The Aberdare Times

ABOLITION OF THE GREEK EMBASSIES. King George of Greece has now signed the official decree abolishing all the Greek embassies abroad, except that in this capital. In future, therefore, Greok interests will be represented in the capitals of Europe by the secretaries of the respective legations, who will officially replace the Ambassadors thus re- moved at one stroke of the pen. The reason for this somewhat extraordinary action on the part of the Greek Government is the increasing difficulty which it finds in making both ends meet, the finances of the country being, indeed, well nigh on the verge of bankruptcy. This must not, however, be attri- buted to the extravagance of the Tricoupis Ministry, as that statesman, although he has undoubtedly created an added expenditure, has worked wonders in the government and financial administration of the country. It is, indeed, with a view to the continued internal development of the country that the drastic measure has been adopted of recalling the foreign Ambassadors, and, although Greek foreign interests may suffer from the change, it will certainly effect a much-needed relief in the Budget.

ENTERPRISE of the LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVER RAILWAY. The London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Com- pany commenced on Monday an accelerated mail express day service between London and the Conti- rent, via Dover and Calais. The steam ships used for the service are the Calais-Douvres and the Invicta, the latter making the passage in one hour and nine minutes. The boat train, to which is attached a luxurious "bogie" carriage, containing four first and two second-class compartments, leaves Victoria daily at 10.15, and passengers by it arrive in Paris at seven o'clock the same evening. The company, it may be added, have commenced the construction of a new pier at Queenborough, for the further develop- ment of the Continental traffic via Flushing. The new pier is to be 650ft. longer than the present struc- ture, and will admit of two large steamers anchoring alongside. As soon as the pier is completed it is in- tended to supplement tho present night service of boats—by which the Dutch and German mails are carried—with a day service, and in anticipation of the increased traffic three powerful steam packets are being built for the Royal Zeeland Steamship Company, whose boats run between Queenborough and Flushing.

GOSSIP ON DRESS. ',Î A FAsiirolf writer in the Queen says: The sailors plaint, that the sun crossed tbs line at an inauspicious moment, and that nothing but wind and storm and chill would be our portion this year until we bad passed the longest day, seems to be being literally fulfilled, and there is something pitifully provoking in the way we stand shivering in our furs, gazing at the tempting shows of summer things in the shop windows which we dare not don. And yet it is curious to note how, by accident, the latest novelties of this season are most suitable to a cold summer; for the charming ginghams, whose varied shades of pink and blue delight so many, are, though as fashionable as ever, last year's introduction but the canvas cloths belong to to-day, and for coolness of look and warmth of feel they deserve especial attention just now. ONE of the prettiest dresses I have yet seen was a combination of plain and brocaded white wool canvas, the underskirt being in long folds of the plain with fans of the brocade let in, whilst the drapery, which waslong, was of the brocade trimmed with the f ashion- able guipure de laine; a large watered-silk sash com- pleted this costume, which the softness of the material rendered particularly attractive. And another cos- tume for an older person in rich tabac canvas, also trimmed with guipure to match, was very effective. Those who once discover that those new materials combine the desirable ends of allowing you to look summery and feel warm on a cold day, will know what an invaluable aid to health fashion has found this year. WHILST I am on the subject of these woollen fabrics, I may mention an opera cloak (I was going to say), on)y it is a modern reading of that word which I am going to describe, which is now being made for a lady who is about to be married, and whose hus- band, although they will go out a great deal, does not possess a carriage. This cloak is long, reaching to the hem of a short evening dress, and is composed of a rich brown shade of brocaded woollen canvas; the lining is of the richest buttercup yellow satin, showing through the canvas, and the effect, either in sunlight or gas, is of glinting gold the trimming around neck and sleeves and down the front is a cascade of brown guipure to match, whilst the effect ia carried out by a judicious intermixture of gold tassels, and both at the neck and waist this novel cloak is tied with gold cord and tassels. The intention, which owes its origin to Palis, is further carried out by n most becoming bonnet to match, so that even when going to parties in a hansom, the wearer will look both neatly and picturesquely attired. IT is odd to notice how, even in dress, there is a certain balance of power, and during the last fort- night, when all the handsomest dresses which have been prepared for this London season have appeared for the first time in public on their wearers, it has struck me curiously that, whilst the prevailing taste for the most exquisite but expensive brocades in gold and silver, and even in seed pearl embroidery give no scope for economy in the dresses of those elders who aspire to fashion, there is a marked tendency to re- duce the amount which it is necessary to spend upon girls, in order to make the best of theiv fair young freshness. Net is much used now, and also tulle, whilst, rising in the scale of expense, gauze and crepe form the chief and most fashionable materials for this season's ball gowns. A young lady is well dressed now if she has a full treble net skirt, whose sole trimming consists of either one large sash, or else a judicious arrangement of long narrow bows and ends on the skirt; and a silk, plush, or moir6 bodice will last out many of these. White is more than ever th9 fashion this year, but in Paris there is a return to yellow, and all shades of this becoming colour are being used there for evening wear. Moires, too, are again the fashion, and one large French firm has for some months past been buying up all the surplus stock of this material, which taste in England has turned against; so I suppose it will be some little time before we re-introduce it here, and J. certainly think its harshness compares unfavourably with the charm- ing new sott silks we now get from Lyons. THE terry velvets and terry silks of to-day aro exquisite, and the soft folds and draperies which they lend themselves to, render them especially adaptable to the present fashion of dress. I saw an exquisite bridal robe the other day, which is being prepared for a wedding early in July; the entire petticoat was of draped terry silk and soft gauze puffings, whilst the bodice and train were to be composed of the richest frise velvet, and the effect was admirable. Now that stamped and fris6 velvet has established its popularity, it is astonishing to what a pitch of perfection the French manufacturers are bringing them. I saw some exquisite specimens from Lyons the other day, the grounds being of the richest coral- pink, pale blue, and buttercup-yellow whilst the elaborate pattern of flowers, in velvet which was partly fris6, partly cut, was white, which gave a depth and richness to the effect that is almost indescribable it. was as if the wind had caused a rose tree to shed its bloom upon the richest satin ground, and one felt it was the perfection of the weaver's art. I HEAR, by the way, that terry silks are being largely used in the Princess Beatrice's trousseau, and no wonder, though I am sorry when any French in- troduction runs so near as this does to Irish poplin for the French understand the art of dyeing to per- fection, and they excel in the shades which are so fashionable now. THE prettiest ball-dress I have seen this season hid the bodice and panels of the richest yellow satin, out- lined with skeleton leaves in terra-cotta filoselle, whilst to carry out the harmonious blending of colour the skirt and draperies for the bodice were of deep terra- cotta net, and the effect was excellent. THE latest novelty, says the Lady's Pictorial, in tho way of parasols consists of handkerchiefs printed with heraldic patterns placed one over the other so that the corners of one square come in between the corners of another. They are also made in squares of ecru with a band of coloured velvet. Another new shape in black satin lined with spangled red is just like the inverted cup of a dwarf campanula blossom. The Battenberg of black silk and lace and velvet is another new and very pretty shape, which will be most acceptable if Phoebus really does cheer us with his rays by-and-bye. At present he seems as far off as if it were February instead of May. ——i^——i—9

