Evening Express

BAROMETRICAL INDICATIONS. Avoeacted is a chari. of the barometrical readings for the 48 hours ended Sunday midnight, as regis- tered at the Western Mail Office, Cardiff. The instrument is 33ft. afeove sea level. SATURDAY. SUNDAY. 1 a.m. lvovn. Noon. Jlid. 305¡- ¡- '3 IIH1 — — —— ■o I •l! J 30-0 j 9 J •8 1 j 29*5| 1 $= [=:r= ?9-0! j

HIGH WATER TO-DAY. Moarfltg. Evening. Height, Swansea. 18 10.49 25. 9 C&I-dift 11.22 11.41 28.1 Newport. 11^25 11.42 27. 3

WEATHER FORECAST. isswtM rt»K KRisuusicn 6FFICZ-g.30P-lff- The forecast of the weather throughout the West of England aud South Wales for to-dav (Monday) isasfoliows:-N.B. to N. winds, light; cloudy; some showers; celder. Satu*j>at'3 Forecast. ) SATVZIOL-eg Wbatht*. N. or N.W. winds, light; ) N.W. winds morning fair generally. ) foggy, afterwards over- ) cast.

"WEEK'S TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. The following table givea the temperature and rainfall at Cwrt-y-Vil, Penarth, for 24 hours, as read at 9.0 a.m., aud entered to the preceding day:- TBMPKRAIDBK DATE. Raistau. Max. inin. ean Ifenday 4 40 35 37*5 *00 Tuesday 5 38 26 3'<i'0 "02 Wednesday « 40 33 36*5 *00 Thursday 7 41 32 36*5 -00 Friday 8 — — — "00 Saturday.™ |9 45 35 41'5 *00 Saturday.™ |9 45 35 41'5 '00 STinday 110, 43 40 41*5 .00

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. HARRIERS. CRICKHOWELL. Wednesday, Feb. 13, GwernvaJe Farm 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, Henbant .11 a.m. FOXHOUNDS. CARMARTHENSHIRE. Tuesday. Feb. 12. Treloch Church 11 a-.m. Friday, Feb. 15. Penybank, Llansaint-.il a.m. GLAMORGANSHIRE. Monday. Feb. 11. Llanharran House 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, Burton Bridge 11 a.m. j

Telephone: National, 502. Post-office, 95. Telegrams: Express, Cardiff."

