Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

good unsectarian and non-party movements , basely content ourselves to almost totally ignore the Masonic press , as if we wished for darkness instead of light , because our deeds Avere unfit for the sunshine of the nineteenth century . Though the Army and Navy are properly enough

toasted at our Masonic banquets , how rarely does one hear the toast of the Press ! Without undervaluing in the least the skill aud bravery of our soldiers and tars , patent to all men , I must be alloAved to say , that Avhatever honour we may be prepared to

grant to the warriors who fight our battles by land ov sea , oAight surely to be granted also to those stalwart champions of "the good , the beautiful , and the true , " who fight the demons , Ignorance and Vice , Avith that more potent weaponthe pen

, , and cast their thoughts farther than cannon can ever make its thunders heard , by means of the Press , so much unappreciated by Masons Avho , like old King Cole in the song , prefer to all others " the knifeand-fork degree . " Now I have no wish

to see Masonic meetings converted into Puritan fasts ; but I have an ardent Avish to knoAV that a Masonic Library is connected with every one of our Lodges , to see a Masonic periodical in every Mason ' s house , and two or three standard Masonic Avorks of reference at least on every Freemason ' s bookshelves . The men Avho

have not brains cultivated enough to appreciate such things ought never to be once admitted amongst us , except it might be in an emergency for an outer guard or tyler , and under ordinary circumstances not even for that . I notice too that , as a rulethe Lodges that most undervalue the

, Masonic Press , do least for the noble charities of the Order , and rarely vote a stiver for a distrest brother either of their own or any other Lodge , and practically sink the glorious and unequalled Craft in the estimation of their common-sense

neighbours , beneath the excellent Orders of Odd FelloAvs , Foresters , Shepherds , Druids , Gardeners , and so forth , all very good societies in their Avay , though too often despised by those unworthy Masons who boast their connection Avith the noblest

organisation in the world , but Avhich they only help to degrade from its proper parpose . Treacle is noAv coming into use for feeding cattle . It is dissolved in boiling Avater ,

and then mixed with chaff , chopped straw , or the usual roofs given to stock . A pound or two of treacle given to each ox is said to materially increase its flesh , Avhilst it more than repays its cost for milch cows in the increased yield of milk .

BaAV beet-root treacle , fit for the farmer ' s purpose , can be bought in London , from the Avholesale dealers , at £ S per ton . It is high time that many of our farmers hit upon some better method of increasing the supply of milk in Avinterboth in quantity

, and qualit y , much of what is now Sold in the country being still Avorse than that retailed in toAvns , OAving to there being no inspection ; being little better than water , and the flavour , if it have any at all , being that of turnips .

In a brief Note in the February number of the Masonic Magazine , I named Mr . J . J . Briggs , of King ' s Newton , as "a poet , historical writer , and naturalist . " I omitted to say that he is the Naturalist of the Field neswspaperI have on table

. my a very excellent handbook to his native p lace , Avhieh we will haA-e a peep into , all well , in a future number . In the meantime take this beautiful Sonnet on Autumn as a proof of his poetic powers : —

" Wide o ' er the woodlands , clad till now in green , Autumn her gorgeous banner cloth unroll ; Not saintly missal , nor emblazon'd scroll , Can boast of richer hues than it , I Aveen : She holds aAvondrous pageant in the wood ; The l

syph-like Birch hath dress of lemon tinge ; The queenl y Elm a robe Avith orange fringe ; The Avarrior Beech hath c garments roll'd in blood ;'

The kingly Maple dons his golden crown ; The Sycamore a coat of russet hues ; While , gloomy as the midni ght ' s frown , the Yew Hath his funereal mantle round him thrown

, As though be deem'd earth all too bright . Lo ! now , Winds strip , with ruthless breath , the niany-colour'd bough . "

I would give all the sonnets I ever Avrote to be the author of this , It is Avorthy of Shakspere , or Milton , or WordsAvorth , our three greatest sonnetteers .