LONGFELLOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 76

LONGFELLOW.

Though not one of tne greatest of the poets, Longfellow is* one of the sweetest. His style and his themes «ne, on the whole, conventional and not strikingly powerful. He disliked everything violent, and the vigorous tempestuous style .of Browning's work and] this rugged splendour of Wordsworth's best poems are *.bsent from ihe writings- of tbiii gentle poet. His poems are marked by l purity of thought and sweetness of expres- » sion, though lacking in power and intensity.He raises no turbulent^ clamouring, questioning thoughts, but rathei brings quiet' serenity and a gentle peace to Khe troubled spirit. Some of his poems are widely known and such poems as "Excelsior " -an-d "The Psalm of Life" axe hrue battle hymns of youth, pointing to the higher things of life. Popularity, ai we know, is no -true test of genius; or even of literary excellence, and Longfellow's best work is not found in thes< • well-known short poems. In* the longer ones I like best "Evangeline," then '.'Hiawatha,' an>d next "The Courtship of Males Standish." Of the- shortei poems "The Slave's Dream" for me holds enchanting visions of childhood's dreams, strangely woven" into iU so that I never consider' it from, a merely; critical standpoint. We first see "Evangdline" as "Down the long street she passed with ha? chaplet of beads -and 1 her missal, Wearing- toer Norman oap and hex kirtle of blue, and the earrings," And through all her sorrowful journeyings in an alien land she is a gentle, pensive maiden. At the last we find her a sister of mercy—* "Wending her quiet way she. entered the door of -the almshouse. Sweet on. the summer air was the odour ot flowers in. the garden, And: she paused on her way to gather th« fairest among them." After all her years of wandering she found! her lover dying, sinking down into the darkness of slumber and death, and she was content to have it so. In "Hiawatha" we h«ve .a very different story, told with grace" and dignity. We must in-agine ourselves stealing , in among the shadows, unseen listeners, while some aged' "medicine man" or chief tells strange legends to a band of" dusky braves, e-atbered round 9 camp fire. The mcon sheds a soft radiance over forests and prairie and mournful -pine-trees, ca*ts weird shadows over the assemb'ed warriors. The speaker is telling the beautiful story of the Indian corn. Hiawatha built y. wigwam in the forest, and grayed and fasted for profit of bis people. "And he -saw a youth approaching, Dressed in gam-ent green and yellow, Coming through the purple twilight Through the splendour of the sunset." The youth was Mondiamin, I'h© friend! o# man, who died -that the Indians might have corn. "At length a small green feather From the earth shot slowly upwari. Then another and another, And before the .summer ended Stood the maize in all its beauty, With its shining robes about it, And its long-, «oft yellow tresses:" But I must .remember our dear president's injunction about the word limit, and end with a loving tribute to frhe sweetest of all singers :*— -"-

"He hias gone from us forever: He has moved a little nearer To the master of all music, To the master of all singing."

SHASTA.

Her«. I am heart and soul with you, Shasta. I love Long-fellow's poems. He is so dear, so intimate, in Nature and in human nature, he speaks; th« things that we only dimlj discerned, — and speaks them at once so graciously and sc\ tenderly. Do you niot love, among the shorter pieces, "Rain in Summer ": — "The sick man from his chamber looks At thie twisted brooks. He can feel the cool BTeath of each little pool,, His fevered brain Grows CB.lui again, And he breathes a blessing on the rain." And I am sure you feel the inspiration of "The Goblet of Life," with its fearless "Then in life's goblet freely press The leaves that give it bitterness." And "Tho BuUclFrs,'' and "The Prolude," ' which latt&r in Hi final line 3 embodies at once ihe wcr&t of our poet's oh«.rm and out own appieci-ation: — "Look, then, into thire E-eart, and write! Yes. into life's deep stream! All forms of sorrow and delight, All solemn voices of the night." But I might go on ad infiniium. Here cm on© page of my little volume are three short pieces very d-ear to m&, and perhaps, Shasta, to you — "Something Lef< Undone, ' "Weariness, and "SiKmflakes." Dear Emmeline, — May I say a word for my favourite — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — a> poet who surely can satisfy, v/hatever be tho mood of the reader. So many-sided, so open to information, aivl ready to turn it to good account, so susceptible -to fh« spirit, of his sge, and. so truly a literary artist, with his persuasive speech and has accomplished ait, his works are for posterity an«B for permanence. Who that has read "Evangeline," so full of cad Hweetn.e'ss. or "HiawuWia," the poem >f the American native tribes — manly, interesting, and a choice audl difficult piece of execution-— will ev«r forge* them? Then think of the tales and ballads ha has written — many of them as well known almost as the alphabet, — his "Voices of the Night," and the many gems found among his miscellaenous poems. One cannot speak of them all, but-" comfort, inspiration, and!

