County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

INDIGNANT BARMAIDS. A large gathering of indignant barmaids at Manchester unanimously decided to protest strongly against their proposed removal from licensed premises. It was stated that the Home Secretary had, just decided to fix a date upon "which he would receive a deputation of bar- maids on the matter. During the discussion Miss Gore Booth, who presided, gave an emphatic denial to what she described as "the grave and terrible accusa- tion that barmaids were often drunken and im- moral. If barmaids were abolished, what would become of the hundred thousand women em- ployed as such. The suggestion that they should learn the skilled trades was a horrid sarcasm, because there was no skilled trade in the whole of England which was altogether open to women. j

Colonel Sadler, Commissioner of the East African Protectorate, speaking at a meeting beld in London, stated that domestic slavery existed in East Africa, but very shortly the question of how to abolish the legal status of slavery would be fully considered on the spot °y Government representatives. At the Guildhall James Watson, 45, pleaded ? iT '^° dealing an overcoat from the City of ^ondon Court. The coat belonged to a lighter- an, ^ho was in the witness-box at the time. Alfred Newton You went into the lion's d'e- Ndth a vengeance—committing a. theft in » cotirf cf justice. Fourteen days' hard labour.

KING EDWARD'S HOLIDAY. On Monday morning King Edward, who is at Biarritz, received Admiral Sir John Fisher and General Brownlow, who stayed to lunch with His Majesty. In the afternoon the King went for a walk. From the esplanade in front of the hotel His Majesty watched the waves rolling in, magnificent seas thirty feet in height break- ing on the shore and almost throwing the spray over the King. His Majesty accepted the in- vitation of the committee to be present at the battle of flowers which took place on Monday. The King took part in the battle, and warmly congratulated the organisers on the brilliant success of the fete. The weather was magnifi- cent. A dinner was afterwards given at the golf club. The torchlight procession on Sunday evening in honour of the King's dinner party was a magnificent sight. King Edward listened un- covered to the British and French National Anthems. Afterwards the band played a num- ber of selections. The visit of King Edward and Queen Alex- andra to Cartegena will be of quite an official character. The British Sovereigns will not, however, land, and all the festivities and in- terviews will take place on board the British and Spanish ships, the ceremonial significance of this arrangement, it is added, being to in- dicate that their Britannic Majesties will only regard the visit King Alfonso paid to London as returned when they have themselves come to Madrid. ===

BILLIARDS AND LOVE. Quite a romantic story is being told concern- ing the engagement of Captain Godfrey-Faus- eett, Equerry to the Prince of Wales, to Miss Eugenie Dudley Ward. The romance began last November, while Captain Godfrey-Faussett was in attendance upon the Prince at Henham, where H.R.H. was the guest of Lord and Lady Stradbroke. Another guest was Miss Dudley Ward, who is a keen billiard player. Captain Godfrey-Faussett is also very fond of the game, and the two frequently played as partners at Henham. After a particularly interesting game, shortly before the close of the visit, the captain suggested to his late partner that they should adjourn from the room, and, the lady consenting, her admirer proposed another kind of partnership. What her answer was her friends learned a few days later in the an- nouncement that a marriage has been ar- ranged between Captain Godfrey-Faussett and Miss Eugenie Dudley Ward." The Prince and Princess of Wales have taken a keen interest in the engagement, and are to be present at the wedding, which will take place at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on April 11. Their Royal Highnesses will also be present at the reception after the marriage. Miss Ward's bridal dress is to be of rich ivory satin, beauti- fully trimmed with large hand-made satin chry- santhemums and old Limerick lace and trails of orange blossoms. The embroidered net veil will fall over a coronet of similar flowers. There are to be four grown-up bridesmaids— Mise Dudley Ward (the bride's sister), Miss Godfrey-Faussett (the bridegroom's sister), Miss Dorothy Brett, and Miss Violet Flower, and four children-Miss Enid Dudley Ward (the bride's youngest sister), Lady Morvyth Ward (Lady Dudley's daughter), and the two tiny daughters of Lady Stradbroke-the Ladies "Cachoo" and Betty Rous. All will wear white satin Empire dresses trimmed with lace and gold roses, and gold embroidered' belts, but while the elders will have white lace hats, with gold roses and black velvet, the little girls will wear a fillet of gold galon across the hair, knotted at the sides with clusters of little pink roses.

