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EPITOME OF NEWS.
EPITOME OF NEWS. A stranger called at the residence of Mr. Valentine Ryan, a Tipperary landlord, on Monday evening, and having obtained admission on the pretence that he wanted to take a farm, fired three shots at Mr. Ryan, who had a severe struggle with his assailant. The receipts on account of revenue from the 1st of April, 1887, when there was a balance of £ 5,850,107, to January 14, 1888, were £63,215,875, against £ 64,172,857 in the corresponding period of the pre- ceding financial year, which began with a balance of £ 5,625,914. The net expenditure was £69,188,184, against £71,828,048 to the same date in the previous year. The Treasury balances on January 14, 1888, amounted to £ 1,514,160, and at the same date in 1887 to £ 1,683,072. At a special meeting of the Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday a committee was appointed further to consider the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Acts as they affect the interests of merchants and manufacturers engaged in hardware and other trades of the district, and to draw up a resolution, or series of resolutions, for the consideration of the Associated Chambers at the forthcoming annual meeting. The Local Government Board have sent to Sheffield Dr. F. W. Barry, one of the inspectors of the Medical Department, to institute an inquiry into the serious epidemic of smallpox which prevails in the borough. Dr. Barry, who will spend some time in Sheffield, is inquiring carefully into the circumstances which have operated either to limit or to spread the disease, and his report will be looked forward to with great interest. The lad Saunders, who was charged with causing the death of a boy named Thorpe at Danbury, near Chelms- ford, on Sunday, has been brought before Mr. J. Thomasin Foster, J.P., and discharged. It was stated that during a brief period of consciousness the deceased admitted that the gun went off by accident. At the inquest on the body (Mr. J. Harrison, jun., coroner), a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. Mr. Pope, who was appointed umpire to arbitrate in the dispute between masters and men concerning the engineers' dispute at Bolton, has decided against the demand of the men for a return of the two shillings weekly taken from them in 1886. Mr. Pope considers that the state of trade does not warrant the step being taken. Mr. Justice Wills and a jury on Tuesday concluded the trial of two actions arising out of the tenancy of a house in Netherwood-road, West Kensington. After Mr. Charles Read had taken possession of the house under an alleged agreement with a house agent, he was ejected by Henry Cohen, acting for the Provident Asso- ciation of London (Limited), the association having entered into an agreement with another person to take the house. The jury found a verdict against the asso- ciation and Cohen, with zC300 damages, and in the second action brought against Mr. Read they found against the association. A turf commission agent, named Cooper, at Croydon, brought an action against Mr. Sidney Barnard, of Epsom, to recover JE50, the amount of a bet on Minting for the Two Thousand Guineas. At the trial of the case .on Tuesday, before Mr. Justice Day, the issue turned upon the question whether the plaintiff acted as principal or agent, and the judge decided in favour of the plaintiff. An inquest was held at Chatham on Tuesday evening on the bodies of two women, Horne and Turner, who were burned to death in a fire at the house of Turner on Monday morning. The Coroner's Court was crowded, and much indignation was expressed at the callous conduct of both men, Turner and Home, who saved themselves by jumping from the window of the burning house, leaving the wife of the former and the mother of the latter to their fate. From the evidence it appeared that both men were intoxicated at the time of the occurrence, Turner being described by the police as "crying drunk and Horne as "drunk." A verdict of Death by misadventure was returned, and at the request of the jury the two men were severely censured by the Coroner for their unmanly conduct. A staff of good divers, with the electric light, worked incessantly all Monday night clearing the propeller of the transport Himalaya, at Queenstown; and, after much toil, succeeded in cutting the immense chain which had got wound round the screw. Thorough examination was again made on Tuesday morning in daylight, and it was reported to Admiral Carpenter that the propeller had sustained no injury. The Hima- laya is only detained from proceeding to sea through the prevailing easterly gale. At the Westminster Police-court on Tuesday, a man named Higgins, an organ grinder, was charged with persistently annoying the Rev. Dr. Hiron, a clergyman, by playing an organ in front of his house, and refusing to leave when requested. The complainant stated that he had been greatly annoyed by organ playing outside his house, sometimes after he had gone to bed. The magistrate said such an outrageous nuisance must be stopped, and fined the prisoner ten shillings. The Ramsgate Police-court was again crowded on Tuesday, when Alan W. Richardson was for the third time charged with unlawfully and maliciously wound- ing Charles Pillow with a revolver, on Jan. 1. Mr. W. A. Hubbard (Town Clerk) prosecuted, and said it would be necessary for him to apply for another remand. The condition of the three wounded men, he was pleased to say, had somewhat improved during the last few days, and although one was still in a pre- carious state, hopes were now held out of the recovery of the other two. He proposed simply to adduce medical evidence as to the condition of the injured men. Mr. J. H. Blakeney, house surgeon at the Rams- gate Seamen's Infirmary, said that Pillow had much improved lately, but he was not yet out of danger. The Bench then granted a further remand. Mr. J. Jacobs, Conservative, was on Monday elected member of the Birmingham Town Council for All Saints' Ward by a majority of 237 votes. This is the first time that a Conservative has been returned for the ward since the incorporation of the borough. His success is all the more significant, because All Saints is the most populous of the three wards in Mr. Chamber- lain's division of West Birmingham. The death-rate of London rose last week to 23-6 per thousand annually. The mortality from whooping- cough is nearly double the average. Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Took, and the Duke of Teck, with Princess Victoria and Princess Adalphus and Francis, terminated their visit to the Earl and Countess of Warwick, at Warwick Castle on Saturday. Several thousand persons attended Kennington Oval on Saturday, when the ninth annual football match between teams representing the North and South divi- sions of the country was played, the Northerners win- ning by three goals to one. In the Court of Appeal, on Saturday, the defendants in the action, Millican v. Sullivan and others," sought to have discharged the injunction granted by Mr. Justice Manisty restraining them from interfering with the plaintiff in the discharge of his duties as surgeon of the Queen's Jubilee Hospital. In the result, the judgment referred to was reversed, with costs of the appeal. In receiving the congratulations of the officers of the Sofia garrison on New Year's Day (O.S.), Prince Ferdiaand said that events might soon force Bulgaria to defend her rights, and added: "You will then see that I can die for the defence of our country." It is stated that the delay of the Powers to take concerted action against Prince Ferdinand is due to the insist- ance of the Porte to obtain an understanding as to the ultimate settlement of Bulgarian affairs. A Rome correspondent telegraphs that the Pope on Sunday canonised ten saints in the "loggia" over the portico of Saint Peter's, and afterwards celebrated mass in the presence of 3000 persons, including some 400 archbishops and bishops The members of the Congress of the National Society of French Teachers were formally received on Saturday, after a week's work, by the Lord Mayor of London and the Lady Mayoress, at the Mansion House. An address was read, and the Lord Mayor, in reply, recommended the society to secure efficiency among French teachers by the issue of a diploma. The proceedings were con- ducted in French. Light refreshments were served at the close of the ceremony. The ceremony of opening the Phcenix Club and In- stitute for Working Men and Lads at Ratcliff was per- formed on Saturday night by Mr. C. T. Ritchie, M.P. There was a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen present, and a resolution,- moved by Lord Wolmer, hoping that the club would be prosperous, was seconded by the Bishop of Bedford, and carried. The conference of the Teachers' Guild of Great Britain and Ireland was concluded on Saturday at the Society of Arts in London. Dr. T. D. Morse, Vice- President of the Council, presided, and papers were read by Dr. Wormell, head-master of the Middle Class Schools, Cowper-street; Mr. C. Colbeck, M.A. Mr. H. W. Eve, M.A., Dean of the College of Preceptors and Miss Hughes, Principal of the Cambridge Training College. All hope has been abandoned for the safety of the steamship Darien, of Newcastle, which left Cardiff on the 26th lilt, with a cargo of coals for Leghorn, and has not since been seen or heard of. She is 11 days over- due, and it is feared that she has foundered in the Bay of Biscay. She had a crew of 28 all told, many of whom were Cardiff men. Important additions to two large iron-producing works in West Cumberland are about to be made, steel- making plant being added. The Whitehaven Iron Company are going to put down steel rail-producing plant. The Lowca Engineering Company (Limited), Parton, are adding jE30,000 to their capital to establish works for the manufacture of Siemens-Martin steel for ingots and castings, and the rolling of steel sheets and bars. The Bolton police made an arrest at Bury on Satur- day night, which it is thought will throw light on the incendiarism at Bolton Theatre Royal. The man, whose name is Preston, formerly worked at the theatre, as also for the Bolton Billposting Company, on whose premises he was found concealed on the night of the fire. It is alleged that he made certain admissions to the woman with whom he lodged, which are likely to implicate him in the crime. A powerful addition has been made to the effective list of the Royal Navy by the completion, for foreign service, of the new first-class cruiser Warspite, which has been built at a cost of £ 560,000. The Warspite is fitted with machinery of 10,000 horse-power, with a speed ofl7 knots an hour. She is armed with four 22-ton and several 6-inch guns, together with a strong equip- ment of quick-firing guns and torpedoes. On Saturday afternoon the inquest was concluded regarding the death of Dr. Thomas K. Wheeler, of Belfast. A good deal of evidence was given as to his getting a lotion made containing some prussic acid, and, on his assistant going to paper up the lotion bottle, of his drinking the contents, from the effects of which he died. The verdict was that the doctor com- mitted suicide while in a state of temporary insanity. Two goods trains came into collision at Rugeley, Trent Valley Station, on Saturday. The engines were greatly damaged, and the drivers had a very narrow escape. The traffic was delayed for some time. The signals were against one of the drivers, but he could not stop his train in time to prevent the collision. On Saturday, at Wolverhampton, Frank Royston, acting manager of Messrs. Miller and Elliston's My Sweetheart" Musical Comedy Touring Company, pleaded guilty to embezzling over S5, the money of his employers, and was sentenced to two months' imprison- ment with hard labour. It was stated that the prisoner had been forgiven a like offence in October last involv- ing a sum of £ 50. A blizzard has swept over the North-western States of America, embracing a more extensive area than any yet recorded. Many persons are reported to have perished. A fire has occurred in a wholesale establishment in the neighbourhood of Indianopolis, by which property to the estimated value of one-half to three-quarters of a million dollars has been destroyed. The troubles in Manitoba resulting from the desire of the Conservative party for a system of local govern- ment, and also from their proposals for railways to the United States boundary and Hudson Bay still con- tinue. To these difficulties the retirement of Mr. Norquay, the late Premier, was due, and on this account Mr. D. E. Harrison, his successor, has now also resigned. Mr. Greenway (L) has undertaken the formation of a new Ministry, Mr. Norquay assuming the leadership of the Opposition. The form of the working men's memorial to the late Rev. A. H. Mackonochie, to be erected on the spot where he died, will be a cairn of stones, having a flat stone in front, with a cross and suitable inscription. The Bishop of Argyll and the Isles has secured the per- mission of the owner of the estate for the erection of the memorial. The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland on Saturday hunted with the County Down Staghounds. The meet was at Drumbo, about ten miles from Belfast, and was very largely attended by members of the hunt, visitors, and tenant-farmers of the district, from all of whom his Excellency had a most hearty reception. A dower house is being erected for the Duchess of Albany in the Claremont grounds at Esher. The foundation-stone was laid by the young Duke of Albany: and the mansion, which is to cost about £7000, will be finished by his birthday, in July. News from Bonny states that a British Protectorate has been declared over the Oil Rivers from the right bank of the Benin to the Rio del Rey. All the markets of the interior have been thrown open. By command of the Prince of Wales, Grand Master of the Freemasons of England, donations have been transmitted for the poor-boxes of several of the Metro- politan Police-courts, out of the sum placed at the dis- posal of his Royal Highness by Grand Lodge for assist- ing in some slight measure to relieve the prevailing distress. Mr. Alderman Duncan, one of the oldest members of the Cardiff Town Council, died at his residence, at Penarth, on Saturday morning, from bronchitis. The deceased gentleman was the founder of the South TVales Daily News and the Echo. He was also proprietor of the Cardiff Times. After conferring with some Irish ecclesiastics recently, the Pope exhorted them to use all their in- fluence to restore tranquillity and respect for the law in their country. Serious collisions are reported to have occurred between the officials and the peasantry in Madeira, in consequence of an attempt to enforce a tax which the poorer people refused to pay. Lives are said to have been lost on both sides, and troops have arrived from Portugal. Lord Salisbury has caused a communication to be sent to the Hull Chamber of Commerce and Shipping stating that there is reason to believe that the Russian Government will shortly appoint an official committee to consider the revision of the Customs tariff and regulations. Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., addressed a political meeting at Tunstall on Monday night, in the course of which he repeated his statement that other members of the Cabinet of 1885 besides Lord Carnarvon had led the Irish members to believe that they were in favour of some form of Home Rule. Lord Salisbury himself and Lord Randolph Churchill had done so. This he stated on the authority of Mr. Justin M'Carthy. The following letter has been received from the Home Secretary, in reference to the Jubilee Memorial to the Queen, signed by 1,132,608 women of England: "Madam,—I have had the honour to lay before the Queen the loyal and dutiful address placed in my hands by a deputation appointed for the purpose numerously signed by women interested in the cause of temperance in this country, on the occasion of the com- pletion of the fiftieth year of her Majesty's reign and I have the satisfaction to inform you that her Majesty was pleased to receive the same very graciously.—I am, Madam, your obedient servant, HENRY MATTHEWS. Mrs. E. Spring, 60, Mount-pleasant, Liverpool." The Bishop of London fixed April 10th and 11th for the next session of the Diocesan Conference. Mr. Mattinson, the Conservative candidate for the Walton Division of Liverpool, met the Conservative Committee on Monday evening and for the first time addressed them as their candidate. Resolutions pledg- ing the meeting to use every effort to secure the return of Mr. Mattinson were carried with enthusiasm. The St. James's Gazette states that Lord Charles Beresford has placed his resignation in Lord Salisbury's, hands, and that other changes at the Board of Admiralty are probable. The reorganisation scheme is reported to have fallen through. Lord and Lady George Hamilton returned to the First Lord's official residence at the Admiralty on Monday, from a short visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham. Captain 1-1. C. Wylly, of the Derbyshire Regiment, has been appointed Station Staff Officer of the Dar- jeeling Hill Depots of the Indian army. On the recommendation of the Indian Government a. good service pension has been conferred upon Major General Apneas Perkins, R.E. Mr. R. D. Mason, C.B., Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets, has been awarded a good service pension of £ 100 a year. Sir Henry G. Harnage, Bart., died at Belleswardineji., his seat in Shropshire, on Friday last. He was the only son of the late Sir George Harnage, Bart., by Carolinp Eleanor, daughter of the late Mr. Bartlett Goodrich, of Saling Grove, Essex. He succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father in March, 1866, and in October the same year married Elizabeth Sara Maude, third daughter of the Rev. Richard Egremont, Wroxeter, Salop. For some years he was an officer in the South Shropshire Yeomanry Cavalry, and served the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1875. By his death, in default of issue, the baronetcy becomes extinct. The Deanery of St. Asaph is about to become vacant through the resignation of the Very Rev. Herbert A. James, appointed in 1886, who has accepted the Prin- cipalship of St. David's College, Lampeter, in succes- sion to the Rev. Herbert. E. lloyle, appointed Hulsean Lecturer in Divinity at Cambridge. The Deanery of St. Asaph is in the gift of the Bishop of the Diocese, and is of the annual value of £700. Mr. Henry Manners (Lord Salisbury's Private Secre- tary), writing to Mr. Thompson, Secretary of the Liverpool Demonstration Committee, says that every arrangement made for Lord Salisbury when at Liver- pool was most satisfactory and admirable, and his lordship was greatly pleased and gratified at the singu- larly cordial kindnesses which he everywhere received during his visit there. An inquest was held on Monday, at Hapton, on the body of James T. Hill, the joods guard who was killed by the railway collision at Hapton, near Accrington, during the fog of last week. Hill was not in his van, but was standing by the side of the train, and was killed by a splinter. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed the opinion that the pointsman gave the driver of the express the signal "Line clear" under the impression that the' goods train had passed into the siding. b Robert Preston, a bill-poster, of Bury, was brought' on Monday before the Bolton magistrates, and re- manded, on a charge of burglary. It was stated that the prisoner was formerly employed at the Bolton theatre, but was discharged for misconduct, and that he broke into the premises of the Bolton Bill Posting Company on the morning when the Theatre Royal was burned down. It was also alleged that he was on the theatre premises. Alderman Sir John Staples, K.C.M.G., who recently served the office of Lord Mayor of the City of London, died on Monday morning at his residence in Avenue- road, after an illness of about a week's duration. Sir John, who was 73 years of age, had been a member of the Corporation of London for many years-first as a member of the Court of Common Council and next as alderman of Aldersgate Ward, where he succeeded Mr. Alderman Besley in 1877. He served the office of sheriff in the same year with the late Mr. Alderman Nottage. He was Lord Mayor from November, 1885,. to November, 1886, and during his year of office he raised a large sum for the relief of the unemployed in London. At the close of his year of office he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in recognition of his connection with the hospitalities to the colonial delegates. A man named Burnett was charged, at the Liverpool' Police-court on Monday, with stealing five shillings at a National League meeting in Everton on Sunday, and also with assaulting an official. It was stated that pri- sioner ran away with the collection, which had been placed in a drawer, and, when chased, assaulted his- pursuer. This was alleged to have been part of a con- certed attack on the meeting, windows being broken, and the chairman assaulted. No statement was m tde as to the cause of the attack. The. prisoner was remanded. (.Treat indignation has been excited in sporting circles in the neighbourhood of Taunton by the wholesale slaughter of foxes which has been carried on for some time by enemies of foxhunting. The Taunton Vale, foxhounds, of whichCaptain Fitzroy is the master, have been out eight or nine times without meeting with sport, in a country where foxes at one time abounded. This led to an investigation, and it was discovered that in one parish as many as half a score of gins had been laid, and that the foxes had in consequence become' almost extinct in the district. Captain Fitzroy, being unable to show sport, resigned the mastership, but a meeting was held at which he was induced to reconsider his decision, the owners of covers to be communicated with in order that a stop might be put if possible, to the trapping of foxes. All the more surprise is felt at what has occurred because the Hunt Committee have a very substantial poultry fund, and deal liberally in the way of compensation with tenants who may suffer from-, the depredations of foxes.
LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.! i
LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.! We deem it right state we do not at 5." times ^testify ourselves with our Corespondent's opinions. It is not ranch wonder that we Otosuloners never grow tired. of grumbling -against fogs as long as we continue to be visitfed with such fear- some specimens as those which have lately descended upon us like a The most recent specimc-ns of what Mr. Guss-pT, in Dickens's tale of u Bleak House," called <s' -alLoudou particular," have been so peculiarly distressing and disorgan- ising in their effects, t: \i the most patient dweller within the met? -;>< litan area has been tempted to say strong things. For one thing, ) the train service became completely disorganised, and all who know the part played by the rail- way in the arrangements of our daily life are aware of what a serious matter this is to tens of thousands. There *-<as only one pleasing side to the picture, and that was that, although there were a Cow fatalities, caused by people walking off the platforms in the utter darkness and then being run over, there; was no railway disaster, despite the all-prevail- ing confusion. The perfection of our signalling arrangements could scarcely have been more completely shown and although the continual blowing of whistles and explosion of fog-signals became after a period highly troubling to the: nerves, all could the better be borne with because of the assurance that the noise was a preventive of disaster. But the dream of ever abolishing the fog which causes all the trouble appears to-day to be farther from realisation than ever. A curious social phenomenon is illusteacted by the fact that the time for commencing some of the most popular series of London concerts has been changed from eight to half-past The reason for this is that the fashionable dinner- hour is growing later and later, and the principal patrons of such amusements do) therefore, per- ceive the divided duty of sacrificing 'either their dinner OF the concert, with the result that a compromise has been arranged which, it may be hoped, will prove satisfactory. Within the past generation the dinner-hour has become letter in a rapidly advancing degree, while, if we look farther back, it will seem strange to-consider how early it once was. Even as lately, comparatively speaking, as a hundred years ago, it was thought ultra-fashionable to dine at three in the after- noon, while less than half that period since six in the evening was considered to be a reasonable hour. Nowadays eight or half-past is being adopted in fashionable circles, while in the highest circle of all, that of Royalty, the hour is nine. The natural consequence is that luncheon, once regarded as only a snack," has now become a solid meal, and that five o'clock tea, not so very long since a very ethereal proceeding, is now a substantial consideration. It may be that in the end we shall revert to the system of meals called by our grandfathers dinner, tea, and supper, though called by ourselves luncheon, tea, and dinner. The retirement of Mr. Denning from his office as Chief Inspector of the Palace of Westminster is an event of much interest to all frequenters of the lobby of the House of Commons. The oldest officer but three in the Metropolitan Force, Mr. Denning has been in the police nearly forty-two years, and has just completed twenty-one years' service in the Houses of Parliament. His face and form were known to everyone who visited our legislative halls, and Inspector Denning," as he so long was called, was a name familiar in our mouths as household words. When, a couple of years since, he was raised to the Chief Inspectorship of the Palace of Westminster—a post which was created to reward his long service, and which, it is under- stood, will pass away with. him—it was felt that the promotion was well-deserved by one who had worked so long and faithfully. For the post is one of which the responsibilities are far from light. During Mr. Denning's career, and probably in recent years, provision has had to be made against dangers of no common kind. The fate threatened the Houses of Parliament by Guy Fawkes not far from three centuries ago, has been attempted to be paralleled in our own times and it has required all the skill and often all the daring of our police to cope with the peril. In these matters, as affecting the Palace of Westminster, Mr. Denning has borne a leading part; and his retirement, on the ground of ill-health, will be accompanied by the good wishes of many who may never have seen his face, but to whom his name and public services are familiar. From the time that the Thames Embankment was constructed even until now, there have been recurring suggestions that shops of some kind should be built upon it. The argument was put forward that no thoroughfare, however handsome, could be rendered permanently attractive if the public had not the opportunity of spending a single penny along its whole length and it was urged that it must always be especially dull at night as long as no shop-windows were alight to enliven it. Many a year has passed since these contentions were first put forward, but they had borne no fruit, and at length even those who most admired the grandest piece of engineering skill London has to show, had grown tired of perpetually urging to no effect that it should be made the best use of. And now, when no one in particular was bringing the matter forward, a move is about to be made in the direction indicated, for the plans have been prepared for some shops, to be called "The Facade," under the railway bridge of the South Eastern Company at Chatmg-cross. The attempt is not a very ambitious one, but it is a beginning which may have important results and now that the thin end of the wedge is about to be inserted, it may be depended that it will be so driven home as to make the Embankment what it deserves to be—one of the brightest and most popular as well as the finest of our thoroughfares. The effort which is now being made to pro- vide a national pension fund for such of the twenty five thousand nurses in this country as may be prostrated by disease or rendered incapable of further service by old age, is one which merits hearty support from all classes. A good start has been made by the action of four great firms in the City of London, which contributed no less a total than £ 20,000 to inaugurate the movement; and it may be con- sidered, therefore, to have commenced under most auspicious circumstances. The main object of the fund will be to grant nurses and other hospital officials annuities, as well as allowances, during sickness, so as to secure an adequate pro- vision to those whose lives are devoted to the care of the sick, when their period of work