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[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.] THE GIRLS OF THE HOUSE, By F. FRANKFORT MOORE. j Author of "A Whirlwind Harvest," '.1 Forbid the Banns," ) &c., &c. [COPYEIGHT.] SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. I Cii-A.r.i.i.Ro 1. to III.—Colonel Selwood, a Bim oi ancient lineage, but not of extensive means, pay;, a visit to a financier with whom he has had dealings, Mr. Meilor, and asks him for the return of some Rockingham shares he had placed in his keeping some twelve months before un the understanding that they should be given up to him \vilen tllC money advanced, £:20û, should be repaid. Meilor, after some circumlo- cution, declines to give up the shares, saying that they were sold to him at a fair price. Selwood, who has brought with him a cheque for the amount advanced, kicks his chair from under him and leaves the house. CHAPTERS IV. & Y.-Colonel Selwood breaks the news ot his fruitless visit to Melior to his daughters. Muriel and Joan, and speaks of the nin hich stares him in the face. They resolve that Selwood, their house, will have to be sold. A big mongrel dog, listening to the talk, knows that something is wrong, and whining, looks up inquiringly into Muriel's face. "No, no, Jimmy; you are not going to be sold, only Selwood," says the giri, and the next moment both are sobbing in their father's arms. CHAPTER VI. I ihe next aay confirmed the opinion which the I gir.a had formed in regard to their position. The family lawyer paid an official visit to Selwood, and took quite an amount of trouble explaining to the colonel and his daughters how it was that they were in so great straits. He took unneces- sary pains over the details—they would ail have accepted his word for the worst. When a com- petent physician has assured you that you cannot ave over ale w&?k he does not strengthen his position by referring in detail to the disorders whicn are to b- held accountable for the result wnch he predicts. The property had been en- cumbered for years. i'rom some reason that no one had been ab;e to solve, the greater part of tfie estate was far from being fertile. Of course, the owners of the soil had never lacked sufficient imagination to enable them to lay the blame of the unproductiveness on the husbandman. It was impossiole that the land of a certain group of farms could be miserable while that of the out- lying farms wo; excellent, the owners were ready to affirm when the husbandmen made their com- plaints and suggestions of a reduction in the rental. They had an opportunity of offering this argu- ment to a large number of tenants, for few far- mers had sufficient capital to allow of their holding on to their tenancies. And then came the years of terrible agricultural depression, when the two principal farms were without tenants, and Colonel be 1 wood came to the determination to work his own iand. Ths experiment extended over five years, and the result took the shape of a very formidable balance on the wrong side of the account in the head bailiff s bcok, aad at last the owner was convinced there, was something in the soil that would net be reasoned out of it. The insusceptibility to argument of the big farms meant an amazing reduction in the income of the estate, and Colonel Selwood began to wish that his ancestors had wavered for a generation or so in their determination to make their place the finest in the county. Alas! they had never falteied. The place was the most expensive in the county. The twenty-five gardeners who found constant employment in the Italian garden, the Butch garden, the old English garden, the orchid houses, the orangeries—there was half a mile of orangeries—the vineries, and the peach houses were far too few to do all that should be done well. And then the woodmen—the rabbiters, the poiemen—no one knew what the duties of a pole- man were beyond receiving his twenty-five shillings a week—and the harbourers—the duties of the harboufers were as indefinite as the well- defined functions of an archdeacon; philologists were even divided on the question as to whether or not their name was an aspirated form of ar- bourers—the whole army of these dependents had to be paid, with about a dozen staff officers in the iorm of game-keepers, river-keepers, and gate- lodge keepers. iheso were among the ultra-menials; and the menials—the indoor servants-were nearly as numerous; for it is impossible to keep up a house with a history unless by the aid of carpenters and plasterers, and tilers and handy-men. These were the men who maintained the material part of a historic house; and the traditional part was main- tained by the butler, the footmen, the house- keeper, the cook and a. staff of fifteen or twenty in the servants' hall. And then there were the horses. The burden of the whole was greater than any one man could bear unless he had been bom to a brewery or to a eoihery or perhaps a ship-building yard. Th-a family lawyer admitted as much, at the same time adding a few graceful words in ac- knowledgment of the brave fight made by the person who was unfortunate enough to have in- herited the most splendid place in the county, and tho further encumbrance of the most splendid family traditions. Colonel Selwood had made a capital figlit of it, the lawyer said, and he felt that it was rather handsome on his part to go so far; but all tne same the fight was over. The place could not. be kept up. The mortgages of those Selwoods who had been bitten with the tar- antula of building during the previous century- the Selwoods who had added a wing to the man- sion and had brought from Italy the stones with which the classical portico was built-the Selwoods who had spent forty thousand pounds on the orangeries, designed by Chambers—and who had all the time been laying up an inheritance of gout for their descendants by their hard drinking in sympathy with the traditions of the eighteenth century—the mortgages of these merry fellows, who gambled away their farms and wrote such excellent letters—who were painted by Reynolds and Gainsborough and Opie and Hopper and Lawrence, to mingle with the immortals done by Lely and Kneller and to hang on the walls of the grand old house for the confusion of their descendants—the mortgages of these Selwoods were too much for those Selwoods who had to face the competition of all the world in the mat- ter of wheat. "There's nothing for it, I grieve to say," said the lawyer, when he had bewildered his three auditors with portentous figures, and had still further bewildered them by his explanation of j what those figures meant-by his reading of un- I bowdlerised passages from some of thK. leases, which sounded very shocking to girls who had not mastered the technicalities of lawyer's English—"there is nothing for it, as you have seen, but to get nd of the place. Luckily the greater part of it may be sold." "It mustn't be sold," said one of the girls, resolutely—so resolutely as to startle the lawyer out of his wits. "No, it. mustn't be sold," said the other. "Only let. "That's my notion too," said Colonel Selwood. He vaguely remembered just at that moment tho 0-d rhyme that he had heard in the nursery about selling the place. It was something prophetic, with the accents laid on the first syllables; every genuine traditional prophetic doggerel must have tho accents laid on the first syllables. "Should a Selwood Selwood sell S^ elwood rings his own death knell." The lines jingled through the air and returned to him with the jingle of the tin sword on the nursery floor. They had not come into his mind for forty years; he did not believe that either of his daughters had ever heard them-but both of them had-and now the lilt of them had a queer Ij effect upon him. He was not in the least super- stitious, though he always took off his hat to a magpie when he was sure no one was looking, and felt uneasy for the rest of the day when he could not do so by reason of his having a com- panion who might put a false construction upon iho act. He was not in the least superstitious, but he said firmly: — "The place mustn t be so id. You must get us a tenant for it, Vickers." "Yes, a really good tenant-who will keep it up as it has been kept up, and pay us a good round sum for the privilege, said Joan. ^e%: not necessarily a brewer," said Muriel. Mr. Vickers, the lawyer, not being a married man, had no "notion that young women could be so masterful. This pair rather overwhelmed him, in spIte of his confidence that he had made himself thoroughly intelligible to them. He shook his head gravely. "A tenant," said Joan in response. "Oh yes a good tenant. Her father became frightened. He knew that Mr. Vickers knew all; people are usually reticent in the presence of those who know all. "Come, now, Mr. Vickers," said Muriel, "we'll give you a week-this is Friday—say, till Monday week; by that time we hope that you will have seen your way to entran a really good tenant. We wouldn't make any rigid enquiries as to his family or his antiquity. What about America? America is a new country—comparatively; there's an unbroken field for the exercise of your in- genuity. "My dear young lady, there are difficulties-" began Mr. Vickers, indulgently deprecatory. He expected to be interrupted by one of those mas- terful young women and was quite put out when neither of them spoke. "Difficulties," he re- peated m a mm, aggressive key. "Dimculties— obetaeles. ?-<?'- Colonel, it's not everyone forty odd  ?°?*? hSSL? a mansion with I forty odd bedroo Md historic  "No;, but ot, someone who does. WWhnaJt about South Africa?" said Muri,4. Colonel Selwood once again was led to wish that he had got his daughters to invest his money for him. He was plainly the fool of the family. Mr. Vickers became very thoughtful. He made certain mystio passes with his hands and occa- sionally touched his teeth with the feather end of his pen. He seemed trying to reason himself out of an untenable theory. "True, there are instances," he remarked aloud } after a considerable lapse. "Y ou have mentioned j the name of America, Miss Selwood. America is undoubtedly a large and rapidly growing com- munity. Some of the best English families are American, if I ma.y be permitted to say so. Those cadet branches which emigrated to the early plan- tations have thriven in America while the original J. -e died cut iI4 England. But, at wurss, in the United States the 'nouveaux riches' arc almost as plentiful as in this country. I have heard of Chicago. Ah, if we could only find some- one in Chicago anxious for an English home. I have been told that so strong is the English feel- ing in the States, it is thought the right thing for one to have a villa in England as well as up the Hudson and at Saratoga." "Find that man for us, Mr. Vickers," said Joan. "We have a commodious villa to be let; with a few enlargements and improvements this little place of ours might do for an American in a small way for a year or two until something really worthy of him turned up." "Y ou can tell him frankly that it is on the bijou j side. I would not try to get the better even of a person from Chicago," said Muriel. "After all we need not go out of England to find English spirit," said Mr. Vickers. "We have still tobacco, and bacon, and perhaps butter; but I'm not so sure about butter. A brewery is obvious; whisky is not what it used to be, and coals are on a level with iron. Spinning—a newspaper-yes, money is to be made at both of these, but. you must spin rubbish and your newspaper must be for the million. We have spent two hundred million on what we call education, and the result is that "Tit-Bits" pays ten per cent.