The Aberdare Times

A SCOTCH ADVENTURESS. It is a wonderful story, writes an Edinburgh cor- respondent concerning the adventure of a Mrs. Gordon llaillie, whose ca-.eer Edinburgh detectives have been investigating. The woman must be amazingly clever, self-possessed, and fertile in re- source. She came to Edinburgh on 14 February to plead the cause of the crofters, and especially of the two Clashmore women who were sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. She had also to pro- pound her great scheme for the solution of the croftor difficulty bv the emigration of the surplus population to lands inAustralia of which she is the proprietress. Her advent was heralded by the publication of an interview with, and portrait of the heroine in the Pali Mall Gazette. On her arrival in Edinburgh she put her- self in communication with well-known sympathisers with the crofters. One of these was Professor Blackie, who was captivated with her manners, her good sense, and her earnestness. She dined at the professor's house one evening, and there presented him with a handsome bouquet, value one sovereign- not yet paid. She also visited Lady Elizabeth Moore, Mrs. Duncan M'Laren, Mr. Murdoch McLeod, and others. She visited the prison and had an interview with the female prisoners. She told her friends here that she was really, in her own right, Countess of Moray, only some little irregularity in the marriage of one of her ancestors kept her out of her j title but she owned estates in the north and Skye, and she had recently become possessed of 75,000 acres in Australia which she wished to utilise for the benefit of the crofters. She hired a handsome equipage for her use while in Edinburgh, the cost of which, it seems, has not yet been met. She ordered a handsome brooch to be manufactured for her by one of the leading jewellers. It was to embody the crest of the Gordon Baillie" family, and the Bruce motto Faimus." The brooch is still in the hands of the makers. Mrs. Gordon Baillie left Edinburgh rather suddenly on the evening of Sunday, the 19th of February, in a third-class carriage, ex- plaining however, that she would change to another, at Carstairs. The Edinburgh police declare that they have traced the history of this adventuress back or many years. Before 1869, they s ay, she was an evening teacher in the:Model Lodging House at Dundee, where she was known as Marv Ann Bruce Sutherland. She then resided with her mother, who was a washer- woman. In 18G9 she left Dundee, and travelled in France and Italy. In 1872, having returned to Dundee, she was tried before a jury in the Sheriff's Court on numerous charges of fraud, and being found guilty was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment— the same term as the Clashmore women with whom Mrs. Gordon Baillie sympathises. Soon after her discharge she changed her name to Annie Ogilvie Brnce. In the Theatre for August, 1878, there is some account of her doings during a. three months' visit to London. In the Times of 31 Jan., 1877, Miss Bruce is mentioned in con- nection with a case at the Mansion House, against one Kate Miller. In the Times of 21 Feb., 1887, the case is continued. It is there disclosed that Miss Bruce represents herself as a daughter of the Earl of Moray. When she was about to be married it was proved that she had been married in November, 1876, to Thomas White, who appeared on the stage under the name of Knight-Ashton. The adventuress is next noticed in the monthly report of the London As- sociation for the Protection of Trade for January, 1884, where special attention is drawn to her doings and her autograph is exhibited. It must have been after that that she assumed the name of Gordon Baillie," for in November, 1884, the enthusiasm of the Crofters in Skye was roused to a high pitch by the presentation to John Macpherson, the" Glendale Martyr," of" Mrs. Gordon Baillie's grandfather's sword," accompanied with a letter from that lady, in which she said that it was a small mark of a lady sympathiser's interostinyourgallantstruggle against the oppressors of the people." She added, "I send you this sword for- defence, not defiance, in defence of home and family." Professor Blackie's verdict to-day is, I verily believe she would have deceived the devil himself." There seems to be no doubt that she recently visited Australia. Dr. Cameron Lees heard a good deal about her when there last autumn, and met many persons who had made her acquaintance, some of whom won- dered that lie did not know so high-minded a woman. She succeeded in convincing Bishop Sandford, of Tas. mania, that she was the daughter of an old friend of his, and that he had known her as a girl in Edinburgh. When Dr. Cameron Lees expressed his doubts' about her the Bishop promptly shut him up with these confessions. The interesting question is-where is she now ?