Comments and Criticisms BY "CUCHFARF." On Saturday I referred to the acquaintance- ship between Mr. Richard Williams (d Barti- meua"), whose death was mentioned in the same note, and the late Mr. Evan David, one time known as Evan Cornel Du," because he then resided at Cornel Du Farm, CoychuTch Higher, but better known in the later years of his life as Myvyr Morganwg" and the presiding genius of the Rocking Stone mysteries at Pontypridd. "Bartimeus" and "Myvyr Mor- ganwg were local preachers with the Welsh Congregationalists until the latter began to proclaim strang-i things, which were called by him The Teachings of the Uorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain." Bartimeus," of course, deemed these things unorthodox, and did not fail to ridicule Myvyr's" imaginations." There was also in the same parish a well- favoured Yeoman, who had been dubbed Brenin y Raglan" (the King of Raglan- Raglan being the name of the farm he owned and occupied). At that time also the fame of the present Lady Burdett-Coutts's wealth was new and pretty generally spoken of. and another neighbour of Bartimeus had con- ceived a violent love for Lady Burdett," as he called her. He frequently visited the nearest railway station, saying that his lady- love was coming to see him. Bartimeus regarded the three individuals I have men- tioned as holding the three infatuations of the parish, and hit off the situation very happily as follows:— "Mae tri dychymyg rhyfedd Gan dri o wyr y tran: Brenhiniaeth Lewis Hopkin, Fu'r 'rioed ei bath o'w blaen, A chrefydd Evan Dafydd— Hi wedd mewn copa hot. A'r fatch fl rhwng Shon Siencyn A'r Ladi Xawr Burdett!" I can scarcely believe that "Myvyr Mor- ganwg allowed this satire to pass unnoticed, but there is no record of his having replied directly to his critic. An old Trades Unionist friend writes me the following letter:— Dear "Cochfarf," I-am glad you have dea.It with the difficulties of our seamen in getting their legal grievances dealt with in the Cardiff Police-court, but I wish to point out that there are equally serious difficulties in the way of other wage-earners in getting wages cases dealt with. Ordinary disputes about payment of wages are dealt with under the Employers and Workmen's Act, 1875-and Trades Unionists agitated a rood deal before the dealing with wages disputes in a court of summary jurisdic- tion was provided for in the Act I have men- tioned-but owing to the limited number of courts held by the stipendiary magistrate at Cardiff, and that oases arising under that Act can only be heard by the stipendiary, Pud, furthermore, it being provided in the sam") Act that four days must intervene between the granting of the summons for viagei and the day of hearing the summons, at least a week passes before a workman can have a case heard after the dispute has arisen. For instance, wages disputes arise chiefly on Saturdays, viz., pay day, when there is no stipendiary's court held, and on Monday also there is no court held. The aggrieved work- man applies for a, summons on Tuesday, which, being granted, oannot be heard until the following Saturday, but, again, there being no court held on Saturday or Monday, no hearing takes pace until the following Tues- day. Those who considered the Employers' and Workmen's Act a boon when it was passed have come to view it as of little value in the prompt settlement of vexatious wages disputes, and I feel that the difficulty is added to by the present inconvenient arrangement of having sittings of the stipendiary's court on only four days a week. Representatives of the trade societies and of sea-going men should, in my opinion, approach the Cardiff Stipendiary with the view of getting him to consider whether a more satisfactory arrange- ment can be devised.—I am, &c., Cardiff, Feb. 9. J. PRICE. It seems I have a stronger case than I imagined when I first dealt with sailors' troubles in getting a hearing in our local police-court, and, inasmuch as most trade societies have their legal advisers, a formal interview between them and Mr. T. W. Lewis may result in an understanding that will meet the difficulties pointed out by my two correspondents, for there is no doubt in my mind that a case for extended sittings of the stipendiary's court has been made out. The Rev. E. Rees, Cougregational minister, Coity, is forsaking the ministry to return to the colliery! This is an unexpected effect of the good times in the coal trade, and even under ordinary circumstances the fifty and sixty shillings a. week earned at the collieries must make many a. poorly-paid minister bewail his lot in a pecuniary sense, but Mr. Rees holds a firut-claas colliery manager's certificate, and the inducement to return to his old occupa- tion is, therefore, much stronger. It is a pity that others have not sufficient courage to leave scantily-paid occupations and shoulder the mandrel to seek what has become in very deed "dusky diamonds." Since penning my note on Dr. Leighton's new work en "Snakes," it has been pointed out to me that information on natural history in WaJes is of a very meagre character, and even where such information has been put on record there is such a. want of unity in the work done as to make it almost as easy to get any knowledge required at first hand as to collect i the many booklets and pamphlets that have been published from time to time. In spite of a. good search, for some days for any account of the reptilia of the neigh- bourhood of Cardiff, I have discovered only Mr. T. W. Proger's "A list of mammalia and reptilia occurring in the neighbourhood of Cardiff at pp. 150-153 in "The Hand- book for Cardiff and District Prepared1 for the Use of the British Association" (Cardiff 1891). Some useful aid may be found in Captain Maynp Reid's "Naturalist in Siluria," but I have not yet had time to refer to it. In this matter, as well as in many more, Wales is waiting for the first-fruit of the teaching in Gur national colleges, and bye-and-bye the natural history of our county will have due attention. Some curious reader may wish to know how King Edward VII. came to be entitled to receive a cheque from the parish of St. Bride's, Glain,o,rta,n-the cheque for which it was claimed that it waa the first one paid to the King after his accession. The Lordship of the Manor of Ogmore belongs to the Duchy of Lancaster, and its revenues, therefore, belong to the King. The Duchy of Lancaster formerly owned otherproperty in Woles, but it has for some time been alienated, and the history of its alienation would require many columns of printed matter aoad many a day of careful search among dusty tomes. Besides, it does not come within my province as a note-writer to pursue it at greater length.

