" THE STOKT OF ODE LIVES FROM YEAK TO YEAR."—SHAKKSPEAEB. ALL THE YEAR ROUND. A WEEKLY JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DICKENS. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED HOUSEHOLD WORDS.

N°- 493.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 186S. [PKICE 2d.

suffers without noise. I think you may safely HESTER'S HISTORY. take yonder Httle maid under your wing, sister A NETV SEKIAL TALE. Mary. The whole character of her bearing is true. She endures fear without losing self- possession, and she takes a favour in good faith CHAPTER XI. Df TBE HOSPITAL. and with all simplicity." " I KNOW Lady Humphrey," said Sir Archie, " It is pleasant to hear you say so," said the "I have met her and her son in London. The mother, " for 1 have thought much the same son is a good-natured young fellow enough. myself. I will take care not to lose sight of He informed me ou one occasion that our our protegee. And we will make ourselves her mothers had been friends. From the way in guardians: as far as the wise Providence per­ which her name was received at home when I mits us to be able." mentioned it—never oonnccting it in my mind In the mean time Hester lingered amongst with any person of whom I had heard—I should her vines up so high, till the brother and sister have thought that not likely to be true. The passed out of her sight, from the patlis in recollection of the woman is not pleasant to my the garden down below. The next thing of mother." interest she saw was a lay sister in her wliite " All bitter feeling has had time to be for- veil and apron, with a basket of new laid ttten," said the Mother Augustine. " Judith eggs, coming down the long green alleys from f lake was poor and proud, handsome and a some unseen home of hens. It did not occur dependant, and there are many excuses to be to Hester's mind that this vision had any made for such people. Stories will be ex- significance with regard to her own coming a^erated, and reputations whispered away breakfast. But it was dinner-time with the in­ upon very httle. We will hope sne is not a mates of St. Mark's. bad woman, but it is plain she has not the gift The Mother Augustine had a little corner of of winning affection. And that may be truly her own in her convent, a place where she called a misfortune in itself." transacted her business, where she had a ri

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OftaTlM Dtokens.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3,1S(J3.] 337 selves had become beautiful m clothing her; long. They lay tlieir case before God for years, foUowing the slim satin hand as it flitted to antl and ouly make up their minds wheu they feel fro over wild shaggy heads, laying hold of ruiigh assured by long trial that he wants them to do homy other hands, reducing all things around his work in this way. Your call, I have little to a sort of order iu peace, leaving hush and doubt, is elsewhere. Yet never fear but wc will comfort iu its track, as with the inlluence of a love you and protect you all we can. And you holy magnetism. "This is her daily work," shall always be our sister, wherever may be said Hester, "and I ? I have been tliink­ your place, whatever may be your work." ing about whether or not I was to live a lady I" The next ward visited was a iileasant room One dying woman, with the very print of upstairs, a iilacc in which the sick people were death upon her face, was raving meekly about getting Ijctter. In oue bed near a window a her home aud her children; her husband, who woman was propped up, with some needlework was trying to keep things together till such in her fingers ; a white ha])py face, only newly time as she might be cured and come back to rid of pain, newly enraptured with peace; two laugh over his troubles, his makeshifts, his help­ bony hands stitching feebly, the hair banded lessness, in her absence; about the baby who with smootli care, the head crowned with a badly wanted the tender hands about his little snowy cap, the whole figure arranged with body, who wailed uow through the nights and festive joy, and raised up out of prostrate weak­ would not let the neighbours sleep, but wbo ness to give a grateful welcome to the return would' coo and be comforted when next she of Ufe. A fiiend had come to see her; had chirruped in his face; about the tender little brought flowers. A child snt between them daughter of few years, who had a burden upon reading aloud from a book. In another bed a her shoulders too much even for a woman to fragile looking girl was lying dreaming about bear. her mother in the country, di'eaniing with wide- "And, mother!" she said, "Won't the good open eyes that followed curiously all the gambols mxa be right glad to sec me? And won't he of the flies upon the ceiling. She wanted a be surprised to see me walkiug in to him ? letter written to her home. And Hester un­ And how he'll be going to his work in the dertook to write the letter. morning without the house and the children on While ihat letter was getting written the his back as well as the hod of mortar. I'll be mother was called awav, and Hester remained there some evening before him when he comes sitting by the sick girl's bed; who told her liome. And won't the lonesome look go off about the hills amongst which she had lived, his face. And won't he give me a kiss ?" about the pleasant wooded vallcv where her So spoke the dying heart; with its little mother's cottage stood, about her hens, and her hoi>es so green and flourishing ou the earth, Hairy, her churning, and her gardening. while their root was already torn from them "And nothing would do for nio," she said, and shriveUing into dust. "but Imust come up to London lobe a milliner. "Oh, yes!" she said, in answer to the nun, And my motlier cried sore. Aud the town air " I'll be willing enough to go, wheu so happen choked me, after the wind that goes blowing the Lord may want me. But sure I am he through onr hills. But now I am getting stout doesn't want me yet. I couldu't go to heaven and well, and I will go back to the green fields. till I rear my little baby." The sister gives ine a little bit of lavender some­ In another corner a candle w-as burning, two times, and I snulf it on my pillow here when nuns were praying, aud a soul was passing my eyes are shut. And it has just the old smell away. Hester and the mother kuclt also at a of mother's parlour at home." distance, till the supreme moment of a fellow- Meanwhile the Mother Augustine sat over creature was over. And a few minutes after, her desk, in her little room. in a quiet passage leading from the ward, with A letter was unfolded before her, with the a door closed between them aud the dead and Muuro arms at the top; aud the date showed dfmg, Hester was weeping with wild sobs in it written from the Castle of Glenluce, a full tne mother's arms. month before that present hour. "Let me stay with you," she whispered. " Our dear Janet is a very sunbeam uuder "I am not much use now, but I might learn, our roof—so brilliant—so piquant " aud I could help." " Ah, that is not the iilace," said the Mother " No, no, my dear, not for always, at least," Augustine, and turned a page. said the nun. " You do not know what you " It is a want we really feel in our seclu­ are asking." sion"—yes, this was tlic part that the mother "I could make these black robes, dear wanted'to refer to—" in our seclusion." And madam," pleaded Hester. "And I could sit the mother folded aud straightened out the up at lights." paper. "Could you?" said the mother, smilin, " Now that we go so very seldom to London " We will find you some more suitable work it is most desirable to have a person at hand, perhaps." who will really be accomplished at her needle. " Suitable for you, theu why not suitable for You know I like my gowns to fit nicely—a me f" persisted Hester. wrinkle annoys mc. Then it is so difiicult to "People do not come here so rashly," said wear out one's handsome dresses here, and one the mother, gravely. "They think about it reads of the changes iu the fashions—more fre- Ni»

