THE MAILS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8006, 18 December 1905, Page 4

THE MAILS.

MONDAY. IIKCKMIII-.K 1* For Wellington ami S.ull i- Orinuu. at ln.'lit a.m. For Auckland anil North, |ki- Kara* a, at " P "1. TI'KSKAY, HKCKMIIKK fT Parcel mail lor I mt>il kimrdom and I'uniinriit "I Euroiie. |*-r Uinmtaka from Wellington, at ■'■ pin. due Lulu lon Jan. 30. For Wellington ami South, per Tukapuna. «t U> .:tti a.m. For Auckland ami North, i>cr liotoiti, at 7 p in. WEDNESDAY, DECEJIIM--.lt 2". Fur Auckland and North, ikt Hainwa, at 7 p.m. THURSDAY. DKCKMBF.iI 21. For Wellington, and Smith, pei Koloiti, at 10.30 a.m. For Auckland and,-North per Takapuua at 7 p.m. FltlllAV. HKCRMiIF.It 22. For Australian States, i-tc. at G. 15 a.m., due Sydney IW. 27. For Auckland and North, arawa, at 7 p.m. SATIHPA\. HKCF.MHI-'.l: 2:!. For Australian State*, etc.. at 7 p.m.. dm- Sydney Dec. 20. For Ceylon, Indiq, China. Strait-, Settlements. Mauritius. Mediterranean Ports ami Continent, ot Enrol*-, via Suez lior correspondence specially addressed only) at 7 p.m.. due London Fell. I. For South Aliica. |»-r Persic from Mi'lboutnc. at 7 p.m.. due Durban about Jan. 27. The next liest despatch ior Contir. ent of Europe ami F idled Kindlons will Ije via San Francisco, at. the chief Cost (Hike, X«-w Plymouth. on Thursday, 2Sth inst.. at 7 p.m.. due London Jan. 27, liM.Mi. Mails for Fiji. Canada. I uit.-s Stales of America. Continent ni F.'h rope, ami tinted Kingdom, via \ ancouver. close at Auckland Pec. 2.. 12.45 '.p.m.. due I.omlnn dan. -'II (correspondence to be spi-cially addressed). Mads for Tonga. P: a. and Fiji per Xlanapoiiri close Auckland .lan. Hi. at in. I-*) a in. Mails for Horn tonga and Tahiti, and also Penrhyn. pur Tnvmiii. close Auckland -lan. 23, at 3.t*> p.m. 4 Panel mail lor Continent of Ki: rope and United Kin-jdnn. per 1.'.mitaka. do** at Wellington on Dec. 21, due London Jan. 30. New South Wales regulations provide that articles addressed to tobcrt, Kllicc, Santa Crm, Short land. Banks, Union and New Hebrides Group and Ocean Island cannot be accepted lor registration, nor can registered corrcspomli'M-e. for any ol them be received. An arrangement has been sanctioned for transmission of registered mail matter for British Solomon Islands, via Sydney. F D. IIoI.IiSWHUTII, Chief Post mast. r.

The Reformation of Mp. Sylvester By the way, this is not exactly a story, or • romance, or anything of that sort, but it is ■imply a history in which a large moral is to be found. Hugh Sylvester was handsome ; that fact *a»i fadeniable. And before he had married Ml petty wife he had been quite indispepeatia at every fete, soiree, garden party and fcnee. In fact, they made of Hugh Sylvester quite a little tin god, and as time went on ht grew to regard himself in such a light. How this was a great pity, for he was one of the best of fellows, if only his friends would not try to spoil him. How he escaped the clutches of various Watchmaking mothers and how he came to marry the girl he loved, is quite another story, the history of which I do not propose to set down here. Our acquaintance commences with Mr. Hugh Sylvester after he had been married some months. The Sylvesters occupied a nice little villa —one of the latest triumphs of the builder's desire to economically benefit young married couples. The locality, too, was a very nice one—on the verge of the countryside and yet within easy reach of town. Mr. Sylvester's salary, while not large, was quite sufficient for comfort and the swelling of a bank account. In addition to all these advantages, Hugh and Madge Sylvester were very much in love with one another. Then, one naturally says, what more do they want? There was, however, a flaw in the setting which did not appear until just about the time when we make the the Sylvesters. The origin of the said flaw, lay, of course, in that failing of Hugh Sylvester which I have just chronicled. He had set himself op on a pinnacle, or rather it was the doing of other people, and while deeply in love with his wife, he had grown to regard her as —well, just as some one belonging to him | who would do all he required and worship ! him into the bargain. I do not think he was actually vary conceited, but the homage and attention he had : received before he was married had given him a remarkably good opinion of himself. ' Inns it became apparent to Mrs. Sylvester that Mr. Sylvester was not quite all he might be in the matter of bis treatment toward her. He had everything he required and would have been surprised if his wife did not sec that ha was as comfortable as he could be, and perhaps at her expense. And there lies the secret of the flaw. Madge Sylvester was too fond of her husband to deny him anything, and in consequence be developed a large bump of selfishness. " My dear Madge," remarked Mrs. Cheesborough, as she sat at tea in the Sjlvester flat, "you pamper up your husband of yours [ too much. You teed him on the fat of the land until he regards his home as a restaurant and orders anything he fancies, no matter bow much trouble it causes; you conform to every opinion of his, you wait on him hand and foot and do his every bidding. " And what is the result, what do you get ! for it all 1 Why, simply that his lordship is graciously pleased to allow you to work for him, until extravagances become duties and ordinary duties are thankless tasks. Now, my dear, yon can get cross if you like, but I've wanted to say it for some time and now I've said it."

