dangerous thing." The chance meeting with Miss Equal Tooyew and Mrs. Chaffer may, however, have seemed to him a liberal education. A sojourn of even a day in New York City must have brought to this traveler's notice beauties of architecture, well appointed parks and boulevards, hotels which surround their guests with all things lovely and luxurious, shops displaying wares and fabrics fetched from every mart of the earth, in short, a city comparable with those of England. And yet of all these things the chronicler said no word, but singled out poor, muddy, ill-favoured Scarwood, a "boom town", a place of mills and working men's shanties, a blot on the face of the earth, and this he gravely described to his readers as a typical American town. If ever poor Truth was crushed to earth 'twas when this traveler wielded his mighty pen! It Scarwood City most surely is a miserable and dingy spot. has received the execration of everyone who has ever drawn nigh unto it. So far Mr. Critic is correct; but as for its being a "typical" town-ah, No! Ye Britishers, lend me your ears, while I vociferously proclaim that Scarwood is not a type! It simply exists on sufferance, because its mills are wealth-producers. Upon my word, I believe we natives never had a realising sense of the scope of our municipal possessions until this chronicler set them. down in a list, with capital letters, and, in justice, I agree with him that the Fire Brigade is notable neither for beauty nor its utility; but the Brass Band is warranted to make a cheerful noise and drive away dull care. It is one of those horrors which fascinate. Its charms may fail to soothe, but they usually cow listeners into submission. If the author stands boastingly forth as a notable exception to this rule, he may thank his British impenetrability. Our rehearsal for a performance of “ Living Whist" comes next on his list of curiosities, it being a fact worthy of note with him that this rehearsal was held "in a long bare room, and ordinary dress was worn". Our souls yearn for knowledge of an improvement on this place and manner of rehearsing. The floor was smooth and polished to a nicety. The evening was warm enough to make the wearing of light summer waists and hats a matter of common sense. If our English cousin saw room for improvement why did he not then and there make suggestions and help our nation along on its march of progress? We have always accustomed ourselves to looking upon a rehearsal as a business affair, to be carried on as energetically as possible. Alas that our guest could not have overlooked the unsettled condition which presented itself, and have allowed himself to imagine the brightness and beauty of the finished performance. If our "ladies in light blouses and straw hats" reminded him of a "Nigger plantation dance", as he states, it was because his fancy had run wild as to what is meant by a "plantation dance". He should have traveled five or six hundred miles farther south and had his blissful ignorance dispelled by a sight of barefooted pickaninnies shuffling to the music of a banjo-- their garments consisting of odds and ends of worn-out clothing, and their woolly heads bristling with tight little braids. Happy, rollicking, good-for-nothing Darkies! Only "Down South" could he have found the characteristic plantation dance. It requires a very dark complexion and extremely loose joints. Scarwood society is not equal to it. Now, without doubt, an honest confession from this Sir Scoffer would reveal the fact that he came to "the States" with his eyes and ears wide open to discover idiosnycrasies, and that he was on the hunt for "types." His ever-ready notebook and pencil were his armament for the fray. We had been given to understand that he would represent Civilisation, with a capital C, and we would be frightful examples of Barbarism, with a capital B. Now here was our chance to make history if we would only act sufficiently uncivilised, and after a council of war we decided the question in the affirmative Our adaptability is a matter of national pride with us, you know, and, moreover, we were actuated by that inborn Yankee yearning to be all things to all men. A good able-bodied man volunteered to be the host of this English traveler, and marched bravely off to rescue him from the horrors (?) of the Scarwood Hotel. In a few hours the deed was done, and we had received him into our midst. We were deeply impressed. Civilisation was evidently a great thing; but finally we rallied, and with one accord proceeded to burlesque and exaggerate, to