Evening Express

WHY DO WE SNEEZE P Mr. Daniel Owen Asks for the Opinion of Experts. TO THE EDITOR. SIB,-The great philosopher, Aristotle, who was born in the year 384 B.C., said that A man who does not sneeze cannot lire." I pre- sume this applies to the fair sex a.s well. I ha Te known a lady for several years who, when she sneezes, only does so once. I have also known for many years another lady who, when she sneezes, manages to do so three times, and it is quick and loud and I heard a gentleman exclaim some time ago* when he heard her, What » devil of a. row she makes." Last Saturday I wi. J in the office of Mr. D. T. A Wander at Cardiff on business, and heat that time uneezed five times. When I sneeze it lasts for several minutes-I should say three or four-and at times it is very annoying to me, when I have to leave the table. I have never noticed Mr. Lascelles Carr or :1 Morien sneeze. I presume they do so, otherwise, according the theory of the great philosopher, they would not live. I should like to know, through the Western Mail, from medical and other scientific gentlemen, why we should sneeze at all. What is the cause of it ? Another thing I should like to know is, how the sound which emanates from the sneeze is spelt.-I am, &c., DANIEL OWEN. Ash Hall, Sept. 19.

Waist Not, Want Not. 4* the fortnightly meeting of the Neath Board ft Guardians on Tuesday a suggestion was ipade tha.t the supplies of fish from Grimsby £ ould be stopped because of the cholera, but e beard, after hearing Mr. Mills, the uiastor tf the union, decided tha.t the inmates should be supplied with fish as heretofore.

SPREADING SLOWLY. Typhoid Fever Cases are Increasing. CAUSE OF THE EPIDEMIC. iBT OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] The reports that have appeared in the Western Mail as to the extent of the area covered by the typhoid fever epidemic and the number of cases in the Rhondda Valley give scarcely an accurate conception of the seriousness of the outbreak. Inquiries upon the spot tend to show that the situation is even more serious than reported- that its gravity has been rather under-estimated than otherwise. On Tuesday our special correspondent paid a visit to the Pentre and district, which is admittedly the centre of infection. Twelve' months ago typhoid made its appearance, and was not thoroughly stamped out. The cases, however, gradually became fewer, but during the last few months they have increased to an alarming extent; so much so that the Pentre may now be said to be visited by an epidemic. The origin, in the opinion of medical men and representatives of the county council, is de fective sanitation-an opinion which is confirmed by a visit to the bye ways branching out of the Ystrad road, which are out of repair and in a most unsanitary condition. Mr. County-coun- cillor Morris, who conducted the press repre sentative over some of the most infected parts said the visit of Mr. Bruce Lowe, Local Govern- ment Board inspector, was made none too soon. In anticipation of his visit, the back lanes were cleared of the customary refuse. Lime was deposited on the banks of the River Rhondda, and an attempt at improvement was made all round frrm a health and sanitary point of view. But what about that," said the pressman, pointing to the river, which had more the appearance of a stagnant wayside pool than of a running stream. "Oh," replied the coun- cillor, the pollution of the river is abominable, but in the evening it settles down. The unsanitary surroundings are, without any doubt, the cause of the outbreak. The very fact that fever has broken out where the sanitary conditions are most imperfect proves conclusively to my mind that the un- sanitary conditions are the origin of the out- break." Mr. Morris, in his tour with the pressman, was as communicative as could be desired, and pointed out what he conceived to be the plague spots. "See," he said, "how the houses in Ystrad-road are overcrowded. There is one in which 23 people live, and here on this side, in a cellar under the Washington Coffee Tavern, is a family four of whom are now in the house suffering from typhoid-the mother and three children- one boy is in the hospital, three have died within the last three we '.s-the father, a son aged 21, and a girl of 10. There was thus a corpse in the house on three consecutive Sun- days. The cellars pointed out by Councillor Morris all along the Ystrad-road consist mostly of a living and a sleeping room—below the street elevation. The cellars are behind and beneath the houses abutting on the street. Stand- ing on the pavement and pointing downwards Mr. Morris said, There are people living and sleeping down there. Investigation showed that that was so, and that the sewage from the "cellars," so-called, flowed after the most primitive fashion into the river. Behind one of the houses a slaughter-house was pointed out, which can hardly tend to improve matters, and Mr. Morris said a similar state of things pre- vailed at Gelli and Heolfach. One of the leading tradesmen at Pentre, who was also interviewed, said:—In the lower part of the Ystrad-road there is an open drain, which receives all the sewage from the hcuses on the opposite side, commonly knov.n ar Helifire- row." To remedy the evils we complain of the sewage scheme which is now talked of should have been commenced ten or twelve years ago. In the absence of Dr. James, medical officer of health for the Ehondda district, one of his assistants, Mr. Birchall, was waited upon, and said the epidemic was on the decline. He did not know how many cases he had treated, but he had not had a single death. All his patients from Ton to Treorky were pro- gressing favourably. Another prominent medical gentleman, who was next interviewed, said it was strange that Mr. Birchall should have had this experience, whilst he, in the same district had,had his time fully occupied with the treatment of typhoid cases. What were the causes of the outbreak?" In my opinion they are the bad condition of the streets, the throwing of refuse into them, and the contamination of the water supply. The drainage has also something to do with it, because the smell passing the gratings is most offensive, and the river is also in a very filthy state." Is it your experience that the outbreak has been nearly stamped out?" I can hardly say so." Is it increasing?" Well, I have bad fin or six fresh cases since last Saturday." And any deaths ?" "Not lately." During the present outbreak, what have been the number of deaths, approximately?" "I cannot say but there have been a number of deaths. I have now 25 patients." In cellars?" A great many. This medical gentleman pointed to the source •of the outbreak in some cottages at the rear of the local board offices at Ystrad—a most un- sanitary spot. Inquiries all round elicited that the number of deaths are on the decline, while the number of typhoid cases is steadily on the increase. A Doctor's Outspoken Criticism. Our Ehondda correspondent writes :-Dr. Williams, Heolfach, has three fresh cases of fever under treatment, which he say- makes a total during the last three months of 73 cases j and nine deaths. The cases under his charge are scattered over a district which extends from Nebo Chapel to the new Llwynypia houses. Most of the old cases were improving. There were three extremely grave cases under his charge at No. 10, Redfield, and the cause was, undoubtedly, the milk supplied them. Dr. Williams had made a thorough study of fever, and had traced the origin of the epidemic I of typhoid to the milk supply. The rest of the oases could be accounted for by contagion— next-door neighbours and so on attending upon one another. There was a new case of typhoid brought to the fever hospital on the mountain at Heolfach, which showed that the fever has spread in some way. 'There was no doubt, he said, that in the. Rhondda the doctors could have limited the number of cases of fever if the Notifi. cation of Diseases Act had been adopted Dealing with contagion, Dr. Williams said he could trace many cases of fever from contagion. Typhoid could not be inhaled in the air, and the only means of contagion were by eating or drinking. Cases were frequent of women attending cases and afterwards refrain- ing from washing their hands. This was a great source of danger. Another possible source of danger was the germ getting into the water. In respect of the accounts published of the number of cases, &c. in Heolfach there has not been the slightest exaggeration. The epi. demic in Heolfach has been very severe. Re- ferring to the report of Dr. James, the medical officer, at the Ystrad Board on Friday, Dr. Williams said that the doctor said there were only a few cases in Heolfach when really there were over 40, as was pub- lished in the Western Mail last week. At least twenty of the 73 cases of typhoid had been supplied by the same milk and from the same source. Dealing with drains and cesspits, &c., Dr. Williams said that in Victoria-street, Heolfach, just over the river, the stench arising from the river was fearful. He condemned the sanitary arrangements of the place entirely. The inhabitants were rising up against it, and had convened a meeting for the purpose of offer- ing a. protest as regards the sanitation of the district. Councillor Morris's Views. In an interview with Councillor Morris our Rhondda reporter says he made some s tartling alle- gations against the Ystrad Board. Dealing with the Notification of Diseases Act, Mr. Morris asks whether or not it was true that a case of fever existed in Ton for a month and had not been notified to the board, and no effort put forward to prevent its spread. He says that the greater number of the cases of fever have not been reported to the medical officer simply because the doctors did not notify the cases under their treatment. He considered bathing in the river, which receives the filth from 5,000 houses, was a great source of danger. The scavenging tips, especially the one at Gelli, were abominable nuisances. No person could go near them, as on one occasion when he visited this place and saw a load of offal from the slaughter-house he had to hold his handkerchief to his nose to keep out the smell. These tips were a disgrace. There were many houses unfit for habitation in the district. On one occasion, within his recollection, an inspection had been made of some 65 houses in one street, out of which number ou]y nine were reported as habitable and in a fit sanitary condition. Councillor Morris also added that the distress in the district was very keen. The people are very indignant that some of the owners of houses are levying distress for rents accumu- lated only during the strike.

