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r l, X BICYCLES AS JPUGGAGB. Bicyclists have no doubt read with interest, iays the Law 'Journal, and probably with some disap- pointment. the'judgment of, Mr? Justice CJbiannell in the test action brought against the Great Nor.tnern Railway CoiTjpany to recover "the charge made' for the" carriage or a bicycle. Tte sole point for deciijibji was 'whether a bicycle wae ordinary luggage within the meaning of "the company's Act of 1850. Asl the learned judge remarked, it is easier to say what-isnot than what is ordinary luggage." Previous decision* show, indeed, that the term only" covers things- which ire intended for the personal use of the passenger, and which a traveller habitually takes for his use when away from home. At the present time ti- bi cle may be said to fulfil both these conditions. It does not,- howeVer, follow from-the authorities that every- thiing which a traveller habitually takes with him for his personal use is ordinary tnggage. The ex- pression, according to Mr. Justice Channell, conveys thefdeA of things^which are in boxes or bags, or, packed up in sdme other way., We ctertaihly think that such an idea'attaches to the term as it is used in .common speech. It *eem» to;follow that ordinary luggage must mean something whiqh' can be handled without much inconvenience/does not reqiiire much ,care'to protect it from injury-on the journey, and does hot occupy an unusual armoupt of space for an i,lrtiolp !of A bicycle not fulfil any ,,pf these conditions. afnd therefore tHe"decision't^tt it, is not ordinaiy luggage seems a rtasonable one. It may be that the Charges made by English railway companies for the carriage of bicycles are exorbitant; but that consideration is in no way relevant to the flatter whichr4ras in issue. C ) .1 .in'rLL'! 1 1'V" r1
[No title]
1* order to recoup lierselt in some way for the loss of Cuba and the Philippinea, a French paper: learns that the Spanish Government has resolved to give the necessary "permission for tobaocn to be cultivated in the Spanish provinces. It hopes thfit this step will not only rgsnlfc in a consiaerable, I revenue to the'Peninsula, hut will also give Spain an opportunity of revenging herself on1 the United States.' Mb. WtttiAM Sxuittorr Bbattib, whose death has occitrred very suddenly at hls residence in Edin- burgh, was an eminent Scottish architect, and was also well known as a skilled witness in Parliamentary inquiries. Mr..BeAttie was responsible for the design of a large numbor of important buildings in Edin- burgh and elsewhere. He was also chief expert adviser to the Corporation of Edinburgh, and per- formed important duties of a similar kind for the North British Railway Company. He was highly opteetned,-and his deftiv in his prime-he had only reached the age of -will lo deeply regretted -by a very wide circle.
AN INDIAN FIREBRAND;
AN INDIAN FIREBRAND; Besides the Mad Mullah, an octogenarian ^fanatic, our forces on tlie TndiariTronfler Have to reckon with the Iesa-known a»ent of the Khan of Dir. a-Zakka J^hel of the Zairat, ne^r rfbwsfiera, and" a turbulent spirit who has'for many years striven tp enfprce the authority of the KJian upon the independent'tlribes of the Upper Swat. -In this'feud the Khan himself has taken mit a feeble part; biit the savage.cruelty and exactions of his agent, have stirred the Swats' to re- prisals on more tinn'one 'occ&sion. It 'is^at'ohe of these junctures that the Mullah has struck in,'haying only Recently emerged from his hiding-place in Kohistan. ;j
SPORT AT THE 1900 EXHIBITION.
SPORT AT THE 1900 EXHIBITION. Every is to be given to the various •ports at the Exhibition of 1900. Mi Henri Jarsuel, editor of the Mouitmr des Expositions, has been able to obtain precise information as to what is being done in this direction from M. Alfred Picard and the Minister of Commerce. This branch of the exhibi- tion will form an independent section) divided into 10 classes Athletics, gymnastics, fencing, shooting, horse-raoing, bicycling, motor-cars, boating, life- saving, and ballooning. An original feature jn con- nection with the section will be an International Com- mitttee of Doctors, who will be given, every facility for studying the influence of physical exercise on human organism."
..r BISHOPS IN THE BOUSE OF…
r BISHOPS IN THE BOUSE OF LORDS. Dr. Kennion, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, be- e6mes entitled to a seat in the House of Lords by the resignation, of the Bishop of Bangor. Dr. Kennion was consecrated in 1694, and was the first of the two bishops appointed by Lord Rosebery, the other being the Bishop of Hereford, who will be the next to enter the Upper House. The remaining bishops now waiting their seats in the House "of Lords are the Bishops of Rochester, Newcastle, Peterborough, St. David's, Bristol, Wakefield, and, w\Ien appointed, Bangor. Only 24 bishops may sit in the House of Lords at one time, the others having to wait their turn, and entering according to seniority of consecration.
-ü VILLAGE THEMTSTOCLES.
ü VILLAGE THEMTSTOCLES. M. Bussiere, Deputy for a constituency in France of which the village of Donnadieu forms part,, must-be a proud and no doubt an astonished man to-day. Several, peasant? were dining together at Dpnnacjieuj and after the repast politic^ were discussed. One of the guests M. lespinas, expresedis sentiment thus "Vive Bussiere!. Down with Lasteyrie!" (M. Bus- siere's predecessor). Another guest, M. Mialon, desired M. lespinas to hold his tongue. I would rather," h§ added, be stabbed than heay these cries." As the other, persisted, M. Mialon tore open his vest and, unwittingly reviving Themlstocles's famous speech, cried Strike, but be silent." M. Lespinas pretended to take him. at his word, but instead of striking, threw the knife on the table aid remarked "No, I will not stab you. But do not imagine I am less capable than you of dying for my ideas. Strike, I am waiting." And M. lespinas threw open his vest in turn. Less magnanimous than his adversary, M. Mialon planted the knife in his chest and lespinas fell to the ground. It is satisfactory to know that his wound is not fatal, because there are' higher ambitions than a post- postprandial desire to die for Bussiere-or Lasteyrit either.
AIDS TO BUSINESS.
