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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



greater number of pitiless gunners have been at 

 work than we suspected we had amongst us. Our 

 winter visitants have been more than usually 

 numerous. The common and jack snipe, red- 

 wings, field-fares, wild ducks, wild geese, bram- 

 blings, and siskins, have abounded. The little 

 grebe, and the dun diver (the female of the 

 Mergus merganer), have occurred in the Dearne 

 valley. Woodcocks have been a little more plen- 

 tiful than of late years. One was aroused up in 

 Cockerham Gardens, Longman Row, close to the 

 town ; and a water hen was taken in the town, 

 which is yet kept alive. The more scarce water- 

 rail has been shot, as also the ash-colored shrike 

 or butcher-bird. — T. Lister, Barnsley. 



Delicacy and " Mock- Modesty." — Delicacy is 

 a lovely feature in a woman's character ; but it 

 must be genuine, — innate. Not that delicacy 

 which is perpetually in quest of something to be 

 ashamed of; which makes merit of a blush, and 

 simpers at the false construction its own ingenuity 

 has put on an innocent remark. This spurious 

 kind of delicacy is as far removed from good taste, 

 as from good feeling and good sense. The delicacy 

 I speak of, is the high-minded delicacy, which 

 maintains its pure and undeviating walk alike 

 among women as in the society of men — which 

 shrinks from no necessary duty, and can speak, 

 when required, with seriousness and kindness, of 

 things at which it would be ashamed to smile or 

 blush. That delicacy which knows how to confer 

 a benefit without wounding the feelings of another: 

 and which understands also how and when to 

 receive one. That delicacy which can give alms 

 without display, and advice without assumption ; 

 and which pains not the most susceptible being in 

 creation. — A Lover of the Fair Sex. 



Musical Instruments : — The Patent Harmo- 

 nium, and Improved Concertina. — Can you tell 

 me, my dear sir, anything about the Harmonium ? 

 I see-it advertised in your columns of last month. 

 I imagine it to be a kind of organ. Is it adapted 

 for a room, or for a church more particularly, — 

 and what is its capacity ? Residing at a remote 

 distance, I am unable to obtain a sight of the in- 

 strument; and knowing the kindness of your dispo- 

 sition, I consult you without offering any apology. 

 — Caroline E., Clitheroe. 



[What you allude to, mademoiselle, is an Organ 

 Harmonium, manufactured by Mr. W. Sprague, 

 7, Finsbury Pavement. We have been down to 

 make the requisite inquiries for you ; and can speak 

 very highly of the instrument, whose powers were 

 called into full action during our stay. It is 

 adapted excellently well for the drawing-room ; and 

 equally so for a church, chapel, or indeed any place 

 where devotional music is practised. Being of a 

 very convenient size, and occupying a very small 

 space, it is easily transportable ; and not liable, by 

 moving, to be injured in any way. The price is 

 twenty-five guineas; which may be increased, 

 according to the costliness of the external fitting- 

 up. In the hands of a good performer— one who 

 has a soul for music — the Harmonium is an instru- 

 ment of rare excellence. It is equally well adapted 

 for all the varied styles of music ; and possesses 

 the richness of a larger organ. The effects are 

 easily producible, — the tones being soft, mellow, 



or powerful at will ; in fact, there is a whole band 

 at the disposal of the performer. The touch is 

 beautifully delicate, — so delicate that the most 

 rapid passages can be played off as if by magic. 

 We should very much like to see one of these 

 Harmoniums placed in the village church at Acton, 

 where we often attend. At present, there is a 

 barrel-organ in use; which, being out of repair, 

 and many notes on it defective, the effect is dis- 

 cord in place of concord, and devotional harmony 

 or psalmody a misnomer. The cost is so very 

 trifling in comparison with the coveted gain, that 

 we trust our hint may be productive of good. The 

 common dimensions of the Harmonium, are, — 

 height, 3 feet ; width, 4 feet ; depth, 2 feet. 

 Mr. Sprague has also invented a very pretty little 

 musical instrument called the "Improved Con- 

 certina." It discourses, when played upon, the 

 most eloquent music, — combining distinct articu- 

 lation with the most rapid execution. It is very 

 easily learnt, extremely portable, of moderate cost, 

 and equally effective Tor a duet, trio, or quartette. 

 If you are in the habit of practising devotional 

 music at home, we strongly advise you to procure 

 a Harmonium. The melodious sounds we recently 

 heard, yet dwell with us ; and enable us to speak 

 of it with unqualified praise.] 



Another Snow Storm. — Our climate loves 

 variety, and indulges in it to the fullest extent. 

 Just when we were peeping out to greet the early 

 flowers, and mingle with the bees rejoicing in the 

 sunshine of a cloudless day, — lo, and behold, we 

 were on the very eve of weather, colder, perhaps, 

 (from the cutting winds) than any we had pre- 

 viously had. We rose on Saturday, Feb. 18, to 

 witness a snow scene, stretched, by the violence 

 of the wind, over the face of the whole country. 

 The landscape was one of unexampled beauty. 

 The previous night had been fearfully boisterous ; 

 the houses, right and left, had been shaken to 

 their very foundations; and the destruction of trees, 

 &c, was visible all around. The day, however, 

 dawned brightly; and unusual activity prevailed 

 in town and country. The sun's power, despite 

 the howling blast, rendered the picture a cheerful 

 one; and the "look out" was altogether pictu- 

 resque. The check thus given to vegetation, has 

 been a wdiolesome one ; and as the soil in most 

 places had been turned over, it has derived addi- 

 tional benefit from the fertilising influences of the 

 snow and frost. All promises well, everywhere ; 

 and if people continue to grumble, it is simply 

 because they are "used to it." As for the winds 

 and storms of March, let us face them bravely. If 

 they do some little injury, they also do infinite 

 service ; the one not for an instant to be set in the 

 balance against the other. We have faced the 

 winds of February, and we got the worst of it. 

 But that is over, and we have become " seasoned" 

 both to wind and weather. Another month, and 

 — then ! Meantime, we will watch our oppor- 

 tunity, and enjoy many a ramble in the open 

 fields; leaving the grumblers to crowd before 

 scorching fires, and to bewail their sorrows with 

 faces a yard long. How the dear sun must laugh 

 at such cowardice ! — W. K. 



American Railways. — It appears that the aggre- 

 gate length of railways open for traffic in the 