OUR UNPROTECTED PORTS. The report of the committee appointed to consider plans proposed for the fortification and armament of our military and home mercantile ports has just been issued. It has been proved t4 the committee beyond doubt that effective protection of many of our ports is practically impossible unless an active defence has been provided. Great progress has been made in carrying out submarine mining defences, but the committee consider that additional oppor- tunities of practice should be afforded for all regular or auxiliary forces who will have to take part in mining operations in time of war. Taking as far exceeding all others in importance, the military ports of Portsmouth, Plymouth, and the Thames and Medway defences, the committee have no hesitation in stating that deficiencies exist in defences of each, which, in view of the enormously increased range of modern guns, &c., render our position dangerously insecure. Malta and Gibraltar require very considerable addi- tions and alterations, and the committee believe an expenditure of not less than a million and a half is re- quired. They recommend that the necessary work should be commenced without delay. With regard to mercantile ports the committee urge the formation of submarine mines worked by volunteer artillery or submarine miners, provided by the port. Evidence before committee points unmistakably to the necessity of increasing our regular garrison artillery fortress, Engineers, and volunteer artillery, and submarine miners, the last being mainly supported by local effort.

SIGNOR SUCCI! FASTING MAN. An Italian correspondent writes The well known fasting man, Signor Succi, has just arrived in Florence, and presented himself to the Medico-Physical Academy there to undergo a series of scientific tests as to how long he can with impunity subsist without food. His one object, he says, is to persuade menof science that for periods hitherto reckoned impossible he can main- tain the organism, materially and morally,without nutri- tion, and without inflicting on the stomach any of the disturbances supposed to be the consequent on famine. On March 1 he will begin his twenty-fourth fast, which will be prolonged for 30 days, under his assiduous surveillance of the Medico-Physical Society. He will practise this abstinence from food in quarters provided for him in the Royal Institute of Superior Studies, and kept specially apart from those ordinarily used for the purpose of the institute. The experiment will be conducted under the immediate superinten- dence of the Cavaliere Luciani, Professor of Physiology in the institute, who has received from the directorate every sanction and every facility for ensuring the bon& fides of the ordeal. On the 31st of the month a report will be made as to the results of Signor Succi's fast.-Lancet.

PUNSTERS are often nowadays called many names, but it has been reserved for Dr. Hughlings Jackson, in a curiously suggestive address on The Psychology of Joking," delivered a few days back before the Medical Society of London, to show that the funster is also closely allied to a lunatic. FRIENDLY."—A member of the Society of Friends met a boy with a dirty face and dirty hands. He stopped him and inquired if he had ever studied chemistry. The boy, with a. wondering stare, answered." No." "Well, then, said the Friend, I will teach thee how to perform a curious chemical ex- periment. Go home, take a piece of soap, put it in water, and rub it briskly upon thy hands and thy face. Thee has no idea what a beatiful froth it will make, and how much whiter thy skin will be. That's a chemical experiment. I advise thee to go home and make it."