ABOUT RATS AND RATTING' ["EVENING EXPRESS" SPECIAL.] Cardiff was only freed from the scare of arsenic in her beer to be delivered over to another scare (as everyone hopes it will turn out to be), viz., the possibility of bubonic plague arising from rats infesting the port and fleas infesting the rats. On Saturday an "Evening Express" man elicited a lot of information upon the some- what uncanny bui interesting subject of rats and ratting. In the place, he writes, he fonnd in some mind a loubt a to the wisdom of the step taken by the corporation in deciding to exter- minate the rat colonies in Cardiff. Such doubt can have no foundation. It runs counter to the recognised medical view, which is that the bacilli of the plague are ab much com- municated by rodents as the infection of yellow fever is known to be by the irritating mosquito. The only danger is, as some hinted darkly, others more openly, to our representative, lest any addle-headed people may take to the cultivation of rat farms, to get the corporation fees for home-grown specimens. Such a device would have one precedent at least. When the Government of India offered prizes for snakes and scorpions it was a common and lucrative practice to secure the said prizes with reptiles reared at home. The "proclamation"—one man called it- issued by the sanitary authorities caused more talk about rats than has been heard in Cardiff for many a year. Especially was this so in Bute-street and the taverns that there abound. Our man made himself at home in some of the most popular of these places of public resort. The district, he was told, used to swarm with rats, but there were very few of them now. They would be brought up of a morning in cages and let loose and killed by dogs, and they seemed to have been all eaten up. "Isn't there a rat pit aboue here some- where?" "There used to be, in Rodney-street," was the rejoinder, "but it is closed now. People took their dogs there and threw them in the pit, and they paid 3d. or 4d. each rat." In one pub. the pressman was so lucky as to fall in with a rat-catching expert. He was soort and of stout build, a lover of animals, of a kindly nature, and docile disposition, and he goes by the name of "Blue Skin." "How do I catch 'em?" said "Blue Skin." "I first strip myrelf, all except my shirt, and then tie a belt round my .waist. I then covers my skin, my chest, Ac., with aniseed, and the.1 I am ready for action. I lays a trail ofaniseed so (drawing his thumb across the counter), and then all I have to do is to pick up the rats as fast as I can and slip them in between my shirt, and when they feel the warm skin they become quite quiet i r.d still like." "Don't they ever bite?" "Lord bless you, bite? No. It is the way you handle them. Why, I can pick Up a live rat so, put its head in my mouth, and bite it right off. Thus." The recollection of these feats seemed to give "Blue Skin" infinite relish. He was dramatio in his movements, and one could almost hear the crunching of the rat's head by his rapacious jaws and enter into the pleasure he felt and expressed by many grima-ces of delight. He also had a caressing way about him, and fondled imaginary rats as a lady would a toy terrier or a first-born baby. He finally took a long drink, and as he expectorated on the head of a bright nail it was plain he had no more fear of ubonic infection than of arsenic in the beer that he drank. He bad, a mouldy smell about him, and his reminiscences left a creepy impression. Sunday was predicted to be a great day with rat-catchers. There was a lot of talk, but little action. Are men afraid to put their dogs on the job? Are they too poor to buy tra-ps? or don't they know how to catch rats? Query: Were a dog to eat ah infected rat would it (the rat) or the fleas in it convey the germs to the canine, and thence to the family of the owner? That by the way. But has the gentlemanly sport of rat-catch- ing fallen off? Only 40 were destroyed on Saturday in the Trade-street furnace, and to-day but 50 have been cremated as the result of Sunday's toil. To catch rats on the Sabbath has become one of the highest acts of Christian citizen- ship, in the interests, too, of the health of the community. Sir Matthew Hole wrote:- A Sunday well spent brings a week of content, And health for the cares of the morrow; But a Sunday profaned, what'er may be gained, Is a certain forerunner of sorrow. That was in his day. The judge had not read the corporation "proclamation." Could he have done so he must have written quite differently.

KING AND SHRIMP-WOMAN. Whilst at Sandringham the King forgot his high rank, and to everyone was but a country squire. 1 One day when driving a dog-cart, not far from the sea coast, he was overtaken by an old shrimp woman with a heavy basket of ehrimpe on her head. She looked at the Prince (.as he was then), and, not recognising him, piteously besought him for a lift. His Royal Highness laughingly acceded, and drove the old lady several miles. "Where are you taking the shrimps?'' aaked the Prince. "To market, sir." "Do you wish to seil them, or are they sold?" "No, I hain't sold 'em. What'll yer gie us for 'em, sir. Will yer gie me five ehillin'?" His Royal Highness laughed. "I'll give you a picture of my mother for them." The old lady stared. "Eh, but that 'oa.n't gie my little 'uns bread." "I think it will," said the Prince. "It.. it doesn't, bring it back to me." And he gave her a sovereign. The old woman gasped with surprise. She was silent until she alighted from the dog-cart. Then she curtseyed and said, "It's a good like- ness, sir. It's a proud 'ooman I be this day, sir. God bless ye, sir."

RAILWAY LIBEL CASE The libel case in which Mr. Linaker, a superintendent 'of the London and North Wes- tern Railway was awarded 91.000 damages for libelous statements published in the "Railway Review," was again brought before Mr. Justice Mathew to-day. J After a long legal argument, his Lordship entered judgment for the plaintiff, as against the trustees of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and held that they were entitled to be indemnified out of the funds of the society. Notice of appeal was given. .I,

THE OLD CARRIER. One day, a short time after the death of the Duke of Clarence, the Princess of Wales, as she was then, was walking with one of her ladies in the Sandringham lanes, when she came upon an old woman weeping and tottering under a load of packages. She was a carrier, making her living by shopping and errands in the market town for the country people. "The weight is too heavy for you at your age," said the Prinoess. "You're right, ma'am," said the old woman. "I'll have to give it up, and if I give it up I'll starve. Jack carried them for me-my boy, ma'am. "And where is he now?" "Jack? He's dead! Oh. he's dead," said the woman wildly. The Princess hurried on, draw- ing her veil over her face. A few days later a neat little cart and a trim donkey were brought to the old carrier's door.

