The Aberdare Times

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. »V^H6 BE OF LORDS, May 59, the Inns of Court Bill and r*inutn6ral School of Law Bill were read a third time and TI'll Select Committee on the Union of Benefices Bill was ltepl (joying to Lord Camperdown, the Duke of F! lunond and reartl0? *tated that the Ecclesiastical Commuslonci-3 ware thfii/ allow the Agricultural Holdings Act to operateupan estates If the tenants wished it. to-j19 Merchant Shipping Bill, the Customs and Inlan-1 »e^KUa Blll> and the Consolidated Fund (fill.OM.OCO) Bill Dr°ught from the Commons and read a first time. v*jje Orders on the Paper having been disposed of, their ""dships adjourne.1. HOUSE OF COMMONS, "Mr. Russell Gurney gave notice tion lQ<o Supply on an early day he will call atten- ds.. »° the circumstances ui.uer which tbe Turkish Loan of was contracted, and will move a Resolution. BllL* Third Reading of the Customs and Inland Revenue Henry moved a Resolution, declaring that no telioJ? arrangements can he satisfactory which oo not sbniT8 ,^rel^nd from a burden of Taxation bejond her Second i° Ptiy> ss compared with Ore -t Britain. It was ponded by the OConor Don; and iu support of his aigu- •QITJI that the Imperial Taxation, though apparently ijr 'Pressed with uudue hardship on the poorer couutiy, Whii«^8nry weut deeply into statistics, showing that &tW ,EtllO*nd Is only tixed Is. 81. in the pour.d on her lrei» J comtf. rateable to the Income Tax, at £ 800,00U,0ou, of ^jo ,B t»xed at tbe rate of 4s. 8.1 on her atmu.i iocome 6r«A'D00 °°°- Taking Imperial and Local Taxation together, «at Britain only paid 10 per cent., wliile Ireland paid 25 Clo06.01. on her income If Great Britain and Ireland £ 9nn exactly on the same fc ile, one would pay Uon ( ,"c0. and tbe other £ 5,000,000. The contribu- om imperial to Local T*x*tion in Great Britain 0nB and in Leliud two million*, but of this was contributed to tbe Royal Irish Constabulary, DMJ. Was not a local force but an army ef occupation, irn'n.t- to particulars, Mr. Mitchell Henry dwelt on the jiutioe of the Spirit Duties as compared with the tax on finally, he combated the delusion that the "unfor- Island," as he described Ireland, Is prospering, con- tacS!ng 'hat land is going out of cultivation, that manu- thfl a 3are °ot increasing, and that the so called deposits in loan. avln8s Banks to a great extent are not deposits, but credited to depositors. In fact, English policy had ^Tea desolation in Ireland and called it prosperity. ConJifi ^anceUor of the Exchequer remarked that those who »i Pained of the unequal pressure of taxation oh Ireland »ho«?i ?ame to one of two things—that the Spirit Duties be reduced, or that a larger contribution from Im- Wln! 80Urces should be made to Ireland for local purposes. It '"P.^esrd to the second alternative, he pointed out that Dai? n,Jr C0l>ld Hot lead to a reduction of Taxation in any "*e United Kingdom and, with regard to the first, diw? dy "hrank when it came to the point to propose a re- <m £ of the Spirit Duties. But it was not possible, under Present system cf taxation, that a disproportionate jjuottnt of taxation could be levied in the two countries. 'ect taxes must be in proportion to Income, and indirect rt^ were levied on the sfme scale In both countries. He Jtscted, however to the Iucome Tax assessment being taken and measure of the wealth of the two countries rea(1 from a Report of the Commissioners of Inland c "Due, giving various reasons for believing that the In- Tax Returns did not represent the whole income of U *ld. Ths argument that f qual taxes pressed heavily on 0f a comoiunUies might be ex-etsde'i to the poo e~ P&rrs •v cotJand aud of EUK a -d and ali-o to individual'. Buu tendency of recent finaiwal legislation hud been to tho e the taxes which pres ed ou the pooier classes, and if tj, aK8regate amouat of taxes had increased, it was because Of th t)1.lltles of the taxpayers had increased. To say nothing If subventions aud exemptions erjoyed by Ireland, jn tjf ~oirit Duties werA excluded, the amount of taxation "at country had decreased. renl* Jil il'Kenna, Dr. Ward, and Mr. Bntfc made some brief j^warka oa the Resolution, alter which Mr. Henry withdrew The House then went Into Committee on the Commons Bill, **sonie important amendments having been proposed and to, the other business was disposed of, and the House Journed at twenty minutes past two o'clock.

REWARDS FOR SAVING LIFE. OQ the recommendation of Lord Carnarvon, the J^er medal of the Royal Humane Society haa just awarded to Alfred Moore, and bronze medallions -~ftvid Baldwin, EH Langmead, William Nors- orthy, Christopher Munday, and William Lang- for 8&"ving seven of the crew of the Waterwitfh, Jacked at St. John's, Newfoundland. On the night at »e 29th of November last, Langmead, living "ouch Cove, was awakened by shouts from Captain and two of the crew of the Water- jl1™) who told him that their vessel had gone ashore an adjacent cove. A number of the crew had Pe*i8hed, but some were still clinging to the rocks, ^angmead and others started, some by boat and others • ? «nd, to the scene of the disaster—adeep and narrow hlet about a inile and a half to the north east of Pouch °je, called the Horrid Gulch. On the north side, at the bight of the gulch, the rocka run up almost Petorpendroularly to the height of 600ft. The only way to reach the men was to lower a man from the clfI by 4 rope. For this service Alfred Moorea volunteered. A- strong rope was fastened around him, and he was Jowered, in the mid*t of a blinding snowstorm, over the precipice. Three time3 he was swung in the dark, but at length succeeded in reaching a ledge im- mediately over the spot, the rope paid out being tnore than 85 fathoms. Guided and supported by his ^Pe, David Baldwin, Eli Langmead William Nors- worthy, and Christopher Munday now followed him, ^°°k UP positions between him and the top of the so as to be in readiness to help. At the top, with •he end of the rope hitched round a tree, was William ■Liangmead. The shipwrecked men were clinging to t he 'ocks twenty fathoms below where Moores Btood, but Were rescued one by one. On the recommendation of the Lords of the Admir- alty, the silver medallion has also been voted to ^•utenant F. Y. Isaac, E.N., of Her Majesty's ship ^ci'sstts, for saving an ordinary seaman of the same The weather was very cold, and both the and rescued were in the water about ten

"FIRING" HORSES. The Times has published the following letter :— p —The debate in the House of Lords on Lord Carnarvon's Bill for regulating vivisection has excited 80, much interest as to the humane treatment of "hunals, that I may perhaps be excused for offermg 6 following remarks :— Allusion was made in the course of the debate to the practice of firing horses, which, it was stated, most wuly, w&s a very painful operation, and it was also remarked that it was never done under the influence of sea the tics. One noble lord is reported to have said i^atno doubt it was painful, but that it was necessary, paving had the honour of superintending the Queen's tables for the last sixteen years—in which there are generally 200 horses at work—I have no hesitation in ■aying that the operation of firing is totally nnneces- J^y, and during the above period it never has been recourse to in the Royal establishment. I have no faith in the theory of the natural bandsge by burning into and often through the fkin of b°rse 5 and I believe that blister ings and rest produce Xactly the same effect, without the torture, and wi'.h- • AVthe unsightly blemish which fii in- generally leaves behind it. I also whh to state that, with her Majesty's sanction, tbe use of chloroform has been intro- duced into the Royal establishment for several years P^t, in paiuful operations. If the practice of firing Parses is to be persisted in, it should be done under the Qfluence °f some anaesthetic. « is an exceedingly painful cperation, and as the reatment is frequently applied to both fore, or^both mod lege, and in some instances "all round, the ^"nal is under torture for a very long time —I re- main, Sir, yours, &c., C. H. MAUDE, Crown Equerry. Mews, May 27.

