Wanstead Flats, for instance, in profusion, may now bed for in The common broom with all its historical associations as the plant à genét, whence our kingly name Plantagenet) is almost gone, the heather is in like case, and all simply because the vandal is unchecked, and that large percentage of the community who [which] would be happy to aid in protection is powerless in the absence of any laws." It is as a rule the middle class which is guilty of this ravage, and especially the feminine portion of it. It is women who, armed with trowels and other weapons, dig up with the rapacity of the hunter or the sportsman the elegant ferns which bathe their roots amidst the cool mosses of Westmoreland and plant them in arid gardens where they cannot thrive. Behind them, far less culpable than they, come the rustic tramps who dig them up for the sake of selling them in the towns. Some of my readers will see the time when the lovely bulrush, the very sight of which by the water-courses is a delight, will be as extinct in England as the buffalo in America and the divinely named Meadowsweet-in France no less delightfully named "la reine des prés"-will be no more than a name.

MY

EDUCATION, NOT LEGISLATION, THE REMEDY.

Y associate of the Gardener's Magasine, if he will let me call him so, is for rendering penal the wanton destruction of natural obiects. I cannot quite concur in this. Apart from the great question of multiplying offences-which thinking men must always regard with mistrust-there is the extreme difficulty of enforeing such laws when, they are made. Who is going to arrest a child for picking flowers or a woman for digging up ferns? What magistrate is likely to convict and punish? What official, even, is going to earn out your laws? On a recent holiday the shrubs in Parliament. Fields had on them notices of by-laws of the County Council prabbi, ng, under a penalty of five pounds, the breaking of the whông chán de abær Nossoming trees. Yet, as I passed, men an' Propag. All were breaking off branches regardless of A mohihiyag and were walking about with their spoils in their Duke de emä Ñotpath was white with the fallen blossoms. e were looking on indolently, I might almost Rong known to some of them, I succeeded in ad action, to be abandoned as soon as my ace more I cry out for education and not for hown that shall effect the same change with Maa Aunny that is already in operation with regard

རི་ནསསན❖ན

SYLVANUS URBAN.

THE

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

MARCH 1897.

LITTLE DANIEL.

BY J. W. SHERER, C.S.I.

I.

HECQUERS was the last house out of Stoke-Harewood, on the London road.

CH

It was a modern villa of the ordinary stucco kind, with an older bit at the back, covered with ivy. The picturesque portion, consisting of offices and a small bedroom or two, was all that remained of the wayside inn, called The Checquers, the necessity for whose existence had passed away with the coach and waggon trade.

Shrubs and flowers, in the garden between the house and the high-road, made a pretty show; and at the back there was a lawn which had been the old bowling-green, with some large chestnut trees and a long strip of kitchen-garden ground.

The shade, the fragrance were pleasant, and the small domain looked an abode of peace. It was scarcely that.

For Mrs. Ross Bunting, widow of the late Dr. Bunting, and presiding spirit of Checquers, though really kind-hearted, displayed a considerable amount of self-will. She was rather stout, and had black hair and eyes and a red face; but she was tall and her features were good. Relations were strained between this lady and her daughter, Mrs. Cecil Lobb. The truth was, the elder widow was a strong woman, and the younger widow a weak woman; and weak women irritate strong ones. Cecil Lobb should never have married. He was good-looking but very silly; and as his people were hard up,

VOL. CCLXXXII.

NO. 1995.

Q

"Mr. Pickwick in the Attorney's Office."

Sam's face in a was

quite unlike, and was improved; the position of his legs altered. The other points are much the same.

"Last Visit of Heyland to the Old Man." This is a sort of anticipation of "Phiz's " later treatment of tragic subjects, as supplied for "Bleak House" and such stories. Heyling's cloak in b is draped over his left arm, the boards of the door are outlined differently. In a the face of the old man is a side one, with little expression; in b it is made three-quarters, and contorted with horror-the attitude powerfully expressive, indeed. The figures of both are worth comparing.

"The Double-bedded Room." In the lady's face is refined, and made less of the "nut-cracker" type. The comb is removed, her feet are separated, and the figure becomes not ungraceful. A white night-gown in b is introduced; in a it is her day-gown, and dark; the back of the chair in b is treated more ornamentally; in a a plain frilled night-cap is hung on the chair, changed in b to a more grotesque and "Gamp-like" headgear. Nothing can be better in a than the effect of light from the rushlight on the floor. This is helped by the lady's figure, which is darkened in a, and thrown out by the white curtains behind. Mr. Pickwick's face in a is not good, and much improved in b. It will be noted that the artist often thus failed in his hero's face-"missing his tip," as it were. This picture admirably illustrates the artist's power of legitimately explaining details such as the night-cap-to add to the comic situation.