GIRL SUFFRAGIST FREE. Dora Thewlis, the sixteen-year-old suffragist from Huddersiaeld, who--was arrested in the suffrag-i»t mid on the House of Commons, and remanded for a week in order that her parents might be communicated with, was released at Westminster Police-court. The girl appeared very penitent, and when Mr. Horace Smith, the j magistrate, asked her if she were willing to re- turn home, she replied that she was. She was 1 evidently very much relieved when the magis- trate told her that she would be discharged and sent home in the care of a wardress. Mise Thewlis was taken in a closed cab to King's-cross, accompanied by a wardress, who bought tickets for Huddersfield. In the anxiety of the authorities to escape public attention, Miss Thewlis was not allowed to start for King's-cross until too late to catch the 1.30 train. She reached the station at 1.35, and had to wait half an hour for another train. On arrival at Huddersfield she was met by her mother and sisters, and was hurried off home in order to escape the crowd which had assem- bled. The girl stated that she had not fought the fight fair enough, and that she intended to go back again. Miss Annie Armstrong, the girl from Black- pool, who was previously released, told a re- porter that she had decided to have nothing more to do with the suffragist agitation. She said her fare to London was paid by some one connected with the women suffragist organisa- tion, and she spoke in high terms of the kind- ness of the wardresses at Holloway Prison. Her mother was indignant at the action of the per- sons who induced her daughter to go to Lon- don. "What can a girl like her know about such a question?" she said. such a question?" she said.

SANTQS-DUMOINT'S ILL-LUCK. M. Santos-Dumont met with a disastrous acci- dent in Paris when he took his new aeroplane out for a trial. When the motor was started the machine ran along for a few yards and then stopped suddenly, fell heavily sideways, and was wrecked. The machine thus destroyed was one on which M. Santos Dumont based high hopes. The wings were made entirely of thin sheets of wood, and no canvas was used in its construc- tion. With it he hoped to win the X2,000 Deutsch-Archdeacon prize for a flight of 3,808 yards. With his previous machine, "No. 14 bis," he won a prize last November for making the first aeroplane flight of 250 yards. J "'—————'

BISHOP AND SWEATING EVIL. I The Bishop of Birmingham, in opening a sweated industries exhibition in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, so,id that in the bjxtton depart- ment the woman worker had to attach twelve buttons to cach of 144 cards for sevenpence. Thev wanted to bring home to the whole com- munity the fact that these industries must be I put on another basis. It was a fundamental principle of Christian ethics that a due and sufficient wage for the worker should be the first charge on all industries. He believed that the sanest and most sober thought of the coun- try tended in the direction of legislative remedy in this matter.

The executive committee of the English As- sociation, recently appointed, has now issued the prospectus of the association, including a statement of its objects and constitution. The Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, has been elected first president. The secretary is Iro- fessor F. S. Boas, M.A., Cranford, Bickxey, Kent. Young women and married men in HuL (Canada) have sent a largely-signed petition to the city clerk proposing that the council should tax every bachelor over 25 Cl. A young man accidentally dropped a bomb in the Grzybowska-street, Warsaw. The ex- plosion wounded him severely, kiMed a passer- by, and injured four others. While near the Owers lightship the Roches- ter barge Rose was run down in the fog by the Norwegian steamer Waterloo, and sank at once, carrying down with it the mate, who was drowned.