THROWING STONES AT RAILWAY TRAINS. In the House of Lord?, on Monday evening, Earl 1ft "Warr rose to ask whether attention of ner ^fijesty's Government had been directed to the report a case in the Salford Borough Police-court, which was heard on Thursday, May 18. It appeared ?"at it was one of a boy who was convicted of having thrown a stone at a railway train. lhe Ration-master stekt-d that the company to which the train belonged had received continual com- Plaints that stones were thrown at the trains. He added that windows had been broken and passengers mjured in some cases as a result of those ats.^ The uetective superintendent stated that the mischievous Practice had become very common, and that on the ^ondon an(j North-western and the Lancashire and X°rkshire lines injuries to passengers had resulted, laying heard that evidence, the magistrate inflicted ^hat he thought their lordships would regard as the inadequate penalty of half-a-crown. There would be ho protection to the public against the probability °f injury from this practice if the Government did not take notice of the inadequacy of the penalty in the case. He begged to move for a copy of the evidence Siven before the Court.. .Earl Beauchamp was sorry he wai not able to give his noble friend any further information than that of Vvllioh he appeared to be ia possession. No doubt the Practice of throwing stones at railway trams was attended not only with annoyance, but abo with danger. When, however, it was stated that stones ^re frequently thrown at railway trains, it did no follow that the offence had been frequently committed °y the boy convicted before the borough magistrate at Salford, and it would have been a hardship to punish that boy for the crimes of others. As a rula the magis- trate who administered local justice had before them cir- Constances which influenced them in deciding penalties, which might not be stated in newspaper reports. Half-a-crown was ft scnaU sum, but even &ucn ft f*nalty, in addition to costs, might have been a con- Biderable amount to the parents of the boy. Of bourse, he could not say that it was and, now that he knew the point to which his noble friend wished to direct attention, he would cause inquiries to be made. Should his noble friend not be satisfied with the re- sult of those inquiries, he might move in the matter again. The motion was then withdrawn.

MACHINERY AND FOREIGN ¡. COMPETITION. The Engincer remarksIt is not a hopeful sign of the times that our workpeople should attempt to disbelieve in foreign competition, la the face of the !act that Belgian iron and rolling ftock material arrive In increasing quantities. In Sheffield, merchants' Warehouses, and the shops of retail dealers, are more than ever supplied. A German branch establishment has been opened in Birmingham i^6^. »n<i wlt^ United States steel and iron goods; Eog.8^ f.re'fJn °f iron and Bteel goods hear from their foreign agents of the growing activity of American competi- tors in markets which we once thought were all < ur own. The moBt recent intelligence on this ruint which we have received is that the Un States manufacturers, not content with ou?il, British makers of edge tools, and similar prod acts °f steel and iron, almost wholly from tbe antipodean markets, are now getting a footing At the Cape, and are quite as successful in our own West Indian pfJSo sessions. It is now more than ever noticeable that the Work of the English handicraftsman and artisan lacks much of that excellence which it once possessed, The examination of the work as it is brought in reveals fch&ti whilst the indifferent work ia M Indifferent m ever the beat work deteriorates day by day. Rightly or wrongly this tendency to one uniform dead level in the outcome of the workman s skill is attributed by the employers to the action mainly of trades unions. It is gratifying that all cur manufacturers are not oon- tent to allow their foreign competitors and their unsympathetic workmen together to deprive them of emolument from their businesses. We are in a position to state that there are em ploy era who are no w going out to thf States st eking machinery in use there, wit a the Sew of setting it up ia this country. When this machinery arrives attempts are certain to be made by Engli;h workpeople to prevent its adoption; but machinery will soon be introduced on so large a scale that it will be in vain for obstructive workmen to play over again the g:,me in which they were at one time successful, and which to this hour has kept certain ex- pensive machinery, provided to replace manual labour in the working of the useful metals, a courco not of profit, but of loss."

In addition to the above, The Times also publishes the folio wing le»ter distinguUhed ruler of Sir,-Now that Sir Sa.ax & expected |0 arriva ,n Eng. Hyiitirahad, Deco yourgivins; me a brief space land, I *haU be particulars to tho.e iu yoiir c"ml,;s.' nf to day which shed addition^ lustre stated in The 'I ot to day, wi & a{atesman and a on the nameoionjdisUiigu o( the King of J list at the tirao when the 0n his death-bed Highness the Nixam of intrusted the chief he deeireii S^ar Jung, to «horn was m U to him, authority in the Nizam s domiui n Britith Gov^rn- and his dving counsel to him wa« tha ghould mout had always been *o friendly to hlmatlf, his son continue faithful to the EngUsh. By tho w se rnllcy of Colonel Davidson, ^ie !ltte'r his son wag placed on the Mumud as soon as P?f35"e ntwr n ■ father's deaih, and the Resident invited ad commardinf? ofScr-rs of the British force a> viz to the Nizam's palace in the city, to he present attne curemocy.. On Colonel Davidson's return to the Residency, after the installatiai, he found a telegram from Lord Canning Inform- in«r him that Delhi had tallen into the hands o? the n.uii- neera upon which he sent for Salar Jung and communicated the intelligence to him. Salar Jung replied, "lilts was known in the city three days ago." Here then, was an undoubted proof of the lojaity ol tne GoYenuaeni, for, had there been any disposition to upset the British rule In favour of the Mahomedan Power, there could not have been a more fitting opportunity for doles: so than when all the English officers were' the Nizam's Palace surrounded by his armed retainers and entirely in their power. Later on when the spirit of disaffection wa* at Its height and had reached the city of Hyderabad the wisdom and determination of Sdar Jang were emmentVj' ^Jjhs ordering ail the Arabs who weie the Pr^"c^a^6 ^o the prietors in the Hyderabad territory to repair at once to.the citv, and by placing larCe bodies of there men at esch of the principal gates, with l*F' t any e »ho attempted to incite the people to rise aoahut the English. These enereetic measures saved South India, for hiid tie peop'c of Hyderabad risen against us, the lation of M-dras would, it was well known at the Pre^U.e-cy, have followed their example and It Js 'nld he In- tingu'shed man that tha people of England should be n formed how entirely the stability of British rul India was owing to the wise and energetic measures adopce at tbis crisis by Sir Salar Jung. Having held the chief military command In his Highness the N zitn's dominions for some years, ar,d having oeen co gequeutiy brought into consent communication with tne Resident during that momentous peri d, I feel a real plea sure in giving a publicity to ths facts above staged, being assured that Sir S,dar Janjj will receive from the British public that warm and friendly welcome which h« S3 emi- nently deserves from our countryuien.—I am, air, your obetilent servant-, WILLIAM IIILL, Major-General, K.C S.I., late com- manding Hyderabad Contingent. London, May 25.