CO-OPERATION. attention has once more been directed to the sub- ject of co-operation by the Co-operative Congress, but in the discussions which have taken place no new facts of much importance have been brought out. With regard to co-operation for distribution, it is generally admitted that excellent results have been accomplished. The movement has put tradesmen on their mettle, and even if it had had no other conse- quence it would have been of real benefit to the community. Unfortunately, productive co-operation does not seem to make very rapid progress. At one time it was believed by social reformers that all our hard economical problems were to be solved by co- operative production and we may still hope that the idea has a future, for under favourable conditions it evokes some of the best qualities of the working class. But there are many formidable obstacles in the way. In the first place it is becoming increasingly difficult to carry on successfully any business which is not conducted on a great scale. Competition is driving small undertakings from the field, and co-operative producers, like individual capitalists, can hope to make considerable profits only by being prepared for large expenditure. Again, one of the most essential conditions of productive co-operation is that there shall be rigid organisation, and a readiness on the part of each partner in the enterprise to sacrifice his own notions in deference to the will of the majority. This is a condition with which English workmen are not very ready to comply, although, no doubt, their pre- judices in favour of extreme individualism are to some extent giving way through the influence of Trades Unions. A still more serious difficulty is that societies for co-operative production need managers who are both prudent and enthusiastic. An individual capitalist has the strongest possible motives for looking sharply after the minutest details of his business. If any mistake is made, it is he who will be the principal sufferer; if his schemes prosper, the profit will be his own. The manager appointed by a body of co-operative producers is not p-rsonaily so deeply concerned, and is not, therefore, likely to do his work so well unless he happens to be a man of exceptional ability and character.—The Graphic,

THE DEATHS OF TWO SHEPHERDS ON RONA. Her Majesty's fishing cutter Vigilant, has arrived at Stornoway from Rona Island, having on board Mr. Ross, procurator fiscal, Drs. Ross and.Mackenzie, and Superintendent Gordon, who had gone to Rona to investigate the circumstances attending the fate of the two shepherds who were discovered dead on the island some weeks ago. The party report that they had considerable difficulty in effecting a landing, but that they ultimately got into a small bay on the east side of the island. A landing having been effected, the bodies were exhumed and a post-mortem exami- nation made by the two medical gentlemen. There was no appearance of injury on any of the bodies, both had apparently been in good condition and well fed. In Macdonald's stomach were found a few grains of undigested oatmeal, and in Mackay's a little brown fluid. The cause of the death of Mackay, whose body was found inside the hut, was traced to inflammation of the lungs, and in the case of Mac- donald the doctors came to the conclusion that death bad rc suIted from exposure and cold. After exami- nation the bodies were placed in two coffins and interred in a small cemetery at Rona. In the house where deceased resided a small stick was found, upon which the deceased had neatly notched the days of the week and month during their stay on tho island. They were left on Rona on June 21 last year, and the markings indicated that the deceased were alive up to Feb. 17 last. The bodies were found on April 22, so that the poor men had been dead at least two months before the discoverv.

TERRIBLE MURDER BY A MILITIA- SERGEANT. A terrible morder was committed at Aberystwith on Saturday morning, the victim being a young woman named Price, the wife of a sergeant in the local militia regiment, which had just completed the annual period of training. From the particulars given at the coroner's inquest it appears that Price and his wife, who lived in Poplar-row, Aberystwith, quarrelled about the custody of a child of Mrs. Price. The polico visited the house two or three times during the evening, when Price seemed quite cool and collected. About half-past eleven at night, how- ever, the neighbours were alarmed by loud reports of firearms, and several of them rushed into the house. They found the woman in a pitiable state, as she had been shot through the head two or three times with a revolver, and she expired in the course of a few minutes. On the neighbours approaching, Price rushed to the door, and, placing the revolver to his own neck, again fired, the ball taking effect. He was at once secured by the bystanders, and taken to the police-station, remarking while on the way that he was sorry he had not finished himself. His wound was not dangerous. A verdict of "Wilful murder" was returned by the coroner's jury against Price.

FINANCIAL AGENTS." Courts of all jurisdictions are frequently engaged in adjudicating upon actions brought for commission by the class of men who, for want of a better style, adopt the somewhat nondescript, one of financial agents." These persons make a livelihood by intro- ducing—generally through a series of subordinate agents—money borrowers to money lenders, for a remuneration calculated upon the amount of the ad- vance. What is known as a commission note is generally required to be signed by the intending borrower, and given to the financial agent, stating that upon the advance of such and such a sum so much per cent, is to be payable thereout to the agent. It seems to be popularly supposed that this commission is conditional upon the actual pay- ment of the requisite amount and the de- fence is continually raiaed that the money not having been paid through some difficulty in title. or some onerous stipulation insisted upon by the lender with which the borrower refuses to comply, the right of the agent does not arise. This contention, however, is negatived by the case of "Green v. Lucas." There the Court of Appeal held that where an agent employed to borrow money upon leasehold security finds a person able and willing to lend, but the negotiation goes off by reason of such person dis- covering unusual stipulations which the agent was not informed of, the agent is entitled to the whole of the commission as if the loan had been actually made. It accordingly behoves intending borrowers and their advisers to see that contracts for commission contain specific terms that no commission shall be payable except the advance is completed, where any difficulty exists, or is apprehended, in the security.— Law Times.