—or is it twenty?" "We don't want education; we want a tenant," said Joan. "I am talking of the fields," said Mr. Vickers. "We must consider the fields still open to us in I our search." "There are gold fields and diamond fields," suggested Muriel. "There is one man in South Africa, but he is, I regret to say, modest," said the lawyer. "That's bad for us; we don't want a modest tenant; we want a man who cannot live unless he has sixty servants dependant on him," said Joan. "Still, a man who wants to run the British Empire might undertake Selwood by way of prac- tice," said Muriel. "The man is not available just now," said the lawyer. "He is waiting for England to declare war against the man who stood in his way." "Yes, in his way to Cairo by a new route." said Joan. "T know that that man thinks of himself as the hub of the fly wheels of the mills of God." "Are we not drifting?" suggested Colonel Sel- wood, gently. He had listened to all the ifiaster- ful talk of his daughters in admiration for some time; but after all, he was the owner of Selwood; he was entitled to have a voice in the question of its future. "Are we not drifting?" he asked mildly, and everyone looked at him. "I don't see why we need depart from the abstract considera- tion of a tenant for Selwood. It seems—well, premature, to talk about individuals at the present stage." "Our father is quite right," said Muriel. "We are idiotic to think of individuals just yet; it will be time enough to discuss them when we have their photographs in a row before us." "I am sure that, as usual, our interests are quite saf e in Mr. Vickers's hands," said Joan. Mr. Vickers just prevented himself from bow- ing—he barely did it; it was a narrow thing. He allowed himself to smile; his smile had a nisi prius twist about it; it was strictly uncompromising; it did not bind him down to any ultimate view of the mutter. "I shall certainly do my best," said he. "I daresay it may be done-not immediately, of course. Selwood is not a suburban cottage." "You could build a full-sized suburb out of the stones of Selwood," said the owner. "What a pity they didn't do it," said Joan. "For heaven's sakecried Mr. Vickers in startled protest, and with an appropriate action of uplifted hands. This young woman was going too far, he clearly thought. The firm of Vickers had been associated with the Selwood family for a century and a half. The great-grandfather of the existing representative of the firm was the man who had negotiated the mortgages for the claret- drinking, faro-playing great-grandfather of the ex- ist, tig representative of the family. (He wrote such beautiful letters!) The honour of Selwood was very dear to Mr. Vickers. He did not like to hear it treated with levity. The Vickers's were most competent lawyers, people said. The most competent lawyers are those who are known to make a handsome com- potency out of their clients. The Messieurs Vickers knew that so long as they upheld the House of Selwood, the House of Selwood would uphold them. "Then that's settled," said the colonel, quite l cheerfully. "I suppose, dear father, that you and Mr. Vickers will settle how much you are to pay an- nuallv to the tenant—when he is found," said Muriel. "How much he is to pay me, you mean," said her father. "Well, as to that" "No; I meant just what I said," replied the girl. "We all know that it is the keeping up of the place that is ruinous. It would pay you quite well to give anyone a thousand a year towards the keeping up of the place." Colonel Selwood was silent. He was quite well aware of the truth of what his daughter said. "If we succeed in getting a satisfactory tenant, Miss Joan," said the lawyer, "I tli nk that we shall not be called on to make such a contribution as you suggest—not without some reason, I ad- mit to be equitable." "The more nearly a tenant approaches to your views, the more satisfactory he will be, Mr. Vickers," said Joan. "Still •" "Good heavens!" cried Colonel Selwood, "are we not only to let the place, but to pay a tenant for living in the house? Well, I hope it hasn't come to that yet." "I hope not," said Joan. "Btit-" "Oh, but me no buts," cried he, in the style of his eighteenth century ancestors who negotiated tho mortgages and wrote those interesting letters. "If we cannot get a tenant who wili be willing to pay us a price for the place it must remain on our hands. That's the last word that need be said on the subject." "We are in the hands of Mr. Vickers," said Muriel, in the tone of the consoling clergyman who, when he has come to the end of his ethical resources, says a few courteous words about Providence. "Of course you will stay to dinner, Mr. Vickers. We have not yet parted with Mrs. Harvey, and her genius is as brilliant as ever. We have always a good dinner, but we shall have an especial one to-night, if you remain, and Joan will sing for you afterwards." "I'll sing you Songs of Araby, Mr. Vickers, and papa will tell yo" his stories of the other Arabi whom he so cruelly crushed at Tel-el-Kebir. Can you resist such allurements?" cried Joan. She knew that Mr. Vickers felt inclined to ask why the singing should be dragged into the mat- ter the allurements of Mrs. Harvey's cooking were quite enough for him. He confessed as much by the emphasis which he laid on the charm of Joan's singing, and his reference to the existing inanities of the lyric stage. There was, however, a look in his eyes which he could not conceal while he made a few airy remarks on the subject of Mrs. Harvey's cookery-a. glow of sincerity which both the girls appreciated. He thought it necessary to say at considerable length how charming was Miss Joan's vocalism; people write columns about a picture that is bought under the terms of the Chantrey Bequest. But a very few words were sufficient for Mrs. Harvey; people do not enter into the details of the Madonna dei Ansedei. He was delighted to stay to dinner. I CHAPTER VII. It was a week later that the two girls called upon Mr. Vickers at his office in Lincoln's Inn Fields. They had made an excuse to pay a visit of a few days to an aunt whose name was Lady Humber-the widow of an insignificant General who had worked all his life to be made the Governor of Calapash Island and had died through surprise at his success. She had a. tiny house in a locality that only missed by a hair's breadth being regarded as fashionable. As a matter of fact there were thousands of moderately well-informed people in London who honestly believed that the locality was fashionable, and the house agents strained every nerve to per- petuate the fiction. The house was too tiny to admit of a larger dog than a Japanese spaniel or a Pomeranian being the companion of Lady Humber. But she had one specimen of each of these animals, and she chose them of, the darkest colour available, so as to minimise their size. Joan made up a story about the ceiling of the dining-room being so low that it was impossible to have anything but soles for dinner, and that so soon as a kitten grew to be a cat it was banished from the house. She herself acquired a stoop after a week's visit to her aunt, she affirmed; and it remained with her for days afterwards. But then Joan was nearly as tall as her father-and he was one inch over six feet; and the dining-room ceiling at Selwood was thirty ieet hIgh. Mr. Vickers was surprised by the two young women, whose names had been sent up to him by the elderly clerk who had never told a lie. (He would have found himself greatly out of place in most offices). He felt that they had come to make some revelation to him, and he had no means of neutralising its effect by previous enquiries. But he was pleased to see them, and recovered himself sufficiently to be able to ask if their father was well. Muriel reassured him on this point and then the girls heliographed to one another. After a decently disjunctive pause, Murial said Mr. Vickers, we have come to you without our father's knowledge. But you won't mind that, I am sure." Mr. Vickers did not commit himself to any opinion on this point. He looked from one girl to the other, and the tip of his pen on the edge of his desk plainly said in the vernacular: That is as may be." We thought it better to come to you to ask you to tell us just how we stand," continued Muriel. j I fear that you haven't much hope of his being able to let Selwood." One can never tell," said he. "There may be someone—people get rich very quickly now-a- days and then-then 11 "Then there are always fools, you would say, Mr. Vickers. I see plainly that you place all your hopes upon the fools," said Joan. I don't say that you are wrong," she added in a con- ciliatory way. What we are most anxious to know is what have we got to live on if Melwood reaming unlef" said Muriel, coming to the point with a sudden- ness that startled Mr. Vickers. They were cer- tainly masterful girls. There was certBjnly no danger of hIs startling them in the same way. He made faces. He raised hIS eyebrows until his forehead was wrinkled laterally, then he lowered them until the I wrmkles were perpendicular. My Miss Selwood," he said at last,  ? these httle matters can always be made easy in { the case of £ great house and a great-a once great property. The present income of the estate is suiffcient—at least very nearly sufficient II to pay the interest on the mortgages and to main- tain the place. Happily ycuv brother is not extravagant. He is greatly interested in his work. Should war break out, and I fear that nothing can avert that calamity, he will be on the spot." That's quite true, indeed," said Joan. "Then we can pull through for a year or two, by the aid cf judicious borrowing, Mr. Vickers?" "Without tho least difficulty; trust to me to lock after that," said the lawyer. We do trust to you implicitly, Mr. Vickers," cried Joan. We did not like to worry our father. We knew that you would tell us all we wanted to know. You have made our minds quite easy. We know now that we can live for some years if we can only borrow enough money for the purpose." You have quite reassured us, Mr. Vickers," said Muriel. Mr. Vickers said how pleased he felt, and he hoped that Lady Humber was well, and added that he had already approached some of the most influential agents on the question of letting Selwood. The agents took this view of the matter; they were by no means despondent. No one who has any confidence in the supply of fools—and I suppose that people who succeed in letting big properties have a largo experience in that way-cati be wholly despondent in such matters," said Joan, and Mr. Vickers looked at her narrowly. He wondered if she added satire to her other resources of masterfulness. I thought as much," said Muriel when she was by her sister's side in Lady Humber's brougham. We were not mistaken. We are something more than beggars." And the more we borrow now the more we shall have to pay some day," said Joan, who was but imperfectly acquainted with the ethics of borrowing. And the worst of it is that it