Madge Sylvester remained mute, and sat with a thoughtful expression puckering up her pretty face. Presently she said: " I'm afraid you're right. I have noticed that Hugh wants a lot of things done and never troubles to inquire whether they entail much work or not. But then, you see, I'm M fond of him that I don't mind what I do."

" H'm 1" remarked Mrs. Cheesborough. "And joa're going just (he way to lose his lore bj pampering him so." Her only reply was a very astonished look from Madge. "Now, listen to me, my dear," vent on Mrs. Cheesborongh, and for the next half hour she gave a considerable amount of advice of a wholesome nature to Madge Sylvester. And when she left at about 6 o'clock, these mysterious remarks might have been heard:

"Now, you'll do all I bars suggested, won't you, Madge? " " Yes, demr."

" Then His Imperial Majesty will become Prince Charming again. Good bye, Madge." "Good bye, Maud." And that was the Reformation Council.

On the following evening at about halfpast sil Mr. Sylvester arrived home and let himself in with the latchkey. He walked Into the dining-room, but, to his surprise, found it empty. I say he wa3 surprised, for Mrs. Sylvester made a rule of rushing to relieve him of his coat, bat and stick and then put them in their various resting places. Mr. Sylvester stood waiting for some minutes") and then with an injured air exerted himself sufficiently to remove his outdoor garb. Then he gazed into a mirror, adjusted hii tie, smoothed his hair, curled his mustache, and, with a ielf-satisL<ed smile went to look for his wife. He found her in an ea»/ chair in the bedroom reading a novel. He stood in the open door and waited for her to rush to him, but she neither rushed nor looked, simply turned over another page. In a much injured tone he said : " Madge 1" and again waited for her to fly shim. Then she did look, but did not fly. "Hullo, Hugh I" she said, "Back again?" He was too astonished to respond. " Well, aren't you going to kiss me ? " she went on. Mechanically he went across and kissed her. There was something wrong here, he thought, while he thoughtfully tugged at his moustache. " I suppose you want some dinner now ? " was the next remark that fell on his astonished ears. "Er—yes—of course," he stammered. Whereupon Mrs. Sylvester got up and sailed out of the room, gaily bamming a lively tune. Hugh Sylvester stood and gazed in wonderment at bis wife's disappearing figure. Left to himself he collapsed into a chair, and thought until he was almost green in the face and his moustache loose with fierce tugging. '• Dinner is ready, Hugh! " " Dicner can wait I " Hugh savagely muttered to himself, and he still sat thinking. Presently his wife called him again: " Your dinner is getting cold Hugh." Then he jumped up and hurried to the dining-room, where he found his wife half way through her dinuer. "Well,you might have waited for me," he grumbled. •'My dear boy," replied Madge, "Hold you ten minutes ago that your dinner was ready." " But when I didn't come yon could easily have waited. What is for dinner ? " "Veal, dear." " Teal! " he cried. " Yes, Hugh. A very nice cut indeed." " But, Madge," he cried, in an excessively injured tone, "you know I don't care much for veal." " But I like it better than any other joint, Hugh. And this is the first time we have had it since we have been married." | Mr. Sylvester ate his dinner in ungracious silence. v i o\Yhcn the meal was over and all cleaned away, K;. Sylvester picked up a book and began to rstd. He filled his pipe and lit it,