SIX CHILDREN POISONED AT WANDSWORTH. On Saturday afternoon the medical staff at St Thomas's Hospital was engaged in attending to an extraordinary case of the poisoning of six children. It appears that shortly before four o'clock on Friday afternoon a number of children were playing in Heeman-street, Wandsworth-road, when they were accosted by a strange youth, about 14 years old, who had in his possession a large phial, and he wanted several of the children to take a drink from his bottle," saying that it contained liquorice," or what is better known as Spanish water/' The boys sur- (rounded the stranger, and four of them drank greedily, others only partaking of a very small quan- tity. The unfortunate boys were directly seized with great thirst, and they had great difficulty in swallowing water. Subsequently the youth who had given the liquid from the bottle, finding that his victims were becoming in a serious condition, de- camped, and made good his escape. The condition of the sufferers became so serious as to cause their removal to St. Thomas's Hospital when it was found they had been poisoned with belladonna. The fol- lowing are the names of the sufferers Charles Day, aged six years, son of a horsekeeper, residing at 15, Heeman-street, Wandsworth-road Charles Dowding, aged nine years, whose parents reside at 38, Heeman- street; Thomas Doel, aged nine years, of 27, Hee- man-street Edwin Powell, aged seven years, son of a laundryman, living at 17, Heeman-street; William Dowding, aged seven, brother of the above; and Robert Powell, aged nine years.

ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AT THE INVENTIONS EXHIBITION. Although it seems to be decided that the exhibition at Kensington of the present year shall receive its distinguishing title from the first of the two sections into which it is nominally divided, there are probably many who will consider that after some fashion it might have received its name from music, the second division of the scheme. This idea will be strengthened rather than diminished after those persons interested in such matters have inspected the remarkably rich and singularly varied loan collection of musical instru- ments, manuscripts, and other objects connected with music, now arranged in the broad gallery forming the upper floor 'of the Albert Hall. The Queen has sent several exhibits, numerous private collections and museums have contributed their treasures, and many cases are filled with old instruments of rare value kindly lent by the Conservatoire Royal of Brussels. When the catalogue is published and the articles labelled it is certain that no one with musical proclivities will lightly regard the collection. Stringed instruments of every kind and degree, whether of the haps-icbord or fiddle families, are remarkably well represented. Some of the violins look so old and worn that they might be passed over as of little worth by persons who are not versed in the history of violin making. Others are painted, inlaid, or otherwise ornamented in the most beautiful manner. In one of the cases of the Amati school there is an instrument lent by the Queen, which has a religious printing on the back that has become faded with age. Another has a representation of the Crucifixion with the Fleur de Lis and French Crown, this spe- cimen of the Amati school being supposed to have been stolen from one of the Royal palaces during the Reign of Terror. Close at hand is a violin formerly belonging to Stevens, the com- poser of the glee, "The Cloud-capt Towers," and there are many curious finger boards, bridges, and other fittings. In the case of the Brescian school are violas by Zanetto (1540), by Mazzini (1610), and by Gaspar du Salo, the latter reputed to be the greatest of his school. Instruments of Antonius Stra- diuarius and of Joseph Guarnerius are of course not wanting, and each specimen has its history. English virginals embellished with elaborate paintings on both sides of the cover, one of these instruments having views of St. James's-park in 1666; curious spinets, some of which are so small and neat that they might be carried in their cases under the arm like modern violins; double harpsichords, clarichords; old- fashioned upright grand pianofortes; and quaint organs meet the eye at every turn. In a collection lent by Mr. George Donaldson there is an ivory lute of Padua, some pretty little mandolins, and a guitar case that belonged to Louis XVI. Tiny "kits," used by the dancing- masters of a former century, a costly Italian guitar of the seventeenth century, made of ivory inlaid with ebony, a violoncello used by George IV. when Prince Regent (emblazoned with the Royal arms beneath the finger-board and the Prince of Wales s plume under the bridge), examples of early English fiddles (dated 1666) with a production of a certain gentle- man, who besides being a noted fiddle maker, ia reputed to have been a horsedealer and a gipsy, a square cruuth (a Welsh instrument, the use of which goes many centuries back), the clavichord which Handel used to take with him on visits to the houses of friends; Cumberland musical stones, a cumbrous hand harp which Mary Queen of Scots gave to one of her maids of honour, uncouth bagpipes, awkward- looking wood instruments, and bulky "serpents," and some regals are also among the objects that seize attention even at a cursory glance of an exhibition to which many persons will doubtless devote hours. Three rooms are furnished to illustrate as many different epochs in the progress of music. There is an English room of the last century, a room of the 16th century, with tapestry hangings, and pos- sessing the virginal used by Queen Elizabeth, and an elegant Louis Seize room with a magnificent harpsi- chord of the period. Some very fine pianofortes made for personages now living are comprised in the collec- tion. Ono of these is decorated with paintings by Burne Jones. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice, depicted in several oval panels, surrounds the case, and inside the top is an allegory of the Earth and her children. A piano in satin wood and gold, lent by the Queen, is also very conspicuous. There is a mar- vellous assemblage of musical scores, autographs of eminent musicians, and playbills. The Queen lends a case in which are six of Handel's scores, written by the great composer himself and by Smith, his amanuensis. The copy of the "Messiah," in Handel's writing, i8 opened at the Hallelujah" chorus, that of Israel in Egypt» shows the celebrated duet for two basses «' The Lord is a Man of War, with the names of the two singers, Wate and Rhemhold, in pencil at the head of the page. The copies of" Alcina," and of the Dettingen To Deum, are also from Handel's pen. There is a strange manuscript from Lambeth, a Gloria," written by a Dr. Fairfax on taking- his degiee in 1562; the Queen sends her copy of Tallis's Forty-part Psalm; nnd of special interest is the Mainz Psalter, the first authenticated music book, and bearing the date 1457. The engravings and letters of famous musicians are multitudinous, and upon the walls are many fine portraits —particularly by Sir James Thornhill s Handel," and Graffoni's portrait of the same master, both of these produc- tions coming from the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cam- bridge. There are numberless other exhibits that will afford both interest and instruction to visitors having a respect for the antique in Art.