will all fall on shall have to pay some day," said Joan, who was their only brother, e-,suba"tern of Gunners moving about from one station to another in the Colony of Natal. "Yes, that's the worst of it," acquiesced Joan. We are only girls. What right have we to go on spending his money?" That was the question which these two nine- teenth century girls put to themselves; feeling that it was susceptible of one answer only. The reflection that they were eating and drinking and dressing at the expense of their brother was terrible to them. They felt that they had no rights as daughters of the house of Selwood- that they had scarcely a right to sleep in two of the forty odd bedrooms at Selwood. Only by reducing themselves in thought to the level of caretakers could they reconcile themselves to the position which they occupied. Let the severest censors say wItat they pleased, the liou-e must have caretakers, to prevent its falling into ruin and they knew that they discharged the duties of caretakers as well and as economically as tho cheapest of housekeepers. They were hard on neither the coals nor the candles. It was a sincere satisfaction to Muriel, on their return to Selwood. after a week of thoughtful depression in London, to read her book by the sullen flicker of the log in the grate, in order to save the expense of a lamp, and for Joan to blow out one of the two candles that had been lighted when she was going to play on her piano. This was real saving, each of them felt, and on moon- light nights they went to bed without the aid of any artificial illuminant, when they had sent away their maid (JS40 a year and perquisites) to her own room. The maid read French novels in bed every night by the assistance of a couple of candles. Colonel Selwood now and again became aware of those acts of genuine economy and was greatly annoyed at them, refusing to accept the false- hoods, however plausible, which they invented to ] account for the things that he saw. Any cheese- paring was irritating to him, and ho could only restore his wounded amour propre by spending money upon something that was quite un- necessary. Then the girls looked at each other sadly. It was so like a man, they said, to recent a laudablo saving. And then they began to plot things together, and to order things from the tradesmen by post- card instead of by letter. They exhorted each other to be firm. We have set our hands to the plough, dear," said Muriel. No matter what happens we shall not look back." Never, never," Jean responded firmly. "We may only be girls, but we are no longer children. Our lives are our own. We shall do what we know to be right, for the poor boy's sake." They felt almost as happy as martyrs. Still when one of them read in the household column of a ladies paper that excellent oyster sauce could be made out of tinned oysters, the aggregate boldness of the two was not sufficient to carry either of them into the presence of the house- keeper to make the suggestion that in future the cuisine of Selwood should be conducted on a soldered can system. Their courage had its limitations. And then one morning Muriel got a letter which was signed "Chris," and she announced to her father and her sister that Chris Foxcroft was corning down for a Saturday to Monday visit to tho Rectory, and hoped he might drop in for lunch at Selwood on Sunday. "I sliall be glad of a chat with him about this war business," said Colonel Selwood. I fear that the Government are going to bungle the matter, as usual." I At that time President Kruger had not sent his ultimatum to her Majesty's Government- that document which turned out to be the last articulate expression of his Republic. Chris says something about the likelihood of war," said Muriel, glancing down the letter. I.Yez, he says its all settled, and we are going to send fifry thousand men to knock the tall hat of Mr. Kruger into the Tugela." "Fifty thousand men," growled Colonel Sel- wood. What do they want with fifty thousand men? Smeaton is in luck. His battery is certain to be sent to the front. They'll need every available gun if they are to hold their own in Natal. I shouldn't wonder 'if those Trans- vaalers had some comparatively modern guns, they are so infernally sly. Oh, yes; Smeaton is in luck." The girls were not quite so sure about the luck. The luck of being sent with a small force to hold in check a large force is not invariably apparent to the womanfolk of the men who are under such orders. And it was really only in a very half-hearted way that Muriel said, Oh, yes. Smeaton is very lucky. Yes; I hope he will be lucky," said Joan, enigmatically. She thought that her wish was about to be granted when in one of the newspapers which arrived she read the opinion of an expert, which was to the effect that President Kruger would crawl down at the first sight of military prepara- tions on the part of England. But this was the paper that irritated her father most because it contained the opinion which he felt to be the most plausible. "They may as well fight now as again," he growled. If there's to be a constant patching up of peaces South Africa will fall to pieces be- tween their peaces." This grim play upon the words his daughters interpreted as the result of nervousness. They wondered whether it was the possibility of peace or the possibility of war that affected his nerves. They knew which of the two it was that affected their own nerves. The healthy instinct of the woman to adore the fighting man has not yet, thank heaven, been crushed out by civilisa- tion, but it is not the less healthy because it is accompanied by an abhorrence of a fight. "Chris will be able to tell us enough," said Joan. Dear old Chris! Was there ever a time when he was unable to tell us everything?" We must pray that the pater does not capture him and keep him from us all day," said Muriel. "We shall have to plot," said Joan sagely. They had been doing a good deal in this way already; but they had not yet become expert in the service. When two girls have lived, the one to the age of twenty-four and the other to the age of twenty-two and a half, without finding it necessary for their own protection to adopt a course of dissimulation, it is not surprising that they should fail to shew any considerable dex- terity when they begin to practise it all at once. But they had great hopes that Chris Foxcroft would be able to put them up to a trick or two their hopes being founded on the fact that Chris was in intimate association with a great London daily newspaper. They did not know very much of the world, but they rather guessed that a. hint or two on the Best Way of Not Being Found Out could be given to them by a man who had mastered the working of a London newspaper. Their friend Chris Foxcroft was the eldest son of the Rector of Husbandman's Selwood, and having been brought up with the most scrupu- lous care he had naturally turned out a rebel. riis iatner naa told him at a very early age that his vocation in life was the Church, and he had at that early age accepted his father's decree without murmuring. The only time when he felt that the Church as a vocation was not enough for him-that there was a larger and a fuller life for a man than was to be found within its pre- cincts-was upon the occasion of a visit which he paid to London at the age of ten. On his return to the Rectory he told his father that he had a conviction that he was unfitted for the duties of the ministry. He felt deeply that his vocation was to be the man who looks after the dogs outside the Army and' Navy Stores. When his father pointed out to him that to attain to a position of so great distinction in- volved his taking part in many campaigns and wearing «K-aT medals on his breast, he said he filt f i T -?".??hesa?and fights i f only he could be sure of so glorious a goal at the last.6 °f 80 a But he had an alternative scheme in his mind. If he could not become a commissionaire in charge of the dogs he would like to become the man wno ran atter cabs with luggage on the roof. His eyes sparkled as he spoke of those sprinters whom he had observed and envied, especially when he became aware of the extent of their emoluments for what, after all, was more ex- citing than a paper chase. When his father explained to him that the best training for the duties of this precarious pro- fession was a course of athletics at a University, he consented to resume his studies with a view to fit himself for the calling which he had chosen. His father thought that he could not begin too soon to study the works of Demosthenes and Cicero, both masters in the art of vituperation. It was when he was fifteen that he wanted to be a piofessional cricketer. Could there be a ii-qier ideal in life than playing cricket all day and drawing thirty shillings a week from the olub for doing it? He thought not. At sixteen he made up his mind to become a poet; and he became one. The man who becomes a poet at sixteen be- comes a prig at seventeen, and it was when he reached the prig stage that his father began to feel that his son was a genius. He was not quite so confident on this point when his son was sent down in his second year at the University, the offence being a literary one. Most people out- side the University and the Rectory had no diffi- culty in perceiving that to be author of the verses published in the Undergraduates' Magazine, dealing somewhat trenchantly with the personal habits of the Heads of the College, was a far greater achievement than to obtain the highest degree possible to be conferred by the University. The Rector of Husbandman's Selwood, how- ever, thought otherwise. He actually preached a sermon on the text 0 Absalom, my son, my son In He had no difficulty finding a parallel to the striking incident in the history of the Jewish Sultan, and the two long-legged little girls sitting in the Selwood pew, felt an enormous admiration for Chris, the Rector's son, who was said to be as wicked a boy as Absalom, besides being twice as manly, for Chris's hair was closely cropped. They thought a boy with long hair must have been molly-coddled. Ttiey were sure that Absalom's mother molly-coddled him, or was it his step- mother—one of his step-mothers—for by dint jf puzzling out the matter in their uninformed brains, and in spite of the feminine interpreta- tion of mysterious words and phrases, they came to the conclusion that Absaioni must have had in average years between ten and twelve thousand step-mothers. And then, to their amazement, they found their father—he was a captain on the staff of General Uppingham in those days, and only came to Selwood for a month now and then-taking the part of the wicked Chris against his father; affirming that Chris hadn't much the matter with him. and that he was white to the backbone-a phrase which was enigmatical in its assertion of the obvious, but, on the whole, comforting to them. They asked their governess many questions about Chris and his evil ways, and she told them that she was afraid he was an infidel. They demanded an explanation of what it was to be an infidel, and she gave them her definition of an infidel. The next day her two young charges came to her in tears. They thought it only right to make a clean breast of what was their trouble. The fact was that they were both infidels, they affirmed. (To be continued.)