MADAME PATTI. A Grand Success is Predicted for Her New One Act Opera. Signer Emelio Pizzi, the author of Gabriella," the new one-act opera written for Madame Patti's coming tour, at the request of the Diva herself, is now a guest of Madame Patti at Craig-y-Nos Castle, where the opera has just been rehearsed. That it is a success may be inferred from the following telegram received not long ago by Mr. Robert Cocks, of the firm of musical publishers of Robert Cocks and Co., 6, New Burlington-street, London. It is from the great cantatrice herself, and is as follows :—" Have heard Pizzi's opera, and am perfectly enchanted with it. So is Signor Arditi, and we predict a grand success.-Signed, Patti.Nicolini." Messrs. Robert Cocks and Co. hold the copyright for Gabriella in all countries, and will shortly issue the vocal score, with Italian and English words.

iN SACKCLOTH. Strange Conduct of a Tramp at Neath. FREDDY DYSON. Fred Dyson, a. tramp, was sent to prison for Fourteen days by the Neath magistrates on Tuesday for destroying his clothes. Prisoner was taken into custody at the workhouse, a.nd appeared before the bench attired in a spick and span flour sack.

A SPCTLBSS COMPLEXION. — Sulpholine Lotio ■ il. trs off all imperfections in a few days. e.3, Pimples, Blemishes, Irritating Objectionable Appear- mceS, Redness, Roughness, Tau, Uncomfortable Skin Di;<figurcmellts, entirely fade away, leaving a beauti al skin. Shilling bottle of Sulpholine everywhere.

