ilarating conversations with their wives. To be
sure, wives are too often ignorant of the subjects that interest
intelligent men; still, not more ignorant than before marriage, when the
one bridge upon which they could meet was unbroken. _Then_ conversation
never flagged: it was ever new and entrancing. Both talked pure
nonsense, while having the art of "kissing full sense into empty words."
On the other hand, it is, I think, quite a defensible proposition,
despite the inferences to the contrary drawn from the failure of the
Women's Hotel, that women enjoy conversation with women more than with
men when there is no possible question of gallantry or flirtation; and,
finally, that the recognition of the fact that men and women are not by
nature in sympathetic accord, but only attracted through the law of
compensation or opposites, will do more than all other things combined
to make them study each other's natures and to respect sexual biases and
characteristics, the motive for that study being, of course, the
consummation of the ideal marriage, where man and woman set themselves
together "like perfect music unto noble words."

M.H.

A RUSSIAN GENERAL IN CENTRAL ASIA.

Afternoon in Tashkent, the burning sun of Central Asia glaring upon the
dusty streets and countless mud-hovels of the great city; files of
camels gliding past with their long, noiseless stride, led by gaunt
brown men in blue robes and white turbans; a deep archway in a high wall
of baked earth, above which appear the trees of a spacious garden, and
just within the entrance two tall, wiry, black-eyed Cossacks, in flat
forage-caps, soiled cotton jackets and red goatskin trousers, leaning
indolently on their long Berdan rifles.

At my approach, however, the two sentinels start up briskly enough--as
well they may, for they are guarding one whom every man in Bokhara would
give his best horse for a fair chance of murdering. My announcement that
I am expected by the governor-general is received with evident suspicion
and a crossing of bayonets to bar my way; but, happily, a passing
aide-de-camp recognizes me and promptly leads me in.

The clustering trees, through which the sunshine filters in a rich,
subdued light suggestive of some great cathedral, are deliciously cool
and shady after the blinding glare outside; but there is life enough in
the scene, nevertheless. White-frocked soldiers are hurrying to and fro;
laced jackets, shining epaulettes, clinking