AIDS TO BUSINESS. About every 33 years the earttii passes- through a vast cloud of" meteori:es flying through space, and making themselves visible as -shooting star* directly they come into tOirch with our atmosphere. Much in the same way, though at shorter intervals, remarks the Record, the business" world passes through a stratum of dodger which figure as aids to business, Lik", the meteors, they attract con- siderable attention for the- moment; • tiff&ke ;the meteors, they often do a great deal of harm. Among such dodges are the free stamp enterprises, the valueless character of which to the trade and the public we have had pleasure in exposing. The stamp business came from America, and we now hear of another scheme, something of the same kind,, but apparently not possessing the same objectionable features. It seems that metal "checks are issued to customers, and- may subsequently be exchanged for merchandise. We have no details of the scheme, but if it represents a sort of discount payable, nttin mon, but in goods, and only by the merchants issuing the checks," the procedure is obviously honest, and may prove useful. Some doubt was felt as to the legality of the plan, the view beihg taken that, as "tokens" of money, the, metal "checks" rght -with tb«hctirv6aoy.v settle this, a teet case has been brought, thft Court decjdfed 4 -d that so .long as the checks arq only redeemable in merchandise they are legal. We are no great be- lievers in such aids to business," holding the View that old-fashioned excellence of quality, cheapness of price, artistic arrangement in windows,, an the like are quite sulucient.to make business hum, Spe- cially if they are combined with & recognition otthe value of smart advertising. At the same time, we see no objection to extraneous little schemes pointing in the same direction when tliey are straightforward and honest.
SMALL CONSTITUENCIES.
SMALL CONSTITUENCIES. The City Press gives Some" curious instances in which City Guardians have represented fewer than 30 parishioners,1 the record hÙbis respect beIng betd., by Bernard's Inn^ith its one'Guardian for Only five" inhabitants. St. B^net's, Paul's Wharf, has injoyoct the service# of one member, though ita residents number, only 12; St. Mary, Magdalene," Old Fish- street, one meimber, though its population cohsiits o ,only, 26 soiils; and St. Alphage, lohdon-wall, one, member; though the sum total of its parishioners is 28., ¡
:c::.., THE IRRESISTIBLE.
:c:: THE IRRESISTIBLE. The Irresistible, a twinscrew, first-class tferftetttf battle-ship, this -week launched at Chatham; is the second of three battle-ships designed as a step in ad- vance Of the Majeisticr class, though the difference is not of any great magnitude. The Majestic class'have a displacement of 14^600 tons, and a length of 390 feet, with engines of 12,000 indicated horse-power, and a speed of 17^6 knots. The Irresistible, and her two sister ships, are designed with, a displacement of 15,000 tons, and a length of 400 feet, the engines to be of 15,000 horse-power, to impart a speed of '18 knots. It might be thought that this speed would be exceeded, seeing that the breadth of beam is the same in both cases, while the Irresistible, with her slightly greater length than the Majestic, is capable of having finer lines, and the draught of water is somewhat less. The Ma;estic draws 27fC. 6in., while the Irresistible has a draught forward of oaly 36ft. 3in., with 27ft. 3in. aft. The Formidable, launched P.t Portsmouth in the middle, of last month, was the first of the new trio, and the third will be thelmplao- able, now building at Devonport. The engines of the Irresistible are to be of the inverted "vertical triple Expansion kind, steam being supplied from 20hoilers df the Belleville type. Above 2000 tons of coal can be stored on board, but the bunker capacity toly pro- vides for 900 tons. The ship's complement, exclusive of the Admiral and his staff, will beTTS. The first keel plate of the ship was laid on April II, and the weight of huH at the1 time of launching ?s NM-tons, thus affording an example of heavy shipbuilding'work carried On -with great rapidity, reflecting much credit on the dockyard staff. The Admiral' Superintendent of the Dockyard is Admiral Hilary G. Andoe, C.B., and the chief constructor Mr. W. James. Like all warships of the period the Irresistible is steel built. The armament of the Irresistible and her'consorts will consist of four 12-inch breech-loading wire guns, 12 6-inch quick-firers, 16 12-pounder quick-firers of 12cwt., two 12-pounder quick-firers of -Sewt., six 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, and eight -45io. Maxim guns. There will be four submerged torpedo tubes. The armour on the ship's sides is to be ninfe inches thick, and on the bulkheads from nine to 12in., that on the barbettes being six, 10, and 12in., the case- ments having six inches, and the fore conning-tower 14in. The four 12in. guns are to be protected by shields composed of armour eight: and lOin. thick. There are two protective decks having "armour from two to three inches thick. A nickel steel plating, two inches thick, covers the ship's bows in connection with the ram. The keel of the Implacable waa laid at Devonport in July, and there was every determination to hasten her construction, so aS if possible, to beat aH previ- ous shipbuilding records. The addition of these three vessels to the Navy of England will therefore take place at an early date, although launching is but an intermediate stage between construction and com- pletion. The Irresistible and her consorts will con- stitute the mOst powerful warships in the world, and their behauiour when afloat will necessarily excite much interest. Additions to the Navy are proceed- ing with rapidity, and it has been already announced that, as soon as the Implacable is launched at Devonport, a battle-ship of the improved Canopus type will be laid down on the slip she occupies. But even three Irresistibles are to become four, the London, the building of which was commenced at Portsmouth the other day, being practically one "of this class, having the same dis- placement and a similar armament.
THE LATE IRS. HEDDLE.
