The Aberystwith Observer

A CANDIDATE for Parliamentary honours wishing to conciliate an old captain of a mine, a voter, sent him a splendid pine-apple from his hot-house. I hope you liked, it, he said to the old man, when he met him a few days afterwards.—Well, yes, thankee, pretty well. But I suppose we sort of people are not used to them fine things, and don't know how to eat 'em.—How did you eat it, then ?-Well, said the man, we boiled it.—Boiled it sighed the donor in horror, thinking of his pine-apple,—Yes, we boiled it with a leg of mutton!

THE IRISH QUESTION. IRISH LOYALISTS IN AMERICA. An important Loyalist demonstration, said to be the largest meeting ever held in Toronto, was held there on Saturday afternoon. Unabated confidence in Lord Lansdowne was expressed, and a resolution was passed looking to the British Parliament for a wise and just settlement of Irish questions. Mr. O'Brien, it is said, is determined to speak at Toronto.

SIR GEORGE TREVELYAN AT THE EIGHTY CLUB. Sir George O. Trevelj an was the principal guest at a dinner of the Eightv Club in London on Monday night. Mr. R. B. Haldane, M.P., occupied the chair, and among the 180 gentlemen who sat down to dinner were Mr. T. R. Buchanan, M.P., Mr. E. R. Russell, M.P., Mr. Campbell-Binnerman, M.P., Mr. A. Cohon, M.P., Dr. Farquharson, M.P., Mr. H. H. Fowler, M.P., Mr. Cyril Flower, M.P., Mr. F. Schnadhorst, and Mr. Stansfeld, M.P. The Chairman having conveyed to the guest of the evening the cordial welcome of the club, Sir George Trevelyan, in responding, said As for himself he had given an absolute promise to support Mr. Gladstone's scheme if the Central Government kept sufficient hold upon law and order in Ireland, and if the Land Purchase Bill was dropped. He would be told that the situation was changed, and that what was wanted in Ireland was a definite and immediate suppression of the Nationalist movement, and the quite indefinite postponement of that sort of settlement which a year ago Liberals and Liberal Unionists were united in demanding. (Cheers.) The true policy of the Liberal Unionists was to have in- sisted, and to insist, on a settlement of the Irish question which could be freed from the main objec- tions which they themselves felt, but which should be bold, thorough, generous, and final. (Cheers.) They should have made such a settlement the price of their support of the Conservative party. Two policies were before Parliament. One was to set to work on such a settlement as he had described, or to meet the demands of Ireland with a flat and contemptuous denial, which policy could only end in the suppression of the political organisation which returned three-fourths of the Irish members, and which could only gain in authority and popularity by being treated as a criminal institution, and pursued by criminal penal- ties. The objection to the bill before Parliament was that it was not a mere strengthening of the law, but that it was a coercion bill pure and simple. When introducing the bill the Government had not con- fined itself to proving that crimes existed, but the speeches from the Treasury and Conservative benches had been speeches for blackening the cha- racter of the Irish members and through them of striking a blow at a majority of the Liberal party. (Loud cheers.) He would take one single instance. Lord Salisbury had stated last month that Mr. Parnell had been publicly accused of conniving at murder. These were terrible matters to introduce into politics. (Cheers.) Mr. Gladstone was opposing the Crimes Bill as unnecessary. In 1883 Mr. Forster, in the House of Commons, using exactly the same epithet, charged Mr. Parnell at conniving at murder. That epithet was known throughout the length and breadth of England, and he at that time regretted the channel into which the debate had turned. Nevertheless, the charge was made, and Lord Salisbury could not deny that the charge in the mouth of Mr. Forster was as serious as the charge in thejcolumns of the Times. And yet with that know- ledge before him Lord Salisbury took office by the vote of the Irish members—(loud cheers)—and he refused to renew the Crimes Bill. (Renewed cheers.) Mr. Parnell's manifesto in 1885 expressed the warmest sympathy with the people who had suffered criminally and by penal servitude under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, and the determination to obtain a separate Parliament for Ireland was cloarly expressed, and on those two grounds alone every Irishman was asked to vote Tory. (Cheers.) With that manifesto before him, Lord Salisbury announced that he ex- pected a great electioneering success, which he knew must come through the Irish vote. (Cheers.) There was no doubt that the furious indignation which the Conservative members have got up against the Irish members have been largely put on for the occasion. (Loud cheers.) The most deplorable feature in the present business was that Ministers had deliberately adopted towards the people of Ireland an attitude of exasperation — (hear, hear) — and he earnestly entreated the Liberal Unionists to reflect what sort of fruit was certain to grow from the seed which was being sown. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that Devon- shire House, which had been the nest in the past of so many efforts on behalf of liberty, would be the quarter from which would proceed opposition which would not fail to be fatal to those clauses, which any Whig in 1776 or 1795, or 1818, would rather cut his right band off than assist in passing. (Cheers.) He had insisted on the necessity of suppressing crime, and that the appointment of judges and the protec tion of liberty and property ought to remain in the care of the central Government. But it was impos- sible to draw from his language or his reasoning the conclusion that with all the frightful and shameful history of the government of Ireland by the party of ascendency, he approved or ever should approve the entrusting the liberty-as far as criminal penalties could affect it—the honour of three-fourths of the Irish representatives to a Government which was administered by the panegyrists of the Orange par- tisans who came with revolvers, for purposes best known to themselves, to the scene of a legal assembly with which her Majesty's representatives had seen no reason to interfere. Poor Ireland, in days not very remote, had suffered quite enough from the tender mercies of such loyal yeomen. In conclusion, Sir George said the truth was that the text of the bills was dead. What survived was the spirit of generosity and confidence towards the Irish people, and the determination to treat the Irish representatives with courtesy and common decency. (Cheers)

-== SOLDIER DOGS; As the world goes round, old fashions turn up again in dress, in arts, m ethics-even in the theories of science and the practice of war. It is but a few years since the lance was condemned as a barbarous and useless weapon, maintained, confessedly, for show alone now it holds the first place for cavalry in the great armies of Europe. The dragoon was mounted permanently his ongmal nature forgotten; we are carefully restoring it. Roman soldiers carried a spade as part of their equipment in the latest of our wars English troops have done the same. When pigeons and dogs are once more summoned to take part in war- fare, it seems almost possible that chariots will come upon the scene again. Goltz Pasha, of the Turkish service, has been lately shown, in Germanv "some very interesting experiments made with dogs trained to keep up communications." He was much sur- prised and gratified, parking that Turkey would have an advantage in this kind of exercise. It is verv true. The breeds used by shepherds in that Empire are various, but all of them peculiarly fitted for the purpose. By instinct, or by generations of training, they have developed a faculty for silence and for minding their own affairs, which we can hardlv understand. None of the habits of ou?sheepdog aJe observed in them. They sit alone on the highest ground available, and watch, dumb even when charg- ing, until the very moment of assault. Thmr indul- gence is, at least as great as any other breed can ST' *2 Th T J3 th% "f Particularly good- tempered- Those who knew Fr^ Buckland's giant Khoordish hound, Arslan will enthusiastically de- clare that he was the very type for soldiering. And all others show more or less the same characteris- c s.

