a well-built block in a fairly good neighbourhood, is an improvement on ramshackle rooms in an old house in a slum.

No doubt the ideal dwelling is a small house of four or five rooms for one family; but if these small houses are let out by the room to a family, then the streets are likely to form very bad slums, and a wellmanaged block of Dwellings appears much better. The letting-out of the houses in single rooms seems almost characteristic of a slum, and is the beginning of a street's degeneration.

What sort of people live in the slums?

Well, take a glance, say, at Nottingham Court, not ery far from Charing Cross, on this sunny day. Here, on the pavement, reclines a worn woman, looking utterly exhausted. Beside her stands a huge basket of graceful ferns.

at their doorways are as poor and the children more grimy than herself.

Or look into this other court close by. Here is a half-starved little one, sitting solemnly at a doorway. Along comes an old, old woman, her bent back carrying pieces of wood she has gleaned, apparently at Covent Garden Market. To her comes the mother of the child, asking for "one of those pretty rings "-a little wooden hoop from a small apple-cask.

With a smile puckering her already wrinkled and withered face, and with a muttered exclamation of "Little darlin'," the old dame gives the hoop, and the child stretches up its shrunken arms, and a feeble laugh overspreads it wan features as it clutches its new toy-probably its only one, save the garbage.

And the golden sunshine strikes down between the grimy walls and blesses the group.

and which will sing to you the poetry of life, if only you will take them as they are, and not worry them by asking too many questions about them.

BRAVELY CONFESSED.

Admiral Sir George Tryon, who by a terrible mistake caused the loss of H.M.S. Victoria, had the reputation of being a very brave man. Indeed, as one who knew him remarked to the writer, "he did not seem to know what fear was." Never, however, did he show his courage so much as when, just before going down with the ship, he said to the staff-commander, "It was entirely my own doing-entirely my fault." This confession in those awful last moments, when he realised the extent of the tragedy, recalls the words of another leade: (King David), who, in reference to the numbering of the people, was too brave to blame anyone but himself "Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done?"

"THIS WAY MADNESS LIES."

66

One day the writer was in the city of Wells and asked where a certain road led. "To the lunatic asylum," was the reply. This made him think and ask himself, What is the road that leads most people to this sad destination?" The reply is, unrestrained selfishness. Lunatics are always thinking and speaking of themselves. What we all need to keep our minds healthy is some work or interest outside ourselves. Look unto Jesus. Observe the wants of your fellow-beings, and do something to supply them.

FRESH PAGES.

Sir Robert Ball, as a popular writer on astronomy, needs no introduction. In a volume just published by Messrs. Isbister under the title, "In the High Heavens," he has collected a series of papers written for "general readers" upon some astronomical topics which are much debated nowadays. The book is one of a class which is deservedly popular; it is at once attractive and instructing, it teaches, but it does not prose. From the same publishers we have received a pleasant volume of very readable, illustrated sketches, "In the Footprints of the Poets," in which Milton is dealt with by no less an authority than Professor Masson, and Mrs. Browning by the Bishop of Ripon.-The Rev. A. J. Harrison, B.D., is well-known as a keen upholder of Christian evidences, and in his latest work, "The Ascent of Faith" (Hodder and Stoughton), he takes up a strong position, in which he should be of great service to others who are striving to maintain the good fight. The work is one which would be invaluable to any preacher who is called upon to deal with the argu

SOME FAMOUS ORGANISTS.-I.

DIE J Hopkins at the Organ. Temple Church.

ments of so-called agnostics.--From the Oxford University Press, we have received specimens of new editions of the "Oxford Bible for Teachers," printed in small but clear type on the Oxford India paper, which does so much to make these Bibles useful and portable. We spoke a few months ago of the "Helps" when they were issued in their revised and illustrated form. In these new editions of the "Oxford Bible," the revised "Helps" and the illustrations are incorporated. So the result is a Teacher's Bible, than which no more useful gift book or prize for a senior scholar or young teacher could be found.--Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton send us two small works by the author of "From Log Cabin to White House," who gives, under the title of "Hints and Helps for Young Women" and "Young Men" respectively, series of anecdotal chapters, more or less practical, somewhat transatlantic in phraseology, and not quite up to the level of his earlier work. In "The Sunny Days of Youth" (T. Fisher Unwin), the Rev. E. J. Hardy addresses boys and young men as to the duties and tasks which lie before them, and his bright anecdotal chapters make up a volume that is an admirable companion one to his own "Five Talents of Woman."-Under the somewhat similar title, "In the Days of Youth" (Elliot Stock), the Rev. J. M. Gibbon has collected a score of good sermons to children, that are quite within the grasp of the little ones, though their author does not make the mistake of "talking down" too much.

-Two handy volumes for Sunday school teachers, are issued by Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton in the People's Dictionary of the Bible," by the Rev. E. W. Rice, D.D., and Dr. Pentecost's invaluable "Bible Studies" on the International Lessons for 1894.What is there to be said of "The Biblical Illustrator," published by Messrs. Nisbet, and edited by the Rev. J. S. Exell, which we have not said when speaking of former volumes? We have just received the third and concluding volume on the Book of the Acts, and that on the Epistle of St. James. A busy preacher may here sec in a few minutes an epitome of the work of years on the part of some of the best and most thoughtful commentators and expounders the Church has known. It is encyclopædic in its scope and compact in form.-Mr. R. M. Ballantyne's Personal Reminiscences and Incidents in Bookmaking" (same publishers) has all the interest and value which readers of his stories, and of Mr. Blathwayt's interview with him reported in our own pages, might expect.