PEDIGREE STOCK. SELLING MR. JAMES HOWELL'S SHORTHORN CATTLE. Mr. James Howell, of The Green, St. Fagans, a picturesquely-situated village about four miles from Cardiff, has during the past few years devoted much of his attention to farm stock. By purchasing from several first-class herds he has been able to get together some of the best pedigree Shorthorns in the country, many of them taking valuable prizes at cattle shows. In sheep Shropshire Downs M'e Mr. Howell's fancy, and in this department he has also soii-3 of the best, while it would be difficult to find in this neighbourhood better pens of pedigree Berkshire pigs. Under these circumstances it is not surprising to find that at the sale which took place at Green Farm on Tuesday there were some of the most pro- minent breeders in the oountry. Previous to the lots being brought under the hammer a luncheon was given by Mr. Howell, who occu- pied the chair. He was supported by Mr. G. C. Williams, Mr. Williams, jun., Mr. R. Stratton, Mr. Daniel Owen (Ash Hall), Mr. Tudor Owen, Mr. Thornton (of John Thornton and Co.), Colonel Fisher, Mr. D. J. Jenkins, Mr. W. Thomas (The Hayes), Mr. Rees Keene, Mr. W. V. Huntley, and Mr. R. Templeton (bailiff to the Marquess of Bute). Among others present were Mr. Gaddarn, Honeyborough; Pem., Mr. Wm. Jenkins, Llanmihangel; Mr. Edward Whitting, Weston-super-Mare; Mr. Rees Thomas, Boverton; Mr. R. L. Grover, Mr. David Evans, Llanelly Mr. Edward Akers, Mr. J. Mynors, Derbyshire; Mr. J. Robinson, Wr^orford; Mr. W. Forrest, Mr. Eobert Evans, Bridgend Mr. L. Gottwaltz, Mr. Griffith Powell, Cog; Mr. F. Ward, Mr. Perkins, and Mr. H. J. Evans. The loyal toasts having been drunk, Mr. Stratton pro- posed the health of Mr. Howell, calling atten- tion to the fact that everything that gentleman did he did well. That was exemplified by the admirable manner he had fitted up the Green Farm for breeding purposes, and by the excellent lot of stock which he had to dispose of. Mr. Howell, he re- marked, was entitled to every encouragement, because the example he had set would lead to the improvement of stock throughout the country.—Mr. Howell responded, and stated that as in the case of the horse sale held in the previous week there would be no reserve. The stock was in the hands of the auctioneers to get for it the best price they could. He proposed the health of Mr. J. Thornton and Mr. D. T. Alexander, who would jointly conduct the sale. The sale then commenced, Mr. Thornton, first of all, taking the cattle, 90 in number, and realising for them close upon £ 1,800, or zC20 a Eead,, The stock was wonderfully well brought out," to use an auctioneer's phrase, and taking every- thing into consideration the prices were satis- factory. Some of the cows, for which Mr. Howell, perhaps, gave JE80 or £90, were sold for R20 or thereabouts, but then they were rather aged, and there is not at present a. large demand for old cows, particularly when there is not a great show of milk about them. Some of the best sold fairly well, "Laurel," calved in 1886, going to Mr. F. Ward, of Cardiff, for 25 guineas, and Cyprus Gem," calved in 1888, to Mr. Oakley for a similar amount. In the South and West of England, and also in South Wales, there is an absence of keep, and this in itself must seriously affect the prices of the older animal. The heifers, however, sold well, the highest one going to Mr. Mynors' farm in Derbyshire. The Marquess of Bute and Mr. D. Evans (Llanelly) were also extensive buyers, while two lots went to Ireland for Mr. Robin- son. A beautiful red and white yearling, out of Cyprus Gem," by Duke of Barrington," was bought by Mr. Whitting. Several of the old bulls were fit for serving, and a very handsome one, Barrington Cypress," calved in 1891, which took the second prize at the last Glamorganshire Show, was knocked down to Mr. Gaddarn for 31 guineas. The young bulls also went for good prices, the most handsome of the lot-full of hair and of grand quality—going to Mr. Bruce, of Campden, Gloucestershire, for 221 guineas. Mr. David Evans gave eighteen guineas for a fine bull calved in January last. Other bull calves were purchased by breeders in the district, and will, unquestionably, leave a good mark upon the general stock of the country. The heaviest buyers were the Marquess of Bute, Messrs. Ward, Gaddarn, D. Evans, Whitting, and Perkins. It was getting late when Mr. D. T. Alexander had his innings, but with that spirit which always characterised him it did not take long to dispose of 67 pens of sheep owned by Mr Howell and 75 sent in by the Marquess of Bute. The quality of the whole was undisputed, among the best being several prize-takers. The bidding, notwithstanding a downpour of rain, was brisk throughout, and good prices were realised all round. The prices given for rams varied from three guineas to five guineas, while some of the ewes reached over X4 a head. Ewe lambs ranged from 28s. to 38s., and wethers from 24s. to 34a. The principal purchasers of the sheep were Messrs. F. Ward (to whom a large number of pens were knocked down); T. David, Sigginstone; W. Jenkins, Llanmi- hangel Gaddarn; T. Watts, St. George's; Evans, Vishwell; H. 0. Fisher Pike, Narberth and Powell, Cog. Sixty-seven lots of pure bred Berkshire and Tamworth pigs were also sold at good prices. In fact, Mr. Howell may be con- gratulated upon having had a. very satisfactory sale all round.

OVER THE EMBANKMENT. T.V.R. Company Receive Claims for Compensation. I The secretary of the Taff Vale Railway Company, Mr. John Jones, has already received application for compensation by the railway company from nearly all those who were injured, and from the rela- tives of those who were killed, at the recent disaster on the Taff Vale Railway near the Llantrisant Junction. As is usual under such circumstances, the applications are for com- pensation," the amount being afterwards dealt with. On the part of the applicants it is now definitely stated by the solicitors acting for them that they intend to test the liability of the railway company to pay compensation, and in all probability one or two test cases will be taken, the decisions in these cases to rule the others. The directors of the Taff Vale Railway Company repudiate liability, and will base their defence on the evidence given at the inquest and the result of the inquiry by the Local Government Board. Their legal responsibility only begins when the defective engine, coach, or wagon which, it is believed, led to the disaster, could have been detected had ordinary but proper supervision or examination of the rolling-stock been exer- cised. But this does not mean the taking of an engine to pieces daily. Supposing the defec- tive spring attached to the Taff Vale engine led to the accident, that defect could only have been discovered by taking the engine to pieces. In the disaster some time since on the Manchester and Sheffield Railway caused, it was said, by a defective axle, the railway company were not held responsible, although this defect could have been discovered much more readily than a defec- tive spring. Legal opinions have been obtained, with the usual result that both parties are pre- paring for the fight, and in all probability some of the cases will come for trial at the next Glamorganshire Assizes. A decision adverse to the Taff Vale Railway Company will be a serious matter at the present moment.

LIVER COMPLAINTS.—Dr. King's Dandelion and Quinine Liver Pills, without Mercury, are a potent remedy; remove all Liver and Stomach Com- plaints, Biliousness, Headache, Sickness, Shoulder pains, Heartburn, Indigestion, Constipation. A FAIR, BEAUTIFUL SKIN.-Sulpholine Soap gives the natural tint and peach-like bloom of a perfect complexion makes the skin smooth, supple, healthy, comfortable.—Sd. Tablets Everywhere.