A RELATIVE OF LORD BEACONSFIELD. The death is announced from Leghorn of an old lady who was one of the few relatives of the late Lord Beaconsfield. This (says the Jewitk World) is Madame Sara de Rossi, nee Israeli-Tedeschi. Her mother was Rachael D'Israeli, half-sister of Isaac D'Israeli and S £ hild„ of, grandfather of Lord Beaconsfield. Benjamin D'Israeli was twice married, and his daughter Rachael was the offspring of the first marriage. The first MM • D'Israeli was Rebecca Furtado, who was borrTin Portugal, and, together with her mother, had to flee from the clutches of the Inquisition. Her grave and that of her mother are still to be seen in the cemetery in Mile-end, with the story of the escape inscribed on the tombstones. Lord Beaconsfield's father was the offspring of the second marriage. It is curious to observe that the great Earl, in his introduction to his father's collected works, adopted the history of the Furtados as a family tradition of the Disraelis Madame de Rossi was 90 years of age. She died in the faith of her fathers, but was always TOry proud of her relationship with her haU-ooaiin,

ALTERATION IN THE COINAGE. (From the "London Gazette.") By The QUEEN.—A PROCLAMATION. VICTORIA, R. Whereas by an Act passed in the thirty-third year of our reign, intituled "An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Coinage and Her Majesty's Mint," it is among other things enacted, That We, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, shall from time to time by Proclamation determine the design for any coin. We have, therefore, thought fit to order that certain of the coins made at the Mint, mentioned in the first schedule to the aforesaid act of the weight and fineness specified in that schedule, shall bear designs as follows:- That every Five Pound Piece should have for the obverse impression cur effigy, with the inscription Victoria D. G. Britt: Reg: F. D. and for the reverse the image of Saint George, armed sitting on horseback, attacking the Dragon with a sword, and a broken spear upon the ground, and the date of the year, and with a graining upon the edge; and that every Two Pound Piece should have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the Five Pound Piece, with a graining upon the edge; and that every sovereign should have the same obverse and reverse impressions and inscription in all respects as the Five Pound Piece, with a graining upon the edge and that every Half Sovereign should have for the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription Victoria Dei Gratia," and for the reverse the ensigns armorial of the United Kingdom contained in a garnished shield surmounted by the Royal Crown, with the inscription "Britanniarum Regina Fid Def:" and the date of the year, with a graining upon the edge and that every crown should have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the five pound piece, with a graining upon the edge and that every half-crown should have for the obverse impression i8] the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription Victoria Dei Gratia," and for the reverse the ensigns armorial of the United Kingdom contained in a plain shield sur- I rounded by the Garter, bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y ponse," and the Collar of the Garter, with the inscription Britanniarum Regina Fid Def: and the date of the year, with a graining upon the edge; and that every florin, should have for the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription Victoria Dei Gratia," and for the reverse the ensigns armorial of the United King- dom contained in four shields arranged cross- wise, each shield crowned, and between the shields four sceptres surmounted by orbs, a thistle, and a harp, and a Star of the Garter in the centre, with the in- scription, Britt: Reg Fid Def and the date of the year, with a graining upon the edge; and that every shilling should have for the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription Victoria dei Gratia Britt: Regina F.D. and for the reverse the ensigns armorial of the United Kingdom, contained in a plain shield surrounded by the garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense," and the date of the year with a graining upon the edge; and that every sixpence should have the same obverse and re- verse impression and inscription in all respects as the shilling, with a graining upon the edge and that cer- tain other pieces of silver money called The Queen's Maunday Monies," of fourpence, threepence, twopence, and one penny, should have for the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription V ictoria dei Gratia Britt: Regina F. D. and for the reverse the respective figures 4," 3," 2," 1 (according to the denomination or value of the piece) in the centre, with the date of the year placed across the figure, and encircled by an oak wreath, surmounted by the Royal Crown, with a plain edge And whereas by the aforesaid Act it is also enacted that it shall be lawful for Us, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, from time to time, by Procla- mation, to determine the denominations of coins to be coined at tha Mint, and it is by the said Act provided that any coin of gold, silver, or bronze, of any other denomination that that of the coins mentioned in the first schedule to the aforesaid Act, which is hereafter coined at the Mint shall be of a weight and fineness bearing the same proportion to the weight and fineness specified in that schedule as the denomination of such coin bears to the denominations mentioned in that schedule We have therefore further thought fit to order that a new coin, to be called a double-florin, should be coined, of the standard weight of 349-09090 grains, and of the fineness of thirty-seven-fortieths fine silver and three-fortieths alloy, and should pass and be received as current and lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland at the rate of four shillings, or one-fifth of a pound and that every such coin should have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the florin, with a graining upon the edge. And, whereas, pieces of money of the above des- criptions respectively have been coined at Our Mint, and will be coined there, in pursuance of orders which We have given for that purpose. We have, therefore, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, thought fit to issue this Our Royal Procla- mation and We do hereby ordain, declare, and com- mand that the said pieces of money respectively so coined and to be coined as aforesaid shall be current and lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and that this, Our Royal Pro- clamation, shall come into operation on the date hereof. Given at our Court at Windsor, this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, and in the fiftieth year of Our reign. GOD save the QUEEN.