I MAGNIFICENCE IN MARBLE. I I SIR E. CASSEL'S NEW TOWN HOUSE. I Brook House, in Park'-lane, formerly the resi- dence of, Lord Tweedmouth, has become the most magnificent town house in London, Paris, or New York, and its splendour challenges com- parison with "Arabian Nights" palaces, while Eastern romance is rivalled by present-day actuality in the world-wide quest for material of service and adornment, all corners of the earth having been ransacked to produce the various materials for the fulfilment of the owner's hopes and the architect's refined scheme. The somewhat old-fashioned exterior of the house, now cleared of an intricate net- work of scaffolding, gives little idea of the work within and the remarkable architectural under- taking that is transforming the mansion into a veritable dream of beauty. It is now nearly two years since Sir Ernest Cassel bought Brook House from Lord Tweed- mouth. Since then, says the "Daily Chronicle," he has secured the adjoining house to give width for the new rooms and staircase and extra frontage in Brook-street. The whole building has now been raised by the addition of a top storey with a central dome. It has taken over twelve months to quarry the 800 tons of statuary marble of which the main staircase is com- posed. This marble is from the famous quarry at Sarravezza, once the property of the Popes Julius II. and Leo X., of the Medici family. Michael Angelo, sent from the Vatican in 1490 to prospect, was amazed at the beauty of the material, and it is said that his report to the Pope depreciated its quality so that he might obtain a monopoly of the mine for his own sculptures. From that date, all Angelo's master- pieces were chiselled from these Tuscany marbles. Not only is the actual stairway in Brook House of this marble, but the floors and walls are panelled with the polished stone. Corinthian columns, 17ft. in height, hewn out of the solid block, give support to the upper floors and the great gallery underneath the im- mense dome. Just a vein of colour is visible in these pillars, and the greatest difficulty has been experienced in getting such immense pieces without a flaw. For months the workmen were hewing and cutting, and many hundred tons of the precious material were unearthed before perfect slabs of the requisite length, equal in tone and a match in all respects, were obtained. Throughout the ground floor the severely classic character is maintained, but the scheme is adapted to modern requirements, and is mas- sive, dignified, and refined. The most severely classic effort of the archi- tects, Messrs. White, Allom, and Co., is seen in the outer entrance hall, pilastered with I unique blue marble, knowledge of which had lapsed for many years. Credit for the redis- covery of this marble belongs entirely to the Princess of Wales, whose attention was drawn to some fragments of the blue stone, pre-sented to her at the time of her voyage with the Prince to Canada. When Marlborough House was undergoing overhauling and improvements, the Princess showed her specimens to Mr. Allom, expressing great enthusiasm as to their beauty of colour, and her desire to have the quarry found, and the beautiful blue soladite made use of. Mr. Allom set out to prospect for the blue marble, and with the able help of the Geological Survey Department of Canada discovered the mine in the centre of Ontario. With a few friends Mr. Allom promptly bought the mine outright, and the blue stone now beautifies many of the Princess of Wales's rooms. The peculiar hardness of the mineral renders the work of cutting most difficult, and much time and ingenuity, both here and on the Continent, have been expended, but at last the difficult process of cutting and moulding ap- pears to be solved. At Brook House the same blue Canadian marble mixed with Pavonazzo will adorn the sumptuous outer entrance hall when it is com- pleted. Hundreds of men are now working to get the necessary quantity of sixty tone cut and moulded to form the cornices and pilasters of the apartment. The main entrance of Sir Ernest house from Brook-street will remain much as it was, but, standing within the severe blue marble vestibule, an extra- ordinary vista of about 200ft. is obtained, giving an uninterrupted view of the marble staircase and corridor extending the full length of the house to the new dining-room. By means of immense doors this corridor may be closed off to form a superb octagonal morning-room, communicating with the dining-hall. To the Park-lane side of the mansion a loggia will open on to the garden, and a colonnade of stone columns will be introduced to emphasise the classic order observed in the dining-room, marble staircase, and entrance. There is no Roman dining-room in London, nor in England, when all is said, and it is a. question if in the Eternal City itself there is a marble dining-room of such majestic dimen- sions as that in course of construction for Sir Ernest Cassel. The rotunda-like addition to the former structure, noticeable from the Park- lane side, is in reality a long room with rounded ends, and the arched ceiling is nearly 30ft. high. One hundred people will dine there with perfect ease, and while at table they will gaze in admiration at their refined surroundings. There are columns, capitals, and arches grace- fully carved, and plaques representing scenes from Roman mythology will surmount the door- ways. Spanish art will also be represented by Sir Ernest's celebrated Velasquez portraits, while superb pictures by Reynolds, Hoppner, Romney, Raeburn, and other artists included in Sir Ernest Cassel's art collection will adorn the walls. Unlike the palaces of Imperial Rome, in Sir Ernest Cassel's marble mansion comforts and luxuries undreamt of in the days of the Ctesars will be found. A whole installation, in marble and silver, of Turkish bathe of the most ap- proved and complete modern ideas will occupy a portion of the mezzanine floor. The. kitchens are to be models of light, cleanliness, and airiness, walled and floored with spotless marble and perfectly equipped, and the many bath-rooms, which are fitted on every floor of the house, are of the same marble. The base- ment is a veritable labyrinth of kitchens, wine- cellars, strong-rooms, vegetable-rooms, offices, with a frigidarium for fruit and flowers. There are pastry kitchens, grilling, roasting, and broiling ovens of a dozen varieties. Lifts are numerous, and there is a special hydraulic hoist for guests luggage. Altogether, it is the most perfectly appointed mansion in Europe or America, neither overdone nor over-elaborate in its luxury and beauty of design and work- manship.

Lord Avebury will preside at the annual I soiree of the Salborne Society, which will be held at the Civil Service Commission (Old London University), Burlington-gardens, on I April 26.