[October 3,1868.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Condneted by quent than ever—and it is vexatious to sit looked so beaming, ao benevolent, so perfectly down to dinner with fringe around one's shoul­ convinced of and satisfied with the generosity ders, when one knows it is out of date, and one of the world, as in that hour whieh saw her ought to have puffings, or falls of lace. I have present herself in the quiet reception room of talked upon the subject to your aunt Margaret the convent, to look after her charming Hester, Hazeldcan, but it is of uo use asking her advice and to thank that dear courteous abbess for upon such matters. She only laughs in a pro­ her hospitality to the poor child. voking way, and says the dressmaker in the " Ah, good madam !" she said to the Mother villajje—the same who makes stuff gowns and Augustine, while shaking her finger playfhlly petticoats for the farmer's wives — is quite at Hester, "how well it is for the world that good enough for her. Poor Madge has been such charity as yours is to be met with occa­ the only person to sympathise with me till sionally ! When naughty girls get astray from lately—and you know I never like to take au their chaperones at balls, tbey do not deserve important step without support—but even she to be rewarded with sueh a treat aa bemg is so very odd, has so many fantastic ideas about taken into such a delightful home as this, embroideries and furbelows that we never could being entertained by sueh a charming person come to agree in our desires on the subject. as you. How shall 1 ever thank you enough ? But uow that our dear Janet is with us—and And your noble brother. You must please likely, I trust, to remain with us for life—I make my acknowledgments to Sir Archie think it is high time I set to work to supply Munro. I have the pleasure of knowing hun this deficiency in our domestic resources. The slightly, through my son." dear girl has such exquisite taste, is so fasti­ Now, behind Lady Humphrey's smiles there dious about everything she will wear—she is lurked a puzzle in her mind. Did this sister of quite after my own heart in this; as indeed I Sir Archie, this daughter of Sir Archie's may say iu everythiug else. And apropos " mother, recognise in her, Lady Humphrey, that But the mother went no further. She joined Judith Blake whose young days were remem* her hands above her desk, and leaned her brow bered amongst the elders of her home, who bad upon them thoughtfully. truly not been approved in the days that were " I wonder how it would do," she said, softly so remembered ? If not, it would be well; to herself. "I wonder if they would be tender but if luck were so far against her, then it and kind to her, if I sent them a stray lamb to would now be her part to remove, by appear­ be folded at Glenluce!" ing in a new character, whatever hostile or After pondering thus a little time longer, she doubtful impressions might have laid their drew forth a sheet of paper, with a sudden mark upon the mind of this good abbess. impulse, and wrote a letter of consultation to " Such enthusiasts are apt to indulge chari­ that very Aunt Margaret who eould laugh so table opinions," she reflected, and she set about provokingly over the trouble of wrinkles in a winning the full faith of this new ally; for an dress, and who was simple euough to wear gowns ally in some shape or other Lady Humphrey made by homely village hands. had resolved that she must prove. She had A letter about a Red Ridinghood who was once kuown an abbess before, but she was a flying from a wolf, about a young spirit that homely old woman, with the poor of a country had been tried, a young heart that had known district under her wing—as homely as a hen the dauger of growing embittered, a young among her chickens. But a young abbess hke will that was resolved to do work. She said: this must be of the kind known in poems; "The case is an exeeptional one. The girl where she is usually found sitting with her would do her part, I oelieve, but I should in back to a mediaeval church window, with an all tespects require that she should be treated unfortunate love story in the background of her like a lady." The pith of the letter was, " Think, Ufe, a crushed heart ever open to the public in­ observe, question, and let mc have your advice; spection, and with au unhesitating behef in the by which I shall act, if that be possible." virtue and misfortunes of all wno may draw Aud so it happened, that on an evening soon near to hear the story of her sorrows and see after this, in a far distant house near the village her praying by moonlight. of Glenluce, a face that was soon to shine " It should be easy to manage her," thought on Hester's path, a bright dark face full of Lady Humphrey, but looked in vain for the strength and sweetness, was bending over this seraphic although heartbroken smile, the lack­ letter with interested attention; considering the adaisical self-eonscious drooping of the eyelids; matter of its contents—which was the fate of listened fruitlessly for the half-smothered, tale- Hester — wisely, sympathisingly, with all the telling, egotistical sigh. This was no ethereal- earnestness and generous zeal of a strong fer­ ised viciim of romance whom Lady Humphrey vent heart. had to deal with; and indeed the graceful young woman, in her black garb, was so very much, in CHAPTER XII. ITESTEU'S ClIAHACTER DESCRIBED. very honesty, hke the creature she had been LADY HUMPURKY'S carriage, rather dingy, born to be, to wit, the good guileless daughter though with a look important, was seen stop­ of one—of two—whom Lady Humphrey could ping, soon after this, before that black ancient remember, that, albeit her ladyship held a stout archway in Blank Square. heart within her body, she had some twitches at Never in her life, perhaps, had this lady her conscience, some pams about her memory, :^ i^ CbBTlei Dlckena.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3,1868.] 389 which threatened a persecution from unwhole­ sively. " Ah! how pleasant it is after years some recollections. have passed away to find the memories of one's It was onunoua to Lady Humphrey to see youth sLiU shared by friends, even if^as, alas ! Hester affect no joy at their meeting; to see her has been my case—tliose friends have lieen take a pale grave stand at her new friend's right estranged from us. I knew your father and elbow; to feel the confidence whieh already your mother, when they and I were boy and existed between these two, the conviction that girls. I loved them dearly, as a sister, and I her own late efforts to bind Hester to herself received much kindness from their hands. But had failed, while that a stranger had accom- I was a sadly wild girl in those days, my dear phshed in one night and a day what she eould madam, and it was easy for evil tongues to do not effect througii all the years that had changed me a mischief if they would. Unkiuduess and a babe iuto a woman. interference divided us, and I fear much that And Lady Humphrey was now in a difficulty. cruel stories, perhaps provoked by my way­ She wished to appear anxious to take Hester back wardness aud foolishness, must have lingered into her arms, and yet she hoped that the nun at Glenluce with the memory of my name. might yet assist her in getting the girl trans­ But ah! how the world tames one, dear ported into Ireland. She must let this daughter madam!" of Glenluce see the uneasiness of her kind And Lady Humphrey cast her eyes upon the heart; how she did long to keep the girl with backs of her nice gloves, and studied them with her, be a mother to her, yet found herself dis­ a sorrowful little smile, as though she saw her abled by circumstances from indulging this youthful follies mirrored in the shining kid, fond desire of her affection. It was impossible and compassionated them out of the depths of to do this while Hester was standing by so her miud, now grown so sage, of her heart, now quiet and so resolute; so wickedly forgetful, it grown so sober. would appear, of all the gratitude aud enthusiasm The nun smiled in good faith and good- that was due from her to this tender benefac­ humour. She was willing to believe all she tress of her youth. But Lady Humphrey was could, through tlic charity of her desire. not to be i^unted by a trifie. " If all the world of the good were to be "Imust ask you, my love," she said, "to allow judged by the hastiness of their youth. Lady me to have a few words with this dear lady in Humphrey," she said, " I fear there would be private. You look tired, my Hester, after your but few to receive lionour or praise. It is after raking and your fright. Go and rest, my dear the battle that the victor is crowned. No fight­ pet! You need not weary yourself with attend­ ing, no laurels." ing to a tiresome conversation." Lady Humphrey glanced furtively at the " To the garden," said the Mother Augustine; mother's sweet, serious face, and was satisfied and Hester sat under a sunny waU with ripe that her story had beeu fully kuown, that her plums about her ears, and saw the sun set apology had been received. She sighed, and in a fierce glare behind the city spires and resumed. chimneys, and heard all the clocks, from towers " Ah, yes! there is fighting needed, as you and churches, dropping down their music or say, and it costs care ani anxiety to the friends their clangour, many times round and round, of youth before the training can be Imppdy ac- before Lady Humphrey's lean horses took coniplished. I was even wilder, I believe, and Iheir way out of Blank-square, and the Mother more difiicult to manage than that dear girl Augustine might be seen coming thoughtfully who has just left the room. Aud it is about along between the lavender and the rose bushes her I would take your counsel, dear ma­ easting about her glances, looking for some dam, knowing your charitable iuterest in oue. all good works aud honest cares. You see me But the conversation in the parlour had gone with this poor girl. She is au orphan, aud has on somewhat in this way. depended on nie for food, and cluthiug, and "You may have heard my uame mentioned protection, siuce she could speak. I have'edu­ before, dear madam," began Lady Humphiey, cated her well, and yet of late I have found it cautiously, folly aUve to the importance of necessary that she sliould be taught some being sure of the ground she trod, before ven­ means of supporting herself. I hiid wisiied, is turing to take an excursion of auy length into is true, to make her independent of sueh need, ways where she had any cause to doubt the but that is impossible. I cannot keep licr as a foundations under her feet. Had the Mother daughter under my own roof, and this displeases Augustme said " uo," she was prepared to back her. Her tastes, alas ! are beyond her station, from her suggestion with some graceful apology. aud I tremble to think of the dangers whieli But the nun, not having a taste for the art of surround her in this great city. She is wild, I dissembling, gave her a knowledge of her posi­ will owu to you, and frets at mv control. I tion on the instant. fear she is not grateful. I fear she is inclined to be rebellious and a little vindictive. But, "Yes," she said, readily, " I have heard your ah! dear madam ! I need uot tell you, who name before, Lady Humphrey. My brother must know it so well, that we should uot do has mentioned it to me. And I understand, good in this world through a seeking for grati­ moreover, that you had some acquaintance with tude. She is not a bad girl, I believe, only, as our family many years a"0." I have said, a Uttle wilful aud wild. Youhave "It is true," said Lady Humphrey, pen­ 390 [October 3,18G8.] ALL THE YEAli ROUND. [Conduoted by an example of it before you, my dear madam, " I thank you. Lady Humphrey," she said, in the circumstances which have brought her warmly. " 1 am glad that you have placed this under your notice. I cannot even take her for trust iu me. It is true I may be of use in a little amusemeut under my own wing without this way, I wiU do my best to find a home risk of some accident like this which has hap. for the poor child. But there is one favour I eued. Aud consider how drcadfid it would must ask of you," she added. " I must beg Eave been, what distraction I must have suf­ you to leave Hester with me, here, for a few fered, had she fallen iuto less kind hands than days. I shall the better be able to judge of yours." her temper and capabilities." The nun's face had bceu growing gradually Lady Humphrey was not altogether glad of very grave iudeed as this recital went ou. this arrangement, but when so much had been "I am sorry to hear this of the young girl," gained she must relinquish a part of her will, she said. " She has seemed to me good aud must consent to run some little risk. And charming." the worst that could happen would be too "Ah, charming she is indeed, madam!" said much confidence between the nun and Hester, Lady Humphrey, sighing, as if that were the too good an understanding on the nun's part very worst of the whole story. of the foolish treatment which the girl had " And good, I think," said the nun, with a received. And Lady Humphrey felt instinct­ gentle persistence. ively that Hester would be somewhat likely to " Good, yes, surely, iu the main—I trust so," use some deUcacy in dealing with her cha­ said Lady Humphrey; " but so charming, as racter. you say, aud so impatient of control—alone, as And so, after having detained the nun in con­ she must be when following her employment, in versation for some time longer, ingeniously ex­ London! Do you wonder at my uneasiness, posing the generosity of her own nature, and dear madam ?" quite' as clearly insinuating the instability of The nun was sUent for some moments, then Hester's, Lady Humphrey at last made a most she said: reverent farewell salutation to the abbess of St. " Have you thought of any way in which 1 ilarks, and rumbled away in her old eoach, out may be of service to this child? I presume of the quietude of Blank-square, that you have, siuce you have taken the trouble And when all this was over the Mother Augus­ to int'orm me of so much." tine sat thoughtfully in her Uttle room; and Lady Humphrey fell, her breath a little takeu afterwards took lier way iuto the garden to seek away. This nun would so bring her to the Hester; and came gravely through the sunset point. However, it could ouly have been con­ light, between the lavender and the rose­ science that made her so reluctant to speak bushes. ont; for surely there could he nothing discre­ Vindictive, ungrateful, not to be frosted! ditable in her desire when it did come to be Our Mother Augustine's kind heart was dis­ stated, though without much of that circumlocu­ turbed about her protegee. The lady, be she tion which hud been intended to accompany it. what she might, had spoken wisely, and her "It is true," she said, boldly, "tlmt I have anxiety could scarcely be assumed. wished to be able to remove the dear girl to If Hester were to prove wild, impetuous, not some quiet country place, where she might be easy to be controlled ? If she were to get her­ able to support herself in respectability, and selt and her friends into trouble wherever she also be removed from the dangerous excite­ went ? What then ? Why, disappomtment of ments whicli lie in wait for her in London. course, to those who had loved, and trusted in And I confess, dear madam, that, knowing of her; disappointment but never despair. She your generous sympathies, and also that you should fall seven times; and seven times be have connexions in the country, I have been raised up agaiu. * presumptuous enough to hope that you might interest yourself to assist me iu so placuig her." The Motlier Augustiue brightened at this THE NORTHENVILLE ELECTION. speech. Surely it held nothing unfair, eould have no ungenerous motive lurking behiud the THE CAME IS LOST—AND WON. judicious anxiety which prompted it. Perhaps, MY last move on the board ended in my utter indeed, the Mother might have thought within diseomliturc. I had gone to a great deal of herself, just iu passing, that, hud she beeu in­ exi^ense, takeu a great deal of trouble, thought terested from babyhood in such a girl, she t had won the game, and only to find my king would uot have been so eager to banish her in check, and tlie knight (Mr. O'llind), with from her presence. But this unacknowledged whom I had fully hoped to carry the day, taken thought was in itself a little triumph for Lady by my adversary. I was by no means surprised Humphrey, seeing that here was only a small to learu that O'Rind had taken his departure sin, and but a negative sort of misconduct, after without looking me up, still less to read in the all, wherewith to charge a person of whom papers that he was about to sail from South­ many hard things had beeu said, and whom ampton to join his appointment in Tansgoria, even she herself, desiiite the remonstrance of where he been namctt puisne judge as a bribe her charity, had not been able to meet with­ for not dividing the mmisterial interests at out a prejudice. Northenville. It was on the Monday afternoon diurlM Dlckana.! ALL THE YEAR ROUND* [Octobers, ISCa] 391 that i read of liis appointment in the Times. themselves hand and foot, body and soul, to By the early mail-train of Tuesday moruing he support, right or wrong, through good report left NorthenviUe for town, and at noon that or evil, a ministry of which eveiy houest day the nomination of members for the borough earnest man ui the kingdom was heartily tired, took place. and who seemed to remain in office because The mayor of the town opened the proceed­ they considered they had a prescriptive right to ings in the usual form. His speech was not the treasury benches." There were not many long, and was listened to with attention by tho of those who stood nearest the hustings that crowd. When he had finished. Sir George understood what Mr. Holstoff said; but his Staleybridge came forward and proposed Henry manner and way of speaking had evidently con­ MeUam, Esq., of Narlands Hall, as a fit aud siderable influence upon them, and tbeycliecred proper person to represent the borough of accordingly, the more so as most of tliem were NorthenviUe in the parliament of the United pledged supporters of Mr. MeUam's. I had Kingdom. Sir George was no orator, and, in­ taken care to have my forces up early, and deed, his views of men and things in general with improvised breakfasts in their pockets, were as a ride somewhat misty. I had there­ they had surrounded tlic hustings before the fore taken the precaution to have the com­ enemy was aware of their movements. The mencement of his speech written out for hiiu morning was cold, and at all the public-houses in in a plain bold hand, with a hint in it that, at a our pay were hung out notices that early purl certam point, he might launch out in abuse of was to be had within. Ifora pint of this, when the ministry and its supporters; that he was to payment was offered it was refused ; and deem aU men who voted against ministers to be every man wearmg our colours—mauve—was independent, and to praise them accordingly. served with a pint of purl aud a good crust of This part of his speech I left to his own inven­ bread, with a piece of cheese, to keep the cold tion, merely noting here and there sundry hmts off his stomach. The advantacjes of thus pro­ for his guidance. At oue place he was told to viding for the commissariat of our troops will "praise the church;" at another to talk of our be seen hereafter. " glorious constitution;" at a third to appeal to his hearers to come forward and support" every­ When Mr. Holstoff had finished speaking, thing that is dear to us." Mr. Hodgson (the cheesemonger, to whose wife Lady Vance had sent medicine for her baby of Mr. MeUam's seconder was Mr. George Hol- the same kind that was used in the royal stofl:, eldest son of the great brewer (Buddel^ nursery), came forward to propose Captain Grongal, andHolstoff) of Northenville. Getting Bertram Streatham, " commonly called the this gentleman to support us on the hustings Honourable Bertram Streatham," as a fit aud was a piece of policy for which I took great suitable person to represent the borough of credit. I have great faith in publicans at an NorthenvUle iu parliament. Thus far the election. In England they have as much in­ worthy tradesman was allowed to proeeed fluence npon a great number of electors as the with his speech, but hardly _a word more priests have in Ireland. Now, to the publi was heard. At a prearranged signal from me can the brewer—provided the two deal to­ as I stood on the hustings, our supporters gether—is very much what the Irish Roman began to shout and roar at the top of their Catholic bishop is to the priest. Get the good­ voices, and make playful allusions to the busi­ will of the Right Reverend Doctor, and his ness of the speaker,' aud his supposed short­ clergy will be your friends. Get a wealthy local comings in dealing with his fellow-men. " Now brewer to support your candidate, and the publi­ old Double Gloucester, how many ounces go to cans will follow his lead. the pound?" was the first salutation which he received, and many more in the same strain Not that Mr. George Holstoff knew anything would no doubt have followed had I not by a either about the brewery or the publicans who motion of my hand showu the free and inde­ bonght so largely of his father's beer. He'was pendent that stood below the hustings that Tom a Cambridge man, had been called to the bar Spavit stood near mc. Of course, this was the about five years, and was very fond indeed of sif^nal for a long series of personal remarks airing his oratory whenever he got a chance. about Spavit's well known financial troubles, Beyond drawing his four hundred pounds a questions being shouted out as to when he was year aUowance from his father's London banker, last at the County Court, how much he owed he knew nothing whatever of business. But for blacking, whether he got credit for the new his name was good. He was liked in the hat he had on, and askuig what tailor had neighbourhood, and if a seconder can do a suffered by "booking" the evidently uew cause any good, he certainly was a good card top-coat he wore. This hubbub lasted nearly forustopky. He sjiokc of the business-like the whole time of Jlr. Hodgson's speech, habits aud great local interests of Mr. Mellam, during which was heard now and then the aud contrasted these with the claims of Captain words "fit and proper person to represent this Streatham, whose only merit as a candidate our famous old town ;" " eonnected for several (said Mr. Holstoff) consisted in the fact that lie L'cnerations with the interests of the county ;" was son of the Earl of Basement, who was a " well known to my fellow eleclors ;" ''gallant cabmet minister, and that if the honourable officer;" "consistent supporter of ministry;" Guardsman were returned to parliament, the " upholder of the people's rights;" aud so electors of Northenville would, "merely bind [Octotor S, IMS.] ALL THE YEAR KOUND. [Condneted by