A TERRIBLE EXPERIMENT. A remarkable exhibition—the Standard correspon- dent describes it as a general rehearsal of a stance of magnetism—was given at the Folies Bergere, Paris, the other day. A cage containing two fine lionesses, named Saida and Sarah, and an immense lion named Romulus, was entered by a mesmerist and his sub- ject," Mdlle. Lucia-a young girl of not more than 20, The magnetiser told her to go into a cage placed against the one containing the lions and com- municating with it by a door. He followed her in and made a few pasees in front of her eyes. In a minute Lucia seemed to be fast asleep. Open- ing the door leading into the lions' cage, the scientist entered it, and, in obedience to his order, was followed by his subject. She walked straight up to the lions, which were kept in respect by a tamer. Romulus seemed to be half asleep, Sarah appeared afraid, and only Saida kept on roaring. The mesmerist then made Lucia kneel down in front of the lions. Her arms were stretched out towards them, and the expression of her countenance changed from that of astonishment to joy. Roused up by their tamer, the lions now began rushing and bound- ing round Lucia, who remained motionless. The lioness Saida was then made to stand on her hind paws' While the tamer held her jaws wide open; the mesmerist ordered Lucia to stand up and walk up to the formidable animal. The subject obeyed with |the utmost composure. Two heavy arm- chairs were then put into the cage, and, assisted by the lion-tamer, the man of science placed Lucia, who was now as rigidly stiff as a board, with her head resting on the back of one, and her feet on the back of the other. This was the barrier over which the lions were made to jump with most for- midable roaring. The gas of the establishment was turned low, Bengal fires were lighted, and the lions, urged on by their tamer's steel whip, roared louder as they continued to leap over this barrier of human flesh and blood. At the last jump the lioness Saida failed to clear Lucia, and sent her rolling on the ground. She fell heavily, but remained inert till the hypnotiser waked her up by blowing on her forehead. On opening her eyes Lucia appeared more astonished than frightened in finding herself among the wild beasts. The performance was over, and Lucia, the mesmerist, and the tamer left the cage, and were greeted with hearty applause by the spectators.

STANLEY AND ftppOO TIB. A Router's despatch, receiijj on Monday, gives the following message from Mat^ QD the Congo River, dated March 30:—During tw* days'stay made by Mr. Stanley's expedition j^bis place in order to organise the caravan to proceed by way of the Falls to Leopoldville, a tttdent here had a con- versation with Tippoo Tib, in^jch the latter entered into full particulars concer^ his past and present connection with Mr. H. M. S^jey. It was at Zan- zibar, where Tippoo Tib, acc^parlied by h's son, had gone to sell ivory, that he^eived Mr. Stanley's letter from Brussels, propo^ to him to enter the service of the Association. legation was then made of an appointment as Govei^ of the Falls, it being merely stated that Tippoo Til^ Beryices would be used on the Upper Congo as near^ p0g9ible to the centre of his operations in Africa. Tkq0 jib mentioned these proposals to his son, who him not to accept them. He resolved to aw»jj^r> Stanley's arrival, offering his services mean^je for engaging 600 Zanzibar natives for the pro. te(i expedition. After speaking of the services he bad rendered to Lieutenant Cameron and gtanley, and particu- larly to the latter on his ^expedition, Tippoo Tib was asked what had dee him to accept Mr. Stanley's offer and to accorn^_ him to Boma. He replied as follows I nev^ cjearly understood the object or the organisation of the International African Association. The Amb chiefs and my- self at first believed on so.9 expeditions organised at Zanzibar under Captain (^mbier and Lieutenant Becker thllot the Europeans Wished to compete with us in the markets of Tabon^ Zanzibar, and export like ourselves ivory and ft^uce of various kinds. We did not know whether S^ and the other white chiefs were acting for the of the Belgians, for Belgium, or for the Interna(^naj Association, and we were always left in doubt onke point. But now that we have seen that such arekt the intentions of the whites, that is to say, of Belgiaus and English, whom we have met on the coast now that they have abandoned this part o|^ £ rjca in order to estab- lish by common accord, we^0 told, between all the great peoples of Europe, a |^e where everybody may freely trade, we see no f"er reason to doubt the good intentions of t\ie whiy who