ment is got up for the last day of the carnival, regardless of expense and trouble. One year it was the wood industry of the country that was represented. Two masked men as man and wife (the latter specially grotesque and hideous) drew about a hand-cart with faggots, as if for sale. Next came an imitation of the wood being floated down the rivers, as is done in spring, when the streams are in flood from the melting of the snow and from rain. The wood was rolled along the street, while men and women, dressed as they would be on such an occasion, pretended to be wading and drawing out the wood to shore with the small, longhandled axes and hooks they employ for that purpose. off the peculiar dress, and strolled back to the place from which he had started, while another man of the same size, and dressed as he had been, came running in appar. ently from the top of the village, but really from behind a house close by; so of course the horseman was beaten by many minutes. There was also a menagerie of stuffed and made-up animals, and though in the description it may seem but little, the absurdity of the whole thing was very entertaining. But of all their entertainments the one on which they seem most to pride themselves was the representation of what a Bavarian wedding in the mountains used to be, as now they prefer taking a little jaunt, or making use of the money in some other way, to spending so much on the wedding feast. The bridegroom chosen was a good-looking married mason, the bride the pretty daughter of the tanner. They were dressed in old-fashioned costumes; the man had a long coat, kneebreeches, and shoes with buckles; the girl also had shoe-buckles, and she wore a handsome short bodice, with white sleeves, and a sort of crown on her head, with long plaits of wadded, light-colored satin hanging down her back. They went together everywhere to invite the guests, accompanied by the master of the ceremonies and a band of curious old instru ments, more quaint than harmonious, of the same date as the dress. A saw-mill worked by ingenious machinery paraded the streets. But the chief thing was a race as to who could turn out one of the little wooden casks for plaster of Paris, before mentioned, in the shortest time. A platform was erected along the street in front of the principal hotel; on this were seated all who wished to contend, having their tools and mere blocks of wood beside them. On a given signal all began stripping off the laths required, putting them into position, bending them round, etc. With those not very dexterous, the whole thing has a knack of collapsing when just on the point of completion, and all has to be put together again. Unfortunately for the man who was the first to accomplish the task, he A cart supposed to contain the bride's paused to look about him before an- possessions passed, all decorated, with nouncing the fact, and the second shout- much ceremony through the village. The ing out before him, gained the first prize. bride in Bavaria is supposed to furnish The time taken was three-quarters of anthe entire house, so the cart was well piled hour. Another year there was an imaginary fair. Booths were erected and grotesque figures hawked their wares. One man looked specially absurd; he was of somewhat small stature, and was dressed in a lady's embroidered linen dress and hat, and had a wig of flax, and rouged cheeks. One great feature of the fair was a lot tery, the prizes being supplied by begging from house to house for anything that could be given, whether of any value or not. The tickets were 10 pf. (about 1d.), and all got prizes, though one might have a dirty old glove, while the next had something pretty and useful. Another part of the programme was a race between a man on horseback and one on foot all round the village; the man on foot to have a certain start. He started off at full speed, but directly he was out of sight, he went behind some houses, took up. Conspicuous in front was the spinning-wheel, ornamented with flowers and blue and white ribbons (the Bavarian colors), and at the back there was a cradle, as this used always to be the rule. Sometimes the bride herself used to be mounted on the top of the things, in which case the bridegroom had to be at the door of the new home to lift her down and over the threshold, and to carry the beds and cradle to their places. But at other times it is only the sempstress, who has been employed to assist in preparing the things, that accompanies them; and in this case this sempstress was personated by a grotesque, masked man in woman's attire. At 6 P.M. the guests all assembled at the principal hotel, formed a procession, and, accompanied by the band, marched to the inn where the entertainment was to take place. There they sat down to I may mention that no carnival amusements of any kind took place at Ammergau itself this year, because of the solemn ceremonial before them. eat and drink at different tables, the place | accompanying him. But so great is their of honor being near the happy pair. ingenuity, it would be impossible to tell of About eight, dancing began in the adjoin- all their fanciful doings. ing room, communicating with the one in which the guests were