some desperate scratches, incurred in a prolonged and vigorous struggle, both were secured, borne triumphantly home, and lodged in a large rabbithutch, which was duly darkened for the convenience of the nocturnal occupants. Their bill of fare consisted of mice, rats, frogs, &c. With this diet they did not appear to require water, contrary to the usage of other birds, so that portion of the daily commissariat was omitted. Owls have an extraordinary capacity for swallowing large solid substances. While quite small, the pair in question would, without the slightest hesitation or difficulty, dispose of a large frog or mouse in its entirety. Soon after the capture of the young Wood Owls, on their being visited at dusk, two venerable specimens-doubtless the parent birds-were seen cautiously alighting in front of the hutch; where, after having been received with every demonstration of delight by the inmates, they proceeded to put food through the bars, which the juvenile prisoners eagerly devoured. Thereafter, the reunited family separated; but this touching proof of parental affection was subsequently repeated each evening, at the same hour, with singular punctuality, until the young birds grew large and strong, when the visits were gradually discontinued. The elders having some difficulty in passing the delicacies brought by them through the bars, two of these were removed, which kindly meant act led to a disaster; one of the junior members being shortly thereafter found with a broken wing, probably due either to the attack of some neighbouring cat, or to its own endeavours to make its escape through the enlarged aperture. Both are, however, thriving to the present time. They have safely undertaken a long railway journey, and are now residing in a less isolated part of the world, on the Surrey hills. An extensive wooden edifice has been erected for them, and placed on a stage several feet from the ground, under the shade of a large elm-tree, where, by means of a ladder, all their wants are supplied; and they are thus provided with board and lodging for life. A bath, though an unwonted luxury, seems to be highly popular. Having arrived at years of discretion, they are allowed to have unrestricted liberty, but do not appear inclined to desert their comfortable quarters. One was lately seen, while enjoying a rather too early evening ramble, surrounded by a throng of noisily vociferating sparrows, who drove the stranger homewards in a rapid and most undignified flight. No sooner did the owl enter the precincts of his private residence, and turn upon his pursuers, than they fled in most amusing dismay. [If all keepers of wild-birds were as thoughtful and kindly disposed towards their charges as the correspondent who has furnished the foregoing particulars, there would be less reason to pity the feathered captives. Still, except in certain cases where the cause of science is to be advanced, we would reprehend the practice of abstracting wildbirds from their parent homes and detaining them in cages or even in large aviaries; and more especially would we protest against the immurement of birds such as falcons or owls, the mission of the latter being of such especial importance to the agriculturist, and therefore to the general community.-ED.] In I hear. glory vast, my heart sweet memories waken, round me gleams a Linking all bright thoughts together of the future and the past. Holy music, rich in blessing, is the gladness of the song, That the breezes o'er the river from the church-bells bear along. In my heart, hope reawakens, bringing strength and life and light, Love to suffer, will to battle and to conquer for the right. Though cast down, yet not despairing, glorious words I Words to make me strong in daring, words to cast out seem to hear, doubt and fear. All Rights Reserved. POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Fourth Series CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS. ON THE PLANK. Is taking up a newspaper, for city or country town, there is one species of paragraph frequent in its occurrence, to this effect, that certain individuals were brought before magistrates for thefts, burglaries, assaults, or some other delinquency, for the second, third, or fourth time; and the charge being undeniable, they were forthwith sent to prison for an assigned period. We learn by these facts that there is a portion of the general population who are off and on criminals, and whose names and characters are inscribed on the books of the police. In reality, we live in the midst of two kinds of population. One of them consists of persons who quietly pursue courses of honest industry, and are never heard of by the police at all. The other are the wild and predatory classes, who from youth to age live for the most part by some kind of mischief or pilfering. They may do a little honest work at a time, when it agreeably comes in the way; but destitute of foresight or any upright principle, they lapse into crime on the slightest tempta tion. These plain truths have never been thoroughly