"FEYTHER WENT A-P0ACHING." On one of the Royal birthdays the Princess and her datughter were returning from a walk, when they noticed a group of children oppo- site the Norwich gates. They had come from a part of Dersingham not on the Royal estate, so were not supposed to be admitted to the tea" always given on such occasions. How- ever, the Princess went over and asked if they were going to the schoolroom by-and bye." Noa, feyther don't work for t' Prince." They were asked what their fathers did. "Feyther," one hopeful naively declared, went a-poach- ing!" The poaching would take place on the Prince's estate. After a burst of hearty laugh- ter, the Princess gave orders for the admission of the group to the feast.

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES, The Rev. J. B. Jones, Wesleyan minister, of Ohester, is coming to Cardiff.

BURGLARY AT BRIDGEND. Yesterday morning thieves effected an entranoe from the back into Messrs. D. Wil- liams and Sons, grocers, and stole a niumber of articles. The police have been informed, but have not yet succeeded in arresting any of the depredators.

WILD GEESE AT MARGAM. On Saturday tho of wild geese were l Men h-i'crja* Margtua Ku'ir»-

I t Rats! I I SUPERINTENDENT WOOSEY (to client): Will you swear it? It doesn't smell liks a Cardiff rat to me. I

INTERVIEW WITH A MIS- SIONARY AT CARDIFF. England's Policy of Imbecility." The Rev. Evan Morgan has laboured for nearly sixteen years among the "heathen Chinee." But the Celestials are not quite the heathens we in Britain are prone to think them, he says. And it will be conceded the Rev. Evafi Morgan ought to know something abcut the almond-eyed folk of the East. A Cardi" by birth, he spent nearly all his life at Bristol before being sent out by the Baptist Missionary Society. Interviewed by an Evening Express" repre- sentative at his hot-el in Cardiff this morning, Mr. Morgan expressed the belief that there is a great future before Christianity in China. There are already between 400.000 and 500,000 Protestant ocnverts," said he. "Not many amongst a population of 400,000,000," interposed our man. "No, but it is a considerable leaven," was the trite response of the missionary. "And the Roman Catholic converts number about a mil- lion," he added. Mr. Morgan refuted entirely the suggestion that the missionaries were responsible for the recent embroilment—at least, the Protestant missionaries. The Catholics take it upon them- selves to interfere in legal matters, and there- by arouse some epleen. The rev. gentleman thought that when the terms ofeettlemnt are finally fixed in Peking the Powers should insist upon the insertion of a clause compelling abstention from interference in such matters by missionaries of all shades. He, however, agreed with Sir Robert Hart, that China's hope lay in the whole-hearted acceptance of Christianity. The Celestials who have become Chris- tianised hold changed views regarding foreigners. They believe that all foreign things are good; they respect foreign nations, and are ready to adopt modern improvements. Mr. Morgan believed that the outbreak was due to the appropriation of Chinese territory by the European Powers, and the climax came when Germany seised' Chiao-dhow, in the Shantung Province, a province held in high regard by the Chinese, inasmuch as 'it was the one in which Confucius first saw light. "That and similar acts was the real cause of the tirouble, and not the missionaries," said Mr. Morgan. He deplored England's past and present atti- tude towards China. "It has been a policy of imbecility," he said. "A few years ago, by the exercise of judi- cious influence, we might have been supreme: now we play decidedly second fiddle to Russia. What Sir Robert Hart recently wrote," he added, "is quite true. As the result of our sowing in China to-day our grandsons will reap the whirlwind." Mr. Morgan favoured firmnese by the Powers at the present juncture. Prince Taan, who ordered the assassination of foreigners, and a dozen others of the like kidney should be be- headed. "That would not be an act of ven- geance," said the rev. gentleman, "but of jus- tice." Mr. Morgan spent the latter part of his mis- sionaryship at San-yuen in Shan-Si province. When the outrages began a dozen "Boxers" came there from Peking, calling themselves the "doers of good." The governor of the province was a good man, and when Prince Tuan's message came, commanding the slaughter of foreigners, he declined to carry the order out. "Prince Tuan waa the author, leader, and supporter of the "Boxer" movement," observed: the interviewe.. Notwithstanding his experiences, Mr. Morgan is going back to China shortly.