have already done so much in Africa." Bei<|next asked if there were not other reasons which hyj je(j him to accept Mr. Stanley's proposals, Tippooj^ replied, "Yes. I con- fess that at first the idea dooming a functionary of the Independent Congo Stv.; was a singular one to me. But Stanley pointyQut that I should have a privileged position, that tbt8tate on its side could only gain by seeing its estabHshi^^ on the Upper Congo supported by the authorltj^^jj for many years past I had acquired over the pe% of the interior, who all knew me through havingwith me; while as regarded myself, I could 4* but strengthen my com- mercial relations by meai^ the support which the Congo State would affotq to we as to all who were established on its territoiy 1 perceived the justice of these arguments, andlhad moreover, at heart to remedy as far as I co))b the mischief which the Arabs and the population of the Falls had done in destroying the station q Stanley Falls. This act was the result of mlsuDdltstandiDg and imprudence, but I do not think thatlcan refuse to make repara- tion if, as I believe, I \n do so." Tippoo Tib ad- mitted that he was also injuenced by commercial con- siderations of another and said, The circum- stances under which tra^ .g' cal-ried on with the East Coast are no longer so fa.vourable as some years back when I commence;) tiding with Zanzibar and abroad. Trade at that. rjD(j had, so to speak, no existence. I estabhsbeq myself at Houron, near Tabora, with my old fat^, aDd my brother Mahomed Massoudi, wishing first create in the neighbour- hood plantations yieldL Batisfactory returns, and, above all, to monopoli«j°be ivorry trade by establish- ing Arab correspondent) throughout Central Africa, on the shores of the lqeo and as far all Nyangoue. The people of the Cent^ who had no means of dis- posing of their consid^le stocks of ivory, let me have them at a price 'bich enabled me to realise a large profit. In a Sbo;t time I had monopolised nearly all the sources Of ifory production, and all the trade of the Manyuenn^ in my hands. The great difficulty has always to bring the produce of Central Africa to the Ulsrkets of Tabor and Zanzi- bar. At first this wj, eSSY enough, but gradually the peoples of the Oentre became aware that they could also gain soQ¡etbiøg by my operations, and commenced imposing jjeavy tribute upon me for right of way through ^e[r territories. For instance, the Wa-Kundis, who fcjone possess the boats neces- sary for crossing the jjialagarazi, exact exorbitant terms for the use of t!¡elIl. Certain tribes sometimes attacked my caravan^ cftusing me heavy loss in men and merchandise. Eten on the coast the conditions of trade changed. The^erBjans were everywhere, and their pretensions ren^ji business more and more difficult. Great difl|Ctlltje9 arose from this state of things, and on all tbese grounds I concluded that if the trade of Centi\| Africa could follow another route and reach tht%vet by sure roads on which no tribute would have to be paid, and where no diffi- culties were to be apprehended, everybody would be the gainer. what I have seen at Banana and Boma, I behete that 1 am not mistaken, and that traders like onj -n despatching indtoe'eo^go.0111 ^ang°u^ by way of the Falls and the Congo." ° On being asked ^at fae would do oa reaching the Falls, and how h, WQuld fulfil his mission, Tippoo Tib replied: In the first place, I feel sure that Stanley will s,Nd in his enterprise and relieve Emin Pasha. Bois a real Arab for energy ana intel- ligence. I do no[ knovr yet for certain whether I shall go with hj^ &0 jar as Wadelai, but I think I shall. Once ins'H]etj at the Falls, I shall rebuild the stations and sum^^ ajj the Arab and native chiefs to a great niee(^ at which I shall announce to them my nomip^jo'n ag Governor and my inten- tions. They wijj be surprised, I expect, to see me arrive from tbj) side, for the news of my leav- ing Zanzibar ltith Stanley, and of my nomina- tion as Governoteannot reach Nyangouo and Central Africa in less tl^ four or five months, and I shall arrive at the F^ before that time. When order is re-established at the Falls I shall probably undertake a commercial Edition to Nyangoue and the Lake region." The Arab refti name is Hamed-ben-Hamed, the' Sobriquet of Xippoo Tib having been given to him owing to a tw^e^ng 0f the eyelids to which he is subject. The(jest understanding exists between Mr. Stanley and Tijpoo Tib, and the latter has already been of great distance in maintaining order among the Zanzibar ken. Son of an Arab of Zanzibar, Tippoo Tib de(jst8' negroes, and is attached to the whites, whom ^"conversati0n he calls his European brothers.

