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FIERCE FIGHTING SOUTH OF THE…
FIERCE FIGHTING SOUTH OF THE SOUCHEZ RIVER. ENEMY'S HEAVY LOSSES. I Ihe following dispatches from Sir Douglas Haig have uoiii issued by the Press Rumau.- Sunday, 10.40 a.m. The enemy's positions south of the Souchez River wcie attacked by our troops last night. Good progress lias already been made on the front attacked, and a number of pri- soners have been captured. by us. In the course of the night the enemy at- tested our line of advanced posts south- Vest of Cherisy, and at first made some progress. Our counter-attack regained the whole of the ground lost, with the exception of one poet, which still remains in the enepiy's hands. Successful raids were carried out by us last night south of Ypres, in which we cap- tur e nineteen prisoners. Hostile artilk'ry was again active last llighi- in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt. TEN GERMAN AEROPLANES DOWN. Sunday, 9.17 p.m. fjfcrce fighting has taken place through- out the day with varying fortunes south of theJSouckez River. The enemy, who lost heavily in our first attack, subsequently delivered a number of violent counter-attacks with considerable forces, in the faco of which our troops have been unable to maintain the progress made this morning. We have taken ninety-two ¡ prisoners in these operations. We took a fe-.r pri?ouers early this morn- ing as a result cf patrol encounters east of Larentic. A further sixteen prmonera were captured by us this afternoon in a successful raid south of Wytscliaete. Activity in the air continued yesterday. Four German aeroplanes were brought down in air fighting, and five others were driven own out of control. Another German ma- rine was driven down by our anti-aircraft I guns* Four of our aeroplanes are missing. XIOST POST RE-TAKEN. Monday, 11.50 a.m. The post south-west of Cherisy, referred to in the communique of yesterday morning, which remained in the enemy's hands at the conclusion of the fighting in that neighbour- hood on the night of the 2nd-3rd instant, via,s recaptured by our troops last night. Hostile raids were repulsed dunng the night south-west of La Bassee and in the neighbourhood of Neuve Chapelle. The enemy's trenches were entered by us east of Vermelles. ENEMY TRAINS BOMBED. Monday, 8.35 p.m. Successful raids were carried out by us during the day north of Armentieres and south of Wytschaete. In addition to other casualties inflicted on the enemy we cap- tured thirty-seven prisoners, including one officer. Our own and the enemy's artillery have shown cocsiderable activity during the day south of Gouzeaucourt, in the neighbour- hood of tfcp Vimy Ridge, and in the Ypres sector. In the course of bombing raids on the night of the 2nd-3rd instant our aeroplanes obtained hits upon four enemy trains, one of which was completely destroyed. In air fighting six German aeroplanes were brought down, and one other hostile machine was driven down out of control. Four of our aeroplanes failed to return. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. Tuesday, 11.15 a.m. Hostile raiding parties were driven off last night south-east of Lens and south of Armen- tieres. A number of enemy's dead wore left in front of our lines. Successful raids, in which we captured seve- ral prisoners, were carried out by us during the night south and east of Ypres. Tuesday, 9.20 p.m. We gained ground slightly during the night south of the Souchez River. The electric power station in the neighbour- hood, for the possession of which fierce fight- ing took place on the 3rd inst., is now in our hands. A successful raid was carried out by our troops to-day south of Ypres, in which we cap- tured seventy-five prisoners, including an officer. There was great activity in the air again this day, and bombing was continued by day and night with good results. Twelve German aeroplanes were brought down in air fighting, one of which fell within our lines, and six other hostile machines were driven down out of control. Five of our aero- planes are missing.
FOOD HOARDER FINED 225.
FOOD HOARDER FINED 225. At Southport Police-court on Tuesday, Kriker Tamirantz, a Russian shipping agent, was fined E25 under the Food Hoarding Order. It was stated that a Liverpool firm delivered at defendant's residence large quantities of jam, raisins, sardines, macaroni, vermecelli, chutney, pickles, pineapple, apricots, com- pressed vegetables, garlic, and olive oil. The defence contended that these articles were luxuries, and outside the scope of the Order. -0
FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT.I
FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT. Major Layard, Divisional Officer, Royal Engineers, was killed on Tuesday in a motor accident on Denham Gun Hill, on the borders of Essex and Suffolk. The car got out of control in descending this dangerous hill and crashed into a cottage at the foot. Two non-comznis- sioned officers in the car were dangerously injured.
U.S.' LOAN TO BRITAIN.J -1
U.S.' LOAN TO BRITAIN. J 1 Mr. Bonar Law, in the House of Commons on Tuesday told Sir Henry Dalziel that the Government were more than satisfied with the result of the mission to America. Mr. Bonar Law informed Mr. King that X80,000,000 had been advanced by the United States to this country.
