Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

OUR LADIES' COLUMN. BY I)NE OF THEMSELVES. UNAVOIDABLE ILI.NESS.—RETIREMENT FROM THE GIDDY WORLD.—APPLIANCES FOR THE SK;K ROOM.—THE WOMEN S DEPARTMEXT OF THE CHICAGO EXHIBIWIOX.—AN IRISH VILLAGE.— PRINCESS ClIRISTIAX.—PUBLIC SAFES.—MRS. OSBORNE.—AN EXPLORATION EXPEDITION TO GAZALAND.—MR. PARUY, THE LEADER.— HHNRY STANLEY.—AN OPENING FOR ENTER- PRISING* YOUNG MEN. — A GOOD SMAiLL COOKERY BOOK.—"HYGIENE UNOER DIFFI- CULTIES," BY MRS. PRIESTLEY. I know that some of my readers cannot bear to hear that I am not Koih{; about as usual and taking hi as much as possible of the outside wortd for their benefit: but I am not quite sure whether it is not for their Rood, as weH as for that of other people, that I should now &nd then rety for subjects of interest on hat I read and hear and think, quite irrespective of the Kiddy outride world in which t usually see so much and take so much pleasure. A little isolation pi\'<-s time to make certain experiments even on oncsetr. and I have )ateiy been Uyinp whetlter it. be possib)c for me to rest my poor swoHen i-iglit hand and am), and resort to dictation. I never imagined f sho)t)d tind it so difticuit to speak my sentences, instead of t\-ri t- itig them. though I have for Ion- realised that !ny \'cry thoua;tit'< seemed to now as I wrote I from the nib of my pet', and now that I lJa\"( no tonRer that fountain at my dispose) I fee) afmost hetptcss in the emerKcncy. and as if I kneW' not how to express w hat I would say. I trust. !:otv evfr, in a few days to have cot rid of th!s difticutty. and I am quite determined to practice dictation with a trusty scribe, -so that if neces- sary may at any time fall back upon it. Of all sick 'oom appliances which I liive found dcncicnt. and which if property adjusted would be so valuable to &u invaud. i- a bed rest. I have not been ab)p to meet with one which is convenient and comfortable to use as a support for piHo\vs when one desires to sit upright in bed so as to read or write. AU that I have tried only cause me to slide down to the bottom of the bed, feavinp: the pifiows behind. A support re- quires yet to be invented which will combine a foot rest. to keep one from sHding down. and a comfortabte firm back to tcan against, with the necessary piDows. An imcntivc correspondent in Hath sends me a drawing of one which he thinks will answer the purpose, but it lacks the strap or bar for the feet to rC8t against to keep the body up—from slippin down—and I commend my sxiggestion to his attention. There are any number of ordinary bed-rests to be bad at any invalid furniture depot, but not what is wanted. The arrangements for the Women s bechon of the Chicago Exhibition arc assuming a definite shape, and two meetings have already been )'<')d under the auspices of U.K. II. Princess Christian. but until something is absolutcty setHcd, as to ways and means, the ladtes ()o not take the public into their conndcnce. and tl'e mcctiogs are entirely private. It has o07.ed out. however. that certain wen-known iadics arc taking special departments under their owÏJ care. The Baroness Burdctt Coutts fce)s strongly on all philanthropic movements, in which women take a part. and is anxious that they should be represented by some means to show what English women are doing to bcnc'Ht their rare she promises herself to be present at the Exhibition. Hygienic methods, sanitary appliances, and the great nursing and hospital movement in which women are so much in- terested. wit) take their piacc in women s work. and everything appertaining to them will be fully illustrated, and as perfectly as possible. Ireland win have almost more than its fair share of attention, for Lady Aberdeen has already been to Chicago. and knows exactly what space wit) be covered by her proposed Model VtHagc. winch is to be peopled by model Irish men and women. 't'lrs. Ernest, Hart, whose work for Irish industries is we)! known in Donegal and elsewhere, hopes tc secure space to reproduce an Irish viHagc. and within the cottages of this village women who have been taught by her or her agency wjl) be seen at work.. weaving c)oth. preparing before one's very eyes the dyes from peat. and dyeing the product of their looms. It is intended by Mrs. Hart that the Vitiate should consist of picturcsqncstrcets and cottages, in each of which an Irish handindustry wilt becarried on by actual peasantworkers. imported with their implements of work from County Donega.). The Vi))nge buildings will, if possible. iuc)udc & reproduction of an ancient round tower, Celtic Cross. and the ruins of Donegal Castle. But all details are a? yet unsettled, for until the Committee is fully at work no one knows what each enthusiastic exhibitor may Gnd it possible to achieve. I fear that the recent death of the Duke of Hesse may auect the energies and spirit of the good Princess who takes such a deep interest in the work of the Exhibition, and who presides so cheerfully over the Ladies' Committee. for she wasdeeply attached to him. It is truly sad to think how many such bereavements have recently been suffered by the atTcctionatc members of our Royal Family, who being by their position somewhat isolated, and finding difRcultics in the way of making close friend- ships outside their own immediate circle. are the more fondly boutid to each other, and feel the removal of those they love intensely. know from good authority that the Duke of Hesse was a great favourite with his sisters-in-law, and his death seems to recall all the sad event s of the past. A few years ago 1 wrote my opinion of the desirability of securing safe premises for va)u- abic jewels and papers, and not trustine so)ciy to the resources of a private house to resist the attacks of bursars. I think I then mentioned the Chauccry-Iane Safe Deposit Co.. which was at that time in tta infancy, hut is now an asssured su cress of great va)ue to the public. Had Mrs. Hargrcavcs deposited her jewels in such &afo