I FOR A FAMOUS PULPIT. I The Rev. Ivor J. Roberton, M.A., of Gala- shiels, has accepted the call to the historic Pres- byterian Church of Regent-square, W.C., as suc- cessor to the Rev. Alexander Connell, who re- cently became minister of Sefton-park Church, Liverpool, on the retirement of Dr. John Watson (Ian Maclaren). Mr. Roberton, who is a son of the late Rev. Thomas Roberton, minister of the Free Church at Dunipace, Stirlingshire, has two brothers in the ministry, an elder brother, the Rev. Alexander Roberton, being at Logie Pert, near Montrose, and another brother, tne Rev. Nigel C. Roberton, at Pulteneytown, Wick. Mr. Ivon Roberton was educated at Stirling Royal High School and Edinburgh Uni- versity, where he gained various prizes and REV. I. J. ROBERTON. scholarships, win- ning the Gray Prize for an English essay, and securing a gold medal for the special study of Kant's Ethics. In 1886 he graduated M.A., with first-class honours, at Edin- burgh. He received his theological training at the New College, Edinburgh, being a fellow-student of his predecessor at Regent- square, Rev. Alexander Connell. He was or- dained at Ratho in 1891, and in 1898 was inducted as colleague and successor to the Rev. James Spence, Lad- hope Free Church, Galashiels, his sponsor on that occasion being the late Principal Rainy. Mr. Roberton is well known as one of the most successful pastors and one of the most gifted and spirited preachers in the south of Scotland. His ministry at Galashiels has been remarkably successful, the membership having increased during the last nine years from 360 to over 600. The historic church of Regent-square has long been regarded at the cathedral of English Pres- byterianism. Among its. former ministers have oeen the famous Edward Irving, Dr. James Hamilton, Principal Oswald Dykes, the Rev. I John McNeil, and the Rev. Alexander Connell.

The man Kupke who went mad and began I beating a drum during a concert at the Royal Palace, Berlin, which the Kaiser attended, es- caped from the asylum to which he was taken, and was arrested as he was attempting suicide on the railway near Berlin. Mr. R. Bell, M.P., presented to the Secre- tary for Scotland a petition from over 98,000 residents in and around Edinburgh praying for I driver Gourlay's immediate release from pri- son. The whole of the signatures were obtained j within three days. The Rev. W. E. Elsey, who was returned at the head of the poll for the Mile-end Division j at the guardians' elections, is the eldest son of W. E. JSlsey, the Baumber racehorse trainer, j and is well known in sporting circles. { The existing system of giving clothing and bedding gratuities in the Navy has, according I to the "Gazette," been abolished as from April I 1, after which bedding and clothing, including i hat ribbons, will be provided free, save in ex- cepttonal cases.

THE SWAMI" REAPPEARS. The notorious female known as the "Swami," who was sentenced to penal servitude in Eng- land several years ago, has reappeared in America as a prominent member of the sect known as the Flying Rollers." She assumed the name of Mother Elinor, and so captivated the Rollers of Detroit that they made her their high priestess. An enterprising member of the sect, how- ever, found that Mother Elinor had a past. He was condemned as a heretic by his co- sectarians, but he persisted, and Mother Elinor was forced to promise an explanation on April 1. She disappeared on Sunday even- ing, and the Flying Rollers on Monday solemnly repudiated her as their spiritual leader. The Swami is the most notorious female swindler of modern times. She claims to be the daughter of Lola Montez, the famous dancer, and the late King Ludwig of Bavaria, who was mad. She posed as a spiritualist in America, and, with her husband, General Diss Debar, managed to wheedle hundreds of thousands of pounds out of wealthy enthu- siasts. For this she served a number of years in prison. She was arrested in London in- 1901 as the Swami," and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude for a most atrocious swindling operation.

A DASH FOR LIBERTY. I I I Exciting scenes were witnessed in Sheffield on Tuesday, when a manacled prisoner who had been brought from Wakefield Gaol escaped from a warder in the police-court corridor, and made a dash for liberty. He freed himself from the handcuffs and took off his coat and vest as he ran through the crowd of gaping holiday- makers who thronged the streets, many of them being knocked down by the prisoner in his flight. A host of policemen and warders fol- lowed in hot pursuit, led by the warder from whose -custody the prisoner had escaped. After a chase of about a quarter of a mile, the police recaptured the man. Another prisoner, arrested for fowl-stealing, got away from Harlow .Police-station, and the police, suspecting that he had secreted himself in a passing hayeart, searched every vehicle of this description that passed through Epping from London—except one. On the return journey, however, the neglect was made good, and the missing man was hauled out of the hay.