I

totistic beauty are- all* stinmlaied by a knowledge- of this great, poefs works. KOA. In comfortable accord with yottr own and Shasta' s opinions, yon. find. in. me, Koa, a very .warm admirer of Longfellow's poems. I do n>ot> indeed, place him among our great poets, but among the beloved singers.. Like Shasta, I love "EvangeUne," like you recognice the rhythmic sweetness -of "Hiawatha." Among his shorter pieces I have so many favourites that I never know where to begin or where to leave off. But many axe — as 'h*ppens to all of vs — most dear and beloved for their •associations with the gracious days of > childhood. It is association and expression, combined, "like silk' and silver inwove together." Others axe precious- for tEieir own beauty of thought^ and expression. Co- you remember "Dedication"? CDfaere are- parts of it that always sesm to j»e just written- for the Guild <A Unknown Friends. Look it up, and read it, Koa. "Peiihaps on earth I never shall behold With eyes of sense your outward form, and semblance. Therefore^ to me' ye never will grow old, But live forever young in my remembrance." . % FELICIA HE3IAN S. My/Beaar Emaaeline, — I am afwj-d, instead ef inclining to '.one special poes, my- fancy is apt to' a<hndre different poems of many different- poets; but I think -from my corner I shall askr you all to consider- for a fewmoments the "work of Mrs Heman*. Many or her sweet verses axe household words ■ to- \ day. -even. '.'children ■seenrtng'' to feel - 6h» 'easy- . rhythm .aad sweet sentiment enshrined in 1 them." In nearly all hi poems, too, her deep religious feeling ehrn.es foqrtib.- Among ihose' on , Kature I isarticularly like "The Willow Song/ with its "refrain -of "eaghing ; Willowe r golden willows'! ; "Birds of Baseege," | e»iling; over land and= sea. and finding change everywhere; and- "Tlie Tiseaaures of the Beep;" ia which can be heard the low moan- f ing undertone of the bilk>w» waehing over ; huoried cities tmd lost treasure, o'er "man- j hood> , noble brow and beauty's flowery crown" ; but in the end — "Yet shalt ihou, hear a voice/ 'Bestore the deadl' Earth shall reclaim her precious things from thee. 'Bestore the dead, thou sea.' " Among- bef historical verses I like beat "Coeuar d» Lion »t His Father's Bier" ; where i» seen the deep' lemarse and grief ©£ the son, careless now as to who may see even Ms tears at anguish: the crown of England. • would "be gladly "relinquished for one' loving j word from the father who ns&b to sport aaadi j play with 'him. but now lies Etill and silent in ] death. In "Tie Pilgrim Fathers" w«r see \ the firm unswerving purpose of those who | ■went forth, from home and f athearland to find — <wh»t? • • "Bright jeweJs of the mine? The wealth o£ s e »s? The spoils of war? ]JoT 'twas' a faith's pure shuine." Biljle" we have » caJm. ajad yeaoefral. representation of the words— "At eventide, there shall Tie • light." - The .slight meiancholy in her poem on- "Death," the rather morbid idea of his universal sway gives way in most of her poems to tire faith that can look beyond death— beyond the breaking .earthly ties liere to th* happy leuaiion. hereafter. So, also, in "The Graves of a Hjcusehold" : — "And parted thus- they re«t- who played Ben-eath the s*m* green, tree, Whose voices mingled as they prayed Around on» parent knee. Tfc«r that 'with smiles lit up the hall, . &mL clieerett- with song the heftrth. ! Masl for love, if t&ou w«rt all, Aad nangrh* beyond, -0 earth!" JACJct. 3£rs Henmna'e v«rse is so gen-er-ally lor- ; gotten nowadays that I think many readers | beside mj»el£ will like" to see your tribute , to hex charm, her goodnejfs; and hei religicrus- j feeling. To ten you the* *ruth, the onjy poems of hers wibicib I really liked and cona&eoended 1 to team, in my xathex wsbelldous ] coiMbood were those "Songs c£ €h« Cid." j They captivated' my fancy completely, and fo this day vagrant linea, verses here- and there of the Cid, and of his- splendid faithful steed Babieca, remain in my memory to recall the "thrills" of my childish enthusiasm. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. 3>ear Emmeliine,— Thie topic position to-day ' is similar to that of a former occasion. With so many to choose from it is difficult to j make an individual selection. To-day, how- i ever, my favourite shall b& James Russell Lowell. 14 may be held' against Lowell that he lacks, tile depth of Homer, the exquisite ffnieit of Tennyson, the eloquence of Milton. and the ; genius of Burns. Yet he made all these attributes his .own. and more, in his passionate "outspokenness for truth. Hia spirit burns in its advocacy. Truth , was l-o him- whet Beatrice was to Dante, andl even as the'F-lorentfoe, so was the American led through the depths of spiritual suffering to th* heights -of spiritual achievement. To me the chief attribute in a poetic ttature is- fire. Your cold- lettOT-«md-fornT-perfect sonneteer faa« no chasm for me. Tl» loss is mme r no donbt, «nd yet the fact remains. A. poet i* 'more than a perfect singer of imperfect things. He has a mission of pio- , pfeecy. It is not for him 'merely to please tbe eaxs and -su-it the tastes of his own generation.- He must have some awakening message for posterity — * Kne, a stanza, or on epic, — but- whatever it is, line or poem, it must burn, with the fire of the spirit, else it is but as a. tinkling cymbal. Had Lowell only written hds sonnets, or even, added to them Ma Biglow papers, he woutfit probably have bsen tatknown ia America to-day. H*d he- wiitten nothing else than "The Vision of Sir Launfal" aad "The Present Crisis," ha would hove live? even "a* he is- living now — * joy to every soul that loves purity, and inspixation to everyone that loves freedom. In the later 'poem it seems to me he revels in the caves of truth as a bold sculptor in a marble quarry, who fashions out his dxeam with ' rough tools. Lowell finds no pretty vwrds for the Cowaird of Duty, and tt is as easy- to be « coward of duty as it is to show the white- feather on the battlefield. "We see dimly in f he present what is small and 'what is great, Slow of feith, how treak an arm may turn the iron helnt of Fate. But the soul is Btfll oracular; amid the market's- dm, List the ominous stem whisper from tne Delphic cave within. They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin." Every line of this poem tells how his heart is yearning fox the ideal. There- is not a wozd in it that is not soul-awaken ing. He speaks as plainly to me sea-ted by nay comfortable winter fire ac he does to his compatriots deliberating on the glory ox the'mgloiy of war. Nor is the message new. St. Patd preached almost the identical sermon to the Athenians at Mars Hill. "Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship I preach, unto you." inie onlj difference is that the men