assembled, the dancers returning to their tables at the conclusion of each dance. Honored guests arriving in the course of the even- The great out-of-door recreation of the ing were met by the band at the head of men is a species of curling with wooden the staircase, and welcomed with a flour-stones (if one may be excused using such ish of instruments; and the same cere- an expression) instead of the heavy granite mony attended their leaving. ones of Scotland. After a time came the giving of the presents, each guest in turn walking up to the bride and bridegroom with a sum of money or some other gift, and after handshaking and drinking of healths returning to his or her seat. Of course the presents in this case were as absurd as possible. At the conclusion of this there came a long speech from the master of the ceremonies, and then dancing recommenced, but not indiscriminately. The bride and bridegroom had first to take a turn together, then the master of the ceremonies with the old woman called the braut mutter, who notes and takes charge of the presents, and who may be called the mistress of the ceremonies. After this the married people danced, and then the unmarried. This done, dancing became general. But the bridegroom had to dance with every lady guest who cared to dance, and with any girl he saw sitting from want of a | partner. One incident that often happens at a Bavarian wedding was left out that evening. While the bridegroom is dancing, the bride is often carried off by some of the young men and hidden, when the bridegroom has to redeem her by paying for a certain amount of beer and cigarettes. This arranged, the bride is brought out of her hiding-place, the band turning out and accompanying her back in triumph. Occasionally the entertainment chosen is a play acted on a stage erected in the open air, on some convenient spot; and the natives really seem born actors, so capitally do they perform their parts. Besides the great entertainment of the day, there are numerous small amusements, such as a man walking about with something resembling a fishing-rod, with ginger-bread or some such sweet attached to the end of the line; this the children try to seize, and find it cleverly jerked from their grasp. Another is a masked man dressed as a mountebank, with bells hung on his person, which he sets ringing by dancing in a particular way, a man playing some sort of instrument generally The children amuse themselves with small sleighs, like the American toboggan. These are too well known in England now to require describing, but it may be said that no idea of the excitement of the amusement in these altitudes can be had in our British clime. Swift as lightning do they glide down the roads into the valleys, on tracks ground smooth as glass by the passing of horse-sleighs; or still more rapidly do they skim over the snowcovered grass slopes, especially when the surface has been turned into ice by the alternate influences of sun and frost — ice so hard as to give severe cuts when an upset takes place. Sometimes on these snow-slopes sudden dips occur, causing the sleigh to leave the ground and go through the air till it again comes in contact with the surface of the snow. Thirtysix feet have been measured from where a sleigh has jumped to where it alighted, and it may be imagined that the slightest loss of balance at such a moment might cause a very serious accident. No wonder gentlemen have said the sensation was more that of hunting than of anything else. These little sleighs are helps to children who have to go daily to school from the surrounding mountain hamlets; for go they must through frost and snow, or rain and slush even little delicate-looking children may be seen trudging home in the afternoon a distance of three and four miles in all weathers. Arrangements are generally made for them to have dinner in one of the little inns. A lady, thinking of the cold the poor little wet feet must suffer during the long school-hours, negotiated with the owner of a house close to the school for any who liked to change shoes and stockings on arrival and before starting again in bad weather; but not one child availed him or herself of the permis sion, showing how lightly they esteem what we should consider not only a grave discomfort, but a real danger. Certainly they are usually well shod, and warmly clad, and head well protected, girls with hoods, boys with comfortable caps. But what can withstand the soaking, penetrating effects of sleet and slush! The country postmen, too, have what Englishmen would think a hard time, as they have to carry letters to all the hamlets round in all weathers. Fortunately for them, the Bavarian peasant does not take his daily paper, and his letters are few and far between. Happily, too, for both them and the school-children and also for the people in general, hot sunshine and clear, still air is the rule most seasons for a large proportion of the winter days. my fate, and without making light of it, have ceased to think about it, or regard it as interfering materially with the ordinary conduct of daily life. Very well, then. I chanced some three years ago to be staying with some friends in their country-house-not very far