FIFTEEN LASHES WITH THE "CAT."
FIFTEEN LASHES WITH THE "CAT." At London Sessions on Tuesday, Charles Whitehouse, thirty-one, an old offender, was eentenced to nine months' hard labour and ordered to receive fifteen lashes with the "cat" for frequenting the West End of London for an improper purpose.
THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH._
THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury has informed Mr. Lynch that an annuity of £6,000 has been paid during the war to the Duchess of Edinburgh under licence, and the payment is being continued in consequence of the terms of the treaty of January 22, 1874, between Great Britain and Russia. ————— —————— 1
3,412 PRISONERS TAKEN IN MAY.I
3,412 PRISONERS TAKEN IN MAY. Sir Douglas Haig's dispatch, issued by the Press Bureau on Friday night, stated that during the month of May the British captured 3,412 German prisoners, including sixty-eight officers. We have also taken one German field gun, eighty machine-guns, and twenty-one trench mortars. The United States House of Representa- tives has killed tne Press Censorship Bill by 184 to 144. Thomas Charles Lowe, a deserter from the Canadian Army, was, at Stratford Police- court, sentenced to six months' hard labour for stealing a cash-box containing Z29 from is man who had befriended him.
INVESTITURE BY THE KING IN…
INVESTITURE BY THE KING IN HYDE PARK. One of the biggest crowds that over assembled in Hyde Park gathered there on Saturday to see the King invest some 350 soldiers and sailors with the honours they had won by gallantry and good service. His Majesty distributed the honours from a platform in a large open space, in front of which were rows of chairs occupied by the candidates for decoration. Beyond these was a guard of honour of the Scots Guards in service dress, with their drums and pipers. The massed bands of the Brigade of Guards were also in attendance. Privi- leged ispectatori3 occupied rows of chairs in the amphitheatre, and special provision was made for about 600 wounded officers and men, who attended in hospital dress. Other large contingents of wounded men were pre- sent. As their Majesties reached the pavilion, the Royal Standard was broken in the centre of the parade ground, and the massed banda played the National Anthem. After the in- spection of the guard of honour his Majesty returned to the platform, and the investi- ture began immediately. While the ceremony was in progress, four or five airplanes hovered over the crowd. The King presented 11 V.C.s, 9 D.S.O.s, 11 D.S.C.s. 14 M.C.s, 109 D.C.M.s, 55 D.S.M.e, 116 Military Medals and 3 Meritorious Ser- vice Medals, and 11 Royal Red Cross Medals. Seven of the Victoria Crosses were pre- sented to the winners themselves, and four others were handed to the next-of-kin of men who have fallen. The V.C. men were:— Major Henry Murray, of the Australian Force. Lieutenant-Colonel James Forbes-Robert- son, Border Regiment, attached to the New- foundland Force. Captain WilHam Allen, Royal Army Medi- cal Corps, who attended wounded men under a heavy fire. Second-Lieutenant Fred Palmer, of the Royal Fusiliers. Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Bradford, of the Durham Light Infantry. Captain Archie White, of the Yorkshire Regiment. Private John Cunningham, East Yorkshire Regiment, who killed ten Germans in an enemy trench. Private Thomas Hughes, Connaught Rangers, whose gallantry wzs displayed I after repeated wounds. The men of the destroyers Swift and Broke received perhaps the loudest cheers of the afternoon. Captain A. M. Peck, of the Swift, and Captain E. G. R. Evans, of the Broke, each received the D.S.O. Three of the seamen of the Broke, William G. Rawles, Harry Sedglev, and Sidney Clarke, were also decorated, the first receiving the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, and the two latter the Distinguished Service Medals. Midshipman Gyles, of the Broke, was to have received his D.S.O., but the doctors at Deal decided that he was not well enough to bear the journey to London. The posthumous V.C.'s were bestowed up- on tho father of Second-Lieutenanb George Cates, Riflo Brigade; the mother of Seg- reant John Erskine, Scottish Rifles; the mother of Sergeant Thomas Mottershead, R.F.C. and Private John Fvnn, the father of Private Fynn, South Wales Borderers. There were special cheers for a blinded soldier, who was led up for decoration, and others who had lost a limb, and who hobbled up on crutches.