THE LATE IRS. HEDDLE. Mrs. Crawford, in Truth, tells the brief but ro- mantic story of Mrs. Maxwell Heddleas to the ulti- mate destination of whose estate so many surmises are being made in Paris. Here are some extracts which give a vivid picture Mrs. Heddle, a Canadian by birth,- came here originally as the wife of a poor Belgian violinist, whom she married for love. She was then a tiny blondinette. The love match ended in a divorce, or was thought to have done so, for it appears the musician now claims her estate as' her wid,ower. However, after the manage torOke tippshe fbtarid herself without ineaiis. A lady With a Scotch name took her up, helped her in many ways. and introduced her to an elderly millionaire, Mr. Maxwell Heddle. He was an odd being, who passed for being fond of his money, but could he philanthropical. Philanthropy induced him to allow the divorcee 500fr. a month, as was stated at the trial of one of her different lawsuits. But she soon persuaded him that it would be cheaper to marry her. Mrs. Maxwell Heddle was greatly admired on the Riviera, and aspired to fashion. She proved a lady Bountiful, and was leading a rather brilliant life when Maxwell Heddle was one morning found dead in his bed. He had been asphyxiated by a slow: combustion stove. Somebody—perhaps- himself—turned the key to regulate the heat, and forgot to turn it back. As» he left the wife all the millions; you may imagine how the blackmailing papers echoed the talk of his rela- tions. A motar-car accident brought on the, illness which put an end1 to Mrs. Heddle's strange and ephemeral career. -One of the wills found in her desk was entirely in favour of her sister. Her last wilp (so far as we can tell) bequeathed to her Spanish lady companion, Senora Satorres, the house in the Rue Nitot, a large sum of money, and the rest of the millions' to the two vaguely designated charitable societies; Failing them, all, save very handsome legacies to Mme. Ferrari, the piariist, and her daughters, is to go to the companion. The Belgian musician has filed a caveat. The sister has done like- wise, and other relatives have cabled-to lawyers from Quebec to dispute the wilL
THE CZAR AS A VOCALIST,
THE CZAR AS A VOCALIST, It may not be generally known that the Czar of All the Russians possess a very fine and admirably-trained tenor voice. It is not of great volume, but of Sweet and iiieloditis titnbre. Some little time ago, says a Court; gossip writing from Galtay the evening draw- ing-room party at the Imperial Villa, at Livadia became musical. The Emperer-was in guy spirits, and in excellent VOicè and form. lIe sang a couple of arias with more, than his usual success. Turning from the piano towards his highly-appreciative Court atidience, and with that naturally amiable impulsive- ,ness and frank speech which lend soi great a charm to the Imperial domestic circle, his Majesty laugh- ingly exclaimed, Well, my children, my enemies say -many harsh, and ufikijid things of me, and accuse me of being-destitute of many capacities but I defy them to say that I cannot sing as well u- the best of theuv I" •
[No title]
U Gbnbral Bjcciotu GtRriL,.LDt, like every intelli- gent foreigner who visits London., ma-T delighted with force. The general thinksi- everthing English is perfect, and wilLnot admit any flaws-any- where in this country, but the police make him fairly enthusiastic. To see them stop the traffic for » child or woman tQ^pow, just bv lifting up the hand; Corpo di Baecho is a, splendid sight. And they pat tha nursemaids on the hack to encourage them to i cto«9, or take them across by the artn," was the sub- I stawe ot what the general said to a friend, with a | sly. twin Vie in his .eye, ^General Garibaldi has a .keen gense of humour, and he evidently thought i ocoes, or take them across by the arm," was the sub- I stawe ot what the general said to a friend, with a | sly. twin Vie in his .eye, ^General Garibaldi has a .keen gense of humour, and he evidently thought i that there were, some of his duties that Robert enjoyed., j Pabjs is suffering just now from a glut. of, Grand Dijkes-Rilssittn, Of .course. There have been some four or five.in succession spread over as many, weeks, involving ppecial. II chl!sses;" special Presidential levees, which smart Paris was in duty bound to attend, and—what is w orse—toq many special ser- vices at the Greek church, where the gay world, bored to death, had to look as demure as it could. Vanity Fair says that this kind of thing has led Society into hinting that to have' no Court of your own, and to have to dance Royal attendance upon second-rate Royalties, who cannot always be relied upon for even a third-class decoration, is more than human nature ought to be called upon to bear—at least, more than once in a season. No wonder.
r i'TKLl) .AiN'fx EARM.
r i'TKLl) .AiN'fx EARM. (F>ym-v-Th{ Affricultural Ga.ett f." • j. KBBl* PROSPECTS. TnV re is a'sligntly improved prospect of keep. The intuu it has pror<-d!.favouittM& for late sown roots 1t1 l;^c-er <*rops, and now (observes Prof. John r, (hilt we are on the threshold of winter we m.-iy estimate the duration of our supply of winter food. Ewes have.hvd few roots and a liberal supply of hay. and h ive not done badly. Turnips g^ow, but a £ T>od many have rotted, leaving bare spots on what would ot.liersvite lrnve been fair crops. When we enter on Do<^}i!ibcr-« e cfuif ^imit the period of winter to four montfis," but' not lessT It'is always desirable to grow a suflScient fwvai tof roots to last till May, but this is scarcely hkeJ^ t»;.bf realised this season, as we ahull find it, di|Bcult to husband them, so as tcr hisl through" March. It is therefore pfo- bable;thnt the winter. will<pfove expensive for stpok- fvmers, as artificial foou- iill be much needed. Hay and straw axe, ^bundafit$aad much of the letter .will need to be pbi:' t'rirõíh the-chaff-cutter. In snçh a season-a verfw.c.ut,'ca.pable of chaffing a ton an hatityi^a. gieaS. help, and the expense is not more than 6s. a ton. Few economies are rpore useful, for cows, and even- fatting stock, may be kept without hay provided they have plenty of straw-chaff aided by cake and meal. As to the comparative1 merits of long straw and chop, it lies not so much in any actual increase in feeding value, as in the possi- bility of inducing cattle to eat more straw. A couch of straw, moistened with a little water, and enriched a with artificial foods,soon. heats slightly, and forms a palatable food. Steaming is not necessary, although it is often employed, as the same effeet- is obtained in a few hours by the addition of water. Neither is it necessary to even moisten chaff, as the cattle will eat it dry if well mixed with richfer foods. The quality of straw differs with thq season and locality, but it is capable of keeping store stock in fair condition with- but little assistance. WhenL chopped and combined with othet foods it fors a valuable fodder, and is Better used in this way than as, is too often the case, simply used as litter. T-be, problem before us is how to best carry our stock throngh winter, and attention in this connection is directed to straw as a cheap and wholesome food. BULLOCK FEEDING. The stalls are now filled, and the meat manufac- ture is again in full swing. It is much to be feared that little direct profit ean be squeezed out of the process. The lamentations of winter graziers lll:? year are likely to he repeated, and it is difficult to see a way out of the dilemma. The question is, how, beef can be produced at 6<L.per lb.? and the answejf" given wili depend upon circumstances. As a matter of business, unless bullocks are very well bought, do remarkably well. and are very well sold, there appears to be but little pronto If bullocks are bred on the place the net result may he more satisfactory, but it certainly i3 ript so if the profit is tp be looked for in ..