Punch (73.1877)

November 3, 1877.]

CHARIVARI.

203

" a fellow-fieling makes us wondrous kind."

" What ! going to Leave us, James ? "

" Yes, Sif, I'm vert sorry, Sir, but I really can't put up with Missus
ant longer ! "

"Ah, James ! tbink how long I've put up with her!"

COMBINATION AND COALS.

The Times reports the proposal of a hopef ul expedient
with a view to the augmentation of

" Miners' Wages.—The Central Board of the Miners'
National Union, which numbers about 90,000 members, have
decided to commence, at an early date, a special conference for
the purpose of taking into consideration the great need of
putting into operation some plan whereby the oyer production
of coal can be checked."

By the "production" these clever fellows of course
mean the procuring of coal. There is too little fear that
too much coal will ever be produced underground. The
production of coal in British coalfields haying ceased
long ago, over production of that is production over and
ended. Miners themselves might wish to encourage it if
they could, and not to check it. The over production of
coal they want to check is the supply, which they
imagine too plentiful. It does not, perhaps, strike them
that if they succeed in checking the production of coal,
they are very likely also to check its consumption, and
bring about a general economy of coal profitable neither
to coal-merchants, nor proprietors of coal-mines, nor
coal-miners. In thus retarding the exhaustion of British
coal-measures, they might be earning their country's
gratitude indeed, but it would be as a set-off against
their own lower wages.

PLANTS AND INSECTS.

To the pleasing announcement that Sir Joseph Hooker
has returned, in excellent health, from his three months'
tour in the United States, the Athenaeum adds the
observation that

" From the results of his travel may be expected further con-
tributions to our knowledge of the physiology of plants."

Yes; and especially from the experience he may be
supposed to have enjoyed at New York—a location so
celebrated for producing that very peculiar class of
Plants growing*, like certain mysterious cryptogams of the
toadstool family, in Rings.

The Athenceum further says:—

"Sir J. Hooker is, we believe, of opinion that the key to
the botany of the United States is to be found in Colorado."

Of course, the Conservator of Kew Gardens must know
where to find the key of Botany. But Colorado is less
intimately ^associated in the public mind just now with
Botany than with a sister science. Between its Botany
and its Entomology, however, that very interesting State
seems likely to acquire exceptional scientific importance.

shaft, and whisper soft nothings to her out of the Catechism. One
day he ventured farther than hehad done on a previous occasion, and
Em Beerie, finding: him in the pit, hauled him over the coals.
^ Then the little Curate went to Anice Sortigal and complained.
From that moment this young lady took an interest in Em.

"I've tried to teach her the Catechism," said the little Curate,
hopelessly. "I ask her 'What's your name!' and I told her the
answer was ' M or N, as the case may be.' But she stuck to it that
her name was ' Em,' and not ' N ' at all, and that if I'd leave her
alone she'd leave me alone."

"And die? you leave her alone?" asked Anice Sortigal, eyeing
the little Curate severely.

The Rev. Mr. Thomas Titt blushed.

From that moment Anice Sortigal resolved to try her hand with
the obstinate Em Beerie on the very first occasion. At present she
contented herself with ordering the little Curate not to have any-
thing more to say to the girl.

" She is jealous," murmured the little Curate to himself that
evening in his little house, as, after his usual exercises of turning his
white pocket-handkerchief into a puppet, and making it preach a
sermon over the back of a chair, he sank to rest in his little bed.

About three in the morning he was aroused by a terrific bang and
a fearful flash. He sat up and listened.

Chapter VII.—Beerie hack again.

To ascertain what it was that had so troubled the little Curate's
repose, it will be necessary to retrace our steps for some distance in
the story. We beg the reader to follow us.

Negus Barcrow was a young man, and fond of novelties. He
saw, on his arrival at Swiggin, the miners hot and tired. Remem- I {To be continued.)

bering the custom in drawing-rooms, theatres, and balls, he endea-
voured to introduce inexpensive Japanese fans among the men. To
this, as something new-fangled, the latter objected, as did also the
proprietors, who considered the outlay useless.

In vain Negus showed them how not only useful, but ornamental,
these fans were ; in vain he pointed out how all the women might
be attired in short skirts, with their head-dresses of a peculiar
fashion ; how a band of music might play from three to four, and
from eight till ten, with real water rushing down, here and there, to
complete the picture, and cool the atmosphere.

After considerable difficulty and irrepressible perseverance, he
obtained the consent of the proprietors to making the use of fans
and white kid gloves on Saturday nig;ht compulsory on the leaders
of the gangs in the Woemma Mine. The first object of the proprie-
tors being: to preserve their " hands," Negus pointed out to them,
that for this purpose, nothing could be so useful as gloves.

Bitter Beerie was one of these leaders of the new compulsory
fashion, and he vowed he would pay out "'t Young Engineer," not
only for the thrashing he had received, which had, as we have
already seen, completely turned his head, hut also for this additional
insult.

" Hap pun oil smarsh t' Young Ingineer I smarsh 'im, arn t'
ammer 'im t' ar' blonk mongsh, tho' ar'm foind ar tinnur fur't art'-
wuds, ar mun do't, an' ar wull do't! " he had been heard to say.
And in this determination he was joined by two of the most villanous
of the leaders of the other gangs.

Em Beerie had one eye on her father. The other signalled to
Negus Barcrow. The Young Engineer approached her cautiously.
Then she whispered, " Stewp doon; oi mun spik t' yo."