t cap' representative—he would work much harder by Sir James Wallsend, a young baronet who had than he ever did before, for he would have to lately come of age, and had succeeded to a very attend to his own business and to their business large property in the neighbourhood. Sir also. James was a good-looking, open-faced young The code of signals I had agreed upon with fellow, a fair speaker in his way, and who looked those who surrounded the hustings was, that as if he could nave knocked down half the men when I held my handkerchief in my right hand in the crowd. He was just the sort of man to they were to cheer; when I held it in my left take with an English mob, who, with aU their they were to hiss or groan; when I put it in my faults, admire any oue who is manly in appear­ pocket they were to keep silence. At this part ance. He was, moreover, a relative by mar­ of Mr. Mellam's speech I pulled it out and held riage of Captain Streatham's, for his mother it iu my right hand for about a minute, during and Sir Charles Vance's mother (both dead) which time there arose and continued one of were sisters, The other side had selected him those noisy storms which newspaper reporters to second their mau for several reasons, but designate between parentheses as "tremendous chiefly because of his looks, his connexions cheering." with the Vance family, and his being able to The day before the nomination I had strongly speak about Captain Streatham, who held a advised Mr. MeUam to go in for the Cottagers' commission in the same regiment as himself. Almshouse question early in his speech, so Sir James did not make a long speech, nor that he might make sure of pleasing many of did he dweU much upon any pohtieal question his hearers at onee, because what he said would of the day. He evidently made a set at the be in accordance with their own views. Actmg publican or sporting portion of the electors, upon this hint, he spoke first of the local wet and assured them that if his relative and friend fare of the town, and said that if the electors of was returned for their borough, he would do Northenville honoured him by returning him to his best to resuscitate the NorthenvUle races, parliament, he would do his utmost to bring in which had been allowed to fall away for the a bill by which the surplus funds of the alms­ last half-dozen years. He pointed out how houses might be appUed to beautifying the much more easy of access the town was now town, and that thus the drainage of tbe borough than it had been formerly, and ended by say­ conld be improved, a new town haU built, ing that lie hoped next year there woiud be the com exchange enlarged, and the market a huge influx of visitors to the place, and that finished ofi", without increasing the local rates the members' cup, given by his worthy relative by a smgle shilUng. Of course sentiments like and brother officer, would form one of the tliese—the signal being made by me as before prizes to be run for. And having said his say, —drew forth loud symptoms of approval from Mr. MeUam came forward to make his bow and the free and independent electors around the speech to what he hoped would be his future hustings. It was our great card to play was constituents. this of the cottagers' almshouses, and in an elec­ tion speech it is always the best poUcy to lead As 1 have said before, at an Euglish election trumps. personal appearance goes for a great deal, aud m this respect both the candidates for Northen­ From local topics Mr. Mellam went on to ville had nothing to be ashamed of. Mr. MeUam speak of general poUties. Of future evils, of evils was a mau of one or two-and-fifty, rather bald, which the present ministry had the audacity to slightly grey, clean shaved except a pair of not propose, he could hardly speak with patience. very large whiskers, and with that peculiarly They intended, if allowed to remain in office, English appearance only seen in this country, to destroy aU, or nearly aU, that was dear to and more seldom uow that so many wear us, and whilst tryiu" to amuse the people of beards. He began by thaukiug the electors this great laud with horse-races and the Uke (as for having asked him to come forward and proposed by the gentleman who had seconded contest their borough, with which he had been the candidate ou the other side), to lead them so long connected, and from the neighbourhood away from the serious consideration of their of which he hoped never to move during his own affairs, and do away with that anxious care­ life unless to attend to his duties in parliament, ful system of self-government which had always if they did him the honour to elect him. This, been, and, he trusted, would always be, the of course, was hit number oue at his opponent, glory, the boast, and the pride of Englishmen. whose best friends could uot deny that he was (Here—at a signal from me—the cheering was a rolling stone. Mr. Mellam said that he did tremendous.) " M'hat the party now iu office uot seek election for the purpose of getting any want," continued Mr. MeUam, " is to centralise place or situation (hit number two); lie had his every institution, and to have under government own iuterest in the ironworks to attend to, as superintendence every national estabUshment. they very well knew, and those were occupation They have sueeccded with our telegraph sys­ enough ibr him (hit number three at the other tem, they want uow to get hold of our poor- side) if the day were composed of forty-eight houses, aud dictate to our poor-law guardians instead of twenty-four hours. He had never what theyshall and what they sliaU not do. been an idle man (hit number four), as all liis WiU Englishmen ever stand this?" ("No, hearers knew weU, and now, if returned to no," from the mob.) " They would shut up parUament—if honoured by beiug named their your pubUc-houses if they had a chance, and -s^ y^

Cbarles Dickens.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3,1868.] 393 they wiU, too, ifyou allow them." ("We never The whole body of electors were divided in will.") " In a word, they desire to take from us my book into three Usts—friends, enemies, and aU we love best, to remove the old landmarks doubtful. _ It was the latter, which I calculated of those things which were so dear to us." as amounting to abont a hundred, that I deter­ On the whole, Mr. Mellam's speech, delivered mined Mr. Mellam should canvass with me on in a very earnest business-like way, was a de­ the Wednesday and Thursday. Most of tliem cided sueeess, and was closed with several were shopkeepers, and I found out, very much rounds of applause from the small regiment of to my disgust, that Lady Vance had already electors who obeyed my signals. Wheu he been amongst them, and that several whom I had finished Captain Streatham came forward. hoped to carry with us to the poll were pledged The handkerchief in my left hand brought to the other party. StiU we gained some votes, forth a storm of hisses, groans, chaff, and slang. at aeost, taking one with another, of ten pounds Captain Streatham took it aU very good na- a head. In many cases we called at a house, and tnredly, his own supporters—that is, the mass perhaps bought a canary, or a parrot, or a of them—being too far off, or too rudely dog, for, say, five pounds, leavmg our purchase hustled by onr people, to afford him any help. with the seller untU we should send for it: I was too good a general to allow the signs which meant, of course, that it would remain of disapprobation to continue very long, and with its former owner for ever. Many persons the moment I put up my handkerchief my who are not behind the scenes in election mat­ foUowers were silent. The captain was evi­ ters, believe that bribery is a thing of history; dently, in the strictest sense of the word, un­ but those who manage these atfairs know accustomed to pubHc speaking. He addressed better. Of course Mr. Mellam never saw or his hearers in a jaunty, off-liand style, which heard of any bribery going on. All he did was did not please them, allhough his good temper to provide me with money for " sundry " ex­ and evident determination not to be annoyed penses. If I paid five pounds for a bulfinch with his audience, certainly told in his favour. that cost as many pence, or gave ten pounds for The difficult point for him to get over was the a terrier that would have been dear at five cottagers' almshouse question. The moment shillings, he knew nothing of it—at least, not he approached it, out came my pocket-hand- officially. I was the person who bought every­ kerehief in my left hand, and the groans, hisses, thing, and who made presents to those from catcaUs, and slang were renewed. Now and whom I eould not purchase. Sometimes—and again I would give him the chance of saying a this is a very politic stroke in electioneering— few words ; but as these were invariably distaste­ the present is made through a child. The party ful to the great mass of his hearers, I mvariably that is canvassing goes into a house, aud finds caused the marks of disapprobation to be re­ that the wife only is at home. You ask how the newed . When the day was over even the reporter husband is going to vote, and are told that he of the Independent was obliged to admit that has not yet made up his mind. There is a very little of Captain Streatham's address could child; you admire it, ask its age, wonder that be heard except by those on the hustings. it is so large for its years, say that you have one of your own, just that age, but not half so When the speeches were over, the mayor large. The woman's heart is gained, and you came forward and caUed for a show of hands may depend that her husband's vote is half m favour of each candidate. These were, by won. You ask why the child is not better a majority of nearly ten to one, in favour of dressed; the woman says she can't afi'ord to Mr. Mellam. And as the whole of the mob give it better clothes. You inquire whether a surrounding the hustings were more or less in tive-pound note would not fit out her child, and our pay, or at any rate had drunk our beer, it herself, with Sunday clothes. She says it would iiave been a miracle had there been any would, and do more besides. You give her the other result. Of course Captain Streatham's money, praise her child agaiu, talk of indifferent party demanded a poll, which was fixed by the matters, and take your leave, saying you hope mayor for the following Friday. This gave both her husband wiU vote for your candidate. De­ sides two clear days to prepare for the struggle. pend upon it that vote is yours, and that when The qualified electors of Northenville, when, you inspect the voting list the name of that as they say of a ship's crew, "all told," woman's husband will be found recorded on amounted to eighteen hundred and forty-seven. your side. Of these I calculated that we might safely set down ten per cent, as abroad, or men who did Auother way of getting votes is through the not care to vote ; this reduced them m round local loan societies. Find out the names of elec­ numbers to about sixteen Iiundred. From the tors who are in debt to any of these institu­ pledges I had received, and the assurances that tions, and the amount they owe. Pay off the had been made me, I calculated that our side debts of these debtors, and depend upon it their might safely reckon upon seven hundred and votes are yours. fifty votes, and that our adversaries had perhaps Twice during the two days that were left to as many, leaving a hundred votes or so to be us I met Lady Vance, who seemed to be very bid for, or got over by some means, and so I busy visiting amongst some of the electors, or determined to make the best use of my time, rather their wives. On the Thursday, as I and work up my forces so as to make the most made ont by my lists and calculations, our side of our party's strength. eould rely upon a certain majority of fifty, or ^^

394 [Octobors.iacs.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND, [Oondacted by ]jeiliaps more. Lady Vance not only looked worn-out rubbish cast off by the moon or which­ triumphant, but Tom Spavit had a smirk ever of the planets you please. on his countenauee which seemed to say that This theory does not disturb our equanimity; their chance of victory was reduced to a because when a new science, " Prehistoric certainty. All over the town the other party Archseology," fills leaders in the Times, and oc­ gave out that iheir side was sure to win, and cupies a promiueiit place in addresses of Presi­ that their majority would not be less than a dents of the British Association, we may with­ hundred. I could not make it out, there were out anxiety leave the said things found in the uot more than sixteen hundred electors in the drift to receive eventually a correct account of town that could vote, and of these I made out, their use and origin. by my calculations, wc had secured from eight In truth, the light of science, Uke the hght hundred and forty to eight hundred aud sixty. of day, breaks graduaUy on the human un