(he manure, alone. A wisiness ought to Hie conducted to ieuve a profit, apart from less direct advantages; and certainly the value of manure,, although undoubted, "depends very much upon the season following its application. Such summers as we have lately experienced have not been calculated to develop the value of dung, because moisture ip essential to-its decay and incorporation with.the soil. Hence, estimates as to the supposed value of dung per ton are not always safe. Again, when dung pro- duced from fatting cattle is employed for mangel or other roots it once more goes into pawafor the pro- duction of a fodder crop to be again passedthrough the yards. What the farmer wants is cash, and dung which produces bushels of wheat is more immediately use- ful than dung applied to turnips. The fact is a farmer ought to be a rich man, to wait year by year until the productive power of his fields is gradually raised to a higher leveL In the long run bullock feeding will do this, but in the meantime there is, if not loss, absorption of capital. It is an axiom in business that gross profits should be considerable, in order tQ stand the strain of reverses and losses. We look irt vain for the wide margin which ought to exist between expenses and gross returns in bullock feeding. There is either a small loss, a bare clear- ance, or a minute profit, and this ought not to be. And yet the process goes on and the home market is sup- plied. How is this to be accounted for ? One reason why beef making shows a loss is the system used in estimating actual cost. Commencing 0 with roots, it is assumed that these cannot be grown under P.8 or £9 per acre. Land, it is asserted, cannot be ploughed under 10s. per acre. All tillage opera- tions are valued up, and interest on money, noks. &c., occur, not once, but several times, in most calcula- tions. Thus, horses are charged with interest, risk, and depreciation. Total costs are again debited with un- foreseen incidentals, until the accounts gro-tns under the weight of expenses. Straw is charged against the bullocks at a price which, if added to the corn yield, would make the corn pay well. This is, how- ever, rarely done, because it is urged that the straw will all be used at home, and therefore does not help the corn. It is, however, virtually sold to the bul- locks, who are brought in debtors, while the account is not balanced by crediting the corn crop. Charging the straw against bullocks is a very serious draw- back to showing a profit. Then the root crop is declared to be a loss because the roots are all eaten at home, but it is clear that if bullocks are charged 6d. per cwt. for all roots eaten the root crop should be credited with 10s. a ton for all roots grown. Whatever real profit accrues from bullock feeding on a farm is the result of the entire economy of the farm. The roots and straw are probably grown for less money than they are charged to the cattle. It is not, on the face of it, unreasonable to charge roots at 6d. per cwt.. for they could hot be purchased for the money. But they may be produced for less, and whatever they are charged at against the cattle is of little consequence as long as they are correspondingly credited to the root crop. Apart from the acknow- ledged fact that neither bullock feeding nor .farming are carried on at a big profit, it is true that accumu- lating a heavy bill against.cattle for, roots and straw at market price is not just to the cattle account. By so doing it would not be difficult to show a heavy loss on the. bullock account and a big profit on the root crop. It is a matter of account rather than of' ^act, and it is prrbaps impos- sible to make a statement as to what- it costs 4 farmer to fatten a bullock. If a grazier insists that his bullocks should be charged 50e..a ton for wheat straw, it-is evident that he sells his wheat straw at 60s. a ton to his bullocks, thereby losing his book profit. On the other hand, he must, in fairness, credit his wheat crop with its straw at 50s. a ton. This is the only explanation by which, it appears to me the continuance of bullock feeding caa be recon- ciled' with prudence. Having by the means usually adopted brought the > bullocks inas losers, and shown that the-dung is pro- duced at a cost, as-I see it stated, of 128; per ton, the next thing is to charge the crops with dung at 12s. a ton, which, of course, swamps any possibility of profit. It is, howover, evident that the whole argu- mentis fallacious, but the question as to whether bul- lock feeding is profitable or the;reverse- remains an open question. ~i o l WEST COtTNTay NOTES. (.I. Since the fall of tha much needed rains; a great change has taken place to the advantage of the farmer and grazier. ( The pastures that seemed to be almost killed by the drought have regained their usual freshness, and appear to be none the worse; the root crops that seemed to be spoiled took a fresh lease, of life, and have grown to such an extent that now they may be considered two-thirds of an average yield; thus making with the full crope of hay* clover, and straw,a good provision for wintering the inimals. A considerable amount of wheat has been sown, and is for the most part up and looking well. Early cabbage, too, has got a fair start, as TaU as vetchjs. rye, and winter oats. The apple crop turned out a better yield than waa expected, and the demand for all kinds. of fruit and cider seems to be increasing rapidly, with better prices. Hops have been more satisfactory than usual, those grown in Herefordshire being in good demand, although classed as Worcesters. Since the terminatior of the South Wales coal strike, there has been a good demacd for horses for thb collie res, and for the various trade vans and carta; also for hay, clover, straw, roots, vegetables, and, to som, extent, for beef, mutton, and poultry thus improving the tone of the markets, although not increasing e prices for the present. Hereford cattle-breeders have not had a great de- mand made upon them for exportation, but there appears to be reasonVo hoyeJhat an improvement in this respeet win joon the present tune good herds are being sold prices. Very few farms tat caaitj^ %3fit the present tiiBeT^uid,tiiere ia.a great, demand for small lafuia.v and qgpeci^lly for holdings vi&icb,,con&Wt 017 frem §i& acresJ^Qs30 ftcr^, "iob are, f theniosfc; jprt, •rass witb<n$hac,d«u it (: "¿t .4 I
.: if. ; : ....GjEteRfeSWdf…
