterinary College, to which it had been taken for treatment. Both persons bitten have been sent for treatment. to the Pasteur Institute, Paris. The Dublin United Trades Council and Labor League held a meeting and passed a resolution unanimously requesting Mr. Gladstone to appoint Lord Aberdeen Vice- roy of Ireland. Various speakers affirmed that the reign of Lord and Lady Aberdeen at Dublin Castle during the last Liberal Government was conducive to the prosper- ity of Ireland and met with the approval of the people. Three sailors named Madigan, Hickey, and Scanlan were burnt to death at Limer- ick early on the morning of the 10th. The men were employcd on a river boat trading on the Shannon, and whilst they were asleep some barrels of parrafin Oll became ignited, through, it is sup used, the cabin fireplace. The vessel was llurnt to the wat- er’s edge. The other night a brutal outrage was per- petrated at Coolaclang, when a cow, the property of a Mrs. O’b‘ullivan, was bough- cd, and had its tail cut off by inoonlighters. The reason assigned for the commission of the outrage is that. Mrs. O'Sullivan, the owner of the animal, had purchased hay from a neighboring boycotted farm. The death is announced, at Ciistleisland, of Daniel Lyons at the age of 103. Lyons fought. in the Peninsular War, and had been a pensioner for sixty-eight years. Mr. W. T. Linskill, St. Andrews, writes to the Edinburgh Scotsman as follows :â€" It may interest some of our readers to know that in 1884 we discovered here a very similar passage to that found at Selkirk. It had a paved floor, well'liuilt walls, and flagged roof. In the portion explored we came across two large chambers. Owing to the proprietor of the Priory objecting to let the passage be followed along under his garden in the direction of the Cathedral, operations had to be stopped, and have not since been resumed. Other passages, arched or hewn out of the solid rock, exist in this old city. Two beautiful specimens of the Ross. golis, or Sun Dew (Droscra Anglica), which is very rare in the district, were found growing on the Garrc hill, one of the spurs of the Campsie range of hills. The plant lives on insects. The leaves are a beautiful green, with red hairs and a white flower, and the plant is always moist even in the hottest of weather. A beautiful specimen of the Alpine plant Grass of Parnassus was also found on the top of the range. The flower is of a beautiful white waxy appear- ance, and is seldom found on the hills of the west of Scotland. An En fish paper of August 20 says: Our coal suppély is not likely to give out ruite so soon as some philosophers predict. t is estimated that the discovery at the Ashton Moss Colliery, Ashton-umlcr~l.yne, last Week of the seam known as the Great Lino will add to the known available store not less than fifty million tons. That will do pretty well for than-st of the generation, and bye-snd-byc probably new stocks will be brOught to earth. It is reported from Kent that mould is spreading among the hop lantations, and a considerable decrease in he crop in expect- ed. Brewers, however. if common report is to be trusted, pay little attention to the vicissitudes of the crop of hope. The at. tontion is mostly directed to chemical com- binations, no doubt more or less injurious, which are now used as “hop substitutes." Two English women fought, made up their quarrel, and kissed. Then one of them caused the arrest of the other for asisnlt and battery. Thereupon the claim was made that the him had cancelled the grievance and there could be no cause for action. The magistrate took the question under advisement, and his decision may establish the exact position of a kiss in criminal jurisprudence.

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