keeping there would have been no temptation tostea) them. because theft would have been impossible, and Mrs. Osbornc would not now be the victim, either of cupidity or insanity, with regard to her friend's valuable possessions. So great has been the de- mand for further accommodation that the original huge and remarkable underground safe or network of safes, has to be consider- ably extended. Extra waiting-rooms for renters and others who may call to take out any of their property, and a new ladies' J waiting-room, a model of e'egancc. are now added, and it is altogether a wonderful piece of mechanism. There is only one key to each safe, and wp may. therefore, as certainty rely upon everything being found when wanted where it is deposited, as we may expect to Gnd St. Pauls Cathedral in St. Pauls Church. yard. the day after having seen it there, as it has stood since its foundation or even, perhaps, with more certainty, for St. Paul's Cathedral might be burnt down, but the Chancery-lane labyrinth of safes is absolutely fireproof. t had but yesterday a secondhand Chubhs' Safe, which cost ;C50. oncred to me for .JE15. bnt I think I would rather pay about .82 a year for a nook in the great safe, and fee] easy that there is no possibitity of getting to it but by the one key. in my own possession, and Chubbs' safes are such heavy things to place on the noors of modern private houses when the rafters are not very secure. A friend of mine. interested in all specula- tions. tells me that certain districts in Cazatand. fn Africa, with which the visit of the two in- teresting black chiefs last year made us all familiar, has now attracted the attention of business men, who have formed an Hxp)ora. tion Syndicate" to try and discover more about its vast resources, which only the energy and !ntcHigcncc of Englishmen arc Hkc!y to reveal. I laugh and tell him that I fear my chances of "a kraat full of gold," promised to me by Hulu Hulu. are now very small, and that others will get it all. I do not know much about this vexed South African question, but it seems to me that such expeditions as these are very tempting to the hundreds of young men in Eng- land who can nnd nothing to do here to give tbeir energies fair play. with the prospect of possible reward. Before Henry Stanley went to Africa on bis memorable journey. I saw him and talked to him. I thought him but little of an Englishman and certainly somewhat of a bully. I should not have cared to place any younp: friends of mine under bis direc- tion. Mr. P. B. Pardy. F. R.G.S.. is the man who wiH tead the Gaxataud Expedition he is of a different clasp, with equal energy, and more true English spirit, and he has the confidence of every member of the small and reliable com- pany who arc sending out the Mozambique Expedition. He has spent upwards of thirteen years travelling in South Africa, and has acquired an intimate acquaintance wiLh the couutryandits language,aswell asgrcat personal influence'! with some of the native chiefs, iu fact. I think he is a second and improved edition of Henry Stanley, and to any of the mothers (especially widows), who are wondering what to do with their sons. I say. enquire more as to this future land of promise, if your sons are fitted for an adventurous life. The capital for this Exploration Syndicate has been already sub- scribed without advertising, and I expect that all further particulars may be had at Gresham House. 0)d Broad-st. I am often asked to recommend a sma)I inex- pensive useful Cookery Book. and I have just had sent to me the very thing which many of my readers wi)j be nlad to hear of. It is published by the National Health Society, of whose work I have so often written. It is caUed "Cookery for Busy Lives and Small Incomes," and the author is Miss Mary Har- rises. with whoso vo)ume, The Skilful Cook," my readers are acquainted. This little book only costs o'?e shiHing. and is thoroughly practical on simple and cottage cookery, being intended specialty for the use of the lecturers. who have been sent by the National Health Society at the rgqucst of the County Councillors to spread such useful and practical knowledge in their various dis- tricts. Miss Harrison say- site writes especially for busy women who have but little time to give to cuiinary operations, and site is distinctly carefu) noHogive directions for the use of any cooking utensils which a thrifty working woman is not likely to possess. The chapter of contents is most practical, and the 1(M pages of various receipts read most appctisingty. Mrs. Prjestk'y'. the wife of the celebrated doctor, and the vice-president of t!'t; National Health Society, bns nJways hccn an enthusiast in the subject of Hygiene..Moreover she possesses of writ and charm in-:iy of wh.)t 5''csees and of her o\vn exj't't'innccs. "Our Il:ni))and llo'nf" was puhli:h<1 first as a little }'an!))h)et describing her experiences of shooting lodge in Morayshire—thc fearful dim culties she had to overcome in sanitary matters, as well as in housekeeping, before she could "!low her family to establish themsetves in a .ddlightful littte%residence,dhosen for its c\ .attractions. {It had hitherto well serve" purpose of former inhabitants, whocarcd noc lur drainage or water supply, but this wet! iufonncd ]ady determined that the home she prepared for .her family should be.no Foot's Paradise.' No fatal wigwam," as she said, to which ctvihscd human beings should be )ured to their doom." She nives her readers the history of her experi- ences and the dini(-n)t!es she surmounted most amusinly, and.