if. .GjEteRfeSWdf GOSSIP. } f. '3-. < \fFroiri "'Colafge Gardening") ELOWKR GARDEN. Bulb planting is, or should be, over, as most tiling, aftpnow starting into grpwtli, and when bulks kept out of the g'i'bi&a *too long there is a loss.of vitality. This is a good season for making rockeries or Fern banks. To a certain extent Alpine or Fern banks may be made without, .stones. Many of the tock gardens I have seeii-ftre,-in fey humble opinion, In toostony,or,itm.tybe,thp,Ato egaM.foo-conepictiots. I know a very pretty hardy fernery .whefe there are no rocks banks have erthrçHÝn up and winding^paths made an4 the Fernstphmrfted iii masses of one kind, those, sutfh as the Polypodies, the Shield Perntr, Athy-j riums^ aiid others, whi'ah like itn elevated situation, 1118- planted near the top; while ^la st rea Thelypteris, Osmundas, find other moisture-loving kinds, were planted lower downv_Clumps of Daffodils, Snowdrops, an0 Aconites are planted in masses be- tween the beds of Iferns. This kind of fernery is best made where there are a few trees scattered sparsely about to give a little shade. Of course, this could not be carried out on a large scale in a cottage garden, but the idea is capable of contraction as well as expansion, and it will give as much, probably more, satisfaction than is obtained from a badly-made rockery.- Prepare tha ground now, and be ready for planting the Ferns and creeping plants in March or early rn April. Sose planting, hnsen delayed in consequence of tlut. dry weather and the growth^wliich has taken place since the rains came. Erf now, though we have a fair amount of :Tain in some plaees, the ground one foot deep is too dry and hard to move with the epade. Carnationtfand Biodteea that were got out in good time are well established and growing freely. A little light mnlch will be usfefuljafter frost -4ets jn, to reduce its lifting* poorer. There is no .hette^ mulching material' than old Mushroom beds broken up very fine. The birds domet disturb this in. the same way as other manure is pulled about. Use the roller often on the lawn; the worms have been busy 4ately. If very numerous, a dressing of lime, or lime-crater, will bring them to the surface, when they may be gathered up. VEGETABLE GARDEN. If tbo; first sowing of early Peas has not been they may be sown now. ThoSe ^vh6 prefer ^dwarf Peas for first earlies have plenty of choice. Willfam Hurst, Chelsea Gem, and American Wonder alt have their advocates, and those who prefer a taller Pea may sow William the First or a good se- lection of Kentish Invicta. My own selection would be Chelsea Gem and William the First. The Gem •comefe in a' tktle earlibi", but" William the First is -better ih uality. 1 Early' Green long and Dwarf I)eolie.-tnay be stwvn^-at the battle time if desired, but, as Beans transplant so well, we have discontinued ther autumn sowing of Beans, and instead sow in January in boxes and transplant when up and well hardened. The season for pre- paring the ground for' the next season's crops is at hand, and some thought should be given to the ques- tion of rotation, and the necessity for manuring cer- tain plots for certain vegetables, and leaving the ground intended for such- root crops-as Carrots, Par- snips, and Salsify without fresh manure. These crops might follow Celery, or some crop for which manure bad been used rather freely;- and had riot been all quite used up. The best Salsify I have ever had was grown in trenches, and the manure was placed one foot deep On the bottom spit. FR4M3S. Ventilate Violets freely, and stir the soil .among the plants occasionally with a small hand-fork. Do not water things in cold frames much now. We have put in our, Calceolaria cuttings later than usual this year, Late cuttings very often make the best plants. WINDOW GARDES. .The Euonymus and Aucuba are better than On- press us or other Conifers for .window-b«»xes, as, with care, they need not necessarily die. The Conifers nearly always die. Flowering plants ie toocM tueutt have all the light poiMuMe now. •: TOP-DRESSINGS. By the aid of top-dressings of manure and other things, impoverished soil may be enriched, and very weak, and therefore often barren, fruit-trees may be brought again into fertility. When the roots of plants and trees are down in an uncongenial •ubsoil, top-dressings will not bring tlmn to the surface, but they will induce the fortnation of young fibres there, and thus improye the state pf the tree or plant, as compared with what it was when its sustenance was almost wholly derived from the deeply-placed or "tap/* roots. Top-dressings should always be placed in contact with some of the roots, for unless this is effected they are of but little value. Roots have a tendency to go down and embed themselves in the richest soil, but I have never found any of them pushing upwards towards a rich top-dreosing-that is, it in order to reach it they have had to pass through a stratum of matter not suitably to their growth. It is not an un- common thing, when turning out plan1* from' pots which have been top-dressed some time previbusly, to find the top-dressing "fall cleaaway from the old ball of earth. This is the result of not incorpo- rating it thoroughly with.the old aoil, and of not put- ting the mixture well round the roots. The result is the same as in the case -of,fruit-freeff, and in all other instances in which top-dressing is not properly done. Of course, in these cases, when the material used is very rich, much of the fertilising principle is washed down among the lower roots, but the advantages which attend a free and copious surface-rooting, are lost. Many plants are grown one year in pots, from which they cannot be removed the next. Vipes, for instance,, potted and grown on in their fruiting pots this season, must be keptinthes4nie pots next year until they fruit. A quantity of loose, exhausted soil ia generally found on the surface at the end of the season, and this should not be per- mitted to remain. On the contrary, it should be re- moved and a good top-dressing put in its place, and in a position where the-roots can take possession of and. utilise it when it is most needed. Melons and cucumhers are much benefited by top- dressing. When the latter have produced their first crop a second quite equal to the first inay be obtained .by adding a good top-dressing to the roots of the old plants, an application which renews their vigour and gives them a further lease of fruitful life. Probably no plant will recognise and quickly ?vy for a top-dressing better than an old exhausted each or Nectarine tree. I have seen old trees of j these and other. kinds immensely improved by this treatment, becoming both sturdy in growth and very fruitful. Siich trees, however, should not be top-dressed every Year; tliisnvoula too much disturb their roots, as these ought to be near the surface. Flowering plants in pots are èbenefited by top- dressing. Large plants of Camellias which are very- firmly and fully rooted into pots or tubs, and whose life would be endangered by a complete shift, limV. by a suitable surfacing, have years of vigorous life and usefulness added to their career, which would otherwise be passed in drooping decline; and Azaleas may be benefited in the same way. Small, quick-gro .v- ing plants are seldom top-dressed they can generally be conveniently repotted, when no surface dressing is needed. With cottagers and amateurs generally the repotting of their window-platus is often con- sidered to be a dangerous operation, and many pf these plants are allowed to dwindle for years in the same soil and pots. Those who are afraid to pot Annually should substitute a thorough top dressing, And if the drainage below be efficient they will soon be repaid for their trouble. There are not a great many vegetables that need top-dressing at any time. Earthing-up may be considered a3 a form of top- dressing; it induces surface-rooting in many plants. Herbs are not generally replanted every year, and their productiveness is greatly enhanced by an annual spring top-dressing. In conclusion, 1 may atate that one of the greatest advantages of the method of top-dressing is that it may be applied ilL any time of the year with benefit to the plants but. generally speaking, the best time to do this is early in the season, before growth is far advanced, in order that it may be made available to assist the develop- ment in every way of the plants so treated.