of Athens bowed the knee to the unknown God, while the inhabitants of America worshipped the golden calf. In the vision of Sir Lannial Lowell gets nearer to the heart of tfie marble. In it his touch is finer, the model of his dream mere perfect, but the poetic fire is the same. A knight of Arthur's Court,, handsomely caparisoned, sets forth > in search of the Holy Grail — truly a noble quest. Hi§ first aot. however, ia one of scorn. - He loathingly throws a piece of gold to a leprous beggar whom lie meets by the way. He goes on his way, visits many countries, but retribution follows him. The vision of the scorned leper haunts him. He becomes old and hopeless in the search. It is ever the same. "The happy camels may reach the spring. But Sir Launfal sees only the gruss-ome thing." At last he sees in the leper "the image of Him who died on the tree," and gives to, him even as be would have given to the Saviour, to eat of his finest bread and to drink out of his own bowl. Then ha-ppeaed what ever will happen when men do iheir duty — '"The leper no longer crouched by his side. But stood before him glorified." Th« poet has gained his point. Sitting be- • side my winter fire I cannot but think of a time when J, too. like Sir Launfal, set forth, haughtily in search, of the unattainable, leaving my ideal hungering and thirsty at the first -crossing. * BOY FRIEND. They are tw» splendid embodiments' of great ideals which you hare chos-en from Lovett's poems, Boy Friend, and I am So glad that on this day, when I, wit& all y»ur fellow-members'; welcome you so heartily to your old- sea. yonr choice has fallen on i a singer of high courage and splendid zeal, rather than a, singer -of sweetness and leisure, yd*u who are still battling with the physical weakness/ and weariness of convalescence. Among- Lowell's shorter poems are several 1 which I think are wonderfully fine in different ways. There are those lines in "Masaccio" r — "Thoughts that great heaits once" broke for, we Breathe cheaply in the common air; The dust we trample heedlessly Throbbed onoe on saints and heroes rare, Who perished opening for their race New pathways to the common place." And the verse following. Then that lovely conception of "My Lore," who "- . . . doeth little kindnesses That most leave undone, or despi&s." "The Heritage," telling of "A patience learned by being poor. Courage, if sorrow come, to bear it, A fellow-feeling that is sure To make the outcast bless his door; A heritage it seems to me A king might wish, to hold in fee." The infinite comforting assurance of "Longing," the perfect beauty and immeasurable sadness of "!xhe Dead House." Dear Emmeline, — To ask me my favourite I poet ia like asking a chicken its fav.ourite farmyard — it knows but one. Despite occa- ' sksn-al flights into other fields, and irregular impulsive soratchings and devouring of some garden treasure, it returns gratefully to the well-known best-loved yard, there to leisurely enjoy the abundance it knows \s; at hand. And though I know Browning wrote a raither decent thing about all being right with the wwld, and taiat Wordsworth — or was it Longfellow? — wrote "Hiawatha." and that Shelley wrote "Love's Philosophy " and an "Ode to the Moon," I have no hesitation, in saying Tennyson pleases me bast. But an indiscriminate quoting of his verse I no longer indulge in. It was fast a chronic complaint with- xne. „ My friends thought it a plague, and incurable. But it wasn't. Once upon a Christmas time my faney i led me round a high luu-rel hedge, where a cximeon. .rambler trailed in its own. fanciful style, and there I chanced upon as sweet a day-dream as one could well desire.- / "One arm aloft, Gowned in pure white that fitted to the shape. Holding the bush to fix it ba<ek, she stood, A single stream of all her soft brown hair Pour'd on. one side: the shadow f the flowers Stole all the golden^gJoes, and, wavering Lovingly lower, trembled on her waist — Ahl h«ppy shade — and still went wavering down. But ere it touched a fcot that might have d«.ncetl ; The greensward into greener circles dipt. And mixed with shadows of the common ground ! 'A eight to make an old man young!' "' I tried to guess -what effect it might have on the young man. who stood near with a camera,, but when, he saw me he put his head under the blaok velvet to make sure the picture was properly foouased. Once mo-re I turned to the vision, then "Almost ere' I knew mine own intent, Ah! one rope-, t j On« rose, but one, by those fair fingers cull'd I Were worth a hundred kisses press'd on lips ! Less exquisite than thine: "She looked, but all suffused, with blushes," she didn't play her part; she- only said she thought it time I had outgrown such foolishness-. J I moved away, disappointed in my dream, anda as I went I suggested that «h* should "wind her looser hair in braid." as better becoming one of her age and fitature. Since then I have lost my passion for quoting. But my love remains true and faitnful to the last, *nd in my affections "Maud" has no rival. To ni& Maud is all that she seems, and the world is not so bitter but a smile can make it sweet. But 'twould' lessen its beauty to quote a single extract fro-m such a glorious whole. TAFFY. To find our erratic Taffy here on two consecutive meetings is indeed cheering. Why this pleasant thusness, Taffy? Maud must have effected what Emimeline has so often failed to do! Maud is not my favourite, Taffy, but Tennyson is. TENNYSON! Dear Emmeline, — Among the poets Tennyson Tanks highest in my estimation. His broad views of mankind and his great reverence for his Creator, together -with his marvellous genius;, make him one of the men of note of -She nineteenth century. I will make no attempt to single out any of his works as being ittT abova others, but will merely pasa on a few of those which, specially appeal to my own taste. Sentimental lyrice, rod* oa "Tears, Idle Tears," and "Break, Break, Break," appeal to the heart nrare by -the force of their suggestion than tfeeir own words. Theirs is the music which penertates to the deep recesses of our hearts, not the loud-voiced music for the eitr. "Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean — Tears from the depths o£ some £ivra« despair