realised. Philosophers go on theorising, to the effect, that all human beings are very much alike as regards intellect and emotions; whereas it is clear that a considerable number of people within the bounds of so-called civilisation, and of improving influences, are a kind of half savages, disposed, like monkeys in a menagerie, to steal from the cages of each other. Education is supposed to be the panacea for curing this unfortunate state of things. In time, when education, now happily set on foot on a comprehensive scale, has thoroughly permeated the community, we may expect that the criminal classes will be materially lessened in number, and that the more 2988 order of crimes will be of rare occurrence. As matters now stand, according to a late Report of the Directors of Convict Prisons, it must be considered as established that education does not furnish such a specific preventive of criminal PRICE 1d. tendencies as it was once supposed it would. It may, however, be admitted that it has had some effect, and that it may probably have much altered the character of the crimes which come under the correction of the law, and of the immoralities which do not.' When transportation was given up, imprisonments for long or short periods were substituted, as a cure for crime. After the experience of a number of years, it has to be acknowledged, with a degree of regret, that the number of criminals remains much as it was before. In the midst of the general perplexity on the subject, one thing occurs to us. It is the strange fancy of endeavouring to effect a cure by repeated imprisonments, which, taken singly or in accumulation, are little better than a mere off-put of time and wastefulness of expenditure. It does not seem to be properly recognised, that the modern prison, established under the sanction of learned and philanthropic sanitarians, is, physically speaking, a very comfortable place, where bed, board, washing, and medical attendance are to be had for nothing; and which, in comparison with the ordinary habitations of those who require to be so treated, is by no means an unpleasant resort. To be sure, there is a certain social degradation in being sent to prison, but that is only where there is a sense of being degraded. The class of persons we speak of have no more a notion of degradation by being immured within the walls of a prison, than sheep have in being driven into a penfold. It is all a matter of course, and probably comes quite handy, as a change of scene, diet, and occupation. On lately talking to a gentleman who is medical superintendent of a criminal prison in which there is generally from six hundred to seven hundred inmates of the two sexes, he tells us that there is no condition of society within his knowledge where there is such excellent health as in the cells of which he has the supervision. The prisoners come in dirty, miserable, ragged, half-hungered, and in a condition altogether pitiable. In a little time, by means of regular The resorts diet and work, and regular rest at night, along extent cultivated or played with. with a certain amount of open-air exercise within we speak of are the nests where it is fostered the yards appointed for this recreation, they and brought to maturity; and all such nests, pick up in a wonderful manner. Within three as a matter of police, should be extirpated, months, they are different creatures. Unfortu- perhaps not abruptly, but at least within a nately, when the period of their imprisonment reasonable length of time. expires, they are turned out into the broad world; and ten to one but they relapse into their previously horrible state of wretchedness. And again, after a short time, they come back under a fresh sentence for a new delinquency. We ask, if this system of repeated short imprisonments is consistent with common-sense? We have only to walk along the thronged and older part of some cities, to note the wretched condition of the class of persons, men and women, who from time to time are kept at the public cost in the prisons. There they are, lounging, dirty, ragged, and hopeless. Men standing in groups, with clay pipes in their mouths, with their hands in their pockets, staring about in the stupor of idleness. Some of them, perhaps, have a battered eye, covered with a patch of some sort, or they exhibit some other infirmity. As for the women, they are generally poorlooking creatures, who cannot be seen without pity. Next, as regards punishment. The method of awarding repeated imprisonments has evidently proved a failure. The petty offender seems first to get a week, next two weeks, then a month, then two months, then three months, and so on he works his way to eighteen months; beyond that he passes under a higher jurisdiction into penal servitude, first for five years, and afterwards for longer periods-in many instances, incorrigible to the last. That appears to be the routine. As this process of dealing with criminals has not answered, let us try something else. Possibly, it would be advantageous in many cases to return