The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1893-08-03 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

NAVY.—An officer in the navy says that the old severity and brutality of conduct towards the sailors is rapidly disappearing, and that, while di.. +line is strictly maintained, the officers try to make Lo men conform to it cheerfully. It is beginning tI e realised that a ship's company is a big family, :lei, member of which owes something to the others, and that work willingly done is better don* than s‘ hen the workman is kicked into doing it. Many of I e officers do a good deal for the men in the way of helpi•ig to get up amateur theatricals and other amusements, and siliors who keep sober and show industry get shore leave and other privileges. The use of gro„ is disappearing, and the cooking shows improvement, the officer of the deck sampling the liishes at each meal before they are placed on the mess tables.  LOVE OF MS SEVOATIONAL —A popular reader says that the majority of people demand emotional siul dramatic recitations, where the colour is laid on with a heavy brush.: "1 like to he curdled," said a holy to him one day. "I like that piece about a ....hid run over by a train. Oh, isn't it run over Well, you think it's going to be run over, and that's nearly as good." Another lady once asked with a vracions and sunny smile, "Don't you recite anything about a good murder ?" Occasionally some remarkable comment is made upon his work. He had put down Mrs. Browning's "Dead Pan " for a private recital,where he was sure the audience would te above the average,and would consequently under-teen it; yet one lady said quite audibly, as he was about to begin the poem: "What is the next piece? something funny I hope. Oh, yes, I see, "The Dead Pan.' Dear me, how odd! Of course it's tunny; something about bad cooking, I suppose:" LOST His Ssuer-Box.—Fowling is now very little practised in the Shetland Islands, although many -ggs are secured annually. Thrilling stories of fowling adventure are told by Shetlandere. The following anecdote is taken from "Sketches and Tales of shetland " : A man who had undertaken to climb a certain steep cliff, was neither very experienced nor very brace, although he boasted of being both. He pushed upward, however, briskly, without looking behind, till he had got up about 150 feet, when he stopped to breathe. The pause was fatal to his self-possession, and he called out in tones of terror, "Men, men, lam going—l am going." But he still held on for a little, and it was not till he had shrieked many times "1 am going," that he did fall headlong. His comrades, having been thus warned, moved the boat out of the way, so that the poor fellow came sheer down into the deep water. Mighty was the plunge, but at lengh he rose to the surface, when he was instantly caught hold of and dragged into the boat. After many gasps, and much spluttering of sea water from his mouth, his only remark was, "Eh, men, this is a sad story—l have lost my snuff-box." SAVED DT nos Doo.--The 'Naval and Military Sketch Book" contains a good story of a dog whose perseverance saved his master's life. In o year 1758, when the English made an attack upon St. Mato, a French shepherd was compelled to vet as guide to the Coldstream Guards, and pur-1 o,ely led them astray. General Vernon ordered him to be hanged. That officer used to say he never witnessed anything more affecting than the efforts of the shepherd's dog to hinder the men from putting the rope round his master's neck. The executioner had no small difti. culty in keeping the affectionate animal off,although assisted by two drummers who enjoyed the reputation of having been practiced dog stealers in West. minster. "But John Bull is a poor creature when it comes to the pinch," General \ mon used to add, when telling the story," and I could not find it in my heart to put the stubborn fellow to death for his patriotism. So, after well frightening him and almost breaking his heart by threatening to have his dog destroyed,l let him go, and the faithful creature with him."