MR. HARPUR'S SALARY. Discussed by the City Fathers. The tramway committee, having recom- mended that the salary of the borough engi- neer for tramway purposes be L100 per annum as from the 25th of December, 1900,' rising by S.50 per annum to L250. Mr. Morgan Thomas at the county council meeting to-day rose to move an amendment. He was not, he said, opposed to the recommen- dation, bat he perceived that it would open up a big question, having regard to the position of other officials. He proposed that the matter bp deferred for a meeting or two and referred to a sub-committee, who should go into the whole question as it affects other appointments. Mr. Good seconded the amendment, and argued that Mr. Harpur's salary of £ 1,000 was sufficient. The Mayor, in reply, stated that the borough engineer had done a great deal of work in connection with the tramways, and had saved the profits of an engineer or contractor if the work had been let out. Besides, the committee only followed other towns in this matter. At Nottingham the borough engineers' salary was incrased by L250 on account of work connected with tramway work; at Hull he had an advance of £10(), with an additional £ 200 when the tramways were completed; and at South- end-on-Sea the increase was R400. His Worship referred to several other towns where a similar course had, been adopted, and paid a high com- pliment to Mr. Harpur for his devotion to duty. He waa one of the best, one of the most icliable, and one of the most trustworthy of iren. Mr. F. J. Beavan pointed out that the in. crease would not come out of the pockets of the ratepayers, but out ef the profits of the tram- ways. A Member: When we get them. (Laughter). Messrs. Veall and Fox and Alderman Beavan having supported the recommendation of the committee, Mr. Good withdrew from his position as seconder of the amendment. Mr. W. T. Symonds then seconded the amend- ment. Messrs. Yorat-h and Chappell supported the recommendation. The amendment waa then put and defeated, only four voting for it, while there were 23 against. Mr. Good then moved that the minute be eliminated, but did not get a seconder, and the recommendation of the committee was then approved.

KING EDWARD'S STUD. An Authoritative Statement The Press Association has authority for stating that the Duke of Devonshire has leased all the racehorses belonging to King Edward for the season 1901, as his Majesty trains in the same stable as the Duke of Devonshire. itie horses will remain under the charge of Richard Marsh, Newmarket.

For Weakness, Nervousness, and Indigestion, take Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters. T^e Best Remedy of the Age. Sold in bottles 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d.. 41617-1 PEPPER'S QUININE AND IRON TONlO,1 embracing, vivifying, sustaining, dispels sion. cures indigestion, neuralgia, and all achet or pains. Pepper's, the only real tonic, Shilling bottles. e5 When asking for Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters, note the name Gwilym F.vans must h found on the label, ataruro, and bottle to iu- itn bslag genuine. k Ai

USEFUL ELECTRICAL DIS- COVERY IN AMERICA. One of the new century's greatest additions to human progress is believed to be an inven- tion by a young electrician named Hutchin- son, a native of Alabama (says the "Morning Leader") whereby deaf mutes can both hear and speak. His system of the intensification of soniio waves by electrical conductors acting on the sensitive tympanum has been tried on 4,000 deaf mutes, and not once failed. On Saturday ten of the worst cases in the New York Institnte were subjected to an official test. Seven of the leading ear specialists of New York were present. Powerful tuning-forks and Galton whistle were first tried to show that all ten were really atone deaf, and then Hutchinson took them in hand. and in a few minutes had them lepeating words and phrases. Experts declare that the discovery is oi immense importance. It is already noted that a Cotton Exchange merchant nam-ed Violett goes about with OI1 of Hutchinson's pocket apparatus, and can hear, although experta had declared "his case' to be hopeless.

That zEI0,000 Debt. --AI8 The inhabitants of 250 towns and villages in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire are more or less under a serious obligation to the Cardiff Infirmary. That being so, it is surprising the institu. tion receives such scant support. As a rule, there are nearly 200 people waiting admission to the infirmary as in-patients. Many of these are women suffering from tumour and cancer, whose disease reaches an incurable stage before they can be admitted. Therefore, the benefactions of the charitable are much needed. The "Western Mail Shilling Fund this morn- ing stood at 73,959 shillings.

BATS AND BATTIITGwFBOM: THE RODENTS' POINT OF VIEW. SEE EVF"1NG EXPRESS" TO-MORROW (TUESDAY).

RITUALISM. Mr. Kensit Writes to the King. As secretary of the Protestant Truth Society Mr. John Keusit has addressed a letter to the King. "In deeply venerable terms" he expresses the hope that his Majesty will appoint to the vacant Bishoprio of London one who will "faithfully reflect the Protectant charaoter of our Church and Constitution." Also that the King will exercise bm mighty influence in the present ecclesiastical crisis, for the lack of faithfulness on the part of many of the bishops is causing great grief to large numbers of many of his loyal subjects.