IWHAT "THE WORLD" SAYS.I
WHAT "THE WORLD" SAYS. King Edward has sent to Elizabeth Duchess of Wellington a beautiful and valuable bracelet as a memento of the Queen. It is a broad gold band profusely adorned with diamonds and tur- quoises, with a diamond and turquoise pendant. The Duchess of Wellington was several timos Mistress of the Robes, under Lord Palmerston, Lord Russell, Lord Derby, and Lord Beaconsfield, and was for fifteen years (1843 to 1858) a lady of the bedchamber. At that time she was a great deal at Court, and quite participated in the vie intime of the Queen and the Prince Consort, with both of whom she was a great favourite. The Duchess is the last survivor of the Court set who were really the friends of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Much interest will naturally attach to the question concerning the future titles of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, which is to be asked in the House of Commons on Friday of this week. Seeing that the matter involved is one that is wholly within the personal discretion of the Sovereign, the Government is under no obliga- tion to divulge the decision, if any, which lias been arrived at on the subject, and it is more than unlikely that any definite answer will be forthcoming at this moment. But, in the absence of all apparent reason for a departure from the traditional custom, it is very generally anticipated that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will be created Prince and Princess of Wales either within a few days of their return from their Colonial tour-cr, to be more precise, on the King's birthday. That the step, when it is taken, will be an extremely popular one, it is hardly necessary to add. What a string of letters Sir George White can now write after nis name—V. C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., C.C.I.E., G.C.V.O.. and G. U.M. G. -twenty-one! This beats Lord Roberts, who has seventeen- namely, V.C., K.G., K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E. Lord Wolseley is entitled to wear four Stars—namely, those of the K.P., G.C..B. G.C.M.G., and 1st Class of the Osmanieh. The Master of the Rolls has made a much- needed protest against the growing tendency of certain judges to permit the suppression of names in public courts of justice. There are occasionally cases in which the interests of justice require that the names of witnesses shall not be mentioned in open court, but the occasions are extremely rare. In the case in which Sir Archibald Smith made his protest the counsel who asked for leave to appeal sought to suppress even the names of the parties. Not many days before, in the Divorce Court, a doctor's wife obtained a judicial separation from her husband, "on the ground of his adultery with a young lady of good family, whose name" —I am quoting from a report of the case in the "Times"—" the President said need not be mentioned in open court." It is obviously most undesirable that women should gain the notion that they will escape the penalty of publicity for their wrongdoing or indiscretion —a notion which several cases in the courts of late must have done a good deal to encourage. It happened to Bishop Stubbs to hold four separate pieces of Crown preferment, to each of wnich he was appointed by a different Prime Minister. Lord Russell gave him the Regius Professorship of Modern History at Oxford, in succession to Mr. Goldwin Smith. Lord Beaconsfield made him Canon of St Paul's, on the promotion of Dr. Lightfoot to the see of Durham. Mr. Gladstone promoted him to the see of Chester, on the retirement of Bishop Jacobson. Lord Salisbury translated him to Oxford, on the retirement of Bishop Mackarness. The Bishop also held two college livings during his career-Navestock in Essex, and Cholderton in Wiltshire. The former is in the gift of Trinity College, Oxford, and the latter of Oriel. The see of Oxford was worth only three thousand a year until the translation of Bishop Bagot to Bath and Wells, when he was succeeded by Bishop Wilberforce, and the new arrangements then came into force. The income is now five thousand a year, and Cuddesdon is one of the most agreeable of episcopal residences. The Bishop of Oxford is ex-officio Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. It is expected at Oxford that Lord Salisbury will either translate Bishop Talbot from Rochester, or offer the see to the Dean of Christ Church, who is supposed to have already refused one bishopric. It is believed also that Bishop Wordsworth would be glad to leave Salisbury for Cuddesdon.
I"ONE OF THE MOST MELANCHOLY…
I "ONE OF THE MOST MELANCHOLY SIGHTS IN THE WORLD." One of the most melancholy sights in the world (says an article in the Greenock Herald ") is a fine sailing boat going to ruin. Valkyrie III., a former challenger for the America Cup, lies off Gourock with seaweed two feet long growing from her sides. After Valkyrie's unsuccessful efforts, she was brought to Gourock Bay, dismantled, and from that day to this is apparently uncared for. Within sight of this beautiful bay and the dismantled yacht, lives Mrs. Agnes Turner Brown, of 14, Hopeton-street, Gourock, thirty- six years of age, and therefore in the prime of life. She was, not so very long ago, almost use- less and a wreck of her former self. To a reporter of the Greenock Herald," who had the privilege of interviewing this lady on a recent occasion, Mrs. Brown gave the follow- ing account of her unhappy state of existence. "My troubles were almost insignificant at first, she explained, but they became more and more serious, until life was an utter misery to me. I was always ailing and out of sorts, and quite unfit for my daily work in the house. My appetite left me, and what food I did force myself to take remained undigested in the system, causing me much distress through flatulency. I had severe pains in the stomach after taking any food, and though I would have given anything to sit down to a meal, yet every thing gave me a nausea, even to look at it. "MY friend3 knew how really I suffered on this account, and one day I was recommended to take Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people. I bought a box of the pills, and was not dis- appointed. One box gave me great relief, and by continuing regularly with Dr. Williams' pink pills my strength came back to me, and I was able to derive nourishment from food. Very soon I was busy with my household affairs again, finding work no burden. As for the indigestion, I have forgotten it, and can eat what I fancy and enjoy it, without dreading a great deal of pain and discomfort." Mrs. Brown, it may be mentioned, has a bright little daughter of thirteen, who, poor child, was a little martyr to biliousness and indigestion. But after a course of Dr. Williams' pink pills she is quite well and free from bilious- ness. There is no more depressing or uncomfort- able aument than indigestion. Disordered digestion gives rise to bilious attacks, inability to relish food, a sallow skin, sunken eyes, and intense weariness. Many people make them- selves worse by attempting to relieve the symptoms with purgatives and aperient pills Mrs. Brown chose the wiser course hv usin; the medicine which goes to the root of the disease and cures its symptoms by per- manently removing their cause. Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people have been proved to cure permanently what purgatives only relieve for a time and in the end aggravate. Not only these but other effects of impoverished blood and exhausted nerves have been thus cured- such as anaemia, consumption, rheumatism, sciatica, paralysis, locomotor ataxy, rickets, scrofula, St. Vitus' dance, fits, hysteria, and feminine discomforts. The only genuine pills are Dr. Williams' and bear (1,^7 Williams pmk pills for pale people: they can be obtained post free from Dr. Williams' medicine company, Holborn Viaduct, London, at two shillings and ninepence per box—six boxes, thirteen and nine.
[No title]
The Liverpool police, on Saturday caught I red-handed a man who, after throwing pepper I in the eyes of a lady in the public street, robbed her of her PUCStI.