THE RECENT CYCLONE. A Cardiff-Laden Steamer has a Narrow Escape from Destruction. We have received from a. correspondent at Jamaica an account of the recent terrible cyclone which wrought such devastation on both sea and land. It will be all the more interesting to our readers by reason of its containing Jan account of the serious injuries sustained by a Swansea seaman and the narrow escape of a steamer which recently left Cardiff for Vera Cruz, and the chief-officer of which was drowned. Writing on September 5, our corre- spondent says:- A cyclone passed north of the West India Islands, and appears to have curved inshore from the Bahamas, passing east- wards in the direction of the coast of Maine. The storm is considered the most severe ever experienced here. No less than 600 lives were lost at Port Royal, United States, and 120 at Beaufort, South Carolina. The total loss of life by this cyclone will exceed 1,000. The Atlas Line steamship Alvena. arrived on the 28th ultimo from New York. She passed through the hurricane and sustained serious damage, her decks being swept. Her com- mander, Captain William Taylor Bishop, of Douglas, Isle of Man, was washed overboard and drowned. A fireman was carried overboard, but was washed on board again, and while clinging to the starboard rails he saw someone in the water, but could not say who. The steamer Alpha, from Halifax, had to lay to three days. The seas washed over her, a,nd the boatswain, John Thomas, of Swansea., and two sailors were carried along the deck against the chart-house with great force. Thomas received a nasty scalp wound and other internal injuries, which necessitated his removal to the public hospital. Three of the ship's boats were carried away, and two store in. The British steamer St. Helens, from Cardiff to Vera Cruz, with patent fuel, has put into San Juan, Porto Rico, in a disabled condition. She encountered a terrific north-east gale for 36 hours. All her boats were smashed, and the chief officer was drowned.

"ADVICE TO MOTHERS."—Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of MRS. WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless; it produces natural, quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes as right as a button." Of all Chemists, Is. lid. per bottle. E2 0

ADJOURNED. Coroner Investigating a Suspicious Case. A QUESTION OF IDENTITY. An inquest was opened at West Cross, Mumbles, on Tuesday evening, on the body of Charlotte Hopkins, landlady of the Currant Tree Inn, West Cross, who died under suspicious circumstances on Monday evening. The inquiry was held before Mr. Edward Strick, coroner. Thomas Hopkins, husband of deceased, dentified the body as that of Charlotte Ann Hopkins, his wife. Last Friday night he was in the bar of his public-house, when two men came in. One appeared to be in a half intoxi- cated state. The deceased served one with a glass of beer, but said she could not serve the other as he was not in a. fit state and had had enough already. He (witness) then left the room to get his supper, but hearing a. noise directly afterwards he rushed back. His wife said she had had a nasty knock from the man whom she had refused to serve. Witness ran out, but saw no more of the man, When he went back into the house his wife, who appeared to have partly recovered from the blow, went about her duties, and remainecCG the bar as usual till about a quarter to eleven, when she complained of severe pains across the top of her head. He heard no more of it till the middle of the night, when she again suffered from pain. Witness gave her a little brandy, and she went to sleep till the morning. He had considerable difficulty in rousing her, but she got out of bed, and he (witness) went away to the Mayals. In a couple of hours he was sent for owing to the alarming illness of his wife, and found her in an unconscious stat3. She remained in a very low state till 8he died on Sunday night at eight o'clock. Charles Qnick, a young man, living at 6, Calvert-street, Swansea, said he was in the Currant Tree Inn on Friday evening with a friend, they having ridden down from Swansea on bicycles. They saw deceased in the bar. Whilst they were there the man Fitzgerald and a haulier, named Henry Banbury, came in and asked for two glasses of beer. Deceased refused to serve Fitzgerald because be was intoxicated, and he used a bad expression towards the house. Deceased went from behind the counter towards the door, and as she was returning Fitzgerald struck at her with his fist. He caught her on the side of the head, and thus struck her head against the bannisters on the other side. Witness followed Fitzgerald out of the house to see that he did not damage the bicycles outside, and-Mr. Hopkins also went out. They did not see the man again. By a Juror The man used the expression. "B- the house." He hit Mrs. Hopkins apparently out of revenge because he was not supplied, but he said nothing against her. It was a deliberate blow with the fist. Sydney Kidd, a baker, living at 108, High- street, Swansea, corroborated this evidence, and said that Fitzgerald asked everybody pre- sent for a pin to pin a flower in his coat. He turned his back to the counter and hit Mrs. Hopkins with his fist on the upper part of the cheek-bone. She put her hand to her head, and called to her husband, saying William, William, this man has struck me." The man did not appear to witness to be any- thing the worse for drink. Mrs. Hopkins said he had had enough, but there was nothing in his appoarance to shew it. The blow was on the right side of Mrs. Hopkins's face. She swerved round and struck the side of her head against the bannisters. He not only saw, but heard, her head strike the bannisters. Police-constable John Griffiths said that from information received he arrested Fitz- gerald and charged him with doing grie- vous bodily harm to Mrs. Hopkins. He made no reply at the time to witness, On the way to Swansea, on Monday morning he said he had no intention of injuring Mrs. Hop- kins, and that what he did was to save himself, as he thought she was going to push him against the counter. He added, I turned round and held my hand up against her face." He also said he was very weak and excitable owing to his troubles, and that he had nothing against Trs. Hopkins. Prisoner had been two or three Iiiies to the police-station about his wife, who was now in prison. John Joseph Kean, L.R.C.P., assistant to Dr. Be van, Mumbles, said that when he visited the deceased on Saturday he found her in state of collapse. He concluded she was suffering from concussion of the brain. Dr. Bevan stated that he saw deceased several times before her death, and towards the end he had Dr. Arthur Davies, of Swansea, in consulta- tion. They found a bruise on the right side of the head just above the ear, but there was nothing abnormal on the left side. Deceased had severe epileptic fits a.nd speedily got into a, very serious state, from which she never rallied. They had made a post-mortem examination. There was a bruise on the skull corresponding with that out- side which had caused the concussion. On remdving the skull-cap they found the brain and membranes healthy, and there was no evidence of any injury to account for death. The organs of the body were all healthy. The body was that of a delicate female and very bloodless. The cause of death was epileptic convulsions, caused by concussion of the brain and nervous shock. The injury to the skull was consistent with the idea of deceased 'having fallen against a hard substance as described. The Coroner then pointed out that the two witnesses who saw the blow struck had not known the prisoner Fitzgerald previously, and would not be able to identify him unless he were present. It would be necessary, therefore, to adjourn the case, so that the prisoner might be present. The inquest was accordingly adjourned until Thursday next, at five o'clock.