[No title]
A FltENculady advertises that she is willihg to take pet dogs out for daily walks from five a.m. till eleven p.m. at a charge of half a franc per hour. Pahtsian barbers are legally compelled to wash heir hands after attending a customer-and before waiting on another. They must use. also obly nic.kel-uiated combs.
" MEN , AND THI{QSH1: .
MEN AND THI{QSH1: TIIE ITORT OF A PLAY. t It were superfluo is to say that Lucas Cray trem- bled on the eve, øf th, producioo, of his masterpiece, He ttlways trembled on the eve of the production of his plays. But he had put, so much of hia vitality and soul into his play, Men and'Things," was so wasted, in fact, in body and 8pirit8t that, he-irem^d now aa never before,, Qne, jarring .note amoog the critics' would suffice, ¡he felt, to bring uppa; hnn despair in its worst forvi. r. And yet how eould he avoid thio jarring note when Ruston Bourke still rqpreseiated the Leviathan in the critics!.row? • .» j It was unavoidable, pnd so lucas Cray.tumbled through and through during the -vvwo. of that momentous morning.. I For once it aeemed-to him. that his -unpardonable clandestine love for Elia Bourke was no comfort tq brfu: He was, or fancied it., selfish to the core on this day. Besides, it seemed such weakness and gi,mplicity,to feel-still more to show-—affection for the daughter of the man who might alplQitbe depended on to marhim before, the- judguieptof i the people. For once poor Ella was tarred by the Bl'lije brush -as her captious, vindictive, and brilhaptly plausible parent. But all this was changed in the afternoon. Lucas took his hat and his stick, ancti in sheer desperation made- for the park. I must forget myself or go mad!" he said and, indeed, he did not exaggerate so very greatly. Then the thing perhaps least likely to happen did happen. c Mr. Ruston. Bourke adored the proprieties, whether of fommon conduct or dramatic mechanism. -Originality, espeewly, in Lucas Cray, he appeared to ,hate. Eccentricity in his own* daughter was .im- possible., Nevertheless, it. chanced that on this afternoon Ella went forth without the sometinifes- tiresome chaperonage of her aunt, and thus alone she sat down, entirely by accident, on the iron chair next to the one whence Lucas himself was gazing blindly upon the procession of londonV rich and titled potentates. = The next moment he realised what she had dpne, Cr imson to her, pretty.hairT she roser and, though she loved him, woujdbave leftlucas to-himself. But it was too late. Hia haggard eyes had turned to her and all his scruples had disappeared. He greeted her wikh the whispered word clearest^-as he stood hutnbly. but happy, hat in haad. After this there was no gainsaying the worjc of Providence in the encounter. Contentment held them both. Lucas told the girl of his fears, his chief fears, and Ella, on her part, said she would at dinner that evening (" Papa is always nicest when he is dining ") plead with her parent for mercy towards the new play. If,you are successful, Ella," said he, radiant with fresh hopes, I shall feel sanguine about something else. Perhaps all will work oat to a comfortable third act with as sooner than we imagine." "If only it would!" sighed the girl, who was not nearly so modern as- she ought to have been: When lucas put her iftto a cab to return home, he contrived, with regard for the public eye; to lift her small hand to his lips. This simple act rejoiced them both-in retrospect. r I-. But alas! at dinner that evening Mr. Ruston Bourke had the demeanour of a cannibal. Oyer his ioup he dared to apeak with unction of the pleasure he was about to have. "These upstart young playwrights, my dear madam," he said to a lady present, need to be cor- rected with it- steam-hwdmer vocabulary, and I am proud to wield a pen in such service. Before they are thirty they presume to drop the phimb-line of their ignorance into the bottomless sea of human nature, and proclaim the fact that they have' learnt the un- knowable. To:-mO'J:'r()-even' considering nil things —Master Lucas Cray will assuredly enjoy a few salutary writhes." K Poor Ella put in a feeble word or two of remon» strance, which were dry wood upon "fire for her and ioung Cray's absurd mutual lilting, was already nown, and something like the beginning of the worst was suspected. > Again she protested, rather less feebly Then Mr. Ruston Bourke became lla iTlfJSifHTSr literary tyrant he nu proud to bo. He Iè that Cut like a Toledo blade, he became red in the face and he glared. He even fell short of breath, and he sacrificed a deal of time, so that when he glanced at the dock he rose. I must go," he said. I do not wish to miss one word of the fool's imbecility." Fetch a cab at ônce, and tell the fellow where to drive," he said, later, to his man, who sped-forth into the foggy night Mr. Bourse stood at his door, twitching his shoulders and spawning ejaculatory- remarks about many things—a pleasant habit in him. Well/' he cried, "is it coming?" His man's form cut the fog. "This minute, sir. I 'ear its wheels," nj the reply; though the man was surprised at its promp- 1 titiide—in fact—the horse being, it was said, a tritle fonts. Mr. Bourke jumped in. Y0\t: know where to -go to inqnired He tnan. In course I do," said the cabman; "They iin't all s4> ready to go, !■ can tell you-wpeciafi^ juch nights as these. 'Oihe'ff 'ome all the world over. Gee-up I" 1,1 I r 'Now, whafs that Idiot blathefio* about*?"" re- marked Mr. Bourke's man, when the driver drove off. He understood two minutes afterwards. 1 Why, the governor's gone nobody knows where!" hexclaitned aghast, as the rteal cab he had Ordered showed itself at the door, and t cabman' eagerly inquire.d.fbv, his'-fare. "it, ••• • V Mr. Bourke meanwhiie sat composedly in hig cab and digested his dinner. He,, plohga'nt Bayswater street, rather far from the theatres. 