GOSSIP ON DRESS. BEFORE the shrine of fashion woman occasionally (wrathfully writes a correspondent of the London Echo) seems to lose all that poets and tradition speak of as most lovely in her nature. What, indeed, can be more degrading to a sensitive mind than this latest story from Paris of fashion vagaries ? The victims of this freak of inhumanity are Yucatan beetles— creatures of comparatively large size, but whose virtue is in the fact that they shine with the brilliancy of pure gold. The unfortunate creatures—whose less picturesque English relative is the bane of woman- are held in position on the corsage by a. tiny gold chain. They are at first mistaken for some charming jewel, and at once command attention, and pro- bably, admiration—it is too much to hope that the discovery that they are alive will repel that The creatures are treated not as if they were endowed with life, but as if they were really lumps of gold. They are easy to feed, but, generally speaking, neither food nor drink is given them. They have the gift of long life-even without food. This and their rarity is, perhaps, one of the compensations for the large sums demanded for them. Metal beetles—which they have succeeded-probably gave the idea to som > American speculator to substitute the real article It is from America they come to Paris, though, if report speaks truly, American ladies have not yet shown the same readiness to adopt them as their Parisian sisterhood. Probably, should they come to be used on chapeaux-and this is suggested by the autocratic arbiters of fashion in the French capital- they may conquer their repugnance. ALL young ladies, says the new number of the I Season, will no doubt be interested to hear something about the newest fashions for bridal dresses. They are made with high bodices, long trains, and richly trimmed with flowers. Ivory-white satin is mostly chosen, but for tall, slim figures the rich-looking moird Pekin is often preferred. At a wedding in one of the highest aristocratic circles in Vienna, the bride wore a dress made of the richest satin with a very long rounded train. The front breadth of this magnificent bridal robe was covered with pleated flounces, edged with pretty silver grelots, while the finest tulle em- broidered in silver in a wonderfully beautiful pattern, in renaissance style, went round the bottom of the flounces. The same sort of embroidery trimmed the high-pointed bodice, hi addition to lovely bouquets, which in their turn matched the bridal wreath and the long trails of flowers, orange blossoms and tea roses the newest combination—used for adorning the train. THE large hats are (according to an authoritative writer on the fashions of the day in the columns of the Queen) coming to the front; very smart-looking they arc, and in nearly all cases becoming to their wearers. Many are in velvet, with an encircling ostrich feather on one side, and the brim much turned up on the other, often with watered silk ribbon straps and loops. Black, dark amethyst, and the old- fashioned emerald-green are to be popular in velvet. This particular shade of deep green, which has been laid aside for many years, will be one of the colours in velvet for mid-season bonnets, trimmed with black lace, jet, or delicate gold passementerie. It will also be used for trains and trimmings for handsome gowns. It looks well with tan colour. Delicate gold lace and feathery gold ornaments are much used on black lace bonnets. Real lace veils have been popular this cold season, and also the imitation, sold by the yard. It has been much the fashion lately, owing to the cold winds, to line the fancy net veils with thin gauze, and wear them only to the tip of the nose. A few may be seen more thickly lined, giving the idea of a domino. White net veils are well patronised by young girls, and also grey gauze. The coloured ones are scarcely ever seen now. NARROW gold braid is frequently sewn into the ) necks and cuffs of gowns, instead of coloured silk, canvas, or cuffs and collars. Many waistcoats (home made) are composed of three or four lengths (accord- in"- to the width required) of good gold braid about aiTincli wide, laid at its own width from each row on to a foundation, with the intervening space filled in with gold twist, worked across in loop stitch with crochet hook. The effect is handsome, and the model is the Egyptian embroidery, now being adapted for waistcoats. The foundation is usually white cash- mere laid on to muslin. Gimp and braid ornamenta- tion, sold in sets of collar piece, cuffs, and two grad- uated plastrons for the front, are much used on coloured jerseys, as well as on light spring material gowns. It is to be had in black and almost every colour. Reversible collars are novel. There is a double collar, and when the outer one is soiled it is turned backwards out of sight under the neck-band, and the clean inner one stands up alone. It is attached to a little habit shirt. IT is difficult to say which are really the more fashionable-plain white or fancy-coloured pocket- handkerchiefs. Young ladies certainly incline to the latter. There are fancy bordered ones without number, some in delicate shades having the white centre, and the border of cut-out fern leaves, with net introduced, and the whole well embroidered; others in coloured cambric, with a powdering of spots and hem-stitched border, or with button-holed scalloped edges. A grey-blue and peculiar red, neither brick nor scarlet, are two new shades, Some are in two colours in fine musiin, such as grey and pink, white and blue, &c.; and again others have borders of closely set, narrow coloured lines about an inch deep running towards the centre. Soft-coloured silk" show" handkerchiefs are popular, and so are the Irish lawn and cambric ones, with hem-stitched