nnd was beginning to feel very comfortable whon suddenly be heard his wife's voice. "Hugh I" ■* Hullo I" was thai gentleman's not very gracious response. " I want some coal brought in, will you come and do it for me, pleaße ? " Had she asked him to get the moon I doubt if he would have been more astonished. Never since they had been married hud he done anything of that sort. Surely that wasn't for him to do. But, however, he slowly and reluctantly closed his book, and with a much aggrieved air he managed tc raise sufficient energy to fill the scuttle and carry it to the dining-room, but he did it with very bad grace. Then again he arrayed himself before the. fire, with the self-con-ecious air of one who has done noblo deeds. " Hugh 1" It was his wife's voice again. Was he never to have any peace ? '■ Well 1" he called. " You might come here and men this jar down for me." " Great Scott 1" he muttered, "J6aman never to get any rest? " Then he departed to the kitchen. " What is it you want?" he demanded. " You see that jar of pickles on the top Bhelf; well I want it got down." " Jupiter I Well, couldn't you get at it without troubling me ? " " Oh, Hugh, it's not often I ask you to dc anything. You see, you have to have the steps, and they are down in the basement; then if you'll get those we can get at the jar all right." Slowly he departed down the stairs, and in about ten minutes' time came back again, puffing and grunting, with the pair of steps on his back. •'Now, then," he said, grumblingly, " I'll get the jar down." "It's all right, Hugh. I got it down myself as you were such a long time gone, by pulling the table over to the wall and putting the chair on it. Will you carry the steps back again novL please? " Mr. Sylvestfr's thoughts would have rivalled Turner's painting of Venice for picturesque and lurid coloring. But with mighty self-control he restrained himself and started out of the kitchen on his journey back. No sooner had he gone than Mrs. Sylvester shook with laughter, while she softly murmured : " Poor, dear old boy. He doesn't take to it very well." When Mr. Sylvester returned to the din-ing-room again his wife was very comfortably reclining in the arm-chair which he had vacated. Again he thought considerably. Presently he had to go out into the scullery to fetch his slippers, a thing that his wife had always hitherto done. And when he retired to rest that night he was in a decidedly dissatisfied frame of mind.

Much the same sort of thing happened the next evening and the evening after that, though, Mrs. Sylvester has since said, it was as much as she could do to refrain from departing from the counsel of the Council and milking Hugh sit down while she waited nnd fussed over him; but, luckily, she persevered. On the Thursday night, though, name the crowning stroke of all. When Mr. Sylvester reached home he found a note stating that his wife had gone shopping with Mrs. Chcesborough and would not be back until about 8 o'clock.

The note went on to say that there was some steak in the larder, and the potatoes and cabbage were all ready for boiling on the gas stove. Mr. Sjlvester was absolutely dumbfounded; such a thing had never happened before. Dut still, there was only one thing to do, so he got to work. " How to be happy though married," he groaned, as he hopped round the kitchen on one foot—the other having unfortunately gut in the way of the frying pan which he bad npset; he had also burned bis lingers in his attempt to save it.

But he eventually got the steal; in the frying pan, and lit the gup under it. Then it occurred to him that he hud seen his wife put grease into the trying pun when she was cooking. Whereupon he skirmished (or grease.

After some trouble ho found a cup standing on a shelf in the larder, which he pounced upon. "Ha 1 The very thing! "he cried. "I'm sure lard is greasy." Then he placed a large portion in with tho steak, and turned the gas on full under the meat and vegetables. The meat smelt very peculiar as it was cooking, and while Mr. Sylvester rushed Ic the door to answer a tradesman, the steak became a glorious black color. However, ho placed it on a hot plate in the oven to keep warm while the vegetables cooked. Presently he came to the conclusion that they had cooked lone; enough, and removed both saucepans into the scullery, line ho attempted to pour the water ofi", with the result that half went up his sleeves, and with an agonising yell, he dropped tho whole affair. Potatoes flew everywhere ; Mr. Sylvestel spoke fluently. However, he collected as many as he possibly could, and placed them with the steal; and cabbage. "lteckon the drains must he out of order.'' he muttered, as he cairicd his dinner ink the dining-room. , He arrayed himself at the table and he set to work on the food before him, with much gusto. Suddenly he gave vent to an ex clnmatiou of disgust, then he groaned and wanted to die. Slowly he staggered to an armchair nnd fell into it, ali the time moaning in an agonising manner. In the midst his wile entered and gazed al him in terrified surprise. Then she rusheu across to him. "Hugh!" she cried, "whatever is tho matter? " Feebly he pointed to the dinner and groaned out: " I've been poisoned Madge. Oh, let me die in peace! " " What do you mean, Hugh ? " she asked in concerned tones. Then she commenced to sniff, and cried : " Whatever have you been doing with beeswax, Hugh? " " Beeswax? "he moaned. " When ? " Then she suddenly glanced at his plato and saw that Uhe gravy, now nearly cold, was fast settling in a white mass. Then she bent over and smelt it. " Why," she cried, "you've got beeswax here." " That's lard," he feebly remonstrttei, " I got it out of the cupboard." "What from, a cup?" questioned his wife. "Yes." " Why, that was beeswax," she cried. "Oh!" With a shriek of dismay he rushed from the room, and about half an hour afterwards returned, very pale nnd white, but quite well again. Ilis appearance so upset Madge that the Council's counsel was quite forgotten but then of course, he was an invalid that night. However, I hnppened to call round there not long ago and surprised Sylvester in the -net of bringing up more eo;il. nnd be was whistling over it, too. And no longer U Madge simply Mr. Sylvester's wite, nor ,li«v. Mr. Sylvester still imagine himself a little tin god, hut they are one of the happiest couples 1 know.

Rain [alls Kore frequently between tl.ree o'llcclt ami eiglito'clock in the morning than it »ny other time during the day.