ATHLETIC NEWS.I
ATHLETIC NEWS.I CRICKET NOTES & PROSPECTS. I A proposition was under discussion at the an- j nual meeting of the Marylebone Club on Wednes- day which, if passed, would have led to something like a revolution in the cricket world, and the decision of the members was naturally awaited with keen anxiety by votaries of the summer pastime. The point to be decided was the oft- disputed I.b.w. rule, and the proposal, briefly, was to give a batsman out in the event of his leg stop- ping a ball which, in the opinion of the umpire, would have hit the wickets, whether it be pitched straight or "breaking." The new rule, if passed, would have unquestionably have increased the responsibilities of the umpire, not at any time a sinecure, and in small matches, where neutral umpires are not employed, would have been found most unsatisfactory. Tho question which first arises is the one as to how tho umpire is to know whether tho ball would have broken into the wickets. If a break bowler is clever enough to puzzle a batsman, surely he should have no diffi- culty in deceiving the umpire as to which way the ball was intended to break. Many disputes have arisen in' our own district owing to an umpire's giving a batsman out when in his opinion, he had his leg before a straight ball, and a batsman has often been sent back for l.b.w. when half of the opposing club have de- clared that the umpire had made a mistake. How, then, would it have been if he was also aliowe,d the privilege of deciding whether a breaking ball would have hit the wickets? The matter was put to the vote, and the proposal was supported by 259 members and opposed by 188. The majority in its favour was thus 71, but as this did not reach the two-thirds majority necessary for an alteration the law remains unchanged. In our opinion the M.C.C. have done a wise thing in adhering to tho old rule. The weather on Saturday could not by any means be described as ideal cricket weather, and was in direct contrast to the previous Saturday. The light was bad, and a piercing wind blew throughout the afternoon, making it uncomfort- able both for players and spectators alike. There was only one match of importance in the city, viz., Hoole v. Gwersyllt, our premier team being engaged at Oswestry, but to-day (Saturday) a stert will be made by the majority of clubs in this district. At Oswestry, where an old fixture was revived with Boughton Hall, the weather was of the vilest description. The visitors took first innings, and sent in P. M. Morris Davies and the Rev. J. C. Trampleasure to face the bowling of Pitchford and Sheather. The game opened quietly, three overs being sent down without any runs being knocked off them. Davies then got Sheather nicely away for a couple and a single, but after adding another single to his score lost the part- nership of Tramploasure, who was clean bowled by Pitchford for an eye-glass. Davies did not add to his score, being caught off Sheather, but the succeeding four batsmen improved matters con- siderably. Henshall, Lutener, Barrett and Gamon each secured double figures, Barrett's score of 30 being a prettily-played and welcome item. With nine extras the innings closed for 97. a total which at one time did not seem at all probable. Pitchford took seven wickets for 43 runs, and Sheather two for 25. Oswestry commenced their innings with Mainer and Minshall, the attack being shared by Hack and Davis. Only 13 runs had appeared on the board when Hack found his way to Mainer'a itumps. The next two batsmen were disposed of by the same trundler without any alteration to the score, and Whitfield was sent back after troubling the scorers with one run. Four wickets for 14 runs was not at all rosy for Oswestry, and up to now only one batsman, Minshall, played the bowling with any degree of composure. He and his next partner, Gough, succeeded in taking the score to 33—an addition of 19—when the latter was dismissed by Hack, who was bowling in raro style. Six more runs were added, making the total 39 for five wickets, when time was called, leaving the match drawn much in favour of Boughton Hall. W. K. Minshall carried off the batting honours, carrying out his bat for a well- played 20. He undoubtedly saved his side from a beating. Hack took four wickets for 20 runs, and is to be complimented on the admirable man- ner in which he has started the season. Davis took the remaining wicket al. a cost of 19 runs. The Hoole club commenced the season on Satur- day, when they had Gwersyllt as opponents. The Hoole captain, having won the toss, elected to bat first, and Laird and Green faced the bowling of Thomas and Jones. Unfortunately the first ball of the match was answerable for a serious acci- dent to the Gwersyllt wicket-keeper. Thomas took derit to the, 1, the first over and sent down a ball which the wicket-keeper failed to hold, and he was struck very severely on the face. The bridga of his nose was broken, and it will be some time before he will be able to take the field again. The batting of the Hoole men was very tame, no doubt owing to want of practice, and Thomas, the Gwersyllt trundier, carried everything before him. Five good men were dismissed for only 12 runs, and it appeared as if Hoole would be got rid of for a ridiculously low score. Indeed this would have be«n the case had it not been for a. capital item of 16 from Mr. Extras, as the whole eleven wore got rid of for 17 runs. The innings thus terminated for 33, Thomas, the visiting bowler, being responsible for the dismissal of eight bats- men at a very small cost. He bowled capitally throughout, and is deserving of congratulation.. The Hoole club have always held the reputation of being much stronger in bowling than in batting, and this was once again demonstrated on the present occasion. H. Hill and T. Fenna, who came out with such splendid averages in the bowling department last season, were again in good form, and, together with Owen, succeeded in dismissing their opponents for 28 runs. Gwersyllt at one time possessed an excellent chance of win- ning the game, but failed to take advantage of it. At the fail of the sixth wicket 23 runs were regis- tered but the remaining batsmen were all dis- missed for an addition of five runs. Hoole were thus left winners of a very poor game by the nar- row margin of five runs. Owen took two wickets for two runs, Hill three for nine, and Tom Fenna three for 13. The former made his first appear- ance for Hoole, and on his performance of Satur- day will undoubtedly prove an acquisition to the club. A general meeting of the Saughall club was held on Thursday evening to elect officers for the coming season. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. T. Whaley, and there was a large attendance. The Chairman read the last balance-sheet, which was considered very satisfactory. Tho same ground as last year has been secured, and a num- ber of good matches have been arranged, and a successful season is confidently anticipated. The following officers were elected —Alex. Shepherd, captain; Arthur Shepherd, vice-captain; Geo. Griffiths, treasurer; Herbert Shepherd, secretary; with a committee consisting of Messrs. W. Newall, W. Jones, J. Sowden, J. Jones, Geo. Pugh, Geo. Woods, J. Woods, F. Woods, T. Griffith, T. Vickers and Geo. Venables. A cycle club has also been formed with the same officers in charge, and it is proposed to have the cycle runs to the cricket matches when the latter are played away from home. The annual meeting of the Malpas Cricket Club was held in the Jubilee Hall on Saturday even- ing, when the Hon. G. Ormsby-Gore presided. There was an average attendance of those inter- ested in the game present. The statement of the past year's accounts was presented, and it shewed a very satisfactory balance on the right side amounting to £ 3 lis. Id. The president, the Hon. G. Ormsby-Gore, was re-elected president, and Captain R. W. Ethelston was unanimously elected a vice-president. The hon. secretary and joint treasurers were re-appointed, as were also the whole of the committee. A list of home-and-home matches was submitted and approved. TO SECRETARIES OF CRICKET CLUBS. Secretaries who wish to have their club fixtures for the coming season inserted in our weekly list at". requested to forward match cards. The results of matches should be sent in as early as possible, at latest by first post on Wednesday morning, other. wise we cannot guarantee their insertion. A few notes on the game should accompany the scores. FIXTURES. JLhe following fixtures will be played on the j ground of the first-named club to-day (Satur- day) Neston and District v. Boughton Hall Eaton Park v. Sefton (Extra XI.) Birkenhead St. Mary's v. Hoole Chester Victoria: Captain v. Vice-Captain's side Tattenhall: Club game Mold 2nd v. Penyffordd Barrow v. Chester St. Mary's Tarporley v. Alvanley 08WESTRT v. BOUGHTON HALL. Played at I Oswestry on Saturday. Score:— BOUGHTON HALL. P M Morris Davies c J Sheather b J P Sheather 41 J C Trampleasure b Pitch- 'ord 0 J Henshall b Pitchford .12 C H Luteoer b Pitchford. 16 A Banett b Pitchford .30 H P Gamon bW8 GoughlO E Hodkinson b Pitchford. 4 H Hack b J P Shea.ther. 7 E Martyn not out 3 R H Davis b Pitchford 0 Viner b Pitchford. 2 Extras 9 Total.97 1 OSWKSTBT. E Mainer b Hack 8 W K Minshall not out .20 Dr Morris b Hack. 0 L J Sheathes a Tram- pleasuro b Haok. 0 G Whitfield c Tram- pleasure b Dav-ig 1 W G Goulch b H Hack 9 W H Ellis not out 1 J Extras 0 Total (for 5 wkte) 39 j HOOLE V. GWERSYLLT.—Played at Hoole on j Saturday. Score:— HOOLE. W D Laird b D Thomas. 0 W H Green b D Thomas. 1 H HillcOwenw b W Junto J I H Stone b D ThO mas 3 A Timmis b D 'l omas 0 A Gardner b D ThomM 1 T Penna b D ThomM. 0 Owen b D Thomas 4 J W Washington run out 14 Jones b D Thomas 1 Johnson not out 3 Extras .16 I Total 33 I GWEBSTLJ.T. 3 IGWERSTLLT. 3 DC 0 ,en c Green b HiU 8 C L»a b Feum 0 W Jackson b HiU. 3 T H Blackwell b Hill 0 S Barret not out 1 H Newfoldflbwb Fenna. 5 W T Jones run out 3 F W Williams lbwbOwen 0 J M 0 Williams b Owen 0 Extras 5 Total 28
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I FOOTBALL.