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Oliarles DiekenB.] ALL THE YEAU ROUND. rCctoterS, 156S.] 395 among, not the master of, a numberles5 crowd neglected by the learned wnrld. Ue survived of powerful brutes! to see them appreciated, and to be himself re­ With his feeble means of defence and offenco, garded as not quite a madman. with gaunt carnivores glaring at him by night The beginuing of the nuitlcr happened thus. and by day, with colossal bears, hyenas, and One summer's evening, iu ]S2f), v\liile M. de felidEe multiplying aroxmd, without any possible Perthes was examining a sand pit at the out­ c\ieck from him, man was the Tictim and the skirts of the Faubourg St. GiUes, at Abbeville, prey. Even beasts of comparatively milder the idea struck liim that mauunu-lured Hints • natures would unconscionsly and nnintention- might perhaps be found iu tertiary bods. Years ally be his enemies, not his friends—his ser­ passed, and lie searched numerous loealities in vants least of all. Little would he be able to vain. At last, at a place called the " Bane de withstand the shock of angry bulls and en­ I'Hupital," he found a flint, abont five inches croaching elephants. Attempts at culture long, from which two splints had evidently would soon be trodden under foot. A perse­ been struck ofT. Every one to whom it was cuted fugitive, man would owe his only safety shown, said this was the result of accident. He to cunning and flight. Por security, he would found a second, aud then a third, exactly have to retreat to the depths of the semi-Iiqnid similar. M. de Perthes felt convinced that he swamp, or climb to a lodging on the steepest had traced the hand of man, aud he continued his rocks. And what a race of men! As the search. But learned dons of i^cieuce refused to polished European is to the Red Indian, so believe that he bad found huuian handiwork would the Red Indian be to that poor, primi­ mixed np with virgin diluvium. tive savage. But, argued our enthusiast, arehieology, like The relics of this bygone race appear, at first geology, IS as yet no more tliau an iufant flight, exceedingly triiiing. They are nearly science. It is only by penetrating into the limited to bones, and rudely cut stones. We depths ot tho earth that you will arrive at really find no inscriptions, medals, nor statues. Our great discoveries. Wc have not yet pierced lains are rewarded by no vases, elegant iu out- tlic epidermis. We have merely scratehcii its {me or rich in material. We gatlier nothing upper surface and raised a little dust. How but bones, potsherds, and scarcely polished will you demonstrate the antiquity of the popu­ bhs of ilint. But for the observer in whose lation of anv given soil? By the antiquity of eyes the demonstration of a ti-uth is of greater the objects I'onnd in it. How can yon measure price than the possession of a gem, value con­ that antiquity? By the materials, the work- sists neither iu iiuished workmanship nor iu maiislii|i, ani above all by the subterranean money's worth. In his eyes, the most beau­ position of the objects. We thereby admit a tiful object is that whieh most helps him to a sort ot scale of life—a superposition of strata sure conclusion. The pebble wdiien a collector formed by the relics of generations: aud we would disdainfully reject, or the bone which seek, in each one of those strata, indications of has not even the value of a bone, becomes so the history of those generations. Consequently, precious on account of its logical importance the deepest sti-ata will illustrate the most that it would not be exchanged for its weight ancient populations. in gold. It is the unquestionable footmark of It frequently happens, in the valley of the man, walking on earth thousands and thousands Somme, that after having traversed the stratum of years ago. of Roman soil, and of the soil of the Gauls, you These venerable though humble relics—arms, will reach a Celtic deposit, which you recognise utensils, idols, symbols—not only betray the by tbe nature ot its pottery. There vou wdl existence of a people, their habits of Hfe, their fiud an axe of stone, cliaracteristie, in your means of satisfying the necessities of the mo­ eyes, ot that epoch when iron was still rare. ment; they also give us a significant clue to Sounding deeper, you meet with a stratum ot the thoughts and the conscience of our ante­ turf, of no great thickness, but whose ancient diluvian ancestors. They prove that they liad formation, if you examine its elemeuts, ap­ a notion of the future, a faith, religious long­ pears incontestable. Beneath this stratum is a ings—in short, that they had caught a glimpse bed of sand, and in this bed another axe. of the Divinity. Thefirst men who united their When you are convinced that this axe is in its efforts to raise a monumental stone, who hewed natural place, and has not in .any way been it into shape, or battered it into the coarse re­ introduced into the sand, it is evident that the semblance of some Uving object, came forth, by epoch of the fabrication of the second axe is that very act, from association with mere brute separated from the epoch of the first, by the animals, and ceased to grovel utterly in the series of ages requisite tor the formation of dust. the bed of turf—an interval ot time of which vou arc able to form an approximate estimate. M. Boucher de Perthes is fairly entitled to "You conclude that, during this period, tho in- the credit of having founded Prehistoric Ar- habitants have bceu, if not in the same, at least chffiology. At first, the few who listened lo in an analogous condition; which is confirmed him only laughed. No scientific body would by historical and traditional probability. The accept his collections or give house-room to the iirimitive Gauls, composed of wandering tribes, treasures lie had collected together. They re­ and living bv fishing and the chase, Uke hordes mained for years in his house iu Abbeville, open ot North Americau savages, long remained to those who chose to inspect them, but quite 396 October 3,18«8.] ALL THE YEAE KOUND. [OoDdocted by stationary, without making any sensible pro­ simple. The antediluvian peoples, like the gress in manufactures or the arts. CeUic people and like people at the present Digging still further down, you arrive at a day, could only reproduce copies of species level which you are at flrst tempted to reprd they had seen; and they copied those which as virgin earth that has never borne the foot­ they beheld the most frequently. Among those steps of man. Srill, however, there are human species, some were commou to both the Celtic traces. After a little study, you cannot mis­ and the diluvian periods—bears, stags, boars, take them. A mere notch in a bone, made with and oxen. But besides these, the diluvian the edge of a flint; a splinter knocked off the beds offer many figures which are never found flint, with the evidence of intention; a single in -Celtic deposits—notably of elephants and bit of wood, cut and not broken, prove the rliinoceroses. There are also images of pro­ presence of a human hand as clearly as a blematical creatures whose types are now un­ carved inscription. The most intelligent animal known to us. Nevertheless, tne abundance of —the elephant, the dog, or the ape—is in­ tiieir enpics in stone is a proof that such crea­ capable of making that notch. He breaks or tures did once exist. gnaws the wood; he can neither cut nor Many dogs' heads surprise by t!ie freshness slice it. of their chiselling; there is also a hippopota­ The accuracy of this reasoning was tested mus's head. A bear sitting on his hind quarters by tlie visits of English geologists, who dared to is almost humorously represented. Symbols burst tlirough the cautious scepticism adopted arc frequently found which appear to repre­ by their brethren of France. Mr. Prcst- sent the enormous mastodons and antediluvian wich says: "I myself detached a flint partly elephants whose bones we discover mixed up fasliioned into an axe, buried in the gravel pell-mell with their portraits in flint. At the at a depth of more than five yards. A la­ period of the great inundation which formed bourer who was working in a trench, disin­ those deposits, these animals were very common terred without observing them a couple of in Europe, as is proved by the abundance of axes, which we picked up from the thrown-out their remains. gravel." Sir Charles Lyell says : " The strata containing these rude instruments reposed im­ mediately upon the chalk, and belong to the period which followed the formation of the A PORTRAIT, FROM MEMORY. pleioccne beds—that is, to the quaternary A PERSIAN princess, tall and fair, period. The antiquity of the Amiens and Ab­ With lustrous lengths of amber hair; beville ilint instruments is very great, when A lovely, tender, email child's face, compared with the tune embraced by history A floating step, a queenly grace; and even by tradition. The disappearance of A lily robe all striped and barred the elephant, the rhinoceros, and other genera With lines of gold, aud diapered of quadrupeds now strangers to Europe, in all With blacit, as once Venetian dames Wore, and yet wear within the frames probabihty implies that a wide lapse of time Of Bonifazio, Tintoret, separates the epoch when these fossil instru­ And glorious Titian (jewels set ments were fashioned from that when theRomans On palace walls within that shrine invaded Gaul." Vowed to Thalasse the Divine, In tiic work* in which M. de Perthes first Which men call Venice) ; and a smile announced these facts, he gives figures both of So innocent yet arch the while, the instruments and of the images or sym­ A child miglit smile tlius; two grey eye* bols. Tiiere are rough tools whose utility is With liquid subtle flatteries evident, either for hollowing out or boring, For all they look on; frank, serene. Pure from all grief or care or sin; even were Ihcy not fashioned by hand. There For fcrief will dim, sin leaves a stain are knives of the same description, formed of Which brightest eyes must still retain; oblong flints with a naturally roundedbase, which But hers are cloudless, clear, and bright, has been allowed to remain in its original state Like angel eyes, all love, all light. in order lo give greater strength to the handle. The symbols and images of stone fouud in Celtic tombs, are ordinarily those of the animals A rosy fan hung from her wrist whose bones are found in the same deposits. (A white flower by a houri kissed); A like fact occurs in the diluvian beds; but And round her fair throat's graceful curvff the cause is different. Tn the case of the Celtic Were coral beads, whose hue might serve To match the full lips, ripe and sweet; remains, the juxtaposition was effected by the So noble, perfect, and complete hand of man; in the diluvian beds, by the Her beauty: yet she wears it calm agency of the waters. As queens their cro^sii, as saints their palm. The remarkable analogy between the figures of the Celtic tonibs and the animals which lived Such was the vision once I saw, at that period, is uot less slrikinrr in those ob­ Peerless, witliout a fleck or flaw, tained from the diluvian beds. The reason is Mid blossoms faint, and trembling tree* All fluttering in tlie soft south breeze. * AntiquiKjs Celtiques et Ant

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CbarleB Diokenv.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3,18C8.] 397 And Love weighed down the drooping flowers pressed on eagerly towards our destination, And murmured through the blrdful bowers; which soon appeared iu sight at a turn of the Its pulse was felt as sunbeams came road. It was a large wooden buililiiiir, like a And scorched the garden as with flame, colossal barn. It stood on an irregular open And Love thrilled each young worshipper space at one extremity of the village. Tiiis open Who there vowed life and soul to her. space was, no doubt, in its normal condition a pretly turf-covered common, green with Hers was the bounty but to be, That which all hearts rejoiced to see— that emerald vividness of hue which iiives The largesse hers, but ours the boon. a peculiar charm to the aspect of every Tyro­ As when o'er earth the fair proud moon lese valley. Ou this Sunday moruins*, how­ Shines with her soft resplendent face, ever, it had become a morass, a Slough of A benediction and a grace Despond, through which we floundered to­ Enrich our lives ; the liberal skies wards one of the numerous doors that gave Thus gladden with bright stars our eyes ; access to the wooden building aforesaid. Ar­ Thus choicest gifts are granted free; rived at the entrance, we paid the price of Thus beauty is God's charity. admission—two florins for tiie best places— and having climbed a rough wooden stair, found ourselves in a little side balcony whicli afforded a view of the whole interior of the THE PASSION-PLAY AT BKIXLEGG. building. ON a wet Sunday morning, in the month of The erection was entirely of wood, as has August, in the present year, we found ourselves been said. One glance sufficed to show the in a special train, going from Innsbruck to the spectator its nature and object. We were in a obscure Uttle Tyrolese village of Brixlegg. The theatre—a theatre rough in material, nnd sfime- train carried a very considerable number of pas­ what unconventional in form, but spacious, airy, sengers, chiefly of the peasant class, and—with and admirably adapted for seeing and hearing about half a dozen exceptions—all natives of without difficulty or discomfort. There was the country. neither gallery nor " dress circle." The great A special train to Brixlegg! The announce­ mass of the spectators were seated on wooden ment would vastly have astonished any tra­ benches on the floor of the theatre, whieh floor veller by one of the great through trains tra- sloped upward towards the back at au angle versmg Innsbruck, who might have chanced sufficient to enable the persons on the hindmost to inquire whither all those bearers of glisten­ benches to command as full a view of the stage ing red, blue, brown, or green, umbrellas were as those in front. The stage was hidden, for bound. Nevertheless, the special train was the present, by a painted canvas drop-scene, going to Brixlegg, and it arrived there duly at whieh hung in'a large proscenium rather wide its appointed hour. The railway station lies for its height. In front of it was an orchestra, about twenty minutes' walk distant from the tilled with players; and between them and the village. The road from the former to the foremost row of spectators were seated some latter was already ankle-deep in mud in many dozen singers, male and female, holding their places, and was becoming rapidly worse under music in their hands. the tread of many heavily-shod feet, and the The dimensions of the audience part of the influence of a soft, flne, unintermitting rain, theatre were as follows: fifty-six feet broad, which had been falling since dawn, and which thirty-six feet high, and one hundred and lour continued to fall with small prospect of ces­ feet long. The whole of the available space was sation. filled by a closely-packed assemblage of persons We trudged along in company with a large exclusively of the peasant class. Kow after number of peasants, who continued to arrive row of weattier-beaten rustic faees, surmounted from all directions. In addition to those —men's and women's alike—by the tall pointed brought by the railway from Innsbruck, very Tyrolese hat. stretched back to the wall of Ihe many came on foot, and more still in rustic building. The narrow space at each side left Tchicles of various kinds: from the leather- for ingress and egress to and from the seats hooded einspiinner of the well-to-do farmer, was also crowded with spectators, who stood down to the long narrow country carts, car- patiently througiiout the whole performance. 'ng heavy loads of men, women, and ehil- Truly a lengthy performance ! What would S:n of the humblest agricultural class, seated any sophisticated metropolitan population in on trusses of hay. Europe say to a play which should commence at nine o'clock A.M. and end at five in the The village of Brixlegg is very beautifully afternoon, allowing little more liian one hour iu situated. Indeed it would be difficult to find the middle for repose and refreshment? a spot which should be otherwise than beau­ tiful throughout tlie length and breadth of the And uow, while the musicians in the or­ fair green land of Tyrol. But not of its chestra are playing a preliminary symjihony in swelling hills, its distant snow-flecked crags, or a melancholy minor strain, let us take (he ita rich smiling meadows, were we thinking as opportunity afforded us to inform the reader we went along through the mire past tlie pic­ what manner of spectacle it is that we are turesque cottages of Brixlegg's main street. about to witness, and to enter into sundry In common with the rest of the crowd we explanatory details gathered from a little neatly- N:*

