A Trip To Dai-Butsu.

way to a large dining hall , fitted in style half European aud half Japanese . This apartment , Ave understand , Avas kept by our venerable and sacred friend for the refection of travellers like ourselves . The worthy father also Avas not SIOAV in acquainting us that he did a small business

in the bottled beer line ; but as our coolies gave strong evidence that our heavy load of stores would bear any amount of calls for some time to come , Ave did not trouble him . After dinner Ave prolonged our rest till the sun should have lost some of its

power , amusing ourselves by inspecting a wretched apology for a flower garden , situated at the back of the idol , inscribing our names in the Visitors' Book , and criticising not always " fondly " or " too well " the thousands of signatures therein

contained . Before leaA'ing Ave clambered up the folds of the garment at the lower part of the idol , and seated ourselves ( six ) on the tAvo thumbs once more , to bid farewell to the great idol . And IIOAV again A \ -e are on the road Avith our faces turned towards the setting sun , for Enoshima lies due Avest of Dai-ButsAi five miles . It is pleasant travelling ,

for the way is shaded on one side by a thick belt of lofty trees . Passing a native grass-shoe shop , C remarked that he had heard they ( the shoes ) Avere splendid things to Avalk in , at the same time fitting a pair on . On the word of a man and a

brother , several of us followed suit—took off boots and stockings and fitted ourselves for the small charge of tAvo tempos ( about f of a penny ) . Passing the straAV band between the tAvo first toes , and tying the back strings round the instep , Ave were

equipped . But alas ! our toes Avere not fitted for such a sudden change , and before many hundred yards , the sensation was anything but pleasant . At the next turn Ave came full upon a sand y beach , along which for about four or five milesAve

, could see the Avhite-crested Avaves , breaking , tossing , and tumbling in all their glory . Kicking our neAv shoes off for the benefit of the coolies , we took our Avay along the edge of the breakers , and found it very refreshing after the dusty road .

Before us lay the lovely island of Enoshin-a , joined to the pretty little village of Ivatase by a narrow strip of sand , the Avhite waves curling up on either side of us ,

A Trip To Dai-Butsu.

closer and closer as AYO neared the end ot our journey . Half-way across our sandy isthmus we paused to look back at the splendid landscape A'iew of hill and Avood and dale . The sun setting behind us shed a glory OA'er all , and not a word Avas

spoken for several minutes . A fragment of paper in my diary contains a few preliminary strokes , Avhich were to have been filled in at leisure into a perfect picture . Alas ! it has neA-er seen the light of day since . I give it as it is : —

It Avas a scene in Japan ' s sunny land , So fair , so gorgeous , that I ne ' er can hope To paint it as it Avas . All around Were hills clothed with the thickest foliage Of a thousand ever-A'arying trees and shrubs

; Whilsbin the vales between patches of corn , Or grassy sward dotted the landscape , Like fair jeAA'els reposing on the breast Of Beauty . Here and there a native cot Half hid in fragrant bow ' r , or resting Higher on some mossy bank , added

Yet one more charm to a picture Faultless , But already the sun is dipping into the sea , and our shadows are becoming ominously long on the sands , so we turn to cover the half mile of sand that still lies between us and our goal . ( To be continued . )

Lectures On "Number One And How To Take Care Of Him."

LECTURES ON "NUMBER ONE AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIM . "

Ox Friday evening , April 6 th , Dr . J . J . Pope , Staff-Surgeon , late Royal Artillery , resumed at Stockwell Institute , StockAvell Green , his course of popular lectures on the laws of " Health . " Concluding from the preA'ious lecture ,

his remarks upon " clothing , " Dr . Pope touched upon the follies of fashion in relation to certain articles of dress ; pointing out how injurious it is for the shoemaker to expect " the foot to fit the boot . " "Too tight , sir ? " remarks the astonished tradesman , " it will be easy in a day or so , as your foot works into it . "