THO CUSTOMS. still tinier charges, along in hand-barrows, and boysledges are carried up any little incline, where their child-riders mount and come down with a rush rapid as lightning. SCANDINAVIAN HOUGH Scandinavia is a composite term, and though a good deal of a kindly sort of hatred is wasted between the three kingdoms composing it, the people are one, and any movement from outside against any one of the three would be warmly resented by the other two. The old stock is the same, and the old customs are found, with very slight variations, and those mostly of modern origin, in all of them. The languages are two only, Swedish and Danish, the latter being universal in Norway, though since the transference of that country from the Danish to the Swedish Government in 1824 there has been a tendency to introduce the Swedish language, especially in the border valleys. Winter is the best time to arrive on a visit to any of the Scandinavian countries, for that is the season of hospitality, the time of the reunion of friends and families. Thus the yule log (Juuletræ) still survives, and Juuletid (yule tide) has a more peculiar and special glory than even in our own merry England. Christmas Eve is the great day of rejoicing, and the evening sees every member within possible distance assembled at the family board. Strangers are rarely invited on these occasions, but the writer and a friend were once present at a small gathering on this occasion at Gothenburg. Presents and surprises were in abundance for all, the great event of the evening being the unveiling and presentation to the old mother of a beautiful portrait, in oil, of an absent daughter. One of the sons-a lad just entering into life was made happy with a one-dollar note concealed in the inner pocket of a capacious wallet, and marked, "To be returned, with 100,000 dollars interest, in twenty years." A huge box, nearly three feet by two, when opened, only revealed box after box, to the number of at least twenty, when it at last yielded up a tiny locket in a walnut-shell. Even the two wandering Britons were provided for, and we carried off a medal apiece that had been struck in honour of an ancestor of the distinguished family whose guests we were, and sundry little waxen ornaments of typical design. The supper introduced a dish which is absolutely universal in the three kingdoms, and one to which no amount of use would ever reconcile a British nose or stomach, but which, unfortunately, is de rigueur on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and some other occasions. It is called "lude fish," and consists of fish treated with soda and potash, and afterwards boiled till it is reduced to the condition of a very odoriferous jelly or pulp. Unfortunately, every notable housewife takes particular pride in the preparation of this abomination, and the honour of sitting next to her and doing expected justice to this dish is by no means to be coveted. Winter, too, brings out the sledges, with their exhilarating, noiseless motion, musical bells, and warm wraps, and the kindly snow lays a beautiful, even, swansdown-carpeted road where in summer locomotion would be impossible. Thus friends at a distance, almost insurmountable at other seasons of the year, are brought within visiting possibility, and the kindly winter hospitalities have a memory to be renewed at its next recurrence. Besides the horse-sledges, porters drag their loads, and tiny mules pull their There is not much skating, except in the large towns, where places are kept clear at considerable expense, as in the country the snow is far too deep to be cut by the knife edges of the skate. Here, however, the snow-shoe comes into play-not a boat-like frame, covered with coarse string netting, as used in Canada, but a long board, pointed at the end, being little broader than the foot, but about seven feet long, with a thong loop in the middle to receive the toe. The Laps are the greatest proficients in the use of these implements, and get up and down any hills, keeping their way with frequent prods from an ironspiked staff, an object of considerable envy and admiration to the tyro who continually finds his foot slipping out of the thong and sinking over the ankle in the snow at the side. Some of these shoes have reindeer skin on the soles, with the hair pointing backwards, which gives a sufficient amount of catch in the snow to enable the wearer to ascend a moderate incline without slipping back. Even the most skilful performers are liable to accidents from unseen bushes almost concealed by the snow, and when the point gets caught in one of those in a rapid descent, a breakage of the shoe itself is almost inevitable, an that of the leg far from improbable. Marriages, though celebrated with less formality than in many other countries, have their special peculiarities in Scandinavia. The most remarkable of these is the