SERIOUS TRAM ACCIDENT. A serious tramcar accident occurred on th€l system of the South Metropolitan Tramway Company on Monday afternoon, by which thirty-two people were injured, some, it is feared, fatally. Immediately after passing over- a railway bridge between Wallington and Sutton the cars run down a hill at Park-lane until they reach a corner of Ruskin-road, where the line turns sharp round, the latter road being at right angles. Car No. 19 left Croydon a minute or two past three o'clock, and at half- past three reached the top of the railway bridge.. What then happened is not quite clear; but it is presumed that the car by some means got out of control, as on reaching the sharp corner, where a stop is always made, it took the turn so rapidly that it overturned. The top of the tram was crowded with pas- sengers, and they were all thrown off into the road. It was at once evident that a number wero badly hurt, and in a few minutes a force of police were on the spot. The company's doctor, who lives but a short distance away. was also in attendance in a few minutes, three or four other medieal men arriving soon afterwards. An empty house was used as a temporary hos- pital, and there many of the suff-erers were taken to have their wounds temporarily ban- daged. As soon as this had been done most of the injured were placed on a car returning to Croydon and taken to Croydon General Hospital, whence a number were allowed to proceed to their homes after having their in" juries attended to. Ten of the most serious cases were detained. Of those who remained at the scene of the accident several went home after being bandaged, and some seven or eight were taken into the Cottage Hospital. All but four of these were able to go home a little later, those detained being Mr. and Mre. Sayers, of Vernon-road, Sutton, and their baby, and a lad named Stanley Chivington, living in Bushey-lane, Sutton. Mr. Sayers was suffer- ing from concussion, Chivington had a broken elbow, while the others were suffering from cuts. The driver of the car escaped serious injury,, while the conductor was cut about consider- ably. The car is stated to have been in perfect running condition. It had recently been in the depot to be repainted and thoroughly over- hauled. A particularly sad feature of the acei-" dent is the number of children among tboeo injured.

An exciting affray with revolvers took place in Glasgow. On coming out of the police-court five men engaged in a quarrel. Revolvers were fired and knives used, one man being stabbed1 within half an inch of the jugular vein. Thrett of the men were arrested, two escaping. Julius Langerbach, 25, a G-erman, was a(a mitted to St. George's Hospital in an unc-om scious condition. It is alleged that he cut hi# ankle and wrist with a razor, and then shofc himself through the head in a room at Claver- ton-street, Pimlico. The French Senator passed, without debate,, the bill approving The Hague Convention of December 21, 1904, exempting hospital sinpa in time of war from the duties and taxes im- posed on vessels in harbours for the benefit afi the State.

I VAN HORSE PARADE. I There was a record number of entries for the fourth annual parade of the London Van Ii Horse Parade Society in the Inner Circle, Regent's Park, on Monday. In the class for singles with two wheels Messrs. W. H. Smith and Messrs. Peter Robinson each obtained ¡ eight first prizes. Messrs. Derry and Toms I were awarded six first prizes, and Messrs. Dickens and Jones four first prizes., In the class for singles with four wheels Messrs. Sutton and Co. secured thirteen first prizes and four second prizes, the second place being taken by Messrs. Pickford, Limited, with eleven firsts and three seconds. The Junior Army and Navy Stores were awarded seven premier prizes and four seconds, and Messrs. Carter Paterson and Co. six first prizes. The most successful competitors in the "pairs" class were Messrs. James Buchanan and Co., who obtained eight first prizes, three seconds, and one third, Messrs. Schweppes taking the second place with five firsts. The Stewart Freeman silver challenge, cup for the best single turnout for two wheels was won by Messrs. Thomas Wallis, of Holborn-circus, Messrs. Peter Robinson coming a good second. Messrs. Carter Paterson, for ilie, second year, were awarded the Harvey silver challenge cup. I

SIGNALMAN GOES MAD. Immediately on returning home from duty, after handling holiday traffic, John Canning, after handling holiday traffic, John Canning, a railway signalman, of Redditch, went mad. He chased his terrified wife with a knife, but her scre&uis promptly brought neighbours on the scene" and they prevented him from doing her harm. Canning then rushed into the street, and seizing a young man flung him 'to the ground, and was beginning to cut his throat when several men rushed forward and pulled him away. The young man received such a shock that he fainted several times and his condition is serious. The madman was secured and placed in a room, but immediately tried to jump from the window, and when pulled back attacked those in the room with a knife. For a time no one dared go near him, but he was at last secured and conveyed to an asylum.

