Of Thackeray, another eminent member of the London Library, Mr. Harrison had also an anecdote to tell: "When writing _The Virginians_ he came to him (the speaker) for a life of General Wolfe. 'I don't want,' he said, 'an historical account of his career--Lord Mahon's book gives me that--but I want something that will tell me the color of his breeches.'" Mr. Harrison had the pleasure also of helping Charles Reade to find materials for his story of _The Cloister and the Hearth_. The late Lord Lytton was a frequent visitor and inquirer, as also was the author of _Westward, Ho!_ and George Eliot. Mr. Harrison was quite astonished at first to see what pains and research were applied to the production of books so easy to read as were their best novels. Concerning Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Harrison had likewise something to say. The G. O. M. has always taken an interest in the prosperity of the library: "He (Mr. Gladstone) made use chiefly of their works of reference. The speaker remembered with pleasure a small incident that occurred when _Javentus Mundi_ was going to press. Mr. Gladstone called to verify a line in Propertius, or Ausonius--he forgot which. He told his need to one of the Eton masters, who happened to be present. The line was found, and it differed slightly from that which Mr. Gladstone had quoted. 'But,' said the Eton master to him afterwards, 'his line was much finer than the one which we found in print.'" * * * * * HIS PROPOSITION. There is a little suburban town out in New Jersey, and its inhabitants are very proud of their fire department, claiming that it can meet every possible exigency. As for the truth of this statement, it is not advisable to meditate upon, and there is one thing positive, and that is the inability of its members to prevent fires. Unfortunately such occurrences were growing to be a chronic affliction, and in desperation the leading officials of the fire department and the town officials met to devise ways and means of stopping them. "It's carelessness, rank carelessness!" exclaimed one portly gentleman. "Such things should rarely happen in well-regulated communities." Thus it went on for over an hour, growing no nearer to a solution of the difficulty. Finally one of the fire department members arose. "Gentlemen," he cried, "I have a resolution to propose which I think, if adopted by the honorable members of this board, will entirely do away with fires in our town." "Hear! hear!" cried the members of the board. "What is it? Propose it," etc. "Gentlemen, I propose that three days before each fire some one should go to the house and ascertain if it has been caused by the inmates' carelessness, and if so enforce a payment of money to meet the expenses of running the engines to the scene." [Illustration: STAMPS]