So you don't succeed very well with your school in Illinois ?" No, I had to give it up at the end of the first month." "Did you use the blackboard much ?" No, it was too large. But I used all the other furniture about the room that wasn't nailed down.

THE DISTURBANCE AT A WORKING MEN'S CLUB. 1 The men charged with rioting at the International 1 Club, Percy-mews, London, were again brought up at Marlborough-street on Monday. Mr. Poland prose- euted, and Mr. Abrahams defended. There are cross summonses against a number of the police. Ernest J. Poland, caretaker in the employment of Messrs. Rowney and Co., of 10, Percy-street, next door to the European Club, said that at twenty-five minutes to twelve on Saturday night, May 9, he heard a dreadful disturbance in the club, as of fighting and turning over of things. Some one cried, Murder Police I shall be murdered I" He went up to the first floor, and looked out of window. He saw two or three people on the doorstep of the European Club, who had apparently been thrown out, one of them looking very nearly killed. A number of people came along and spoke to the men, who told them that they had been very nearly murdered and thrown out, and had lost £38. A policeman named Griggs came up and told the people who had been thrown out to stand there," as he should want them at the station. The policeman knocked at the door of the European Club for admit- tance. He was not admitted, but previous to that some one took a brick from a heap in the roadway and threw it through the window of the club. After- wards witness heard the cry raised, They are going out at the back." He then shut the window and went to the back of the premises to protect them, as the mob came in that direction. There were about 100 to 150 people in Percy-street. Messrs. Rowney's premises were between the International and Europe»n Clubs, in Percy-mews. He saw an excited mob coming along the mews, and heard a smashing of glass in Rowney's premises, twelve windows in all being broken with bricks and atones. He went to the front door in Percy-street to obtain assistance, and afterwards returned to the back and saw that all the mob had squeezed into the International Club. He saw a man in the crowd smash six of the club windows with a stick, and he heard the mob call out Kill the Germans." There was then a general mths,\the mob bringing out the club tables and chairs, and breaking them in the mews. There were some police there, but very few. That was about 25 minutes past 12. A large number of police cameatlast. He saw the mob pressintothelnternational Club. Cross- examined by Mr. Abrahams: After the police came in force the disturbance began to quiet down. He saw a lot of persons arrested, but not the man who broke the six windows. He did not see any of the rioters or those persons who threw stones arrested. Robert William Blacow, of 21, Cleveland-street, a cellarman, gave a general corroboration of the pre- vious witness's evidence as to the origin of the dis- turbance. A tobacconist's assistant, named Jones, was the next witness, and while he was giving his account of the disturbance a woman at the back of the court called out, It's not true." She was at once pushed out of the court by a policeman. Mr. Abra- hams protested against what he termed the brutality displayed by the policeman, and a stormy scene ensued, the magistrate ordering Mr. Abrahams to sit down, while the latter, cheered by persons in court, refused to obey the magistrate. A number of excited foreigners outside the court endeavoured to force an entrance. The doors of the court were closed against them, and the attack on the policemen in the court thus prevented. The hearing was again adjourned, the defendants being liberated on their own recogni- sances.

MISS TAYLOR ON HER PARLIA- MENTARY CANDIDATURE. On Monday, Miss Helen Taylor, who has con- sented to contest the North Camberwell Division in the Radical interest, addressed a meeting at the Camberwell Radical Club. She said it was exactly I twenty years this spring since her step-father, Mr. Stuart Mill, was asked to stand for Westminster. It was with great reluctance that he consented, but he felt there were questions which he alone was prepared to bring before the people of England in Parliament. Among these especially was the question of the equal rights of men and women. Twenty years later it was with great surprise that she found a few days ago a constituency in London willing not only to carry on the work thus begun, but to go one step further, and call upon a woman to claim tho legal right possessed by women to sit in Parliament. There was no need to get the law altered. It never had been disputed. Forty years ago Mr. Mill laid down those principles of socialism which she hoped the people of England would soon be prepared to carry out. Proceeding to deal with the questions which ought to be pressed upon the at- tention of the next Parliament, Miss Taylor said the first was universal suffrage, which meant the right to the vote of every full-grown man and woman unconvicted of crime. Hitherto women, whatever their intellect or moral qualities, bad been treated as incurable idiots and lunatics. She was convinced, however, that the men of England, if polled to-morrow, would declare emphatically that an end must be put to such a state of things. Radicals who were content with mere instalments of reform were false to their constituents. Next there was the question of the payment of members and of election expenses by the country, as well as the no less important one of cumulative taxa- tion. An income of ^100,000 a year was enormous and extravagant. When it came up to that amount she would not be afraid to say that she would have the income tax fixed at 19s. in the pound. Moderate Liberals would call that system not practical; but it was practical, and was in existence now in some of the States of Switzerland, and with excellent results. After referring to local self-government, the land, and other topics, Miss Taylor concluded by stating that if thought worthy of taking a share in the political work of the future she would not shrink from the task, and would have no fear of the opposition of so-called Liberals. i

MEASUREMENT OF SEA WAVES. t (Jro £ ?raphic Bureau of Washington pub- lished lately the following results of a series of observations carried out in order to determine the observations carried out in order to determine the length, depth, and duration of ocean waves. The longest wave hitherto observed is said to have bad a length of half a mile, and to have spent itself in 23 seconds. During storms in the North Atlantic waves sometimes extend to a length of '500 and 600 feet. and lasts from 10 to 11 seconds. The most careful measurements of the height of waves give from 44 to 48 feet as an extreme limit; the average height of great waves is about 30 feet. Of course those measurements refer to ordinary marine action, and do not relate to earthquake action or other exceptional agencies.