is finished, or when they themselves are attacked by illness. All who know anything of the hard and self-sacri- ficing toil of those employed in our hospitals will agree that the movement deserves every success. The physical and mental strain is so great that even the strongest are liable to break down under it afer a few years' toil; and it is only right that those who do so much to alleviate the sufferings of their fellows should themselves live in hope of being relieved when by reason of these exertions they need a helping hand. Lovers of pictures have just now a good opportunity of gratifying themselves at two of the great London galleries, the Academy and the Grosvenor. The winter exhibition at each most interesting, though perhaps the more J generally popular will be found to be that at the atter, where pictures illustrating a century of British art," from 1737 to 1837, are displayed to view. But admirers of the arts will go to both with the certainty of finding much material for study and admiration. The British school is represented not only at the Grosvenor, where, of course, it is specially in "TiTrTimT-iTii !■ mm Mini inrrnri itt- evidence, but hae some noteworthy specimens at the Academy, one of them having been insured previous to exhibition for the great sum of forty thousand pounds. A winter exhibition, how- ever, has its drawbacks in the shape of darkness and fog, which frequently obscure the view. Gas is not merely a danger but a destructive ascent in a picture gallery: and, unless the electric light has been fitted, up, the darkness and the fog have it all their own way. But thon the winter exhibitions have their compensations also, for they are fess crowded than their summer brethren, at which it is often almost impossible to move. So, taking one consideration with another, picture lovers are not likely to miss two such re- presentative "shows" as those which are now presented for their attention. The football world seems almost to flourish by reason of its disputes, for scarcely a winter passes in which one of these is not brought prominently forward. Last year it was one from the North of England, in which the great question had to be decided whether a club was compelled to have its ground swept clear of snow before a match com- menced and this year the even more momentous pciint was raised of whether a club is forced to make such arrangements as will keep its ground free from the incursions of an unusual number of spectators. Perhaps, by the time that football has been so long established among us as cricket —that is, as a quasi-scientific game—all these points will have been settled so completely that there will be no possibility of dispute concerning them and, perhaps, the very excitement which they now cause may be considered as a testimony to the popularity of the pastime. But it is undoubtedly unfortunate that a more unfriendly feeling appears to be developed by the playing of football than is aroused by the pursuit of cricket. The rushes and the rallies and the physical encounters which characterise the former may explain this difference, though hardly excusing it; and lovers of football may be certain that their favourite game will not attract universal admira- tion as long as it is marked by so much con- tentiousness. A. F. R.
SIR M. HICKS-BEACH ON IRELAND.
SIR M. HICKS-BEACH ON IRELAND. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, speaking at Clifton on Tuesday night, said that if Home Rule were granted to Ireland the only change at Westminster would be that instead of time being wasted over trivial Irish discussions such questions as the commercial and financial relations between the two kingdoms would be discussed. At present it seemed to him that the idea of Home Rule was enveloped in a kind of benevo- lent flummery. Among the gravest symptoms of the Irish difficulty he classed the facts that the men sent to prison for breaking the law were treated almost as heroes by the populace, and that sixty-five of the Home Rule members were returned un- opposed because of the anti-English sentiment in the minds of the Irish electors. There was need for bold and sympathetic statesmanship, and, though a separate Parliament and Executive should be with- held, the Irish members should be granted as great a voice as the Scotch in the management of their own national affairs. He would submit two considerations to those who were inclined to sympathise with the attacks made on the Government. If Mr. Matthews and Mr. Balfour—(cheers)—had really deprived Irish- men of free speech, and were using the Crimes Act to torture and murder their political adversaries, it would not require the personal abuse and scurrilous language levelled at them to rouse the English people against them. (Cries of "No.") Then, it was not wise to believe implicitly everything we read in the English newspapers, and that caution was specially requisit3 in regard to Irish affairs. Our language did not mean the same thing in the mouth of a fervid and imaginative Irishman, and in the mouth of a cold and cautious Englishman. If we heard that an Englishman was killed we immediately la- mented his death, but if an Irishman told us he was killed we knew he was only seriously bruised. (Loud laughter.) We ought to apply that rule to all the fervid rhetoric, all the sensational crimes, all the accounts of police outrages which from one side or the other we saw culled from every part of Ireland as the staple of the Irish news in our London daily journals. (Hear, hear.) He believed the Government had only acted strictlv within the limits of their constitutional duty, and that they had deserved the thanks of the nation by making real progress in the establishment throughout Ireland of the supremacy of the law. (Cheers.) An English Local Government Bill was to be the next important business of the session, regarding which he would only remark that he hoped the Government would be wise enough not to attempt to ride rough shod over local associations in order to secure a kind of ideal, and that too much ought not to be expected from it. Another great'subject which must occupy the time of Parliament was finance. He trusted the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his acknowledged financial genius, would be able to make a great saving to the nation by reducing the interest on the National Debt. (Cheers.) A resolution congratulating him on his return to health, and hoping he would speedily re- sume his place as a Minister of the Crown having been passed, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach said he had lost his health in the service of the country, and if the country required his services again he would give them as long as his health permitted him to do so, but he was not impatient to be in office.