THita B is a phrenologist in London who can tell the content! 0f a barrel by examining its head. He makes bis with • ffimlet*

pbttIIaiW0MS HOME- FOBEIGN, AND COLONIAL, CENTENARIANS IN AMEBICA.—A correspondent 1\ Syracuse, New York, who is preparing an "Enct- cloptedia of Human Longevity," which will soon J* published and will contain 20,000 records of people Who .1 lived 100 years and upwards, mentions that when tWj United States census was taken in 1880, there then living in that country 4016 persons who were 1°" years and over, the oldest being 140. This (our o°r' respondent remarks) is a pretty good showing I years and over, the oldest being 140. This (our cot- respondent remarks) is a pretty good showing I country (then) with 50,000,000. No country in & world can prove such a record for longevity. f WESLEYAN STATISTICS.—The completed I0! the year just received from the Wesleyan Method^ district connections give the full and accredited n»e^, bership of the Church as 412,311, a decrease of 63 00 ¡ the previous year; the trial membership as 31,4l?J juniors, 52,780, the latter being an increase of ne»™ 8000; and candidates for ministry. 106. These bers will be presented to the forthcoming WeaWYOO Conference at Manchester in July. t 'EXCAVATIONS AT ATHBNS.—The excavation' the Acropolis resulted in the discovery, at a depth twelve metres, of a bronze statue twenty centiffl^J m height, representing Minerva Promachos. ^7, work, belonging to the poriod before the Persian itio sion, is said to be the best specimen of the work of to period which has yet been discovered.. CREMATION OF A RAJAH.—A cremation has plsce at Woking, the body being that of a yo"Jj! Indian Rajah about eighteen years of age. It ''j brought from Blackheath, and arrived at Station about mid-day. The cremation, which witnessed by three Rajahs, with Mr. Eassie, the sectØ" tary of the society, and a few others, lasted about hour and a half. The ashes were taken away» 1'V- said, for placing in water according to an 1°' custom. After the ashes had been removed the in which the body was brought was burned in zj furnaee. This makes the eighteenth body creio* at Woking. w* A RUSSIAN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY.—The EfflP^g and Empress of Russia returned to St. Petersburg "Tj other day, and visited the Kazan Cathedral to p place a votive candle before the holy image of Virgin of Kazan-a religious duty which the us" | Czar always performs just before starting on a 10 i journey. ROBIN IN A QUEER PIACH —Mr. Vandyke writes to a contemporary: Mr. Levi Hunt has shown me a robin's nest in an old tin cup in a dis sewer which runs through part of his market g*1 to One of the workmen found the cup and was about rj examine it. when out flew the bird. This so «taft|S: the man that he threw the cup down, whereupon Hunt picked it up and discovered the nest, which » tained three whole and two broken eggs. The will be offered to Dr. Stevens, curator of the Mu«eum, which institution has on several preVJ01^ occasions benefited by Mr. Hunt's discoveries." ANARCHIST CONGRESS AT MADRID.—Forty-two dejjjj gates from workmen's Anarchist societies Sunday in the Liceo Theatre, Madrid, to open a c° « gress to discuss the programme of their future conduct, and to elect a Council to direct the Pr°^o ganda of Anarchist doctrines. Telegrams of adhe^1 to the principles and objects of the Congress read from several provincial societies. The was orderly. FATAL SOMNAMBULISM.—On Saturday morai ogtg Kirkcaldv, the dead body of a man named Stables found in front of his house. The deceased, it lieved, got out of his bed in his sleep, and stepped 0 of his bedroom window on the third storey, falii0& the ground below—a distance of 40ft. DUEL IN SPAIN.—A Central News telegram Madrid says: A duel with pistols was fought the 9 0{ day here between a young solicitor and a captain e artillery. Both were suitors for the hand of the lady, avid the slighted one sought to get his 10 favoured rival out of the way by a duel. The y? y solicitor was shot in the chest. His wound, 14 believed, will prove fatal.. TYPHOID FEVEB.—The typhoid fever Flint, which has just carried off Dr. Tegid E'Jr medical officer of health for the borough, is ex<tb much concern, 14 fresh cases having occurred. ™ the greatest promptitude, the Mayor, Huntley, has converted the assembly room at 1 Castle into a hospital, and engaged the services of professional nurses to attend the patients. » bedding and clothes have been burned at the patien houses. hfl THE BALTIC AND THE NORTH SEA -The date Of tb ceremony of commencing the construction of the North Sea and Baltic Oanal has again been changed-to tbo 3rd of June. Kiel will be the scene of the ceremony* » LISZT RELIQUHS.—The executors of the Abbe have informed the Burgomaster of Vienna Mozart's piano, the original plaster cast ol Beethov|°,g face, a water-colour sketch of Haydn, and baton, all from the late Abbe's room at Weimar, bequeathed by him to the city of Vienna. u A ROYAL AUTHOR.—The King of the said by continental papers to be engaged on a S1 *jjg of the Conquest of England by the Normans." recent visit to this country is declared to have J3* undertaken with the purpose of personally the battlefield of Hastings.. bat LUTHER'S BIBLE.—It is announced from Berlin the revision of Luther's translation of the Bible is t so far advanced that the third reading of the røln of prophets will commence this autumn. The Minister^ Public Worship has granted the sums necessary for the Revision Committee, which meets at Halle.. A GROWING PEOPLE.—The population in and Wales was enumerated on April 4th, 1881» 25,974,439, and on the hypothesis that the increase or decrease that prevailed between the of 1871 and that of 1881 was maintained, the tion in the middle of 1886 was estimated to 27,870,586. This means an increase of about 1'oV cent. in the five years. A FROZEN FOG.—London fogs are very visitations compared to the pogonip," or frozen of Nevada, U.S.A. On a clear bright day the all » suddenly filled with floating needles of ice, and as yg breathe pogonip is death to the lungs, every CD« forced to rush under cover at once. The fog ia by the sudden freezing in the air of the mois*0^ collected round the high peaks.. THE PRICE OF PICTURES—A correspondent G1^ details showing the enormous rise in the market vaij* of fise pictures which has taken place during the P*f few years. John Wilson has paid 30,000f. f°r "Angelus," and at his sale it was sold for 160,0* The then purchaser, M. Secretan, has refused w* 500,000f. which have been offered by a well»kno American amateur. The picture is 54 centimetres xtfa by 64 in width. •- THE CHANCES OF LIVING.