THE QUESTION OF POSTING PROOFS. At the last weekly meeting of the Balloon Society of Great Britain, Mr. A. Clifford read a paper on the subject of "Posting Proofs, as a simple and profitable adjunct to the Post Office." Dr. Cameron, M.P., presided. Mr. Clifford began his address by stating that in the Postmaster-General's report for 1879 an allusion was made to his system, which had been in operation for twelve months, for the verification of the posting of letters. The report declared that the system had met with no response from the public, but he contended that people would have been glad to resort to it if they had been aware of its existence. The weak point, he said, of the Post Office was that it was powerless to deal with letters intended for despatch and delivery which could only be considered as pre- sumptively confided to its care. In tho matter of missing letters the Post Office was really not so much to blame as the often blundering and careless public. He submitted that some proof of the posting of letters and parcels and the sending of telegrams was required. His proposal was that the Post Office should sell to the public small cheque books con- taining a dozen cheques at the rate of 3id. per book, a farthing stamp being impressed on each. A small portion of each leaf should be gummed at the back to enable it to be affixed again when returned from the Post Office stamped with the stamp of the day, or attached to a copy of the letter or to a book for refer- ence. This cheque would be a proof of the posting, ) and would bear the date of the office at which the letter was posted. The scheme would, in his opinion, bring in a clear profit of £200,000 a year, and would cost nothing to adopt. The Rev. H. Little proposed and Mr. Creswell seconded the following resolution That this meeting, having heard Mr. Clifford's explanation of his system, believes that if fairly tried it would meet a widely-felt want, and cordially recommends it to the favourable re-consideration of the postal authorities." The chairman supported the scheme, and saw no reason why it should not be adopted, as the expenses would be nil and the profits certainly something. The system had not yet been fairly tried. In the discussion which followed the scheme met with a good deal of support, but several members urged the objection that In the posting of a large number of letters too much time would be occupied in stamping the cheques and comparing the addresses. The resolution was agreed to. Votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman closed the pro- ceedings.

REGISTRY OF SHIPPING. A Government Bill has been introduced by Mr. Holms, M.P., for transferring the control of the regis- tration of British ships from the Commissioners of Customs to the Board of Trade. Provision being made for retaining the present registrars, the Board is in future to appoint the registrars of shipping at ports and other places in the United Kingdom. However, without the consent of the Commissioners of Customs no officer of Customs is to be so appointed. In fixing the number of registrars the consent of the j Treasury is to bo necessary. For the Port of London 1 the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen is to be the Chief Registrar of British ships. The bill contains a new scale of fees relating to inspecting a register and obtaining copies of it. I

When a couple are making love by moonlight their feeling is one of in-fine-night bliss. Little Girl: "Papa, did mamma say 'yes' to you right off when you asked her to marry you ?" Papa: Certainly she did." Little Girl: Why don't she say yes' now just as quick, when you ask her to do things ?" Papa Mamma's hearing is not so good now, darling—that's all."

THE SALVATION ARMY. The annual meeting of the Salvation Army was held on Monday evening in Exeter Hall, when General Bcoth delivered an address on The Rise and Progress of the Salvation Army." It was just three years, he said, since they opened their Congress Hall, and they bad made a steady and remarkable advance. During those three years they had been tested and tried in almost every way. They had been tried by persecution, and their trials continued. One of the captains had been sentenced to one month's imprison- ment in York for singing in the market place, two officers were just out of gaol in Leeds, and in Brad- ford a captain had been sentenced to eight days' im- prisonment for carrying on the operations of the army. In Switzerland thirty of their soldiers were in prison, and, to show the virulence and hatred of some towards the army, a policeman threatened to summon a captain for praying for him. They bad just commenced in German Switzerland, and were doing very well. In the United States and Canada no fewer than 600 Salvationists were suffer- ing imprisonment. They had been tried by persecu- tions, by lawsuits, and by deep and abject poverty, but out of their trials the Salvation Army had come victorious. As to the results, so far as the outside world was concerned, they had not been able to please the devil. He believed the devil hated them more than he did last year. He was sure they had not pleased the world, but they had not tried to do so. They had maintained, and did maintain, sound orthodox doctrine. If the rank and file of the army were tested, he believed they would be found the most orthodox Christian organisation on the face of the earth. During these three years they had gone steadily forward in the track of holy self-sacrifice and labour, for the salvation of the wor:d, and they had justified all the reasonable expecta- tations that had been raised concerning them. Seven years ago the colours of the Army were flying in two different countries, now they were flying in seventeen. Seven years ago they had 81 corps, now they had 1050. Seven years ago they had 127 officers and paid assistants to carry on this war as leaders, now they had 2650. Seven years ago they had just one newspaper, a small monthly magazine now they had 22 separate publications, 19 of which were news- papers, with a united circulation of something like half a million per week. If he lived till 1900 the Salvation Army would have its great international world centre temple, in which by telephones and different plans they should be able to make 50,000 people hear the glorious announcement that the Salvation Army had at least two million soldiers who were willing to die for the Lord Jesus Christ. They had falsified all the fears entertained concerning them, and amply repaid all the prayers, sympathy, and money in- vested. The Prime Minister of the Colony of Victoria had promised to try to induce his Parliament to grant XIOOO towards the home for the rescue of fallen woman started by the Salvation Army in that colony. They were going forward, and had started a column to go through the villages of England. They were to have caravans in every county, and they were now seriously contemplating extending their operations to China. If war had broken out between England and Russia they should have been able to offer the Govern- ment two hundred nurses, on condition that they should be permitted to nurse English and Russians alike. A Salvation navy was about to be started, and a gentleman had giveu them a steam yacht one hundred feet long, by which they would be enabled to go up and down the coast among the fishermen, sailing into all the different ports, and making a Salvation sensation wherever she went. A collection was taken to defray the cost of prosecuting the work, and a considerable sum was contributed.

GREAT STRIKE IN THE UNITED STATES. The great strike of the iron workers which is throw- ing 100,000 men out of employment began on Monday. All the iron and steel mills west of the Alleghany Mountains, and north of the Ohio river are idle. The severest effects are felt at Pittsburg, where every large mill is closed. The strike has been ordered by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers in consequence of a reduction of from 20 to 25 per cent. in the wages ordered by the Manufacturers' Alliance. There is no angry feeling on either side. The manufacturers say that wages have been higher than the state of the market made it possible to pay. Thev havQ not been reduced in proportion with the price to which iron has fallen. They say they prefer to close their mills rather than to be manufacturing in the present condition of trade. The prospect is that unless the men surrender, nearly all the iron furnaces in the country will be idle during the summer. The stagnation in trade is unprecedented. The iron manufacturers in New York say that the closing of the mills will have little effect on prices, because there is no business doing. They say they shall be glad to close also, as they are losing money constantly.