Rise in the heart "and gather to the eyes. In looking on the happy autumn fields, And thinking of the days that are no more. "Fresh as the first beam glittering on a, sail, That brings our friends up from- the under ' world. Sad as th* last which reddens over one ■•That sinks with all we love belovr the verge : So sad. so fresh, the-davs that are no more. "Ah ! sad and strange as -in daik summer Ndawn I The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds To dying ears ; when unto dying eyes The casement slowly grows a glimmering square, So s-ad, so strange, the days that are no more." These three verses are so exquisitely set that to praise them is like trying to paint the lily. And oh! the deep, unutterable feeling which thiohs through the following verses! One can feel the great beat of the ocean in its hopeless endeavour to pass beyond its bounds, and we who have felt strongly find in its immensity the same unspeakable longing to express ourselves: — "Break, break, break On. fchy cold gray stones, O sea! And I would that my tongue could utter The thoughts that arise in me." And so on, to £he second last verse, which runs thus:— "And the stately ship 3 go^on' To their ha-ven under the hill; But O for the "touch- of the vanish'd hand, And the sound of a voice that is srtill ! "Break, 'break, break. At the foot of thy crag*. O sea! But the tender grace of a day that is dead Will never come back to me. ' To the heart worn out, bruised, and tern with the fierce conflict of the worfd. to those whoi have fallen in the fra-y, and those who have failed and long for strength to renew the struggle, these lines must carry comfort and solace: — "Comfort thyself; what comfort is in me? I have lived "my life, and that which I have done May He within himself make pure, but thou, If thou shoulds't never see my face again, ' Pray for my soul! More things axe wrought by prayer I Than this world dreams of." "I go to the island valley of Avilon, Where faJl3 not hail or rain or *ny saoir, Nor even wind blows loudly, but ie lies, ' etc. Thus from the lips erf the mo&fc perfect of knights one gathers hope and life. Tennyson's patriotism finds expression more in the keeping of our country pure than great- From "Hands All Round" I quote th& following,:— ' '•"We siailed wherever ship could sail, "We founded many a migity state; Pr.ay God our greaitaess may not fail Thro' craven fears of being great, Ha-ads all round, God the traitor's hope confound." And which among us has not feft the beat of the heart and the true pride of our blood rush through the veins in that stirring ballad" "Ihe Revenge," and many a- time when a hard task 'has to be faced 1 with the hopes of success sA\ gone, .and defeat at hand, we can still say, "We be al gcooL English men." Here, t-ooi the clarion call of the speaker asr he fiaeks to show us oui duty: — "'Briton's myriad voices call — 'Sons,' b& welded one and all Into one imperial whole, One with Britain heart and soul! One life, one flag, one fleet, one throne! Britons, hold your own:!" In hia glimpses of old country life he gives us Borne very laughable, sketches. "The Entail" is a very amusing picture of a real old gossip, and much as we enjoy reading about her I fox .me am very pleased thai she is not among my acquaintances. The old farmer, too, with his head full of prejudices- and hia great contempt for any new views and methods of working, and a firm conviction that of all men he is the one who can bo least spared famni the «art]i — "Do goda-moighty knaw what a's doing a taakin' o' nvea?" ai\d the new fityle of farmer who i advises hia Sam to marry for "proputty, proputty, proputty." At time* Tennyson seema to be * dual person, as 13 sihown in the mofher'3 agony in "Rizpah." The poor old: mother, fighting against che law that had! condemned her son to the gallows, and, knowing him to have been a robbar and an outcast, still is not afcaid that tb.e Lord, who is "Full of compassion and mercy," will ultimately bring them and her &on together again. To touch on all his views is not within the limit of a paper, but among hia totter ones "God and the Universe" especially appeals to me. It shows a most remarkable courage and a Divine faith that a man on the threshold) of the -other world should adire3 his spirit so: — "Will my tiny spark of beittsr wholly vanish in your deeps and heights? Mnst my day be dark by reason, 0 ye , Heavens," of your boundless nights, Rush of stma and rail of systenx3, and your fiery clash of meteorites. | "Spirit, nearing; yon dark portal at the limifc of thy human abate, Fear not th-ou the hidden purpose of that power which -alone is great, Nor the myriad world His shadow, or the silent Opener of the Ga-le." I sometimes think that the above is even a finer pcem than his well-known and muchloved "Crossing the Bar." ELSIE. Your own enthusiasm, has so obliterated liniiftations, diear Elsie, that I can only afford -words enough to cay last, but Burely no<t least, aroorg Tennyson's perfect realisation* I let us include "The G-rancbnat-hei." | HENEY CLAREXCE KENDALL. j Dear* Ennneline, — It were vain to try and name ooe'a favourite poet where so m*nynoble singers have* helped, cheered, inspired through times of doubt, suffering and desolation-, or in tbe blessed times when peace was «bqufc us and peace within. - The young Hebrew whose melody was health to mysterious Saul; the wrapt Isaiah, who saw far off the times- of universal peace, these and the noble of later times we might praiae «nd. quote to the overflowing of encyclopaedias, but we will content us with Henry Clarence Kendall. He- was for years but i*name to me — a. name of an known splendour und vague surmise. I read in some bygone Christmas number A poem of his titled "Christmas Oreek." "Ringed about with tracts of furnace ninety leagues from stream and tree, Six there were with, wasted faces working northwa-rds to the sea. One man yielded, then another, then a lad of 10 years Reeled and fell with English rivers singingsoftly in his ears. , Rested three, ot six who' started on. a tank:, of moss and leaf--, - •

ear; dazzling

