The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Bee Keeping. By the " T nits" BRE Masras. With
illustrations. Leaden : Sampson Low, SOD, and
Marston.
Dr. Cumming has been so frequently mentioned
is public as the writer of the letters on Bee-keeping
which appeared in the Times two or three months
ago, and *blob attracted some attention in the first
dulness of the parliamentary recess, that we break
so privacy in speaking of the present work as his
production. Notwithstanding his anticipations
(hued on a peculiar interpretation of scripture
prophecy) of the approaching end of the world,
which is to bedeatroyed in 1867,tbe reverend gentle-
man does not think it a vanity to give a good deal
of his time and attention to the best mode
of making one's own honey. We are all to
be summoned to our final account in
three years' time at the farthest ; but in
the meanwhile it will be very interesting to consi-
der the ways of bees ; and poor parish ministers,
cottagers who work all day for the squire, maiden
ladies (whether old or young we suppose doesn't
matter), and half-pay officers who are at present
given to "wild speculations" by which they too
frequently burn their fingers, "may add to their
little income, or stipend, or dividend, from ten to
twenty pounds a-year " by the pleasant business
of apiculture. This, calculating the time remain-
ing to us at three years clear, would be thirty or
sixty pounds in pocket—a sum not to be sneezed at
by any Sootchman. We can therefore perfectly
understand Dr. Cumming regarding the amount
with a certain reverence, in spite of the awful
oackground which he had previously provided. It
appears, moreover, that we are not forbidden,
during the intermediate time, to take delight in
elegancies and luxuries ; for we are specially
dialled on to note the charming appearance
on a breakfast table of " white cells filled
with honey in glas.ea," and we are given to
understand that to eat honey at breakfast will be
found much nicer and much more wholesome than
either butter or bacon. By what principle Dr.
Cumming reconciles these contradictions, it is not
for us to say, and in plain truth we should find it
difficult to guess. To the Caledonian mind, thrift-
iness is so great a virtue that it may perhaps stand
next to godliness ; but be this as it may, it is
certain that the Times "Bee Master" thinks we
shall do no harm by eating our own honey for
breakfast as long as we can, and pocketing our
bonus of ten or twenty pounds a year with the
pleasing thought that we have been very good
boys, even as Master Jack Homer pulled out a
plum from his Christmas-pie with the like couso-
ktory reflection. What we are now concerned with,
however, is not the Bee Master's viers on pro-
phecy, but his experiences in apiaries
and apiarian ways. The subject is so curious
and fascinating that it would be almost impossible
to write a bad book about it. The work before us
is little more than a compilation, somewhat hastily
executed to meet a sudden demand ; but it is un-
doubtedly entertaining, and will probably be found
useful by those who have been induced by the
original correspondence to give their attention to
bee-keeping. The author draws rather extensively
on the writings of previous bee-historians ; but to
these he adds the result of his own practice, which
seems to have been large. He describes the nature
and habits of his little pets, and gives elaborate
directions for the best way of keeping them, the
fittest mode of housing them, the method of swarm-
ing, and divers other things pertaining to apicul-
ture. Together with such useful information as
this, we have not a little amusing gossip ; but, on
the whole, the treatment is too desultory, the matter
too much broken up into fragments, the style too
trivial and fantastic. The original letters are printed
towards the doom of the volume, and, m giving
the actual experiences of ono who has made a prac-
tical study of bee-keeping, they are well worth re-
production. The author alludes to the violent and
abusive letters he has received from various corre-
spondents whose notions on the same subject he
has contradicted. Some of these letters appear to
have been ridiculous enough ; but it should not be
forgotten that the Bee Master himself provoked
this mode of treatment by introducing into his dis-
sertations a number of allusions and fanciful com-
parisons of a controversial character. Republicans,
Americans, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Spur-
geon, and Brother Ignatius, were duly rapped over
the knuckles because the bees do better than they ;
and this of course led to some squabbling. Dr.
Cumming turns the beehive into a species of pulpit,
and, tem that stand point, exhorts or satirises any
person or any j,;stitution he does not like. He in-
dulges in metaphors ts: a degree which impairs the
value of his science, and, after eyr;!ating his enemies
as much as he can, seems, very unreasonably, to be
surprised that they should dart out a sting or two
in return. Nothing can be more childish than such
sentences as:

Quern Victoria's court is modelled on the Apiaries
Queen's.
I said they (the bees) hate republicanism, sad so they do,
sad so do I. . . .I. If ever a people were in want of
a quests, they (the Atneriosns) are. Your correspondent
may like Abraham Linooln ; I infisitely prefer Queen Vic-
toria.

8008 teach a lawn of loyalty. They are monarchical by
essuiction and in practice. They love a queen whose
sovereignty is motherhood, and whose service is perfect
freedom. They detest your republics, and democracies,
sad radicalism in all its phases.
_ _

One of Dr. Cumming 's correspondeats describes
these and .imilar phrases as " mere old woman's
twaddle," and " nonsensical rant." Without
adopting such downright and uncivil language, and
setting aside any question as to the relative merits
of monarchy and republicanism, we must say that
such flights of fancy and outbreaks of personal
feeling as those in which the Bee Master seems fond
of indulging, are purely idle, and seriously depre-
date the worth of any testimony lie may have to
bring from personal obeercation as to the character
and habits of the most interesting of insects.

CSMON DPNLILe AND BROTHER IGNATIVIL —A t
the meetly' of Alm Church Pastoral Aid Society at Liver-
pool last week, Canon M'Neile spoke of the mooastic system
and of Brother Ignatius. He strongly advised that that
gentleman should be let elope and not abused, and this is
how be doe. it himself :—" There was one individual, whose
same he di I sot wish to mention, who was at this moment
presenting& sad picture of monomaniaism. He (the canon)
Led looked at that individual's eve closely, and if ever be
cow deep humility burning in an eye he saw it in Lis. God
forbid that he should speak with aught of levity and un-
kindness upon this 'abject. He deeply sympathised with
that young man in hie affliction. (Hear, hear.) The con-
centiatiou of the intellect upon one thing alone produced
monomania ; and if this individual was a monomaniac they
pitied him, but they would ant be such fools as to be led
away by him. (Applause.) They ought not to be so
vulgar and vainly curious se to run after him because
he had a shaves crown and an ugly, en-Esgliah, use.
natural garb. (Laughter and applause.) Let the man,
if he was a mule man, some attired and robed as others.
(Hear, hear.) Ile might be a deacon of the church, but be
sever had, and It was to he hoped never would, receive
priest's orders. (Hear.) Why, he seemed ashamed of his
same already. He was rightly the Rev. Mr. Lena, but, in-
stead of wing his diaconal 0111110, he designated himself
Brother Ignatius. If he was not in sympathy with the
Church of Rome, why did he wear her rags, sod bear her
titles and her names (Loud applause.) He (the canoe)
hoped those present would take the advice which he had
also gives in the city of Miumbeeter, and which he believed
would he taken by the large body of protestant.. worthy of
the name of this country. Let the man alone—(renewed
applause)—let them have nothing to do with him—don't
abuse him, don't follow him—don't lige, to him, and iosig-
Whams would soon smother him. Let them treat him
with entire indifference and contempt, and he would soon
rid then) of has presence." (Prolonged applause.)
THE ev ii.LIERs' STRIKE IN SOCTH STAFFORD-
SHIRE—On the conclusion of the examination of the nine-
teen men at Warm on Thursday, the lord-lieutenant of the
county end the stipendiary magistrates deemed it necessary,
from information they received, to send for eighty Lancers
from Birmingham, who were accordingly billetted about
Mpricioireen that night. A large body of police were posted
in the neighbourhood, but no colliers made their appear-
ance until about half-past six o'clock yesterday Serbia&
when SW marched along the road to, it is supposed, •
meeting at Dudley. They were without sticks or drums,
and, making no demonstration, wars allowed to go oa their
way.
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