I CONSERVING FOOD. I
I CONSERVING FOOD. I In order to ensure that surplus fruit and vegetables shall, so far as possible, be pre- served, the Food Production Department have engaged the services of a. staff of specially-trained travelling instructors, who will visit different parts of the oountry and give demonstrations in the bottling of fruit without sugar, and in the preserving of vegetables. The services of a travelling in- structor are available for demonstrations in every county. No charge is made for the services of a travelling1 instructor, but each locality must undertake to make suitable ar- rangements for the demonstrations, and must make itself responsible for providing premises as well as the necessary utensils and materials, according to the list to be provided. Applications for demonstrations, which should offer alternative dates, in order that a convenient itinerary may be arranged, should be addressed to The Horticultural Section, 'Food Production Department, 72, Victoria-street, S.W. 1 ¡
I DESTRUCTION OF PHEASANTS.…
I DESTRUCTION OF PHEASANTS. I Supplementing the Food Controller's order that no grain fit for human food shall be given to game birds, a new order has been made by the Board of Agriculture prohibit- ing the hatching and rearing of pheasants artificially (by incubator or hen) except un- der licence. Another order has been made authorising landlords and shooting tenants to shoot pheasants, notwithstanding the close season, and if the agricultural executive committees are satisfied that pheasants are not reduced sufficiently by this means they can authorise farmers to shoot the pheasants on their land. ff .0.
LESS BREAD EATEN. I
LESS BREAD EATEN. I Although the actual figures will not be available for a few days, the National War Savings Committee was able to announce on Monday that, from the official reports so far received for the month of May by the Ministry of Food, the national bread con- sumption has declined heavily during the past month. When the remainder of the figures are received it is anticipated that they will show that the nation's economy in the use of cereals has been heavier than could well have been hoped, especially when it is remembered that it has been achieved at a time when there has been a complete absence of potatoes. In the normal course of events the potato far.ine would have meant a largely increased consumption of bread, and the reduction in the bread eaten is consequently much more remarkable than the figures would at a first glance seem to show. ———. ————
POWDER FACTORY FUMES. I
POWDER FACTORY FUMES. I At the inquest held on Charles Sidney Phillips, of Ware, who had worked at Waltham Abbey Powder Works, four doctors gave evidence. Dr. J. Darner Priest, medical officer at the factory, said there had been no illness from noxious fumes at that kind of work in 7i years. Dr. W. J. O'Donovan, medical officer to the Ministry of Munitions, after a post- mortem examination, agreed with two other doctors that the fumes were the cause of death. The man had no organic disease, but his lungs had been irritable and the pressure of the fumes upon the lungs brought about heart failure. The jury found accordingly, and the coroner sug- gested that precautions should be taken.
IPRISON FOR OBJECTOR.I
PRISON FOR OBJECTOR. I I Clifford Allen, former Chairman of the No- Conscription Fellowship, who has been l oourt-martialled for the third time for dis- I obeying military orders, has been sentenced I to two years' hard labour.
rBABY BOY "CALLED UP."I
r BABY BOY "CALLED UP." I I Calling-up papers have been served on a five months' old boy at Hull. The mother took the ohild to the recruiting office and satisfied the military authorities that an error had been made.
I BIG FARM FIRE.I
I BIG FARM FIRE. I Brickleton Farm, Silchester, Hants, has been destroyed by fire, and the low in corn and hay ricks, with the stores and their con- tents, is very heavy. Only the live stock I were saved.
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Flower Beds.—This is a very busy time in the garden. There are window-boxes to fill with marguerites, fuchsias, ivy-leaved gera- niums, etc. The beds are cleared of spring flowers and bulbs, and should now be filled with summer flowers (if not with vege- tables !). An important point is to see that tire plants are moist at the root when put into the ground; water them again soon after planting. Pruning Flowering Prunus. Several double-flowered prunus blossom better when fairly hard pruned. The best known are Prunus triloba flore pleno and the double pink and white forms of Prunua Japonica. It is worth while cutting the young wood which has just flowered fairly hard back of trees on a wall or fence and those in the open border. This encourages young shoots on which next season's flowers are borne. Staking Herbaceous Plants.—All too fre- quently the staking of tall-growing plants in the borders is deferred too long, with the result that the stems topple over. Once this happens the border loses much of its attrac- tiveness. The insertion of one thick stake in the centre with bands of thick cord put around the clump as growth advances I* a bad method. It is beet to choose nicely branched pea-sticks, inserting several around each clump and .allowing them to reach about two-thirds the height of the plants. As the latter grow they will hide the sticks and remain attractive without any further trouble. • • • Border Carnations.