The record-union., 1899-11-19

In France, recently, 1 joined in a con-
versation of'which Russia was the sub
ject. We discussed it's people and Ian
guage, matters of which I am pro-
foundry ignorant, and which 1 was
therefore able to approach with an
open mind. AS evidence of freedom
from prejudice, I began by suggesting
|, that the Russians We're race os semi
barbarians, speaking so crude a jargon
that for all practical purposes it had to
be superseded by French. But gen
tleman, in some way which 1 could not
understand connected with public in
struction in France, who spoke as one
having authority, assured me that, SO
far from this being the case, no more
romantic or more gentle hearted a peas
antry existed, while they were blessed
with language of such exquisitely
poetic form that the tenderest sentences
had been crystallized into single words
He then pronounced something which
he said was a single word meaning
that one being but to gaze into whose
eyes suffices to wholly satisfy ones
love-" His statement may have been
accurate; I was certainly powerless to
refute him; but it seems an extensive
meaning for one word and I must say
I should like little verifcation If the
readers of Notes and Queries" bear
him out, Russian must be an entertain
ing language to study, and 1 think I
shall make a start myself as soon as I
meet with a teacher competent to fur
nish the requisite explanatory demon
STATIONS.
We NAV Droha hlv 1ooly forv-or1 70
book of impressions of the East from
the hand of Rider Haggard, who will
spend the next winter in Cyprus, Egypt
and the Holy Land
Vailima, the Samoan home of r. L.
Stevenson, has been sold, it is>reported
to wealthy German named Kunst,
who spends half the year in cruising
about the Pacific and who wants ap-
parently point of departure for Ger
many, where he lives during the other
six months. There are 800 acres in the
Vailima estate, and it is understood
Herr Kunst paid $4,000 for it.
Mr.. Kipling is going to travel in Scot
land the coming winter, and has con-
sented to give lecture before Scotch
Students Dialectic Society.
Modern life in the great cities of Lon
don and Paris is to be described in
1.-THE Century next year by Richard
Whiteing and Sir Walter Besant. The
latter will deal with Life in the East
End of London and his papers will be
illustrated by Phil May and Joseph
Pennell. The Illustrations of Mr.. White
ing's articles on Paris will be prepared
by Andre Castaigne.
The festival in celebration of the fifth
centenary Of the birth of Gutenberg,
the inventor of letter press printing.
will take place at Mainz next June.
There is to be an exhibition in three sec
tions-the historical, the graphic and
the mechanical. The first will COM
prise examples of the printing art c.
all times and nations, together with i'm
plements and machines-the object be-
ing to show the development of the let
ter press printing from the beginning.
The second will contain the completest
display possible of the graphic arts III
their present state of perfection" The
machines, in the third section, may per-
haps be shown in actual operation
While space in the first two sections
will be free to exhibitors, low charge
will be made for room in the machine
section, for which special premises have
to be erected. Firms intending to ex
hibit machines are invited to send in
their applications, if possible, by the
eEd Of this month. The machines will
be driven by electro motors connected
with the city electric works
Mrs. F. H. Burnett's forthcoming nov
Ell, THE Great De Willoughby Claim,
is nearly ready for publication. 1t is an
American book, and many Of its scenes