39S [October 3, IBOS.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. [CondocMby

priiitCLi )iamphlet sold (by authority) in large watchful to prevent it, where prevention is uumhcrs iuthe theatre. And let us, too, before possible. All the difficulties which had to be entering iuto those details, premise tliat, however surmounted before the Passion-Play at Brixlegg at variance much of the forthcoming represen­ could be announced for public representation tation may be with English and Protestant con- are enumerated with much gravity in the httle cei)tions of what is fitting, decorous, or edifying, pamphlet wc have spoken of. The recital of these no trace of levity or irreverence was to be found difficulties, however, albeit interesthig enough among eilher the performers or spectators of no doubt to the Brixlepers, would scarcelv the very extraordinary exhibition. Here follows be so in the eyes of English readers. We will the literal translatioii of the first page of the therefore rest contented with saying that all jirogramme of the drama; obstacles were surmounted by the end of March, 18GS, and that in the last weeks of May THE GREAT the following announcement, printed on large EXPIATORY SACRIFICE UrON GOLGOTHA ; yellow bills, was to be met with everywhere on, throughout northern Tyrol, from the busiest THE HISTORY OF THE PASSION ANI> DKATII OF market-town to the remotest most secluded JESLS AFTER THE Foun EVANGELISTS ; hamlet: " By highest permission of the imperial royal Pictorial Representations from the Old Testament, governmental department in Innsbruck, and Muflic aud Singing, with most gracious leave of the Prince Bishop of Salzburg, there will be represented m Brix­ legg, near liie railway-station, in the lower val­ Contemplation anil Edification. ley of the Inn, in Tyrol, the Great Expiatory Surely a singular product of the printing-press Sacrifice upon Golgotha." [Here followed in this nineteenth century! the title of the Passion-Play, already quoted. The peasant s of Tyrol have for centuries been The announce-bill then stated tlie davs on famous for their skill and delight in a class which the performances were to take place— of dramatic reprcsentat ions which they call the twelve Sundays, namely, from the seventh " Baueru-Comodieu"—literally, Peasant-Come­ of June to the sixth of September inclusive. dies. These are chiefly—to the best of my It gave the prices of admission, whieh ranged knowledge, exclusively—founded upou religious from thirty kreutzeis to two florins (ehildreu subjects, such as the life aud miracles of some uuder ten years of age half price), and concluded saints, or a well-known legend of Holy Church. thus] : " This grand and sublime piece, m the In these remote valleys there still lingers a performance of which about three hundred per­ reinnaut of the Mystery, or Miracle Play of the sons from Brixlegg, Kramsaeh, and the sur­ Middle Ages; nor need the reader be iuformed rounding villages, will participate, begms at nine that the Baiiein-Comodicu are by no means the o'clock iu the morning. The hour from mid-day only reumauts to be fouud in Tyrol of centuries until one o'clock in the afternoon is set apart so long vanished from our ken that it is almost for the necessary rerrcshincnt of the honoured difficult for us to eouceivc of those who breathed public. The conclusion at about five in the aud moved iu them as fellow-creatures, holding evening. The commencement of each part will the boud of a common humanity with ourselves. be announced by music and a discharge of guns. Old-world thoughts, beliefs, and feelings, still A right numerous attendance is most politely exist behind the slieiter of the crags aud peaks aud respectfully invited by the company." of Tyrol, and have taken refuge in its secluded The drama was divided into sixteen represwi- dales, in a manner strictly analogous to the tations. We translate the word literally, hut the gradual retreat of decaying races of men or nearest English equivalent would probably be animals befoie the busy world's encroaching *'acts," of which six make up the first and advances. shortest part of the performance; leaving ten The Bauera-Comiidicn are written, arranged, for the second part. acted, and witnessed, entirely by peasants. These " representations" consist invariably Their performance is not uufrequent at certain of three divisions. Firstly, the argument set festive seasons, aud the rude open-air theatre forth iu long-wiuded, rather jingUng rhymes, used for their exhibition is easily and cheaply and spoken by oue or other of a trooj) of prepared in a country where timber is abun­ angels who fill the place of the chorus in a dant. But the production of a Passions-Spiel Greek tragedy. Secondly, a typical picture, a (Passion-Play} such as wc were about to wit­ tableau vivant takeu from the Old Testament, ness at Brixlegg is a very different aud much and shadowing forth with more or less suit- more iiiii)ortant nialter. Treating of a far ability of allegory, the corresponding events in higher and more solemn argument thau the the lite of our Lord. Thirdly, the action. This Bauern-Comodicn, great care aud circumspec­ latter is simply the story of the persecution, tion are exercised iu granting permission for passion, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, taken tho playing of a Pussions-Spiel: such care and literally from the New Testament, with only circumspection being (jxereiscd chiefly for the sueh interpolations and additions as serve to avoidance of any poi,5il)le "scandal" to religion string together the incidents iu a dramatic in the performance. *' Scandal" is a great evil form. Where it is necessary to the prosecn- in the eyes of Mother Church, aud she is ever tion and coherence of any scene, a few plain ^

ChuIeB DIoheDB.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Octohei-S.lSCS.] 390 words of simple dialogue are put into the mouths painting is of the coarsest, but it suffices to of the chief personages, by the compiler of the convey the meaning of the secuc. The stage at drama. Otherwise they speak the language first is empty, but loud cries and shouts of joy of the Evangelists. It is to be observed, how­ are heard drawing nearer and nearer. Presently ever, that iu no single instance is any word there emerges a little knot of childfcn clad in spoken by Jesus, save those to be ibuud in bright-hued Oriental robes, aud heariug long Scripture. He speaks invariably iu the texts green branches in theu- hands. Tlicy are fol­ •with w^hich we are all familiar, and utters no lowed by mon and women, old and young, and syllable else. In a spectacle of which the uaivc by a group of jioorly dressed men whom wc and audacious realism is astounding, this fact recognise as being copied from the conven­ is significant and worth recording. tional types of the old painters. Peter, with But now the wailing music dies away. A bald head and reverend grey beard ; John, with hush of expectancy falls on the audience. Every long womanish curls; Judas, with red hair face is addressed towards the proscenium. Ou and beard, and yellow garments. More po- to the stage in front of the curtain, step forth ulace all shouting "nosauiia to the Son of some five-and-twenty girls who represent an­ Slavid! Hail to him who conieth in the uame gels. They are dressed in white robes reaching of t!ie Lord!" And then ; the sensation to the ankle, and trimmed with gold tinsel; and is indescribable with whieh we beheld the en­ wear a drapery of blue or crimson cloth also trance of that meek figure seated on an ass, glittering with gold. They have each a golden before whom the peojtle cast down their gar­ fiUet round the head, and wear red or blue ments and strewed branches in the way! No morocco boots according to the colour of their abstract conviction respecting the nndesirabilify draperies. They are carefully graduated in of the spectacle, no theoretical objection to the size; the tallest—a stout country lass of ap­ teaching aud spirit of which such a spectacle parently about seventeen years old—standing was the outcome, could avail to lessen the pro­ m the centre to form the apex, whilst the found and almost painfully intense impression others range themselves in liue across the of that nioment. None the less—perhaps even proscenium facing the audience, diminishing the more—does our objection remain in force. regularly on either hand, down to the height But the Passion-Play at Brixlegg was intended of a child of nine or ten years, who finishes to appeal solely to the emotional |)art of human the line at each extremity. The centre angel nature, aud certainly did not appeal in vain. announees the argument of the forthcomiug "representation," and, her speech being at an Jesus was represented a'i a sad, pale, gentle, end, the chorus of angels divides, half going man, with flowing hair and beard, "lad in a long to the right and half to the left, so as to plain robe of a rich blue colour; he had bare leave the centre of the scene open to the view feet bound with sandals, and trod with a cer­ of the spectators. A bell tingles, and the tain simple dignity, very marvellous and note­ heavy rudely painted canvas curtain rises and worthy, remembering that the representative discloses the first picture. It is a complex was a mere ignorant uncultured peasant. A man one, containing three distinct subjects. On who laboured hard with plough or spade for his the right, are Adam and Eve eating the fatal daily bread, aud who had required much care­ fruit beneath the forbidden tree. On the left, ful instruction before his tongue was able to is Abraham with uplifted hand about to slay modify its habitual dialect so as to speak the Isaac, who lies bound u;pou a pile of fagots words of his part in fably well-pronounced before him. In the centre, is a tall cross draped German. with black gauze, which angels surround in After the entry into Jerusalem, came the contemplation. Eor a short time the pictures driving of the money-changers from the Temple, remain motionless. The angelic chorus on aud the auswer respecting the tribute-money, either hand point with outstretched forefinger " Bender unto Caisar, the things which arc to the scene. The stage is surprisingly spacious; Cffisar's." Jesus with his disciples then left more so than in many theatres of European the Temple, and the chief priests and pharisces fiime; aud very large numbers arc able to took counsel together how they might destroy move and group upon it without confusion him. The representation ended with a fierce or crowding. Suddenly, at a signal given by cry of " Yengeanee, vengeance ! We will have the soft sounding of a small bell, the tableau bloody vengeance!" In this the discomfited ehanges. A cherubim with flaming sword money-changers, who had been driven irom drives forth our first parents, who eower Ihe Temple, joined eagerly. And on this the abashed from his presence. A heavenly mes­ curtain fell. senger appears to stay the hand of Abraham, Of a performance which lasted so long, and who releases his son and fondly embraces him, which contained sixteen of such "representa­ Lastly, the sombre drapery drops awav from tions" each consisting of rhyming prologue, the cross, and the surrounding angels fall on dumb tableau, aud dramatic action, it would, their knees and worship. On this, the chorus of course, be impossible to give a detailed ac­ disappear and the curtain falls. It rises again count in the space at our command. But wc almost immediately and shows a scene whieli will select a few striking points for description. displays the whole depth and breadth of tlie First in numerical order comes the angel atage. It represents a street in Jerusalem. The chorus, Tliese angels are not very interesting personages, it must be owned. They stand square- "^