"Mr. Weller Attacks the Executive of Ipswich." There is scarcely any alteration worth notice.

"Job Trotter Encounters Sam." The two plates are nearly the same, except that Mary's face is made prettier. Sam's is improved, and Job Trotter's figure and face more marked and spirited.

"Christmas Eve at Mr. Wardle's." The changes here are a cat and dog introduced in the foreground in b, instead of the dog which in a is between Mr. Pickwick and the old lady.

"Gabriel Grub." A face is introduced into a branch or knot of the tree-an odd, rather far-fetched effect. The effectively outlined church in the background is St. Albans Abbey.

"Mr. Pickwick Slides." In b Mr. Winkle's skates are introduced. In one version there are five skates instead of four, and Miss Allen's fur boots are depicted differently in each.

"Conviviality at Bob Sawyer's." The two plates correspond almost exactly-save for a slight alteration in the arrangement of the books in the case.

"Mr. Pickwick Sits for his Portrait." Slight alterations in the faces and in the bird-cage. The arrangement of the panes in the window is also different. Mr. Pickwick's face is made more intelligent. A handle is supplied to a pewter pot on the floor.

"The Warden's Room." Almost exactly the same in both. But why has Mr. Pickwick his spectacles on when just roused from sleep? There is a collar to the shirt hanging from the cord.

"The Meeting with Jingle." Very slight changes in the faces. The child's face in b is admirable and, like one of Cruickshank's miniatures, it conveys alarm and grief. The face of the woman watering her plant is improved. Note the Hogarthian touch of the initials carved on the window, sufficiently distinct and yet not intrusively so. This is a most skilfully grouped and dramatic picture, and properly conveys the author's idea.

"The Ghostly Passenger." This illustration of what is one of the best tales of mystery is equally picturesque and original. The five figures in front are truly remarkable. The elegant interesting figure of the woman, the fop with his hat in the air, the bully with the big sword, the man with the blunderbuss, and the bewildered rustic, to say nothing of the muffled figures on the coach, make up a perfect play. There seems a flutter over all; it is like, as it was intended to be, a scene in a dream.

"Mr. Winkle Returns under Extraordinary Circumstances." There is little difference between the plates, save as to the details of the objects in the cupboard. In b some bottles have been introduced on the top shelf. Mr. Winkle's is a pleasing, graceful figure in both, and improved and refined in b. More spirit, too, is put into Mr. Pickwick's figure as he rises in astonishment. It may be noted what a graceful type of womanhood then prevailed, the face being thrown out by "bands" of hair and ringlets, the large spreading bonnets and white veils. Mary wears an enormous bonnet or hat like her mistress.

"Mr. Sawyer's Mode of Travelling." The amazing spirit and movement of this picture cannot be too much praised. The chaise seems whirling along, so that the coach, meeting it, seems embarrassed and striving to get out of the way. The Irish family, struggling to keep up with the chaise, is inimitable. There are some changes in b. The man with the stick behind has a bundle or bag attached in b. The mother with her three children is a delightful group, and much improved in the second plate. The child holding up flowers is admirably drawn. The child who has fallen is given a different attitude in b. The dog, too, is slightly altered.

VOL. CCLXXXII. NO. 1994.

Wash yin bivat oh wyn savere ung n he saling and are Vil du blaAKAMAVIY, 447 wrz -de BlackJarl, andik kigt bak Maky kpeut ga to vecure is repose, is kerm in Adding speed the Vers. We might ask, however, what A tes Kods H, and why does she "trouble herself about the watinding par"!

"Alary and the Fat Boy" Both plates nearly the same, the languiding face of the fat by admirable. Mary's figure, as she doaw the chalk, charming, though somewhat stout at the back. The Good te javivaly and a plate baut for her, which is contrary to the

Ch. Wolle and Na Picade Pinking to Mr. Pell." Plates ah gilig she tot a sight alteration in the faces, and a very Navplaval savai to Mr. Pell's oysters. Admirable and choice we the figures of the four coachmen, NAME More ouð & back view.

PERCY FITZGERAZZ.