RELIGION.

Many people regard religion as they regard the small-pox. They desire to have it as slight as possible, and they are very careful that it does not mark them.

"Books in the running brooks."

THE MINISTRY OF LETTERS

might be much more used than it is in religious and philanthropical work. I know a good man who is in the habit of writing letters to a number of old and bed-ridden people every Saturday, so that they may have something sympathetic and consolatory to read on Sunday. He writes chiefly to people of the middle class, and especially to those who have seen better days. He gets their names from the physician who attends them, or from a friend. Though they do not and cannot reply themselves, my friend generally hears from others how much his letters are appreciated. When one man who had been written to for years died, his widow found a great bundle of the letters, and derived much comfort from them.

"BOOKS IN THE RUNNING BROOKS."

"The river glideth at his own sweet will," past flowers, reeds, trees and people, but it takes no notice of anything, and seems to be quite unconscious of its own progress. We men ought to be different in both these respects. We should try to learn from every person and every thing, and we should number our days and use them wisely instead of allowing them to slip away without regarding them.

SIMPLE REALISATION.

Our spiritual life would be rich, and our hearts would often be at peace if only we had the faith and the realisation of a little child. "How did you find your way up-stairs in the dark and get your book?" a young lady asked of her baby brother; "there was no one with you, and the lamp was not lit."-"Yes there was, sister," he replied. "Oh, Walter, I am afraid you are not telling me the truth," she said.-"Yes, I'm sure it is quite true," he answered, "for God was there, and He lit me up with His moon."

SOME MORE NEW BOOKS.

We do not remember a series of sermons more timely and serviceable than that which our contributor the Bishop of Ripon has gathered in a volume just issued by Messrs. Isbister under the title of "The Son of Man among the Sons of Men." In a word it is manly, and if there is one thing wanted more than another on the part of our preachers and teachers to-day it is manliness. - Messrs. Morgan and Scott send us another of the Rev. F. B. Meyer's helpful little volumes -this time on the Epistle to the Ephesians and entitled "Keywords of the Inner Life." There are few living teachers who are at

once so suggestive to the preacher and helpful to the private reader and student as Mr. Meyer.-Messrs. Passmore and Alabaster send us a packet of "Rare Jewels from Spurgeon," containing half a dozen daintily-got-up little booklets by the great preacher, which will no doubt be welcome to many of his old friends. -A remarkable series of biographical sketches is that which Dr. J. Elder Cumming has collected under the title "Holy Men of God: from St. Augustine to Yesterday" (Hodder and Stoughton), but full of interesting and suggestive detail.-Another biographical work from the same publishers is the Rev. J. S. Flynn's admirable "Life of Sir Robert Fowler," who was twice Lord Mayor of London and for so many years took an active part in all good works.-Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons send us a box of their tasteful Christmas and New Year cards and souvenirs, which are this year more successful than ever, and, especially in the direction of autograph cards, display much originality of design and treatment.-Messrs. C. W. Faulkner and Co. also send us an excellent selection of well-printed souvenirs and booklets, and with them some most tasteful calendars that deserve more than the passing word which is all we can spare.-Mr. Fisher Unwin has sent us a copy of Miss Olive Schreiner's latest work, "Dream Life and Real Life," which is one of the most recent volumes in the "Pseudonym Library." Not everyone will enjoy it, but many will, and for those who can look into this picturesque treatment of a strange side of life, the three little sketches which make пр this volume will prove a rich reward.-We have also to acknowledge the receipt of "Social Romances" (Morgan and Scott); an abridged edition of "The Life of Mrs. Booth" (Salvation Army Publishing Offices); "The Pilgrim's Progress and Its Lessons," by the Rev. Samuel Wright (Elliot Stock); and the current volumes of the following, which are all brightly illustrated" The Sunday Magazine," and "Good Words" (Isbister and Co.), "The Fireside," """Hand and Heart," and "The Day of Days" ("Home Words " Publishing Office).

DISINTERESTED KINDNESS.

The writer knows two brothers, both naval officers and both unmarried. One of them is so selfish that, as his sister expresses it, he would not give you a bit of string. The other, though he has a much smaller income, is continually spending money upon others, and especially upon people who seem to be neglected. Every day when he is at home he buys a bouquet of flowers and sends it to an old lady living near. The great pleasure of his life seems to be to surprise neglected people and those who can make no return with attention and kindness. My friend always reminds me of a certain famous man, of whom it was remarked

MISS SHARMAN.

(From a Photograph by Walery, Regent Street, WV.)

that he always talked with the girls whom everybody else neglected the ugly, awkward girls; the girls with red elbows, and snub noses, and sandy hair; the girls who were too shy to talk. Be kind to the people who have not many friends, who are voted slow, and dull, and uninteresting, and very likely may be so, but who are quite capable of responding gratefully to a little sympathy.

OUR WAIFS.

We gave last month in Mr. Raymond Blathwayt's paper With a Doctor of Charity" a portrait of Dr. Barnardo, who has the care of one of our QUIVER Waifs. Susie, the other one, is in the Orphans' Home presided over by Miss Sharman, whose kindly face we have pleasure in showing our readers on this page. This is the season at which we generally make some reference to our Waifs Fund. Quite recently we gave our readers portraits of the two children and a few words from their teachers. So we need not touch upon that side of our work at present. But we appeal to our readers, in all confidence, to support us in this work which we have undertaken in their name. If it were not for the help of such generous friends as "J. J. E. (Govan)" and "A Glasgow Mother" the Fund would not have met the expenses of maintaining more than one of the children last year. Will not