to schemes of flagellation. Whipping, we understand, has proved so effectual a deterrent, as to have put a stop entirely to the crime of garrotting. Why not extend its application, particularly as regards youthful male offenders? It is a punishment especially adapted to all crimes that are mean and despicable in their nature, such as assaults on women and wife-beating. For offences of this description, a certain number of lashes on the bare back should be added to the ordinary penalties. Is there, then, no remedy? In the present tentative condition of affairs, we can only offer a few hints. In the first place, the town-resorts of the habitually criminal classes should be Other forms of personal discomfort without eradicated; but that never can be, while narrow endangering health might likewise be found lanes and courts, scarcely pervious to the light to be so awkwardly disagreeable, as to terrify of day, are suffered to exist. We would lay habitual depredators, and to force them into i it down as a primary principle in social the salutary belief, that after all it is better organisation, that no means should be afforded to be honest and trust to regular work, than to for huddling into dingy resorts, like rats and continue a course of thieving. The tread-mill wild beasts. The safety of society requires is one species of discomfort that has had its day that all human dwellings should have such in deterring criminals. The latest discomfort that a frontage as will bring the inhabitants in a we have heard of is ordinarily known as being reasonable degree within reach of the public put on the plank.' With a considerable degree Show us eye. a town or city abounding in of satisfaction, we learn, that if properly and perstructural obscurities, deficient in air and sun-sistently administered, it is likely to do the light, and there we will show you hordes of the demoralised and dangerous classes, to say nothing of groups of unhappy beings laid down with typhoid and other deadly diseases. Municipal authorities are slow in recognising the truth of these remarks. The world at large does not give itself the trouble to think upon the subject. business. It is neither more nor less than causing prisoners to make their bed of a hard deal board, or guard-bed, as it is technically called, from its resemblance to the bed used in guard-houses. When on the plank, prisoners are not altogether unprovided with means for keeping themselves warm at night. They are supplied with two single blankets in summer, and three in winter, The thorough eradication of these loathsome a bed-rug, and two sheets. Why the luxury of resorts the slums of popular slang-would, we sheets should be awarded, is beyond our comprethink, go far towards a wholesome preventive hension. But let that pass. The pillow is of wood. alike of crime and disease; and we have evi- This, as far as we can discover from Instructions dences that such would be the case, from the from the Prison Commissioners,' is the destiny attempts that have been made in this direction of all convicted male prisoners between thirteen under legislative authority. We are not so san- and sixty years of age, unless excused by the guine as to expect that while the human heart surgeon, and continues to be so until they have remains as it is, crime will be got rid of alto-earned two hundred and forty marks; after which gether; but we aver that it would be possible they shall be allowed a mattress for five nights to effect very material ameliorations. By letting in each week till they have earned four hundred things take their course, crime is to a certain and eighty marks; when they shall be allowed a W. C. mattress for six nights in each week till they have proposal is simple, and likely to be efficacious. earned seven hundred and twenty marks; after It is, longer imprisonments after the first, which they shall be allowed a mattress every and throughout, a stern administration of the night. But they are liable at any time to be Plank. deprived of the mattress for idleness or misconduct, till they have earned such a number of marks as the Governor may deem advisable, in addition to any other punishment he may award.' VALENTINE STRANGE. A STORY OF THE PRIMROSE WAY. HILLO! hillo!' cried Lumby senior, going From this statement, it would appear that all convicted male prisoners begin with a plank-bed, and that a modification only takes place by a 'I'm in a bit of a hurry,' said Gerard, cooling certain course of good behaviour; and it is likely down a little. 