Hotel Incident In The Riviera.

By and by the count and I went in to have a quiet game , and there Ave found the new arrival comfortably lolling in an ample rocking-chair by the fire .

The count played badly , missing the easiest strokes . "You ' re off your play to-night , count , " I said ; " what's the matter ?"

" Don t mmd me , gentlemen , " said the stranger ; "I hope my being here don ' t make the count nervous , " —he put a very remarkable emphasis on the title , — " 1 don't play the continental Avay myself ,

though I do see a good many queer games at odd times . NOAV , Avas you ever in Scarboro ' , sir 1 " addressing the count . " No ! Leeds ? No ! Hull , where the steamers start for Bremen 1 No !

Manchester , perhaps , ? No ! Then , "—he had been sidling gradually nearer and nearer to the door as he talked , and was IIOAV between it and the count — " then suppose you and f go back , Mister Alexander

Jenkinson , on this Avarrant I ' ve got against you , for forgery of a check on Gleeson ' s Bank at Manchester for three thousand five , hundred pounds ! Oh yes ; it ' s all right , and it ' s no good making a

roAV . My names Inspector Rawlings of the detective police , and me and my man here have had a pretty hunt after you ; he and the gens d ' armes are Availing for you outside the door . "

Poor princess , Avith two strings to her boAv , and both of them rotten ! Still my Avife wouldn ' t pity her yet . " But , my dear , " I expostulated , ' the poor thing will have to marry some Russian IIOAV , perhaps a Laplander , or one of

those fellows that drink train-oil with their dinner . And she such a monstrous fine woman too , to say nothing of her rank . " HoAvever , AVO had but little further call on our sympathy , for the next day she left the hotel .

" So the princess is off , " I said to the maitre the . same day , Avhile paying my Aveekly bill . " Monsieur said "" I said the princess is off—gone , allee

sortie , partie , you know . " " Oui , oui ; but then , the princesse ; who does monsieur Avish to say , princesse 1 " "Why , of course the Princess of—well , the Russian princess that didn ' t marry the baron or the—"

Hotel Incident In The Riviera.

" Ah , bah I Who Avould call her a princesse ?" " Why , you made us believe she Avas , " I indignantly rejoined , " by making believe she ivasii't . "

" But Monsieur remembers Avithout doubt that I said she Avas not a princesse ? " " So you did ; but there ' s a Avay of saying no and looking yes . " " Pardon , monsieur ! Tho lady desired

repose and to be in particular ; and I , I assisted that she should so be . " " Well—IIOAV she ' s gone , in fact , what is sher " Monsieur , she is teacher of the dance at Marseilles . " , —Philadelphia Keystone .

An Oration Fifty Years Ago.

AN ORATION FIFTY YEARS AGO .

IN an old copy of the " Masonic Casket , ' published in 1823 , Ave find an oration by Bro . J . R . Breckenridge before the craft at Versailles , Kentucky , on December 27 th , 1 S 21 . It is beautiful and eloquent , and

though some of its doctrines may IIOAV be questioned in the light of advancing intelligence , yet it is eminently worth reading by the craft of to-day , after it has slept more than half a century . —Editor

Masonic Review . [ Quite concurring , AVC have published it for our English readers . — EDITOR . ] Brethren and FelloAV Citizens , —There exists in the human mind a sentiment of

elevated and instinctive admiration for the more stern and lofty virtues of our nature . Thus when Ave contemplate the ardent patriotism of Epaminondas , breathing , as it Avere , along the line of his embattled

countrymen ; or the brave Leonidas , erecting his stately form iu defiance of the storm of Avar ; or the venerated Regulus , the destinies of contending empires resting on

his nod , returning amid the agonized entreaties of his countrymen lo Carthage , to death , our minds are filled with high emotion , and we catch Avith enthusiastic . aA'idity the inspiration of their virtues .

1 I here is something in the splendour of vast achievements that dazzles and be-Avitchcs ; there is something in the pomp of successful ambition , Avhich pours a tide of delusive joy over the human heart . Yet Avhen Ave calmly investigate the deeds which attach such apparent dignity to the hero ' s