AN AUSTRALIAN MINISTER. I Sir William John Lyne, the Minister of Trade and Customs in the Commonwealth of Australia, who has arrived in England for the Colonial Conference, has set foot for the first time on the soil of the Mother Country. He is a Tasmanian by birth, and has travelled and lived in every part of Australia, though he has not been in New Zealand; but his father was born in England, his mother waf, a Scotch- woman, and his wife came of an Irish family, so that he is a pretty good British combina- tion. It was on April 6, 1844, that Sir William was born, so that he celebrates his 64th birthday while in this country. When he was still, youth he went to Queensland, and be- came one of the pio- neer settlers in the country, to which squatters were then flocking, on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Some years later he returned to Tasmania, and be- came clerk to the Gla- rn o rg a n Municipal Council till 1875, and then he returned to his first avocation, and SIR W. J. LYNE. I became a squatter again on the banks of the River Murray. Very soon afterwards he entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly,, ana m 188o tie became Secretary for Public Works, and held that position in three separate Ministries, while in another he was Secretary for Lands. He succeeded to the Premiership, and was Prime Minister and Colonial Treasurer at the time of the inauguration of the Commonwealth but he was unable to accept the Premiership of the Federal Government, and took office in Sir Edward Barton's first Government as Minister for Home Affairs. He was Minister for trade and customs in 1903-4, and now holds the same office in the present Government. This department is the largest and most im- portant in the Administration, and deals with a great many notable questions arising in com- mercial and industrial life. Sir William, who received the K.C.M.G. in 1900, married in 1870, and he has one son and three daughters.

SUE VIC CUT IN TWO. The feat of cutting the White Star liner Sue- vic in two off the Lizard by means of dynamite was completed on Tuesday. During Monday night from time to time there was a dynamite explosion, but in spite of all efforts, the Suevic did not part. By morning, however, it was known that the blasting had been completed right through her keel, and that only the main steel deck remained to be separated. The heavy swell from the Atlantic increased, and it seemed likely that the waves would as- sist the parting of the vessel. This proved to be the case, for about eight o'clock, with a loud grinding and snapping noise, the after part of the Suevic began to rise and fall buoyantly on the swell, showing that the separation of the vessel, which had been laboriously attempted for the past fortnight, had at last been achie- ved. Three tugs were then brought into posi- tion, and with great skill hawsers were passed across, and the rescued portion of the Suevic was towed clear of the rocks. As a proof of the wonderful character of the salvors' work, the cleavage was seen to be quite smooth and clean cut. As the wind and swell of the sea did not seem likely to go down, no time was lost in towing the salved portion of the liner to Ply- mouth, where it is understood she will be temporarily patched up in one of the dockyard dry docks. The salved portion floated easily while being towed stern first. The portion which remains on the rocks, approximately a third of the ship, was still standing rigid when the salved two-thirds, containing the engines and other fittings and equipment of most value, passed out of sight. So admirably managed were the preparations of the salvors for the balancing of tne Suevic that when the vessel parted the salved portion floated off almost on an even keel. The actual length of the vessel remaining on the rocks is 184ft., and the portion salved approximately 400ft.

EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY. I Considerable damage has been done to pro- perty at Bitlis (Turkey) by shocks of earth- quake. A number of people, including certain foreign missionaries, were rendered homeless, and had to encamp in the snow, which lies 25 feet deep in places. The British Vice-Consul at Bitlis is away on leave of absence. Bitlis occupies a picturesque situation upon a rocky slope, and its houses are constructed of stone, with flat, earthen roofs. These features would tend to accentuate the damage in the event of an earthquake. The local authorities have received instructions to undertake the necessary measures for, the relief of the dis- tressed' inhabitants, and outside assistance would be welcomed. A message from the British Consul at Erze- rum states that the earthquake at Bitlis occurred on March 29, and was of a violent nature. The shocks were continuing when the telegram was despatched. Many houses were damaged, and there were four casualties. Almost the entire town encamped in the snow, amid incessant sleet. There is much distress and poverty.

DEATH OF EARL SONDES. Earl Sondes died on Monday at his residence, Lees Court, near Faversham. He was born in 1861, and was formerly a captain in the East Kent Imperial Yeomanry. He served in South Africa. during the early part of the war, and was invalided home. He was a keen supporter of cricket and football, and on several occa- sions played for Kent as Viscount Throwley. He is succeeded bv his brother, the Hon. Lewis Milles. The Dowager Countess of Scarbrough died in London on Tuesday. She was eighty-one years old, and married in 1846 the ninth Earl of Scarborough, who died in 1884.

UNINVITED GUESTS. A wedding feast in Upper Cross-street, Leeds, on Easter Monday had a serious termi- nation. Several men went uninvited to the house late at night to join in the festivities, and were ordered to go away. Before they went a relative of the bride was struck on the head with a poker and a hammer, and was taken to the hospital. Another man was stabbed in ,he neck, and the bride's mother was slightly bounded with a knife. The story was told at the police-court on Tuesday, when Charles Coleman was remanded on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. o

Considerable opposition is being met with by the committees in military centres who are in- vestigating the possibility of soldiers being taught trades whilst serving with the colours. It is understood that the chief objection is that raised by trade unions, who object to men being taught crafts at the public expense while earn- ing Army pay. In other directions tne com- mittees are being well supported. Two foxes which were reported recently as having been seen in Richmond Park are making their presence felt. On account of ths numerous wildfowl in the park, efforts have been made to capture the foxes, but up to the present, without success. Two fine birds have been missed from one of the ponds, and it is believed that the foxes carried them off.