GAINSBOROUGH'S "DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE." The above picture, which bad already become famous for havluz b¡;Bn ",1<1 a few weeks ago for 10,100 guineas ( £ 10,€05), the highest price ever paid at au anclion for a portrait. has been rendered still more so by having been stolen from the gallery in which it had only recently been placed for exhibi- tion known as the New British Institution, Old x>md- street, London.-The Times of Saturday gives the following particulars :— The greatest excitement arose in the neighbourhood when it became known yesterday morning, soon after seven o'clock, that this extraordinary and daring robbery had been committed. The large printed placards in the windows inviting attention to the picture were soon surrounded by little crowds, who read with no small astonishment the written notice that during the night some malicious person had cut the picture from the frame and stolen it. From in- quiries made on the spot it was found that the picture had been very neatly cut from the stretching frame after it had been removed from the gilt frame in which it hung against the wall, near the window above the doorway on the first floor. The stretch- ing frame was seen leaning against a sofa opposite tte now empty gilt frame, and it showed that no unprac. tised hand had operated upon the can vas, as the picture itself had been completely removed, leaving nothing but the clean cut canvas at the eriges on which it had been mounted when lined. The gilt frame had the nails simply bent back and not extracted, so that the thief or thieves lost no time in needlees trouble. The apartment in which the picture was exhibited showed scarcely any marku of what had been done, beyond I siom^ crumplii g of the drapery bung in front of the picture. This room is nut more than 10ft. square, having onlv one window opening into Bond-street, the at her being blocked and covered with cloth hangings likA the walls of the room. A passage opens on to it from the large galiery where the water-colour drawings are hung belonging to Messrs. Agnew. But the one window was found open about two feet, and on examining the lead outside there was dis- tinctly visible the mark of a nailed shoe. This win- dow had no blind to it, consequently if any light bad been used during the work of the thieves it would in all probability have been noticed by the pol cemen in the street, who were aware that no one resided in the house after the doors were closed and the premises left locked up for the night. It appears that a porter was employed by Messrs. Agnew to see to the fastening of the doors, and that the same person was intrusted with the opening of the doors in the morning. As far as is at present known, all the doors were found fastened as they had been left. The window, how- ever, would enable the thief to drop his booty in the shape of a roll of very moderate size into the hands of a confederate, and the opportunity of doing this with- out the observation of tbe police wonld be a matter of tolerably easy accomplishment with the aid of others concerned in the plan. It is conjectured that some one, having entered the exhibition-room as a visitor, contrived to secrete himself in some nart of the premises; but, having succeeded in putting the picture into the hands of the other thief by the window, it is difficult to see how he could himself escape without detection, whether in we Dil':ht by the window or after the place was opened in the morning. There are, however two entrances to the house, one from the street, the other by a side door opening iuto a yard through which persons of various occupations pass to some 8tables and a shoeing f, r .'e. This side door is connected by a narrow and dark passage with the principal entrance from the street, so that a person may contrive to escape being seen here, and quietly slip out when the porter had unlocked the door and gone to attend to any other duty. These matters, however, are in the hands of Mr. bu- perintendent Williamson, of the Police, and the detec- tives and as we learn with his advice Messrs. Agnew have' offered the large reward of £ 1,000 for informa- tion leading to the recovery of the stolen picture, some spaedy intelligence may be looked for. It must be tolerably evident that such a robbery was not con. trived with the view of selling the picture, as that would be a thing next to impossible, and the mere offer of it would b3 certain to bring the thieves to detection ia almost any part of the world. The de- scription of the picture given at the time of the sale and the engraving in the Illustrated News must have made it known far and wide." 7

The Daily News also says Some particulars as to the picture may be interesting, and they perhaps may be best given from the paper presented to the visitors while it has been on exhibition. This states that the picture is t.he celebrated portrait by Gainsborough of the beautiful and witty Georgiana, Duchess of Devon- shire. It measures fi9 by 45 inches, and walt in the possession of the late Mr. Wynn Ellis for thirty years, and wa", purchased, as above stated, by Messrs. Agnew for 10 100 guineas, at the sale of Mr. Ellis's collection. Gainsborough has faithfully portrayed upon canvas Horace Walpole's description of the Duchess The Duchess of Devonshire effaces all. Her youth, figure, flowing good nature, sense, and lively modesty, and modest familiarity, make her a phenomenon.' She ia dressed in white, with a blue silk petticoat and sash, and a large black hat and feathers. The head is turned three quarters to the right, the eyes directed towards the spectator, the hair profusely curled, powdered, and falling on the shoulders the complexion is very brilliant, and the arms are folded across the waist. The background of the picture consists of sky, with trees on either side of the figure." ««While the picture has been on view it has been visited by from 200 to 300 persons every day. Messrs. Arnew and Sons had announced that it was to be enaraved by Mr. S. Cousens, R-A., and during the short time which has elapsed since they purchased it and it has been exhibited, they had received applica- tions for proofs to the amount of more than £ l.uuu. 11 From the fact that no attempt was made to saeal anything eke from the premises, it is dear that the obtaining of this picture was the Bole ob]ect which the Orators of the theft had in view. On every S the greatest sympathy is felt for Messrs. Agnew, tbn e pecuniary loss is very great; but it is frit also Jhat in an artistic point of view the loss of such a pic- tbat in an H Immediately on the affair being discovered, telegrams were dispatched to the Pr,uoipal norts to prevent the escape ot any person with the picture, other active steps were taken, and a rew^frd, £ 1^000 bus been offered for the apprehension of the Ihi'ef or thieves."

The Daily Telegraph of little I to say in addition to what has been already publIshed con- cerning the portrait of Duhess of Impector of the detective department of Metro- polltau police, has the case in h-And, and fresh bills have been printed and circulated, with a photographic copy of John Scott's engraving. The size of the cut painting is 60 inches by 45 inches; and the description of the 1s as 18 dressed in whlGe, H^ht tho eyes directed towards the spectator, the hair pro- fusely curled, powdered, and falling on the shoulders tbe iuseiy cu p brilliant, and the arms are folded across the1 waist The background of the picture consists of sky with trees on either side the figure The offer of a thousand nmmds reward is repeated, and persons possessed of informa- tion »re directed to give it to Superintendent Williamson, at the offices in Great Scotland-) ard."

FASHIONS AT THE FRENCH DERBY. The Paris Correspondent of the Daily News, in noticing the French Darby, which was run for on Sunday, remarks The menacing state of the weather did not tend to the display of Vanity Fair novelties at the French Derby to-day. Fashionable ladies must this morning have been in sore perplexity to decide whether they should dress for rain or for sunshine. The greater number, taking counsel of the lowering sky and muggy atmosphere, went in ordinary promenade »«ye. Others, more venturesome, risked the dresses at which their modistes and mantua makers laboured I dare say up to a late hour last night. Their courage was re- warded. The weather kept up, and as the French Derby was run for the sun came out pleasantly. Train tunics are the novelty of the day. They are of great length, and in their folds creases are purposely made near the waist bewilderingly intricate. This new supplement to the skirt must consume as much stuff as a court train, and not less trimming. Pale slate- coloured silk turned up with silk of a darker shade, and finished off with cream-coloured lace, were the favourite materials for ladies' robes. The parasols followed in colour the Alsatian bows in front of the steeple-crowned bonnets of coarse straw. There were therefore bright red, yellow, sky-blue, pink, and pale green sunshades. A toilette of snow-white Chinese gauze, fringed with silver picked out with black, and accompanied with black gloves reaching to the elbows, was honoured with universal notice. I could not help observing that dark-complexioned beauties haviog golden hair in superabundance were numerous. Ladies anxious to follow the latest Paris fashions will not, I presume, copy the admirable simplicity of the Royal and other visitors in the Orleans Tribune, who were prettily attired, but nothing more, as if for a garden party in the country. The Princess de Joinviile was in plain black silk the Princesse C]ementine in dark blue silk, with a pelerine edged with Chantilly lace and May meadow flowers in her bonnet. The Comte and Oomtesse de Flandres were their guests. His Royal Highness paid a visit to Marshal MacMahon yesterday and remains here for a fortnight. He is Btfikingly like the late Prince Consort. The beauty of the Countess, who is a fine complexioned blonde, with regular features, was much remarked. Her Royal Highness was attired in white foulard silk, with pale pink feather trimmings, and Tuscan straw Gains- borough hat. Tne Couute de Paiiii scarcely appeared in the stand reserved for bis relations, where I observed the Duu Decaze3 and a group of ex Deputies of the Right. My attention was called to the altered de- meanour of tho public as regarded the Orleans family since the passing of the Constitutional laws. Two summers ago there was, I remember, an outer court as well as an inner. The firilt gathered in a dense ring and encircled the Orleans stand, watching the move- ments of its occupants. At the Chantilly Derby im- mediately preceding the 24th May, 1873, the Orleans tribune reminded me of the Tuileries antechambers on New Year's Day when the Emperor reigned. It was encumbered with Ambassadors, generals, admirals, brilliant pushing young officers and ambitious jjoli- tioans with high names. This afternoon only intimate friends came to pay their court. As to the public of the other stands they would not bave turned iheir heads to look into that of the Orleans family had it not been for ,the appearance there of the Belgian Princess. The Duc d'Aumale came from B^eancon for the races. I saw also the Prince de Joinville.