use of the bridal crown. This ornament is a possession in some wealthy families, but is more commonly the property of the parish, lent to the deserving candidates for matrimony when required. It is made of the quaint old ek silver work, and frequently entirely or partly git. Those brides only whose conduct has been without reproach are allowed to wear it, and in a country where great poverty abounds and long engagements are the rule, crownless brides are lamentably frequent. In the north of Norway the crown is almost unknown, and the brides are generally content with such decoration as ribbons and flowers will afford-generally applied by the tasteful hands of the ladies of the minister's family. The religious ceremony is short and simple, and the day is wound up with a feast in the house of the friends of bride or bridegroom, as distance from the church or other circumstances may render more convenient. These entertainments were formerly often the scenes of fights, but since the judicious restrictions on the sale of spirits by the governments, they have become far less frequent. These encounters seldom led to serious injury, though the whole thing is a relic of savagery. Presents, of course, form an ingredient in a wedding here as everywhere else, but the useful is decidedly more in favour than the ornamentalwardrobes, clothes-presses, bedsteads, and other very substantial articles forming the staple, and being conveyed home to the intended residence of the happy couple with the escort of numerous friends, and sometimes a band of music. The dinners in a Norwegian interior are apt to shock a polite Briton, as, not to mention eating with knives, which is all but universal, servants are seldom admitted during meals, their duty being over when they have brought the dishes into the room, and the younger ladies wait upon everybody. The ladies are also generally separated from the men, as in the congregations of some churches. The first impulse is to rise and offer to assist the ladies in their spiriting, but a short time accustoms one to the practice; and the natives defend it vigorously, on the ground of conversation being so much more unrestrained when servants are excluded from the room, and there is no fear of the scandal of the dining-room being retailed with additions below-stairs. After dinner every one present shakes hands with the host and hostess, saying, "Tak for matten" (Thanks for food). This custom is dying out in towns, but still obtains in the country, and is even used when the guests are paying for their board. In some parts of Denmark everybody present shakes hands with everyone else before the feast, and says, "Welcome." Many national salutations appear sufficiently unmeaning, as the French, "Merci pour la prochaine fois," or our own "Better luck next time," but to thank a man for his past kindness to you, whom you have never seen before, or from whom you have received no attention whatsoever, has been reserved for the Norwegians, whose almost invariable first greeting is, "Tak for sidsh" (Thanks for last time). Many of the more salient peculiarities of Scandinavian manners are rapidly passing away. Varieties. VANILLA TREE.-Mr. E. B. Ede, writing from Paris, says that the Avenue d'Essling was this summer a mass of purple bloom, quite eclipsing the chestnuts of other avenues, and recommends the vanilla for squares or streets in London, being hardy as was handsome, as well as of rapid growth. PURCHASE OF PUBLIC OFFICES IN CHINA.-In the beginning of the present year all China was startled by the publication of the following edict from the throne :-"The constant expenditure of money, which went on so long as military operations were necessary, left us but one alternative-the sale of office. Among those who purchased office there were some who were competent and able in the public service, but there were others who were either rogues or fools, and the services have been disgraced by them. At first the agencies did their best to contribute to the revenues of the State, but as time went on the moneys were misapplied, and not only was the honest administration of the country rendered impossible, but as a source of revenue the system broke down. In the interests of pure government it must be abolished. We therefore command the Board of Revenue to ascertain what amount is annually received under this head by the metropolis and the provinces, to inquire into the manner these sums are expended, and substitute some other method of raising the money. Let the Board at the same time report to our officers throughout the Empire the abolition of the purchase system." GREAT STORM IN AMERICA.-The American papers gave full accounts of a great storm which visited the New England States on the 16th July. We extract the following 66 Boston, July 17.