—Most lovers of the hardy flower border grow seedling carna- tions though the individual flowers on most of the plants cannot be compared favourably with the best named sorts, the quantity of blooms produced more than compensates for this, especially when quantities of flowers are required for vaso decoration. Sow the seeds now in well-drained pots or pans of sandv soil and place in a cool greenhouse or frame. Roses.—It is astonishing how soon plants trained tc wires under the roof glass get crowded with dead leaves, petals, and young shoots if neglected for several weeks. Give all rose trees a thorough syringeing after cutting the first blooms, thin out weakly shoots, and if mildew appears use soft soap at the rate of 2oz. boiled in Iqt of rain- water for twenty minutes, and then added to 5gal. of clear water. Syringe the liquid on the trees in the evening. Planting Celery in Trenches.—The earliest eelery plants may now be got into their per- manent quarters. Trenches are taken out from 12in. to 18in wide and 9in. to 12in. deep. A liberal quantity of manure is placed in the bottom and mixed with the soil there, 2in. to 3in. of soil is then added in which to insert the plants; the wholo bed when complete need not be deeper than 4in. In forming the trenches let the sides slope slightly inwards, as this helps to con- I vey the rain to the roots. Planting may be in single or double rows according to the width of the trench. When lifting the plants do not pull them up and thus have merely bare roots, but lift each with a trowel, securing as large a quantity of soil about the roots as possible. Water imme- diately after planting and dust occasionally with soot as a preventive of the*fly, which sometimes puts in a very early appearance. < a p pearance Cantelcupe Melons.-These are favourites with growers of French garden produce. They require only a small amount of warmth or fresh manure. They grow quicklv and ripen well in an unheated frame. Now is the time to plant if strong plants can be secured. Two plants to each light is tho rule; allow each plant to carry from ono to four fruits, two being the usual number with most growers. Canteloupes are not quite so highly flavoured as our best English melons, but they are exceedingly good and refreshing in hot weather, and when thoroughly ripe contain a. fair proportion of sugar. The Week's Work.—Now that polyanthus and primroses have finished flowering, it is time to divide the clumps. Select a nioigt, shady border, one with a northern aspect for preference. For several weeks the plants will benefit by being sprayed morning and evening on hot days. Iberis sempervirens is one of our best spring border flowers, either as an edging or for the rockery. The pure white blooms are produced in profusion in spring, and at other seasons the plant is a useful dwarf evergreen. Sow the seeds in a cold frame or outside. Give red currant bushes a mulching of yard mauure, or, fail- ing this, a dressing of fish guano or meat dust, 4oz. or 5oz. per square yard. The bunches as well as the individual berries will be finer and the crop will be increased accordingly. The two last-named manure should be well hoed into the soil. Young apple treea of some varieties are apt to suffer to a considerable extent if the fruits are not thinned. Should there be a heavy "set," quite half the fruits may be removed from trees which are just commencing bear- ing; older trees may not suffer to the samo extent, but it should be remembered that where thinning is regularly carried out there is less risk of a crop in alternative years only. Do not fail to sow a row of peas for a late crop as soon as possible after this note appears. Such a sowing often gives a good supply of well-filled pods until the early days of October. Suitable varieties in- clude Captain Cuttle, Autocrat, Rearguard, and Omega. Last winter the roots of Swedes from sowings made about this date came in more useful than any other crop. They require a well-dug and at least a fairly rich soil. If 15in. is allowed between the rows, roots of the most favoured size will result. See that rows of haricot beans in- tended for winter use do not suffer from want of water. If the plants are showing flowers, a good fertiliser helps the forma- tion of pods. During hot days use the syringe or "rosed" watering-pot freely. If well-sprouted potato sets were planted in April on wiell-manured* ground, tubeifc qif fair size should now be found on the first early varieties, but unless the need for these is very urgent, or other crops are waiting to take their place, defer lifting for at least another fortnight. I Early Potatoes.-T-,eave nothing to chance where this crop is concerned; if the tope are already pushing through, protect them by drawing the soil from the middle between the rows; also have a little light material of some kind near at hand to give better protection should the thermometer fall un- usually low.
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Miss Gertrude von Petzold, pastor of a Birmingham church, who was deported to Germany eighteen months ago as an alien enemy, is no longer expected to return after tho war, and the congregation have ap- pointed in her place the Rev. A. H. Lewis. A roll of honour has been unveiled in Nonington Churchyard, Kent, "as a stimu- lus to those who are willing to learn that the highest law of life is the la." of self- sacrifice/
IN THE POULTRY YARD.