THE COMMONS BILL. The Times (in a leader) ramarks With regard to most of tha common laud to which the present Bill would be likely to be applied, the question is not whether it should be let alone or taken in hand, because it has become a necessity to take it in hand in some fashion or other. It must be either regulated or enclosed. The opponents of enclosure cry for regula- tion, even though in the same breath they admit that regulation is very difficult; indeed, so far as has been tried, almost impossible. Mr. Cross was able to twit his opponents on Thursday night on their inconsistency in recommending him to stick to regulation and adding that it was worthless. It may, of course, be a very mixed process—bait en- closure, half regulation; the enclo-ure paying for the regulation the private appropriation of a part paying for the public appropriation of the rest; but the gentleinea who talk so largely and indiscriminately of preserving all our commons appear to intend much more than this. Their ambition extends to parks, domains for the people. There is no denying the ex- cellence of the aim, or its feasibility, with all the waste or open land we have about us but, on the other hand, neither is there any question as to the cost. Toe call for delay repeated by several members is seldom a very reasonable plea, and is particularly un- reasonable when the question is settling itself by spontaneous processes. The continual and rapid in- crease of the population round our commons is always bringing forward the evils incident to their neglect and abuse. Anybody well acquainted with a common near an increasing town, or even a village with any movement at all in it, will not fail to observe that it has become less reclaimable and less convertible to any new purpose, and less enjoyable and orna- mental in its present state. The "roughs assert their ownership and dictate the use. But, apart from manners, considerations of health, and even the primary object of preserving the common to the public use demand the early treatment of most open spaces near town. Whole classes are plotting and devising against them, watching their opportunity to take some bit-or establish some claim which it may be easier for them to maintain than for others to overthrow. m. Thus it is a political and social ai well as a territorial question, and as such brooks no delay."

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION. The Canadian Correspondent of The Times, writes under date Toronto, May 15:- The Blue-b 'ok containing the report of the belect Committee on Immigration and C Ionization has just been issued. Daring the year 1875 there was a con- siderable falling off in the number of immigrants, which fact the Committee attributes to the Com- mercial and industrial depression which has prevailed in Canada, together with the growing indisposition to emigrate among the classes on the other side of the Atlantic which usually furnish the immigrants. The total number of settlers durin q the year was 27.382. The year's immigration cost the Government 296,693 dols. making the gross per capita cost 10 dols. 83c. The per capita value to the country of the immigrants who become settlers, apart from the property and money they bring with them into the countrv, is variously estimated, The Bureau of Statistics at Washington estimate the value of each at 800 dols. Dr. Farr has officially reported to Her Majesty's Government that the value to the c motrr of a Norfolk agricultural labourer at the age of 25 is JE246 sterling (1,300 dole). As it is claimed that a large proportion of last year's immigrants belong to the agricultural class, if an agricultural labourer be as valuable to Canada as he is to England, 10 dols. 83c per capita cannot be regarded as a bad investment. The ascertained balance of goods and money brought into the Dominion by immigrants during the year 1875 was 1,344,573 dols. The additional unascertained amount is thought to be very large. Colonel Laurie, of Nova Scotia, gave evidence before the Committee on the subject of the settlement of children brought out to that Province by Mrs. Birt. These children are of a similar class to those brought out by Miss Rye and Miss Macpherson, except that they do not include chil- dren from workhouses. They appear to have been all placed in comfortable situations by Colonel Laurie, who K by Provincial enactment, constituted their guardian, fiie has placed out 325 children, and states that as many as 500 could be provided for annually in Nova Scotia. The publication of Mr. Doyle's report has had the effect of stopping Miss Rye's operations last year in bringing out workhouse children to Canada but Miss Macpherson, Mrs. Birt, Mr. Middlemore. and others have continued to bring out children who are with- out friends and homeless. Among the specialities of the immigration of last year was the arrival of 3,253 Mennonites, who joined their Mennonite friends in Manitoba. An Icelandic settlement has been estab- lished on the west shore of Lake Winnepeg, in the North-West Territory, and another, which appears to be successful, in the Province of Nova Scotia. About two years ago the Quebec Legislature pasiel an Act to encourage the "repatriation" of French Canadians who had wandered into the United States. The Canadian says that the scheme is working well, aud statts that three townships, D.tton, Chtsbam, aad Hamberton, which a year ago were inhabited oy onlv 80 families, have now a population exceeding 3 000. The waters of the Ottowa river are at present higher than anything the oldest settlers remember to have seen, and considerable damage has been done to mills and other property. Within the last few days some half a million feet of lumber has been swept away. The Chaudi&re Falls are said to present a magnificent spectacle, crowds going to witness their unusual grandeur. The Governor- General, Lady Dufferin, and their family have been among the visitors. All over Canada freshets prevail, and a great loss of saw logs has ensued on the breaking of various booms. Besides a very open winter, we have had a gradual spring— a thic g of but rare occur- ence in this country."

THE WOUNDED IN TIME OF WAR; Colonel Loyd-Lind-ay presided in London, on Mon- day, at a meeting of the Royal United Service Institu- tion, when a paper was read by Mr. S. Moore on Assistance to the Wounded in Time of War., The author said that in 1870 71 he had served with Mr. Manley's division of the Woolwich ambulance in the Loire campaign, when he was an eye-witness of the prompt relief afforded to the wounded by the excellent system of field hospitals in use in the Prussian army. The wounded of the French army suffered severely at the commencement of the war, most probably on account of a short-handed medical service, and even the Prussians, with their wonder- fully-arranged organisation, succumbed here and there to the press of difficulties. Two general principles appear to be acted upon with regard to the wounded; the one is that of separating the wounded from the moving force, then isolating and distributing them. The other, upon which the British Medical service has been conducted, is to carry the wounded along with the army. In the British service 27 ambii- lance waggons are needed by each brigade, but in the Prussian service only six per division of two brigades, which are supplemented by four moveable held hospitals containing 800 beds, with a reserve of two field hospitals, containing 400 beds, giving tem- porary ward shelter to the wounded. On the British system the 27 waggons are supplemented by two field hospitals, with a reserve of one anu vuree quarter field hospitals, in which there is only shelter for the very severely wounded, the remainder being carried on with the moving force. Each Prussian battalion takes the field with a medicine cart, a few stretchers, and two surgeons, with four bearers pjr company. In alight engagements field hospitals are not established unless by orders of the general of division, but in general actions they are set up at some distance in the rear of the bandaging places which are just outside the range of the enemy's rifles, lhe sanitary detachment is made up of a fixed proportion of ambu. lance carriages and store wagons and equipment, as well as surgeons, bearers, nursea, dfiverw, &e. There are three sanitary detachments to each Prussian army corps, one being attached to each of the two infantry divisions, and the third held in reserve. Mr. Moore found fault with the Prussians for not placing the whole medical staff under the prinicpal medical officer, who should be responsible for all the medical work. With respect to the British system, he stated that the numbers were wholly insufficient; the total number for an army corps being set down as 2,195 on a war footing. He believed that at present the whole number of the Army Hospital Corps did not exceed 1,500 men, and how was its strength to be raised to 16,000, being 2 000 for each of the eight army corps in the mobilisation scheme ? He thought there was but one approximate solution of the difficulty pos- sible, viz., to draw on the auxiliary forces (the volun- teerd) for the strictly military portion of the personnel required, and on the National Aid Society for the civil portion. Mr. Moore showed how six men from each volunteer company would supply 10,482 bearers sufficient for our eight army corps, and, in conclusion, described the best form of railway waggons for the con- veyance of the wounded.

THE FRENCH CONVICT ESTABLISH. MENT IN NEW CALEDONIA. ol Marine, the following facts • "The number of convicts sent in lb74 to the colony by the A'ceste and Loire was 238. Three other ships, starting later in the year, carried over 236 convicts. The colony continues in excellent sanitary condition. The mortality has fallenbya half since 1873, when it was 2 8 per cent. In 1874 it was 1-5 per cent. The allowance of food to a convict is the same as that of a sailor, and therefore the miserable calumnies which have been spread on this subject are reduced to nothing. A convict must work for his living, the State only providing for him when he is absolutely unable to find employment. To do which a year is allowed him. When this time is passed the Adminis- tration may reduce, though not suppress, the ration to the proportions formerly allowed in the galleys. Only 51 convicts' families, consisting of 105 persons, expa- triated themselves in the course of the year 1874. Two hundred and ninety-nine of the convicts have been the obiects of measures of clemeney, and 71 were com- mni-Pfl or pardoned. The number o' convicts in the colony on the 1st Januiry last was 3,575. Of these, onn was 15 years of age, 11 were 16 years, 59 were 17 vears 64 were 18 years, 104 were 19 years, 136 were 20 Tears' 91 were 21 years, 112 were 22 years, &c. There are two women of 20 years and one of 21."