borders of from one to three inches deep. TEA gowns have, many dressmakers affirm, spoilt the sale of dinner gowns, for whereas they make two of the latter, they make twelve of the former. This may be partly prejudice, but certainly tea gowns are popular, and also more costly and smarter than they were. They are made of the richest brocade and moire, lined throughout with satin, with fronts of either fancy gauze, crepe de Chine silk, muslin, lace, or satin Merveilleux, and finished off with very beau- tiful passementerie. Or they can be of cashmere, with Surah fronts and cascades of lace. Some have long hanging sleeves, independent of the close-fitting ones, &nd these may be in lace or silk crope. One worthy of note, recently made for a foreign Princess, had the gown proper of red and black brocade of beautiful design, with the front and coat sleeves (the latter reaching only just below the elbow) of crimped red Surah, with transparent black lace sleeves, which hang open and loose from the shoulder to the edge of the skirt. Over the red front fell a length of the most delicate black lace, matching the sleeves, caught up here and there, and finished off at the waist with a long girdle of black and gold beads. The high collar was beaded to correspond. Black satin or brocade tea gowns, or those composed of wide striped satin and moire, sometimes have the front of black lace, worked all over with small gold or steel beads. Pale grey faille Francaise, with gold passementerie, and front of white crepe de chine; striped yellow and grey moire and satin, with the front of yellow, veiled with gold- beaded lace, with ribbons of yellow and grey satin, are all fashionable combinations. Dressing or morn- ing jackets of Surah have one side of the front hanging in .the usual way, and the other side gathered up and fastened across the front on to the opposite shoulder, with a fall of white lace hanging to the waist corresponding with the other side of the front. ALL the pretty novelties in bijouterie and fancy knicknacks are now being displayed in shop windows. In the former there are several new designs, such as a dog's head, with a parasol in its mouth, all in bril- liants, as a brooch; also a few fish in line, bars of gold with three horseshoes strung on, three flies just settled, or the initial letters of a name in the centre, all in diamonds, flanked by a ruby, pearl, or sapphire at each end; the pips of playing cards-the whole four—in coloured enamel, with brilliant in centre a heart with a dove flying through, in diamonds. Gold brooches, about three inches long, are in the form of spring flowers, a daisy, buttercup, primrose, &c. The newest primrose brooches have the flower lying on its leaf, with a bud beside it, all coloured true to nature. A gold bangle, with the date of marriage engraven on it, with a tiny key and lock, is often now given to a bride on her wedding morn, and when the ceremony is over the bridegroom locks it on her arm, and puts the key on his watch-chain. Bridesmaids' brooches are sometimes given in cases, made in the form of a white satin, high-heeled slipper of very small dimen- sions. Diamond letters, about an inch large, are fashionable as pins and brooches. BRAIDED jackets (remarks a contributor to Le Moni- teurde la Mode) abound, the pattern being handsome. By way of novelty, braid of a different colour can be. used to the cloth; black on copper, moss on grey, navy blue on red, &c. Some are braided all over, without pattern the braid is cleverly sewn on in vermicelli pattern, so close that the cloth beneath the braid shows forth merely as a light, or a shot effect. PASSEMENTERIE, cord passementerie without beads, is much used for pardessus by way of brandenburghs, ornaments, and girdles. A LOVELY teagown is of emerald plush, with redin- gote panels falling over a. draped skirt of white lace, a panel being in front, and one on each side, each panel being edged with passementerie pendants. A blouse of lace is confined by a sash of white surah, or'rather a scarf draped on a boned band some eight inches wide shaped to the waist. At the back the ends of the scarf form a negligent drapery. A plush Bulgarian jacket is placed over the blouse, outlined with a cascade of pendants. There are short, open plush sleeves, full lace sleeves being inserted into the armliolep. IT is considered chic in Paris to possess one red dress, not a brilliant red, but a soft rich dark hue, more becoming and ladylike than cardinal. They are often trimmed with embroidery in black, a mere chain stitch imitating braid. Besides the dress a red jacket is worn, richly embroidered. Red toilettes are also trimmed with fur. Indeed, fur vies with braids as a trimming for cloth dresses and pardessus. Grey fox is the fur of the season. It looks well on any colour, red or others, but it looks most elegant of all on a darK blue grey, a darker shade of its own lovely colour. :¡ < SKIRTS are rapidly flattening, and ladies are rapidly awakening to the serious inconvenience of many steels. Now, the best couturieres only put in one or two at the top of the skirt. Draperies are dying out, being ejected by the present admiration of redingote panels. Waists are long, in spite of the influence of "La Tosca and Sarah Bernhardt's lovely Empire costumes. Will women ever return to the short Empire waist beneath the arms ? Probably not, but there is no telling what vagaries may yet ba acted. THE strong prevalence of cloth m$y account for the rapid decay of draperies' popularity. It is cer- tainly the fabric of the season, and always looks dis- tingue, whether for plain or dressy occasions. A great deal of white and pale grey cloth is used to par- tially form evening or reception toilettes. Then red cloth embroidered with gold or black has had great success.