400 [October 3,18C8.] ALL THE TEAK ROUND. [Conducted by

fronting, rigid, painfully conscientious in the ness devoid of self-conscious mauvalse honte. matter of keeping their blue or red-booted feet One of us had witnessed a religious play many at the same angle, heel to heel. They speak in years ago, in Britany. But there it was defiled a high pitched strained voice, and raise their oy detestable bucofic buflPoonery and ribaldry. arms stiffly at certain rhetorical points in the Here among these peasants of North Tyrol all jingling measure. Tliey have been laboriously was grave, simple, serious. The performance and assiduously drilled in every turn of the was_ marked by a^ starthng and audacious hand, every glance of the eye, every inflection realism; but a realism wholly devoid of irre­ of the voice. The sole good resulting, is, that verence. The washing of the disciples' feet by they are one and all distinct and audible in Jesus, the anointing of the Lord's head by their speech. Nay, perhaps, that may not be Mary Magdalene, the crowing of the cock after the sole good rcsnhing; seeing that they are pea­ St. Peter had denied his Master; all were ren­ sant children, ignorant, awkward, uncouth, in dered with matter-of-fact accuracy. To witness their every-day demeanour, one other excellent these things pourtrayed by persons without a result of I he pains bestowed upon them has been profound faith in them—persons who did not to suppress a great deal in voice, manner, and literally believe in the truth of every detail— gesture, which would otherwise have proved would have been intolerable. As it was, al­ offensive or ludicrous. Even as it is, it is though many parts of the Passion-Play were curious to observe how the natural inequalities mtensely painful, it was impossible to feel of intelligence among tliese girls reveal them­ either disgust or contempt. Disapproval we selves unmistakeably. One little maid, the might and did feel. But the truth is, that last of the line, and consequently one of the the whole spectacle was invested with the smallest children there, recites her verse when moral dignity of sincerity. In the Uttle pam­ it comes to her turn, with a fervour and feel­ phlet already alluded to, mention is made of ing that break through the parrot stiffness and the short, the very short, time at disposal for uniformity. True, she raises her eyes, and the preparation of so great an undertaking. stretches her arms, and clasps her little hands From the end of March to the beginning of June. precisely as her instructor has bidden her to do. Two short months in which to prepare a drama But the difference between this little one and that was to last through neariy the whole day, to her companions is, that whilst with them every employ three hundred performers, to contain gesture appears to be caused from without, as upwards of tweuty complex groups, and sixteen though an invisible wire pulled them hither and acts, to be aecompanied by music and singing, thither, her li.nins are manifestly moved by some and to be presented in appropriate costume, spirit within. and with scenery and machmery ! Add to this Next in order come the tableaux vivants. that the actors being all hard-working people Of these it may be said that the grouping is eould only assemble for instruction and re­ almost always picturesque and good, and that hearsal, on Sundays and holidays, and that in the costumes are very fairly accurate—with the flrst week of April no trace of the spacions one very notable exception; a king Ahasuerus, solid wooden theatre had as yet appeared on the whose Turkish trousers and preposterous tur­ village green of Brixlegg. ban are not to be contemplated with gravity. The writer of the pamphlet, whose childlike The performers, if not especially graceful, are naivete, and unaffected admiration for the great commendably still and firm iu their attitudes. achievements have an old world freshness and Among the best pictures, were the sale of simplicity that remind one of the tone of some Joseph by his brethren (a really pretty pas­ of Shakespeare's characters, concludes thus so­ toral picture, simple and effective); Manna lemnly : " Good will, and love, and the trust descending for the Israelites in the wilderness; that honour would be done to the dear God, and the boy Isaac laden with wood for the these were the mighty levers which heaved burnt-offering, ascending the mountain. The aside a mountain of difficulties, and brought scene of the rain of manna was a very varied the incredible to pass, truly to the honour of and well imagined picture. There must have God and the wondering joy of men !'* The actors been, at least, two hundred persons on the looked forward with trembling anxiety to the stage ; and to group these in an effective man­ day of the first performance. And although ner .so as to avoid both confusion and monotony they had given proof of the most conscientious would have been no easy task for the profes­ study, the most unwearying labour, and the sional director of a great theatre. Not to purest zeal, yet they relied only upon the as­ mention that the materials in the hand of the sistance of God. " He will help us," they latter would be practised performers, well used would exclaim readily and often. "He wifl to the business of the scene, and not peasants, help us. Otherwise all were in vain." artizans, and agricultural labourers. It was in this spirit Ihat the Brixlegg In the acted drama, the shorteomings of the Passion-Play was conducted from first to last. actors, their ignorance, their awkwardness, and The director, a priest named Winkler (to give their inexperience, were naturally most glaring him his due style and title, the Reverend Co- and noticeable. But it was also in this portion operator Winkler of Brixlegg) must have gone of tho performance that they gave proof of a tlirough enormous labour in the driUing of his great amount of feeling, imitative faculty, and inexperienced flock. From time to time we, , good taste arising from singlemiuded earnest­ sitting in our balcony, caught a glimpse of the Obtrlu DiokftOB.! ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3,1863.] 401 reverend gentleman standing at the *'wing," Evangelists have related it, the awful scene book in hand, or moving about behind the was presented, point for point, before our eyes. scenes; active, earnest, evidently the life and No particular was omitted. Throughout the soul of the whole. whole drama, we discovered only one varia­ In the concluding scenes of the drama no de­ tion from the narrative of the New Testa­ tail was spared. The insulting gibes, the brutal ment. This was the incident of St. Veronica, buffets, the crown of thorns, the cruel blood- attired as a noble Roman lady, meeting Jesus drinking lash, all were represented. One of on his w^ay to Calvary and wiping his brow with ihe most powerfully affecting scenes, witliout her handkerchief, whicli forthwith received the being horrible, was the parting of the Virgin impression of the Divine face. This favourite Mary from her Son. Another pathetic point legend of the Romish Church was received was when the Lord, sinking under the eross on with manifest satisfaction. But it was the his way to Calvary, was met by women of Jeru­ only instance iu which any mere tradition of salem, with their little children, who knelt and the church was introduced. Tlie descent from wept campassionately j and when he told them the Cross was one of the most extraordinary not to weep for hiui but for themselves and pieces of mimic show imaginable. The death theur little ones, and uttered the heart-rending in every line and muscle of the drooping form, apostrophe, *' 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that the pathetic helplessness with which the body killest the prophets and stonest them which hung in the white cloth they wrapped around are sent unto thee, how often would I have it to lower it to the ground, ihc placid silliness gathered thy children together, even as a hen of the colourless face lying thorn-crowned across gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye the knees of Mary Mother who received her son would not! Behold, your house is left unto at the foot of the cross, all were absolutely per­ you desolate." fect. No artist ever conceived or painted a dead Christ with more absolute accuracy of The last supper was a strikingly successful physical detail, or a more noble melancholy embodiment of the great picture by Leonardo sweetness of spiritual expression, thau we saw da Vinci. The eruciGxioa on Golgotha, was presented bodily before our eyes in the Passion- an extraordinary and harrowing spectacle. Con­ Play at Brixlegg. And the mau who achieved sider it'. At this date of the world's history, this representation was a hard-handed tiller of and after the flow of eighteen huudred years, the soil. We saw him afterwards in his every­ that tragedy of tragedies is acted in mimic day garb, and spoke to him. He was changed show, upon a public stage, by men whose aud made coarser by the absence of the flowing forefathers in Herod's time were skin-clad hair and beard he had assumed for the drama ; savages, dimly afraid of distant mighty Home, but tliere were the dreamy soft eyes and the as a fierce wild brute dimly fears the human broad pure-looking brow. We asked him if he mind that wields the conqnermg whip ! Now were uot tired. He had gone through a tiring Rome, that distant Rome, sends no more task, even as a mere effort of physical en­ gUttering cohorts into Northern wilds. The durance. But there had been more in the times are changed. Instead of mailed centu­ performance than that. There had been evident rion, stark and stem, there keeps watch a mild emotion, chastened and subdued by unfaltering old gentleman in sombre simple garb, holding a dignity. He answered in few words and in a book, and teaching little children — and yet faint and weary voice. He looked like one who mliog rugged men with a more absolute and had passed through severe mental suffering. searching tyranny than auy ever used by lau­ This appearauce, however, was, wc felt con­ relled Caesar! A wailing mournful chorus pre­ vinced, the natural aud unconscious expression ceded the scene of death. The band of angels of his face at all times. appeared with black draperies, and the speaker solemnly conjured the spectators to remember that for them and for theu* sins this agony had Of the other characters, the most remark­ fallen on the Sinless One. The curtain rose able was Judas. It is to be noted, moreover, amid breathless silence, broken only by the that Judas was the only one of the performers horrible clink of hammers. The two thieves who received any public mark of approbaiion. already appeared hangmg aloft, each on his He was loudly applauded on several occasions, latal tree. In the centre, meu were busied and greeted with cries of " bravo!" It is not about a prostrate form. Always sounded that difficult to account for Judas alone being so horrible clink of hammers. A group of women received. A sense of revereucc and decorum shrouded their weeping faces, shuddering. would obviously check any such demonstration Roman soldiers, lance in hand, kept back the towards the more sacred personages of the many-coloured crowd. In the foreground stood drama. To Judas no devout veneration was tbe Jewish Priest, exultant and unrelenting. due. He was no saint, no apostle; siuipl}^ a Slowly and noiselessly, men upreared the ceu­ bad traitorous man; greedy and false and vio­ tral cross until it stood erect, bearing a figure lent. The actor pourtrayed Ihese qualities with which appeared like some colossal mediaival considerable vividness and skill. Him, there­ carving on a crucifix; so still was it, so wan, so fore, as a mere human aud earthly personage, ivory-pale, with its black crown of thorns and wc may venture to applaud! Judas's death strip of snowy drapery, and the cruel crimson was a highly startling exhibition. After a ffonnds in its'hands and feet. Precisely as the paroxysm of raving remorse, he rushed to a tree ia the centre of the stage, drew a cord ^ 402 [October 3,18«S,] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Condoctad by from his belt, and then and there hanged him^ her beloved son, yielding him up to meet a self; swinging backward and forward some dreadful death, the tears streamed copiously four or five feet from the ground! All our down mauy a rugged face. Nearly all the party were struck by the intense Jewishness of women—especially the elder women, who had Judas. The couleur locale was more marked known the joys and sorrows of motherhood— in him—in his dress, his voice, and what is wept bitterly; and so did many men. technically termed his " make uj)"—than in any Many of the audience shuddered when Jesus of the others. fell nn^er the lash. All sat still as statues^ The female performers were less satisfactory, during the scene of the crucifixion. When the dramatically speaking. Mary Magdalene was Roman soldier pierced the Saviour's side, and a buxom fair woman with a flood of blonde blood gushed forth and fell plashing on the hair. The Virgin somewhat tame, with an inex­ ground, there ran an electrical thrill of horror pressive face and a painfully whining voice. But through the crowd. Proportioned to the hi^y- she had the rare merit of walking and moving strung intensity of this terrible scene, was the with unembarrassed grace and dignity. popular sense of relief when the stone fell from It may not be uninteresting to mention the the sepulchre, and the rising Lord appeared, social condition of some of the chief actors. radiant, to the astonished Roman soldiera. The St. John and the Magdalene were brother and audience could then have shouted aloud with sister, the former a miller at Miihlau; Mary was joy. They relieved their feeUngs at the earliest the daughter of the village shopkeeper at decent opportunity by a hearty peal of laughter Brixlegg ; St. Peter was a labourer in the iron­ at the lloman soldiers aforesaid, who rushed works at Brixlegg; Pilate, a farmer; Caiaphas, pell-mell through the streets of Jerusalem, a shoemaker; Herod was a coppersmith ; Saint shouting, " He is arisen! He is arisen I" at the Veronica was a locksmith's wife; St. James, full pitch of their country-bred lungs. It was the son of the sacristan at Volders; the cen­ not that the spectators were disrespectful; they turion, a woodcutter; Joseph of Arlmathea, au were simply very glad; and, moreover, they agricultural labourer. rejoiced in an absolute physical relief after the On the day ou which we saw this play, the strain and immobility of the foregoing scenes. audience numbered two thousand three hundred The performance ends with a tableau of the persons. This was the tenth performance; and victorious Saviour standing triumphant, cross on none of the former occasions had the attend­ in hand, surrounded by saints, and angels, and ance been smaller. patriarchs. His snowy drapery is changed for There were some marvellous studies for the glowing crimson. His crown of thorns is gone. painter and the physiognomist among those He points upward with the cross, in ecstasy. rustic faces: laces which had not been ground The victory Is achieved, the sacrifice accun- into uniform pattern by custom and the contact pllshed! of large masses of their fellows, but belonged to The notes of a rejoicing hallelujah choms solitary dwellers in cottages perched high on resound through the building. The crowd toppling crags; on hidden farms wrapped in pours out, and we with the rest, into the damp some green fold of the great hills; in forest- autumn air, and we frout the changeless asped; darkened dwellings where the wind sings wild of the great grand mountains, ponderuig nwny melodies in winter ; and In Alpine huts fringed things. with blue gentian and forget-me-not, and fra­ grant with the breath of lowing kine. Faces which bore great nature's stamp and impress PASSENGER POSTAGE. unmistakably, but yet iu an unconscious way: much as the dumb boulder lying iu a meadow IN the rose-scented city of Blsnagar, Prince reveals the record of the clrcfing years iu many Houssian overheard a crier offering a piece of a flood of greenest lichen-velvet, brown wea­ carpet to the multitude. Learning its properties ther-stain, or startluig blood-red moss. These Prince Houssian marvelled, for it was a magic faces were as interesting and as pregnant with carpet. " By it," said the owner, " you may food for meditation, as the spectacle presented be instanlly transported to whatever place you on the stage. All were attentive, serious, self- wish to visit, and will fiud yourself in the possessed. If wc were to imply that a full ap­ desired spot almost immediately without being preciation of the awe and horror and pity of stopped .by any obstacle whatsoever. Yoa tiie story were reflected iuthem, we should mis­ have but to wish and you are there." Thb vas lead the reader. Such full ajipreciation would Arabian Nights romance, but it may be very demand a higher aud wider imaginative faculty nearly sober nineteenth century fact. Progress than these poor peasants conld lay claim to. A is but the realization of old dreamers' fancies. ]H-ofonnd reverence, an awful wonder, must pro­ T'hc modern crier is Mr. Raphael Brandon. ceed from power of comparison whicli they in He is the author of a new scheme of railway nowise possess. But no one looking at them organisation, promising results as wonderful as rould doubt two tilings; first, that fheyimpliciily ever the street seller of Blsnagar vaunted of believed in the truth of all that tlieir priests his carpet. It is simply an adaptation of Sr had taught them; secondly, that they had Rowland Hill's Post-ofiice scheme, to railway hearts acce3sible to the promptings of human passenger traffic. He proposes to treat a love and fellowship. When Maiy parted from I passenger Hke a letter, and send him anywhere

y^ •'^ ^

Chutes Dlokeas.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3, 1S68.] 403 over the kingdom, regardless of distance, at a for each train, which is about three and a half fixed minimuai charge. A threepenny stamp passengers per mile; giving an average for shall take you, third-class, any journey in one fare, at present paid, per average journey, of direction you like to go, whether from Lud- fourteenpence only. gate-hill to Sydenham, or from John o* Groat's Now, says Mr. Brandon, give me an universal to Land's Eud. If you prefer second-class, threepenny fare everywhere, and 1 will pro­ you will take a sixpenny stamp; if you will mise you six times the traffic, which will give luxuriate in first-class, your postage will amount the united railway interest an excess of lour to one shilhng. millions of receipts, with very little, if any, This sounds as mad as the penny postage addition to the expense of carrying an in- innovatiou sounded at first. But Mr. Brandon creased number of passengers. But that is merely quietly proceeds to argne in his pamphlet* supposing each persou paid but threepence. It tnat it would pay everybody, shareholders, the is calculated, however, that of the increased public, and the goverument, besides giving number of travellers one-seventh would ride renewed impetus to industry of all sorts. At first class atone shilling, and two-seveni hs second the end of 1865, the total amount of capital class at sixpence. This would raise the annual invested iu railway uudertakinsjs in the United return to thirty-two million pounds, for passen­ Kingdom was four hundred and forty-three and ger traffic, instead of fourteen and three-quarter a half millions. The average dividend paid ou millions, as at present. That is, supposing that the whole outlay was only four and two-fifths every person took his single ticket at threepence, per cent. Hitherto, then, it is clear that rail­ sixpence, or a shilling. Mr. Brandon reckons, ways have not paid well. however, on a number of yearly tickets first and second class at twenty-five and fifteen Government, he says, must take the railways pounds, respectively ; but it is somewhat doubt­ as it has done the post-oflSee and the telegraphs ; ful if a first-class passenger would calculate ou that is Mr. Brandou's first requirement. The making more than two hundred and fifty railway saving iu expenses of management, through journeys per annum ; and If not, it would mani­ doing away with conflicting interests, and ex­ festly answer his purpose better to pay one pensive directorates, will be a large item, to shilhng per journey. Supjiosing, if you will, Mr. begm with ; and a trifle amounting to a quarter Brandon to be too sanguine in his estimate that of a million a year, iu outlay for legal and traffic would be increased sixfold, still if it be ^parliamentary expenses will be abolished. But only conceded as probable that it would in­ these are only flea-bites in a scheme of sueh crease threefold, the railway receipts would magnitude. The great poiut is, ouce provide thus be two millions in excess of what they cheap and easy locomotion, and passenger now are, without taking into account the re­ traffic will develop itself to an extent hitherto duction in expenditure resulting from unity of unprecedented. Already, through cheapening management! the means of travelling, thousands now travel where scores previously journeyed by coach. But, says a bewildered taxpayer, where on Cheap post^e increased letter-carrying many earth is the four hundred and forty millions of hundredfold. People don't travel as they money to come from, for the govermncnt to buy would if railway fares were reduced to an up the railway interest? Does it mean income uniform and nominal postage charge. At tax, or is it to be a new national debt ? N o. It present, labourers out of employ, mass them won't cost the government a single sixpence, selves together in impoverished districts, and nor the public either. Aud the shareholders fall back on their parish, because the railway will be better paid than ever they were paid fare that would transport them to distant before, and we shall all live happy ever after­ towns where their labour is in demand is to wards, and go on, and on, aud on, travel­ them a prohibitive rate. Cheap locomotion ling everywhere wiih the magic carpet that by distributmg labour, will decrease pauperism. costs nothing and yet pays everybody. Will Every one will travel if only the facility be that do ? Well; each shareholder is to receive. given. Bat this facUity can only be obtamed In return for his shares, government railway under government management. stock, bearing interest at four and two-fifths per cent (the average percentage at present paid The sum proposed to be charged for passenger by railways). But, objects a shareholder now postage, looks ridiculously small. In reality it receiving a seven per cent dividend, it is uot 13 not so much less than the average fare at very likely I shouldagree to lose two and three- present paid for the average journeys as might fifths per cent, per anuum to please the public. be supposed. In 1865, in round numbers, three No, my good sii"—nobody wishes It, least of all aud a half million passenger trains ran over Mr. Brandon. If you read his pamphlet you seventy-one million miles, carrying two huudred will see lie proposes thatjustasashareholderin aud fifty-two million passengers. The traffic pro­ a line paying less than four aud two-fifths per duced fourteen miUion seven hundred and cent shall receive so much less In amount of these twenty-four thousand eight hundred and two government bonds, so you shall receive so much pounds. This gives au average of neariy more as shall be equivalent to the full market twenty-one mUes and seventy-three passengers value of your property, to be determined by a competent tribunal, 'besides giving you the * Railways and the Public. By Rapliael Brandon, additional security of government guarantee. F.Ii.I.B.A. BeU ami Daldy, ISCS. ^^

