Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 129.djvu/252

244 curious note was brought to him. It was shaped like a fan. He opened it with a sniff of scorn. "Another novelty!" he exclaimed testily. "Our mustard-pots are made like beer-jugs; we shall soon have beer-jugs in the shape of baths, and baths disguised as hansom cabs. Marvellous powers of invention truly!" He spread out the sham fan, and read the nimble-pointed characters: —

"Dear Mr. Airey, — How you must have wondered at my strange conduct yesterday! I was in the deepest despair, and quite unfit to receive anybody. To-day all looks bright again. The dear doctor came soon after you left. He is reckoned very clever, and attends the dogs of the best people in Paris of all parties. The favourite hound of the Duc d'Aumerle, la Marquise de Baldefée's famous spaniels (of course you remember M. Casimir's brilliant mot), and M. Baretta's new poodle Fraternité, are among his patients. He says that our little Bobby has no serious malady, but recommends a warmer climate. So we start at once for the south, and shall winter at Nice. I should prefer the Nile, but hear that the boats are so irritating for dogs. Will you do me a great favour, and send me some cleansing tablets when you go back to London? I would not trouble you, but they are invaluable for Bobby's skin. My husband is in despair at having to leave without returning your visit. Perhaps we may meet somewhere in the south. — Very cordially yours, ."

"I buy tablets for that cur!" cried Mr. Airey. "Well, I suppose I shall," he added. He could eat no more breakfast. He took down his diary, and wrote in it with the air of one who fulfils an important duty — "American women are absurdly over-sensitive."

 

 From The Saturday Review.

Tuesday evening the House of Lords had a debate on India, the greatest, while on Monday evening it had turned its attention to Heligoland, the smallest, possession of the British crown. As the number of persons who know where Heligoland is may perhaps be limited, we will mention that it is an island, or rather group of islands, in the German Ocean, twenty-five miles from the mouths of the Elbe, Weser, and Eider. The main island is divided into the cliff and the low land. The cliff is a rock rising to an elevation of ninety to one hundred and seventy feet above the level of the sea. The summit is a tolerably level plain, about forty-two hundred paces in circumference. The lowland adjoining has two good harbours. The circumference of the whole island does not exceed three miles. In former ages it was of much greater extent. It has been during many centuries much consumed by the waves, and lately it has been eaten up by rabbits. It was anciently the residence of a chief of the Sicambri, and the seat of worship of a Saxon deity. When the English took possession of it in 1807, during the war with Denmark, it became the depot for goods which were smuggled into Continental ports; the lowland, which had been an uninhabited down, was covered with warehouses; and the population of the island increased to four thousand. More recently it has been a favourite site for gambling-tables, where perhaps the worship of the Saxon deity was continued. On the conclusion of peace in 1814 the English retained possession of the island, probably for the sake of its double harbour, and for the advantage which it offers for defence in having two wells of good water. The English erected batteries and a lighthouse. They placed there a governor and a garrison, but levied no taxes, and did not interfere with the internal government. It is of course under the superintendence of the Colonial Office, and Lord Carnarvon, who is indefatigable in the business of making things pleasant all round with colonists, has not neglected to propitiate the descendants of the Sicambri.

We are indebted to Lord Rosebery for calling our attention to this interesting colony by moving for papers relating to Heligoland. It has been said that by the capitulation of 1807 the ancient rights and liberties of the inhabitants were secured to them, and Lord Rosebery desires to ascertain what those ancient rights and liberties precisely were. It is believed, however, that every householder was entitled to be summoned to a council before any taxation could be imposed on him. Things remained almost unchanged until 1864, when Heligoland, like larger colonies, behoved to have a constitution. By an order in council of that year a legislative council was created. It consisted of twelve persons summoned by royal warrant; and when questions of taxation were involved, twelve burghers were to be added to the council by election. By this time, 