IN THE POULTRY YARD. I Br COCKCROW. I HALF-GROWN STOCK. Those poultry-keepers who this season have gone in for chickens should now have the hard work connected with these birds practically completed. April and May are the best months for birds to be hatched in., and if you had chickens born during the first-named month or at the beginning of the latter, they should be of a fairly decent 6iae by now. The worst part of the work involved in rearing the chickens is over, but do not think that because the young ones are goino, on well you can "ease up" at all. 'Every efiort should be made to bring them up to the pitch of perfection. It is a great mistake to be slacker in your efforts with the birds, for they will eoon deteriorate in quality, and thus you will soon be brought to realise that all your hard work has been wasted. The hot weather will shortly be with us, and this is more trying to the birds than it is to our8elv««. The ground, for one thing, gets hard and dry, and this means that the birds are unable to find as much natural food in it as they could if the ground were soft. The birds being unable to get this natural food from the ground, are, as a consequence, deprived of much good exercise, which they get when search- ing. Immediately they are without exercise they begin to "flag." They will also "flag" if they are over-crowded in the houses and rune. The overcrowding of birds is one of the greatest evils of poultry-keeping, an A yet it is one that is most frequently com- mitted. It is the cause of all sorts of com- plaints and diseases. Bear in mind the fact that the space they lived in a few weeks ago will be of no use to them now. Either enlarge the ruu or erect another, to which some of the birds should be removed. It is considerably better for the birds during hot weather if you can have two runs and use them alternately. Let them live in the first run for a few weeks, and then transfer to the other for a few weeks, and so on all through the summer months. The feeding of half-grown birds in these days is a matter to which the greatest con- FEEDING YOUNG BIRDS. sideration should be given. Some keepers give their young birds an all-dry diet for the first six weeks of their lives. If you are in- ? -1 eluded in the number, you are advised to stop this diet at the end of the period named. True, the voung ones make good progress on an all-dry diet, but you will notice that the feathers do not grow very fast; in fact, one must say they grow very slowly indeed. After six weeks of such feed- ing tke birds will not make such go(,,ol pro- gress, and their growth seems-stunted. The all-dry diet should therefore be dropped, and the birds given some soft food. Be care- ful not to overfeed your birds. This is one of the most frequent mistakes made by beginners, and one which proves itself very costly in all directions. But don't by any means underfeed them. Growing birds have big appetites, and can eat a good amount of food without any injurious effect. Give them a good amount of food, for unless they have it their growth will be arrested. But don't overdo matters. In all departments and branches of poultry-keeping it is always tho keeper who gives his birds a varied diet that has the greatest success. Corn at the pre- sent time is unobtainable, but when pur- chasing food for the birds buy only the best you can get. Don't keep them on the same food always, but change it every now and then. The birds will make much better pro- gress. A good diet for growing stock is composed of a daily feed of biscuit-meal between 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock in the morn- ing, followed by a supply of small grains at 11 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. You can com- pose the latter of three parts each of small. barley, small maize, and dari, two parts of buckwheat, and one part each of hemp- seed, fish or meat meal, and grit. Green food is an absolute necessity in every poultry run if you want your birds to main- tain good health. A cabbage from the allotment, a lettuae, or some green food very similar can be supplied, and they will prove of the greabest value to the health of your birds. In bringing these notes on # the growing stock to a conclusion the following hints and DETAILS WORTH KNOWING. useful items are added, for they may prove of use to many poultry-keepers at the present time. Never over- crowd the birds. Get that deeply impressed upon your mind, and let the birds have as much light and fresh air as it is possible to give them. Let the sleep- ing quarters be fresh and airy. Do not forget to have the two runs, if at all pos- sible, during the summer months. As soon as the sexes can be told, separate the cockerels from the pullets. Some breeds can be separated sooner than others, simply be- cause they show their sexual differences sooner. Don't leave the arranging of sepa- rate quarters for cockerels and pullets untii they show the sexual differences, but have the run ready for use, so that they can be transferred any time. Now is really the time to pickle eggs, as they are not at all likely to be any cheaper PICKLING EGGS. this year, and may go I an unheard-of price in the I winter (says a writer in i "The Gardener"). To pickle I them use either lime or water-glass—which is" much cleaner for ladies to handle and not very expensive, and can be obtained at almost any grocers. The chief points to re- member are that the eggs must be fresh, they must be clean, there must not be a trace of a crack or break, otherwise you may spoil a whole pickling. Earthenware or wooden vessels are best, not zinc, and be careful to put whatever vessels you use into the permanent place in which they are to stand before beginning to put in the eggs, You can't move a crock which contains, per- haps, fifty or sixty dozen eggs, without in- juring some of them. In buying eggs for pickling don't, if possible, buy from a grocer who collects occasionally from farms, for the chances are that some of the eggs may be three weeks or a month old. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. I Rex.—All droopy, failing fowls should at once be isolated. For this purpose it is well to have a coop or two in a separate building. J. P.—Promising growing cockerels of such breeds as Leghorns and MinorcM. which show a tendency to a falling comb, should have comb guards fixed for a period of about a. fortnight. This will provide the comb with Rupport during the most trying period, and in many cartes will make a strong comb for the rest of the season.