'I want to speak to you, that's enough that the suffering experienced induces all.' the prisoner so to conduct himself as to secure 'It's worth no man's while to risk his neck a mattress and soft pillow at the earliest oppor- chuckle. Come in, my lad. What is it?' He to hear me talk,' said Lumby senior, with a tanity. It would be interesting to know, how-sat in a big library chair; and Gerard having ever, how far the deterrent so modified has a closed the door, walked up and down for a minute permanent effect. From their repeated imprison- or two, and then planting himself before his sire, ments, after short intervals, the modification of he spoke. the plank seems to lead to no effectual eradication of crime. It may produce decent behaviour while in prison; but in the long-run, that is of minor importance. We should like to see the plank administered with such persistency as to greatly lessen the number of offenders. We feel confident that, properly applied, the plank is the best thing yet thought of to diminish criminal practices. We are not unprepared for hearing that any proposal to introduce a more frequent application of the whip, as also an unmitigated use of the plank-bed, should be stigmatised as cruel, barbarous, and so forth. A plain answer to objections of this kind is, that misdemeanants have a free choice. If they prefer all the usual comforts of civilised life, liberty, and a good bed included, let them remain honest and peaceable subjects. If they prefer the reverse, let them take the consequence. Nobody counsels severity as matter of taste, but as a sad necessity, and with a hope that by such means a distinct impression will by-and-by be made in lessening the number of habitual delinquents. But the severities spoken of would render the majority of prisoners intractable! So will say all who wish the present state of affairs to continue. It is plausible bugbears like this that keep the world from advancing. a Were it generally known that being committed to prison is equivalent to lying on a hard board during the whole period of incarceration, magistrates, we anticipate, would soon find their occupation pretty nearly gone. There might be little diminution in the number of first offences; but second, third, and fourth offences would have a fair chance of being extinguished, or reduced to a minimum. At all events, a reform in this direction is greatly needed. The present system of repeated imprisonments for short periods is a grievous scandal, which cannot be too soon removed. Others may have some schemes for reforming the abuse, worth listening to; our "Father, I'm thinking about getting married.' 'Ah!' said Lumby senior, with his features a little twisted by a sudden twinge of gout. 'Is that a general or a particular statement? Is it an abstract sentiment, or is there a lady in the case already?' "There is a lady in the case already.' 'Who is it?' 'Miss Jolly,' responded the lover, looking and feeling like a defiant criminal. 'Very good taste, my lad,' said the elder man 'very good taste indeed. Don't tell your mother I said so; but if I were youngerThat isn't conscience, but the gout. A-ah! 'I have spoken to her father this morning.' 'The dickens you have!' said Mr Lumby, with another facial distortion. 'He demands,' pursued Gerard, 'that your explicit consent shall be given before he can entertain my proposal.' 'He demands that my explicit consent shall be given before he can entertain your proposal, does he? Gerard, your language is worthy of been wasted on you. What do you want to get An Oxford training has not your university. married for? Why, only the other day you were a legal infant. Gerard, my lad, keep clear of my plaguy foot, and come here and shake hands. You had only to choose a lady to be sure of my consent. And I know she's pretty, and I know she's clever, and I think she's good. Go and win her, my lad, and wear her worthily, and let your old dad nurse his grandchildren before he dies.' The old man was riper and mellower than the young one. As they shook hands, Gerard's look was a trifle sulky. He could not show emotion gracefully, and he was deeply moved. But the grip of the young giant's fingers made his father's hand ache for five minutes afterwards, and a good deal more love went into that handshaking, from both sides, than some very fluent people ever know in all their lives. So, bearing the paternal as well as the maternal blessing, the wooer rode once more away. He went gallantly this time, riding like a lover. Could he fail to win with such good auguries behind him? 'My dear Constance,' said Mr Jolly, entering the room in which his daughter sat, 'Mr Lumby has honoured me by a formal proposal for your hand.' 'And you,' said Constance, who had watched the interview from her window, 'have sent him about his business?' 'Yes,' said her father, with his wrinkled smile. 'His business is to obtain his father's consent. I have no doubt of his attachment to you; that has been evident from the first; but as I told him, in a matter of this kind everything must be above-board, and I could not dream of allowing my consent or yours to be extorted, until all things were made clear on his side.' 'And when he comes back, I am to say "Yes," papa? ?' asked Constance. 'Well, 'No?' asked Mr Jolly, smilingly. perhaps not-perhaps not.' Within himself, he exulted. Constance had been a great anxiety to him. It was a big thing to book a young man with half a million in perspective-not quite the biggest thing the daughter of such a man as Mr Jolly might have done, he thought, but eminently satisfactory. Will you excuse me, then?' Gerard, too much agitated for speech, inclined his head in answer; and Mr Jolly left the room. Constance,' he said, himself a little shaken, 'you have quite made up your mind?'