-The havoc by yesterday's storm and tornado was almost unprecedented. The pilots say that no such storm has occurred for more than twenty years, and the signalservice people say that no storm of equal violence has occurred since the establishment of the office. The fatalities have been many, and the damage to property immense. It travelled through the length of the State at the average rate of at least seventy miles an hour. In its course down from the Berkshire Hills to the sea-coast it took several swinging curves, and the whole breadth of New England, in varying degree, was included in its sweep. In the rural regions its path is marked by ruined crops, torn and twisted fruit and shade trees; in the towns and cities by demolished houses, shattered chimneys, broken clud steeples, mangled roofs, and broken glass; and along the ex by the wrecks of yachts and other small craft, and shattered summer-houses and buildings. The greatest loss of life was of the water. The story of the loss of the yacht Myrtle, of the Bunker Hill Yacht Club, with an entire family, only one, the father, being saved, was supposed to be the most melancholy loss, but several other casualties as sad have since been reported yesterday's storm will be as great as was estimated, but in shade "Pittsfield, Mass., July 17.-The money loss occasioned b and fruit trees demolished, buildings shaken, fences levelled, shrubbery destroyed, and other similar harm done, money can hardly be a compensation. Northampton, Mass., July 17.—The town is almost despoiled of its beautiful shade trees, mostly large elms, for which it is noted, there being some fifteen uprooted on Elm Street alone The horse cars to Florence cannot run for some days, there being many great trees across the track.' QUEEN'S PRIZE AT WIMBLEDON.-In 1860, the date of the first contest, it was won by Edward Ross with 24 out of a ps sible 60 points, the weapon used being the Whitworth, which was adopted till 1865. Such a score in these days would be medal and £250 for 18 out of 42; in 1862 Pixley was victorious nowhere. In 1861 Jopling, of the South Middlesex, took the with 44 out of 84; in 1863 Roberts, of Shropshire, won with 65, which was a considerable increase on the previous year's per formance; in 1864 it was won by Wyatt, London Rifle Brigi with 60; in 1865 by Sharman, of York, with 64; in 1866 by Cameron, of Inverness, with 69; in 1867 by Lane, of Brista with 57; in 1868 by Carslake, of Somerset, with 65; in 1869 by Cameron, of Inverness, with 71; and in 1870 by Humphries, 6th Surrey, with 66. In 1871 the Government Martini-Henry was for the first time introduced into the contest, but the result was not very gratifying, 66 points only being made by Humphry, made only 65; in 1873 Menzies, Queen's Edinburgh, made six of Cambridge University; in 1872 Michie, London Scottish, less. In 1874 the value of points was increased, and Atkinson, 1st Durham, made 64 out of a possible 105; in 1875 Pearson, Devon, made 73; in 1876 Sergeant Pullman, South Middlesex, made; 74 in 1877 Private Jamieson, 15th Lanarkshire, made 70; and last year Rae, of Stirling, outdistanced all previous competitors by recording 78. Corporal Taylor, who belongs to the St. Helen's corps, became winner for this year of the Blue Riband of rifle shooting, with a higher aggregate than has ever been made in the Queen's competition. THE BLACK MILDEW OF WALLS.-Apropos of an observation by Professor Paley regarding the cause of the blackness of St. Paul's, which he attributed mainly to the growth of s lichen, Professor Leidy recently stated to the Philadelphia Academy that his attention was called a number of years ago to a similar black appearance on the brick walls and granite work of houses in narrow, shaded streets, especially in the vicinity of the Delaware river. Noticing a similar blackness on the bricks above the windows of a brewery, from which there was a constant escape of watery vapour, in a more central por tion of the city, he was led to suspect it was of vegetable nature. On examination, the black mildew proved to be an alga, closely allied to what he supposed to be the Protococcus viridis, which gives the bright green colour to the trunks of trees, fences, and walls, mostly on the more shaded and northern side, everywhere in that neighbourhood. Professor Leidy thinks it may be the same plant in a different state, but, until proved to be so, he proposes to distinguish it by the name of Protococcus lugubris. It consists of minute round or oval cells, isolated or in pairs, or in groups of four, the result of division; or it occurs in short, irregular chains of four or more cells up to a dozen, occasionally with a lateral offset of two or more cells. The cells by transmitted light seem of a brownish or olive-brownish hue. In mass, the alga appears to the naked eye as an intensely black powder. SABLE ISLAND.