jCROWNS WORN IN WAR. J
CROWNS WORN IN WAR. J Monarchs no longer ride forth crowned to battle, as did Richard III. to his fatul fight on Bosworth Field. Nevertheless, even to-day crowns figure in the spectacular bide of war more often than is commonly sup- posed. The King of Italy, for instance, although he does not of course always wear it, carries his crown with him wherever he goes, and frequently dons it when he re- views his troops on ceremonial parades. This is in. accordance with the custom and tradi- tion of his house. The crown is supposed to render its wearer immune from harm, be- cause enclosed within the gold is a tiny circlet of iron, said to have been made from a nail out of the true cross. The royal crown of Rumania is unique, in so far as it forms a genuine badge of the nation's freedom from alien tyranny. It is made from the metal of Turkish cannon captured at Flevna by the Rumanians in 1877, and in shape and appearance it suggests the helmet of a soldier rather than a diadem. ♦ ■ ■■
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I Sir Richard McBride, K.C.M.G., appointed r Agent-General for British Columbia last year, has resigned on account of serious ill- ness. Mr. J. H. Turner, at the request of the Government of British Columbia, haa 80nsented to take over the duties of the London Agency temporarily*
1 TEA TABLE TALK.I ——0-
1 TEA TABLE TALK. I —— 0- Lady Mabel Smith is one of Earl Fitz- william's three sisters. She married in 1899 Mr. Mackenzie Smith. Wentworth Wood- house is the Earl's magnificent Yorkshire seat. It is built after the fashion of a great Roman palace. Lady Mabel is an expert agriculturist. Several years ago the Earl himself set an example of in- genuity to landlords by hitching his motor- car to a threshing machine and getting his corn threshed in double-qjiick tune. 0 0 0 The manner in which, with an entire absence of anything like parade, Queen Alexandra and her children devoted them- selves to the interests of the people about Sandringham, when she was reigning with her husband, the late King Edward, is at times very charmingly illustrated. For years Queen Alexandra and her daughters visited the cottages for a considerable distance about the Sandringham estate, and showed practical sympathy with the sick and needy. Queen Maud of Norway, when she was young and a Princess in this country, used to be particularly devoted to the children, and once made a special favourite of a little girl who was taken suddenly ill. One morn- ing she tenderly nursed the child, and the child, in return, almost worshipped the lady with the pretty face and gentle hands. < That evening, while a big dinner was going on at Sandringham House, informa- tion reached Queen (or, as she then was, Princess) Maud that the little mite had grown worse; that she was continually crying for her kind nurse of the morning; and that, in sheer desperation, the almost frantic mother had dared so far as to come to implore the, Royal lady's help. With the ready consent of her mother Queen Maud quietly left the table and went to see the I woman, who was crying in the hall. From her she learned of the child's alarming state, and then, slipping on a cape, was soon at the cottage. Pacified at the touch of her hands, and nestling contentedly in her arms, the baby speedily fell into a deep and health-renewing sleep. < < Baroness Furnivall is the daughter of the fourteenth Lord Petre, and the title was called out of abeyance in her favour after his death. The barony dates back to the thirteenth century, and she is nineteenth of her line. It was for a time merged in the Norfolk dukedom. The young peeress is clever and accomplished, and is fond of a oountry life, living with her mother, Audrey, Lady Petre, at Hollenden Park, Audrey, Skilled with the brush, her achieve- Kent. ments with pencil and colour are creditable. A touching little anecdote is told by Miss Doris Keane, the talented young American actress. It concerns an officer, a friend of the narrator's, who has had the misfortune to lose a leg in the war. The maimed hero was asked to the house of a lady who had a little girl, and the child was carefully in- structed beforehand not to take any notice of her guest's loss, as to do so would not be polite. The little maiden was introduced to the officer in due course, but when shaking hands did so with face averted. Her mother was puzzled at this curious behaviour, and her wonder was increased when the little girl fetched her Noah's Ark and solemnly took out one animal after another and broke off a leg from each one. Then she remarked quietly to herself, with a side glance at the officer, "Useless things, legs!" Of the many trades and callings now fol- lowed by women, that of wine taster seems to be one of the most curious and not the least lucrative. Mile. Collinere, a French lady, whose services are always in great de- mand, is said to earn about t5,000 a year at this business. Wine-tasters are born, not made, and must possess the gift of a rare and delicate palate. Mlle. Collinere is said to excel in this respect, being able to dis- cern from the taste of wine the place of growth of the grapes from which it was made. She can also detect adulteration, discriminate