THE EASTER VOLUNTEER MANOEUVRES. Official reports upon the recent Easter manoeuvres have been issued from the War Office. They contain many points of great interest in connexion with the work and improvement in the training of the Volun- teer force. Lieutenant-General Sir George Willis, K.C.B., in an elaborate review of the whole manoeuvres, concludes as follows Taken as a whole, the improvement shown by the volunteers engaged in the operations at Brighton on April 4 and 6 was most marked, and the greatest credit is due to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, who must have devoted so much time and trouble, and have incurred so much expense, in bringing the force to such an advanced state of efficiency. The following were the chief errors noticed in the work performed by the infantry. A tendency with many battalions to advance when under artillery and infantry fire in close formation, such as quarter columns, columns of fours. A reluctance to lie down when engaged with the enemy, and, when not called on to advance, not sufficient readiness to take advantage of cover. The order of attack was in many instances not formed sufficiently soon. When at last the battalions did advance in extended order, from want of sufficient practice (regimentally) the distances were not properly kept between files, and the righting line often got into groups, which diminished the available front of fire, and would, in action, expose them to unnecessary loss. Again from Iwant of practice in work with other regiments in brigade, many of the battalions were observed soon to lose the directions, and thus got so mixed up with those on the flanks as to cause some confusion. At times the firing was rather irregular but most of the generals agree in reporting that the fire discipline has improved. In many of the battalions the volley-firing, whether from sections or half-companies, was noticed to be steady and well regulated, the company officers having an evident control over it. I would strongly recommend that, in the training of voluu Leers, great attention should be paid to the method of firing; also that the commanding officers should require more instructions to be given to the companies of their battalions individually in drill in extended order, a drill which as laid down in Part 2 of the Field Exercise (from sections 22 to 26 inclu- sive), can be easily practised by even a small com- pany in a confined piece of ground. Very great advantage would, I am sure, be derived by the Volun- teers if the number of brigade drills in the course of the year could be Increased. At present they have so few that when a large force of men is got together, many of the mounted officers find themselves rather at a loss how properly to direct their battalions. I would therefore recommend that when two or more battalions can be got easily together, brigade drills should he arranged as frequently as possible. In- stances occurred of the too close approach towards each other by the opposing forces, and in one instance bayonets were fixed, and the advance continued much too close to the defending force. The bands were in many cases out of hand, and did not remain in their proper places during the attack and defence. These are errors which are quite within the control of regi- mental officers to correct when their attention is called to them."

DEATH OF AN AUSTRIAN POET AND NOVELIST. German literature has suffered a great loss by the death of Alfred Meissner, the Austrian poet, novelist, and dramatic autbor, who died on the 29th inst., at Bre- eenz, in the Tyrol, aged 63. Alfred Meissner's father, Dr. Theophilus Meissner, was a popular author, his mother was a Scotchwoman, born at Inverary. The family was Protestant. Alfred Meissner was born at Teplitz, Bohemia, and. graduated as a Doctor in Medicine at the University of Prague, but he soon gave Ujj his practice, and in 1846 published his re- markable epic "Ziska," which treats of the life and fate of John Huss. Meissner was a great friend of Heinrich Heine, and his second important work pub- lished in 1849 was called The Son of Atta Troll," feeing a continuation of Heine's celebrated political satire. Meanwhile, being an enthusiast in the cause of liberty and an ardent Czech Nationalist, Meissner found it prudent to leave Austria during Metternich's jfule, and he spent several years in Paris, where among other things he wrote a volume entitled Re- 'o volutionary Studies," and one called In the Year of Grace 1848." In 1850 he went to London as the guest of Lord John Russell, in whose house he pre- pared for the stage two dramas, The Wife of Uriah and Reginald Armstrong; or, The World of Silver," but neither of these works was suc- cessful on the German stage, nor did he have better luck with a more ambitious drama, "The Pretender of York." Discouraged by these failures Meissner ceased to write for the stage. In 1855 he published his Recollections of Heinricn Heine," then a volume of novelettes, sweet lyrical poems. His first great nove ■■During 5. last years of his life Meissner wrote a great deal for the Austrian papers. His last important prose work was an autobiography in three volumes, which abounds in anecdote and has been much appreciated by critics for the force and freshness of its style.