QUEEN CHRISTINA "AT HOME. A correspondent of Galignani's Messenger has written a description of the home-life of the Queen Regent of Spain. Queen Christina, he says, who is now 30, can be either very affable or very haughty, just as the circumstances may require. She is kind and gentle to those who come to her in trouble, but cold and hard to those who forget or neglect to do their duty towards her. To those who approach liei timidly and in a bashful manner the Queen has a charming quiet way of putting them at their ease that makes it quite pleasant to converse with her. Often when listening to some old general or courtier who is bent on flattering her, and who fancies that he is delighting her with excessive praise, the Queen un- consciously indulges in a very mocking smile and a mischievous look that is as becoming as appro- priate. She is fond of reading and loves music. A telephone connects the palace and the opera-house, so that her Majesty can listen to the singers without having to leave her room. The Queen has always occupied the same apartments since her marriage, and has made them comfortable and home like. The grand old furniture and massive carved cabinets and tables of the Houses of Austria and Bourbon still remain in many rooms, but their stiffness has been softened down with numerous pretty and costly ornaments, Pictures by modern Spanish artists, bronzes, china, and bric-a-brac. Flowers are always found in profusion in the Queen's apartments. Although the Royal children live somewhat separated from their mother, they are frequently with her, and at any hour of the day or night she can have easy access to them. The Queen has always one lady of honour with her, the Duchess de Meilina de las Torres, a widow, and many other damns de honor, nearly all court beauties or wives of grandees of Spain. These ladies live in their own palaces and take turns in remaining a week with the Queen de servicio, or on duty, as they say. The ladies of honour, generally two at a time, are with her Majesty from morn- ing until night, and if the Queen receives a visit or goes out to make one, they stand or sit behind her chair. The Regent's household is ruled by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, an old grey-haired courtier. Her private secretary is Count Morphy, who was King Alphonso's tutor and after- wards his secretary. Count Morphyis a faithful fol- lower of the Spanish Bourbons, and was with them in exile. The Queen has her own physician, Dr. Riedel, who came from Austria with her. She has two aides- de-camp, who are on duty on certain days and are changed every three years. They really form part of the family during their stay in the palace. It is said that the Royal table is not always well served, and that the wines especially are inferior. The late King had not the slightest idea what a good cellar meant. There are many stories afloat telling how badly he was fed, and how he once said to a foreign Ambassa- dor who went to see him at the Pardo Palace that lie would give anything for a good chicken-broth. At the Royal dinners and banquets one finds everything that money can procure, but somehow or other nothing seems well prepared. Queen Christina is fond of outdoor exercise. She walks, rides, or drives out every day, and often takes the children with her in a phaeton which she drives herself. The Queen always rides a tall English thoroughbred that belonged to King Alphonso."