-ct correc))v and scielltifieally, and adds to this small hook an account of her London house in May Fair and all its terribte de. ficiencies when first it came tMto her husband's possession. Her expei-tences, troubtes. and her triumphs wiJl be deeply interesting to all who care -for the sanitary condition of their homes, and the health of themselves and family. These two pam-phJets :arepub))s))ed in cue, and are called Ili-giciie under dimculties." On the morning of St. Patncks Day, last week, I received from a reat Inst; girl in Cork a little box .containing a bunch .of the reai, true shamrock, for "e:ood tuck/' not the three-leaved ctover which i-, often taken for it. but the veritabte green sitamrock, a yetitow lowered trefoi). So Utave been "a wearing of the green "ever since, and I hope it may charma awav atl the evils from which I now suffer eien to rheumatic gout in.my good .Eight arm. London, Thursday. PENELOPN. TO CORRESPONDENTS. MiM: M.E.F, Upper Tcd(i!R,,t.oii.-I a'n surpr)sc'i to find how little mycapabiiitiesand po's'non Are:understood by some of my ni-iiiy hundreds of readers. Were I to become interested in one quarter of the cases sugge-ted to me my Jife -woutd be utterly changed. and my home would become a philanthropic register office only. il am sorry for your ftsend, but there are thousands in a similar case. &ud I cannot even make a su--ae,tion-unic.s it be that she should cat) on Mrs. -St. Ma.ur, the Principal of the Ladies' Help OfRce. 71, Park-st.. Grosvenor. sn.. whom I have often mentioned before. A.E. B.. S. Devon.—Get a good Coskery Hook and study it yourself. "TheSkiJful Cook." by Miss Harrison. FrancateHis' Cook's Guide," or any other. J a;ta not a cook. CANTAB.—I have never been to a bazaar without seeing numbers of the cross-overs you desire. If you write to Mrs. St. Maur. Lady's Help Society, 71. Park-street, Grosvenor Square, I dare say she could send you one. I like the stcevetes-i jacket best, the recipe for which I have given over and over apain. KiTCHEKER.—The stove I recommended waa, I think, called the Epicure," but t do not re. tain everything I write in my mind. labelled for reference at any future time. I recollect I was taken to see it at 97, Cheapside. where probably information could be obtained about tt.

COMIC PAPER CUTTINGS. u [From PUNCH.] "Taz FnoGS AT OXFORD.—acene, parlour ot private house, Oxford time, quite recently. Cook wishes to Hpcak to her mistress. Cook Please, 'm. I should like to go out this evening, 'm, which it's to see them Frogs at the New Theayter." Mistress But it's all Greek, and you won't understand it." Cook 0, yes, 'm. I once saw the Performin* Fleas, and they was French, I believe, leastways a Frenchman w:n showin* of 'em, and I understood all as was [After this, of course, she obtains permission." CoNscjEXTtirs.—Mr. Boozle (soIiloquiaeR): My medical man told me never on any account to mix my wines. So I'll finish the champagne first, and then tackle the claret TEMPTATION.—Hairdresser: "Any bay rum, sir?" Middy Thank you—a—no Not quite so early in the morning—you know ONE FOR HiM.—Major Spoonele!gh And you r!de so well, and—er—you drive so wonderfully we)), and-er-you dance so—er—bea-utituHy. and you- er-playlawn tennis so—er—exquisitely,—and—er— cf course you fish also?"—Mrs. Dasher: "Never for compliment?. I assure you and certainly not in shallow waters "HAT THK COJ\rx.\DF.R-J:CHIEF, MR. PUNCH, SAYS TO THK ARTISTS' CORPS.—"Gentlemen,—You i would no doubt like a bru;-h with the enemy, to whom you will always show a full face. Any colourable pretence for a skirmish won't suit your patctt* Yin march with the cotour-, aud, like the oits, you wiH never run. You all look perfect ptcturcs. and everybody must admire your well-knit frames. Gentlemen, I do not know whether you will take my concluding obfzerv-ation,. ns a complt- Bient or not. but. I need hardly s:iy that it is meant tc be both truthful and complimentary, and it is this, that. though you are all artists, you louk perfect models." t Froo) "FUN."] What the col'ier's pl.-tyfulijcss raises for the cou- roal and his chulcr. Annw definition of the foot-and-mouth disease: ]7rTll)g fo"tst<*psat)d f,)ii] laiigua,C. Accordioc t< Hr<;u'<1 ofT, a Ie retura9. the must carcf'n shi;' captain's arc the (w)r<'ck!ess ones. T))<' difycrcnce between the old aw! new spring time is, tha.r we used tf see tile !-now-<[rop up (r<Jul the ground an<t, nowadays, we see the snow drop on to it. Nf)T KNACK or Htg.—Hirer of gaHant stepd He looks rather ts if he could say h! prayers, eh ?" Owner of ditto: "Say hi? prayers That 'orse wnuidn't gay hii- prayers, not if 'c se" a knacker with a potn axe come tuto the yar<t t]ug minute UxsTixTEU rn.\tSE.—Frit.ndty Cfiuc Yeiz. ]ear boy, that's what I a!ways c,,iy your pictures are so jolly reatistie- Why. after I .-aw your !ast great work, Mi-ery in Whitc'-hapet,' I didn't fee) ccmforta.bie until I had beeu fixed up with a carbolic bath aud a back scratcher. [FROM JUDT."1 liow to prevent nts—Dea) nr.a. cheap triers. ENTIRELY NEW, AD PUKKLY ORtOyAL.—Lady passenger: ''Such a polite gentleman he op ns the Joors fur everyone ?" Porter 'E ain't so perlite as yer seem to think, mum E's a (tentfst, au'eouies 'ere every m'))'n!))g to exercise his muscles WARE HocxDS !First Gent (on sober-going old crock): "Are you aware, sir. that your brute of a horse has ju<;t kicked mine, and that he niiglit have broken my le 1" Second ditto (on liglit-li(aried one): Oh. that';¡ all nght he never MiM settle down until he ha!= kicked som.ething, aud it might have been a hound

