KILLED IN THE DESERT.

to be hail-fellow-well-met with half the Sheikhs, or chiefs, of the Arabian Peninsula, among whom he

passed as a rich Syrian city Arab, under the name of THE STORY OF PROFESSOR PALMER.

Abdullah. The only drawback to the illusion was HE title of Professor has never had much his Saxon hair and beard, and the clear Northern

attraction for young people: to them it grey of his eyes. Yet the genuineness of his apparent savours of bookishness and crude learning, of nativity was seldom questioned, and on several occadry technical talk and scholastic pedantry sions he and his friend, Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake, attended

with which they have no sympathy. And by neither guide nor escort, made exploring trips there are, no doubt, many specimens of that class, at on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Comthe present day, who serve to justify this juvenile mittee. aversion. Allow me, however, to say that there are Relying solely on his power of pacifying the Arabs, many exceptions to the rule, and, perhaps, after Palmer went unguided, unguarded, where other reading the story which I am about to lay before travellers would have thought it madness to expose them, some, at least, of the readers of Young themselves. Endless were his resources in the diffiENGLAND will have come to the conclusion that these cult work of conciliation. In one instance they were professors are “not such • dry'fellows after all." put to a greater test than usual. He was trying to

In the year 1840, within the classic walls of the secure the friendship, active or passive, of an old city of Cambridge, Edward Palmer was born. Of his desert Sheikh who resisted all his appeals. All boyhood we know but little. One of his chief “grown- argument failed to win him over ; so Palmer set up" friends was a minister, the Rev. George Skinner, himself to work by a slower method. Turning the who fostered in the lad's mind an early taste for point of conversation, he fell into a discourse on Oriental studies, which he possessed to the last. Arabic literature, amusing, edifying, and astonishing When about sixteen, he was transferred from the his listener with recitations from the old man's school-room to the counting-house, and in what, to favourite authors and poets. All night long he him, was the dreary routine of a merchant's office six kept up this impromptu entertainment, until before years were spent-or rather mis-spent, as it proved. morning came the Sheik had fairly surrendered to For, like most lads of a literary turn, he found the the Englishman's wit and genius, and his friendship Muses were poor hands at “profit and loss,” and lag- was secured. gards in the race for gold. What interest could the When at home in England he worked unceasingly. balancing of ledgers and the market quotations have Translations of Arabic and Persian poems, dictionaries for the youth whose brain was full of Eastern romance of Eastern languages, a History of Jerusalem, a and a vague longing for “the gift of tongues" ? translation of the New Testament into Persian, and

No; he had made a false start in life, had chosen of the Koran into English, and the editing of the a path which he had no spirit to follow, and so, at Records of the Western Palestine Research Comthe age of twenty-three, Edward Palmer went back mittee—these were among the self-imposed tasks to his books, and entered at St. John's College, Cam- which occupied his time. Some years since, Professor bridge, where, in 1867, he graduated with third-class Palmer contributed a series of articles on Sacred Classical Honours.

Geography to the pages of “ The Sunday School By this time it was pretty clear to himself and Teacher," and also wrote for the Sunday School everyone else that his forte lay in a capacity for Union a valuable little tractate, entitled “ Outlines of Oriental study. So, partly to recreate after fagging," Scripture Geography," a most usefulsketch of Palestine partly to extend his learning, he left England on a and the adjacent countries. Yet no man took more visit to Arabia. Here, in the silent solitudes of the delight in the society of his friends than he. Pedantry wilderness, among the bare stony ridges of Sinai and and bookishness formed no part of his character, and Horeb, he found everything after his own heart. Two never did he allow study to darken the home-life of visits were made to these wild parts, and then he his family. To his children he was a most affecreturned to England, and was elected to the office of tionate parent, and his household circle was a Professor of Arabic. In this capacity he continued cheerful and happy one. In company, the versatility his life-work, transmitting to paper the vast fund of of his talents, his charming manners, his sunny, information which he had accumulated by study and lively disposition, his good temper, which nothing travel.