FIGHTING AT HANDOUB.
FIGHTING AT HANDOUB. COL. KITCHENER'S JAW BROKEN. On Tuesday morning, before daybreak, according to the Times' Suakim correspondent, a force of friendlies," freed slaves and deserters who have been enrolled in the Egyptian forces, numbering in all about 460 men, attacked Osman Digma's camp at Handoub. The Governor-General, Colonel Kitchener, with the mounted corps, awaited the result a few miles in the rear, hoping to capture Osman Digma if the attack proved successful. The friendly force surprised and captured the camp, and completely dispersed the enemy, and, considering them completely defeated, pursued them in all directions. During this pursuit a large body of rebels recaptured the camp from the rear, and, having large supplies of ammunition, forced the friendlies to retire. The mounted corps was obliged to cover the retreat. On our side Colonel Kitchener was wounded on the right side of the jaw with a bullet, Bimbashi M'Murdo was wounded in the knee with a bullet, neither wound being con- sidered serious, and three Egyptian soldiers were wounded. The friendlies loss is not yet known, but it is supposed to include six killed and 20 wounded. The loss on the side of the rebels was very heavy. Osman Digma fled on a camel after the first few shots had been fired. About 150 men, women, and children took advantage of the attack and came in with the mounted corps. The cavalry was under the command of Bimbashi Hickman, and the camel corps under that of Bimbashi M'Murdo. An official telegram received at Cairo states that Colonel Kitchener's jaw was broken by the bullet which struck him in the fighting near Handoub. Fifty more deserters have come in from the enemy.
PENSION FUND FOR NURSES.
PENSION FUND FOR NURSES. A GIFT OF £ 20,000. The Queen's Committee appointed to consider the method by which the surplus of the Women's Jubilee Offering may best be applied for the promotion of nursing have reported in favour of the foundation of an institution for promoting the education and main- tenance of nurses for the sick poor in their own homes. It thus became necessary to consider what could be done to help the nurses, numbering some 25,000, who have to nurse the sick poor in public in- stitutions, and the families of the upper and middle classes in their own homes. No national pension and sick fund can be established by law upon an adequate basis until JE20,000 has been deposited in the Court of Chancery, prior to the incorporation of any such society. The Hospital is authorised to state that when it became known that this money would not be forthcoming from the Queen's Fund, Mr.^Burdett communicated the national pension scheme to some of the leading merchants in the City, four of whom- Messrs. Gibbs, Hambro, J. S. Morgan, and Rothschild -have agreed to provide the necessary £ 20,000. Steps have accordingly been taken to incorporate the National Pension Fund, with the object, among others, of granting to nurses and other hospital officials annuities, as well as allowances during sickness. Letters should be addressed to the Acting Secretary, National Pension Fund, 38, Old Jewry. Although 1500 nurses and hospital officials have registered their names as anxious to join the fund, it has been thought desirable to provide in the deed of incorpora- tion that unless proposals for granting 1000 annuity policies are received and accepted before the expira- tion of two years from January 1, 1888, the £20,000 will be returned to those who have provided it, and the fund will be wound up. Provision has also been made for the establishment of a bonus fund.
A GAMBLING SCANDAL.
A GAMBLING SCANDAL. A somewhat sensational trial took place in Vienna on Monday, in which the names of many highly- placed personages were unpleasantly mixed up. The defendant was a certain Samuel Philip Fuchs, a man of 74, who was being tried for perjury. Fuchs stated, while under cross-examination, that some years ago he lost 100,000 thaler (about £ 15,000) at Baden- Baden to a personage of the highest social position in England, and not having sufficient money, he was compelled to give bills which were all honoured as they fell due. This statement, to the very general 'astonishment, was suffered to pass unquestioned, and has consequently appeared in all the Vienna papers as an undisputed fact. Another of Herr Fuchs's illustrious gambling associates was Prince Gustavus von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berneburg, the prosecutor in Monday's trial, the specific charge against Herr Fuchs being that he had demanded pay- ment from the Prince of a sum of 600,000 mark ( £ 30,000), which he claimed to have lent him. The Prince, however, declared that this money had not been lent him, but admitted that it was a gambling debt, which in Austria as in England, is not recoverable by law. It was on this ground that Prince Gustavus proceeded against Herr Fuchs, who, from his own account, has been considerably vic- timised by his illustrious associates. He declares that he has lost a million florins in gambling, and on the occasion at Baden-Baden above mentioned he lost in all about 200,000 thaler. In the end, however, the jury gave a verdict against the complainant by eleven votes against one. This is the ninth time that Herr Fuchs has been prosecuted for perjury and "false gaming."
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A SLOW match-Marriage after 10 years' engage ment.
BREAD-AND-CHEESE AND BEER.