-This island, where the steamer State of Virginia went ashore in July during a dense fog, is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean, lying directly in the track of vessels sailing between the northern ports of America and Europe, ninety miles south-east of Nova Scotia. It is in latitude 43 59 north, and longitude 59 47 west. It is low and sandy, about twentyfive miles in length and one and a quarter in breadth, and has been the scene of many and melancholy shipwrecks. A company of men, furnished with provisions and other necessaries for the purpose of relieving shipwrecked mariners, is supported on the island by the Government at an annual expense of 4,000 dollars. The island is covered with grass and wild peas, sustaining by its spontaneous production about 500 horses and many cattle. There are successful fisheries in its vicinity. THE LEISURE HOUR. BEHOLD IN THESE WHAT LEISURE HOURS DEMAND, "PAY ME IN CASH," SAID MR. CHAFFIN, "AND I MAY PERHAPS AGREE TO IT." STRAIGHT TO THE MARK. BY THE AUTHOR OF "BOY AND MAN," "LOMBARDY COURT," ETC. CHAPTER XLV.-A COMPROMISE. He told him forth the good red gold, "The gold is thine, the land is mine, And now I'm again the Lord of Linne." -Old Ballad. taken "re Dean and Chaffin." The only thing that Mr. Trimmer seemed to be sure about was that the case was "worth trying." The issue, to be sure, would be very doubtful; it would depend upon the view taken of the testator's intention. Unfortunately the will was not very carefully worded; it had been modelled upon a previous will of the testator's father, MR. STRAFFORD had many consultations with and had not been drawn up by a professional man. his solicitor, Mr. Trimmer, before they could come to a decision as to the steps which should be No. 1458.-DECEMBER 6, 1879. It was such a pity, Mr. Trimmer said, that people would make their own wills. Mr. Chaffin would no PRICE ONE PENNY. doubt spare no cost to maintain what he conceived | Dean, the widow, has a lien_upon the property, u to be his rights; but it need not be a very expensive affair; if Mr. Strafford were willing to go on with it, Mr. Trimmer would do his best to carry him through; and he could only say, as he had said before, that it was worth trying. Mr. Strafford was not afraid of the expense. Tom had begged him to do what he could for Mr. Dean, and had told him of his own encounter with young Chaffin, to which possibly the contractor's oppressive conduct in the matter of the shipyard and house might be indirectly attributed. It was sufficient, at all events, to enlist the old squire's sympathies on Dean's side, and against Chaffin, more strongly than before; and he was resolved to leave no means untried to see Tom's friend righted. But, on the other hand, he did not wish for Tom's friend to be exposed, and his failings proclaimed to all the world, as must be the case if the matter were taken into court. He did not like the idea of seeing the honest shipwright compelled, under cross-examination, to confess how, in a state of inebriety, he had signed away his birthright, and turned his aged mother out of house and home. The man had pledged himself to shrink from nothing that might be necessary, and he knew that he could trust him; but he wanted to spare him the shame and degradation of being bullied by counsel in open court after he had repented so bitterly of his fault, and had fortified himself by total and resolute abstinence ever since against a repetition of the evil which had led to it. He proposed, therefore, to make an appeal to Mr. Chaffin, in the first instance, and to see whether the business could not be settled by an amicable arrangement. Mr. Trimmer did not expect for a moment that anything could come of it; but said of this also that it was worth trying," and agreed to accompany Mr. Strafford to the contractor's office to make the experiment. "We had better have Dean up, in order that if anything should come of it, we may strike while the iron is hot," said the lawyer. "Nothing like fixing a man when you have got him. I don't think we shall catch Mr. Chaffin; but Dean must come up and be at hand." Dean was sent for accordingly, and went with Mr. Strafford and the solicitor to wait on Mr. Chaffin by appointment. He seemed surprised when Mr. Trimmer, who had sent in his own name only, introduced his clients. "If I had known," he said, "what was to be the nature of your business, I would have referred you to my solicitor. It is useless for us to go into it. I have told Mr. Dean repeatedly that I can't entertain his proposal. It is only wasting your time and mine to talk about it." "We are not come to you professionally, Mr. Chaffin," said Trimmer. "I have a strong opinion of my own, of course, as to the merits of the case, but I do not intend to trouble you with that. We want to avoid trouble and expense and legal proceedings." "I am not particular about the expense," said Chaffin, "and the law is on my side." "It is impossible to say on which side the law is until the case has been tried, and I am quite of opinion that it is worth trying. I shall not tell you what I think about it, but your conveyance, I feel sure, will not hold water. A Court of Chancery would set it aside; but I shall say nothing about that. Mrs. the will clearly shows; but I won't refer to the You would lose your purchase and your money too : you were to go into court; but that I won't tod upon. Our object is, as I said before, to come to i friendly understanding." "You mean to say, then," said Chaffin, " that y client here has sold me what was not his to sell!