seemed to ruffle, and, above all, the quiet, unassuming But it was out in the desert that he breathed most culture which was stamped on every feature, made freely: once there, with the girdling sands and naked him, both in the drawing-room and the club-circle, mountains between him and the civilised world, he one of the most popular and beloved of men. In was thoroughly at home. Men said he had a dash of stature he was diminutive ; his voice was as gentle gipsy blood in his veins : this, if true, may go far to as a woman's, and his airs almost femininely soft. explain his singular propensity for lonely wandering. But with these was blended true English courage and In the desert, he was an Arab, out and out; he spoke fixity of purpose, which showed itself to the last. their language, he wore their dress, and all their When the recent Egyptian war broke out, and manners and customs, ceremonial and domestic, were rumours reached England that the Bedouins had familiar to him. His influence over these wild sons been induced by Arabi Pasha to join him in repelling of the desert was simply marvellous: they reverenced our forces, the British Government commissioned him as one more learned than their wise men, and Professor Palmer, with Captain Gill, a young naval his wonderful skill in the art of jugglery and "magic," officer, and Lieutenant Charrington, of the army, to which made him a terror to all spiritualist impostors, visit the Sinaitic Peninsula, and conciliate the tribes

. served naturally to increase their regard. He seemed For this project Palmer's knowledge of the desert and its people eminently fitted him, and thither the loved like a second native land, the scholar, the three went.

fearless traveller, the martyr to science and to duty, What made their task doubly one of peril was that was doomed to find a grave. they had orders if possible to cut the telegraph wires Two alternatives were offered them as to the between Egypt and the Turkish capital. This placed manner of their death : to be shot down, or to leap

the precipice. Charrington, the young officer, chose the former, as became a soldier. He stood forth unflinchingly, and fell—dead! Palmer turned to his captors, and warning them that his countrymen would avenge his fate, walked to the edge of the precipice. Covering his face with his hands, he sprang out into the dark, and Captain Gill followed him in his fearful leap.

That night England lost one of her most gifted sons—that night, a new name was added to her long glory-roll. One man alone she had who could perform the task of danger, and that man, when the call of duty came, went forth and died for her.

H. G. GROSER.

WORTH Noting.

A ROYAL SABBATIC YEAR.- The year 1882 is girdled by a belt of 53 Sabbaths ; it began, and will end, with Sunday.

OVERFLOW OF THE CASPIAN.—Twice a year the Caspian overflows, and strands millions of fish-sufficient to feed the whole of Central Asia, if advantage could be taken of these immense resources given by nature.

PROFITABLE BEGGING.–A deformed little French woman who had begged in the commercial part of New York for some years past, has lately retired, according to her own story, having

saved £8,000. THE LATE PROFESSOR EDWARD PALMER.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S WINE.—An inscription of NebuchadFrom a Photograph by A. Fradelle, Regent Street. nezzar, found some time since on the northern bank of the

Nahr-el-Kelb, carved on a fragment of rock, gives a list of the them in the position of spies, to whom, if captured, countries from which the Babylonian king obtained his wine. death was inevitable. But in those three brave

A FISHERMAN, named Strong, has lately caught in the sea,

a mile from Watchet, a conger about 20lb. in weight. The hearts, duty and patriotism thrust out all thoughts of fisherman found in the throat a purse containing half-adanger, and they pushed forward by a circuitous sovereign. route from Suez towards El Arish. They left the

NEWSPAPERS were first invented by a French physician, who, Wells of Moses, a spot just outside the former town, gossip, applied to Cardinal Richelieu for a paton to publish

finding his visits welcome whenever he brought any news or on the 9th of August, and plunged into the desert. the Paris Gazette, in 1622. It was a hazardous mission, for if once their inten- Soot-WATER FOR Roses. It is stated that a rapid growth of tions got wind, no mercy would be shown them. healthy rose-shoots may be promoted by the use of soot-water. Moreover, they carried $3,000 in gold, a terrible The application has, at any rate, the advantage of costing

nothing. Some soot is to be collected from a chimney or temptation to the notorious Arab thieves through stove, put into an old pitcher, and then hot water is to be whose country they had to pass.

poured upon the contents. When cold, the mixture is to be Up to a certain point, all went well. Chief after used for watering the plants every few days. chief avowed his friendliness to England and the happened in connection with the recent bombardment at