A QUESTION OF TIME.—When Jeremy Taylor was introduced to the Archbishop of Canterbury, he was told by the prelate, that his extreme youth was a bar to his present employ mant. If your graoe, replied Taylor, will txeme me this/auft, I promise, If I live, to mend it."

THE SCIENCE OF HEALTH. Strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that, in spite of all our efforts during the past century, and in spite of improved medical skill, the average of human life has not been augmented in any perceptible degree. The reasons for this are numerous, and some are not far to Reek. Thus, the population crowds con. tinually more and more from the country districts into the towns. Twenty years ago there were 58') towns in England; now there are 938. Agpin, the imbecile, the drunkard, the lunatic, the criminal, and aU tainted natures, were once allowed to perish in fields, asylums, or goals; but now these classes, and their offeprine, figure in largo Lumbers in the population. These are the weakly animals which lower the general vigour of the stock. In London, the death-rate among males — es>ecially artisans -after the ase of 35, is exceptionally high, and the reason for this is not yet known. Some allege that London operatives wash and bathe much less than tte working people in provincial towns. Publicans, butchers, and fishmongers die off considerably faster than men in other trades. Farmers and agricultural labourers are among the healthier classes. Exercise both of the muscles and of the brain is, however, all important to preserve the due balance of health. The excesrive tension of brain, heart, lungs, or digestive organs, due to over-training, is, of course, a deviation from the natural healthy 8-ate of a man's constitution, and is therefore to be avoided but the regular, and, we might almost say, routine like, habits of the practised athlete, do much to promote general sound- ness and vigour both in the individual himself and his children, A daily walk of twenty miles represents about the amount of exertion # which a full-grown male of average power, resting on Sundays, might go through, with benefit to him- self. A solditr in war carrying 601b. marches 14 miles comfortably; a London policeman travels 16 to 20 miles in eight and a half hours. Many children are overworked; many women are overworked in preg- nancy, and are under fed too. Domestic servants are exceptionally healthy, because they work moderately and are well-fed; but when they marry and have children they are forced to subside to a lower diet. Girls at school, through want of out-door play, are leas healthy than boys. For every death we may reckon two years of sickness thus, if a million persons die in the year, two millions more have been uninterruptedly sick during the same period. The problem is how to mitigate these evils, and science seems to tell us in every direction that good water, pure atmosphere, effective sewerage, healthy dwellings, personal cleanli- ness and exercise, and recreation for body and mind, are the objects to be kept steadily in view.-Land and Water.

[From Fun ] BEATEN OFF. BY A "HACK." Long ago In the days when I started To run in the races of life, I was forward and fit; and big hearted, And eager to J jin in the strife. Bitter Need was the Jockey who, spurring, My limbs with some flaetnees endowed But an accident always occurring, I merely walked in with the crowd. From the pie of the turf, like Jack Horner, I wanted to pull out a plum, But if leading at Tattenham Corner Some scrimmage was certain to come I was bored t« the rails or I stumbled, While backers were cursing aloud Degraded and hooted and humbled, I merely walked in with the crowd. Now my Derbies and Legers are done for, I'm a weed at the gate-money specs Poor indeed are the races I run for, Yet>1 lose them by noses and necks. Through the many defeats I've to suffer I haven't the right to be proud ;— But I'd rather be third to a duffer Than merely walk in with the crowd.

THE PLAGUE. Further information as to the prevalence of plague in Mesopotamia gives a clearer knowledge of the magnitude of the outbreak. The following are the re- turns for Hillah and Bagdad from the first commence- ment of the disease in those towns, not complete, but more complete than any which have before reached this country :—Hi)lah—January 1 to February 27, 74 deaths; March 20 to 26, 34; March 27 to 31. 42; April 1 to 7, 56 April 15 to 21,159. Bagdad—March 16 to 20, 15 March 21 to 27, 45; March 28 to April 1, 75 April 2 to 8, 169; April 16 to 25, 336. At Imam Mou?a, near Bagdad, seven deaths had occurred up to the 21st of April; at Nedjef the disease appears to be slowly increasing. The disease has appeared at Kefil five hours south of Hillah, on the Hindieh marshes, and at Kut el Amarah, on the Tigris, south of Bagdad. It is to be inferred, indeed, that the disease fe widely scattered throughout the district immediately to the north of its area of prevalence in 1873-4. In addi- tion to the rumour of the appearance of plague at I Afasoat to the south. rumour now comes of its appear- ance at Kerkuk, within the limits of Kurdistan to the north. The alarm in the East with regard to this out- break is deepening and widening. Communications are more or less interrupted on the different routes from Mesopotamia to Persia, to Syria, and tc Kurdi- stan, while physicians have been stationed at various points on the principal routes to watch for the first signs of the dreaded pestilence. It seems not unlikely that, if the disease shows no signs of abatement, the next mail may bring the news of an attempt to pro- hibit all intercourse between the infected district and surrounding districts. It is understood that the expor- tation of rags from Mesopotamia has been prohibited (a very judicious precaution), and that efforts are being made to secure wool for exportation from the danger of infection, a danger, however, which is nominal rather than real. -Lancet.

FLUNKEYIAN A. G.A.S., in the Illustrated London News remarks:- In the current number of Punch there is a droll sketch of a group of aristocratic footmen, one of whom, in opining that the dulnees of the season will disappear now that his Royal Highness the Prince has returned, alludes to the illustrious traveller precisely in that off- hand fashion, indulgence in which by a celebrated leader of fashion many years ago, led the outraged Heir Apparent of the period to ring the bell and order Mr. BrummellVcarriage.' If this be deemed too peripbrast c & way of putting things, I may (with great fear and trem- bling) hint tb at theirreverent menial in question qualifies his R>yal Highness as 'Wales.' Why this piece of graphic impertinence should have the title Sursum ccrda' affixed to it I (being no Latin scholar) cannot tell. Do footmen speak of the great ones of the earth with sc much sans facon, I wonder ? Perhaps they do. I remember, in the year '67 (the not-to be-foi^otten Exposition Universelle peiiod), travelling from Toulon to Paris in special train conveying his Imperial High. ness the Sultan. The carriages apportioned to the suite were inconveniently crowdea and, lest I should be left behind, I was glad enough to obtain a seat in a compartment otherwise full of the lacqueys Emperor Napoleon III. and the great offieersofhis household. 1 found in the gentlemen viash most diverting company, but somewhat too familiar in their conversation. For' example, wh;n we halted at early morning at Lyons for an hour's refreshment, I heard one gorgeous creature in green and gold say to a alrv-hlnfi an d silver. Ou done est Talleyrand Pirijjor I -or perhaps it was De Gramont or De la Rocne- foucauld, or some equally lofty duke, maiquis or coun^ II est en train, replied the gentleman m Bilver, de cirer les bottes de son homme. The idea of a French grandee cleaning another Tbu^!n to wildered me at first; but in process ^e l began to understand that I had been listening to a choice.bit of flunkeyiana'—that Talleyrand Pfengord meant, for the nones, the lacquey, and ihat 'ton homim: was the nobleman to whose service the Gallic Jeames was attached.