Rested by a tunning* river in 9 flushed and holy week, And they named the stream that saved them — named it fitly 'Christmas Creek.' " And Kendall passed from being » name to be the author of a strong and stirring ballad. Later, I read a quotation, from his "Beyond Kerguelen" — "Down in the south by the waste without sail on it, Far from the zone of blossom and tree, Lieth, with, winter and whirlwind and wail on it, „ Ghost of a liand by Jie ghost of a sea. and the magic of his music was upon me, and I longed for his poems as for an unseen brothel's face. When, after long years, I really had a beautifully printed edition of his poems as my own, and learned that the divine sieger had been a bearer of the ancestral burden, a weak and weary sufferer— yet a man— strcog to scorn any attempu ao consolation from without, a rejector of ,any self pity, my regard deepend into admiration Now I love the poems as from, tfie heart of a man who has felt and known, "Yea, like tlie speech <>i one aghast At immortality in chains," as be has, it. Yet fcime and ■e"£ he triumphs in such pcems as , bute - J ".Hv-BiazU," "Araluen," -"Faith, in God and "To A Mountain." And who so truly as he expresses the weirdness of Nature m *™ native continent, who so truly expresses her lighter moods, and who so truly se.s noble ideals before the would-be poets of Australasia > while Us "Cooxanbean'.' espre£KS-tiie horror of her desolations ghost-baunt^-d. Rather than quote scraps I would grve you some verses of his beautiful "Hy-Brazil. " 'Daughter,' ■ said the' aged father pausing by the evening ' sea. - - 'Turn thy face toward the sunset, turn they face and kneel with me! Porayer and praise and holy fasting, lips ot love and life of light, Thes-3 and these have made thee perfect: shining saint wdtih seraph's saght, Look towards that flaming crescent! Look beyonfl that glowing space! , Tell me. sister of the angels, what is beaming in thy f-ace?'. ' And the daughter who had fasted, who had spent her days in prayer, % Till the glory of the Savioxu: touched her i head and rested there, 1 Turned her eyes toward the sea-line, sawbeyond the fiexy crest, Floating over waves of jasper, far Hy-14razil in the "West. "All the calmness and tEe colour, all the splendour and repose, v^ -,•».. Flowing whei* the sunset flowered tike a silver-hiearted rose! ■ ' There, indeed, was singing Eden, where the great gold river xitns . >■ Past the porch and gates of crystal, aringed by strong and shining ones! There, indeed, was God' a own garden sailingdown the sapphire sea— Fairy dells and slopes of summer; dazzling. Out against the hushed horizon, out beneath» the reverent day, ; , Flamed the wonder on the waters, flame* and flashed and passed away. i(nd the maiden who had seen it felt a ham* within her own; ' And the angel that we know not led her to the lands unknown." But my space is exhausted' with the two first stanza?, •and! I would lay this un-wortny wreath on his grave: — "Where, evermore, thorough' all the days and Thcre^rolls the grand hymn of the deathless ! wave -" • ' OSCABT I do not possess a volume s>f Kendall'? poems, 'Oscar, and only know a jewrf the most popular, but have always «dnured flhe ease and swing of hia verse, and has anUmjr mastery of words which, he used as skilfully as a great painter does his colours./ I amso glad your choice fell on on* of our lesstaown pWts. I for one .tall now be yi the watch for a volume of Kendall, stimulated by your enthusiasm- and extracts anise. ! *. MATTHEW A"RNOLD. Dear' Emmeline,-I think that we onoe before had this subject, lor one yearly the £ am«, as "My Favourite Author/ and that I eaid -then what I still feel, that it xs often hard to single out a writer as one's favourite. I have many favourite poems, and at least three or four favourite poets. Indeed, there are several more, some of whose poems at least I love so much that I find v hard, not to call them favourites. Supposing I were put to the teat of choosing one poet only whose works I might read, then certainly, I should name. SJaakespeare. .M?el him " the most indispensable. , He is -the poet of the greatest "wealth and variety of beauty, and in him one can find thoughts to meet one's every mood and need. But Shelley is «w poet whose life «nd fate, as well as the magical music of his verse, toitch one so deeply that I am ready to name him. And Tennyson, with his riper wasdom on<4 quieter beauty, is a poet to lighten^ and cheer one in the perplexities o£ one's path through, life, as well as to enthrall by his imisic. But now I will pass all these, and single oirt w le=&er poet, who is yet a true and teaufrirul one and one with whose moods I am specially in sympathy— Matthew Arnold. He is a j pcet far less known, than be deserves ..o be. He has not. indeed, the qualities needed to reach and stir the hearts of the mass of th* people— the lyrical faculty, the warm humamity. the simple homely sentiment chafe have made Burns and Lon-gfellow household words. He is a poet for the reflective anA literary r«a<l*r. Nor has he tLe optimum and the firm faith that make .Robert I Browning suc-h a helper to so many of us. His verse voices all the doubt and sadness of an era that saw old beliefs melting away. He does not inspire hope but teaches stoicism yet his verse is often inspiring, as my last quotations will show. Of h« longer poems the most beautiful -are Thyrcss. "Tli© Scholar Gipsy." the two l?°em<| "Obermann." "Westminister Abbey. Solrra-jJ and Eiistum." and "The Forsaken Merman. Numbers of hia shorter poems are extremely beautiful in thought and expression, and' though he never will b& a popular poet, some of his lines have become ata-ndard quotations. For Lis love of Nature he equalled Wordsworth, anci he- sometimes excels the older poet in truthfulness of observation and felicity of phra=e. 'For instance, these two stanza's from "Thyrois" — "So. some tempestuous morn in early June. When the year's perennial burst of bloom is o'er, Before the roses and the longjest day. When garden walks and all the grassy floor I With blossoms red and rhite of fallen M-ay And chestnut flowers are strewn, ' So have I heard the cuckoo's parting cry From the wet field, through the next garden trees, j Com« with the volleying rain and tossing breeze ; The bloom is gone, and with the bloom go I! L "Too quick deapairer, wherefore wilt thou go ?

Soon will th» high mid-summer pomps com** an > Soon will the musk carnations break and: swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet William, with Ids homely cottage smell. And stocks in fragrant blow; - Eos-es tihat down the alleys shine afar, And open jasmine and muffled hvbli-c as, And gxoups under the dreaming garden trees, And the full moon and "the white evening star." ', I have only space for on*' -extract showing : him as a teacher. 'Toiled by our fellow-men, depressed, out■worn-, We leave the brutal "world to take Its way And — patience 1 in another life we say, The world shall be -thrust down and w« upborne. ' And will not then the immortal armies. scorn The world's poor, routed leavings? or will they Who failed, under the heat of this life's day I Support the fervours of.tihe heavenly morn? No. Kb! the energy of life may be . Kent on after the grave, but not begun; And be who flagg'd not in. the earthly strife, Prom strength, to strength; advancing — only he* , "/ His soul well knit, and all. his battles won, ""Mounts, and that hardly, to' eternal Idfe." ALPHA. Those are beautiful lines you quote from. "Tlryrois," Alpha. - 1 do not know the poem, and am so sorr, it is not included in myv edition. 