—M. E. Levassfur, of shows that the chances of living long at any £ fe are much greater now in France than they were be 1789. Of 2000 infants—under one year—1180 sur vived in 1789; 1460 survive at present. In 1789, to Dersons out of 2000 reached the age of 40; the number Eow is 1110. In 1789,144 persons out of 2000 lived to the age of 75 the number now is 360. The death- rate of France is much the same as that of England, being rather superior at some ages, and inferior at others. ANTIQUITIES IN THE LEVANT. — The Levant Herald speaks of several discoveries. A correspondent (Mr. Calvert) states in a long article that a mollah bad by a dream secretly excavated in a tumulus at Ohobf Tepease (Shepherd's Hill), on the Bali Dagh, in the Troad. The mollah found a tomb with some ornament of goldjand gold leaf weighing about five ounces, wbic were recovered for the Crown. It is here Mr. placed Gergis. A statue has been found near Manlsa (Magnesia at Sipylum), in Asia Minor, but of late Roman date, and sent to the Constantinople Museum. NOTEWORTHY WORDS.—A Berlin newspaper has been offering prizes for long words, and this is the winner: Transvaaltruppentropentransporttrampelthiertreibertr* auun gsthriin entragodie. The interpretation would be The tearful tragedy of the marriage of a dromedary driver on the transpcrt of the Transvaal troops to the tropics." Another attempt at alliterative word-making1 looks hardly less apalling: Mekkamuselmannenmassen- menchelmordermohrenmuttermarmormonumenteuma- cher,which is supposed to mean the maker of a marble monument for the Moorish mother of a wholesale assassin among the Mussulmans at Mecca PRESIIENT GARFIELD.—A statue of President Garfield was unveiled, with impressive ceremonies, at Washington, the other day, by the veterans of the army of the Cumberland, which he commanded during the war. The statue is in bronze of heroic size, and stands on a high pedestal near the Oapitol. It repre- sents President Garfield standing in an unconventional attitude, his right hand resting upon a book supported upon a column, and holding in his left a manuscript as if about to address the people. The pedestal is 18 feet high, and has about the base three recumbent life-size figures in bronze representing the student, soldier, and statesman.

GOSSIP ON DRESS. SOME women (says a Paris correspondent) are gifted with a talent for looking well dressed on a eum that would hardly furnish others with boots and gloves. Nature may have something to do with their capacities. A tall, awkward figure or a short, stunted one are equally heavily weighted in the race for elegance. Or the secret may lie deeper still. Some- times it is impossible to trace its origin. We say such and such a one sets off her clothes so well, without knowing the why and the wherefore; dressmakers lay great store on these personal advantages in their clients. To them it is much more than actual beauty, and for the woman whose dress allowance is limited it is of immense service. IT is of importance to seize by the forelock all exceptionally good opportunities afforded by fashion. That is to say, if some style appears that does not demand much outlay of expense, it is as well to profit thereby, for you may be sure others will do so, and the novelty Boon wear off. So it will be with the fichu mantles, S "w or never is the time to get one. The marckands de u.>ni:<.auits are selling the beaded collars and plastrons, witii epaulets to correspond, ready to hand. These may be mounted on velvet or ribbed silk, and in another department of the same shop wide pleatei lace will be found, which will serve to make the sleeves-in one, two, or three rows, accord- ing to the width and pleated tulle also, if greater simplicity is preferred. The word chic may be most aptly bestowed en these tulle frillings. When the body of the fichu-mantle (if I may so express it) is merely a plastron back and front, the sleeves have no under part, but are two sectors of a circular cape, the angle, well rounded off, gathered on to the shoulder, and the sides sewn to the outer edges of the plastron; whereas if the mantle is fitted somewhat to the figure so as to enclose entirely, or very nearly, the arm hole, the sleeve may be joined together; in either case it does not reach lower than the elbow. Very pretty fichu-mantles may be made by combining a beaded cape of netted silk with a double plastron. The reader who has one of these capea by her (they caused quite a furore a few seasons ago and then went out of fashion suddenly) cannot do better than utilise it in this way. The beaded net forms the sleeves, and the plastron placed upon it transforms it into a mantelet. If a very light garment is required the plastron made of black gaze maielassS or damask canvas de tele. The capes composed of small gilt steel beads will make up excellently well with highly de- corative gold-beaded passementerie. tt VESTS ornamented with gold lace, on which a shower of small gilt spangles are sewn, are worn with gowns of rather sombre hue to save them trom uni- formity. These spangles may easily be added at home, care being taken to sew them regularly on the outlines formed by the pattern of the lace. Black lace, treated in the same way with spangles, has also a very good effect. A few of the most elegant toilettes seen at the Paris Salon were in white cloth trimmed with gold braid, a good deal of the gold being concentrated on the veet, which in one or two cases, was not in white, like the rest, but in very pale green or yellow. Ostensibly, of course, people go to look at the pictures; but, so far as female visitors are concerned, curiosity with respect to thf toilettes is a secondary attraction. It is always an occasion for the exhibition of pretty dresses. A touch of eccentricity is not considered out of place, and there is unusual searching after artistic effects. I saw this year, and confess to have wondered at, several get-ups of