EXCURSIONS TO LONDON. The Parliamentary committee recommended the city fathers to-day to let the mayor and seven other gentlemen be appointed a sub- committee to take charge of the promotion of the Cardiff Corporation Bill, ae well as the opposition to Bills and Provisional Orders in the next session of Parliament. Mr. F. J. Beavan thought aiie number was excessive, and moved that it be reduced to six, including the mayor. Alderman Trounce seoonded. Mr. Morgan Thomas supported the amend- ment. The Mayor and Mr. F. J. Veall said they did not all go after being selected, and they thought that if there was to be any altera- tion the number should be increased. Mr. Chappell did: not object to the number, but said the sub-committee was badly selected, as only two out of &even on the western sewer sub-committee were placed upon the Parlia- mentary sub-committee. A similar line was taken by MT. Edward Thomas, who said that those who had been in London on Parliamentary work knew that it was no holiday. The amendment was lost by fifteen votes against eigbt. Mr. Veall then propoeed that the sub-com- mittee -be noleaGed to eleven by the addition of Alderman David Jones and Messrs. Mildon and F. J. Beavan Alderman Riohard Ccry seconded. Mr F. J. Beavan emphatically refused to act, and: the amendment was, then put an-&, carried. A further amendment to make the sub-com- mittee number eight, to be balloted for. was then moved by Mr. Morgan Thomas and losb, eleven voting for it and twelve against. The sub-committee will now consist of the Mayor (chairman), Mr. John Jenkins (vice- chairman), Aldermen Ramsdale, David Jones, Carey, and Jacobs, Meesrs. Evans, Lewis Mor- gan, Mildon, and Courtis.

BRIDGEND GUARDIANS. — Canon Edmondes presided over the usual weekly meeting of the Bridgend Board of Guardians on Saturday. The clerk of the Cardiff Guardians wrote asking the board to sapport the anion of the Cardiff guardians in petitioning the county council to make their precept for rates very much later in the half-year them at present by making a similar petition. The finance committee reported that they did not agree with the suggested alteration. A suggestion that the rates be collected quar- terly was thrown out, and it was eventually agreed to follow the recommendation of the finance committee and drop the idea suggested by the Cardiff guardians.

PROPOSED INCREASE OF SALARY. At a recent meeting of the lighting oom- mittee of the Cardiff Corporation Mr. T. K. Jenkins, collector of electric lighting accounts, applied for an increase of salary, and the committee recommended that his salary be increased from £100 to L130, rising by annual increments of £ 15 to a maximum of £ 175. Mr. Good at to-day's council meeting moved that the minu-te be referred bask, as he con- sidered the increase too great. In answer to Alderman David Jones, the Chairman of the committee stated that the amount of money collected by Mi-. Jenkins would soon be £ 11,000 a year, and, so closely did he follow up his work that the loss was only i per cent. The recommendation of the committee was adopted.

WEST BUTE-STREET. In reply to Mr. S. 0. Williams, Alderman Ramsdale stated that at the meeting to-day that the public works committee were pre- pared to consider the advisability of layjnj weetl ttack* in. West Bute-street.

AGITATION BY TEACHERS. Public Meeting at Newport. "Insecurity of tenure" is a subject which is troubling teachers in various parts of the country at the present time. At Newport on Saturday a public meeting was he'd to pass a resolution urging upon the Government the necessity of giving teachers some reasonable security against unjast and capricious dismissals. The deputy-mayor (Mr. T. S. Gower) presided, in the absence cf the mayor. Mr. T. H. Jones (London), chairman of the National Union of Teachers' Law Committee, said that Sir John Go rat had promised that something should be done, and the teachers wanted to back his action with the force of .public opinion. Mr. W. Lyndon Moore proposed, and Mr. W. C. Phillips seconded, a resolution expressing satisfaction at the promise of the Government to deal with the matter. Miss H. Williams (Cardiff), Mr. W. C. Jenkins (Swansea), Miss John (Newport), Father Bailey, and Mr. W. Pratt spoke in support. The motion was unanimously carried. MEETING AT BARRY. There was a well-attended meeting of Barry teachers at Holton-road School on Saturday afternoon. The new president (Mr. H. Wood) was installed amid cheers. Mr. J. Lloyd Jones" as chosen vice-president, and Mr. Evan Davies was re-elected general secretary and treasurer. Deprecation wa, expressed of the employ- ment by certain school boards in South Wales, notably the Rhondda, of untrained and inex- perienced young persons as teachers under Article 51 B of the Code, which have passed the examination for the senior certificate of the Welsh University Central Board, in prefe- rence to ex-pupil teachers, and urging that twelve months' tractical teaching experience or twelve months' residence in a reeognised train. ing college be a condition of employment.