CHARTIST OUTBREAK. Recollections are Revived by the Death of Mr. Tremenheere. Recollection. of the Chartist outbreak at Newport in 1839 are revived by the announcement of the death in his 90th year of Mr. Hugh Seymour Tremenheere, C.B. Mr. Tremenheere bad a distinguished career at Oxford, where his tutor was Augustus Hare. He was subsequently called to the Bar, being made revising barrister on the Western Circuit. He shortly afterwards entered public life, and was sent to investigate the circumstances connected with" Frqst's Rebellion." He served on numerous Royal Commissions, and was instrumental in bringing about no fewer than fourteen Acts of Parliament, all having for their object the amelioration of the condition of the working classes. Mr. Tremen- heere became in recent years a Liberal Unionist, and wrote numerous political pamphlets for the Liberal Unionist Association.

G.W.R. WILL WATCH. Efforts to Secure a Com- petitive Line. TO LONDON AND THE SOUTH. [BY A CORRESPONDENT.] The first meeting of the general committee appointed by the Newport Conference on August 10 last, for endeavouring to secure improved railway facilities for South Wales, will be held at the Cardiff Council Chamber on Thursday (to-morrow) afternoon at 2.30, and if the efforts of the committee result in forwarding in any appreciable degree the project for constructing competitive railway system to London and the South Coast, it will have accomplished a great work. So far as we can see, there would be not much difficulty either on the Welsh side or the English side in forming a scheme for linking up existing lines on the Welsh side, and leaving the promoters of a new scheme free to deal with the problem of crossing the Severn, and joining, say, with the Midland and South Western systems on the English side. In any event the Severn Sea. must be compassed either by a bridge or a tunnel. The Great Western Company seem to have preferred the latter, and it is extremely doubtful if, with the experience they gained in connection with that work, their preference would be shown in the same direction again. There is a bridge already in existence qarrying the Seyern and Wye Railway across the Severn, but, in considering a competitive route to London, that structure could hardly be accounted favourable, since it would mean a detour of something like 25 to 30 miles (up and down) out of the straight to cross it ana return to the strict route again. Near the estuary of the Wye there seems to be about the most favourable point for erecting a new bridge. The Severn is there considerably narrower than at other adjacent points, and the high cliffs indicate suitable positions for founda- tions. If a new line should cross the river at that potnt there would be very little dif- ference in the distance by it from South Wales to the English shore of the Severn and the existing route, via the tunnel. Having reached the English side, the new line would join the Midland system and connect with Bath and Bristol, and from the latter point across Salisbury Plain to Andover would be a matter of about GO miles for the new line to traverse. At Andover it would join the London and South Western, and thus get into immediate touch with London at Waterloo Sta- tion, and with Southampton, where a large trade is being developed by the Atlantic lines, and all the other South Coast towns. Not only would tLe South Coast look with the greatest favour upon a new route to South Wales, but Plymouth people seem to be yearning for competition towards- the Welsh industrial hives. The difficulty of reaching the South Coast is shown by the fact that a. pasaenger going from Swansea to South, ampton has to leave the former town at 9.40 a.m. to reach Southampton at 6.30 p.m., the rate of travelling from town to town being something like seventeen to eighteen miles per hour. On the Welsh side it might not—and ought not— be difficult to link up the Ehondda and Swansea Bay, the Taff Vale, the Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport, the Brecon and Merthyr Railways, and, with a new link between Cardiff and Newport, the district would have a good deal to be thankful for. The secretary of the committee, Mr. Samuel D. Williams, of the New- port Chamber of Commerce, although having no chairman or executive to consult, has collected and formulated a large mass of valuable infor- mation, and, though he has been compelled in many matters to act on his own responsibility we believe he has proceeded upon such lines as the committee will thoroughly approve.

On the Electric Motor, Brooklyn. Passenger: What made the car jolt so violently just now, conductor? Conductor: Ob, nothing much. Boy on the track, I believe.

A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place, between Major H. W. Griffith, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Lady Torrens. widow of Lieutenant-general Sir H. D'O. Torrens, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., late Governor of Malta.

EPPS'S COCOA.—GRATEFUL AND COMFORT- ING. By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutri tion, and by a careful application of the fine pro- p3rties of well-selected COCOA, Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be g-radually built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping- ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourished frame."—Chil Service Gazette. Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in packets, by Grocers, labelled "JAMES EPPS & CO. (LIMITED), Homoeopathic Chemists, London." Also makers of Epps's Cocoaine or Nib-ext.act: Tea- like. E2950-Wed. business: .1.. IMPORTANT NOTICE For Every Description of HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, MUSICAL INSTRU MENTS, HARDWAE, CUTLERY, CAPETS, &c go to BEVAN AND COMPANY (LIMITED), REGISTERED AS THE CARDIFF FURNISHERS." FURNITURE, CARPET, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WAREHOUSEMEN Whose continually and Rapidly Expanding Business enables tliem to Buy Larger and Sell Cheaper than ever I JOINING, D RAWING, AND JJEDROOM QUITES, £ 3 17s. 6D. TO R52 1 CARPETS, FLOOR CLOTHS, LINOLEUMS, HEARTH RUGS, &c., in vast variety, at marvellous prices. FULL COMPASS PIANOFORTES FROM £ 12 10s. to £ 63. Before Purchasing elsewhere call and see the Matchless Overstrung Pianoforte— a most magnificent Instrument—Forty Guineas!—usual music warehouse price, Fifity-five to Sixty Gxiineaa S Delivery FREE throughout Wales and Border Counties. Large Illustrated Catalogues, just out, Gratis and Post Free BEYAN AND COMPANY, LARGEST BEST, AND CHEAPEST FURNISHERS IN ANY PART OF THE KINGDOM. CARDIFF, NEwPORrr, AND jpONTYPOOL. ■« *■- 'M