404 [October 3,1868.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Conducted by You shall uot be hardly dealt with. As the shilling's worth of stamps shall carry their pur­ government will be able to make very much chaser from London to Aberdeen, and back, more of your property than your narrow-minded post his letters on the journey, receipt a policy of conspiring together to raise fares and couple of accounts, cover a modest acceptance oppress the public, could ever conceive of, so at three months, and stamp the cheque that that government cau afford to be liberal to you pays his expenses. in its estimate of the value to be giveu you in bonds ibr your shares. We passively submitted while you bought up onr houses and lands over WALES AND TALKS WITH THE our heads, telling us it was all for our good; we PEOPLE. have borne your shortsighted policy of extortion and discourtesy; but you have been a bad KO. I. TUE EOAD-MEKDER. steward; your enterprise has neither paid you, LET me define what I mean by the "people." nor benefitted us, and it is time the stewardship In one, and the best, sense of the word, we are were taken from you by a power that sball begin all the people, from the Queen to the serving to make you see that the public good and profit­ maid, and from the Prince of Wales to the able railway management are not incompatible. pauper. But the word " people" has a fictitious Does some oue say that the analogy between and more restricted sense. In this paper, as in carrying a passenger and carrying a letter is false, any others that may follow, as conlmualions of because a letter is but half an ounce, and a pas­ this subject, the people will be held to signify the senger is a really meaty hundredweight ? Which great majority of mankind ; the hewers of wood, is, by far, the most expensive part of the postal and the drawers of water; all who live from syst em ? The transit of a letter, or its delivery ? hand to mouth, on the proceeds of the day's, the Its deUvery. Thank you. Granted, then, that week's, or the month's wages; and all who have the transit of a passenger is something more ex­ fallen from this honourable estate to the lower pensive than that of a letter, the passenger saves level of pauperism and crime. the most costly part of the postal outlay, because I dearly love a day's walk in the country, he delivers himself; the balance is therefore on through the beautiful green lanes of England, the passenger's side, for the additional expense through the glens and straths, and over tbe of transit is nothing to the saving in distribu­ mountain summits of Scotland, along the margin tion and delivery. Unstamped passengers—like of the sea-shore, over the cliffs and downs, and letters—will be charged double postage. The sad wherever there are trees and green fields, or calamity of Abergele is ouly oue more instance mountains, or a sight of lake or ocean to of the weighty fact that something like seventy- be obtained. In my walks I am never alone. five per ceut of railway accidents are attri­ I find companionship in the wild flowers by the butable to the barbarous practice of running road side, in the birds upon the bough, in the excursion trains. Had there been no excursion skylark poised high in mid-air, and dropping his train to necessitate the shunting of those goods jocund notes down upon the earth like so many trucks at Abergele, the Irish mail would have diamonds of melody. I find occupation for the proceeded in safety. Now, why are excursion mind in the varying aspect of the clouds, and trains ruu ? Simply because the ordinary fare the landscape; a landscape which belongs to is thereby tacitly admitted to be excessive. me, far more than to the lord of the manor, if The fact of the crowding of excursion trains, I admire its beauty aud he does not. But goes to prove how reduced rates increase traffic. though I enjoy the solitudes of nature, I Oucc adopt Mr. Brandon's scheme, and excur­ never hold aloof from the companionship of sion trains will die out along with the need for man. I am fond of talking to farm-labourers them; and with that blessed event will come and shepherds, to beggars and to tramps, to such an immunity from heartrending railway travelling tinkers, gipsies, and showmen. I disasters as we have never yet witnessed. love to study the wild flowers and weeds of But what about the price of those shorter jour­ humanity, as much as the botanist loves to neys charged at sums already less than the pro­ study and classify the herbs aud flowers that posed new stamp-tickets? Mr.Brandou proposes arc too lowly and of too ill-repute to find a lo leave all these as they are at present, or at most place in the conservatory, but which belong to subject them to revision wil h a view to reduc­ nevertheless to the great garden of God. In tion. Four years ago, Mr. Brandon first sub­ my intercourse with the waifs and strays of our mitted his scheme of Railway Reformation to civilization, I always find that 1 can learu some­ government. He has now printed it, appealing thing, even from the most ignorant, if 1 take to the ]iublic. Probably nothing is more likely to them kindly, and do not ofleud their pride. to commend the scheme to the favourable con­ The poor arc as proud, after their own fashion, sideration of a new parhamcutthan the attitudcof as the rich; aud the most degraded of men the railway companies themselves, in perversely knows that he belongs to the aristocracy of refusing to sec that their blind policy of conspiracy nature, and that, like Alexander Selkirk, he is is not only detrimental to public eonvcnicnce, but " Jjord of the fowl and the brute." He who madly injurious to their own property. There hath sixpence is king, to the extent of six­ may he twenty flaws in Mr. Brandon's theory, yet pence, says the philosopher Emerson; and a he may be on the railway track of the future man is a man, and among the noblest of animals, —whether or no, the day will come when a even when he is taken at his worst.

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Charles Dickeoa.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [October 3,1868.] 405 Though the rich may not know it or wish it, regards ploughmen, but labouring men of every there is almost as great a distinction of " caste" description, I never neglect au opportunity to in England as there is in India. It is some­ exchange ideas with them, and to inquire how thing more than money that divides the rich and on what they live; what opinions they from the poor, and the poor from the rich; and form of their own class, and of the classes above something else than money or education—or and below them; what notions, if any, they the absence of one or both—that separates have of the government of their own or other trades from each other, or one class of work­ countries; what are their enjoyments, their people from another; and it is exceedingly sorrows, their prejudices; whether they attend difficult for one whose dress, manners, and con­ church or chapel; and what are their ideas of versation mark him as belonging to the profes­ the divine government of the world, and their sional, commercial, or gentlemanly classes to hopes, if they have any, of a hereafter. establish friendly and intimate relations with the peasantry and lower orders of labourers, or One of the most respectable men I know, to get at the secrets of their moral and intel­ and whose acquamtance I made upon the high­ lectual hfe. To call upon poor working people way where he does his daily work, is employed in their homes, suggests to them that you have by a road contractor to keep three miles of the a " mission"—religious or otherwise—to reform public road iu order. The road winds through or lecture them, and they immediately—whether a beautiful country, within thirty miles of male or female—put on a mental armour to defy London, and need not be more particularly you. They do not like to be preached at, or specified, lest my good friend the labourer lectured, or patronised, by " unco* guid" or should be pointed out too particularly to the "rigidly righteous" people; and though they notice of the public of his own neighbourhood. will most likely take your money if you offer it, He bears an aristocratic name, and were he you will get but little insight into their mode of dressed in the garb of a gentleman would pre­ life or habits of thought, if you talk to them for sent a distinguished if not an aristocratic ap­ a twelvemonth. They are on their guard against pearance. Pass him when I will, he is always YOU, and will not admit you into their confi­ at his work. He labours as if he liked his em­ dence—strive as hard as you may. If you ployment ; he never loiters, or dozes, or takes sit with them in their beerhouses, they dis­ unfair advantage of his paymaster to "scamp" cover at a glance, in whatever way you may the job in hand. He clears the pathway from have dressed yourself, that you are not one weeds, trims the hedges, sees that the water­ of them ; and they look upon you as a flock of courses are clear, looks to the drains, scrapes sheep might look upon a wolf, or a congrega­ the horse manure into little heaps by the road­ tion of crows upon an alien popinjay, who had side to be carted away by the agencies appointed obtruded into their clan or companionship. But for the purpose; levels the roadway wherever when you meet with them on the country roads it gets worn into holes or ruts, by shovelling and tramp along with them for miles, not having in the necessary amount of macadam ; and forced yourself upon their company, but offer- every day has enough to occupy him in all mg it or aceeptii^ it, as from man to man, you these matters, and fill up the requisite number may often make the acquaintance of some very of hours that he is bound to labour. He has excellent people, from whom you can some­ got, it seems, to be very much attached to his times learn more than tliey can learn from three miles of woodland road. He knows every yon. If they have not the knowledge of books— tree on either side, and how old it is; he can and even in this respect some of them are by no point out those that are the favourite haunts of means ignorant—they have the knowledge of the squirrel and the dormouse; and he is ac­ things: and if they look upon man and nature, quainted with the common but not with the fate and eireumstance, and on the rights and botanical names of all the hedge flowers and wrongs of the poor, with eyes different from herbs in his district. He is close upon sixty years yours, and, perhaps, from a totally opposite of age, but looks older, and is seldom to be seen point of view, you acquire a new kiud of expe­ without his short pipe m his mouth, unless rience, and, it may be, learn something of the when he is spoken to. previously unsuspected fires and forces that Ue smouldering and latent in the hearts of the mul­ " What wages do you earn, Mr. Stanley ?'* titude, of whieh our lawgivers are often wholly I one day asked him. Stanley is not his name, unaware, and which they would not, perhaps, but he has one quite as aristocratic. credit on any authority hut that of theu: own "Two shillings a day." experience. " It may be some entertainment," " You have a wife and family ?" says Robert Burns, in a letter to his friend "A wife and five children." Robert Riddel, of Glenriddel, " to a curious " Are any of the children old enough to earn observer of human nature to see how a plough- anything?" man thinks and feels under the pressure of love, " Not one. The oldest is only ten.'* ambition, anxiety, and grief, with like cares and " And how can you feed them all, on two passions, which, however dlversiiled by the shillings a day ?" modes aud manners of life, operate, I believe, "God knows," he replied, "/don't. The pretty much alike on all the species." Agreeing wife manages somehow to get them bread and with Robert Burns in this particular, not only as potatoes, though scarcely enough, and a httle "No meat?"