THE USE OF TOBACCO. Men who are of the opinion of James I that the Me of tobacco is an abomination are probably disinclined to enter into the question of the various merits of the different kinds of tobacco, and hold the opinion that all varieties may be classed under one category, viz that ef a vile weed. Some smokers, to whom the famous Counterblast is but a faint puff: of wind^ of no force or weight, imagine that, in choosing between the virtues of shag, bird's-eye, and returns, they are exhausting the principal varieties of their favourite weed. But putting out of consideration the inferior kinds of tobacco, and notably the British product, which disdains not the aid of cabbage leaves to swell its volume, the tobacco trade recognises at lea,,t thirty different principal varieties of tobacco. Virginia, Kentucky, and Havanah all produce their specialities Manilla and Cuba lav claim to special recognition, but it is not generally believed that Brazil Mexico and Columbia all strive to rival .hese celebrated districts in the production of choice kinds of tobacco, and that large quantities are annually imported into Europe from these widely separated countries. 18 ff" ing the lists as an exporter of this article, and its production is gradually but steadily increasing in quantity and tinding favour among merchants. It is, indeed only natural that the area of production should become enlarged with the area and rate of consumption. Fifteen years ago the imports of toDacco and cigars into England amounted to 51,000,0001bs. weight, and -f tus,, OOO.OOOibs, were retained for home consump- tion the rest being re-exported. Our annual import of these articles now considerably exceeds 80,000,0001bs. and the actual consumption amounts to nearly 50 000,0001bs., or one pound and a half of tobacco per annum to every man, woman, and child in the king- dom. In 1860 the consumption was barely a pound and a quarter per head per annum. In some countries the use of the fragrant weed is even more general than in England, and in all direct ons the consumption is rapidly increasing. There is little wonder, then, that new lands should discover and turn tp account their capacity for producing tobacco of a more or less excellent quality.-Globe.

TEN DOCTRINE OF CHANCES.—Lord Kames used to relate a story ot a man who claimed the honour c. his acquaintance on rather singular grounds. His lord- ship, when one of the justiciary judges, returning from the north circuit to Perth,happened one night to.deep at Dunkeld. The next morniug, walking towards the ferry but apprehending he had mused his way he Sed a man whom he met to conduct him. The other answered with much cordiality-" That I will do, with aU my heart, my lord; does not your lordship re- member me? My names John——, I have had the honour to be before your lord.hip for stealing RheeD!" Oh, John, I remember you well; and how is your wife ? she had the honour to be before me too for receiving them, knowing them to be stolen. -At your lordship's service. We were very lucky, we got off for want of evidence: and I am still going on in the butcher trade. Then," replied hia lordship, "wo may have the honour of mqtrw Q9Gø."

SELECTED ANECDOTES. THE RULING P ASBION.-In the last illness of George Coleman, the doctor being late in an appointD.fnt, apologised to his patienc, saying that be bad been called in to see a m*n who had fallen down a we.L "Did he kick the bucket, doctor?" groaned out poor Geor.e. A CHEAP CURE. Pray, Mr. Abernethy, what is the cure for gout?" asked an indolent and luxurious Live upon sixpence a day, aud earn it. was the pithy answer.. HAND AND GMVE.-A dyer, in a court of justice, being ordered to hold up his hand, that was all ^ack^, Take off your g]ove, friend," Bali the judge to hue. "Put on your spectacles, my lord," answered the dyer. SUBTRACTION AND ADDITION.—A chimney-sweeper s boy went into a baker's shop for a twopenny loaf, and conceiving it to be diminutive in size, remarked to the baker that be did not believe it was weight. JN ever mind that," said the man of dough, "you will have the less to carry." True," replied the lad, and throw- ine ;h ree half- pence on the counter left tbe shop. 1 he bak«r called after bim that he had not left money enough. N-ver mmd that," said j oung sooty you will hare the less to count." V Asr DOMAIN.—A gentleman having a servant with a very thick skull, often to call him the king of mak^ your words good, I should then be the greatest monarch in the world. TAKING HIS MEASURE.—A conc-itei t at a farm-house in the west of Scotland, iu order to dispose of some of his wares. Toe good wife was ^tied by his southern accent, and his high talk ab ut York, London, and other big place.. An' whaur come y e frae yersel?" was the question of the gude wife. Ou I am from the Border! "The Border. Oh! I thocht that; for we aye think the selvidge is the wakest bit o the wab ODD FORESIGHT.—Lady Margaret Herbert asked somebody for a pretty pattern for a nightcap. II Well," said the person, what signifies the pattern of a nightcap?" "Oh! child," said she, "you know, in case of lire A GENUINE IRISH BULL.-Sir Boyle Roche said, Single misfortunea^ever come alone, and the greatest of all possible misfortunes is generally followed by a much greater." LOOK IN HIS FACE.-Admiral Lord Howe, when a captain, was once hastily awakened in the middle of the night by the lieutenant of the watch, who informed him with great agitation that the ship was on fire; near the magazine. If that be the case," said he, rising leisurely to put on his clothes, "we shall soon know it." The lieutenant flew back to the scene wawgw, and almost instantly returning exclaimed. You need not, sir, be afraid; the fire is extinguished, Afraid I" exc: aimed Howe, what do you mean by that, Mr ? I never was afraid in my life and looking the lieutenant full in the face, he added, "Pray, how does a man feel, sir, when he is afraid! I need not aak how he looks. KITCHENER AND COLMAN.—The most celebrated wits and bo* vivantt of the day graced the Ainner-table of the late Dr. Kitchener, and, inter alia, the late George Colman, who was an especial favourite; his interpola- tion of a little monosyllable in a written admonition which the Doctor caused to be placed on the mantel- piece of the dining parlour will ,never be forgotten and was the origin of such a drinking bout as was seldom permitted under his roof. The caution run thus: "Come at seven, go at eleven. Ctoleman briefly altered the sense of it; for, upon the Doctor s atten- tion being directed "to the card, he read, to his astonish- ment, "Co»e at seven, go it at eleven! which the guests did, and the claret was punished accordingly. A WEAK WOMAN.—A loving husband once waited on a physician to request him to prescribe for his wife's eves which were very sore. Let her wash them, Baid the doctor, every morning with a ° brandy." A few weeks after, the doctor chanced to meet th§ husband. Well, my friend, has your wife followed my advice ?" She has done everything in her power to doit doctor," said the spouse, but she never could get the glass higher than her mouth. A BAD BABGAIN.-A man bought a horse on con- dition that he should pay half down, and be mdebtfor the remainder. A short time after, the seller denud- ing payment of the balance, the other answered Iso it was agreed that I should be in your debt far the remainder how can that be if I pay it. WET AND DRY.-Dr. Macknight, who was a better commentator than preacher, having been caught in a shower of rain, entered the veBtry soaked with wet. As the time drew on for divine service he became much distrepsed, and ejaculated over and over, On, I wish that I was dry Do you think I m dry ? Do you think I'm dry eneuch noo? To this his jiocose colleague Dr. Henry, the historian, returned .Bide » weef doctor, and ye'se be dry eneuch when ye get into the pupit" — LAMB AND ERSKINE.—Counsellor Lamb, an old man when Lord Erskine was in the height of his reputation, was of timid and nervous difpotion, usually prefacing his pleadings with an aPol^yt°that effect; and on one occasion, when opposed. in some cause to Erskine, he happened to remark that he felt himself growing more and more timid as he grew older No wonder," replied the relentless barrister; "every one knows the older a lamb grows, the more sheepish he becomes." "r NOTICE TO QUIT.—AB Ayrshire gentleman, when out on 1st ot S-p:ember, having failed time after time in bringing down a single bird, had at last to him by his attendant bag-carrier a larpe covey, thick and close on the stubbles. Noo 1 Mr. Jeem. let drive at them, just as they are Mr. J eems did let drive, as advised, but all flew off, safe and sound. "Hecb, sir (remarks his friend), but ye ve made thae yins shift their quarter," "PATRIOTIC GREEKS." La.man Blanchard and Douglas J errold met by accident before either friend had reached his majority. The latter was P^hinghia way, by slow degrees, into the tramway of the current journalism; the former was writing graceful poesy; to be presently gathered into a volume of Lyric UHer ings," and published by Harrison Ainsworth. Yet their common subject just now, as they stood under the gateway protected from the nun, was of Byron and liberty. The noble was their idol of the hour. He was a bard, and he was the champion of liberty. Why should they not follow him-join him in Greece ? The two friends were roused to frenzy with the idea, and the fair, blue-eyed one, suddenly seeing the ludicrous position of the two Greek crusaders sneaking put of a shower of rain, dashed into the wet, saying Come, snowe oniric to Greece we musn t be afraid of a shower oT rain -iLncW >erroWs Life of his Father DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.-Atradeslllan bavingdunned a customer for a long time, the debtor at last desired his servant one morning to admit hi J fellow. Baid he to bim, I think you are a honest fellog, and I have a great regard for you, therefere, 1 ta this opportunity to tell you, that as I shall never pay you a farthing, you had better go home, mind your business, and don't lose your time by calling here. As for the others, they are a set of vagabonds, for whom I have no affection, and they may waste their time as they please." BLIND GENIUS.—The annals of the^Bund JJe the annals of a wonderful people. We have had blind poets the greatest of aU Milton. We have had blind men with inexhaustible memories, as James Wi.son, who knew the Army and Navy List by heart, and used to inform bis poorer friends, who had friends In either service. We have had-above the street class-blind musicians, as John Stanley, whom both Handel and Gazzini pronounced to be without a superior as a per- former on the organ and a blind choir led by a blind organist, and performing the compositions of Handel, --r1 Mozart, and Mendelssohn, may now at the Blind School, St. George's Fields We have had blind mathematicians, as the famous baunderaon, the Lucasian professor at Cambridge blind natura- lists, as Hubert, the author of a wonderlui work on the "Germination of Seeds," the processes of wh_chhe has minutely described aad above all, ^d traveller^ chief amongst whom was Holman, who travelled aU over the world, and wrote several books, far more minute and accurate in their descriptions than many of those written by travellers having their eyes open. THE DIFFERENCE.-As a gentleman was walking in the street the other day, he saw at some distance ahead half-a-dozen men proceeding with slow and measured step to their day's work. In a minute or ^e over took them, and soon looked back upon them far^ln the distance. "What makes the difference? *1 he to himself; "I was the son of a poor labouring man. Why am I not like these men, now plodding on m the same condition of poverty and toil? E^ently for the same reason that I have left them all behind me. From my earliest childhood, whenever I had anything to do I have done it with my might, whether working by the day,' or by the job.' These men are working for others, I suppose by the day. They take a s ow and easy' motion. They will plod on so through life, and never rise any higher. If we would win the prize, we must run for it."