RESPITE FOR RAYNER. I Horace George Rayner, the murderer of Mr. William Whiteley, has been reprieved. An offi- cial announcement was made on Saturday in the following terms to Mr. Pierron, Rayner's soli- citor, and to the Governor of Pentonville Prison in the following terms: Whitehall, bOth March, 1907.-Sir,-I am directed by the Secretary of State to inform yon that he has had under his consideration the case of Horace George Rayner, who was sentenced to death at the last sessions of the Central Crim- inal Court for murder, and that, in view of all the circumstances, he has felt warranted in ad- vising His Majesty to respite the capital sen- tence with a view. to its commutation to penal servitude for life.—I am, Sir, your obedient ser- vant, C. E. Troup. Immediately upon receipt of this letter the Governor of Pentonville Gaol proceeded to Ray- ner's cell, and informed him that his life had been spared. Rayner appeared at first some- what dazed and bewildered, but after a few seconds he burst into loud sobs, and for several minutes gave way to extreme emotion. He said "Thank God for my poor wife's sake. But, gO far as I am personally concerned, I would have preferred to get the whole business over and done with instead of having to endure years of misery behind iron bars." Instructions were at once given for his removal from the condemned cell. Although public opinion was sharply divided on the subject of the condemned man's fate, such an immense amount of support for a re- spite of the death penalty was received that the decision of the Home Secretary has relieved the anxiety of a large section of the public. A r-'Vantic petition on the prisoner's behalf, organised by Mr. Henry Pierron, his solicitor, was to have been presented to Mr. Gladstone, and nearly a million signatures would, it is suggested, have been appended, had not the intimation from the Home Office dispensed with further efforts. Mr. Pierron, who worked so unremittingly it Rayner's interest, has been the recipient of numerous congratulations. A number of well- known men wrote to the Press advocating the remission of the capital sentence, among them being Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P.. Mr. Lawrence Irving, the actor, Mr. Alfred Noyes, the poet, Mr. R. B. Cunninghame Grahame Graham, and Sir Lewis Morris. Mrs. Rayner gave birth to a daughter on Monday, and both mother and child are making satisfactory progress. A friend of the family took the news to Pentonville Prison, II and the governor informed the father. Rayner* who had made many anxious inquiries, asked, "How are my poor wife and child?" On being told they were both doing well he asked per- mission to write a message for his wife. Dr. William Cremin, of Camden Town, the- medical man in attendance on Mrs. Rayner, believes that the news of the reprieve, coming just in time, saved the lives of mother and child.

SOCIALISTS AND MR. BURNS. At the annual meeting of the Social Demcn cratic Federation at Carlisle, an animated debate took place for several hours, the business including the consideration of the report of the Executive Committee. This report, which was adopted, contained, amongst other passages, the following reference to the unemployed and Mr. John Burns, M.P. :—"It is necessary to calif attention to the conduct of Mr. John Burns, who, as President of the Local Governments Board, has now gone back entirely upon hia former opinions, and the most hypocritical Em- ployer of sweated labour, with a predilection for conventional Sunday School morality, migiife well envy the power of glib pharaisaical c&nb which the man with the red flag' can now. always bring to bear upon the unemployed ques-i tion." Mr. Irving (Burnley) moved a resolution call- ing for an amendment of the Unemployed Act, Mr. Jack Jones (West Ham), who seconded, said that on this question the "right honourable renegade" who presided over the Local Govern-! ment Board, had said he could not see his way clear to alter his policy. If they had the assist.. ance of a sympathetic President of the Local Government Board, the Act might be made useful. Mr. Harry Quelch (London), supporting the resolution, said that the right hon. gentle-. man the wrong hon. gentleman in bringing forward the promise of £ 200,000, had made the most insulting speech respecting the working classes ever delivered in the House of Commons. Mr. Burns, he said, was given office in return for his treachery to the working class movement. The resolution was adopted.

