ASTRONOMY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 43, 24 October 1891, Page 524

ASTRONOMY.

It was at New Brighton, on the end of the pier. They were all alone. There was no moon, but the stars were big and bright, and so full of self-conceit that they looked at themselves in the water and winked. It was the sort of night on which a man could make love to his own wife—and those two, Edouard and Alicia, had not yet spoken their tender vows. ‘Do you know anything about the stars ?’ inquired Edouard, in a voice like the murmur of the wind in soft undulating summer trees. ‘ A little,’ answered Alicia, tenderly. ‘ I know some of the constellations—the Great Bear—the ’ ‘ Yes,’ interrupted Edouard, ‘ I know all about the Big Bear, and I can find the Pole Star, but over here is a group. Do you know the name of that ?’ and Edouard threw his arm across Alicia’s shoulder and pointed to a cluster of bright shining worlds in the east. Alicia leaned towards him. ‘ I don’t know what that is,’ she breathed as one who did not care. ‘ And here is another constellation just over our heads,’ Edouard passed his arm round her neck, and placing his hand under her chin so tilted it that it would be easy for her to see. And to Alicia’s eyes the heavens became one grand carnival of constellations. Shooting-stars chased each other athwart the firmament, comets played riotous games among the planets, and finally there came a soft and radiant blur which hid them all. Edouard had kissed Alicia.

Pew-renter : ‘ I want to tell you, Dr Hornblower, how much I liked your sermon on brotheily love yesterday morning. It was powerful, and right to the point.’ Dr. Hornblower: ‘I am very glad if you enjoyed it.’ Pewrenter: ‘ Enjoyed it! Well, I should say I did. There are a lot of people in that church that I hate like poison, and you simply gave them tits.’