* "Inadvertently, my dear sir; inadvertently." "A man who sells what does not belong to would hardly like, I should think, to stand up court and say what he has done." "Inadvertently, Mr. Chaffin; by mistake and ir want of a proper understanding." 'Why could he not understand ?" "You know why, Mr. Chaffin," said Dean, stouty "you know as well as any man." "I don't," said Chaffin; "it's not my place t know. I only know that I have your conveyan written down-in black and white." "I'll tell you then," said Dean; "I was fud I had been drinking week after week, more shipfor me. I was half intoxicated when I signed th agreement." "Is that your plea? Is that what you are going into court with? I don't envy you. I never wi intoxicated in my life, and should not like any one! say I was; much less to publish it in court, with own lips." "That is not our plea," said Mr. Trimmer, inter rupting his client, who was about to reply; “* but if : were, I assure you we should not shrink from th consequences.' "No," said Dean, firmly. "But it is not our plea. Our plea is that Dean had no power to sell this property.' "If a man sells what is not his own, he must take the consequences. What do they call such fellows at the Old Bailey?" "And what do they call a man who buys under such circumstances, knowing all about it?" Dean interrupted. "I am "Never mind that," said the contractor. all right. I am not afraid about myself; but you would cut a poor figure in a court of justice." "I know it," said Dean; "but I mean to stand there all the same. I shall tell the truth word for word, from beginning to end; yes sir, I will if I never look an honest man in the face again." "There is no accounting for tastes," said Chaffin; "but what is the object of all this? I am busy; always am; I can't spare time for idle talk.” "We want you to take a friendly view of the case," said Mr. Trimmer; "to make a compromise." "I wish I had never seen the property," said Chaffin; "but now I have got it I shall keep it." It will never do you any good, you may be sure," said Trimmer; "it was a bad investment." Mr. Trimmer had never seen it, but he thought he could not do any harm in saying this; he might have remembered that neither was it likely to do any good. "But you see," he continued, "my client has a romantic attachment to the place. You gain nothing, Mr. Chaffin, by keeping it; while he loses everything. Cancel the sale, my dear sir, and save all further trouble." "What do you mean by cancelling'?" "Take the money back, and give him the property." Mr. Chaffin made difficulties, but he did not repudiate the idea as strongly as it had been feared he would do. To tell the truth, he had lost confidence in the Sandy Frith Company, and would not have been sorry to put an end to his connection with it altogether. "Where's the money to come from," he asked, "if I were willing?" Dean had brought it with him, and, to Mr. Chaffin's surprise, took a roll of bank-notes from his pocket. He would pay in cash, he said, all that he had received in cash. The greater part of the purchase money had been given him in bonds of the company; these also he had with him, and would return. "I thought so," said Chaffin. "Those bonds were worth something when I handed them to you. Nobody knows what their value is now. I don't want them, at any rate; I have too many already. Pay me in cash, and I may, perhaps, agree to it." "I can't," said Dean; "not till I have sold the bonds, at all events. You persuaded me to take them, Mr. Chaffin; you said they were of more value than Bank of England notes." So they were at that time. But what is the use of talking? Give me cash, and I'll settle with you now, this minute. There's the conveyance," he said, taking it from a tin box and throwing it upon the table. "Give me the full amount in cash, and you may do what you like with it." To his great surprise, Mr. Strafford, who had remained in the background hitherto, stepped forward, and taking up the paper, put it in his pocket, and then drawing forth a packet of bank-notes, with which he had come provided, placed the money on the table, and bade Mr. Chaffin count it. "I'll buy your shares,' ," he said to Dean; "you can transfer them to me. I'll give you par for them." to. I shall remember it all my life, Mr. Strafford. You have made me an honest man again. Thank God for it. I must thank Him first for putting it into your heart to do it. Thank God, then; and thank you, too, sir. An honest man again I am before the wor-r-ld!" "Shake hands, then, Dean!" said the squire; and they did so. It was a very hearty grip on both sides. Mr. Strafford's thin old hand shrivelled up in the pressure of the shipbuilder's broad palm, and he could not help wincing; but he did not complain. CHAPTER XLVI.