the species termed by you esthetic," and which, though comparatively common in the neighbourhood of Burlington House, are seldom met with here, even in the galleries of the Palais de I'lnduatrie—namely slashed sleeves and basques, high-shouldered mantles of velvet heavy with embroidery and beads cut like medieval gems, plain pleated woollen skirts with Marguerite girdles, and an extraordinary collection of wonderful hats, now affecting the Renaissance style, now reproducing the exaggerations of the latter half of the eighteenth century. Feathers are the necessary attribute of the former, and bows of wide ribbon covering the crown in a chevaux de frise generally decorate the latter. Plaid ribbons of the most brilliant description are sometimes chosen for the purpose. The mania for plaids and checks show no sign of decrease as time goes on, and when it is too warm to wear plaid woollen costumes there will be the plaid foulards and zephyr cloths ready to hand, and in the mean- time plaid surahs are puffed on turban hats, and plaid ribbons rear their bows on the top of straw hats with cabriolet brims. The combination of checked woollen fabrics with the same kind of material, traversed by cross bars of velvet is new and effective. The velvet bars give preponderance to the skirt, the check in its simplicity being draped above and used for the bodice, with facings of the other material. When striped tissues are chosen of a handsome description, the absolute division of tunic and skirt need not be main- tained, only draped breadths c! plain materials intro- duced among the plainly fluted striped ones, the whole being fixed down on a foundation petticoat. When skirts are arranged in this way it is easy-by folding one material over another-to give it the effect of a double skirt. # A LOVELY young countess wore a most poetic gown at her Majesty's Drawing-room, of which the skirt looked as though made entirely of pale pink roses set in their own leaves of green that warms into brown at the edges. This blossom-dress was lightly veiled with crepe of pale rose-pink. The Court train was in magnificent brocade of pink and silver, the design large and floral, as befitted a train worn with a skirt of roses. The silver lighted up the pink in a marvel- lous way, while yet etherealising it. Another dress in pale pink silk was embroidered heavily and hand- Bomely in steel for a depth of about half a yard at the edge. The design grew lighter as it rose higher, and above the knee the embroidery resolved itself into large stars of steel scattered over the soft pink of the satin. The effect was excellent, and was further enhanced by the soft greyness of the velvet train, lined with pink, turned over at the corner, and trimmed with feathers of pink and grey. A white dress was really a triumph of art, so numerous were the gradations in the various tones of the materials and trimmings. The front, in white otto- man, was very richly embroidered in pearls upon the silk. The sides were ornamented with clusters of large white ostrich feathers, bent upon invisible wires in the most graceful of downward-drooping curves. The train was composed of white brocaded velvet trimmed with large white feathers. A spring-like Court dress was in yellow and green, like a laburnam tree when the blossoms just begin to show among the green. The train was in green velvet, lined with yellow satin, which showed only where a corner was turned over and held with a group of green and yellow feathers. The dress was of yellow Eatin veiled with old lace, and plentifully trimmed with green and yellow feathers. A CTHious contrast was observable in a dress and train in which pale blue and terra cotta were skil- fully combined. The dress was of terra cotta-tinted silk, draped in multitudinous folds and trimmed all down the left side with shaded pink roses and ribbons in the two colours, and here and there a pale yellow rose introduced as contrast. The train was in brocade, in which the ground was blue, while the flowers were in mingled tones of terra cotta, shading from the deepest to the palest and relieved with touches of cream-colour. The same combination of pink roses and blue ribbons as that on the dress appeared again upon the train, with here and there an artistically placed yellow rose, which seemed to have strayed in among the pink. The fan carried with this remark- able dress was made of large blue ostrich feathers with shaded roses and a terra cotta feather fastened on one side with a knot of Lhe pale blue ribbon. 0 0 THE wonderful mother-o'-pearl embroidery worn by one lady at the Drawing-room attracted much atten- tion, so exquisite was the workmanehip and so very beautiful the effect of colour. Slender lines of gold, with here a touch of pearl and there of crystal, served to brighten the opalescent tints of the mother-o'-pearl. The whole was on a background of white satin, the gloss and shimmer of which, seen faintly through the tones of pearl, gave to them added value. The rest of the dress was covered with masses of fine Honiton lace. The train was gold and cream-tinted brocade, trimmed with similar exquisite lace all down one side. < A WHITE dress was embroidered down the front in waving, perpendicular lines of gold, the tracery being of the very lightest kind and wrought on white net. At either side, where the net embroidery met the satin dress, there was a river of small waves in diaphanous white crepe. The ejJges of these folds were cut out in Vandykes and buttonholed; so that the simile of waves will not hold good. The folds were held in place with ropes of pearla and gold. The train was green velvet, caught with gold galloon ribbons and lined with satin in the palest tint of green. Another dress, embroidered in perpendicular lines in green and gold, with which were mingled pearl and crystal beads, was thrown into artistic relief by its background of pink satin. Small billows of pink crepe edged the embroidery on either side. The train was made of mignonette-green moire, shot with pink. and lined with blush-pink sfltin. MOST lovely among "shot" dresses was one in which the train was composed of a wonderful moire which looked all pink in one light, all green iu another. According as a fold rose or fell the colour changed and quivered from pink to green and back