CARDIFF'S WATER SUPPLY. Visit to the Navvies' Encamptment at the New Reservoirs. The middle reservoir at Cwmtaff having been completed, a spirited beginning has been made at the upper reservoir, which is but a short distance from the Story Arms. I visited the- place on Saturday (writes a correspondent), and was impressed with the fact that, now Cardiff has taken the matter in hand. she means to do it well. From Cefn Coed to Cwmtaff a line of rails has been laid, and has been found indispensable. At the time of my visit the erection of the little township of iron huts was being vig'orously carried out, and the contrast between this town- ship and the old encampments of navvies engaged in the formation of railroads and water works is remarkable. The huts are warm and cosy, with boarded floors and good protec- tion from storms. The necessary village shep" was in an advanced stage, and, though the place is between ten and eleven miles from Merthyr, it was interesting to see the number and variety of hawkers and travellers and grocers' carts that found their way there. The interior of the huts told of the navvies' predilection for something more than beer and skittles." There was an occasional picture and book, and one need not wonder at this if rumour is correct, that amongst the navvies are more than one who have flipped from positions of ease and refinement to the drudgery of pioneering. The settlement has its place of worship and its coffee tavern, and the Saturday visits of the young and vigorous of the navvies to the dis- tant town bring- back some of the little luxuries as well as the necessities of life, and not a sparing amount of literature. Picture papers are a great boon, and the Western Mail was well to the fore. As it will take some years to com- plete the series of reservoirs, used papers and magazines would be an acceptable gift.

AN OPEN LETTER. Mr Lewis Williams and Cardiff Waif3 and Strays. A Well-wisher (Cardiff), in an open letter to Mr. Lewis Williams, J.P., says :You have always been identified with the religious and educational institutions of the town you have always taken a leading part in the welfare of the young, and you have ever been to the front in advocating the temperance cause. Prom your position as chairman of the Cardiff School Board you have had exceptional opportunities of gauging the educa- tional requirements of the children. It is freely admitted that the schools under your care are models of which any town should be proud; and men of all shades of opinion confess that your zeal in promoting philanthropic institu- tions is worthy of the greatest praise. Having cheerfully praised you for your efforts in pro- moting the welfare of the rising generation, I must express my astonishment that you have not, up to the present time, realised the fact that there is one class of children in the !town to whom you have not—for some inscrutable reason—hitherto directed your attention. viz., the poor waifs and strays. You cannot, being a man of intelligence, shut your eyes to the fact that at the present moment there are hundreds of children wander- ing about our streets who have not been got hold of by your attendance officers-children who have no responsible parents and whose mode of life renders them open to every wicked- ness existing in such a town as ours. You are personally responsible for the carrying out of the Education Acts, and, therefore, you are aware that it was, and still is, the intention of the Legislature that every child should have a chance of being fairly educated and fitted for the responsibilities of life. How is it, then, that you have neglected this important part of your duty ? You must be aware that these ragged children require some special efforts on your part to re-claim them from the streets, and from a life which is sure, sooner or later, to bring them within the jurisdiction of the criminal law. You have the power and you have the means to deal with these outcasts of society, and I ask you seriously why you have not up to the present time done anything to remedy this cry- ing evil.

Death of an Archdeacon. Archdeacon Buckle died on Tuesday at the age of 92. About 60 jears ago he was appointed archdeacon of Dorset, and held the post about twenty years.

tWILL HE ACCEPT? Lord Swansea to be Offered Swansea's Mayorality. At a special meeting of the Swansea Town, Council on Tuesday afternoon, after a pro- tracted discussion, it was unanimously resolved that Lord Swansea be invited to accept the position of chief magistracy of the borough next year. Lord Swansea is now in Scotland, where Lady Swansea has been staying for some weekg in the neighbourhood of Braemar. At the council meeting- a formal petition was presented from the Oddfellows of the district endorsing- the following resolution of a special committee That a request be made to the major, aldermen and councillors, to defer asking Lord Swansea to become mayor until 1894-5, as it M more than prooable that the Annual Movable Committee will be held in Swan- sea in Whitsun week in 1895, when it will be a greater honour to the town and Lord Swansea to have him as mayor. Alderman Tutton's resolution to invite Lord Swansea for the ensuing year was, however, supported by the mayor. Aldermen Martin, and Pike, andi Councillors Lindley, Richards, and others.-On being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously.—Another resolution was then moved, to the effect that a committee, con. sisting of the mayor, the ex-mayor, and the chairman and vice-chairman of the property committee, be appointed to wait upon his lord- iSHip.—This also was carried unanimously.

GAZETTE NEWS. BANKRUPTCY ACTS. 1883 AND 1890.- RECEIVING ORDERS. John Howe, Ivor-street, Bianavon, Llan- over, Monmouthshire, coffee house keeper and insurance agent. Edward L. James, Market-street, Tredegar, tailor. DATES OF FIRST MEETINGS AND OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. John T. Lloyd and William A. Williams, trading- as Lloyd and Williams, the Hayes, Car. diff. grocers first meeting September 28, at twelve noon, at 25, Queen-street, Cardiff; public examination October 31, at ten a.m., at the Town-hall, Cardiff. Alfred Watkins, Katie-sireet, Blaengarw, and Oxford-street, Pontycymmer, Glamorgan, shire, grocer first meeting September 28, at eleven a.m., at 29, Queen-street, Cardiff public examination October 31, at ten a.m., a.t the Town-hall, Cardiff. John Retekin. Demesne-place, Mumbles. Oystermouth, Glamorganshire, sack and bag, dealer; first meeting September 26, at twelve noon, at the Official Receiver's, Swansea; publio examination October 27, at 11.30, at the Town. hall, Swansea. NOTICE OF DIVIDEND. Leonard Mansfield, senior, and Leonard Mansfield, junior (trading as Mansfield and Son, at Colling-don-road, West Bute Dock, Cardie millwrights and engineers first and final dividend 6s. 104d. in the X, payable at the Official Receiver's, Cardiff. ADJUDICATIONS. Annie Hunter, Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, boot dealer. John Howe, Blaenavon, in Llanover, Mom. mouthshire, coffee-house keeper and insuranoe agent. Edward L. James, Market-street, Tredegar, Monmouthshire.