'Hende it surprised him- vaguely when, after about t^-enty minutes, the Tehicl* stopped, someone got down5 from the. box, lookedinaide with the cheerful wortls: Are we alil right ?" did/net wait for* an answer, and walked alongside agithe cab proceeded up a gravelled, walk, and a- door (ponderous by the souod of it) closed behind. & Where are you taking me, driver?" he cried from his window. Oh, it all right, my deaf -sir," said the perfeon walking alongside and even whilespoke the cab stopped at a handsome colonnaded portico with a large-round lamp suspended in the widdie- Of it. The door opened: ait the same timet and two brod- shouldered men servants *ere,.visibla in the hall. ,!Than, sad to,say,Kr. Bourke swore, for it wasplain tbefe,,wa& a,.miaske. Nevertheless, he was not per- mitted. to explain. Hardly were hilt. feet on llie gravel ere he. was taken possession of, pntl, le- with firmness, J>y the tyro domestics—one at each arm, and, trembling with rage, and in agitei of all^hjs struggles an Ictage, he wasbomeJnside the house. The person who, haq ridden with the driter shift tlie door.. I -i :-i Now, Mr. Griffin," he sa'i J suavely Bourke, "we will do .ourutmost to jn^ke you.coj^for&ble. First of all ,i(>. First of all,,sir, explain this, outrage Mr. Bourke, who was much impressed by the g^v^y of the two ipeiiiyhq, held him. i "Outrage, my dea!- s'ir! FiddleIdj^de^J, ti Hepney in his room ?'' t' "• J « iCYes, sir," said qne of the men.. Then step this way, Mr. jQrifhh,. if J^pleas^'f! 41 But, man, I am not Mr. Griffin!" Suddenly it flashed to the critic.. Do you mearf to "say," he" exclaimed, th^ is a madhouse, and that yo^ haye W)gtaken tne-me, Ruston Bourke—for n)y poor afflicted neighbour in Holland-row?" My dear sir", pray be easy. _Mi^ht I ask of jrhatJ your dinner consisted to-night? I see"Cglaricing at Mr. Bourke's shirt front) ''that yon have dined." '\Confound your impertinence!" cried the'critic. Here, you (to one of the men), stop that bah at- once!" But the mefi stood like sphinxes,'save tha&aae. 0f them yawned. The other person merely smiled. i Coiiie, cotiio," he said, as he knocked do the result being the apparition of a short, irhite- bearded and spectacled gentleman, who bowed to Ali. Bourke while offering him-his hand,-with the words Mr. Griffin, I presume?" I tell, yon I am Mr. Ruston Bourke," exclaimed the critic, his face distorted with rage-—a sight that seemed to disturb the, short gentleman, for he whispered serionsly'to the other person. And now of a sudden Mr. Bourke was seized by the two attendants, and carried bodily up the stairs into a small, »;tvly-furni&hed room, all the chairs and other kui uiture oC Nvh;ch, however, wtre solidly fastened to^tha flpar., His cri^p were furious, but no one paid any need to them, and he was eventually set on his feet in the room." [ Keep within call," «aid one 'of the gentlemen to the attendants, as the tfro former sat ddivn and, the door was closed. The interview that followed was "unsatisfactory/ Mr. Bourke persisted that he was not Mr. Griffln. and biaitlireafs of vengeance grew fiercer ahd fiercer. He deqlitted .to take the sedative potion that was offered him. He even attempted to use .forae in leaving the house. ",There is now" said Dr. Henney, "ho help for it, I am sorry to say.. We must confine you in' your •wnroom until the morning, when I trust you twill be calmer and more resigned. Good night, Mr. -Griffin." Thus, yet again, Mr. Bourke was taken in hand ,-by the brawny servants; this time he was carried,-to a bedroom and put to bed. His predicament almost made him shed tears. > In bed, in a madhouse, at half-past nine o'clock, and his sea; in the best part of the Sobriety stalls vacant on so important an occasion But from sheer weariness at length he slept, and only then was her left alone. < ? Men and Things had succeeded. There Was no doubt of it, judging by its receptiort at the hands of the sud ienew; nevertheless, Lucas Cray was nervous as be took up the papers the following tnorning at breakfast. First the Levia-than. He searched this journal twice, ere he was con- vinced that he was spared the knifing 'He had feared. All the other papers were unanimous in his praise. Then, in his gratitude (for neglect was kindness from Mr. Bourke), Lucas went out forthwith, deter-1 mined to beard the great critic in his den, perhaps ,"en to thank him. It was still early; but to his surprise he found eigns of excitement in Mr. Bouikes house. In answer to an inquiry; the servant replied that his master had not been home that night had, in fact, been kidnapped away by a mysterious cab, The ladies ar6 terribly upset, air- "he added. Hearing this, Lucas dared to be bold. He asked to see Ella, who confirmed the story with tearful eyes. "What can we do, Lucas?" she pleaded. Oh," said Lucas, it's a case for Stottand-yard. IH take tha man with me at once, if you- like. I never heard such a queer story." And to'New Sco tland-yard the pair of them went forthwith. Here all particulars were registered, and cautious promises were made. More could'not be expected. But on their return to Holland-row, lo the some- What-worn-and saddened face of Mr. Bourke himself met -them iTr the hall. The critic extended his hand to Lucas, who had begun rather shyly to justify bis intrusion, adding, I was afraid something might be wrong; I missed your notice." "Thank you, Mr. Cray," he said. "Something very Mrong did happen but experience is experience, ana I hope good may come out of evil." In few words he told the incidents of his mistaken incarceration, and how this might have continued in- definitely if Mr. Griffin's relatives had not written to the asylum, asking why the real lunatic had not been called for as arranged.. Well, Mr. Cray, and your play ?" he added with a feint 8mile. "Went capitally, sir." V That's right. Will you dine here to-nigbt, and —er^perhaps we might ma.ke up a family p^rty to see it ? One misunderstands people sometimes, I'm .afraid." Indeed I shall be delighted," said Lucas. The-belated notice of "Men and Things" in the 'Leviathan was both generous and-, just; but Lucas cared less for that than for his prospects with Ella. These, in fact, no# ripened to-iiiattirity. 1; 1'.