BREAD-AND-CHEESE AND BEER. Lord Salisbury visited the Wavertree Conservative Working Men's Club while in Liverpool. The club is a most flourishing institution. In the course of a reply to an address of welcome, Lord Salisbury said: I am a great admirer of the institution of these clubs. I ventured to express that view the other day when I was honoured with the task of opening a similar club at Derby, and I got into some trouble with certain estimable people because I expressed a belief, which I entertained very strongly, that clubs of this kind are a great engine in the maintenance of true temperance, and not only do much to maintain sound political opinion and strengthen political organisation, but they raise the intellectual and moral nature of no matter what class who belong to them. I was met by an indignant advocate of what is called temperance-I think, perhaps, that its .principles are advocated in rather an intemperate manner—who said that he had actually seen in one of these clubs a young man having luncheon of bread-and-cheese and beer. I feel the appalling responsibility of supporting an institution which may lead a youngman to have luncheon on bread- and-cheese and beer. My impresion is that if the sub- jects of, her Majesty, to whatever club they may belong, never do anything worse than consume bread- and-cheese and beer our record among nations will stand remarkably high; and what I would submit to my critics is that if human nature is so depraved that it must have bread-and-cheese and beer, it is far better that it should be consumed if it may be so in the company or in the society of those with whom you ordinarily mix, and of those who are more or less select associates, than in the society either of boon companions or of perfect strangers, because in the one case there would be a restraint preventing you in any excess in these dangerous elements—a restraint exercised by public opinion, and in the other case there would not. Depend upon it the healthiest thing for men is healthy association with the best men of their own class, and any institution which encourages that has something higher than a political because it has a moral and intellectual value as well.
A SOCIALIST LEADER.
A SOCIALIST LEADER. Citizen -the Parisian Socialist leader, reports a representative of Galignani, who inter- viewed him the other day, "lives the life of the people in a modest apartment, with but few preten- sions to gentility-or even comfort. It is true he is a bachelor, and, on this account, begged his visitor to excuse the apparent disorder of his reception. This, however, was not as marked as that of some public men of greater importance in the annals of the world. His table was strewed with addressed envelopes, con- taining, apparently, visiting cards, indicating an adherence to the obsolete canon of French etiquette at this season. On the wall were pictures betraying the political complexion of their owner. At one side of the room was an engraving of Washington; at a little distance the eye fell upon a copy of the Assemblv of the States-General at Versailles; opposite hung a work of art entitled The Triumph of Order," evidently referring to the suppression of the Commune. A portrait of Gustave Marotteau receiving the coup de grace from the Versaillists, the prone body of another victim of the insurrection, and the well-known print of Marat, brandishing his pistol with ferocious mien, did not exhaust the catalogue of pictorial adornments. The merest tyro in the art of divining character from surroundings could not fail to see that he was in the abode of the pure. The host himself, however, was the least revolutionary-looking article in the place. M. Joffrin has the open look and quiet manner of a respectable secretary of a mechanics' institute, so to speak. His full, clear eye and well-developed brow betoken honesty and intelligence.
CHEAP GERMAN GOODS.
CHEAP GERMAN GOODS. Mr. Raine, the Ame.iican Consul-General in Berlin, at the conclusion of a lengthy report, containing numerous and varied statistical tables, on the .trade of Germany, sums up the results at which he arrives as follows My report shows conclusively that Germany, encouraged by 15 years of peace, and forced by its increasing population and the demands of the times, applies all of its industrious levers not only to hold its own, but, if possible, to excel its numerous competitors in the world's market. The disciplining forces of the Government, more or less centralised, give every possible aid, and the two-fold object of fostering industry and trade and augment- ing the taxpaying ability of the nation is clearly discernible. Still it is feared that the uncontrollable spirit of competition neutralises in many directions positive success and while sales and exports make a tolerably fair showing, this is chiefly attributable to low wages and the consequent possibility of underselling foreign competitors. I notice a feverish anxiety to produce cheap goods, and if much of the latter, notwithstanding our high tariff, can be sold in the United States, with greater or smaller profits, it demonstrates the fact that German goods are in demand more on account of their cheap- ness than quality. Germany is more than'ever de- pendent upon foreign markets for the disposal of its manufactures. Its protective policy may secure to it the advantages of the home market, though my state- ments show that the anticipated rise, as, for instance, in grain and many other articles of home origin, has not been realised. On the contrary, my report shows that the general effect of the protective policy is far from having met all the anticipations of its advocates. I cannot say that in the great strife among nations, especially of Europe, a permanent commercial policy must be considered as doubtful. There is a drifting tendency in all directions, and positive calcu- lations as regards the future are impossible. The factors at work on this side of the Atlantic are of so conflicting and uncertain a character that a report can only treatupon present appearances."
THE EASTER VOLUNTEER MAX (E…
THE EASTER VOLUNTEER MAX (E UY RES. His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief gave directions the other day that steps shall be taken to ascertain what are the views of the commanding officers of the metropolitan volunteer corps in regard to the employment of their regiments during the approaching Easter holidays, which this year fall at the end of March and beginning of April, or a fort- night earlier than last year. His Royal Highness has suggested that for the artillery brigades the most suitable course would be for them to assemble at Portsmouth, where considerable bodies of the men could be quartered in the forts and barracks, not only those in Portsmouth, but also in the forts at Gosport and the vicinity generally; and that the operations to be performed should be participated in by naval as well as military forces. It is also suggested that at Ports- mouth the volunteer artillerymen could have practice in the use of bigger guns than those with which they are ordinarily acquainted. The only artillery corps which at present has applied for Easter quarters at Portsmouth is the City of London Brigade, which will, it is expected, have the use of Fort Cumberland for several days; and the London Rifle Brigade has applied for Eastney Barracks, and the 1st Surrey for Fort Southwick. But though Portsmouth has been suggested by the Duke of Cambridge, it has been also intimated that should any commanding officers prefer to take their regiments to Eastbourne, Dover, or any of the other places which have been formerly used by volunteers for their Easter manoeuvres, the proposals made will have every consideration at the hands of the military authorities; and already three or four corps have applied for leave to occupy barracks or huts at Chichester and Shorncliffe. The proposition to have independent manoeuvres in the Eastern counties for the military cyclists has not yet received the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief; and present indications rather point towards the cyclists being, as last year, attached to one of the marching columns to be organised so soon as the sites for the field days have been definitively settled.