'The Forsaken Merman" I always ■ think a, lovely , little faney r s i ad--with the N luxurious sadness of the unreal, tike you 1 admire "Obannann" and "The, Schola,. Gipsy," together with many bsautdful passages in "Sohrab *v& Kuettnn," ''TrristKfttt • aud> Iseult,". and Mothers. > . "Westminster Abbey" Ido not know. It "is always so : stimulating to be referred to 'some tiling- we do not know. Henceforth it is transformed into something that we; toast know. -. Owing to pressure on my space I am reluctantly compelled to • hold over papers by Gipsy, Sweetbriar, Hochelaga, Alys-, Anchoress, Welshman, and Happy. * Third meeting, September"^. Papers must be' in by August 26. TOPIC. —A Little Picture of a Great' Person.— -Emmeline invites all the feminine mem». bers of the olub to send" .in a pen- picture of * man — statesman, warrior, poet, or prophet — great and famous in the world's chronicles. She also invites all the roaseulin-e members (and those with masculine signatures) to send pen pictures of a." woman renowned in history for Eer goodness, greatness, or beauty. Fourth meeting, September 80. Papers must be in by September -16. TOPIC. .-* —The Ideal W-oman, and the Ideal G ardent How to Grow. Them. — C.C.C. CORRESPONDENCE. ' ■ SWEETBRIAR writes : "I am. very glao! the last olub meeting was so good. . The Gr.andmotb.er in Fiji must have had a, very) anxious time .till the 'hurricane passed over. Please give her the kindest greetings of a&s unknown, friend, Sweetbriar. . . I J" I*^1 *^ Ted's,' message 'and so -say all of us. liiear© were so many good papers that I was v«rs pleased with," but .best' of all I like our deatf nresidtfnt'B word'-of kinanes«" Indeed,-Sweet-briar, I do honestly- assure you it has, been) the constant and kindly eneouxtgenumt oC - such un&iown. friends as you have been axd! the help -and appreciation of our late editor in th« uncertain beginnings of my ventures -which axe to praise for our success. ELSIE writes : "It ia with almost a reluctant hand that I put aside my paper ont Tennyson. He is such a favourite of mrnei that I feel I've not treated him fairly, .and! yet to deal as fully as I would- like wouUB mean almost a Witness to myself. I bkj. ffie subjeots chosen very much-, indeed, and will endeavour to be with- you as oft«nM possible."- I trust that- will be" frequently, Elsie, for though our session is short tlna year, I hope it may be brilliant. The dates being closer together will, I think, make theintex-est keener; though it certainly mayi make it a little more difficult to attend! each" meeeting consecutively. There are iaajm old members and young ones, toov who ■hav® still to put in an appearance. I hope the epting weather, dear, will bring an improve^ ment in health. BOY FRIEND, still struggling patiently, smd hopefully through the slow stages of coin f valescence-,* writes: "To Green Tui, Gmov Sweetbriar, Babrielle, Marjorie, Shasta, ancSj the many others I cannot name I re-turnn thanks for kind messages, and assuror them that I am getting on like the proverbial house on fire. The many messages thati j reached me were more than comforting. JH was sorry I could not acknowledge them! personally. 1 was pleased with, 'opsningi day 7 in C.C., but hope to meet my oldercomrades at future meetings. The- paper D am sending is matter for apology, but it was ■ put together word by word, and I only send) it in- to be 'there' amongst all my dear; comrades. Oscar's and Elsie's kind, messages were deeply appreciated." PAFFY has his happy bit of optimism fort ■n 3 _'tis lonely I'd be wantin' it!— "lt In wonderful what faith we all have ml Emmeline's heartiness in helping. You are] spoiling us I think. We will be viewing you in the light of the 'willing horse.' and many) make the burden too heavy. I have noti yet seen the Cosy Corner paper, but it is sure to be a good meeting. I hope that this session you -will be assured of our great' appreciation of the olub. and that old members will rally round in good style." B am thoroughly pleased with the way the session has opened. Taffy. As to "a willing horse." well, yes, I believe I am one — smalf credit to me — by temperament and you-, 1 know very well Taffy, that the willing horse need neither spur nor whip, bur) just the* cheering voice and the friendly hand! JACK writes: "Of the papers I enjoyed very much Ted's-, I ibink. particularly appealed to me. To- concentrate the attention <m< the matter in hand is one of the first lessona to teach tbs young mind, «sad I believe ihfi hardest. Iso often see -even the best of pupils sitting at study with half the mind) on something else. But I always tllink im teaching" shildren it ia literally 'line upon) line' • one must just keep pegging away. Mine is rather a- hurriedly written paper" to-day, bn* I don't want to be absent tea often-, or I might lose my Kttte niches, 't hope Boy Friend atilf improves. KmdlreJst;' ■wishes to all." GYPSY sends "kind greetings to all comrades. I was sorry to see that Boy Friendt had been ill, but trust that he will soon* be restored to perfect health again. Where has Rangiora disappeared to?" That, Gypsy, is a question I have very often asked myself, for Rartgio-ra. endeared herself so much to all' of us. appealing alike to our affections and) our intellects. I should be only too gladi

to receive one- of her interesting letters again, and trust she may see these lines and gratify my desire. It ia to her initiative and kindly feeling I owe one of my most treasured possessions. From SHASTA'S letter I make the following extracts: — "Nineteen members present at our opening meeting is very encouraging, isn't it? and all of those names well known and loved in Cosj Corner. I always like the contributions of ' Anchoress. Like her I love Nature, but unlike her I cannoi. give names to all the plants and birds I see. Just now I'm reading the 'Thread of Gold,' by A. C. Benson. His books are favourites of mine, particularly 'The House of Quiet' and 'From a College Window.' . . Personally I knov» many silent members of pux dear Guild 1 of Friendship, and though you receive many grateful letters, I really think the most grateful of all — tlie ones you have helped most of all, are the silent, ones." You will perhaps smile, dear Shasta, if I make you this little confidence. I am one of the silent people myself, and co perhaps I can understand better than you would guess how "much the silent people live on the inner things. Also, some phase of the same temperamental difficulty in personal expression. -renders one, I -tHink, singularly susceptible to the spoken word of love _and "appreciation from those who have the' happy surface sparkle of speech. -^ • HEAHTSEASB desires kindliest greetings to her comrades, and looks forward with much pleaeure to reading the, proceedings she cannot join ob this occasion. Being extremely fond of poetry she doubly regrets the l-atter, and will enjoy the former. B^~ Descriptions oj_balh, <fee, must be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secretary to the ball committee. - The US of any correspondents who do not comply with this rule will be sent to the. secretary for endorsement prior to appemrinff.