tjow arc you getting on w!th the pi.t'to asked Alphouse of his be:-t-be)oved Matilda. Oh, voy we)! I can see the great progress in my work." How is that ?" Wel], the fa\;1:1. that lived next door moved away to Pittsburg within a week after I began to practise. The next pcopte stayed < month, the uext tea weeks, and the family th-re now have remaiced for nearly six months." Father: Now. Fred and Harry, that you have left 6chool, I want to see which of you \\iil put .61 to the best account in a week." Father (following Saturday): We)), Fred, what have you done with your sovereign ?" Fred: "I have doubled it." Father: That is good, and promises well and, Harry, how have you done ?" Harry I have lost mine I tossed with Fred, and he won." A sad-looking man went into a chemist's. Can you give me." he asked, something that will drive from my mind the thought of sorrow and bitter rccollcctiou ?" And the druggist nodded and put him up a dose of quinine and wormwood, and rhubarb, and Epsom '=a)ts, and a dash of castor oih and gave it to him and for six months the man could not think of anything in the world except new schemes for getting the taste out of his mouth. A little boy, the other day, was sent by his mother to a provision shop. a short distance down the street in which they resided. The aharp little fellow, on entering the shop, gave his order to the person behind the counter, and it ran as follows ricase, sir, I want a farthing worth o* tallo* candles and a haporth o' toSee, and please to lend my mother the Mow-bellie?, and mother told me to say if you don't give her an almanac that she will take her custom somewhere else. Servant (to the parson, who is very ill indeed) If you please, sir, the organist is downstairs, and wants to know if you won't give him the hymns for next Sunday's service ?" Parson (feebly) "Tell him there will be no service I expect to be dead before next '.Sunday." Servant (exit and re-enters) If you please, be says, then will you be kind enough to send down the hymns you'd like sung *tt the funeral ?" (Parson recovers rapidly). Magistrate to mendicant, whom another mendicant has had arrested for assault and battery What made you beat this paralytic man, your companion in misery, ch ? Mendicant, in a confidential manner I'i! tel) you. your honour. For a whole month I dragged him about in our little cart, we being partner- and then, when, according to our rules of partnership, it was his turn to draw me about for a month, and mine to be paralytic, he refused to fulnl his contract." Well, sir," said the railway superintendent to a forcicn looking man who had gained admittance to his presence, what do you want ?" I should like a situation on your line." No place for you, I think." "But there is; I wan to be an inter- preter." An interpreter ?" Yfs, sir to tell the passengers what the porters say when they call out the names of the stations." The superintendent studied a few minute;?, and tben, looking up, pointed to the door. The widow of a distinguished professor was visited by a rather shabby-genteel sort of a gentleman, who expressed great admiration for her deceased husband, and who finally said, I revere the memory of your husband, and would like very much to have some relic to keep and cherish." The only relic I can oBer you," rcptier) the discousola.to widow, sighing hcavDy, "is myself. If you will love and cherish me for Ills sake, you m--iy, for I am of an affectionate dis- position and-" But the relic-hunt' r had silently could f!n!h the In the ea'Iy days of the Home Rule movement, when Mr. Hutt w.t- learler, there wn.s in the Irish p.uty morc than one member to use the dis- tingui-.hing appe!!ti(ln "The" as indicatin head- ship of a Chn. Sometime-; the title \va-; asul\led without much a ,1cl¡:1.tc on Irih mattG!\s, The O'Gnnn.t') :\[dlOu sloxvly_)ji(I maje"UcalIy raje(l hi;; 1:1a"si\'c Î1gU¡'" ''rum the bench, an'1 announced to a dc)ig))tc'l Hou'e that there were oi-,iy U.) ce personages who had beyond ait doubt a title to the The," and thev were The rope, The Devil, R:)d The O'Gormar: Muhon."

LPRD CARRIXUTOK AND ALLOTMENTS.—Lord Calling ton has granted to the laborers of Spalding35 acres of I:uid for allotments. at a rental of £113s to £2 2s per Mre. The land was principally alote i in acres, and the men were given possession on Saturday. In reply to representations made to him by Scotch members the Duke of Devonshire has intimated an intention on the part of the Labor Commission to in- quire into and report upon the state of agriculture in the north of Scotland. ? AGRICULTURAL SKED TRADE. LuxDOx, IVednesday. —Messrn. John Shaw and Sons, seed merchants, of Great Maze Pond. London, S.E., report to-day a markets exceedingly 6i-m. American and French red cloverseeds comma-nd full prices. White and alsyke tend upwards. Trefoil keeps dulL Rye grasses unchanged. r Sanfoin is cheap and good. A choice new variety of boiling peas, called green Scotch, is now offering at tempting rates. Mustard and Mpeseed nrm. Birdseed steady. Tares in improved request. UATTLK DtSKASE RKSTRICT.K'XM IX CHESHIRE.—-Lhe extenmve cattle market and LL.tttoirs at Crewe were dosed on Monday, in consequence of an order issued by the County Council authority. A large number of fanners and dealers from all parts of the country arrived, in ignorance of the regulation, whilst numbers of cattle were sent. Drovers, however, found the gates closed against them. There was a Teat deal of irritation. Owing to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease the Chester cattle market has been closed. The disease continues to spread. An inspector con- nected with the Board of Agriculture is visiting the infected districts,

FARMING AND THE CORN TRADE. The Iltirk Lalle of Monday says:— The remarkable iinc weatlit-r of the past week has bcBU very encouraging to fanners. The winter wheat haA, in places, a. rather starved .appearance, but an improved color and vigorous growth ma.y be ex- pected before Easter if the present weather continues. LChe sowing of spring corn is now the fanners' most active care; but he sends fair qualities of wheat to the agricultural markets. Into London he has not sent large quantities, nor have sales been large, but the lots despatched to town have been of an excellent mean character and nulling value. The .London average has accordingly advanced from 33s 5d to 34s 4d per quarter on the week. In the shires the fairly liberal offers made in finer and milder weather have resulted in 6d concession at 50 markets out of 62. The foreign wheat on offer in the United Kingdom lias been a very depressed trade. The spring corn trade shows 13 markets firm for barley, against 19 which are weak; 18 firm for oats, and six weak; nine firm for pulse, and also nine weak; and 16 him for maize, to ten which have been weak.