FOOTBALL NOTES. I [BY SPHERN. I I Now that the football season has practically I drawn to a close, one cannot help wondering j whether Chester will have a premier team next I season. Some time ago strenuous efforts were made to secure a ground for the purposes of a first-class team, but there is still no prospects of that object being attained. There is no reason, however, why their efforts should not be renewed, because everyone will agree with me that Chester is sadly in need of a club similar to the one which existed two or three years ago. Nothing would please local footballers more than to know that a senior club existed in the city. But it will be as well to wait in patience till next season comes round. The football season was brought to a closo at Helsby on Saturday with the return match, under the auspices of the Chester and District League (senior division), between the local first eleven and Flint. The locals were the first to become aggres- sive, the Flint custodian having to save twice from Evans and then from Boyle. Several deter- mined attacks by Flint were repulsed by Sutton and his backs, and then Evans missed from a grand centre by Hughes, Boyle shooting over in the next minute. Ttie defence on both sides main- tained the upper hand. Helsby then attacked strongly, and from a free kick Boyle headed past the visitors' custodian, scoring the first goal. Flint retaliated, but the home team again took up the attack, and after Boyle had just headed over Cooke hit the post with a hard grounder. Give-and-take play fol- lowed, but at half-time the score stood at 1-0 in the home team's favour. Helsby re-started, and Evans, for the homesters, missed a grand chance from a centre by Hughes, A couple of free kicks to the locals wero followed by a fruitless corner. The visitors had a turn, but were driven back, and Bibby with a splendid individual effort scored the homo team's second goal. The homesters still had the best of mat- ters, and me visitors' custodian was also con- spicuous with some excellent saves. At length the visitors gained a corner, from which the ball was rushed through. Shortly afterwards they again managed to rush the ball past Sutton from a free kick, thus equalising the scores. The homesters afterwards made several determined at- tempts to notch the winning goal, but failed to again get past the visitors' defence, and when time was called the score remained at two goals each. The Helsby Reserves finished their season with a friendly game with Dunham Hill on the latter's ground, and won in easy fashion by 9 goals to 2. Teams representing the Newton Rangers, the proud cup winners, and Liverpool L. and N. W. Recreation Club met on the ground at Hoole on Saturday afternoon in a friendly fixture. In striking contrast to the week before, the specta- tors at this enoounter were very few. The match was not important, nor was it exciting, but the Rangers upheld their reputation by beating the visitors to the tune of two goals to nil. The Liver- pool men played well on the whole, and several times they experienced hard lines in not scoring. Tottenham Hotspur achieved tho summit of their ambition on Saturday, defeating Sheffield United at Bolton by three goals to one, and there- by securing possession of the Association Cup. They played splendid football throughout, and thoroughly deserved their triumph. Thanks to their brilliant work the national trophy goes back to the South after a lapse of nearly twenty years, and the Tottenham club may bo heartily congratulated upon having got together a side capable of winning the national trophy. All through the competition the team have worked with an amount of pluck and determination which has seldom been surpassed during the whole thirty years the Cup has been struggled for. CHESTER & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1. ■RESULTS UP TO DATE. • f lioais i I PI,I.Woii.L'st.Dr'u.Pc,r. A trt.Pts j Ellesmere Port .13.10, 2. 1 42 22 21 j Wrexham Vies 14. 9. 4. 1.. 39.34. 19 j Helsby.14. 7. 4. 3.. 33.23.17 Shotton Rangers 14. 6. 6. 2.. 29.24 14 Flint 14. 6. 6. 2 26 25.. 14 Newton Rangers .14. 6. 6. 2.30.. 31 .14 L. & N.-W. Locos 13 3. 10. 0 22 32. 6 Te.!porley Rt. Helen 14. 3. 11 0 21.58 6 Luckley having withdrawn, their matches ha.vo I been expunged.
GAME TRESPASS AT WEAVEKHAM.…
GAME TRESPASS AT WEAVEKHAM. I EXCITING SCENE. I Two labourers named Geo. Hitchen, Wincham, and Leonard Groves, Northwich, were charged at Eddisbury Petty Sessions, on Monday, with assaulting Thomas Gleave, a farmer residing at Weaverham, and Mosua Clarke, Northwich, was summoned for aiding and abetting the others to commit the offence.— Thos. Gleave said he was employed in setting mole trmps- on lnimcl occupied by Mr. Ellis at Weaverham on Good Friday, when he saw five men crossing the field with a lurcher dog. Witness knew three of the men and went to intercept them with the view of ascertaining I the names and addresses of the others. When he was within 50 yards of them he heard the remark Now we have got the Let's give it him." Witness told the men that they had no right on the field, and Whitley, one of the men, said, I am going to my work." Wit- ness reminded Whitley and the others of the fact that they had no necessity to cross the field with a lurcher dog, and Hitchen said "It's a different animal than thee." Witness replied I am quite as good as you," whereupon Clarke exclaimed, "That is 'a challenge, go into him." Hitchen then started to go for Inm, but Groves came up and struck witness with his fist, knocking him to the ground. Witness got up immediately and said something to the effect that Groves bad done quite sufficient, and that he would have to pay tor what he did. Groves then replied, I will do something to pay for," and again assumed a threatening attitude.. Acting in self-defence, however, witness knocked Groves down this time, and endeavoured to keep him on the ground to prevent him from being more violent. Eventually, Groves got up, but soon afterwards Hitchen came at him with all his might, and knocked witness backwards for eight or ten yards. Groves again assaulted witness, and incited the dog to bite him, but although the animal tore his clothes he was not otherwise injured. Groves got hold of witness by the throat, and said he would choke the life out of him.—Several witnesses were called to prove that Gleave was assaulted.—Dr. Smith said that soon after the assault he examined com- plainant and found a large wound on the fore- head, about an inch long. Two other wounds he found on the left eye and on the left side of the nose. Complainant was bleeding very much. There was an abrasion near each ear, and a large swelling on the right side of the lower jaw. Complainant was in a dazed condi- tion at the time, and blood was flowing freely.— The Chairman: Inyouropinion had great violence been used ?—Dr. Smith There is no doubt that complainant had been violently assaulted. I may also say that there were some marks on Mr. Gleave's throat which were visible for three days.—Groves said the bruises might have been caused by his and complainant's rolling over together. Gleave struck the first blow.—In reply to the Chairman, Dr. Smith said he thought some hard substance had been used in the assault upon complainant, but he could not exactly say.-P.C. Bitboll said that when he arrested the three prisoners they made no reply to the charge.—William Whitley, who was with the other men on the land referred to, deposed to seeing Groves and complainant strug- gling together on the ground. He separated them.—Hitchen gave evidence to the effect that he did not strike the complainant and that he was bit on the hand by complainant.—Mr. W. Bancroft (Northwich), who appeared for Hitchen, said the latter bore a very good character, and he had never been summoned be- fore for an offence of this or any other kind. He contended that complainant had exaggerated the case, and hoped the magistrates would bear in mind that Hitchen had a spotless character, and was, moreover, a stranger to the district, in considering their decision.—The magistrates retired, and upon their return the chairman announced that Groves, who had, undoubtedly. committed an unprovoked assault, would be sent to prison for two months, Hitchen for one month, and Clarke for fourteen days.—The three prisoners, together with John Johnson I and Whitley, both labourers of Weaverham, were then charged with trespassing in pursuit of game on land in the occupation of Mr. Win, Ellis, at Weaverham, on April 5th.-Thomas Gleave repeated his evidence and said he did not wish to press the case against Whitley. Had it not been for the assistance of Whitley, the assault might have been more serious. Hitohen Groves, and Clarke were fined IA., Johnson was fined 20s. and costs, and Whitley 5s. and costs. —————— -—————
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NURSES FOR THB POORER CLASSES.—Lady Londonderry on Monday presided at a meeting held in support of an appeal for the endowment of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses. The attendance included Countess Grosvenor and Lady Penrbyn. Lady Londonderry ex- plained that this was intended as a Memorial in remembrance of the late Queen's deep sympathy with suffering and sorrow. The Duchess of Portland proposed a resolution approving of the movement, and it was seconded by the Duchess of Roxburghe, and adopted. On the motion of Lady Lans- downe, a committee, which included the Duchess, of Westminster, was appointed to carry out the proposal.