Vital Statistics. During the week ending Septembar 16 there were 100 births and 50 deaths in Cardiff. The deaths included 18 infants under one year and 10 persons ag-ed 60 and upwards. There were 1 death from scarlet fever. 1 diphtheria. 3 diarrhoea, 2 from violence, 5 inquest cases, 6 deaths i. public institutions, and lfrom uncertified cause. In Swansea there were 76 births and 32 deaths Tite latter included 4 infants and 9 persons over 60. There were 2 deaths from fever, 4 diarrhea*, 2 from violence, 4 inquest cases, 4 in publie institutions, and 1 from uncertified cause.

Attempted Suicide at Sea. The Liverpool steamer Glenmore, laden with maize from the Black Sea ports, has arrived at Southampton and reports an exciting incident at sea. When in the Mediterranean, a fireman, of Liverpool, named Holden, was seized witfc suicidal mania, and taking a razor, cut hit throat most seriously. There was no doctor oa board, but the captain sewed up the wound as well as he could, and on the vessel arriving the man was arrested.

HER UNFOUNDED SUSPICION. The, Story of a Young Wife's Lesson in Domestic Economy. They naturally went much into society, Society such as an average suburban town iffords. They were young, nvwly wedded, and proud of each other's plea-sing ways and personal comeliness. Both were endowed with that grace and tact which rwider men and WODIMI wel- come guests :md cbai-tuing entertainers. Eila Rood had been the petted, spoiled, and only ohild 6f a, wealthy and "easy- going" couple, but Ella Oorlesa, the wife, yielded will aad *ielt to her handsome ttid dwofced husband, who luv. not sink the lover in t" ltusband. The new home, which Sanies Corless pro- vided for his k^ride compared not unfavour- ably with the ittTurions yaftfeuiiditigs to WMeh srtie had \).!e!1 acousto»u«d from baby- Iaood. The -wwtiy and i>e»utiful wedding gifts went far to furnish suitably their ■mall but pretty raeidence, tutd Elia' excellent uwfco (ifel the rdftfc. t)Jd age an i the necessity it brings for retrenching in eitiv-jr «atl»Y c«i energy or money •D far need be given 10 dnil » ma £ t«r. To Imve her bomm nrcfcCtiy equipped and to be prettily dreasad baroeif-- tbeae twol •anditinoft and fcbe Sattoriftg comments wokect by tkam tfertf mfRcifcftt to trew the | foung in awte of ;;it*Ur»yed oonient. If a for isomt aw bit of iiiwy I was ujD^ratiftnd it w*.s became it was not ■entiouMi. Sae wm rovoiviag this thought fco-nitcfcrt hi W tnrnd M. wtUi a amik an bt)t lip, A* stood awaithi £ her hrusfcewf* horn e-ortmng. She up the trim little villas <tt«eet. fefeow, led t<. the railway station and mDerabwred ',Soir fhisbed aitd I JHMB had ban last araning when ( he placed in her hcuidn for Ae reception they m rf to attend togaf-h-ar, imrtcaid of I the e<rajw.raov6Sy kwwpaosive fkmai* «he had 101, a beuqmrt. oi w.Ati;%L j "IL\Wr had eMtnnured fo Mvos&Bm&tnk. hut vnm pkaaed | •everCTKSfecw. te FWA, WHATEVER a «DBMO may It m (fftlmlt to be seriously { Mgriewtf at htar* «rv«r Wvii* expenditure j of which she herself is f)he object. She was very pretty to-night, as she shaded her eyes with her hard for a final glance up the street. No, there was not a figure I ul in sight, save the ragged urchin hieing himself home from a fishing expedition, and whose string might have satisfied a fisher of more advanced years. Since James was so late and g he had jiot come on the train she had heard slow up at their small station, and then go on it's rumbling way, she thought it would help to make the minutes pass moie swiftly if she should step iu and talk to Clara a short time, for the next train would not be due for three-ipiarters of an hour. Clara had been married at nearly the same time Ella had, but, n. >i and cheerful as her home was, a practiced mind could perceive that the furnisJiirj-r had been done with an eye to economy. Was it emaoitty-or parsimony? George heid a position as remunerative as the one filled by James Corless. To- nrght, as Ella entered Clara's sitting- room, the cheapness of the furnishings was more apparent to her than it had ev«r been betore. She had tiihe to say to her- self "James has always wen generous and insisted on our having tie best and prettiest ilHStfs w» cuiiid bay. If George Russell cared a* mueh for Clara as he ought to he would hot be so stingy where money is c«»*icarned," and here her attention be- me-g-ff in what her friend was saying m efts folded the pillow-slips ;*he had been !»*••»• stitching: "Yes; I k/H.w how it is. Whenaver George n?is«es his brain I am tite least little bit neivous, no mstter how B*odi I try to mind it. But I do not tknnk James has missed his train. I think he tf d?t«ix:ea at the offioc on bnsines. my dear. Whtn George oasge to hmch he Illtici there had been some trouble at the I office of Barnes and Baroes over an em- pfeyee who had abused their c*»nfidence sh»ckuigfy. He had been trusted with that matter «? the Wyilis fund, find, it seem;1, beau i^fswbially appropriating to his wwn us* tte moneys that waeo paid m. George '-c-ar'tl he was quite a young man and unmarried." "It is, no doubt, that disturbance which is keeping James. I think they were un- wise to have given so important a trans- action into the hands of an untried em- ployee when they had men of experience who could be relied on, such as James and others." "Oh, don't go yet. George will not be here for an hour, and if James is de- layed by that matter you can't tell when to expect him. So you might just as well stay now you are here. I haven't seen you for two days. Very exclusive you are getting to be! And I have not shown you my design in lace-work. You will he sure to admire it, but it is so intricate, it will tax my patience." But lUla, promising to come again very soon, hastily returned to her own home. Walking about the rooms with a white face, scarcely knowing what she did as she displaced a photograph, a book, or a bit of china, she repeated over afId over: "Oh, what will they do with him? What will they do with him ?" Too well she knew who was responsible for the nissing funds of the Wyllis estate. Moni-hs ago James had informed her that th'vt part of the business was considered by the firm as too weighty to be longer entrusted to young Dean, and was to be turned over to him at once. If, aftw this, Ella had noted from time to time an anxious and troubled manner which her husband attempted in vain to conceal or throw off she accredited it to ttic worry attending his new duties. Now she understood this a.nd some other things. She turned a.w.v from regarding ItM latest gif", a dainty little caey e^hair cushioned hi paie blue satin, with a strange and L eew abhouencse. h<&s £ tlhWl an hour ago she had in- sfciiictrvely shrunk from the cheap effect of the dhairs and rugs in her frientFs home. X-?w she looked on hor own beau- tiful beJ-ou.jL^s with utter loathing. How mwí; the^e things had pleastsd her artistic sense' H-.w happy she had K^eu in ws;»><;sing t.Ti! How Httfe she had £ USK>c*i that she would ever contemplate Jhean in this heart-sick mood Was it not -<8111 this trouble that had oome upon »in*n—hi a great part box- fault? Had she w»t permitted James to believe ihat her lappineas depended upon having all tbesA things which bore upon them the stamp of expensivenees ? And how little she really did care for these things! How gladly she would see them all vanish into thin air if only James could again stand before her the honest man he was before temptation had drawn lnm away from the path of peace. If only these things which had already cost them all that was besi, and dearest in life could but be turned back into money. If that could only be and the money paid back, surely, then, James would be a free man again. Perhaps they would even trust him again, if she told them how it had all come about, through hi^ having married a poor, silly little butterfly, with an insatiable greed fur finery. And she would tell them th-.t .she was going away, so ho would never be tempted again to extravagance by her foolh-h fancies, Then she stopped to wonder where she could go—well, that did not matter-any. where, so that she would no longer be a clog and burden to James. Oil, how little she dreafned when he had kissed her good-bye that morning that before night this would have hap- pened Where was he now Y Somewhere, covered witii shame and humiliation; per- haps behind the iron bars of a prison. She shuddered. Her eyes were swollen so t.h.lt she conald see notbing plainly, but she lifted her tear-stained face suddenly at a sound. A (juick step ea.me up the walk that led to the door. There was no mistaking it. It was too familiar, that sound. James had been allowed to return to tell her all. She began brokenly: "James, it was all my fault," and lay in a little uncon- scious heap at his feet. When Eila a.gain opened her eyes her husband's arms were i. round her and his solicitous and affectionate questionings in her ears. As so often in life, nothing was as it had been imagined. James was still the respected right-hand of Barnes and Barnes. No sin of his sinning had occurred. An unfortunate young ma.n, who on account y 9 of slightly circuitous behaviour: in the past had made himself an object of the firm's stern and suspicious scrutiny, had drifted further and further and further from the moorings of conscience until thousands fol- lowed the hundreds of dollars of other men's money risked at the gambling table under the fa-tuoos belief that luck would enable the poor moth to replace the sums criminally "borrowed," and to himself ob- tain a royal road to wealth. It had been at one time proposed by the firm to place less trust in the reckless young man, but the plan for transferring the affairs in his charge to that of James Corless, as proposed, had for various reasons been delayed, with the result narrated. Restored to former happiness, one im- pression was left upon Ella by the anxiety experienced for so brief a period. Never again were the fine things which money will purchase rated so highly in her esti- mation. And she was less proud of the luxurious trifles that James delighted to bestow than of his trustworthiness and sound integrity.—Exchange.