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MISTRESS (arranging for dinner): Didn't the ma- caroni come from the grocer's, Bridget ?" Bridget: Yis, mum, but Oi sint it back. Every wan av thim stims was impty." A WOMAN can see with perfect distinction with her eyes shut tight. This is a peculiar gift; but there are thousands of husbands in the land who, owing to their ill-success in sneaking upstairs at two a.m. in their stockinged feet without waking their wives, are will- ing to swear that there are plenty of women who can hear with their ears shut tight.
EXPLORING IN ANTARCTIC
EXPLORING IN ANTARCTIC REGIONS. The New York Herald London correspondent writes: From information obtained at the Admiralty and at the Royal Geographical Society, I am enabled to state that at the present there is no question of fitting out any South Polar expedition but the idea of the so- called Antarctic Exploration Society is to stimulate private enterprise by the promise of bounties for passing beyond certain latitudes. Sir Allen Young, the veteran Arctic explorer, has been sounded on the subject, but so far has not shown any disposition to take an active part in pushing research into those dreary regions. The fact is, the society, as at present situated, is not in a position to offer a sufficient in- ducement for any one to undertake a voyage solely with the object of research. The pecuniary support obtained up to the present is limited to the promise of £ 5000 from the Governments of the Australian colonies provided the Imperial Government will grant a similar amount.
THE MARKETS.
THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE. At Mark-lane a quiet but steady business has been, passing. The sales of home-grown wheat in the lead- ing markets of England and Wales during the first 20" weeks of the season have been 1,257,028 qrs., against 995,324 qrs. last season, at an average of 30s Id, agamst 32s Id per qr. barley, 1,744,853 qrs., against 1,673,114 qrs., average 28s lid, against 27s 2d; and oats, 139,840 qrs., against 190,710 qrs., average 15s 6d, against 17s 6d per qr. English wheat, with a slow inquiry, was tolerably firm in value. Foreign realised* full prices, but the demand was only moderate. Flour was firm and fully as dear. Malting produce was in request, and fine samples realised extreme currencies, ruling about 6d to Is dearer on the week. Grinding was firm with prices tending against the buyer. Oats were in quiet demand at late rates. Maize was firm and rather better. Beans were weak. Peas were raw- altered. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. The cattle trade has been quiet, without any par ticular feature. Fair supplies of beasts come forward from our own grazing districts, and the quality and condition were about the average. There was a want of animation in the demand, the tone of the market being flat, but fine breeds were tolerably firm in value. The best Scots and crosses changed hands at 4s lOdto- 5s per 81b. Foreign beasts were in short supply and- slow request at late rates. The sheep pens were fairly well filled. A rather steadier demand prevailed but prices remained much about. the same. The best Downs and half-breds sold at 5s to 5s 2d per 81b. Calves and pigs were in moderate request, at about late rates. Quotations Coarse and inferior beasts 2s 4d to 3s second quality ditto, 3s to 4s prime large oxen, 4s 2d to 4s 6d ditto Scots, &c., 4s 8d to 5s; coarse- and inferior sheep, 3s4dto 4s; second quality ditto. 4s to 4s 6d prime coarse-woolled ditto, 4s 8d to 5s; prime Southdown^ ditto, 5s to 5s 2d; large coarse- calves, 3s to 4s prime small ditto, 4s to 5s large hogs, 2s 4d to 3s; neat small porkers, 3s to 3s 8d per 81b to sink the offal. METROPOLITAN MEAT. A large supply was on offer. The trade was very slow, and top quotations not general. Inferior beef, 2s Od to 2s 8cl; middling ditto, 3s Ocl to 3s 6d; prime ditto, 3s 8d to 4s Od; Scotch ditto, 4s Od to 4s 4d; American, Liverpool killed, 3s 8d to 3s lOd; ditto- killed, hind-quarters, 3s 4d to 3s 8d ditto, ditto, fore-quarters, 2s 4d to 2s 8d; English veal, 4s Od to 4s 4d; Dutch ditto, 2s 4d to 4s Od inferior mutton, 2s Od to 2s 8d; middling ditto, 3s to 3s 8d; prime ditto, 4s Odto 4s 4d Scotch ditto, 4s Od to 4s 6d • New Zealand ditto, 2s 4d to 2s 8d; large pork, 2s 8d to 3s 2d; small ditto, 3s 4d to 3s lOd per 81b. by the carcase. JFMSH. Fair supply and demand. PricesWholesale: Cod, 2s to 6s each brill, 8s per stone; turbot, 12s per stone; soles, 90s per box plaice, 16s per box fresh haddocks. 6s per box; whiting, 6s per box; mackerel, 5s per score live eels, 18s per draft; dead eels, 9s per draft; lobsters, 20s per score; crabs, 20s per pad smelts, 2s per basket; bloaters, 4s per box; kippers, 4s per box dried haddocks, 2s to 6s per dozen shrimps, Is to 2s per gallon oysters, 4s to 15s per 100. Retail: Cod, 3d to 4d per lb.; brill, 9d per lb. turbot, Is to Is 2<1 per lb. soles, Is per lb. live eels, Is Od per lb. dead eels, 9d per lb. fresh haddocks, 2d to 3d per lb. plaice, 6d to Is each; whiting, 3d to 4d each; mackerel* 4d each; lobsters, Is to 2s each crabs, Is to 2s each: dried haddocks, 4d to Is each; smelts, 6d per dozen bloaters, 9d per dozen kippers, 9d per dozen oysters, 4d to 2s 6d per dozen; shrimps, 4d per pint. POTATO. There was a moderate supply of potatoes on sale. The trade was quiet at the annexed prices: Magnum bonums, 60s to 100s Regents, 70s to 100s Hebrons, 80s to 110s and champions, 50s to 70s per ton.