Y

worse than colds and coughs., The ’lLth()— ritics justly pride themselves on their | high standard ol heaith.

SOLODOIFERS

AND SATLORS

1.49

well be made briefer, and, what is still more nmportant, the @umons should be a least specially written and adapted for Llu

N HOSPITALL” Bt

The purcly military side of the Asylum 1s best scen on Sundays, when the minia- ture red-coats are put through their weekly inspection and drill. T'he little ar my, cxtra- well groomed, and washed, and shined, as regards checks and boots, asscmbles on parade ground at ten o’clocik at tine sound of “church call” by the drums and fifes, and 1s disposcd in companies, with sergeants in cocked hats in front, whilst the recruits arc bchind. The real band boys, in their scarlet and gold coats, who arce a little way off, strikc up a charming march, and a moment later a clanking 1s heard, and up comes the Cumnmnddnt, to]lowcd by his Adjutant, in full military splendour. A\ severe inspection then takes place, followed by drill, gun practice, and finally a double- breasted march into chapel, in all of which —on the authority ot a distinguished mili- tary witness—the boys compare very advan- tavcously with the Regular Army.

After the last salute has been and the martial tramp sturdy feet has died away, we follow 1mto the pretty little chapel, whose pale olive- orcen walls and columns form an clfective bacl\glound to the scarlet glory of the ‘“sons of the brave.”

The chapel service is the one note in the whole Institution which jarred upon me and struck me as a little out of tunc. To begin with, as the congregation practi- cally consists of boys, the service might

ogven,

of hundreds of

lads. As one histened to the lengthy dis- course, 1t was mmpossible not to think what a magnificent opportunity the preacher lost. Here, Sunday after Sunday, at the most im- pressionable moment of their lives, come five hundred boys—solemn, silent, and reverent, and precisely m the mood to be impressed and mfluenced—who, a few years hence, will be taking part in that struggle for which the strongest and best cannot e oo well - equipped. Rightly concetved, 1t would be almost impossible to over-estimate the influence that a religious teacher with isight could exercise over the plastic characters and futures of these lads, sitting so still and attentive, as the light streams

through the windows upon the solemn boyish faces, and casts golden aurcoles

round the fair heads. Whether it was the stern eye of the sergeant or fear of being deprived of the stripe which entitles them to the privilege of going out alonce on Saturday afternoon; I lmow not ; but their immovable calm excited not my admiration but my envy, when I found my- sclf less successful 1in suppressing yawns, My intercsting visit to the Asylum was concluded by a swht of the firc-cscape at work, a fire having been especially requisi- tioned for my bcncht much to the delight of the boys, who regarded the whole matter as a huge joke, encouraging the lucky ones who were chosen to descend the canvas cylinder with cries of * Come down head