AS SEEN FROM HORSEBACK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 19, 24 February 1893, Page 19

AS SEEN FROM HORSEBACK.

"If you want to experience a novel sensation," said a gentleman who sports a Colonel's uniform as member of a Governor's staff whenever paid Governor turns out on parade, " just get on horseback and take part in some great procession like those which marked the Columbian festivities. " It is the moßt curious feeling that you ever experienced, I will wager a h&t. It beats hasheesh or opium smoking all to pieces. It is nnlikcany other thtn> that you ever saw or heard or feit. "At first jou art all right, and you hear the bands and see the great furrowu of humanity on either side of tbe way as distinctly as you ever saw anything in jour life. But after a while things begin to grow blurred to your senses. The music dks away and there is nothing but a dull roar in your ears, wl ile the crowd becomes merely a dull and mdisiinct m\B9 without form or meauing in your eyes. "But now you begin to see single figures. Men hanging from the eaves of hign buildings, boys perched on chimneys or signboaidß or in some hazardous place. You wa'ch one of them with fascinated eyes, expecting every minute to see him fill and be dashed to pieces on the pavement. You are constantly filled with an overwhelming feeling that you are to be witness to some dreadful accident, but for the life of you you cannot turn your eyes away from it. After a while you cease to be a human being at all and become a mere automaton. You are not controlled by human emotions, but by the magnetism of the crowd. It is some sort of hypnotic sta'e, I apprehend, which men ett into during a battle and which makee them so unlike themselves."— New York Herald .

These figures are worth preserving. Any day ru^r, unfortti ately, give them a significance and au inteimt wh cq they do not iiow possess. The Belgian Act -Slavery Society has issued an urgent appeal in favour of the valiaut soldiers who, under the direction of (Japt-uns Jacques and Joubert, are taking an active part in the ciusidi at? iinst the uegro traffic in Africa. Tbe Pope, during the course ot a it-cent audience accorded to !%r Jacobs, exprcssei great satisfaction on learning that the Pontifical Zouaves hid cocue to th« r.-lief of Jouoert, the brother-in-arms. With reference to tbe threat expense of expenitions and the need of reinforcements, his Holmes, after raisiui' his eyes with a look of profound paauess, and remaining sileot for a few momenta added :— ' My dear son. Belgium in bo generous, and o'her countries cannot refuse their concurrence in sucn a woik. It is it which gives mii-Bionaiies security to labjur and civilise in the immense territory around ihe Gieat Lake. It is it which dtftn^s tbone poor blacks, otherwise doomed to every ignominy and torture agan st the terrible slave dealers. That is a special character of your work. It is doubly grand t And not a human being, whatever may be bin opinions besides, can refuße you what you ask iv such a c*uwe "' Mgr Jacobs having asked if he might make use ot these encouraging woids, which would redouble their ardour, the Pope continued • — •• Ah 1 certainly— l even wish it. Yes, say it openly ; tell everybody that Urn Pope begs those among whom the Lord has shared the goods of this earth not to forget the wretched blacks, victims of the African trade. They are all our brothers 1 And from the bottom of my heart I call down the blessings of heaven on all those who shall help in delivering from their chains or snatching from death those unfortunate onea who, before God, havi as good a right to freedom and life as we bare."