Here And There.

a business man , and honour is a harder master than tho law . It cannot compromise for less than a hundred cents on the dollar , and its dobts never outlaw . I had a two-thirds interest in tho publishing firm , whose capital I furnished . If the firm had prospered I should have expected to collect twothirds of the profits . As it is , I expect to pay all the debts . My partner has no resources , and I do not look for assistance from him . By far tho largost

sing le creditor of this firm is my wife , whose contributions m cash from her private means have nearly equalled the claims of all the others combined . She has taken nnthiug . On the contrary , she has helped , and intends to help me to satisfy the obligations due to the rest . It is my intention to ask my creditors to accept that as a legal discharge , and trust to my honour to pay the other fifty per cent , as fast as I can earn it . From my reception

thus far on my lecturing tour , I am confident that if I live I can pay off the last debt within four years , after which , at tho age of sixty-four , I can make a fresh and unincumbered start in life . I am going to Australia , India , and South Africa , and next year I hope to make a tour of the great cities of the United States . I meant , when I began , to give my cteditors all tho benefit of this , but I begin to feel that I am gaining something from it too , and that my dividends , if not available for banking purposes , may be even moro

satisfactory than theirs . " I have heard him read his " Playing Courier , " and also selections from " The Tramp Abroad , " and consider that those whose privilege it may be to listen to him have a perfect treat in store . What a pity his tour does not extend to this country ! Ho is a born humourist , but one who can still exclaim in tho midst of his trials , "Adversa virtnte repello . " Beneath his statement it is possible to discern a sonpgon of grim earnestness , and with all my heart I wish him God speed in his efforts to redeem his position .

As I may not have another opportunity , I will here record a capital story which Clemens once told at a dinner of the Saturday Club in Boston , when William Cullen Bryant , Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , and John Greenleaf Whittier were present . He said , " I was in California at tho time when I made my first boom , and thought I would try and see how far it had got ; so when I pulled up at a roadside Inn I asked the landlord if he had

ever heard of Mark Twain . Upon his admitting that he had , I told him that I was Mark Twain . " No you don ' t , " he immediately retorted , "I ' ve had that game played upon me too often . It ' s not so very long since a man came along—an awful looking tramp , too—and said , ' I am Longfellow . ' ' Come in , Mr . Longfellow , ' I said , ' You can dine and order whatever wines and cigars you like , and needn't pay anything in my house . ' He thanked me ,

and took along two or three of my best cigars in his pocket when he went away . Soon afterwards Bryant came along , an awfuller-looking tramp than the last , but I said , ' Help yourself , Mr . Bryant ; there's nothing too good in this house for you . ' And away he went , but borrowed a five dollar bill just before leaving . Presently Whittier came along—the seediest-looking cuss you ever saw in your life . He looked as if he had a month ' s back numbers in food to make up , but I was good to him , and wouldn't let him pay for

anything , but the spoons never seemed to be in their right places after he left . And so you ' re Mark Twain , aro you ! Well , I guess you'll pay for everything you take before you eat it , and clear out of this the minute you ' ve finished . I can't do with any more of America ' s first-pick authors . " " I looked at those three men while I was telling the story , " said Clemens , when subsequently narrating it , " and not a ghost of a smile was to be seen on any of their faces , or on any of that blamed , down-East Boston audience ' s faces . It ' s too bad ; I knew I was a fool all along ; and now the world knows it . " STEEBO .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings . — : o : — CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

HAULEY LODGE , No . 797 . THE members and friends of this Dartmouth Lodge had an enjoyable outing on Tuesday , over Dartmoor , the trip being arranged by Bro . E . Coombe Cranford .

THE twenty-ninth annual meeting of this well-known Lodge was held on Wednesday , at Hope Street , Liverpool , when there was a large gathering of its members and visitors , many of the latter being from the adjoining Province of Cheshire , where the incoming W . M . is well known to the Craft . The chair was taken by Bro . Thomas P . Bathell W . M ., who efficiently installed Bro . Proud as his successor , he , in turn , appointing the Officers .

ROYAL VICTORIA LODGE , No . 1013 .