from London, but nevertheless situated in a delightfully rural and secluded district. My host and hostess lived in good style; kept much company, and entertained in munificent fashion. Most of their friends, too, were wealthy; and the jewelry, as I was told, which occasionally sparkled Imperceptibly these winter days fly within those hospitable walls represented quickly by, till in March comes a thaw. large sums of money. It was a thor. Rapidly the snow vanishes, and its place oughly easy-going establishment; meals is taken by countless flowers. White were made movable festivals to suit the snowflakes, pink heath, blue hypaticas, varied arrangements which a constant proyellow oxlips, blue gentians, pink primu- gramme of amusement sometimes enlas, golden coltsfoot, purple and pink lungwort, purple and white crocuses, and many others, come on in rapid succession. Winter is a thing of the past, but it leaves behind many pleasant memorics; and the labors and pleasures of spring and summer are entered upon with all the more zest, because of the complete change of thought and occupation the renewed life of nature brings with it. So season by season passes life's little day for these Bavarian peasants, as for us. Happy those who are enabled to fulfil therein the work God has given them to do. H. C. WARD. From Chambers' Journal. AN ADVENTURE QUITE IN THE DARK. BLIND men, however sharpened their remaining senses may become, would not exactly be selected as the fittest agents for the purpose in which I once found myself engaged. Still, there is no knowing to what they may have to put their wits; and although I have no pretensions to being sharper than the rest of my fellow-sufferers, or claim the possession of any especial dodginess, yet there is no doubt when one has to rely very persistently on all one's faculties in order to keep fairly abreast of ordinary mortals, it is wonderful how quick the apprehension and the power of drawing conclusions become. You are not concerned with the history of my infirmity-how I lost my sight and so forth-it is enough for the present purpose if I say that I have been blind for some twenty years that I have grown quite accustomed and reconciled to tailed. The month was August; the weather was fine and hot; and on the particular evening in question, it so happened the dinner was to partake of the character of supper, to suit the convenience of the house-party, who were going on some picnic boating excursion on the neighboring Thames. Now I did not join them for two rea sons-firstly, because I wanted to enjoy the quiet and peace of the house, gardens, and shrubberies when entirely deserted; secondly, because, always rather a bad sleeper, I had been more than usually wakeful for some nights, and I determined to go to bed early and to take a certain narcotic which had been recommended as quite harmless and exceedingly pleasant. It consisted of a powder, and the directions said it was to be mixed with a pint bottle of light claret- a glass or two of which might be taken on going to bed or in the course of the night, if occasion required. Early in the evening I secured the wine from the butler, and myself mixed it with the drug by simply shooting the latter dexterously into the bottle. Then I shook it, corked it, and stood it on the bed-table with a large claret-glass, to be ready for use when I retired for the night. This I did as I proposed a little before ten, at which time I was the sole occupant of the house, with the exception of the servants. Their quarters, with kitchen, etc., lay at the extreme opposite wing from that in which my bedroom was sit uated. Thus, as I crept up the main staircase with the aid of my stick, and by feeling the well-known landmarks by which I am always able to guide myself after very Nevertheless, I a sense of loneliness. "Who is there? Speak,' I cried. "Who are you, and where are you?" little practice along passages and corri- However, I began slowly to undress a blind man has to do most mechanica! things slowly, if he would not be perpetually bruising or maiming himself, and so I went on for a few minutes fumbling about with my garments as usual, depositing each in its accustomed place, for only by that means are we incapables able to find any object with certainty again. Suddenly I thought of the purpose which had brought me to bed so early, and began to doubt if I was going through a good preparation for giving the sleeping draught a fair chance. I had grown wider and wider awake every moment from that when, ascending the stairs, I had first felt No reply. I listened intently; not a sound broke the stillness of the sweet autumn night. Taking my stick, I thrust it under the bed, and round about in various corners of the room. The furniture appeared a little disarranged, but otherwise there was no evidence of the presence of any human being. Very strange, I thought. Anyway, I must ring for the footman for I may say here that I dislike being valeted; and beyond indispensable assistance, prefer doing everything as much as I can for myself, especially in my bed As my hand passed across the corner of the table, it knocked something off on to the ground which rattled like tin and glass. Not stopping