CATCHING TRAINS. The British Medical Journal remarks:—"An instance of the danger incurred by persons of advanced life hastening to catch trains was recently furnished at Denmark-hill station. An old lady, aged 70, hurried £ uS*»a took J but b.f £ rf» the platform, f.U <W. Here, f » .b». h»d b«m P*heart it tUM. Tte poor old My her. a ,9 ,p,T\i!yI w„q wrong as the consequence self felt that Sr ticket, she remarked °fhere^rts;for on t^mg^ne myBelf v^vin^to catch the train." Her forebodings were UU.L"D only too well founded, and her haste was fatal to her. This case is not unique; it is not even rare uufortun- A. vL strain induced by effort is sustained with lmDunity by the young, whose tissues are healthy and eliBtic and a fit of hard breathing, with some palpita- tion is'all that follows sudden violent effort. But not so the aged with them the sharp call upon their organs is too apt to be followed by serious consequences. The tiesues are also aged; they have lost their elasticity, and cannot respond to sudden calla and paralysis of the heart, with its chambers distended with blood, is the result. It is not always that the fatal result follows so immediately as in the case above, though this is one of the commonest results. At other tunes, the immediate call is got over but the ventricle still feels the strain, and fails, perhaps, in bed during sleep. The Budden deaths so common among the aged am often quite intelligible if the whole circums presented to view; but frequently the history "^P?^ feet, and then a certain amount of mystery remains uncleard up. The evil effec s of strain upon the heart are well known to the profession, but are not so generally known to people at large consequently, elderlv oereons persist in risking their lives for a few more final woX, or a delay that might easily be avoided. Forgetting they are old, tney'make an effort to make up for time so spent or lost-doubtless often with impunity, but at other times with serious consequences. In aged people, sudden efforts are fraX with immediate danger. Iu middle-aged persons, whose organs are comparatively structurally Sound the danger is much less but even with them catching a train is not rarely followed by unpleasant consequences,"

THE ATTRACTIONS OF SAUL. Although "there is no accounting for^tastes, (re' marks the Globe,) it might have been thought there was one exueiieBW for which no class would have much ■:kice. It* is d fficult to conceive tbe most eccentric ner-ou finding positive enjoyment in being sent to gaol. It appears, however, from the report) '^ued, of Director of Government Prisons m Ireland, that Sere actually P^ple to wh< m this experience orieKr nt u' leafa -t associations. Ther** are con- 13 r CVs ercs who having been three or four Ss sentenced to penal servitude return on release Weir old mode of life undeterred by con^quer^s and when the consequences com-, they are c 1jr submitted to. The expiauaiicii w cla^s are well aw*re that by conforming to thepr^n rules a,ey are entitled to a certain dietary, f Jlh^'tion of their on discharge, and to a retm-Mou of a P0'"JL k blsr sentence.'3 The,e gen:lementake li e«tgaol eaailv. They res no reason wt v thry Bh'la themselves for the sake of tbe pub.ic uence ei r » L of little value, and they a-ethe most cc«tlyofallpn Boners. As the director points out, *ben expending to five %ear* or u:ar "»has to be carried ou', the dietaries laid do wn »>,d ciotmn, not without li,jury be (iiuiiuisi.ea. 11, gjj^uid be however, that the gratuities of ^P^entenS withheld or much reduced, and the ent ra sentence Rerved • and if the law permitted, he wou.d app.o e, instead of a period of penal ^rvitude, a sentence of six or twelve months in a county gaol o rr^ig followed by lengthened police tupervivioii. lh woTald be a much leas enticing program nftAoeinl probably lend new charms to ft virtuous and pea life.

AMERICAN HUMOUR. History classes are to take the place of spelling schools. Contestants will be fed on dates. A Chicago editor, who went «ot to^ with tbe gun and rod, shot a lorty-nve an old hat with a stone in It. j„„„v,+Jar A New York man has christened his Glycerine. He says It will be easy to prefix nitre U her tempe resemble* her mother's. Immense footprints were w?ently- taj heuse on Laurel Hill, and it is >,urelary there dating County girls were trjlfig to commit a burglary were the night. j Men says Adam Smith, are naturally UD8UU"u.u" Men says Adam Smith, are naturally A man wlU sctop the insld^ out of an egg ^hou t^inkUig that the mother of that egg is perhaps a hundred miles a y, in the rain. A Florida paper has ascertained ^at » heauy alligator can eat seven negro children in tne courseo hours and not display any symptoms ol disquiet. A Tennessee girl, riding on the cars, crowed the wsie, kicked a young man up acatnst the window, and remarked ■' I was brung up never to alio* a yaUer-eyed man to wink at It is rumoured that only one man in sixty how to gracefully slant himself against a lamp-post and iw>w up a street-car ior not temg iu time. A New York lady was examining an applicant tor the office of maid-of- all-work, when she ?• iollows Well, Mary, can you ecmr tin- ware with alacrity r _<• jf0t ma'am 1 always scour it with sand. Lightning recently struck a tekrapb pole aud ran alon?the wife Into the office at Coaf viUe, lndi^ ^«^ clerk seated at the instrument excitedly telegraphed bae*. >' Don't send so !.lst A young married man, of New York. does not beiievl "a thing of Oeauty u a joy for ever. He says the author of that ktatement ought so see his pretty wife when she's "got her dander up." i. ,j A Nebraska man, on his dying bed, remembered _.JA froa smokicc some h&ms, and te wid. k^rttfaonTgrS^rag .tail mi (orget ttaa ham3." „ It is said that Booth broke his leg for an ment, and the plan has worked very nicely. Ve trust that his success may induce some others to break their A skating rink accident is thus described bya re- norter "She struck out; couldn't turn started for the ceiling • shouted, Don't you look'; turned, gave a spring, and then sat violently down. The stripes were brown red, and well filled." A young Kentucky barrister lately made his maiden speech in defence of a man charged men of the jury," he wound up, "my client is no ™*e guii £ of stealing than a frog that am t got no tall. 1 thank y your attention." „ During the late gale at Nova Scotia, a bwbertook a stroll to witness the destruction In prQcess Md wh^con template the ravages of the .torn some one c.rne running up to him, and exclaimed man," coolly repTiel tCL^erV'' ho w'^an that be, when I've g* the key m ANew York paper gravely. A train on the TJorlthem roadmanto acow the the other day. ^Wdidn^^ to the bee-steak furnished in the boarding-houses of cais section express much gurpriae atT tha slight damage done to the tram. j i: « Q.lav A writer in an American paper aeuvere a oucuør B"hf>ol address, of which tbe f,.l'o»ing passage w an eiample _• you bo>s oiiiht to be kii-d to y»ur little usters. I^ once knew a had Hoy wh-j Btruck his lutie si»wsr a bl^w orertha eye A'thoUih bhe rii.n't fade and d e m the mer-time, wnen the June ro-es were blowing, with the swert words ot forgiveness OIJ her pallid lips, sue rote up and >dt hirn over the head with a rolling-pin, so that he coulou t go to Sunday-*choul lor more than a month, on account beiLg able to put his hat on." An Ohio cawkey saw, for the first time, a school- crtrlTolnc through lIeme of her gymnastic exercises for the of th" hUl" at homfl. After IIot ber with looks of i4terellt and tor a while, he abk«d a boy near by if that gal naa n » "OIL'tU the lad, contemptuously '•toats syim.i«s.ic h, hey' said the verdant; how long ha* the had em An incident in the life of a Yankee farmer is thus j our o'd woman is dead and burled anid we ve the spring oat Good heavens said the shocked man "and the oats In."