blends, and declare the ages of wine with unfailing accuracy once she has a spoonful of liquor in her mouth. Several female tasters had made a reputation prior to Mile. Collinere, the most celebrated of them being Mme. Pommery, wife of the famous champagne merchant of that name. Some years ago the German Emperor ac- cepted a little cruising canoe from a friend, and was very enthusiastic of its sailing qualities. "All my boys shall be canoeists!" he said. The Empress soon afterwards spoke to the donor about the canoe, and, of course, he spread before her the glories of shooting down a swift stream, through foaming rapids, and between threatening rocks. But her Majesty did not share his enthusias- at least, not for her children. She said: "Oh, no! That is too dangerous. I shall never allow my children in a canoe." "But," protested the gentleman, "the Emperor has already given his consent." "Oh, that may be," said she, with the sweetest of smiles in the direction of her husband. "He may be the ruler of Germany, but I am the ruler of the nursery! The Countess of Cromartie is one cf the most accomplished amateur playwrights of the day. Endued with the gift of imagina- tion, she has a command of stagecraft. The romantic period chosen for her plays lends itself to the picturesque. She is the elder sister of Lady Constance Stewart-Richard- son, famous in two continents for her classic dancing and sensational swimming feats. The Countess inherits her literary talent from her mother, the Dowager Countess, who is one of the most interesting per- sonages in the peerage. She is the original of Tennyson's "Airy, Fairy Lilian," and her- self has written numerous poems and songs. Lady Cromartie is the only countess in "Debrott". whose peerage is in her own right. She is married to Lieutenant-Colonel Blunt-Mackenzie. » < Lady Ampthill, one of ihe Queen's four Ladies of the Bedchamber, is a sister of Earl Beauchamp. Lady AmpthiM. married the eldest son of the great diplomatist who took part in the Berlin Congress over twenty years ago, and her two eldest sons are in the Navy. She has been a member of the Royal Household for six years, and ril a close friend of the Queen. Lady Amp- thill spent several years in India. while her tall husband was Governor of Madras and, for a time, acting Viceroy. As a memento of this work she possesses the Order of the Crown of India, given only to ladies associ- ated with the vast Empire, and the Kaisar-i. Hind Gold Medal, presented for public ser. vice in India to either sex. The Queen's maids-of-honour necessarily retire from their position in the Household upon their marriage. A maid-,(,]! onour is entitled to the prefix "Honourable both while holding the post and subsequently, but many who attend the Sovereign's Con. sort are already "Honourables" as the daughters of peers. The Hon. Venetia Baring, one of the present maids, is a daughter of Lord Ashburton, and, therefore, doabl the Hon." The remaining three attenlntg on the Queen would not other- wise possess the distinction. The Hon. Katherine Villiers is a cousin of the Earl of Clarendon; the Hon. Mabel Gye is a niece of Viscount Bridport; and the Hon. Ursula Lawley is a daughter of Sir Arthur Lawley.
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The French Government has conferred the gold medal "des epidemies" on the Queen of Rumania, who since Rumania's entry into the war has devoted herself en- tirely to the hospitals, and has daily visited the hospitals for contagious diseases. The Commonwealth Minister of Defence, speaking at a Melbourne recruiting meeting, said he had proposed that the remnant of the first Australian contingent should be brought back to Australia to recuperate, and he asked for 5,000 Viotorians to fill their places. A verdict of "Accidental death" was re- turned at an inquest at Woolwich on a six- year-old boy who died from lockjaw. The doctor expressed the opinion that the tetanus germ entered the system through a scratch on the foot while the boy was play- ing barefooted;
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OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER
OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER BY UNCLE RALPH. A LITTLE MODEL. Molly was sitting on the bench at thet end of her garden, when the old gentlemanr in the velveteen coat looked over the wall. He was very near to Molly, and could hear quite plainly what she was saying. "Fourpence and twopence are sixpence, and one shilling makes one shilling and six- pence, and another sixpence mai,-es"-fingexa again-" make¡r-two and four-II "Two and nothing, I think," said the old gentleman, and then Molly looked up.. "I've added it up five times," she said sorrowfully, "and 1 can't make it com? Hearer three shillings any way." The old gentleman smiled. "There is a way," he remarked, "if ypuif mamma will let you come ihto my garden for a while." Molly darted up, and ran indoors to ask permission. A moment later back she came, crying "Yes," and the old gentleman. lifted her over the wall. Then he took Molly into the big wooden! house in his garden, which he called "Thd Studio," and dressed her up in a pretty yellow dress with flowers all over .?t, and put