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE AT I SHREWSBURY. Sl'EKCU OF MR CHAPI-IX. A conference of farmers, laborers, and others con- nected with agriculture was held at Shrewsbury on Saturday. About 350 delegates attended, from the counties of Chester, Salop, Hereford, Gloucester, Worcester, Stafford, and Oxford. Mr Chaplin, M.P., was present. Colonel Kenyon-Slaney, M.P., who presided, in- trodut-ed the question of small holdings, the im- portanee and value of which the delegates generally endorsed. Lord Dudley brought forward the subject of local government, advocating district councils, with which the various representatives agreed. Mr Tollcmache, M.P., introducing the subject of the Allotment Acts, said the extent of laborers' a.Uotments should not be so large as to interfere with his daily work for the fanner. Mr Stanley Leighton, M.P., initiating a discussion on the housing of the poor, urged that the present insanitary condition of rural dwellings called for legislation.—Sir James Sawyer (Hirmingham) dealing with the question from the physicians' point of view, urged that it should be made a crime to place a famity in a cottage in which the conditions of life v.cre not fulnlled. The poor law, particularly with reference to old age pensions, was introduced by Mr Raukin, M.P., in the course of which Mr Chamberlain's scheme was adversely criticised. At the conclusion of the day's deliberations, the Minister for Agriculture (Mr Chaplin) addressed the conference. The right honorable gentleman, who was received with cheers, in the first place congratu- lated the gathering, which consisted, he understood, of the representatives of nearly nfty Parliamentary divisions in the Midland Counties, upon the great success which had attended their meeting. White he did not expect the Small Holdings Hill to bring about a millenium, it was an honest and genuine attempt to give agricultural laborers better access to land. The causes of agricultural depression lay far too deep to be removed by a measure of this descrip- tion. In upholding the Allotments Act, he said that the multiplicating of allotments during the past three or four years was remarkable in the extreme. \hHe material improvements had been made in the housing of the working classes, much still remained to be done, and laboring men should be supplied, not only with comfortable, but also sanitary homes. He spoke in fa.vor of the aged, innrm, and deserving poor being treated more favorably than those whose idleness or crime brought them upon the parish.

I nnn'N'flT11', THiLL 8\JLE I AT OSWESTRY. This annual fixture which has now become one of the most important shows of the year for Oswestry agriculturists was held this year for the first time in the Powis Hall, Oswestry, by permission of the Oswestry Town Council, whose decision in the matter was greatly appreciated by the veudors and other attendants at the sale. The pedigree short- horns this year were far more numerous than at any previoua sale, but the non-pedigree shorthorns only numbered 30 against 64 last year. showing that greater care in selection has been exercised, and that breeders have discovered that the highest class bulls find the best market. The Herefords were only a. very small class. The auctioneers this year charged an entry fee, and this no doubt had a good enect upon the show, as taken altogether the bulls were the best average lot ever seen together in Oswestry, and there were several animals of very great raerit which will no doubt be a.ga.in noticed a.t the top of their classes a.t many of the forthcoming agricultural shows. Mr Whitneld, junr., in the absence of 'his father through indisposition, conducted the sale. The first class offered were the cows and heifers. The bulls were then offered, and the following were the PRICES. Average Price Sold for. No. of jEs.d. BuHs. Mr E. K. Bickley. Lee Hall 1 54 12 0 Mr R. Brown, Ruyton-XI-Towns 6 average 20 0 0 each. Col. Barnes. Mrs Asterley, and MrAIdrtdgc 5 „ 17 5 o Mr T.Cartwright, The Buildings 3 „ 21 10 0 „ Mrs Davies, Dudleaton Hall 2 „ 30 0 0 „ Mr Davies, Bwlch 1 16 16 0 Mr J. Humphreys, Hanley Hall 7 28 10 0 MrT.LonKuevtUc 2 calves 13 13 0 „ Mr Gittins, ijaudford, Mr Lloyd, Shelvock, nud Mr T. Kemp- ster 3 average 19 0 0 „ Mr Geo. Markey, Sweeney 2 „ 16 10 0 „ Mr T. Morris, Lloran-ucha 3 „ 24 0 0 „ MrJ.D.Owen.Hasynerove 6 „ 23 7 6 „ MrF.H.Owen.Peutreheylin 4 „ 2710 0 I-Afr A. Swainson, Calcott Hall. 3 „ 33 0 0 „ iMr Rd. Thomas. Buildings 6 „ 29 15 0 „ Mr W. Thomas. Beam House 1 „ 48 6 0 „ Messrs. Richardson, Tynycelyn, Thomas, Morton, Jones, Mathara.fal, and Whitneld, Crickheath 5 „ 20 0 0 „ The remaining 12 „ 14 15 0 „ t Mr Swainson's 41 guinea, and Mr R. Thomas's 46 guinea, buils were both by Duke of Waterloo 9th, the property of Mr Richard Brown. A large number of the highest priced bulls were sold to go into Cheshire. Severa.1 buyers from Staffordshire, Derby, Denbigh, Montgomery, and Merionethshire, also securedmany very useful animals, and a goodly number were purchased by breeders in the district. There was a large attendance in the Hall throughout the sale both of farmers and towns- people.