-She nodded with a faint smile. She had had no dream of love, but always until now there had been a hope that the dream might come and fulfil itself. And now? Well, Gerard was very nice and manly-she had little fault to find with him; but she did not love him. She would have liked to have loved her husband a little. As her father had said only the day before, Nature returns, even when expelled with a pitchfork. All her training had gone against marrying for love, and she had heard it condemned as silly, and even as sometimes wicked. She sighed a little, smiled a little at the sigh, and so sur'I think he is a rendered. She arose, and surveyed her own regal and tender beauty in the mirror, regarding herself critically. Her bosom heaved with a passing sense of triumph, and as she turned, Gerard entered. She surveyed him demurely. A man at least, every inch of him. Not a mere creature of the ballroom and the Park. Now that she looked at him with this new interest, that he was to be her husband, she saw much to admire in him. She waved him to a seat; but he stood before her and pleaded his cause. My dear,' said Mr Jolly, shrugging his shoulders ever so little, 'I am not an ogre, or a wicked father in a novel in the Young Ladies' Tea-table Gazette. You will exercise your judgment. Mr Lumby, armed with his father's consent, will seem to me a most desirable and eligible husband.' He spoke of Gerard as an auctioneer speaks of a family mansion. Constance sighed faintly. good man, papa,' she said; and I know he is very much attached to me. But' (Mr Jolly shrugged his shoulders again, a little more pronouncedly)-'I like him too,' she said but' 'Once more, my dear,' said Mr Jolly, 'I am not the wicked father of a cheap romance; but if you throw away such a chance as this, I shall think that you deserve never to have another.' "Very well, papa,' said Constance; I will do as you wish.'-He kissed her with unusual warmth and kindliness. And now,' she said, 'let us say no more about it till the knight-errant comes.' The knight-errant was not long in coming. Soberly enough he came in sight; but there were evidences on gallant Rupert's sides which told of haste, and Gerard's absence had been marvellously brief. 'I have seen my father,' he said to Mr Jolly, and I carry with me not merely his approval, but his warmest wishes.' That smooths my way completely,' said Mr Jolly. There remain only my daughter's wishes to consult. And there, Mr Lumby-let me be candid with you-I can exercise no influence, no control. You have my cordial good wishes. I can offer you nothing more.' Again the Arcadian rather overdid it. 'Mr Jolly,' said Gerard, somewhat stiffly, 'do me the justice to believe that I would not win by coercion, even if I could.' 'I can't have a row with the fellow now,' said the guileless shepherd inly. But when they're married, I shan't see much of them. I can go back to the Albany. It's the only decent place to live in.' He added aloud: 'Our sentiments are happily at one upon that matter.-And now, Mr Lumby, what is the next step? Shall I smooth your way at all by preparing my daughter to receive your proposal, and by telling her that you make it with my sanction? Or would you prefer to wait?' 'I don't think,' said Gerard, 'that there can be any advantage in delay.' 'I 'Miss Jolly; your father has already prepared you for my visit?'-Her bowed head bent a little lower in affirmation.-'I am glad of that, for I should not have liked to startle you by my abruptness.'-A little smile flickered across the hidden features at this statement. Poor Gerard thought that this virgin fortress was here for the first time assailed. Constance remembered a score of such scenes, and almost the only difference between them and this was that she had always said 'No,' and was now to say 'Yes.' There was the least pos sible quiver of earnestness in his voice. suppose,' he said, with unintentional quaintness, 'to tell anybody straight out, "I love you," would be a little hard; and I think the truer it is, the harder it is.'-Constance, who was perfectly self-possessed, smiled again at this. The simplicity was manly: it even touched her a little.-'If I speak clumsily, I will ask you to excuse me. I have only known you for three months, and that is but a little time. I should have laughed three months ago to think that such a love'-the word cost him a great and evident effort, and it was plain that it was sacred to him; the listener knew it could have grown in a man's heart in such a time. But it has grown there, and my life is in your hands. I ask a great thing-I ask a thing of which I know I am unworthy-I ask you to share my life with me. It shall be my continual study to make you happy.' There his very earnestness broke him down. Mr Lumby,' said Constance-she could say nothing ungracefully, and though she was as |