AGRICULTURE. I
AGRICULTURE. I SEASONABLE NOTES.. I The rapid change in the appearance of the country during the past fortnight-and especially last week-the bursting of all nature into bloom and beauty of bud and blossom, has been almost a matter of wonderment. The recent damp, dull and dragging winter, though by no means keen as winters go, was exceed- ingly trying to animal life, but the whole scene is changed now as with the touch of a magician's wand. Not that we seem to have done entirely with unpromising conditions, as we are re- minded more frequently than we perhaps care tor by the cold north to east winds which briug with them something akin to sharp nips oi trost. The dry weather has certainly boen helpful to arable farming, allowing much that was backward to be caught up; but the cry now is for warm spring rains. Barley has been almost discarded during the recent sowings, on account of the lateness of the season, being bubstituted by oats. Winter wheat is every- where a capital plant, and early spring sowings IU", shewing up favourably. Low-lying meadows are full of short grass, but warmer weather is needed to fill in a good bite for dairy cattle it they are to be turned out by the proverbial 12th of May. The denuded stackyards are beginning to tell plainly the necessity for this. Our oia triend the oldest inhabitant" confesses to scarcely being able to call to mind such a late spring, lasting in fact up to the time of pre- parations for mangold sowing. Meanwniiu stock prospects continue ksatisfactory with the improved outlook for keep. There is nothing of importance to chronicle this week in connection with the cheese markets. We have now arrived at that time ot year when the old stock, whether English or Colonial, is a vanishing quantity, and anything choice is sought after. The demand continues steady and quotations are firm tor fully late values, and in some cases rather more money is asked. Finest wnite Canadian, which is still the premier foreign quality, brings 50s., and coloured 2s. to 3a. less money. New Zealand remains steady at last week's quotations, viz., 44s. to 48s. THE MILK STANDARD. I Writing on this subject, a correspondent per- tinently remarks:—It is a great surprise to i.;o that in fixing a standard for the solids and fats in milk no attention seems to be paid to various matters which are likely to affect these, and which are entirely beyond the control of the farmer- producer. Take the weather, for instance. Every larmer must be awaretliat when the cattle are in the field a succession of cold, wet storms and wind will greatly influence both the milk and butter yield, while in winter a spell of bitter cold weather will not only reduce the quantity of milk, but so rob that which is yielded of its normal amount of cream that little or no butter can bo gathered. How, then, under these circumstances, is the standard of milk to be maintained? IMPORTATION OF HORSE DISEASES. I The council of the Hunters' Improvement Society are considering a matter of great im- portance to the horse breeders and owners of the country. Mr. Herrnon Hodge has brought before them the heavy annual loss caused in England by the free and unrestricted importation of diseases, such a.s fevers, influenza, and pink eye, to our ports by foreign horses. At present no statutory regulations are in force with regard to tie importation of horses into Great Britain. It is, indeed, extraordinary that such should be the case, and it is time that such a matter received definite attention from the Board of Agriculture. It is satisfactory, therefore, to know that the Hunters' Improvement bociety are communi- cating with other horse breeding societies on tho subject, and that a deputation will wait on Mr. ilanbury, the Minister for Agriculture, with a view to the necessary steps being taken to protect the horses in this country from imported disease. WARBLES. I Ihe Irish Department of Agriculture placed on view at the Dublin Show a striking illustration of the mischief that is wrought in cattle by the warble fly. There were shewn s,de by side warbled and sound hides, and the comparison was indeed instructive, and could hardly have failed to forcibly impress the mind of the intelli- gent stock owner. The warbled hides were riddled to a degree that rendered them practi- cally useless. \et the injury to the hide doei not reany represent the whole of the damage that results Irom neglect of this common pest; in fact, this is the smaller part of the avoidable loss. The torture which the affected animals endure retards their progress to an extent which, if it could be correctly reduced to figures, would far outweigh the depreciation in the value of the hides. -1 FAVUS IN POULTRY. Tha noard of Agriculture have issued- a leaflet respecting this scourge to poultry and poultry raisers. The disorder, it is stated, is due to a minute fungus which attacks the comb, wattles, and neck ot birds, and causes the feathers of the latter to fall off; sometimes one side only of the neck may be affected, becoming quite deplumed, while the other shews no sign of invasion. As a rule it is the comb that suffers first and most from the attack. Being highly contagious, favus often spreads with great rapidity, and care should be taken in handling patients, as tho aisoa.se eari be transmitted to man, on whom it is not so amenable to treatment as in birds. It is probable, however, that the disease can only be planted either naturally or artificially on all abraded surface. The treatment consists in bathing the invaded parts with warm water and soft soap, and then applying some ointment to destroy the parasite. Nitrate of silver well rubbed into the comb and wattles has been found of great benefit; an ointment of 5 per cent. of the nitrate of silver in lard may be used for this purpose. Red oxide of mercury one part, to lard eight parts, has proved an excellent remedy if used for several days. It is most essential to well foment the diseased parts previously to applying the ointment, and to remove as far as possible all the favic crusts with a blunt knife. One cannot be too careful in exarcing a fresh bird before turning it into the run, which, it is scarcely necessary to add, should not be done if any signs of favus are "notICed upon it. I BACTERIA IN MILK. I Whether or not we ought to be thankful to the industrious professors for revealing the horrors and risks connected with our different articles of food supply in their raw state is with some people a moot point. These folk-mostly old fashioned—say we never had anything of this sort in old times, when we got along as well and even better than now. They are liable to forget, however, the diminution of epidemics in these days as compared with what has been aptly termed the nasty old times." In this connection something is due to a certain Professor Backhause, a Continental expert, who has taken pains to ascertain the approximate number of these organisms present in milk, in the air of the cowhouse, in litter, food, &c., and though it does not follow that these materials contain even approximately the same number of gerws under all conditions, the figures are nevertheless of interest. In one cubic centi- metre (1 centimetre-—30-100 in.), 6,600 bacteria were discovered, and in milk which had passed through six vessels 97,600. Milk from a well- cleaned cow contained 20,000 Der cubic P-Anti- metre; from another, 170,000. In another case, the first milk drawn was found to contain iy,000 per cubic centimetre, while the last was sterile. Milk on the farm contained 25,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre, but that on the market contained no fewer than 2,000,000. In the open air Professor Backbauss found 7,900 per cubic centimetre; in that of a clean cow- house, 29,000; and in that of a neglected cow- house, 69,000. On the surface of a-metal vessel be found 700 per Square centimetre, against 9277Q 9,000 in the case of a wooden one. Moss litter contained 20,000 per centigram (one centigram= 0000221b), and good straw, 75,000. Pure water contained 322 per 7 grams, and pond 228000 HOW THE FARMER IS OFTEN "DONP" I A correspondent who signs himself "Analyst writing in the Manchester Press, says" I have often heard complaints made in court by milk dealers and farmers that their milk-cans are tampered with in transit, owing to no locks being allowed on them. The legitimacy of this contention was forcibly impressed on my mind w-aay. At a little country station I watched the station-master deliberately go to one of the niilk-cans, which was standing on the platform, and trankifer from it to a can of his own about three quarts of milk. It is quite possible that the station-master had the permission of the farmer for his action, but at the same time such an example to the porters must have a very bad effect, and might probably suggest to them a similar line of action, and the possibility ol the addition of water to restore the original quan- tity erf milk requires no great stretch of the imagination. Such an action, I contend, ought not to be permitted."
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IMPORTS OF DAIRY PRODUCB.-At a meeting of the council of the British Dairy Farmers' Association on Wednesday, attention was drawn to the large quantities of foreign milk and cream new being imported into the United Kingdom, the total for the four weeks ending April 27th being 640 cwt. of fresh milk in cans or drums. 341 cwt. of cream, 397 cwt. of pre- served milk, and 86,050 cwt. of condensed milk. The imports of the last named article in 1900 were of the value of £ 1,743,475. With reference to the proposals of the Board of Agriculture Departmental Committee on Milk and Cream Regulations. the meeting passed a resolution declaring that in view of the different and in- compatible conditions under which milk is pro- duced it is inadvisable to fix a legal standard.
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TWENTY-ONE PINTS A DAY.—Giving evidence before the Royal Arsenical Commission on Saturday, Dr. Nathan Raw stated that one case of acute arsenical poisoning under his care at Liverpool was that of a man who had been a ¡ teetotaller for six months, and on breaking out had drunk 42 pints of beer in two days. The symptoms passed off rapidly, and in a fortnight 'I a complete cure was effected.
TURNED OUT TO DIE.
TURNED OUT TO DIE. TREATMENT OF RIIYL DONKEYS. At the iMiyl Petty Sessions, on Tuesday, Jane Davies, a donkey driver, was summoned by the R.S.P.C.A. for starving a donkey by turning it out on the sandhills, where there was very little grass, while the animal was in such an underfed and exhausted condition as to be unable to get even a scanty meal from the grass on the sand- hills.—Mr. Joseph Lloyd, solicitor, who appeared for the society, said it was the practice of drivers to get all they could out of their animais, and when they got aged to turn them adrift to starve and die.—Mrs. Mary Ann Wii liams, Wellington-road, Rhyl, said she found thn animal lying in a field consisting of sandhills and a lit-tie rank grass, unable, owing to its impoverished and aged con- dition either to get water or food. Although the animal was still aiive the birds were a!ready peck- ing at it. Inspector Toyne, E.S.P.C.A., corrobor- ated as to the starved condition of the animal, which ate food ravenously. There was little doubt that the animal had had little or no food for several days. -P.C. Tromans said he was told of the donkey's situation, and when he went to the place lie found that the birds were pecking at the animal's eyes and ears.—A veterinary surgeon stated that the animal could not stand alonle.- The defendant said that previous to turning the animal into the lieid she had given it some pre- pared food, and it must have gone to its legs.— The Bench said it was uncivilised treatment, but only infiicted a fino of 2s. 6d. and costs (which ex- ceeded £2), or one month's hard labour.