T "WHITE SLAVES." How Penrhyn Quarrymen Prolong the Struggle. "White Slaves"—apropos, to a certain extent, of the Penrhyn quarry dispute—was the topic upon which the Rev. Richard Westrope addressed his congregation at Westminster Chapel last night. He spoke of the terrible conditions under which men work at Widnes and St. Helens, for example—the country blackened and bare of trees, the men with toothless gums and drooping before their time, compelled to work day after day in a poisoned atmos- phere at the risk of life. He read the story from Saturdays papers of a Jewish boot- finisher who could have earned 3s. 2d. per day of 22 hours, and had hanged himself to escape his miserable life. And he referred to Penrhyn, where the chil- dren are going breakfastless to school these bitter mornings. At the end of the service there trooped in a score of miners who are touring London and singing, in order to send back money that the struggle may be continued a little longer. They had sung yesterday afternoon at St. James's-hall, and the same evening at King's Cross. But their voTife were still tuneful and clear; the audience were delighted with the series of duets, solos and choruses they per- formed, and the musical reputation of the Principality did not suffer. A liberal collec- tion goes to Penrhyn as the result.

A ROYAL FISHERMAN. The King of Portugal pa-id a lengthened visit to the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, the other day, in order to inspect the unrivalled collection of fishes pre- served there. His Majesty is an expert in ichthyology, and has written several scientifio memoirs on the subject. He is very fond of fishing in the sea off the coast of Portugal, and, owing to the extraordinary greath depth of the water off that shore, the forms dis- covered are of great variety and scientific interest.

FUTURE KING AND KISSING. Little Prince Edward (says an illustrated weekly), who has been brought a step nearer the throne by the death of the Queen, will sadly miss his great grandmother. They were alwayB devoted to each other, the Prince so much so that he refused for a long time to kiss the Queen's hand, insisting on kissing her cheek instead.

22 STABLE LADS POISONED. Much excitement has been caused in the Marlborough district of Wiltshire by the report that no less than 22 lads, employed in the racing stables of Mr. Sam Darling at Beckbamptsm, have been, suffering from symp- toms of arsenical poisoning, supposed to have bten contracted through drinking beer. Several of the cases have proved very serious, but under medical attention they are reported to have for the most part nearly recovered. An analysis is being made of a sample of the beer.

NO PLAGUE AT CARDIFF. Up till this morning there was no further caee of plague at Cardiff, neither were there any suspicions cases under observation.

QUEEN'S FUNERAL DAY. Alderman Ramsdals, in reply to a query at the Cardiff County Council meeting to-day, said it was because the Queen's funeral day was not an annual national holiday that the cor- poration workmen were not paid on that day. When the minutes of the public works com- mittee came up for consideration, Alderman Ramsdale proposed1 that all the men be paid for the day of the Queen's funeral.—Mr. Veall seconded, and the resolution wais agreed to.

RAT-CATCHING HEN. A hen which successfully engages in the pursuit of rat-catching what time there is a lull in the egg-laying industry is possessed by a reader of "Tit-Bits." Should any rat, spoiling for a set-to, come within her imme- diate neighbourhood, she takes him on at catch-weights. Her method of dealing with him is short, 'sharp, and decisive. Her first blow is aimed at the point from her beak, and before the rat has an opportunity of recover- ing from the shock one blow straight from her left wing results in a complete knock-out. This gallant bird has never once suffered defeat. There's a fine opening in business for this hen in Cardiff just now provided she's immune from Opteric, and plague. The corporation might take to breeding this variety.

We witness in the World of Science the com- prehensive federation of Nature's helps and aids in Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters, for remedying human Buffering. Bottles 2s. 9d. ard 4s. 6d. e41617—3 A FAIR. BEAUTIFUL SKIN.-Sulpholine Soap gives the natural tint and peach-like bloom of a perfect complexion, makes the skin smooth, supple, healthy, eomfortaW<v Tablets i M«ryirtw4. «l ♦