-A STORMY MEETING. Fortune... turn thy wheel!-Shakespeare. THE meeting of the Sandy Frith Improvement and Investment Society, Limited, to which Louis Darville and many other shareholders were looking forward with anxiety, was called, as it happened, for the day following that on which Mr. Strafford concluded his bargain with Chaffin in the summary and unprofessional manner described in our last chapter. It was held in a large new room or hall, built upon the site of what had once been known as Walebone's. Walebone had been, it was supposed, the original proprietor of the coffee-house called after his name, but that was not in the recollection of any of those who frequented the new building. Speculation had assumed a wider range, bolder proportions, and a more elastic form altogether since the days of Walebone, and a coffee-house, however spacious, was quite inadequate to receive a body of shareholders, or to represent the interests concerned. Walebone's had been purchased, therefore, by a company, formed for the purpose, and a palatial edifice was rising in its place under the auspices of Mr. Chaffin. The great hall was at the back of the premises, with committee rooms adjoining, and could only be approached through a narrow passage, protected by hoarding overhead, the frontage, with its range of chambers and offices, being yet unfinished. It Mr. Trimmer was very much shocked at the summary way in which the business had been settled. It would not do at all, he said; there must In one of these committee-rooms a meeting of be a proper deed, with stamps, and all duly executed. directors is being held preliminary to the meeting of Conveyances could not be made and unmade in that shareholders. Mr. Header, the chairman, Mr. Stride, summary manner. He would see that everything the secretary, Mr. Oakenshore, Mr. Glim, and others was properly done; and in the meantime the money are in attendance, looking nervous and out of sorts, ehould not have been paid; a deposit would have for they have not a good report to give, and they been sufficient. Mr. Chaffin also seemed to be rather want to make a further call, which they know very taken aback. He wanted to know who Mr. Strafford well will not be agreeable to the shareholders. was, and why he had interfered; but upon being has to be done, however, or the company must bring satisfied that he had not himself any design upon its operations to an end. They are used to this sort the property, and that he had only acted out of of thing, most of them being directors of two or three friendship to Dean, he agreed to let the matter be as other companies. They are so described in the arranged. He had made his offer, and it had been prospectuses, as if that were a great recommendation accepted in the presence of witnesses, and he could and an inducement to the public to trust them. Their not have retracted if he would. On the whole, he hands being so full of business, they must, of course, was not sorry to see the money back again, and know what business is. Having a million or two looked upon Mr. Strafford as the latest instance of of public money to look after already, they must be an old proverb, which was often upon his own lips, the better able to look after the subscriptions invited "A fool and his money are soon parted." to to a new company. Of course, the several companies Joshua Dean could scarcely believe his good for- with whose concerns these gentlemen are credited tune as he left Chaffin's office and followed Mr. are supposed to be in a flourishing state, or they Strafford and his solicitor through the streets. His would not be paraded in the advertisements. There heart was swelling with gratitude, which he longed may be others in the background in which they have to express by word of mouth to his benefactor. As a hand which have not done justice to the skill and soon as they wero alone in Mr. Trimmer's room he care of their promoters, but these, of course, are stepped up to the old squire and said: equally not mentioned. 66 I'll redeem those bonds from you, sir, if you'll give me time. What you have paid for them I'll pay again, sooner or later. I can never pay my debt, though, for your help to-day, and I don't want There is a great deal of excitement among the directors, as their number is increased from time to time by fresh arrivals, and they walk about the committee-room talking and gesticulating to each other. |