A BOMBSHELL IN A DRAWING-ROOM--A humorous incident English, and their scheme seemed destined to be Alexandria. A gentleman wrote to the admiral comcrowned with success. League after league of rock plaining that there was a shell belonging to the Inflexible and sand now parted them from friends and refuge, in his drawing-room, and requesting its removal," The and at length they reached Wady Sudr, a ravine not admiral passed on the letter to the captain of the Inflexible

,

who sent on shore the boatswain and half-a-dozen seamen, far from El Arish, where the tents were pitched. At who found the great shell lying, unexploded, in the drawingmidnight their sleep was rudely disturbed, and the room as described. As it would have been dangerous to bump little party awoke to find the enemy close upon them. it about, a device was, after some consideration, hit upon for The sharp report of Bedouin muskets rang out on the conveying it to the shore. A feather bed was procured, and

the shell firmly enveloped in it. It was then carefully rolled still air, and the bullets came whistling down through downstairs, and back to the ship. the rocks. Remonstrance was useless, and the DRINKERS OF SEA WATER.— Ūpon some of the coral islands travellers with loaded rifles returned the volley. For of the Pacific Ocean there exists a race of men who use sea a short time the unequal contest was kept up. The

water as their daily beverage. These islands are situated at an

immense distance irom the mainland, surrounded by the ocean; Arabs, however, closing in, speedily overpowered they are of small size and being elevated only very slightly their victims, and the three Englishmen were led above the level of the waves, and without vegetation, except forth to die.

a few cocoanut trees, contain no streams or springs of fresh Around them lay the sandy plain, shut in by the water. If wells are sunk they yield a brackish liquid, little black hills, blacker in the broad moonlight, and there fore, obliged to drink from the sea, and they do so constantly

differing from that of the ocean. The inhabitants are, therein the wilderness which he had traversed so often and without iil effect.

ABSENT-MINDEDNESS seldom takes the form of mistaking our neighbour's cotton umbrella for our own silk one.

AFTER the officials of a town had vainly endeavoured to disperse a mob, à minister mounted a box and made the simple announcement, “A collection will now be made.” The result can be easily guessed.

“I'd like you to help me a little,” said a vagrant, poking his head into a country shop. “Why don't you help yourself?' asked the proprietor. * Thank you, I will,” said the tramp, picking up a bottle of pickles and two loaves of bread, and then vanishing.

“What makes you ask such a high price for this little room?” asked Kosiusco Murphy of a hotel landlord. ** Well, us

This column is always open to receive the names of those of there is a young man next door who plays on the accordion. You bottom every evening and not pay anything for it, do you? them to become readers and subscribers. We have still a don't expect to have your innermost soul stirred up from the culation of our magazine, either by distributing our illustrated He sings, too!”

JOHNNY came home from school the other day very much supply of these leaflets, which we will forward free to those excited. “What do you think, pa, Joe Steward, one of the readers who will send us their names and addresses. big boys, had an argument with the teacher about a question

Since we started this scheme, no less than one hundrel and in grammar.” “What position did Joe take ?" "His last twenty-three young people of both sexes have come forward as position was across a chair, with his face down."

volunteers. The following are the latest additions to the list. A Chicago man in Plainfield, Ind., desired to leave his We heartily thank them for the help they are rendering us. travelling-bag and overcoat while he walked to a place twenty miles distant. He put them in a field unprotected from thieves, Arthur Benson, Wakefield Thomas Smith, Halifax 93cept by the sigo, "Small.pox, beware!” and when he George Eayrs, Leicester Kate Smith, Burnham Learned they were right there in the field. But they were Maggie Chalcroft, Tonbridge J. F. Last, Great Yarmouth tweaty feet underground, buried by health officers.