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40G [Octobers, 18(18.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Conducted by

" Meat! WcU, we sometimes get a little bit they are just the times when a nran requires of rusty bacon, jnst to grease the potatoes with; most. Coals are dear, bnt we get them-at half bacon that shopkeepers, or clerks, or servant price at a place iu the village, where the gentry girls would not look at, bnt which we manage subscribe to let us have them. And tjien I lo relish. I suppose because wc are hungry." have the privilege of gathering sticks and wind­ *' Is the Sunday's dinner no belter than the falls, which helps a little." week day one ?" " And when you are too old to work,'what " Well, yes, wc buy fhe offal, as the butchers then ?" I asked, suggestively. call it, when it is cheap, as it generally is in " WeU, there is but one place, the work­ the hot weather when it will not keep long." house, and that other place, the grave. If it " What do you mean by offal ?" were not for the workhouse, I sometimes think "I iiican llie heart, liver, and entrails. The that the squires and great people would not wife cau cook a little, and chops up these have such a nice time of it as they have. / things with onions and salt, to make them don't want to go there however. I should like savoury, and hide the taste of putrefaction when to work on, and earn my wages to the last. Eng­ the things are cheap and not overfresh. When land's a poor place for such as I am, at the best. I was a young man, I did not much mind the There are too many of us. That's the troth." stale flavour. I had a stomach and an appetite " Did you never think of going to America P" like au ostrich theu; but now that I am growing " Many aud many a time; but I never conld old, I am getting particular, and prefer cheese save enough to pay my own passage over, let to meat. Bread and cheese and onions is alone that of the wife and children. And I'm not bad fare, after all, if a man gets enough of it." too old uow." "I see you manage to spare a little out of " You can read ?" your earnings for tobacco. Surely you could " Ay, weU enough; and I like readii^ too, do without that." especially the newspapers.'* " I caunot do without * baccy,' but I spend " Can you afford to take in a penny paper?" very little—next to nothing, I may say—ou this " No, indeed, but I borrow oue, when if s a article. I find almost aU that I need, upon the week old, from the grocer or the butcher, I road. The gentlemen that smoke so much get the news stale, as I do my victuals, bnt throw away the cigar ends, and I pick up suffi­ contrive to leam what is going on in the world." cient durhig the day, to cut or untwist, to " Do you read in the evening, after yoar supply my pipe. Ifyou stopped my 'baccy* work's done ?" I should lose the best friend I have in the world " Well, sometimes, not always. T like to hare —next to my wife." a talk with other people, and hear the news of " You seem a strong man. Do you drink the place. Sunday's my day for reading." beer?" " Do you attend church?" " I am a strong mau, thank God; aud I "Not oftener than I can help, for I fall hope there is no harm in liking a glass of good asleep, and I don't like to set such a bad example ale or beer." —and to be nudged by somebody as if I was "Not the least. I know I like it, if it be committing a sin. Besides, I snore somethnes. good, and shall have much pleasure in treating I wish I could keep awake at church, but I you to a pint." can't. So I stay away and read the news­ " Thank you kindly. I never begged a glass paper, and sometimes lie in bed hidf the day, of beer in my life, and would scorn to do it, but and bless it as a day of rest.'* I never refused one if offered. People are " Do yon study the politics or the news?" pretty good to me, and I get two or three "I don't care much about politics. Ihwe pints in a week, or more than that, from ac­ no vote. I'm nobody. But if I had a vote, Pd quaintances on the road, aud from strangers vote for any gentleman who'd abolish the game who see me working In the hot sun. But the laws, and punish those wretches who put drugs beer gets awfully bad iiow-a-days. The pubUcans into the beer. And I should like to vote for arc not honest. They put water in their beer auy one who'd bring mutton from Australia or first, aud that makes it weak; and then they South America, so that I could get meat instead put drugs into it, to make it strong again, I of offal, and live as well as a footman or a hoiae- think such men ought to be punished. It's maid. But this won't be in my time, I suppose" worse than poaching, in my opinion." " I'm afraid not, though it's not impossible. "And iu miue, too ; and if I could have my There's food euough in the world for aU man- way, I would make such au example of some of kmd, if we could but bring the food to the the poisoners of the poor man's beer, as would mouths that require it. Do none of your chil- create a talk in the world." dreii go to school ?" " Yes, sir, it's cruel; and ihc more cruel be­ " Yes, the two eldest, boys of nine and ten, cause it is the poor, who can't help themselves, go to school iu the winter; but in the sunrarer who are made to suffer." they get a job uow and then as crow boys aild " Do you earn daUy wages all the year sparrow boys, to frighten the birds from the round ?" corn, and earn a few shiUings to buy clothes " No. Whenever there is a hard frost, or with. They'U be able to read and write, and the snow lies upon the ground, I have to shut do a little cyphering, I suppose, by th© time up. In those times I earn nothing, though they are fourteen or fifteen,** "•^^

Charles Dlckeoe.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND, [October 3, ISCS.] 407

"And your own clothes; bow do you them unresisted. It is an absurd fancy, and manage P" yet I should uot like to be buried next him. " Well, clothes last a good while with care Some persons have a trick of winking. I and mending. I've got the suit I was married could mention a most polite and modest young in, and it looks pretty good still. Boots arc mau who most desperately ofiends ladies, un­ the most expensive articles that I have to buy. aware of his unfortunate habit. The offer, The wife manages; and she is a clever woman, "WiU you allow me to give you a glass of as I have reason to know. She goes out champagne?" at a ball supper, is, taken alone, ciiaring sometimes, and gets herself a little bit a civility ; but if accompanied, as ten to oue it of finery, and a few ribbons. Lord love lier ! would be in Brown's case, with a wink, it miglit She deserves them. And you see 1 am a sober annoy some ladies into hysterics, especially if man, and waste no money in drink, thougli, as they were really addicted to a little stimulaut in I said, I Uke my beer, and I like it good, and private. Yet, however much shocked she might would like to have the pillory once more in our be, no recipient of one of Brown's offensive parish. Wouldn't I pelt some people if they though unconscious movements of the eye­ got there !'* lid could be more astonished thau I was once, I took care that the road-mender had some by a good but prim old lady of strong religious ood beer that day—Bass's bottled—which he rineipies, who uttered a solemn dogma for my f ighly relished, and was unfeifjnedly grateful Eenefit, and then—winked at me! For a mo­ for. I had the pleasure too, of giving him as ment I thought it was Mephistopheles himself ranch money as would purchase a bottle of the who sat before me, disguised in elderly female same for " the missus." He is, it will be seen, garb; but a continual repetition of the a very favourable specimen of the English pea­ explained the mystery. santry—an honest, hard-working, cheerful, but It is difficult to relinquish tricks of a diffe­ hopeless man; born to be a drudge, eking out his rent nature; gnawing the nails, or a pen for life with the aid of charitable coals and chance example. I knew a man who used to devour kindnesses; one who had but litlle idea of, or his pocket-handkerchiefs while reading. untU a care for, the promises of religion—a good man female relative got him to transfer liis atten­ in his way, but practicaUy as much a heathen as tions to an ivory paper cutter, and he positively his compeers in Greece in the days of Plato. ate one in about a fortnight. It was tooth He harboured no resentment against, aud en­ versus tusk, and he beat the elephant. How­ tertained no jealousy of, his superiors in sta­ ever, he was a careless man about the affairs of tion and worldly wealth, and spoke iU of no­ this world, and lived iu au atmosphere of meta­ body but the adulterators of his beer. The physics. Smith, lieutenant and adjutant of portrait is from the life; and were there no the Hundred and Fiftieth, raised from the ranks worse or more ignorant people in England thau for most exceptional good conduct and devoted he, England would be a better place than it is. heroism, was anxious beyoud all things to break himself of every habit which he had picked np in a low-er grade of life. He suc­ TRICKS. ceeded most wonderfully; as he was a gentle­ man at heart, so he acquired the manners and Ip people commit crimes, we cau give them the tone of conversation of a gentleman; but into custody, and so get rid of them. Acquaint­ one little trick beat him. If he sat down to a ances who are the slaves of vicious iudulgeuee, rubber, he could not for the life of him help generally take pains to conceal their propen­ wetting his thumb wlien he dealt the cards. sities, and we are therefore not annoyed by Sometimes he would catch himself doing it, and them; but against habitual tricks we are de- mutter "there I go again I" But he never got fwceless. I once knew an elderly gentleman over it, and cousequeutly declined to play at wbo poked the man he was conversing with, in whist, of which he was very fond, when strangers the nbs with great force and a sharp forefinger, were present. And yet that man had conquered whenever eitlier said anything which he thought military routine and social prejudice! An old remarkable. The trick is amusing enough wlien schoolfeUow of mine had a trick which is men­ lepresented on the stage, but in real life and to tioned, I think, by BoswcU as having been a pe­ persons who are tieklish, it is an insufferable culiarity of Doctor Johnson's: the trick of touch­ nuisance. The last time this man made mc ing things. When he had reached the door of a his Tictim was after a political dinner in the room he was leaving, he would return to touch a days of the Anti-Corn Law League, when, being book, the back of a chair, or a table. No matter quite out of my depth, I was naturally anxious how great a hurry he might be in, he obeyed to unpress the assembled guests with a convic­ the impulse; indeed the more flurried and ner­ tion of ray profoundness, and had partiaUy suc­ vous he was, the stronger it became. When ceeded, when my troublesome friend caused the late for school, to which he was running from niost sapient of my remarks to terminate in a the house where he boarded, I have seen him wriggle and a giggle with his cruel digit of ap­ stop, and turn back three times to touch a probation. I gave him a wide berth after that, tree: though in those days the wasted moments and ha hasnow gone to that bourne where there probably represented a flogging, of whieh he can be little satisfaction in poking his neigh­ had an unwonted horror. I have often won­ bours* ribs; for his finger would go between dered what became of him as a man. Could a Ni.

408 ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Ootobor 9, ie$8.] clergyman go down the pulpit stairs again after but at regular intervals, like a passing bell, and having mounted them half-way, to touch the with much the same effect upon the nerves. eagle at the bottom ? Could a barrister leave It is impossible to help listening for its recur­ his seat every now and then, for the purpose of rence, and the difficulty of fixing the attention laying a hurried hand on the dock ? upou the page before one's eyes is very great, Tricks of speech are well-nigh universal, but under such circumstances. Another man will as they are for the most part picked up from cross one leg over the other and swing it, with persons among whom we habitually live, they an effect quite dazzling to his neighbour; but do not attract much attention, unless one the worst offender of aU, is the reader who speaks often in public. A raau who has con­ has a trick of resting his toe on the ground stantly to make speeches, ought to guard most and causing his leg to vibrate in a distressing carefully against little pecuharitles of diction, manner, of which I despair of conveying any particularly if he be a preacher. There is a idea unless you have suffered from the inflic­ story told of a clergyman who was constantly tion. The more interested he grows in what using the expression " rhyme or reason." Ten he is reading, the faster goes the Umb, and or twenty times in a single sermon he would you cannot defend yourself, as in the case of bring it in. At last an intimate friend told the swinging nuisance, by holding a broad him privately that the constant recurrence of sheet before your eyes and so shutting him out this phrase excited unseemly mirth among of sight, for after a little time the vibration be­ his parishioners, and he determined to break comes perceptible over the whole room, until yon himself of it. So he wrote his next sermon out might imagine yourself on board a steamer. in full, instead of making notes only, as had Nay, it Is far worse than the shaking caused by been his custom, and was careful to omit the paddle-wheels or screw, for that is so honestly objectionable phrase. "How did you Uke violent that the system soon becomes accus­ your sermon to-day ?" a lady was asked, ou tomed to it: whereas the tremulous motion ex­ returning from church, by a chance visitor at cited by the vibrating leg, is of an irritating her house. " Very much," she replied. " There description ever young and fresh, A con­ was neither rhyme nor reason in it." stant reader at onr local Athenjeum (who in­ Some subscribers to lending libraries have a deed almost Uves there), has aU these tricks, most disgraceful trick of penciUing amateur and one more. On Wednesdays and Saturdays notes on the margins of books they read. he collects the weeklies as they are brought in, Sometimes they content themselves with notes and sits upou them whUe he stu'dies the news­ of interrogation, or of admiration: these last papers. Then he draws them out, one by one, being by no means intended to express the and reads them in a very leisurely manner. sentiment implied by the name. When they The committee have several times been appealed really admire they underline the text, and write to, to point out to him what a selfish and exaspe­ at the side, "Perfectly true," or "I like this." rating habit this is; but they insist on condon­ A fact which might prove interesting to the ing his peculiarities, because he is a learned author, if one can imagine a man getting his man and took a high decree at his university. own book out of a library, but which cannot be But this is wrong. Tricks should surely count of the slightest importance to any one else. before honours. More frequently, however, the marginal notes are of an unfavourable character. "Stuff," Early in December wiU be ready " idiotic foUy," are common criticisms, and THE COMPLETE SET sometimes the opinion of the reader on the OP whole work is summed up on the final page in TWENTY VOLUMES, these words: " A more stupid book I never With GENERAL,INDEX to the entire work from ita- read iu my life!" In some very flagrant in­ commeucemenf; in April, 1859. Each volume, with stances two annotating readers differ, and the its own Index, can also be bought separately as later one indulges in scornful criticism of the heretofore. remarks of the former, to the extreme annoy­ THE NEW SERIAL TALE, HESTEE'S HISTORT, ance of after-borrowers of the book, who are commenced in Number 4fi8, will be oontimied curious, and cannot pass the half legible pen- from week to week until completed in the present cillhigs undeeiphered. How much simpler volume. and more serviceable it would be for critic number two to express his opinion of critic FAREWELL SERIES OF READINGS. number one with a piece of india-rubber. What can there be in the perusal of the daily MR. CHARLES DICKENS. journals and periodical literature iu general, to MESSES. CHAPPELL AND Co. have the honour misguide men into tricks ? It seems to have to announce that ME. DICKENS'S FINAL SEEIES that effect. I never frequented a reading-room OP READINGS, comprehending some of the chief without being annoyed by the little nervous towns in England, Ireland, and Scotland, will com­ mence at ST. JAMES'S HALL, LONUON, on Tuesday, habits of some of its visitors. One man will October 6. make a tremendous noise in his throat: not All communications to be addressed to MBSBES. once or twice, which would matter very little. CHAPPELL AHD Co., 50, New Bond-street, London, W.

The Right qf Translating Articles from ALL THE YEAR BOUND is reserved by the Authors,

Fabiished at the OlIJcc, Xo 'iG, Wellington Street, Strysai--r^