THE MARKETS; MA.E.K-LAJSTE.— MOHDAt. The grain trade at Mark-lame has ruled arm but not ac. tive Theie a lair attendance E nglish wheat was in short supply Transactions were not extensive, but for the best sampled a further advance of Is. W VJ** A, regards iortign wheat there were fair supp moderate business was doing at extreme prices, to isn occa- •ional Improvement The supply of barley was moderate. Grinding was unaltered, but a lout mailing realised an ad- vance of It. per qr. on the week. Malt was dhp .sed of at full prices. With oats the market was moderately sup- nlt«d and the market was very firm, at extreme quota- tions.' Maize was rather more plentiful. A good Ltmesswu doing, but the prices realised were about 3d. ner ar lower than on. Monday last Beans and peas were quiet*'but steady. Flour was firm, and prices were well suDDorfced. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MIEKET.-Moroil. The e>:tte tr.de ;to. rnW 'IS.' activity in busmess. buppli w.tv, reference to beasts, the our grazing district8 were about an average. fhere was a nealthy ibquiry, notably for prime and au of 2<1. per 8lb, over the roue curtain on Muuday lasS was For we 8(;1 and crOSBeS 58. 10d. Sufloik iSssex, and Cambridgeshire we received abuut A0CK fro^ other parts of Eug'and aoout and fr.m^col, laUshowo'f ^s^consUtmg'orD.nUh. Spanish, an dD at, h stock. The tra ^e was firm.r, *t fuU prices Tne sheep pe were fairly filled. transactions p quotations were well supported. Tne best Downsand halt h realised 6a. lOd. to 7s. per Sib. Lambs were duU anl neglected, selling at from 7s. to Si. per 8 b. Calves m moderate request; best qualities steady m value. Pigs sold s'owl? At Deptfcrd there were 700 German beasta. Coarse and inferior beasts, 4s. to 6s. second quauty ait*>, 6s to 6s. fid mime large oxen, 6s 8d to 6s. 10J..prune Scots, Fi* lOd to (it coarse and Inferior sheep, 4s 6d. to br. 6- j life /littn ft* fid. to 6i prime coarse £ °°2? es. lOd. to 7. large lambs, 7s. to 8s. per 81b, to siuk the ofial. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET. MONDAY Trade was good this morning despite the warmer weather and prices were well supported for an cIaaaes uf meat. Th", suDDly was moderate, interior beef, 3). 4d. to 4s. miau s ditto, 4s. to 4s 6i pr-me large ditto, 4. 10i. to 6^. prime small ditto, 6s. to 6s bd veal, rjriine mutt-on, 31 81 to 4s. gi middling ditto, SLS&A.» ditto, óa. to 6s. large pork, 4s. to 4a. 81 ditto, 6IS. W I 6a and lamb, 7s. to 811 per 8.b by the carcass. GAME AND POULTRY. CaPOnIl, 6L to IIL f01ll18, 3s. ad. to 6d. chickens. 2s. 6d. to 5% duckling-, 3s, 6d. to 6a. ad. gosltngs, 78. 6.1. te ruft, reeve, redshank, and godwit, 10il. tro 18. 21. Itb6d'to15s 66d. hauache^ofpaddock fed"venison, 60s. ti 63s. each fore-quarters ditto, 10J. to la 2d. per lb. POTATOES. With moderate amvals °S rule firm. Kent r.g^ts. lJ.Os. to 120s'. fluU9st U Victorias," 180s.' to 216a and kidney., ltiU, to 17Õ1. per tOD. HOPS. Owing to the unfavourable weather which has recently pre- valled and to the backward condition ol the growing crop, more firmness has been apparent lnthe hop market during week and hightr prices have been demanded. Alsace hoDr have been principally in request on speculative ac- counts, but now that the weather is more genial buyers will no doubt act with cauiion. F.ne American hops are in reauest, and command extreme raies, but medium and infe- rior piiceli are a slow saie East Kent sroldings, 1*^5. £ ,5 12s to £ 7 76 Mid Kent ditto, £ 3 6s. to £ 6 8s Weald of Kent, £ 2 5i. to £ 6 6s. Sussex ditto £ B to ^5 l°i r- Cf ster ditto, £ 4 l!-s. to £ 8 Frfnham hitt £ 4 1wi to f7' Country d.tto, £ 4 4s. to £ d lis yearhngs, 167*. £ 4 »0s to Bavarian, 1875, £ 3 5a to £ 3 6s. Be" nittn'pi 10 £ 3 Alsace ditto, £ 3 10s. to £ 4 10s.; American ditto, -± to £5 6s. fish. R 3 n. 8.1 0" Turbot, lOs. to 171 ed. eacb V?' ir6 bloaters 6s 01 to 7s. per hundr-d i kippers, 4v to Der bcx^ griUe, Is. 91. to 2s. per lb mackerel, 2., to t a i dczs'n brill, 1b. to 2s. 3i each lobsters, 16i to fru oer^core crabs, 87s. 61. to 60s. per kit native oysters, per bu&htl trout, Ifi. 61. tola. 91. fmo^ed haddock 20s. to 40s. per barrel trawl ditto, 10i. to I2i 6d. per basket 1 V PROVISION. LOKDOS, Monday, May 29 -The arrivals last week Ir- JI Ireland were 74 firkins Butter, and 8,385 balesL from foreign ports 34.905 psckag- s Butter, 39i boxes Bacon. There was an lmproved de^ana iOT ^e finest Normandy Butter .low sfle ^th- ut about 4a, but interior qualities met a slow Sile^ mtb^ rukd firm Pbe°t Vaterf^ri sizeable advanced 2s., and descriSs of Irish about la. In Hambro' no deci -ed chsmge in prices, but a firmer tone m the market. FAY. W HITECH A PEL, Saturday, May 27.-Therewasa fair su?- r»iv of h'av ana straw at the market. With a dull tra .f, ?ri'* »ere rather I <w«-r, as follows Prime Clover, 100s to 145s. Inferior, 8s». to95v Prime meadow hay, 90a to l*os inierior, 55s. to 75a. Straw, 35 to 45s. per load. SEED. LONDON, Mondey, M-.y 29.-There «iL/^thU UM English Clcverseed effesing, mid lutle wanted period of the season. Tbe s ocks light, and mcitly of Inferior qua!ut> limited e*tr ,,t.. lower terms, and Bales nrir.e> st-eatiUy. Gtkuarv« Dutch Hempseed realised f'.rmer^p Mustard- seed was duil and .ness b-iToaly small lots were d. «*■ae"- Uttle Trefoil it left; prl°« unaltered.