- -EtIiIELME. To ennire publication tn the forthcoming issue letters should reach the Witness office if possible on Satutday night, but ojj no account later than Monday night ■WEDEONG AT "WHEY'S BT7SH. A very pretty wedding was celebrated in St. Petear's Church, WTey's Bush, on July 1, when Miss Catherine, second: daughter of Mr and Mrs John Flyna, Wairaki, near Nightoaps, was united in the holy bands of matrimony to Mr W. M. Kelly, fifth son of Mr and Mrs M. Kelly, Makaxewa. The ■ bride, who was given away by her father, ' wore «r lovely Tia-vy blue costume with trimmings to match, and the usual veil "and orange blossoms. Mi»s Flynn, sister of the bride, and Miss Kelly, sister of the bridegroom, aoted as bridesmaids. Mr M. Flynn, brother of the bride, acted* as best man, and Mr W. M'Oauley, of Mlossburn, a-s groom-s- | man. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Walsh. ' A large numb&r oi ' friends and' guests- a-ssembl'&d to witness the ceremony. Afterwards the bridal party and guests drove to the residence of the bride.? uncles,- where over 3O*auests sia* down to the wedding breakfasti, -which- was beautifully laid out, jwith' a lovely wedding cake placed before the -bride. After full justice had been done to the good things provided, and the ' usual toasts and speeches^ given and re- j spond&d to, the lhappy couple left amid i showers of rice- to catch the afternoon train j a-t Nightcaps en rout© foi Inveroargill, where j they spend their honeymoon. The presents ' were numerous and costly." The bridegroom's . present to the bride ms a silver-mounted umbrella. The bride's present to the bridegroom was a set of gold sleevelinks. Tjhe j bridegroom's presents to the bridesmaids were gold-mounted tusks. Mr and Mrs Kelly will take tip their future residence at fiyal Bush. — (From a Correspondent.) SPINSTERS' BALL AT BERWICK. The spinsters of Berwick held their annual ball in ihe Berwick Public Hell last Friday evening. It proved in every way a . great success. The evening was all tliat > could be desired — bright moonlight, with the roads in good order. The hall -was artistically I diecorated with beautiful ferns, evergreens, etc. At the extreme eaa-d of the hall were ! two British flags, surmounted by the word j " Welcome," edged with holly, which gave j the 'hall a pleasing and picturesque appear- | ance. In the Grand Ma-rob., which was led off by Miss Lyall ami Mr George Graham, 43 pcupks took part. Excellent music was provided by Mi&s Say and Messrs Hawk and Co. Much credit is due to Miss I. Grant ■Tor the able manner in which she carried, out her duties as honorary secretary. Miss E. K. M'Diarmid and Miss Lyall acted as M.C.'s for the dance until midiiighl, when Mr Frank Heeman took over the duties, and each and all succeeded in giving entire satisfaction. Miss Hay most kindly lent her piano for the occasion. The catering, which was placed in the hands of Mrs E. Crossan, wafi carried out in such a way 'as to leave nothing to be desired by the most fastidious. Ma*" Walker favoured the. company with a scing during the evening. The following is a list I of the beautiful costumes worn : — Miss B. K. M'Diarmid, cream silk; Miss .Ma Heenan, cream nun's veiling; Miss M. Heenan, blue I silk blouse, dark skirt; Miss A. Robinson, i I pink nun's veiling; Miss J. M'Ka-y, cream i nun's veiliug; ifis Hei-d (Henley), cream i | silk; Mars James Sinclair, pale blue silk; ' Miss Prentice, white silk ; Miss Hay, cream delaine, trimmed with silk mal-tese insertion and lace- Miss Prentice, blacky Miss B. ! M'Kay, white spotted muslin ; Mrs E. Walter, ! cream silk blouse, dark skirt; Hiss I. Grant, white silk; Miss Brinsell, white muslin; Miss J. Grant, crearp silk; Miss Mina Ross, I blue, figured silk blouse, grey skirt; Misa I Robinson, wMte sdlk; Miss Brooks, blue ' silk blouse, dark skirt; Mass F. Grant, I white nun's veiling; Miss E. G-eorge, tuaeoro j silk ; Miss Graham, black silk blouse, black skirt ; Mies C. Petrie, delaine blouse, dark skirt , Miss Ada Jones, cream silk ; Mrs H. Swallow, white silk; Miss Twaddle, white muslin ; Miss M'Pthereon, cream silk blouse, dark skirt; Miss O'Brien, white silk; Miss Blake, white muslin; Mrs Hogan, cream «lk; Mis-s B. Munaro, white silk; Miss M. white silk; Miss M. Gibb, cream silk blouse, dark skirt ; Miss Mary Gibb, ■white silk blouse, dark skirt; Miss M. Smaill, black; Miss E. SmaiH, cream silk; Mis& Janet Smaill, white silk blouse, dark skirt; Miss Brooks, white silk; Miss Lyall, white »ilk; Miss Jane Munro, white «iik blouse, dark skirt. The matrimonial fever still keeps at a very high pitch in this locaiity. There are quite a number of victims writhing under its influence. Those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits seen? particularly susceptible, and it is confidently expected that a few will £iiccurnb in the near future. ANNUAL BALL AT XVAIHOLA. The Waihola annual ball was held on the ' 14th jnst. The committee were fortunate in securing a beautiful night, thus allowing visitors from a distance to ride and drive in. The catering, by Helmk-ey" (Dunedin) was all that could be desired. - Excellent music was supplied' by Messrs Methven .(Henley), Parsons and Moffat (Momona). The committee (most prominent amongst whom I noticed j Messrs C. Henke, A. Andrews, A. Orlowski, B. Wisnesky, and Wat Andrews) were most attentive to their guests, while the secretary j[Mr C. Hilgendbrf) was voted a "jolly good lelloTr" aJI io^mmJ, The grand march was, led '