A FAMOUS BOOK-THIEF. The restoration to the French National Library of the books and manuscripts stolen by Libri and sold by him to Lord Ashburnham has (the Paris correspon- dent of the Daily Telegraph says) revived a good many reminiscences here respecting the notorious Italian book-bandit. M. Leopold Delisle, who nego- tiated the transfer of the collection from the British Museum, has received the congratulations of the Government and of many of his compatriots. Libri was a persona gratissima in French literary and biblio- graphical circles. His real name was Count Guglielmo Libri Carucci, and he was a member of the French Institute, a professor in the College of France, and one of the principal contributors to the Reunc des Deux-Mondes. His thefts were first brought to the notice of the Paris librarians by anonymous letters, and then by articles in the Moniteur and the National. He was then prosecuted and condemned by default to 10 years' imprisonment; but even then his friends did not desert him. ProsDer Merimee, who defended him eloquently before the Senate, re- fused to believe in his guilt. When he fled to London Sir Antonio Panizzi received him with open arms, maintaining that he was a persecuted man, and gave him carte blanche to wander about at his sweet will inside the library of the British Museum. Lord Ash- burnham bought the collection for J68000. M. Delisle tried to negotiate with the present Lord Ash- burnham in 1878, but without success. Lately, how- ever, M. Triibner offered to get the manuscripts for the French National Library in return for Manesse's rare collection of German poetry and a sum of JE6000. To this M. Delisle agreed, and the famous "Libri volumes will soon return to their rightful abode.

HOAXING DR. TANNER. An unpleasant joke was perpetrated the other day by some one on Dr. Tanner, M.P. In the course of the afternoon, whilst taking up his letters at the post- office situated in the Lobby of the House of Commons, he was handed a small package, bearing a London post-mark. Its appearance and weight excited his suspicion, and on removing the wrapping he found within a small box, in size 3in. by 4in., containing a dark-looking powder, a piece of copper wire, and what seemed to be a section of detonating fuse. The mysterious-looking box was at once handed over to Inspector Horsley, who very properly refused to let certain inquisitive persons make then and there a rough test as to whether any portion of the black powder would explode. The supposed infernal machine was sent to Scotland-yard, and it has been ascertained that its contents are powdered charcoal, and the supposed fuse a bronzed light, of the kind used to decorate Christmas trees.

BEFORE THE WEDDING. An attempt at murder is reported from the Galapark district of Galashiels. A man named Andrew Wood, a weaver, residing in Tweed-place, had made arrange- ments for marriage with Barbara Brown, living in Scott-street, and the ceremony was fixed for the 9th inst. The man seems to have had amours and entanglements with other females. On Wednesday of last week he bought a six-chambered revolver and ammunition. He afterwards was seen drinking and in an excited condition. In the evening the woman Brown was cleaning a house in Galapark-road, which was to be occupied by the parties after marriage, when Wood entered and shot her in the back of the head. She fell, but, realising the danger of her position, she succeeded in rising, and was able to run to her father's house, followed by Wood, revolver in hand. The woman received prompt medical aid, and the bullet was extracted, but her condition is critical, and her depositions have been taken. Wood was appre- hended, and subsequently remitted from the borough police-court to the sheriff.

THE CHINESE MARRIAGE BROKER. The Chinese journals tell a good story of the in- genuitv of a native lady match-maker. A hump- backed girl, otherwise good-looking, had found a difficulty in procuring a husband. Oddly enough, the go-between referred to discovered that there was a hump-backed youth who had found a similar difficulty in getting a wife. This clever lady accordingly arranged a match; but, as each party was of a very eligible quality in other respects, each of the respec- tive parents insisted upon obtaining a surreptitious view of the amorous one on either side. The go- between accordingly arranged that the girl should be interviewed as she sat at her spinning-wheel with her hump deftly inserted in a hole in the mud wall, while the man was introduced as he was conducting home a water-buffalo, and leaning over its neck, with his rain-coat negligently thrown over his back. The marriage took place, and it then became too late for tergiversation, as it had been endorsed by law.