THE MARKETS. MARK LANE. The grain trade at Mark-lane was dull and weak, being, influenced by the improved state of the weather, the weak-' ness at New York, and fair supplies. English wheat wap dull of sale, and Is to 2s per quarter lower on th.€» week. A similar decline took place in the value of foreign1 wheat, the inquiry for which was limited. Flour, dull1 market country qualities fell 6d to Is per sack. Trans-' actions in barley were limited. Grinding may be written 6<1 to Is lower. Oats declined about Is per quarter on thd week, and were not much wanted. Maize was dull of saleÍ¡ and 6d to Is per quarter easier. Beans, peas, and lentils aU declined 6d to Is p2r quarter. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The total import s of foreign stock into London last week amounted to 13,195 head. In the corresponding period last year we received 23,530; in 1883, 27,753 in 18S2, 15,068 s in 18B1,10,661 in 1880, 27,28-1; in 1879, 20,072; in 1878,i 11,081 in 1877, 10,390. At Liverpool there were receive<f 705 be sts from Baltimore. Thecatt'e trade has be n very quiet. Moderate supplies were olfei ing, and prices tendew, in buyers' favour. The fresh supplies of beasts from our, own grazing districts were only moderate. The demanc^ was very dull throughout, and prices were weak. The best Sools and crosses made 5s to 5s 2d per Sib., but many good animals went at a lower figure. With reference to foreign? beasts the fre'h arrivals were short, but equal to tna demand, which lacked activity, and prices ruled weak. TiML sheep pens were moderately well fiTed. There was a slow, trade at drooping price?. The best Downs and half-breeds" made 5s 8d to 5s lCd per 81bs. Lambs were inactive at 6s 8d t4 7s. per Elbs. Cnlves and pigs sold at about late prices. Coarse and inferior beasts, 4s to 4s 6d; second.quali.,s; ditto, 4s 6d to 4s 8d; prime large oxen, 4s lOd to 5s cots, 4c., 5s to 5s 2d coarse and inferior shee^4sWdto>s2d^ seconds, 5s 2d'to Ss 4d prime coarse w^red ditto 5s 84. to 5s 8d prime Southdown ditto, ™ r? fifl S to 7s • lanre coarse calves, 4s X0d to 5s 6d prime 11 ciXitr, da ■ larire hogs, Ss 6d to 4s and neat small ditto, 5s 6d to 6s ,^argen)K.glbto Totel supply.English Beasts, 2360; sheep and lambs} 11 460 calves, 180; milch cows 30. Foreign: Beasts} 4M cklves, 30. From the Midland and Home Counties we received 870 beasts; from Norfolk, SufEolk, and EssexJ 1000 beasts from Scotland, 160 beasts and from Canads £ 80 beasts. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET. There was a moderate supply on tale. The trade was. exceedingly slow generally, although for prime small sheep and lambs a fair demand prevailed at and abovei top quotations. Prices Inferior beef, 2s 8d to 3s 4d-; mIddling ditto, 38. 4d to 3s 10,4 prime large ditto M 1 ir prime snnll ditto, 4s Od :to 4s 6d vesdj to 4s 4d; inferior mutton, 3s 4d to 4s middling ditto, 4s to 4s 8d; prime ditto, 4s 8d to 5s 8d; large pork, 3s 2d to 3s 6d small ditto, 4s Od to 4a |6d lamb, 6 £ to 6s Sd per 811, by the carcase. FISH. A moderate supply, with a quiet demand. Prices Sal« mon, Is 8d to 2s soles, Is to Is 2d; slips, M to lOd ee's. lOd to Is ?d; balibut, 6d to Slt; briil, 5d to 7d turbot, 7d to 10d; cod 3d to Fd; roker, 3d; plaice, M to 4d; fresh haddock, 2d to 4d; dried ling, 4d; lemon soles, 6d crimped. skate, 4d to 6d hake, 4d; and conger eel, 3d to 4d per Ib mackerel, 2d to 6d; lobsters, 9d to 2s 6d crabs, 3d to 2s each. POTATO. A fatr supply of potatoes were on offer. There was a moderate demand, as follows Scotch regents, 80s to HOs Kent ditto. 70s to 95s; Victorias, 70s to 95s; mMrnuin bonums, 60s to 60s champions, 50s to 60s per ton. New- Jersey kidneys, 18s to 20s: Malta round. 8e to 9s ner ewt.

SUICIDE OF A LUTON MERCHANT. On Sunday afternoon it was discovered that Mr. S. Lane, of the firm of Lane and Lambie, straw hat and bonnet merchants, of George-street, Luton, had shot himself through the head in a spinney half a mile from the town on the Luton Hoo estate. He was a man about 40 years of age, widely known and universally liked for his genial disposition and general kindliness. He attended Harpenden Races on Friday, when he seemed unusually depressed. On Saturday morning he went to London. Nothing more was heard of Mr. Lane till on Sunday after- noon, when some boys going through a spinney found his dead body. They informed the borough police, and Inspector Rogers and Sergeant King with Dr. Thomson hastened to the place. About a yard from him lay a six-chambered revolver, which was quite new. Three chambers had been discharged, and the others were loaded. It would appear from the injuries to the body that the unfortunate man first tried to shoot himself through the heart, as there is a wound in the body on the left side, and the track upward of a bullet; and that being ineffectual, he seems to have exploded another chamber into his mouth, which passed through the head, and was fatal. His unusual visit to London was to purchase R revolver. On him was found his gold watch and chain, over £ 10 in money, and his first-class season ticket between Luton and London.

The man who dreamt he dwelt in marble halls, woke up to find that the bed- clothes bad tumbled off.