James Hardaker, Birstal Lilla E. Coules, Lindfield, The Chinese tailors do not take measures like the Europeans, Thomas Coates, Harrogate Sussex though they can make clothes exact enough to a pattern. An | George A. Thorne, Holmer, Howard Moseley, Nunhead American captain at Canton, wishing to have a new coat, sent

near Hereford

C. C. Pickering, Canonbury the proper quantity of cloth, with an old coat as a pattern, to William Bateman, Bromley A. H. Coates, Lower Norwood a tradesman of the place. It unluckily happened that the old Alice Drayton, Brixton C. Williams, Bethnal-green coat had a large patch at one of the elbows, and this defect Una M. Haigh, Walmer-hill, John Cook, Blackburn was carefully copied by the Chinese.

near Deal

Ernest C. Searle, Deptford “GENTLEMEN of the jury,” said an Irish barrister, “it will Nellie Gordon, Croydon William Brock, Queen's-park be for you to say whether this defendant shall be allowed to Arthur Chrimes, Peckham Sydney Gosling, Leiston, come into court with unblushing footsteps, with the cloak of S. R. Beagle, Crowland

Suffolk hypocrisy in his mouth, and draw three bullocks out of my F. L. Ewens, Crewkerne, Fredk. Timms, Tower-hill, client's pocket with impunity.”

Somersetshire

E.C. A GENTLEMAN, observing a servant girl who was left-handed, T. A. Henney, Salisbury C. Geeson, St. Ives, Hunts, placing the knives and forks on the dinner-table in the same

Edwards, Miss, Welshpool Annie Bosworth, Kingstonawkward position, remarked to her that she was laying them Emily Rundle, Birmingham on-Thames left-handed, “Oh, indeed,” said she, “so I have ! Be

A. E. Parsons, Walton-on- Elijah Woodhouse, Blakeney, pleased, sir, to help me to turn the table round !"

Naze

Norfolk HERE is a quaint anecdote from the biography of Dr. Mar. Charles Alexander, Tower-hill Edith Millar, Uxbridge shall Hall: Dr. Wilkins had lent Dr. Hall the well-known book, “Body and Soul,” and as it was not returned in due time, he sent this note, “Dear Doctor, do send back my 'Body and Soul ;' I cannot exist longer without it.” The servant who received the note read it (as servants sometimes will), and, horror-stricken, rushed into the kitchen, crying, “Cook, I can' CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S PRESENTS. live any longer with the doctor !” "Why, what's the matter?” “Matter enough,” replied the man; our master We have much pleasure in calling attention to the varied prohas got Dr. Wilkins' body and soul, and I don't care to stay Theobald & Co., 20, Church-street, Kensington. We have before where there are such goings on!”

us a model of a locomotive engine complete in all its working A DEAF old actor of the name of Cross, being very vain, arrangements, and which runs well. Methylated spirit may be took every pains to conceal his infirmity. A friend walking used to get up steam. A very amusing toy is the clockwork along Fleet-street with a companion saw Cross on the other crocodile, which runs across the table in a very laughable manner. side, and told his acquaintance he should see some fine sport. The variety of conjuring tricks is great, and for a few shillings So, beckoning to Cross with his finger, he opened his mouth an ordinary dexterous youth may help to amuse a party of adults wide and began to assume the attitude and gestures of one

as well as his own companions. The selection of magie lanterns who bawls very loud

to a distant
object. Cross,
thinking that and slides adapts

itself to any pocket, and the prices of the various his friend had hallooed to him, and taking that as too broad a includes acme skates at six shillings a pair. These skates look

OUR PRIZE AWARDS.

ONEE

W

HOUS IURNISHING COMPETITION.
NE of our lady friends, who has a ijudicated in this com-

petition, writes amis :-"As a whole, the papers are excellent, and .t was no easy task to give the casting vote. 0:1

thing struk ne throughout: with but a few exceptions, they CHRISTMAS TALE.

have all been wonderfully sparing of linen and blankets, one AS $ we expected, this Competition has proved a thorough pair: the latter for each bed, being the rule. Fancy staying

a ” success, a capital lot of papers being sent in from all parts of the countrv. We were struck by the high tone of most of MILLAR (17), Cowley-road, Uxbridge.

1: the SENIOR DIVISION the Prize is gained by Edith J. the compositions, which reflect great credit on the writers.

CERTIFICATES are awarded to MARTHA Wilson (Brixton), Young and old seemed to have tried hard for the Prize, and we think our readers will agree with us in saying that our award wonderfully close competitors.