? ALTERATIONS AT THE ZOO.
? ALTERATIONS AT THE ZOO. The new zebra-house in the Zoological Gardens in rtulwlMa !■ n|())jU«U «»<riHlQ una, Witt siHmiy'bt ready fo# occupation*. WaSt'of space in the present buildirig--which is comparatively modern—has' for a buildirig--which is comparatively inodern-hag for a long time made itself felt, and now, under improved conditions, that-fin6 group of animals, the zebras and tbeie,allies, will be shown to advantage. Cer- tainly tlio,- society's collection deserves to be well housed, comprising as it does five -1— or. If we include the tapirs, six species. Bnr- chell's zebra is, much in evidence;, it, breeds fairly regularly in the menagerie. Then there is that rare creature the common zebra, distin- guished by its smaller size and different markings. The asaes number three species—equtts tcenivpus of Abyssinia, the btriped-legged animal of Somaliland, .and the Onaxjer of S.E. Asia. The arrival of a speci- men,of Grevy's zebra of Abyssinia in Paris recently [.leads to t hop that before long the society may be fortunate enough to obtain one for thq menagerie.
¡.'.n ' '.7 A FASTING PRISONER.'
¡. '.n 7 A FASTING PRISONER. In the Fairfield County Gaol, at Bridgeport, Con- necticut;, ia a prisoner, named Regan, who refuses to eat of his own accord. Hie declined to partaki? of the Thanksgiving dinner of turkey provided by the fjheri^; and, in eonsequeriee, gaoler Senofield and I)r. Banks proceeded to force a Thanksgiving dinner into the refractory prisoner by the nse of a stomftch- pump. -He made a sturdy resistance^ feve (or the liquid nourishment pumped into him, Regan for 10 days did not take as much as a drop of water.
t"':¡,.., ^ A FLOATING EXIFLBLETION.…
t "¡ A FLOATING EXIFLBLETION. What appears to us to be a very excellent idea' for extending our forpfgp trade is (the Engineering ~Tim\s says) that adapted by Austrian Hungarian fnanufac- ttirers; Wpported by t her! Gdfer'nni,ént!' ,4?hfey aijje fitting- np. > lar^e steamer as ah' exhibition of the country's manuEacttires, artd sending it on a voyage to ;aome of/the principal/foreign ports. Some 80 ot' 40 ,emper,lo will travel with it, and to each one.pccording' to :.his speciality, will be confided the, interests of a group of exhibiting firms, in order to give 'im- porters and visitors such explanations as tney tnay desire, apd to take orders at s ';icb prices and on sfjsqh terms as" shall have been fixed "by eách exhihitor upon the consignment of his goods* to "the exhibitTon. The arrival-of the steamer^t each port will be extensively y advertised beforehand, and- the ditration of her S^ay ivill bev regjiilated.foy the commercial importance of .the,place. :"v,
[No title]
i ,r—~ —: :r i -•THft Riyiera will have its novelty this winder ill the shttfio of a <k*ily paper published Adcording to an article in the Fig-ear a, about'270jt)QQj periplo gather together eisery year in that regiott, arid 0 Between them, they spend the enormous total of ^12.(^),000 in some four or five months. And on the"adniissioh. of our French contemporary, one- tbitd bf these numbers and a corresponding afitqunt f, cash!:ite >confrrihuted byt English and Americans. The news Supply heretofore has been of the mostnin- sotieftictory description, for nothing in tho shap» of an English printed journal was obtainable-tifl jtlje: Taris.papers arrived; 24, n.nd the London almost 30. hou^s-lf»ber. The Riviera Daily, aa it is aptly called. Will ,?ell at I/}., which means that it urUl be 5P per »lnt.v'cKetipe)> at the very least than any other Eng- lish print obtainable, in addition to its tjeihg so jtfranjr'hdtirs ahead. I;iKUTE!«AST-Cor.osKL O. E. P. LLOYD. R.A.M.C., nvho hftii' been appointed to the medical charge ofnhe. Blir'nah-Chika Boundary Commission, is a-VTCtyr-ia Cr093 man(.and he won tp.& decoration during ttie Knehia expedition of 1802-9& The Kachins limde an attack on the Sima post,. itn d,.A qr:. alg -,tile, business tl^polpnal l^jjrnt,that Ci^taiin MQrhm, who.hud;J"t"t the, fort, to-v^sjt a iiiell-elk h»,d Jaqei\ wpiir^detL .lie ,\Tent ,0:1 !A }¥.l. ,\l>nd ,wi l, the qveuiy- btkt JjO yards awvy ar\.il ke,?P'ng up a heavy fire, remained with;the dying, otlii-pr till help came, and lie then carriecj him back the fort. The colonel also did excellent ser- vice in Z-ilirland and in the Boer war. 1 Tiir anuual production of the .European -Vineyards » 2,652,800,000 gallons.- lfhese figures, give the reason why the wine-growing countries can nei,pr become teetotal. It is noteworthy that Italy; so far rahead Vf other countries io. vineyard area, has nothing like;the same pre-eminence aa a producer of wine. Italy's annual production (in round num- bers) is 697,000,000 gallons, while France and Spain yield earh-something like 610,000,000 gallons. Spain is the chief exporter, getting about £ 12,000,000 for the 200,000,000 gallons which she sells abroad. France gets about the same sum for her share, while Italy gets only. £ 2,800,000 for the 45,000,000 gallons annually exported.
HEADGEAR AT BRIGHTON.'
HEADGEAR AT BRIGHTON. As regards masculine headgear, the present season in Brighton is decidedly of the cloth cap order.' To one black- or brown bowler on the King's-road' of a morning (says Fashion)' there are at least 2ff (Japs, and all these caps are conspicuously ot the jockey cut, fitting closely behind, arid swellfii- diftt-iii the sides1 and in: front, and possessing1* deep "4nd Wide peaks/ The best kind have the seams iriside bound over with narrow ribbop. Soft tweed is the favourite inateriar, and the colouring partakes chiefly1 of a green and brown mixture, with faifiit check Kne» in the background.' Jj¡