East, West And South.

pavements ( for it was a J ) ia de Fiesta ) , and pressmp through the gaily-dressed citizens , arrived at Moray ' s Hotel .

The large Coffee room of a good Hotel in the Wesf hardly has a prototype , that I know of , in Europe . Moray '? somewhat resembled a club-room . It was the resort of the upper stratum of the foreign element and a rendezvous of various leading politicians of a literary turn . Decorated

with taste , in scrupulous order , dotted with marble tables between columns of scagliola , with a handsome entrance and a gorgeous bar , its aspect was pleasing in the extreme .

My first acquaintance with O'Scarum originated in this wise . I was at luncheon in the ward-room of H . M . fine frigate " Topaze , " one morning in Callao Bay , when a party of visitors came on board to be shown over the vessel . A

buxom elderly lady , whose ears , wrists and bosom scintillated with diamonds , followed by a lovely Limenian , her daughter , came down the companion , and I naturally stepped forward to help them alight . " That's right , me boy , you marry the young lady and leave me the old one , she ' s worth two

millions of Dollars , " exclaimed a rich bass voice as the speaker in flaming uniform of the Artillery ( the crack corps of the Republic ) , descended after them . He was a veiy handsome man ; Apollo with glossy black moustache , dressed in white , crimson and gold . An introduction from

the naval officer , their cicerone , ensued— "Major Harum O'Scarum , of the Peruvian Artillery . " He spoke Spanish fluently , but was evidently English in the Irish sense of the word . I met him at the Lodge afterwards , and often admired his ready wit and calm audacity . Pie was , of

course , a great favourite with the amiable and gay Limenian s , seemed well educated , but was imprudent and voluble in speech . Talking of the British army one day , I was surprised at the bitterness with which he spoke of the

conditions of its service and of the hardships inflicted on the rank and file . The key to this I found afterwards , when he openly confessed to having served as non-commissional officer in India , leaving his desertion to be inferred .

On the evening I now treat of , I was curious enough to improve tho occasion and find out how he attained to his present position . As to his earlier adventures he was reticent , but outspoken as to his career after promotion to Leiutenant . " I was made Captain , " said he , " in the

little affair of General Burlon , who revolted with the army of the South , from the Presidency of General Palangana . Palangana started with the army of the North to encounter Burlon ; after a series of masterly strategic movements he got hemmed up in a defile from which he could

only escape at night by dismounting his cavalry . This was the cause of the only bloodshed during the campaign , when 3 , 000 horses were the unfortunate victims . Orders were thereupon transmitted to Fnlano the Vice President , to hasten to the rescue with the garrison of Lima and all the reinforcements he co \ ild muster . Fulano had never

seen a battle-field , and this requisition fired him with unwonted ardour : he placarded all the blank walls with proclamations , paraded his Levies in the Grand Square , and standing in the largest jack-boots I ever saw , made a heroic speech . I was subaltern in the army with which he

marched out of the capital . Wo effected a junction with Palangana , who was still pursuing his complicated strategic movements upon the most scientific principles . After about six weeks the hostile armies came unexpectedly face to face on cither side of a small river near Capablanca , and an engagement appeared imminent . "

" The near approach of battle caused excitement , preparation and numerous orders from head quarters . But in the morning , great was our consternation to find that Palangana and Fulano , patriotically averse to witnessing the slaughter of their fellow-citizens , had disappeared . Hurried councils

were held among the various responsible officers , and insubordination was rapidly spreading through the ranks ; when a deputation under a flag of truce was announced from the insurgents . It seems that daring the night , the Chiefs Burlon and Sotano , overcome by humane

sensibilities similar to those of our own commander , had bolted also , leaving their subordinates no option but to surrender , stipulating for return to their various garrisons with the

honours of war . This was conceded , general fraternisation and speechifying ensued and we joyfully retraced our steps to Lima , there to lay our laurels at the feet of the Cortes and await the next turn of events . "

" Palangana meantime , with anguish in his soul and a careful disguise upon his person , had taken refuge on board a coaster bound to Callao ; whence he intended to com-

East, West And South.

municate with his family , prepare them for inevitable exile and save as much as possible of his fortune from confiscation by Burlon . A courier , however , announcing our victory , arrived a day before him ; surprised by this agreeable news he discarded his disguise and entered the capital

triumphant , with the honours and acclamations due to a victorious strategist , the saviour of his country . Promotions showered thickly on our return and I got my Captaincy . " "My present rank , " continued the Major , " was not

obtained so pleasantly , and Fortune had nearl y deprived you of the chance of my valuable acquaintance . Palangana became very unpopular , and Chiripa , Governor of the Mining Districts , a great favourite with the Army , was

plotting to upset him . I , amongst others , was induced to join the conspiracy , and our plans were being carefully laid for a charming Pronunciamiento ; when the plot was discovered and the bubble burst . Some scores of us were

marched pinioned to Callao and thrown into the dungeons of the Castle . The Cortes expressed the utmost abhorrence at our nefarious design and urged our condemnation without the form of court martial . It is true , Palangana planted my own battery right in front of the

Hall of Congress , to stimulate their loyal indignation . He signed the Decree , which was read to us one Friday morning at noon and gave us twenty-four hours to prepare for death . That evening , the door of my " cell opened to admit two aged Sisters of Mercy duly provided with

rosaries and breviaries , precursors no doubt of the Prison Chaplain who would follow . The warder gone , one of these charitable creatures struggled in her ample garments with most unlady-like contortions and presented me with a revolver , saying Bush out when you hear the Vesper hell

They hurriedly departed leaving my door open , and entered the other cells , which the confederate warder opened . At about seven the Vespers sounded and out I dashed with the rest . The guards were mostly with us , we had but one struggle before the quarters of the Commandant , and the

Castle was our own . The populace surged out armed , crying Viva Ohiripa , niggers took pot-shots at nothing particular round the corners of the streets ; the next day wo marched to Lima , Palangana vanished , we were hailed by the Cortes as deliverers , and I got my Majority . "

"I don't feel quite easy as to what ' s on the cards next , but I ' m bound to be a General during the next five years . " Our chocolate was finished by this time , and ovtr a parting brandy and soda I cordially wished O'Scarum his merited advancement , through as bloodless revolutions as possible . Said he , like

Prim"OlaCaja , 0 la Faja !" Either a Coffin or a Marshal ' s Sash ! WALTER SPENCER

Great Queen Street.

GREAT QUEEN STREET .

npHIS locality is so intimately associated in the minds of JL every Mason with the Order to which he belong * , that little , if any , apology is needed for saying a few words as to its history . Most of our readers , doubtless , are aware that a book entitled Old and Nciv London , one of those

serial publications for which the firm of Cassell , Petter and Galpin so eminently deserves the thanks of the public , has been in course of issue month by month for more than two years . It is to this month ' s number of this valuable work

that we are indebted for most of the following particulars . Great Queen Street was so named in honour of Queen Elizabeth , and occupies the site of the footpath , which anciently separated the south part of the fields between

Drury Lane and Lincoln ' s Inn , or Aldersgate Close , from the northern division—later known as White Hart Closewhich extended to Holborn . In Elizabeth ' s reign the footpath had already become a roadway , but even as late as

1503 no houses were built upon it , none appearing in Norden ' s Map of Westminster of that date . In Speed ' s map , however , it appears the commencement of the Street is indicated . But building , at first , went on slowly . In 1 G 23 there

wereonly lb housesonthe south side , which was then open to the country , while the north side is of later date . Atone time it was called Henrietta Street , in compliment to Henrietta Maria , Queen of Charles I . After the Reformation , a new era of building set in , and the houses on the south side