HELENA TANNER (Battersea), Hannau BENNETT (Holborn), all list is a liberal one.

HONOURABLE MENTION is due to EMILY NEVE, ADA PRICE, In the Senior Division a Prize to the value of £1 10s. is ELEANOR ARCHER, SIDNEY BRADDY, SAMUEL LangmaiD. awarded to EDITH ELIZABETH SAYERS (18+), 63, High-street,

In the INTERMEDIATE DIVISION the PRIZE has been won. Lewisham, for her tale of the seventeenth century, entitled, | by ALICE DRAYTON (164), Austin-villa, Acre-lane, Brixton. “ Isoline." Also a SECOND PRIZE to the value of Half a Guinea to EDITH J. VILLAR (Taunton), Emily HOPKINS (Taunton).

CERTIFICATES are gained by A. H. Coates (Lower Norwood), JOHAN M. BREBNER (21), 11, Bright's.crescent, Edinburgh, for

We HONOURABLY MENTION ALEIDA VAN DER MEULEN, and his composition entitled, “Our Life hath Holier Ends than

WILLIAM HALL. Happiness,'' a story of Saxon England.

In the JUNIOR Division the Prize is gained by Fanny DawThe tales sent in by these two “ young authors ” exhibit

son (10), Girls' High School, Wallingford. great literary talent. Next in order of merit, and well-deserving of the CERTIFI. ford), John C. TURNER (Ashford, Kent).

CERTIFICATES are awarded to GEORGIANA E. Walsh (WallingCATES they gain, are SPARKHALL BROWN (Norwich), NELLIE

HONOURABLE MENTION is due to Edith H. LANDON, and Mary GORDON (Croydon), LILLA E. COULES (Lindfield), Lucy E.

A. CHETWYND.
BATTERSBY (Rathowen, Ireland), Emma. Č. LINCOLN (Oxford.
street, W.C.), GEORGE ARVELEY (Leamington), Hugu W.
STRONG (Liskeard), LAURA S. GREEN (Hackney), Annie Bos-

NEEDLEWORK COMPETITION. WORTH (Kingston-on-Thames), MARY A. Hocking (Red- E have been much pleased with the excellent needlework ruth), CHARLOTTE Wood (Bermondsey), ALICE H. Bacot (Clapton), Laura S. HOLMES (Birmingham), LUCY O. MACLEAN coinpetition, especially in the senior division, Mrs. Benjamin (Shoeburyness), ELEANOR E. ARCHER (Leamington).

Clarke, who kindly adjudicated, has made the following We HONOURABLY MENTION EVANGELINE H. BATTERSBY, awards :KATHLEEN E. GIMLETTE, ANNIE E. WILLINGS, Hannah New- The Prize in the SENIOB Division is won by ELEANOR E. BOLD, GEORGE A. WADE, CHARLES A. COOPER, M. C. TRACY, ARCHER (21), Westfields, Harbury, Leamington. ARTHUR CHRIMES, CHARLES S. HERD, FLORENCE M. BURMAN, Next in order of merit are Marion CROOKE (Guildford); Mary J. Brown, W. Moss, EDWARD HURFORD, ALFRED Kate CRAIG (Arlesey Bury); Emily Hall (Milton Mount HEXSHALL, JAMES Blossom, ANNIE PAULIG, EMILY C. RUNDLE, College); ALICE L. HARRIS (St. John's, S.E:). To all of whom WALTER KELSEY, ELLEN BRUCE, EMILY S. BETTON, ADA M. CERTIFICATES have been awarded. BELLERBY, John BURGESS.

In the JUNIOR DIVision the Prize is gained by Ada Mary In the JUNIOR Division two tales of equal merit gain the Brown (15), Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire. Prize, the writers each receiving books to the value of Half Next in order of merit are CLARA W. DENNIS (Russell House A GUINEA.

School, High Barnet); MINNIE JAMES (Wednesbury-road The first entitled, “At the Fall of the Curtain," by J. P. School, Walsall); Mary Ann BOYDEN (Lewisham). To all of DENYER (17), 47, St. James'-street, Brighton.

whom CERTIFICATES have been awarded.
The second by HERBERT HENRY WRENCH (173), 4, Thomas-
terrace, Lower Norwood, S.E.