Before the Lodge was closed a beautiful P . M . ' s jewel was presented to the retiring W . M ., on behalf of the members , by Bro . Croud . The Brethren afterwards dined together , being well catered for by Messrs . Gait and Capper . A capital musical programme was carried out .

ST JOHN'S LODGE , No . 1343 . AT the ordinary meeting of this Lodge , held at the Masonic Hall , Grays , last week , Bros . Jas . F . Horncastle and H . H . Slater were passed to the degree of Fellow Craft , and Bros . William Daines and Charles Asp ] in Were raised to the position of Master Masons . The ceremonies wore admirably worked by Bro . Charles WesUvood W . M ., assisted by Bros . Spencer Guy , Ayers , Weymouth , and Eev . F . Haslock .

A proposition to hold the Lodge every alternate month was approved , and a sum of ten guineas was voted by the members for the W . M . ' s list as Steward for the Benevolent Institution . The Lodge was draped in mourning out of respect to the late Bros . Geo . Cobham and W . Pinsent , and votes of condolence and sympathy were ordered to be sent to their respective familes . It was announced that at the next meeting in March there would be very likely four or five candidates for initiation .

Reports Of Meetings.

SACKVILLE LODGE , No . 1619 . ON Tuesday the annual installation took place at the Crown Hotel , East Griustead . The installation of Bro . C . M . Wilson was conducted by the outgoing Master Bro . David Wood , who was ably assisted by the Rev . Canon Cooper P . M . Chaplain .

Tho company sat down to an excellent repast , and on the conclusion of this a brief toast list was honoured , the toasts being of the usual complimentary character incidental to the Craft . A good musical programme was carried out by a quintette of vocalists , Bro . W . Wright P . P . G . Org . Middlesex beiug at the pianoforte .

BLACKWATER LODGE , No . 1977 . THE annual installation meeting was held at the Blue Boar Hotel , Maldon , on Monday , when Brethren and Visitors , to the number of 30 , assembled in the Lodge Eoom , at & p . m . Tho ceremony of installing Bro . Thomas O'Neill into the chair of K . S . was impressively performed by Bro . Geo . Davis P . M . P . P . A . G . P ., and the Worshipful Master afterwards appointed and invested his Officers .

The Brethren subsequently banquotted at the Assembly Kooms , Blue Boar Hotel , served by Mrs . E . Hickford .

CROOK LODGE , No . 2019 . rpHE Lodge was favoured with a visit by tho Officers of the Province of JL Durham at their meeting on Wednesday , 28 th ult . Brother W . T . Wanless W . M . presided , and was well supported .

At the after proceedings , Bro . E . Hudson responded for the Officers of the Grand Lodge of England ; Bro . T . G . Mabane and Brother G . Harland responded for the Provincial Officers of Durham ; and Bro . G . W . Hudson for North and East Yorkshire Provincial Grand Lodge Officers .

Brother Hardy P . M . proposed the toast of the W . M . in a very pleasant manner , which was received with great enthusiasm . Brother Wanless suitably respondod , and thanked those who had come from a distance in particular . He referred to the steady progress of the Lodge at Crook .

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CandidatesfortheInstitutions. Announcements are inserted under this head at the rate of five shillings per inch , to appear each week from the time trie ballot papers are issued up to the day of election , for cash , with order . BOYSSCHOOL. Votes and interest arc earnestly solicited on behalf of CECIL HERBERT WORRELL ( AGED 8 YEARS ) . Whose Mother , the late Madame Worrell ( Associate Koyal Academy Music ) , died recently after a long and lingering illness . Father left with four children , entirely dependent upon him , has also a bed-ridden Mother over eighty years of age , whom ho has to support on his small salary as a Clerk . Bro . William Worrell was initiated in the William Preston Lodge , No . 766 , in the year 1869 , and was a Member for twenty-four years , occupying the position of Secretary for eighteen years . Was one of the Founders of the William Preston Chapter , 760 , and the first M . E . Z ., also a Founder and second Master of the Stock-well Lodge , No . 1339 , and continued a member for some years , and Secretary of the Clapham Lodge , No . 1818 , for a few years from its consecration . Proxies will be thankfully received by Bro . William Worrell , 102 Amesbuiy Avenue , Streatham Hill , S . W .