MULTI-MILLIONAIRES DEATH. I "Silent" Smith, one of the most remarkable Of America's multi-millionaires, whose fortune is estimated at £ 15,000,000, has died from heart disease, at Kyoto, in Japan, which he was visit- ing with his wife on their wedding tour round the world. Until 1899 he was James Henry Smith, a taciturn, reserved man, with a small ofi)ce in Wall-street, and a small flat in an un- t fashionable part of the city. With the excep- tion of the hour a day he spent at the Union Club, he was never seen outside his office or his home. In that year his still more eccentric cousin "Chicago" Smith died at the Reform Club in London, where he had lived at a maximum cost of 18s. a day, and left him a fortune of nearly £ 12,000,000. From being the least obtrusive of New Yorkers, "Silent" Smith became the most prominent. He joined twelve of the lead- ing social and sporting clubs, and had the dis- tinction of being launched into society by Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, as one of the world's richest bachelors. He always drove a four-in-hand, and bought the best horses that money could purchase. His entertainments, says the New York cor- respondent of the "Express," were as freakish as they were magnificent. His Valentine Ball at Sherry's, and the musicale in the Fifth- avenue PaJace, bought from Mr. W. C. Whit- ney's executors for £ 400,000, at which he paid Caruso £600 to sing four songs, will be long talked of in New York. At this mansion he entertained the Duchess of Manchester and the foremost leaders of American society. He was the elusive catch of many seasons, but last year he chose. as hi, bride the beautiful Mrs. Rhine- lander Stewart) of Baltimore—a sister of Mrs. A. J. Drexel. Soon after their wedding Mr. and Mrs. Smith started on a tour of the world, with the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, in Mr. Drexel's magnificent steam yacht the Marghe- rita. The next of kin is stated to be Lady Cooper, of Elgin, wife of Sir George Alexander Cooper, of Grosvenor-square, The College, Elgin, and Hursley Park, Winchester. She is a daughter of Mr. George S. Smith, of Evanston, Illinois. "Chicago" Smith, the founder of this great fortune, was a Scotsman from Elgin, who made his fortune in Chicago, and returned to Lon- don to live at the Reform Club. There he will always be remembered as having presented the club with a lift. When he died the English portion of his estate alone realised £ 900,000 in death duties to the Treasury.

WORK FOR EX-SOLDIERS. The new scheme for the improvement of the facilities to enable Army Reserve men and dis- charged soldiers to obtain employment, which is the outcome of the deliberations of Sir Ed- ward Ward's committee, has been issued in the form of an Army order. Agencies have been formed all over the country, at which regis- ters of men needing employment will be kept. It is. pointed out that the object aimed at is, if possible, to give every ex-soldier of good cha- racter a fair start in civil life, and every effort will be made to obtain a suitable situation for him. "The necessity for re-entering civil employ- nient as early as possible is earnestly impressed Upon all ex-soldiers," says the order, "and they are urged to accept employment, even though at a smaller wage than they had wished, rather than waste their time in idleness. They can later, on continue, their search for more re- munerative situations. They should husband their resources and maintain their respectable appearance and self-respect, as they will thus be more likely to be successful in obtaining suitable situations. The necessity of strict so- briety should, moreover, be borne in mind by all candidates for employment." Each agency will be directly under the super- vision of the officer commanding each regi- Qental district, and efforts will be made by of tlle register to obtain ymerit for the men whose names are entered. The success of the scheme, it is pointed out, must, in a great measure, depend upon the manner in which the character of men on their discharge is estimated and recorded. "If men recommended as of 'good' charac- ter are found to be untrustworthy or unsteady, the confidence of employers of labour will not be gained, and the scheme must prove a failure. On the other hand, if, on account of compara- tively trifling irregularities of a purely military nature, men are refused a good character, their subsequent career in civil life is injuriously affected, to the detriment of the popularity of the service and of the success of recruiting. The responsibility, therefore, of commanding officers in this respect is very great, and their special attention is directed to the subject."

MOTOR ON THE SHORE. An exciting incident, which was witnessed by several hundreds of pleasure-seekers at Filey, illustrates the dangers of motoring on the seashore. A party of London motorists went out with Mr. W. T. Lord, of London, in his Argyll car for a spin along the sands. They left the car, in order to take photographs at the water's edge, but on returning a few minutes later they found the car sunk over the axles and rapidly sinking further in an active quicksand. Efforts to extricate the car were fruitless. A horseman galloped to the fish-landing to obtain the assistance of some carts. At the time the carters were busy unloading boats of catches of fish, and the fishermen refused to allow the carts to assist unless the motorists purchased the fish. This Mr. Lord and his friends were forced to do, for the tide only re- quired eight minutes before it started to flow. They thus acquired four cargoes. With the assistance of the horses and carts, two friendly motors, and a crowd of helpers, the Argyll was nnally hauled out of the quicksand, but not before it had sunk over the floor boards, and the wheels had been lost sight of. It was only rescued in time to escape the tide, which shortly afterwards flowed over the spot. The fish was subsequently sold by auction.