by Mr C. Henke and Miss Ferguson (Milton), about 50 or 60 couples taking- part in "it. Miss FergTison wore a. charming dress of green silk trimmed with cream lace; Mrs Hogg (Dunedin), pale-blue flowered delaine •with, cream net yoke and insertion trimmings; Mis A. P. G-rtt-y, black bxoclie satin dress, passementerie trimmings; Miss Hanside (Milton), cream silk dress; Miss Hilgendorf, pretty heliotrope embroidered muslin ■with silver girdle ; Miss Driver (Port Chalmers), white silk dress trimmed with allover lace and net ; Mrs Methven (Henley), navy ' blue silk with cream lace; Mrs Reid (Henley), black silk dress, sprays of scarlet geranium;. Miss Casserley (Milton), pretty soft white muslin; Mrs Hoggan (Henley), cream silk, lace vest ; Mrs Johnston (Mossiel), cream silk trimmed with gold •embroidery; Mrs W. ! Stuart (Milton), charming cream voile, lace> yoke and insertion; Miss B. Gibson, pretty cream delaine, lace front, kimono strappings ; Mrs F. Orlxissi, cream voile, beautifully trimmed with allover lace and insertion; Mies Sinclair (Titri), pretty pßle pink" muslin ( cream laoe yoke ; Miss M'Whirter, soft white embroidered muslin, silver girdle ; Miss Hanke, cream voile, trimmed insertion, and kimono strappings; Miss Wisnesky, black, 'relieved with pink, and a spray -of pink roses ; Miss Hutton (Akatore), cream, silk dress; Mrs, Parsons, handsome black, silk-; _ Mrs c- P. Hanke,. grey tweed, trimmed with cream silk and lace; Mass Ettie Hanke, cream flowered, delaine; Miss Jean Sinclair, charming nun's veiling, trimmed, with yoke- .lace; Miss. Rose "Sinclair, .cream serge', with red sash; Mrs Geo. -Barker (Milton), cream silk, komono - trimmings; Mrs J. Hankey. white muslin relieved by pal© blue; Mrs Cockburn, handsome .cream silk-; Miss, B. Dysart (Milton),, cream cashmere relieved 'by pale blue; Miss A. Dysart, soft white book nruslin; Mass Curtis, Chinese silk; Miss Wisely, white muslin; Misses Parsons (3), white muelin dresses relieved by pale blue; Miss T. Andrews, black silk, relieved by cream insertion and lace; Mrs J. Duncan, black, with cream vest of net and silk; Miss Primmer, charming white muslin; Misls Emmie "Brown, soft white muslia with Ted sash; Mrs Gregory, handsome black silk; Mrs A, Orluski, cream lustre; Mrs M'Kewen, graj voile, handsomely trimmed. There were several other ladies whose names I cannot recall. Songs wre sung during the evening by Mr Orlowski and Mr Moffet. The singing of "Auld lang syn«" at 4 a.m., ■ brought a most enjoyable function to a close. 1 — One of the Guests. xuk.ow foresters' fancy dress bali.. The Kur.ow Foresters' fancy dress ball took place in "Munro's Hall, Kuiow, on Thursday last. The night was just perfect for a ballclear moonlight, but frosty and cold. This ! seems to- h& the ball of the season, as people come from miles around, and the I snow and ic-e that lay thick" and 'hard did not seem to prevent anybody from coming a long, distance. Long before the time for starting it could, be seen that there was going- to be a great turn-out. Just on the tick of time (8.80), the word -was given 'for a. start, The Grand 1 Morcih, was led off by I the f&Uowine officers in" regaJia:" — Chief i Banger A. Dunstan aiid Miss M. Meaizies, j P. Denscm, and Mrs" W. H. MUarci, T. IS.. IMunrio and Mies M. Fxaser, A. TJ. M'Kinnon I "and -Miss Fraser, followed by 80 couples, ■, a«n>d as the evening wore on, this nvinabex I was increased 1 to over 100 couples. " The march , was quite a novel sight, which I can only describe as from a representation of the ' American fleet to the baby with the bottle. | The following is the list of dresses worn: — Mrs H. Gilmoore. Union .Jack; Mis W. H. Munr.o, BiTy My Pretty Flowers; Miss Davidson, Maori; Miss A. Downey, Gipsy; Miss E. Downey, Mellins' Food; Miss M'Kelvie, Flower Girl; Miss M. J. Milne, Spring; MLss M. Mine, Harvest; Miss Robertson, Poppy; Miss E. Bobertson, Forget-me-not; Miss A. Ure, Night; Miss L. Ure, ButtArI fly; Miss Milne, Housemaid; "Miss A. Milne, 1 Spanish Dancing Girl; Miss All'aa, Pienotte ;' , Miss N. Allan, Early Victorian; Miss Ga.rd, i Gleaner; Miss M'Aughirie, Spanish Dancing Girl; Miss B. M'lnnis, Early English; Mrs ! T. M. Munro, Tambourine Girl; Miss Mulvena, Night; Miss M. Mulvema, Dutch Girl; I Miss Brooks, Welsh Woman;" Miss B. I M'Aughitrie, Five O'Clock Tea; Miss French, Winter; Miss Sadie M'lnnis, Snow Queen; Miss J. French, Waitress; Miss&s M. and M. Fraser, Two Little Girls- in Blue; Miss D. Fraser, Magpie; Mias C. Menzies, Hookey Girl; Miss Thomas, Ivy; Miss M. Thoma*, Queen of Hearts; Miss Parker, Housemaid; Miss M'Ganvpsey, Kew Zealand'; Miss A. Thomas, Erin; Miss S. ITionKis, Sailo* Girf; Miss M'Donald, Red. White, and Blue; Miss B. Smith, Flower Girl; Miss H. Sween«y, Sport; Miss Ford, Winter; Miss Barrie, Fairy; Miss Barlow, Japanese; Miss J. Young, Summer; Mrs T. A. Munro, black evening dress; Miss Barclay, white evening dress. These who wore light dresses wereMrs Cahill, Mrs W. Barclay, the Misses Delargy, Bain, Fricker, Smart (2), M-enzies, Fonton, Cameron, Prentice, Raven, M. Ra,ven, and Stewart. The following are some of the gentlemen : Messcrs J. Gilmore, Rajah jof Bong ; F. Orr, Magpie ; "W. Fraser, Jockey; R. Milne, Father Charistmas; C. I Thomas,- Cowboy; T. Gemraell, Maori Chief; jF - I»inlfoot, Coon; "W. "Wirite, JPiecrro* ; T Cairns, Edward I; R. Wilson, Motorist; , Fireman; L. M'Donald, Admjr«l , Sperry; J. Walker, Swagger; A. Daaler, American Fleet: R. Munro, Regalia; Messrs J. Fraser, G. M'Aughtrie, G. Fiddles, J Hill H. Hill, D. M'Gimpsey, L. Hill, Mounted Rafles. Other lodges were r&presen't-ed. by Bro. M. Francis (U.A.0.D.), Duntroon; and Bros. E. and W. Walkeo- (1.0.0. F.), Oamaru. . Capital music w*s supplied by Me-sErs Brown and Hunter. An extea waltz wsis played by , ! Mies Allen. The diities of M.C. were a-bly carried out by Messrs W. H. Mumro and It. A. Munro. Ths catering was in the hands of Mr C. M. Brooks, who had a spread which did him great credit. Both Mr and Mrs Barooks spared neither time nor expense to have a spread equal to the occasion, and one which really did them credit. Eatables of every description were in abundance, and there was a continuous flow of cream. Many thanks are due to Mr T. A. Munro for the use of his beautiful deers' head's, which made simply a tip-top decoration. The hall was a j very pretty sight. Mr H. Barclay, on behalf of the lodge, thanked the visitors for their attendance, and also spoke of the • ledge and its doings and the benefits derived from it since it was first started in, the year 1634. He was pleased to. say that the 'odge was in a flourishing position, and had a good' balance to their credit after paying- away money to th© amount of about £600 for eick, funeral, and other expenses. He urged all those present who were not Foresters to lose no time in joining th© order. In faft, ho went so fox as to ask all the young girls to get their brotbesrs-and their best boys to join. A word of praise is alsc due to Bro. Warwick, who ! ha 3 beer in the lodge since it started, and | has always aoted aa door-keeper, which is not always sunshine; also to the joint secretaries (Bros. M'Kinnon and FraseT), who worked hard to make the ball a success. The ball this year seemed to be a spirited one from atari to finish. Tli& floor WAS full of dancers up to Ihs last dance, when all vi ended their way homewards, and will long remember the For-estere' ball of 190S— Oamaru Mail. .