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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 16

nicotine orviihe human system as I drank in, witJ3<<my whole soul, the lovely scenery unfcflded to my enraptured gaze as we slowly descended from the summit to Cross' Creek. After an uneventful journey we arrived at Masterton Railway Station. I was disappointed to find that the town was some distance away, and fell to wondering whether the engineers who laid out the route had not done their, work in the darkness of night, and thus missed running the line in closer proximity to the township. However, I was consoled for the mistake committed by finding that a goodly number of very decentlooking vehicles were ready to take passengers to Masterton at a merely nominal sum. The residents seemed to me to be a very hospitable people, for aP large proportion of the population were awaiting our arrival in front of the Post Office. The arrival of passengers, I was afterwards informed, is the chief source of distraction to the otherwise uneventful existence of the citizens of the premier _ town of the Wairarapa. It is not easy to define what style of architecture the Post Office building belongs to—lonic, Byzantine, Elizabethan and Colonial all rolled into one. It is not an imposing edifice by any means, being somewhat smaller than the Gr.P.O. in Sydney. Masterton consists in the main of four churches, five hotels and four policemen. There are other adjuncts which go to make up the town, but these are the principal. After having had lunch at one of the hotels, I enquired of a waiter if there were any sights to be seen about the town; and he informed me that the hospital, the fish ponds, the park and the Kuripuni Fire Brigade Station were the principal places of interest patronised by visitors. I took the fish ponds for choice, and on my way thereto passed by the Masterton lawn tennis grounds. A championship match was on at the time, and as the day was hot and sultry I determined to stay for a time, and, if possible, get some ideas of the mysteries of the game. The attendance of the public was not large, whilst there was not a single individual in the pavilion, for the simple reason that it has yet to be erected. The grounds are not picturesque, neither are the surroundings, and if I had my choice of a site I should have selected it only on the condition that none other was available. A clump of bush at the northwest aide, in order to modify the healthy and vigorous dust-laden wind from that quarter, would have been an improvement, but the early settlers had a decided antipathy to the forest primeval, and having an eye more to utility than scenic beauty, gave over the forest to the tender care of axe and fire, until only a small patch of woodland now remains, and this has its fate sealed, for already preparations are being made for its sacrifice to the necessity of the times. But as my favourite author, Kipling, would say, that is another matter. I knew nothing about lawn tennis, but I decided to look at the game, and if possible to pick up some of its technicalities. With this object in view I took my stand close to a group of onlookers, evidently votaries of the game, who criticised the play of the performers with a freedom which showed that they were modestly of opinion that had fate decreed that they had been included in the select band of contestants they would have done far better. I put a few questions concerning the progress of the play to my nearest neighbour—a young man who wore a fashionable straw hat, a pleasant smile and a tie to match. He vouch-safed a good deal of information of a purely technical nature, but not understanding the terms it was enigmatical to my mind. Still he talked so pleasantly, and seemed so desirous of giving, me information, that I began to consider him a very pleasing specimen of the genus homo, and considerably modified my preconceived ideas of the opposite sex. But, alas, how often are we women led away by excitement in our judgments, and little did I dream that my idol, in of construction, would be so soon demolished, like many others, which I had built in my earlier and more romantic days. " How does the game stand now ?" I asked. " Six, love !" he promptly replied. Did I hear aright, or did my ears deceive me ? But, no, the words were spoken distinctly, and so loud too that everybody could hear. How I was deceived by the plausible manners of that young man. I burned with indignation, and never before felt the desire within me that I should have the strength and vigour of a man, that I might be able to punish such gratuitous insolence—and that, too, from a total stranger. When I could sufficiently control my feelings I put on my most dignified mien, with the hope of showing this impertinent fellow that I was a lady, and that although such language might be tolerated by the set in which he moved, I would not permit such freedom in addressing me. But when I looked at bim he was unconcernedly watching the play. I glanced around expecting to see my neighbours smiling at the boldness of the manner in which I had been spoken to, but they were also apparently interested in the game, no doubt wishing to spare me any confusion, which showed me that they were possessed of the feelings and chivalry of true Englishmen.. Last this young fellow should address any more endearing terrns to me I took a seat some distance away, close to a lady onlooker, and from her learned many of the terms in use among the votaries of the ball and racquet. ,: Volley " is not oho especial property of the volunteer, nor is u bash " that of the Email boy who displays his prowess by

disfiguring the face smaller fellow. From m.y companiorfl learned that the form displayed by/gome of the players was equal, if not superior, to what she had se9n in Wellington and elsewhere, and that in the-near future some of the principal players will render an excellent account of themselves at the championship meeting of the Colony. The more I saw of the game the more interested I became, so much so that my proposed visit to the fish ponds had to be postponed, as I had barely time to catch the down train.