THE SMALL HOLDINGS BILL. Our Hope correspondent has solicited the opinions of the leading men of the neighbourhood on this question. A large farmer thinks that Wales, so far as he knew it, had acted on and pronted by the principles of the Act for a long time, as exemplined by th< success (comparatively) of the Welsh farmers through the depression of the last ten or fifteen years. In England they have not so many small holdings, hence the distress among the genteel corn-growers some- time ago. This fa.rmer believed in small holdings- say of five acres and two cows-so that the wife of a workingman could manage at home, and the man could go and earn good wages with a farmer, or others. as suited him, bringing in an income independent of the farm, and with occasional help at nights or other times, and this could he done to mutual satisfaction. He presumed, however, that the Act was intended to help the farmer by keeping the laborer in the country, and bringing up sons ot the soil. A landowner and gentleman of good position in the county, who was appealed to, gives his views at con- siderable length. He does not think that in this neighbourhood, or Wales generally, the Act will be of much use, our holdings here being generally small, and the largest farms not to be compared with the large farms in some parts of England. There is great demand here for small manageable farms, and they let better than large ones. Still he did not think that the Act would appreciably increase the number of such small farms in North Wales. It was different where there was no intermediate step between the large farms and the laborer's garden, and no doubt in such ca'-es small holdings may be carved out of large ones, the question was, with what result ? He thought there was no doubt that in agricultural dis- tricts the proverbial three acres and and a cow was a great boon to the laborer, whose wife could attend in his absence to the cow and pig, and who could employ his spare time advantageously on such a plot. Hut this applied only to a wage-earning laborer. No man could live unaided on three acres and a cow save under very exceptional conditions. Under the new Act he believed that plots as small as ten acres might be acquired. These appeared to be too small to support a family of themselves, and to be too large for a wage-earning laborer. The limit, he thought v. as nfty acres, and less than this would scarcely enable a man to keep horses for its cultivation. It had been proposed that neighbours should keep one horse each and joni to make a team for ploughincr. In many places there was a joint out-door oven for °a li:tii- cf cottages, and this was always a fertile source ot quarrels, the oven might be required for only one houror twom the week, yet it generally happened that both of the housewives desired to bake on the same day and at the same hour, and the question of precedence generally resulted in a bucket of slops and bad language He feared tliat in catching weather there mjght be some dimculy as to ploughing or sowmg.aud, therefore, had not much faith in the joint team arrangement. It did not seem probuMe that the small farmers co'tid successfully compete with the man who fanned with the aid of the Lest labour- saving machinery and was possessed of capital. Jf a. farm of 500 acres be cut up into ten farms of 50 acres each, there would bt tell dwelling-houses and ten sets of farm buildings rc(iiiiied, and the interest on this outlay must increase the rent per acre. The main obstacle, however, to the adoption of the Act. would be that one-forth of the purchase money must be found by the tenant. A holding of 30 acres pur- chased at only .E25 per acre, together with the out- lay on buildings, would require a present payment of nearly JE250. The sum necessary for stock etc would be at least JE150 more. The purchaser would do much better if he were an occupying tenant of a. larger farm with JE400 at command. The object of the Act, he believed, was to retain the agricultural population in the country districts, but the cases were rare where an agricultural labourer had the necessary means to avai l himself of the privilege of purchasing. The attractions of towns and the higher wages paid in mining and manufacturing districts were gradually depleting the agricultural districts and so long as the prices of agricultural produce were kept low by foreign imports, there was little pro- bability of the exodus being arrested. The persona who would most likely avail themselves of the \ct were tradesmen in the towns, who would eniov the luxury of amateur farming on easy terms, but he did not think this was the class of persons the Act was in tended to benefit or attract.