IEDDISBURY PKTTV s MS SIGNS.
EDDISBURY PKTTV s MS SIGNS. MONDAY.—Before Mr Wilbrahum (chair- man), Coi. Lascelles, Dr. iSrnuh, Mr. H. C. Burder, and Capt. A LICENSEE EVADES THE LAW: SERI- OUS OFIENCE.—James Doggatt Borland, licensee of a beerhouse in Chester-road, Sandiway, was charged with allowing drinking on his premises contrary to licence. Charles Langford, groom, Sandiway, was charged with aiding and abetting. Mr. W. H. Churton appeared on be- half of the police, while Mr. W. Bancroft (North- wieh) represented Borland.—Mr. Churton said that the proceedings were taken out under the 5th section of the Licensing Act, 1872, and tho penalty was £10 for the first case and £ 20 for the second. Defendant was the owner of an off licence and grocery business at Weaverham, and the premises adjoined each other. In consequence of numerous complaints P.C. Bithell was on the look-out on March 30th, and at 10.45 p.m., when the shop should have been closed, he saw four grooms come out of the premises, but there was no evidence to shew that these men were served with drink. The constable was a short distance away at the time, but when he arrived at defendant's house he looked through the window, and saw another groom named Langford drinking out of a jug. He questioned Mrs. Borland, and asked her how it was that she had allowed beer to be con- sumed on her premises, and alia replied to the effect that the beer was not served with her know- ledge or consent. It was ascertained that a girl named Emily Piatt had supplied the beer, but he (Mr. Churton) contended that Borland was the per- son responsible.—P.C.' Bithell corroborated this statement. When he questioned Mrs. Bor- land she remonstrated with the giri named Emiiy Platt, and said the latter ought to have made the groom take his beer outside. Langford was sit- ting with his back against the partition inside, and the girl was only about two yards away. He understood that the jug did not belong to Bor- land. Langford must have taken it inside. Bor- land had been previously cautioned.—Mr. Ban- croft contended that his client was not aware at the time that Langford drank the beer on his premises. A strong point in favour of Mr. Borland was the fact that the jug did not belong to him --that the jug was brought into the shop by Langford.—The Bench imposed a fine of 10s. and costs on Borland, and let otY Langford on payment of costs. Borland was also ordered to pay the advocate's fee, which amounted to 20s. CABBAGE PLANTS STOLEN.—Mary Dykes, K^ingsley, was charged with stealing ten red cab- bage plants, valncd at2d., and she was ordered to come up for judgment when ctlled upon. She also had to pav the costs (12s. 6d.). UNLAWFUL REMOVAL OF PIGS.—Peter Hall, Kingsley, was charged with removing pigs from his premises which were infected with swine fever.—P.S. Griffiths said he handed to defendant. in the latter end of February a notice regarding the swine fever regulations, but when he called at the premises a short time afterwards he ascer- tained that nine pigs belonging to defendant bad been taken away and sold. Ho (Lhe sergeant) re- ported the matter to headquarters. Not long after this witness discovered that defendant had re- moved, or caused to bo removed, ten more pigs from his premises.—Defendant wa.s fined 40s., including costs, altogether. LICENSING TRANSFER.—Tho licence of the Horse and Jockey Inn, Helsby, was trans- ferred to of Helsby.
I I3UOXTON PEJit SESSIONS.
I I3UOXTON PEJit SESSIONS. TUESDAY.—Before Mr. J. H. Leche (chair- man), Lord Arthur Grosvenor, the Rev. C- Woiley-Dod, Messrs. S. H. Sandbach, John d and Hugh Aid?"-cy. A HoFwIaGrH, T AT MALPAS.-A labourer named Samuel Ciiesworth, Malpas, was charged with committing a breach of the peace by fighting at MalptfiT'of ttllo Zir<r OT-TWSTCTTT—IS-crrrreWey—" deposed to seeing defendant fighting with another young man at Malpas shortly after ten (p.m.—■ Defendant, who said he only acted in self-defence, was bound over in J35 to keep the peace for six months. CHESTER YOUNG LADY FAILS TO APPEAR.—A young lady named Beatrice Owen, residing at Dee Banks, Chester, failed to appear in answer to a charge of riding a bicycle without a light one hour after lightmg-up time.—The Bench fined her 5s. and costs. MR. LECHE AND THE POLICE SER- GEANT.—Thomas Turner, labourer, Farndon, was charged with being drunk on licensed premises.—P.S. Bowden said that at 2.10 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, the 31st of last month, he was on duty in Farndon Village, and saw the de- fendant going along the road in an intoxicated condition. lie entered the Nag's Head, occupied by Mr. Jones, and ordered a glass of beer. The licensee, however, refused to serve him, seeing his condition, and requested him to go out of the house. Witness reminded him that ho had no right to bo on licensed premises, but Turner said he was not so bad and could do with a glass of beer.-The Chairman: Seeing defendant's con- dition, why did you not summon him for being drunk before he entered the public-house? You saw that he was drunk on the publio highway, and I am at a loss to understand why you did not take proceedings against him before you allowed him to enter the Nag's Head. We know that the licensee, Mr. Jones, refused to serve Turner with any liquor, but under other circum- stances it might have appeared as if Mr. Jones had permitted drunkenness on his premises. There has not been a single complaint about the way in which Mr. Jones has conducted his premises.—P.S. Bowden: I should not have re- ported the matter had defendant not gone into the public-house. The man Was not incapable.- ho Chairman: I ?are say you have acted very discreetly, but I think the Bench will agree with me that you should have taken another course and cautioned the landlord at once before Turner was allowed to go into the public-house. The licensee, as I have already stated, might have been suspected of permitting drunkenness. There ha;; never been a charge against the licensee before, and it is rather unpleasant to Mr. Jones tor a- summons of this kind to be taken out.—A fine of 5s. and costs was imposed on Turner CRUELTY TO A HORSE.-A market gardener named John Thomas, residing at Holt, was charged with working a horse while in an unfit state. P.S. Johnson said that at 4 p.m. on March 16th he was on duty at Churton when he saw defendant in charge of a brown gelding attached to a market gardener's cart, in which I nomas was riding. The horse seemed to walk with extreme pain, and when questioned de- fendant admitted that the animal was lame. He also told witness that the horse had been to Chester and back, a distance of about eighteen miles altogether. Thomas said he had borrowed the horse from Thomas Rowlands, of Holt.- J. Haaneld, veterinary surgeon, Chester, said he had examined the animal, and found both fore- feet very lame. The horse was also suffering from mf1amed tendon. It was certainly not fit towork,-Thomas Rowlands wa. also charged with causing the gelding to be worked while in an unfit state.-P.S. Johnson stated that when he called at the farm of Mr. Rowlands the latter admitted that the animal was lame to some extent, but thought it was fit to work.—In reply to the Chairman, Mr. Hadfield said in hia opinion the horse had been lame for some litfln nme.—Uoth defen<7?nts were fined 40s. and cost'sa kS™lV0,t w^Zr a lad aged 14 years, claimed Ll 3s. from Mr. W Hall, ST) °W°r wages frdm January 2nd to April 13th, 1901. Mrs. w n aPPaared on behalf oot f hheer r hhussbbaanndd .—r Compi lai• nant said he was en- gaged for twelve months at tho annual wage of £4. He had been aWay for a few days with bad hinds Lt Infh ,again to work on the 1st of Aprd.—complainant's mother cave evidence in suoDort „f  cl^'ra—T™he Chairman ordered the money to be paid to Windsor.
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A NU-IT S--4ui3.-At Denbigh County Council on Friday the irrepressible Mr. Lumley made himself a general nuisance by rising to points of order and interrupting several speakers. Finally, when Col. Cornwallis-West, in moving the adoption of the report of the Inebriates Act Committee, was making a few perfectly justifiable remarks, Mr. Lumley, rising to another point of order, asked whether Col West was in order in speaking when there was nothing before the meeting ?-This pro- duced the retort from Col. West: As Mr. Lumley is in all probability anxious to hear himself speaking, I shall sit down. Amid the loud laughter elicited by this reply even Mr. Lumley looked abashed.
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