THE Chinese Times, published at Tientsin, describes the Ghost Festival" as it was recently celebrated there. Its primary and essential motive is to con- ciliate the spirits of the dead,.and all the demons of the Chinese Inferno, especially neglected and wander- ing spirits, which at this time are supposed to be allowed a short season of freedom from their confine- ment below, and return to this mundane sphere to gorge themselves with food, and replenish their stores of clothing and money. They do this to the accompaniment of a. Chinese orchestra, which dis- courses music day and night to the pressing throngs that assemble to hear them. This orchestra consists of two drums (one large and one small), an immense pair of cymbals, a gong, two pipes, and other kinds of instruments only known to the Chinese. So that the part of a Chinese ghost is not aJl beer and skittles.

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS. SHEEP have been lost by thousands in the f, northern counties and in Wales. Great strugg. have been necessary to save and feed the flocks. '■ '■ the same time lambing in the south and south-west has been far less unfortunate than might have been expected from the severity of the weather. From Whitchurch we hear that very few lambs out of a large fall have been lost, but that a good many ewes have succumbed. In Somerset the reports are sin- gularly satisfactory. One farmer boldly states that any weather is good for the flocks except wet. Lamb- ing is progressing favourably in the Severn Valley, the severe cold apparently exercising very little retard- ing influence in the course of nature in an early breed. The lambs are arriving strong and healthy. BeTTEn ADULTERATION is a sore point. There seems to be something wrong with our dairies which neither Parliament nor agricultural societies can reach. The Margarine Act was to banish imitations, or at least to put a premium, as it were, on the use of the honest produce of the cow. Yet since the Act came in force importations of margarine have increased 40 per cent. Experimental dairies, too, and exclusively patronised dairy shows, were to teach our farmers how to out-do the foreign maker of butter. Yet since 1888 came in the imports of butter have in- creased 26 per cent. Other things are against the farmers, but in butter-making we cannot help sus- pecting that the use of foreign butter is the home producer's own fault. DunnAM is a great horse" county, and at the annual meeting of the County Agricultural Society it was only natural that great attention should be given to the horse-clubs of the district. Captain Beckwitb threw out some interesting suggestions with respect to their scope and use, and among other things ob- served that he was somewhat doubtful about the size of their horses. Some of them were big enough, but, whether it was the fault of the horse or the mare, it was a fact that the horses in Durham were more often undersized than not. The railways and other firms who bought big horses had to go to Lincolnshire to get them, and railways generally bought Shire-horses, not Clydesdales. He believed that Shire-horses had a higher average selling value than Clydesdales, and were not more expensive or troublesome to breed. FARMER'S RATys bring them no little trouble in these hard times. It is many years since most of the Chambers of Agriculture agreed that rates ought to be divided equally between landlord and tenant; but of late the efforts of Agricultural Associations have been directed more to the reduction of the burdens on land than to their distribution. The question of equal division has been revived by the bill backed by Mr. Seale Ilayne, Mr. C. T. Dyke Acland, Mr. Cobb, Mr. Cossham, and Sir Bernhard Samuelson, which would entitle every agricultural tenant to deduct half the rates from his rent. The argument for the change is that, even admitting that all rates fall ultimately upon the owner, the tenant commonly has to pay the whole of the increase which takes place during the currency of a lease, or between one settlement of terms and the next in the case of a yearly tenancy. OILCAKE, when properly used, is a highly valuable cattle food. In a paper read by Mr. Mayhew on stock management, at a recent meeting of the Ixworth Farmers' Club, he advocated a moderate rather than large proportion of oilcake or corn to roots and hay, and that it should gradually increase from 41b. of oilcake in the earlier stage of fattening to 81b. per day in the later stages. He did not con- sider, lie said, that more than 3s. per week on an average should be expended in auxiliary food. Cows AXD COTTAGERS may get on very,satisfactorily together by the aid of enterprising farmers. Mr. Evershed is to be thanked by political economists as well as by farmers for the attention he gives in a recent published article, to Hiring out Cows to Cottagers." Mr. Evershed comes forward with figures of attempts made, and with accounts of how farmers have made the attempt to profitably place out milch cows a suc- cess. Farmers trying the plan have done well, and the cottagers have made money themselves, besides paying the farmer. Nor is this wonderful, seeing that a well-selected and well-treated heifer will yield five times her weight in milk the first year, six times her weight the second year, and seven times her weight for the third, fourth and fifth year; after which she goes off. Mr. Evershed's figures show how clearly that a good heifer pays the cost of keep and hire the first year, while the increased quality of milk yielded in subsequent years is the hirer's profit KERRY cows are capital cattle. In a letter to the Timcs on hiring out cows to labourers and cottagers, Mr. R E. Turnbull says I know of no breed of cattle better suited for cottage cowkeepers than the Kerry. Well-selected Kerry cows produce more milk and butter for the grass and hay they consume than those of any other breed. They are especially adapted for grazing in the lanes, and will keep in good con- dition where a shorthorn would starve. Shorthorns may pay better where the pastures are rich; but the Kerry, being hardy in constitution and easily sup- ported, is essentially the poor man's cow. One of tin most perfect dairy cows that I ever saw was a Kerry, exhibited by Mr. M. J. Sutton at the London Dairy ShowinlS8G. It is a matter of great importance in purchasing cattle from a distance to see that the change, both as regards climate and keep, shall be for the better rather than otherwise. This is especially important as regards keep. Cows bred in the mountain- ous districts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales usually thrive well in England. As a rule, cattle thrive best in the district where they are bred, or in one where the change as regards climate and keep is for the better. SELLING STOCK BY LIVE WEIGHT is a subject which still attracts attention. Mr. Neve Sissinghurst, near Staplehurst, writes I have for some years past had a weigh-bridge here, and have had constant opportunities of testing the difference between the live and dead weight of cattle and pigs, as I sell many in the neighbourhood by weight, and will give your readers my experience. Cattle fattened in the ordinary way return, when fasting, about 81b. dead to 1-ilb. live weight, or, in round figures, 8st. of 81b. per cwt. If fattened extra for prizes, as much as 9st. per cwt. Fat calves return 8st. per cwt., and rarely vary more than 21b. or 31b. in an animal from this. Pigs return from 72 per cent. for small porkers, to 80 per cent. for those weighing 20st. to 30st., and increasing up to 90 per cent. for very large fat sows. I cannot too strongly advise all who send stock to market to have it weighed on entry." LOOK AFTER THE FOWLS. The poultry yard, points out the Gardeners' Magazine, demands extra attention now. Where the supply of eggs has been consider- able, there will be broody hens and a chance of chickens. If it can be done, you cannot be too soon in putting eggs under birds that are ready for them, but it is a fact that on warm and cold soils alike there is great risk in the business until the month of April, and then, if things are about fairly right, you may almost reckon your chickens before they are hatched. We do not pretend to advise old stagers, but it is pro- per to warn beginners that all through March there is considerable difficulty in raising chickens, but it is easy work from April to June-that is, generally speaking. We have seen 150 eggs wasted, with all the extra trouble of tending the birds, and not a single chicken reared; and yet, in the very same yard, as soon as March was out, the same number of eggs would produce at least 130 chickens. One reason, no doubt, is that the early eggs are not fertile; but even when they prove to be so a week or two of bitter weather will endanger the lives of the newly-hatched broods, and at the same time intensify the hunger of the rats, the worst foes generally cf the poultry yard. Those poultry keepers do best who do the least, provided they are not really neglectful. By taking nature for our guide we can scarcely go wrong, and yet there are those who will go wrong, notwithstanding they may obtain teaching for nothing if they will but observe. When a hen steals away and makes a nest in a hedge, she is pretty sure to bring out 15 strong chicks. The eggs are laid on the damp earth, the bird goes on and off as suits her inclination, and she does not have to submit to handling of any kind. It follows that snug dark nooks are the best places for the nests, and that they should be on the ground, or very near it. When the nest is made in a basket the bird is likely to break the eggs in getting in and out, and she is likely to eat the eggs broken, and thus acquiring a relish for for- bidden fruit the remainder are likely to go the same way, and a good bird becomes a bad one through being located in a way she would never have located herself. WHITE SCOUR is often a cause of grave trouble with stock-raisers about this time of the year. Professor Law, writing thereanent in the Agricultural Gazette, says Give a dose of one to two ounces castor oil ( £ for lambs), with a teaspoonful of laudunum. Then with each meal give a tablespoonful from a bottle of sherry, in which of the fresh fourth stomach of a calf has been steeped. Or with this give a carmina- tive (1 oz. tincture of cinnamon), with an antacid (prepared chalk of magnesia, 1 drachm), and soothing or anodyne agents (gum arabic, bismuth), with, it may be, an astringent (tincture of kino or catechu, 1 drachm). If there is much tenderness of the abdomen, apply a pulp of mustard and water. If yellowness of the mucous membrane, and white very fetid dung, give 3 grains calomel, and 5 grains chalk twice daily. In all cases give fresh, warm, whole- some milk thrice a day with several spoonfuls of limewater added to each meal. In some instances the tone of the stomach may be greatly restored by a tablespoonful of tincture of gentian twice a day.