) RUABON SCHOOL BOARD. The first meeting of the newly-elected Ruabon School Board was held on Tuesday' when there were present:— Mr G. Garside. Mr E. Hooson. '\jy (.'hristmas Jones, the Rev. D. L. Jenkins, tlie Rev p Waldo James, Mr E. Lloyd Jones. and Mr Int.n Hughes, with Mr J. Denbigh Jones, clerk. ELECTION or CUAIRMAX AXD VICE-CIIAIIINIAN. Mr Hoosox said )ic had very great pleasure in pro posing that the gentleman who had ui)cd the otSce with such success during the last six years be re elected Cha.irma.nof the Board. He had had the honor and privilege of bitting on that Hoard for ¡}jne years, and he was sure that there was no onr. who had been more energetic, more courteous, and more paillstaking iu every respect than Mr Garside. (Hear' hear.) The Rev. 0. WALno JAMES seconded. As a new member, he said, he had full confidence that Mr Garside would discharge the duties of chairman ta the satisfaction of everybody. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was carried unanimously and Mr GARsn.E, in replying. thanked the members for the honor they had conferred upon him. He did not know that lie deserved a tithe of the praise which M Hooson had given him, but when he took anything of that kind in hand he always tried to do his duty (Hear, hear.) He hoped the members of the L,),Lrd would work cordially together, as they ha.d done in the past. (Hear, hear.) He thought that they had conferred upon him an honor, which had not pre viously been conferred, by electing him chairman of the Board for the third time. The CHAIRMAN proposed that Mr Hooson be re- elected vice-chairman. He was quite sure that '\Ir Hooson was mo.-t faithful in his attention to the duties of the Board for the first three vcars durine which he w.ts a member. For the last six years he had been vice-chairman, and he was quite sure that his services had been appreciated by the hue Hoard and he thought there was no reason why thc-y should not be appreciated by the present Board. lHeii,. ) Mr HfuuES seconded, s.nd the resolution v.as carried. Mr H".js'"<, in replying, said they had such a faithful chairman that durmg the six years he had been vice-chairman he was pleased to say that he had not been called upon on one occasion to occupy the chair. (Hear.hcarj At the same time he considered they had done him an honor, and he would always be ready when caHcd upon. (Hear, hear.) l:'],U_Tl(¡; ot cor.uiTTEj,s. Mr Hooson, Mr Hughes, and the Hev. 0. AVa!do James, with Mr Hooson as chairman, were appointed the Rhos Committee. Mr Garside. Mr Christmas Jonc-s. Mr E. L'iovd Jones, and the Rev. D. L. Jenkins. with Mr Gar=ide us chairman, were appointed the Cefu Committee. The whole Board was appointed a Finance Com- mittee. It was decided that the ordinary meetings of the Board should be hc!d on the third Friday in each month. The C'L!-<:K stated that the election expenses had been JE7 9s. against .E7 16a 6d at the pievions election. The Board then formed itself into committee to consider the applications to fill the vacancy in the infants' department of L*onkey School.

MARKETS. WKEXHAM. BATTLE, don(i,,iv.-Owiiig to the restrictions preventing the remova.1 of cattle into Cheshire, trade at this market was slower. There was a full supply of all kinds of stuck. Heef ina.de from 6d to 7d per Ib., u.ud ruunon from 81d to 9td. There was a very iai'Ke supply of calves, which* met with a ready sale at from 6n to 7d per ib. Hacon pigs realised from 9-i to 9s Gd per score Ibs. Dairy cows fetched from .E12 t) £16 faeh, and stirks from JE5 lOs to JE7 10t. each. 'IHUBSDAy. s. d. s. d. Red wheat <ucw), per 751bs. 5 0 to 5 < Oats(old),perbushelof451bs. 3 0 to 5 9 At9)t.i))E' 4 6 to 4 9 Grinding barley, pcr 651bs. j 3 i,, 4 0 Potat<)es (o)d). per l201)js. 30 to 3 c Butier.pcrlb.of IGoz. 1 3 to I 5 Beef. perlh. 7 to 9 Mutton, per lb. 5 to 9 Pork, „ 7 to 9 Veal, 7 t; Fowls, pcr conpJe. 40 to 53 Ducks, 5 0 to CO Eggs, 12 to 14 for a. shilling. MOLD. 'YEDxESD.Ay,Whco.t (new), lls 6d to 12s; barley (seed), 9s 6d to 10- oats (old), 6s to 6s 6d potatoes. 8s 6d to 9s p<r hamper; butter. Is 6d per Ib.; eggs. 8 for a shilling. RUTHIN. MONDAY.—The market was an average one, the attend- ance of country people being large. Butter. Is 4d per Ib. Eggs, 16 for a '.hilling. Fowls. 4s to 4s 9d per couple. DENBIGH. WEPXESDAY.—The market was held in delightful weather, but the attendance of country folk was small. Butter cheaper at Is 4d per lb. Eggs stationary at 15 for a, shilling. Fowls cheaper at 4s 9d per couple. There was a large supply of dairy produ ee. CHESTER. ConK, Saturday.—There is very little business passing. A thinly attended market, few farmers present. With a limited supply of wheat, the few lots on offer selling at last week's rates, viz., 5a 3d per 751b. Nothing doing in barley. Oats for seed purposes are inquired for. Beans are unchanged in value. Indian corn 6d per 2401b. lower. Quotations :—Wheat, white, 5s 3d wheat, red, 5s 3d per 751bs.; oats. 3s to 3s 6d per 461bs.; beans. 