lltisallaimras Intelligence HOlltE- FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. iHB INVENTIONS EXHIBITION. — The number of visitors to the International Inventions Exhibition for the week ending 30th May was 211,633; total since the opening, 491,642. ANOTHER DRAMA BY THE LAUREA.TE.-Lord Tennvson is writing another historical drama, which will be a sequel to Becket, and is collecting his detached poems, which will be issued with new lyrics. A MONSTER SKELETON.—An almost perfect skeleton of the mosasaurus has just been found in a quarry near Mons. It has the extraordinary length of 55 feet nine inches, and will be preserved at the Natural History Museum at Brussels. Swiss SLAVERY. The slave mart may be seen nowadays in free, Republican Switzerland. At Bienne, in Canton Berne, the public crier lately hired out four children of a widowed mother to the lowest bidder, to prevent the family becoming a burden on the public funds. The little ones ages varied between eight and two years, and they were hired for from £ 2 15s. to 91 2s. for the remainder ot the year. LIBRARY PRESENTATIONS.—Lord Crawford has pre- sented a complete set of his Bibliotheca Lindesiana to the Wigan Reference Library. The copy is on fine paper, and it has autotype photographs in addition to the photo-lithographs. There is only one other copy thus treated, and it is in her Majesty's library at Windsor. GERMAN RAILWAYS.—-First-class carriages are not much required on some German lines. The statistics have always shown that they are little used. On one of the State railway systems in the year to March 31st, 1883, only three passengers in a thousand travelled first-class, so that most of the trains must have had no first-class passengers at all. USLFUL HINT.-To test the enamel at tinning of cooking vessels, &c., for lead, M. Fordoz recommends a drop of strong nitric acid placed on the enamel or tin- ning, and evaporated to dryness by gentle heat. The spot where the action of the acid has taken place is then wetted by a drop of solution of potassium iodide- five parts iodide to 100 of water-when the presence of lead is at once shown by the formation of yellow lead iodine. A NEW READING.—In an article in the "Catholic World," a Mr. Pallen, of New York, contends that the "Idylls of the King" are not to be taken literally or historically, but allegorically-that" Arthur means the Soul; the Round Table," the Body Merlin," Wisdom Lady of the Lake," Religion; and the Three Queens," Faith, Hope, and Charity. Mr. Pallen states that he has received a letter from Lord Tennyson, written by his own hand, accepting his interpretation of the meaning and purpose of the Idylls of the King." THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—The trustees of the British Museum have just acquired two interesting studies by Anton Van Dyck for his magnificent picture of King Charles I., lately purchased by the National Gallery from the Duke of Marlborough. The sketches are for the horse only; they are executed in pen and bistre on tinted paper, and were formerly in Sir Joshua Rey- nold's collections of drawings by old masters. A fine study by Van Dyck in water-colours for the trees in the background of the picture is also in the Depart- ment of Print and Drawings, British Museum. Among the drawings lately acquired by the tiustees of the British Museum are the following: An autograph illus- trated letter by John Flaxman, R.A., dated from Rome, July 4,1791, addressed to Mr.William Hayley, Fartham, near Chichester, submitting a sketch for a monument afterwards erected to the memory of the poet Collins in the Chichester Cathedral; a study for The Sleeping Bacchus in the Houghton collection by Luca Gior- dano; The Giant's Staircase and the Great Door of the Ducal Palace at Venice," by Fancelli; a drawing in red chalk of a boar hunt, by Giorgione; a study of a head by Tiepolo; and an interesting sketch of Queen Charlotte, by Cotes. VICTOR HDGO's WILL.-Victor Hugo is stated to have left a considerable fortune. It is said that he has £ 120,000 deposited with Rothschilds, besides a greater sum in the Bank of Belgium, and his freehold pro- perties in Paris and Guernsey. A special clause is reserved in his will—made in 1875.-disposing of the copyrights of his works. The theatrical copyrights are left to M. Paul Meurice; the rest to M. Vacquerie. Besides the money bequeathed to his family, f 40,000 is set aside for an object which is not very clearly defined. The will, it is said, is a mystery, and seems to be a docu- ment setting forth his political, philosophical, and social views. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. — The entries of stock for exhibition at the present year's annual meet- ing of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, which opens at Preston on July 15, fall rather short of the number exhibited last year at Shrewsbury, the total being 1613, against 1687 last year. The show of horses, however, is in excess of the Shrewsbury meet- ing, being 438 against 407. CORN AVERAGES.—The following are the average prices of British corn for last week, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise: Wheat, 34s. lid.; barley, 28s. 8d.; oats, 22s. 9d. per imperial qr. Corre- sponding week last year: Wheat, 37s. 7d.; barley, 28s. 9d.; o»!s. 21s. 2d. LAST WFEJ\s "WRECKS.—Ten British and 13 foreign vessels were reported during the week as actual wrecks, of which four were British steamers; but only three vessels (all British) were lost off the British coasts. By collision only one case occurred a French barque sinking off America, with 22 lives. Total lives lost 70, mostly in foreign vessels. Three vessels (two British and one French) wrecked in the ice; two destroyed by fire. Total wrecks for year, 474. Corresponding week of last year: Wrecks, 20; British 14 total for year, 715; by collision (all British), four. WHAT GOETHE RECEIVED FOR HIS WORKS.—A con- troversy on this subject has been long going on in Germany, and will perhaps be settled by a communica- tion lately published in the Leipsic Gazette for the Book Trade," by H. Boehlau, a bookseller of Weimar, who has had the opportunity of referring to documents held by Goethe's family, and also the books of J. G. Cotta, of Stuttgart, the poet's publisher. From these it would appear that between 1795 and his death, in 1832, Goethe received from Ootta 233,969 florins (about £ 20,054), and his heirs down to 1865 the further sum of about £ 23,223 making for the 70 years from 1795 to 1865 a total of £ 43,277. FOREIGN LIVE STOCK AND FRESH MEAT. — The following steamers arrived at Liverpool during the past week live stock and fresh meat on board from American and Canadian ports Barrowmore, 705 cattle; Brooklyn, 662 cattle; Lake Nepigon, 280 cattle, and 674 quarters of beef; Helvetia, 379 cattle, 1780 quarters of beef, and 350 carcases of mutton; Nevada, 2140 quarters of beef, and 600 carcases of mutton; City of Chicago, 960 quarters of beef, and 200 carcases of mutton; Ger- manic, 780 quarters of beef, and 200 carcases of mutton; Samaria, 1028 quarters of beef Illinois, 1200 quarters of beef; and Lord Olive 982 quarters of beef, making the total imports 2026 cattle, 9644 quarters of beef, and 1350 carcases of mutton, against the preceding week's arrivals of 3415 cattle, 345 sheep, 8104 quarters of beef, and 1108 carcases of mutton, showing a decrease in the supply of live stock, but an increase in that of fresh meat. DBATH OF "OLD MARGARET."—The habitués of the Houses of Parliament will learn with regret of the death of Mrs. Davies, better known as Old Margaret," at Westminster Hospital. She had for over fifty years administered to the wants of hungry and thirsty visitors to the old and new Houses of Parliament, and she had the exclusive privilege of setting up a fruit stall in Westminster Hall. Captain Gosset obtained subscriptions from members of Parliament amounting to more than £100, and Inspector Denning has kindly attended to the wants of the genial old applewoman since she left Westminster Hall. THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The additions to the Zoological Gardens dunng the past week include a white-bellied beaver rat, a white-bellied sea eagle, two stump-tailed lizards, a great cyclodus, a diamond snake, from Australia, presented by Mr. E. P. Ramsay, C.M.Z.S.; an Australian cassowary from Australia, presented by Mr. T. H. Bowyer Bower; four Pucheran's guinea fowls from East Africa, presented by Com- mander C. E. Gissing, R.N.: a kestrel, British, pre- sented by Mr. 0. A. Marriott; seven striped snakes from North America, presented by Mrs. A. H. Jamrach a common viper, from Epping Forest, pre- sented by Mr. F. W. Elliott; two lions from Africa, two pumas from South America, deposited; a collared fruit bat, four upland geese, bred in the nardens.