commingle jest with earnest, and so well did we succeed that our guest's occupation became one continuous jotting down of notes. I think all that man's expectations were fulfilled. I hope so, for to pose twelve hours a day as "types" was no child's play. If we failed to do our whole duty, in not wearing Indian blankets, 'twas because the warm weather forbade, and not because the question had not been mooted. When, finally, our visitor shook the dust (or, rather, scraped the mud) of Scarwood City from off his typical British feet, his pencil was worn to a shadow, and his notebook bulging with facts (?) wherewith History was to be enriched. As Barbarians we had surely proved our titles clear. We looked into each other's faces and laughed, for nothing so lightens the heart as a sense of duty performed. Has Mr. Critic no pleasant memory of a warm and lovely evening when certain porch steps were made comfortable with rugs and cushions, and we sat there under the summer stars, the men smoking and laughing at the feminine chatter? Surely, surely, he understood that it was idle talk! He could not have taken seriously all those absurd stories and wild statements. When the "Good nights" were said did he not confess to having been thrilled? (and not with horror). He broke bread with us and then went away to scoff at us. He seems to have been blind to the pearls of courtesy, of generosity, and whole-souled kindness which were cast before him He came with the evident purpose of discovering things odd and unpleasant, and he took a prejudiced Englishman's view-point. Permit me to say there are other view-points. The Work of the Session. ON 66 N January 20th, 1899, the Twenty-third of a series of Evenings with the Poets" was held. Papers were read by Mr. W. Roberts on "Bishop Percy and his Reliques of Ancient Poetry"; by Mr. S. E. Short on William Falconer and The Shipwreck"; and by Mr. Councillor Tonks on Dr. James Beattie and his Poems". The meeting was semi-public, and 41 members and friends were present. February 3rd-Debate: "That the present Government is unworthy of the confidence of the country". Opened in the affirmative by Mr. H. W. Strong, who was supported by Messrs. C. C. Smith and G. Whitehouse; in the negative by Councillor Walthall, supported by Messrs. Combridge and S. E. Short. Voting-Members only ... Affirmative, 19 Negative, 20 11 Semi-public; 89 members and friends present. February 17th-Debate: "That Mr. Kensit is justified in the action he has taken against the modern Ritualistic movement". Opened in the affirmative by Mr. W. Summerton, supported by Messrs. Lees and W. Frank Green; in the negative by Mr. Combridge, supported by Messrs. W. H. Jones (maiden speech) and Haines. Voting-Affirmative, 33; Negative, 5. 51 members present. March 3rd-Debate: "That it is possible to find a rational sanction for Christian conduct". Opened in the affirmative by Mr. W. H. Silk, supported by Messrs. Tonks, Gough, Parker Smith (maiden speech), B. E. Leigh (maiden speech) and Frith; in the negative by Mr W. Perks, supported by Messrs. Pardoe, Bradley, T. Griffiths, F, Whitehouse, and Lees. Voting-Affirmative, 13; Negative, 9. 41 members present. March 8th-Joint Debate with the Birmingham and Edgbaston Debating Society: "That the proposed University for Birmingham is necessary and desirable". Opened in the affirmative by Dr. J. W. Russell (B. & E.D.S.), supported by Messrs. G. Titterton (C.L A.) and M. N. Phelps (B. & E.D.S.); in the negative by Mr B. Shirley Smith (C.L.A.), supported by Councillor Murray (B. & E D.S.) and Mr. A. Liddell (C.L.A). Affirmative, 39; Negative, 17 Semi-public; 139 members and friends present. 32 March 17th-Debate: "That Mr. Balfour's proposals as to Irish University Education are worthy of support". Opened in affirmative by Mr. V. Graham Milward, supported by Messrs. Bradley, S. É. Short, and Sells; in negative by Rev. E. Todd, supported by Messrs. T. Griffiths, Titterton, and A. H. Coley. Affirmative, 6; Negative, 17 Voting-Members only Members and friends Semi-public; 47 members and friends present. 66 March 24th-Papers read as follows: Mr. A. Gough on George Dawson"; Councillor Skinner on "Charles Vince ", and Rev. R. Gray on "R. W. Dale". Semi-public; 103 members and friends present. ERRATUM. In "Work of Session", page 47. The negative in the debate on Vaccination was opened by Mr. Henry Clarke. Motice. ONTRIBUTIONS for the July number should be sent, not later than June 3rd, to the Editor, Mr. Isaac Bradley, Victoria Courts, Corporation Street, or 7, Manor Road, Edgbaston. |