5s 6d per 80!bs.; beans. Egyptian, 18s 6d per 4201bs.' Indian corn. 12s 6d to 13s per 2401bs. CHESHiBK BETTER AND EGGS.—Quotations: Chester: Butter, Is 5d per Ib.; eggs. 12 and 13 for Is. Stockport: Butter, Is 5d per Ib.; eggs, 10 for Is. AItrineha.m Butter, Is 5d per lb. eggs, 10 and 11 for Is. Macelestield Buttb, Is 4d per Ib.; eggs, 10 to 12 for Is. Crew e: Butter. Is 4d and Is 5d per Ib.; eggs. 12 for Is. Sandbach Butter. Is 5d per Ib.; eggs. 12 and 13 for Is. Congleton: Butter. Is 5t! per Ib; eggs, 11 and 12 for Is. Northwich Butter, Is 4d and Is 5d per Ib.; e(;gs, 12 for Is. Xautwjch Buttfr, Is 5d per Ib.; eggs. 13 for Is. Knutsford Butter, Is 4d and Is 5d per Ib.; eggs. 12 for Is. Runcorn Butter, Is 4d per Ib.; eggs, 11 a.ud 12 for Is. CREWE. CATTLE, Monday.—There was no market on npt-o'mtnf the stringent restrictions imposed by the contagious dis- eases committee of the Cheshire County Council on the removal of cattle in Cheshire. A number of cattle dealers attended, and consignments of stock arrived, but the gates were closed. As a matter of fact the authorities have prohibited the holding of cattle markets and fairs over the whole of Cheshire, and no date has been fixed for the relaxation of the order. SHREWSBURY. CORN, Saturday.—This market was moderately attended. Wheat and bariey was dull at unchanged prices. Quota- tioiis:-White wheat, 5s 2d to 5s 4d red wheat, 4s lOd to 5s per 751bs.; barley. 4s 3d to 4s 9d per 701bs.; oats.16s 6d M 18s Ed; peas, 166 to 17s per 2251bs.; beana. 16a to 17s per 240lbs, OSWESTRY. WnDXESDAy.—White wheat (new), 4s lOd to 5< 2d; red wheat (new). 48 8d to 5s; oats (new). 15s to 17s; maJt- mg barley, 18s to 196; potatoes. 3s to 3s 6d per tneni-urp buttej. Is 3d to Is 4d; beef, 7d to 9d; nmtton. 8d tll 9d veai. 7d to 9d; porh, 6d to 8d per lb; fowls. 4s t.) 5t; ducks. 5s to 6s per couple; egga. 14 to 16 for a shiUing. CATTLR, \Vednesday.-This was a. fairly well attended Smithfield, and stock sold pretty well also. but trade wall hardty as bnsk as usual. The quotations for stock were about as foUows :—Beef made from KM tn 7J.n ,r )h 12" 1" mutton 74d to 84<I, veal, 7d, and pork, 5d to 5M. The sales were:-Messrs. Whitfield and Son sold 115 cattle audca!ve'! and 349 sheep and pigs; Messrs. Dawson and Co, held their usuatauctjon; MrJ. C. McHie sold 67 cattle and calves and 42 sheep; and Messrs. Bayley and Groves dis- posed 01 a conmdcra.Me consignment of stock. ELLESMERE. TUESDA Y.-Old wlieat. 5s 9d to 5s lOd; red, 59 4d to 5s 6d per 751bs,; bartey, 4s Md to 5s; oats. 3s 9d to 5s Md; eggs, 14 to 15 for Is; butter. Is Id to Is 2d per 16oz.; fowls, 3s 6J to 4s 6d per couple; ducks. 5s to 6s per couple. WHITCHURCH. FniDAY.—Wheat, 46 6d to 4s lid per 751hs.; barIeY. 4s to 4s lOd per 701bs.; oats, 3s 3d to 4s per 501bs.; eges, 12 to 14 for Is; butter. Is Id to Is 2d per 16oz.; fowls, 5s to 5s per couple; potatoes, 3s to 3a 6d per measure; beef. 6d to 8d per !b.; mutton. 7d to 9d; veal, 8d to 9d; pork. 6d t" 7d; rabbits, 2s 9d to 3s per couple. BIRKENHEAD. TT7E:sD.ty.-Hay, S3 topper ton; clover, JE4 tcJE55s; straw, wheat, JE2 to JE2 10s; atra.w. oat, 41 15s to 12 2,6ti; lllangel wurzels, Xl 8s; niauure. 3s to 5s per ton. LIVERPOOL. Tui-snAY.—ehee'.e, per 1121bs.: Finest States Md 6s?;"?? ? 6d?-???? ?? ? ? ? 65 100; duck, 96 to 96 6d. i ? ?p??h-J? o'? ?? ? mto c? usuiiiption, amd hol,lLr?, offering freely, prices showed an rregular declIne, CalIfornian being ld to 2d and other kinds !d to ld per cental easier than on FridaY ?????? gave way about !d per 1001bs" Se??? ??uS?d?r'? American futures declined Il to d per centiti, and B?&?? ???? contracts checked the down- ward mov<,ment, all positions closed without recovery, H? ???-???? owing to the scarcity of buyers.

CORN AVERAGES. fuIlowing is ?° oScial statement showing the quau- t"it"-? ?? ? ??? ?<' -yeraee price of British corn, in.pcrio! measure, as recei.ved from the inspectors and omcers of Excise, conform&My to the Act of the 45th and 46th Yict., cap. 37, m the week ended March 19 1892 — Quantities sold. Average Fricc. Qrs. Bus. s. d. \lwat 81,844 2 33 o Bar:ey 53.507 4 27 6 Oats 13,629 6 20 6 Comparattve st;ttemejit for the corresfuounuduiiuiic b wctpk each year from 1888 to 1891:— Wheat. Averse. Harlcv. Average. Oats. kvtra,"O. Qrs. Bus. R. d. Qrs. Hus. s. d. Ors Hu? ? ?88.59.8M 5 30 6 16,517 6 29 6 5,939 6 156 1889. 54.419 1 30 5 46,831 2 26 0 7655 7 170 1890.81.270 3 29 8 35.926 6 30 4 13809 5 J8 7 1891 .65,219 1 34 5 48.306 3 27 5 14933 0 18 6

CottX. WART AXD BuXK'X Cn:E.—A S.T.fe and certain rctMedy without pain. The new prcp",r't- tton causes the ntost ohstinntc corn to shell off in two nihts, and gi,es n. free and heathy action tJ the skin. Price, with brnsh. lOd per post. IS,-J,\lIf:" i<isHKn EnisHmy. M.r.S.,Xorth %Vale-, Ph.u'ut.'L\- 5,H.tgh-street,Wrexh:un. 808