ROBBIE.—Robbie, aged four, was a great chatterbox, keeping up a constant stream of conversation with everybody near him, or with himself if alone. One day, when his mother had company at dinner, he was permitted to come to the table for a share of the desert. As usual, he talked incessantly, telling won- derful stories, and asking more wonderful questions. without apparently expecting an answer to any o. them. His mother warned him several times to keep silence. This being of no avail, she finally threatened, in aiigrlv rone, If you do not keep silence "Tln(Jc'c'1 ately, I shall whip you." Little Robbie looked at her a few seconds, as if astonished, and then said, gravely, •« Tbtxre br -am* un-re «ierje.e then- Ÿ

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ARMY RECRUITING. The annual report of the Inspector-General of Re- cruiting was issued on Monday morning. It shows that the total number who joined the regular army during 1887 was 31,225 but although this number fell short of the number raised in 1886 by 8,184, yet as many men were raised as were required, the numbers voted by Parliament having been fully maintained during the last six months of the year. Of the numbers who enlisted 1,543 were for long service and 29,682 for short service. It appears that the infantry is getting year by year more thoroughly recruited from the districts with which the regi- ments are nominally connected. The monthly reports received from medical officers with regard to the physical condition of the recruits who joined head-quarters of corps have been generally satisfactory. The offer of a pardon to deserters and fraudulently enlisted men on the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee afforded an opportunity of learning to what extent the latter class of men exist in the army. The result shows that 2235 men serving in the army claimed the pardon as having fraudulently enlisted, of whom 1657 had deserted their former regiments, and 578 were absentees from the army reserve. This is just over 1 per cent. of the whole army. Calculating by the average of former years, the waste during 1887 should have been 33,41S men—namely, one-sixth of the strength of the army on the 1st January, 1887. The actual waste was 28,672, or one-seventh of the strength. That number includes 10,672 transfers to the army reserve; the actual loss by deaths, dis- charges and deserters, &c., being 18.000 men. This number shows a large reduction on former years. The number of desertions was slightly less than in 1886, having been 5355, as compared with 5402 and the percentage is further improved, as the strength of the army was greater last year. On the 1st of January, 1887, the strength of the First Class Army Re- serve was 46,858, and on the first of January, 1888, it was 50,950, being a net increase of 4092 men. The actual number transferred from the colours was 10,701, which was somewhat less than the number for the previous year. The militia reserve stands at 30,497, giving a total First Class Reserve available on the first of January last 81,447. The number of re- cruits for the militia in 1887 was 33,597, being 5733 fewer than were raised in 1886, and the loss by deser- tion is still very heavy. An appendix to the report shows an increase in the military forces of the Crown amounting in all during the past 10 years to 96,958 men, of whom 60,350 represent the addition to the regular army and First Class Army Reserve. The addition of the militia reserve gives a further avail- able force to fill the ranks of the regular army in case of need, raising that part of the forces to 284,507 non- commissioned officers and men, of whom 203,OGO are serving with the colours and 81,447 in the reserve

A JILTED WOMAN'S REVENGE. A remarkable adventure has happened to a hand- some potman, or wine-seller's gar^on, living in the Square-Montholon, Paris. He was beloved by all the bonnes of the locality. His name was Cerisier, and his acquaintance was cultivated assiduously by one bonne in particular, Eugenie Carrette, who occupied a. room near him on the sixth floor of the house, in the basement of which he diurnally distributed chypincs of wine to thirsty customers. Eugénie was, however, of a certain age," and Cerisier manifested a marked predilection for a younger servant; where- upon Mademoiselle Carrette vowed revenge. She burst into Cerisier's room with a carving knife, but was disarmed in time by the Adonis of the Square-Montholon. After that she purchased a revolver, and practised shooting both in her room and on the roof of the house. The police, in fact, aver that all the furniture in her room was pierced with bullets. When she deemed her aim perfect she "made" for her man. While Cerisier was talking near a lamp-post in the street to her rival, Engenie fired at him. Cerisier staggered, knocked his head against the lamp-post, and fell. He had not been wounded, however. Despite considerable practice Eugenie had missed her mark. Her bullet hit the lamp-post, and Cerisier, fearful of what was coming after the report, tottered and stumbled. The melo- drama was terminated by the arrest of Mdlle. Carrette, who after delivering her attack had retired to-her room and barricaded herself therein.

A LITTLE GOES A LONO WAY.—" Stranger, had much 'sperience in ridin' buckin' bronchos ?"— Yis; this is me foorst; an', moind yes, it's me last HE was kneeling at her feet and saying, u My precious sweet, life lingers to me as a petunia streaked with the glorious golden frettings of a soul which knoweth no love 50-" Oh Henry!" said she, that's the cheese."