to investigate, the next discovery my sensitive fingers made on the table was some short iron tool. I took it up and felt it; but could not make out what it was, so proceeded to grope for the bell-rope close to the bed-head. Now, with all that had gone before, imagine my sensations when, as my fingers passed over the edge of the pillow on their way to the top of the bedstead, they fell warm human cheek! Yes! the cheek of a man, as I knew instantaneously from his sparse beard, whisker, and hair! Imagine my sensations, I say, at that moment! upon a That I was startled beyond expression, I admit; but I checked my impulse to shout aloud. I stepped back into the middle of the room, bumping against a chair or something in my haste. In two seconds, however, I collected my wits. Quick as thought, almost, I drew my conclusions and settled what to do. I went to the window, closed and fastened it as securely and as noiselessly as I could, for I had no desire to disturb the intruder, who, so far, except for the warmth of his ཤ་ flesh, apparently showed no sign of life my quick ear told me that. I stood still for a moment listening, and could not even hear him breathe. Then I crept to the door, felt for the key, which had been, I knew, inside; but it was no longer in the lock. By great good luck, just as I was debating how I might secure the door on the outside, my foot trod on what I knew to be the key. It was lying close to that wedge-like bit of wood with the screw which had first attracted my attention. I now guessed what it was; so picking it up with the key, I passed out into the passage, softly closed and locked the door after me, and jammed the bit of wood in the crack beneath it. At least, I thought, whoever you are, you shan't get out this way. Then I made what haste I could along the corridor and down the stairs, rang the dining-room bell, and in a few minutes had told my story to the butler. He was for immediately rushing off upstairs to see about it all. 66 'No, no, Pitts," said I. "Wait a bit. Call two of the footmen, and let them take up a position where they can see that no one leaves that room. Go out and get hold of two or three gardeners — anybody, and post them under the window. Then start off somebody from the stable to the village for the constable-for two constables, if there are two. Now, quick's the word. The fellow is sound asleep, whoever he is, but we may as well make sure who he is." These orders were rapidly carried out; and in less than half an hour two stalwart policemen arrived. One joined the men under the window, the second, the headconstable, went up-stairs with the butler and me. He was the first to enter the room; I slipped in last to listen. Hullo, my man, what are you up to here? Come, wake up — give an account of yourself." ter too, by jigs. You are an ugly customer and no mistake, you are! What a lucky thing you're so sound asleep-too-o be sure; and I'll make sure of you, my friend, while I've got the chance anyhow. These 'ere bracelets will fit you like gloves. There!" A pause again a little fumbling, followed by the audible click of the handcuffs. "Call up my mate, sir, will you, please?" This no doubt to the butler, who, going to the window and opening it, shouted to the man below, who soon entered the room. Then I could guess pretty well from the sound what they did, which of course was to lug the fellow off the bed, thinking that would wake him; but although he fell on to the floor with a heavy thud, it appeared to do nothing of the kind. Then the thought suddenly flashed through my mind that he had drunk deeply no doubt of my particular brew; and remembering that the bottle was empty, I trembled lest, having taken half-a-dozen doses of the fascinating mixture at once, he might never recover from his sleep. So stepping forward, I stated my surmise as to what had happened, and said: "You had better send for a doctor immediately.' Well, p'raps so, sir," agreed the constable; "it would be best, anyways, for he's about as heavy a bit of goods to move as I've come across for a long while." 66 Then they laid the huge, burly burglar on the floor, propped up his head, and left him in charge of the officers till the doctor arrived. He did so just as my hosts and their friends returned from their excursion, and you may judge of the excitement that followed throughout the household. The medical man, after due examination and suggesting certain douches of cold water, etc., reassured us all with the hope that he would not die. My assumption as to the cause of his coma was so feasible as not to admit of dispute. Doubtless by aid of his dark lantern he saw the bottle of wine with its label announcing it to be Medoc of the first quality. Tasting and trying, and finding it to be a light and agreeable fluid, he drained the bottle at a gulp, probably as the first step towards giving him the necessary courage and strength to proceed with the business of the night. In this he was probably interrupted by the rapid action of the exces sive dose, and feeling suddenly overcome by a drowsy stupor, had staggered to the bed, and thrown himself helplessly on it. The fellow had entered the room, of course, by the balcony, having hauled |