PAPER CHASE.
CERTIFICATES are awarded to GEORGE EAYRS (Leicester),
Luaus Scan (Brompton), JAMES DE ARCHIBALD
(Alston, IN the Sextono), csuesht es Petzet has abeen

won by MATTHEW

Church Street, Bridge
BALD (Alston), ARTHUR G. WELSFORD (Bonchurch, Isle of berland.
Wight), FLORENCE HOLMES (Birmingham), Henry B.

The prize-winner, however, was closely pressed by GEORGE BRACKENBURY (Doughty-street, W.C.), ELDERTON E. CROSS A. WADE (Leeds ) and Kate M. Eady (Southsea), to whom (Great Yarmouth).

Certificates have been awarded. The other Certificate-winners We HONOURABLY MENTION WILLIAM H. BATEMAN, ANNIE are HERBERT H. WRENCH (Lower Norwood), Thomas H. E. POTTER, ETHEL MAUDE JEFFREY, KATE WELLINGS, ALICE KNIGHT (Lostwithiel), FANNIE ASHWORTH (Bramley, near DRAYTON, ROBERT W. HUTTON, GEORGE HARRIS, FLORENCE Leeds), EMILY C. RUNDLE (Birmingham). DRAYTON, EDWARD L. APPLEBY, ERNEST H. NORWOOD, ALICE

We HONOURABLY MexTION WILLIAM H. BATEMAN, LUCY E. W. VAN DER MEULEN, SARAH M. LUDFORD.

RATCLIFFE, SPARKHALL Brown, WILLIAM F. TUPMAN, JAME
Blossom, WALTER KELSEY, JOB DRAKE.

In the INTERMEDIATE DIVISION we were surprised to find that

the average merit of the papers sent in was equal, and in many SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL.

cases superior, to the Senior. The Prize is awarded to HARRY E regret to say that, with the exception of a few of the WILLIAM SMITH (14), 82, William Street, Sittingbourne, Kent.

CERTIFICATES are gained by WILLIAM Wilson (Birmingham), up to the usual standard. If our young authors would take a WILLIAM C. AMBROSE (Cambridge), MARSHALL B. Lang (Glas -little more care of the rhyme, and more especially the rhythm gow), John E. BROWNE (Sligo, Ireland), JAMES E. ARCHIBALD of their lines, there would be fewer rejected compositions. We (Alston), ALFRED J. BATTERHAM (Chiswick), A. H. COATES throw this out as a general hint, which we hope will be re- (Lower Norwood), ARNOLD DUNBAR (Rickmansworth, Herts.) garded in future competitions.

We HONOURABLY MENTION WILLIAM J. WENMOTH, SYDNEY The Prize in the Senior Division is awarded to Thomas H. C. Hopkins, Joseph NEWMAN, Josiah PoEton, John W. KNIGHT, North Street, Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

VERRIER. CERTIFICATES are gained by Mary J. Brown (Salisbury), In the JUNIOR Division the Prize is won by Philip EDWARE EVANGELINE H. BATTERSBY (Rathowen, Ireland), Edith J. GIBSON (131), Spring Garden House, Morpeth, NorthumberMILLAR (Uxbridge).

land. We HONOURABLY MENTION ARTHUR CHRIMES, NELLIE L. A spirited little paper was sent in by FBank N. BATEMAN GIBBS, JOHN H. GREENWOOD.

(Guildford), to whom a CEBTIFICATE has been awarded ; as also In the INTERMEDIATE Division the Prize is gained by C. to SAMUEL P. SMITH (Swindon) and ROBERT W. HUTTON Maud BATTERSBY (14), Cromlyn, Rathowen, co. Westmeath, (Goodman's Fields). Ireland.

HONOURABLE MENTION is due to Charles RICHTER, THOMAS We HONOURABLY MENTION SAMUEL W. DUNNE, SARAH W. Coates, CHARLES Eady, FLORENCE M. LEWIS, CHARLES Gibson, ED H. Cooke.

DAWKINS.