In By the Way. There is one white soldier in India to every, 3,500 natives. The expenses of the Royal Household art L175,000 a year. No coal or gas was ever used in her Majesty's private rooms. The State Crown has only twioe been repaired during the last reign. Russia has spent 335 millions sterling on war in the last 60 years and 664,000 men. A Maid of Honour always receives a dowry of LI,000 from the Queen on her marriage. i. A shibboleth for the intoxicated: "The sun shines on the shop signs of the shot silk sash shop." There is a fixed set of patterns for every room at Windsor for curtains, carpets, and hangings. The fanna in the neighbourhood of Pretoria have been proved rich in coal, copper, gold, and diamonds. Once again—this time in Athens-women have been petitioning the Government for a tax on all bachelors over 40 years old. In proportion to numbers, Denmark ha? more cyclists than any country in the world. England comes second, and Belgium third. Once every three weeks Queen Wilhelmina. has been in the habit of visiting the Royal kitchen to see if the cupboards and all the plates and saucepans were in good order. A board school class, says a morning paper, was asked what is the chief food of the people of India. After some time a little girl held up her hand and piped out "Famine!" The two favourite pursuits of Princess Beatrice are riding and trying over new music in the form of duets, and no maid of honour is chosen who is not an adept in both arts. Judge Addison's description of a "mug" is unique. He says at Oxford it means a man who is not given to sport or indulgence, and reads a great many books which he does not understand. A veteran London magistrate suggests that the curse of miscellaneous shooting in the streets of London is only to be met by im- posing a considerable tax on the vendors of pistols of any kind. Unlike many rich people who live in the country, Queen Victoria always bought things from the neighbourhood in which she lived; and Cowes will have special reason to deplore the loss of her consideration in this respect. One of the candidates for a borough council election appeals to the electors on the score of healthy homes:—"It is estimated," he says in his address, "that the fifth of the popula- tion of London is overcrowded, and that no less than 400,000 people are herded in only one room." Somebody said that football was dying in South Wales. If so, it is remarkably lively in its moribundic stages. Last Saturday it dominated three pages of the Evening Ex- press" football edition-a thing which has never happened before either with the Ex- press or any other paper in South Wales. When Saturday's reports, Ac., did pull up, they, had filled sixteen columns. Seventeen old fishing boats (says the Dublin Express "), one of which is said to have been built between 1740 and 1750, form the odd little fishing village of Carra. cross, on the West Coast of Ireland. The only building in the place which is not constructed of on old boat is the priest's house, and this is built almost entirely of the driftwood which the ocean tide piles upon the rocky coast. There is not a tree of sufficient size to give building timber within eight miles of Carracross. The first Berlioz exhibition ever instituted has just been opened at Frankfurt under the auspices of the Internationale Musikgesell. schaft. The exhibition is weak in autographs, but there is practically a complete collection of Berlioz's printed works, besides a fine col. lection of portraits, caricatures, and news- paper-cuttings. To Englishmen, perhaps the most interesting thing in the exhibition is a series of twelve portraits of Miss Smithson, the beautiful English actress who inspired Berlioz with so strange and fantastic a passion, and afterwards became his wife. Probably few places can produce such a. record as the village of Devoran, Devon. The "Western Morning News" says that in a popu- lation of about 450 there are now living ten persons who have lived in five reigns, namely, George ill" George IV., William IV.. Victoria, and Edward VII., and whose aggregate ages amount to 835 years, an average of 83 years There are also eeventeen persons who have lived in four reigns, and whose aggregate ages amount to 1,266 years, an average of 74 years, the average age of the 27 persons thus being nearly 78 years. It is stated by the "Glasgow Evening News" that the young Marquess of Bute is beginning to assert himself in rather unexpected direc- tions. His lordship is known to have a strong partiality for the garb of Old Gaul, and the latest is that he wants the gamekeepers to be clothed with the kilt. The young keepers are to have the option of wearing knickerbockers, but no such choice is left for the head keeper, who is to wear the tartan when out shooting with the young lord. As some new keepers are coming to Bute from England, the pros- pect before them is. to say the least of it, chilly. The story of the discovery of a number of Jenny Lind's letters has been confirmed, and further details are now given by the "Neue Zeitslchrift for Musik." The letters, which are more than 100 in .number, and are written in German, cover the period 1845-75. They were addressed to an intimate friend in Berlin, and contain many details of the great singer's artistic life and of her various tours in Europe and America. There is a good deal in the letters about her contemporaries, espe- 'e"r cially about Liszt, Meyerbeer, Mendelsshcn, and the Schumanns. It is said that the col- lection has been purchased, and will shortly be published by the Romau firra of Loscher and Co. Queen Victoria's reign (says the "Liverpool Post," oontained many "records," to use a sporting phrase now in common use, but tha month of February, 1866, was perhaps the most wonderful of them all. Not that this could in any sense be aecribed to the good Queen a gerius, far-reaching and powerful as it was. The record to which we refer is that the month in question had no full moon. January in that year had two full moons, but Febrna,ry had note. Our authority for this statement supplies the further remarkable information that such a thing had not occurred before, so far as astronomers can calculate, within the history of the universe. Still more, it will not occur again for 2,500,000 years! In 1845, when Queen Victoria, and Prince Albert were travelling in Germany, they were invited by Frederick William IV., King of Prussia, to be prese it at the unveiling of a atatue-of Beethoven, at Bonn. The Royalties were seated in the balcony of a palace over- looking the square in which the statue stood. When the cord was pulled and the veil fell, Beethoven was revealed in all his glory, but, with his back turned full to the Royal balcony. Everyone but the King burst out laughing, Queen Victoria being as much amused ae any- one; but Frederick William was very angry at the stupidity of the officials, and only relented when Humboldt, who waa as witty as he was learned, said, "Your Majesty forgeta that Beethoven was a rough diamond during j,. his lifetime; you can hardly expect that 4 will have IAWO, his nuuuMuak^