again. Rufllings of the most delicate pink crepe edged this train, which was lined with pink satin. The dress over which it was worn was made of pale pink crepe, trimmed with sprays of shaded roses, graduating through softest tones of pink to warm • white. The bodice was clustered all over with roses, the whole of one side especially being almost covered with them, the flowers nestling in their foliage of green leaves lightly touched with ruddy brown. A DRESS of unusual beauty was embroidered down the front in wide, straight lines, in gold, pearls, and crystal. The design was seen to the more advantage from its background of white and gold. At either side of the embroidery were wide flat folds of white satin edged with tassels of pearls. The train was of bronze velvet, in a peculiarly happy shade, which, in the high lights, brightened to almost a tint of gold. The bodice, of white and gold brocade, was trimmed with folded bands of the bronze velvet crossing the shoulders and narrowing towards the waist both at the back and in the front. The small sleeves were simply a network of gold and Dearls and crystal beads. A YEP-Y novel contrast of colour, and one which seems to be becoming popular this season, was seen in a court dress of pale cyclamen-pink satin, draped with lace of so pale a pink that it looked almost white, and looped moire ribbons and rhododendron blooms in pink and heliotrope. The train was of heliotrope silk of the softest sort, the centre of it being drawn through and arrranged in careless folds which artistically broke the monotony of an otherwise long, plain train. It was lined with satin, and trimmed with a large cluster of rhododendron blooms, in the two colours of the dress, pale pink and heliotrope. A bunch of similar rhododendrons was fastened on the left shoulder, the trail falling from the right. A beau- tiful train in pink and yellow brocade was hung in a Watteau pleat from the back, and was lined with yellow satin and trimmed with roses in the two colours I the brocade, abundantly embowered in leaves. The dress itself was of white satin, with the front draped with soft white lisse, edged with priceless old Alençon and trimmed with roses, pink and yellow, tLat looked as though just gathered from the trees. A dress in brocade of the new colour, warm and rosy, called sunset pink, on which flowers in cool tones of grey were scattered, was trimmed with chestnut blooms and leaves and worn under a train of watercress-green velvet, edged with fine Brussels lace. Great groups of chestnut blooms trimmed this train, which was lined with sunset" satin. Wherever the blossoms appeared, they were tied with ribbons green and pink, the whole effect being that of a brilliant sunset seen through trees of vernal freshness.

IT'S a solemn thing, young man, said the broken- hearted father, to come into the home of an old man and take away his only daughter, the light of the household, and the prop and solace of his declining years. But you have my blessing, and I wish you every joy, and —— But I won't take her away, sir, interrupted the young man, inexpressibly affected. We'll both stay with you. ONE rough March day the Chief Justice was alighting from his carriage at the entrance to the Four Courts, Dublin, as his official came puffing and blowing from the effects of the gale. You seem quite out of breath, said the Chief Justice, as he shook hands with his official. Yes, replied the other, as I came along the quays the wind was cutting my face. Upon my word, gravely replied the Chief Justice, I think the wind had the worst of it,

THE VENTED ELOPEMENT. A PAINFUL STORY. Emma BaAk,, 22, a stylishly-dressei young woman was charged qia remand at Westminster, on Monday before Mr. ydc0urtwith stealing wearing apparel value about jn the charge of her landlady, Mrs Jessie Gantl^' Qf 46, Smith-street, Chelsea; further with stealing .£10 and some hosiery goods belonging to her late employer, Mr. Frederick Payne, hosier, of Broadway, §ammersmith. Early in April the pri- soner took furnished apartment in Mrs. Gantlett's house, and young man who came with her repre- sented thatgtjg was his sister, and that she would remain a few weeks until she obtained a situation. He frequently visited her, and nothing transpired to discredit the story until the prisoner was leaving, when the Imdlady discovered that a box outside her room belonging to Miss Price, another lodger, had been broken open and articles of wearing apparel abetracted. These were found in Banks' trunk, with othar things stolen from Mr. Payne, in whose service she was until the end of March, when she absconded with £10, taken from a locked desk in the shop. Primer told the detective that she had ar- ranged to go to Western Australia with the young man who visited her, and that their passages were taken. This person was summoned as a witness and he deposed that his name was James Tucker, and that he lived at 38, Redan-road, Hammersmith. He had known the accused about two months and paid her attentions, but had not promised to marry her. He was njarried, but thought of leaving his wife at home and going to Australia with this girl. The clerk supposed his wife was not a consenting party to this arrangement. The witness said she was not. On April 3f,}/ prisoner gave him nine guineas towards her passage Jioney, and he paid it to the shipping agents ou hot jhebalf. Mr. D'Eyncourt told him he had behave very badly, and had deceived and led the young roman into trouble. As two felonies were proved £ 6 could not sentence the prisoner to less than six monj .ha'hard labour.

AT the assizes in Tralee, great noise prevailing in the Court house, annoyed Chief Baron O'Grady. The crier called Silence! in vain. Observing the High Sheriff intently reading a book, instead of preserving due decorum, the chief Baron called aloud, Mr. Sheriff, I tell you that if you allow this noise to continue, you'll never be able to finish your novel in quiet. HE was an artist, courting the daughter of a sea captain. While he was whispering soft nothings in her ear in the dimly-lighted parlour, he was paralysed by the harsh voice of the ancient mariner in a neighbouring room Cast off that painter But she explained that her father often used nautical phrases in his deep, and the engagement proceeded to a finish,