some flowers in her hair and a fan in her hand. "Now stand just as I put you," he said* "and don't move while I am painting." When he had finished, the old gentleman; gave Molly a bright new shilling, because* she had been so good. "You must come to see me again to-moy6- row," he said. "and earn another one." uOb.. may I?" cried Molly. "What ig lovely present I shall be able to buy fop mamma's birthday! Thank you so much! THE PIRATE DUCK. Some ducks, you know, are pirates, and some are merchantmen, And this one was a pirate, though hatched out by a hen. He kept the other ducks in dread—they trembled fore and aft, When he came sailing down on them, & rakish-looking craft. He swiftly skimmed the farmer's pond, his, plumage it was black, And instead of firing broadsides, he cried Quack, Quack, Quack!" The merchantmen would find a frog, a cargo fine, I ween, But ere it could be got aboard, the pirate would be seen. With web-feet working quickly, he would- overhaul his prey, And in his hold the frog would soon be. safely stowed away. Then he would calmly paddle off upon another tack, Whilst fainter from the distance came his. Quack, Quack, Quack!" With tadpoles it was just the same, withi caddis-worms to boot, And oft the pirate duck would rob his, victims of a newt. Thus he ere long grew very fat, and that., of course, is why The farmer gazed upon him with a calculat- ing ey That's also why he disappeared, and never more came back To terrify the merchantmen with "Quack.. Quack, Quack!" NO ROOM FOR BABY. Baby had just been carried to the nursery, fast asleep after his morning in the open. air. His sister Flossie, who was seven years old, helped to take off the sleepy little boy's j hat and cape, and then mother said: "Run to my room, Flossie, and see if thee bassinette is ready for him." Away went Flossie, and in a minute she- was back, and, holding her pinafore over her mouth, she said: "I am very sorry, mother, but there isn'ti any room for baby Mother looked very much surprised, but although she could not see Flossie's mouth she saw a very roguish pair of eyes, and she said: "What do you mean, my child?" "Really, mother, there is no room; there are two babies there already. Come and see! She ran on in front, and mother followed! with her little boy, expecting to see some dolls in the cradle. When she saw two dear little kittens she could not help smiling, asd Flossie laughed eo merrily I wonder her little brother did. not wake up. It was Flossie, I think, who had tucked the shawl so warmly under the kitten chins; and mow she had to lift out the two purring little intruders, and to make the bassinette comfortable for her tired little brother Willie, who slept soundly till tho dinner bell rang. SHIPS AT SEA. Far across the spreading tide See the good ships onward glide, Like a bird with wings so gay Lightly speeding o'er the spray: Some to sunlit regions going, Some where chilly winds are blowing, Some to lands where flowers are twiningi Some to snows like silver shining. Thou, whate'er thy name may be, Art a ship on life's great sea; Onward, onward, day by day. Ever dost thou sail away. May the sun be glad above thee, And may He whose heart doth love theft Grant no evil thing betide thee. And to fairest haven guide thee. Sometimes o'er the ships at sea Tempests gather heavily- Sometimes may the clouds hang low Where the little bark shall go. Yet, my bairnie, be unfearing- Safely is the Pilot steering; Day by day He gently guideth, Love eternal, He abideth. WHAT HAPPENED TO A LUMP OF JELLY. It was a bright day in May. We were walking along a dirty lane, when, in a ditch fuH of green water, we espied hun- dreds of small, round lumps of jelly, each with one black spot in it. We took some of them home with us in a dock-leaf, and put them in a tumbler of water. And when we went to look at them a week later, we found they were round blackish animals with a tail. We gave our small pets plenty of fresh pond water every day so that they could cat freely of the tiny, tiny little insects which it contained. And in a few days* time, when we came to look at them, we found they had each grown two little legs just under their tails. Soon they became much lighter in colour, and more egg-shaped. Two more legs showed themselves near their eyes. Then they lost part of their tails; and one day, when their legs had grown longer, their tails dropped off, and behold! they were tiny, frogs.
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Sir Gorden Hewart, the Solicitor-Gcnerai, in a speech at Leic?ter, said the war had shown that the peoples of and the United States had of justice as well as a ?mmon spee One fireman was killed a-nd two were seriously injured at Warrington through a fire-engine overturning after collision with an electric standard. A music-hall performer, Hubert Beers, of London, was fined JE10 at Northampton for failing to report for military service, and handed over to the Army. It was reported at Hitchin Guardians* meeting that a Belgian who had married an English soldier's widow with six children. five of whom had been left in the work. house, while the mother had gone away. declared, "I cannot keep six children. I jrill go back to the trenches nrst."