HANDEL'S IRRITABILITY. Thoiu'h outwardly of an uncouth and robust appearance, Handel suffered so much that lie could not L>ear to hear the tuning of musical instruments; this was, there- fore, always done before his arrival at the orchestra. A musical wag, knowing lus- failing and wanting a laugh at Handel's expense, managed to /ain access to the instruments after the musicians, having tuned, had left them for a few minutes, at a performance when the Prince of Wales was to be present, and unstrung them half a note or so lower than the organ. On the arrival of the Prince Handel gave the signal for the commencement of the oratorio, con spirito, whereon a terrible discord ensued. The enraged conductor started from his seat, overturning a double bass viol which stood in his way, seized hold of a kettle-drum and threw it with such force at the head of the leader of the band that he lost his full-bottomed wig with the exertion. Without stopping to re-place his wig, Handel strode to the front of the orchestra muttering vengeiCnee, but so much choked with choler that distinct utterance was denied him. In this ridicu- lous situation lie stood stamping and staring wildly about him for some moments, whereat the whole audience was convulsed with laughter, nor could he be prevailed upon bo resume his duties, until the Prince went to him and with great difficulty appeased his wrath.

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"EXPRESS" DON'TS. Don't make a loud, smacking noise when you kiss a girl. Not only is it likely to duplicate the effect produced when the baboon kissed the monkey's sister, but it may startle the dozing pater in the next room into a fearful rage. Only very green or very old men do the cannon- cracker act in osculation.

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Wise and Otherwise. "Let's see," said the lady, how many yards are there here?" "Fourteen yards, madam," answered the salesman. Enough for a dress?" Quite enough." Then give me fourteen yards more." For another dress?" "No, for the sleeves." Found in the Air" was tht heading of a news paragraph in a Yorkshire con- temporary. It looked on the surface as though it referred to microbes, but exami- nation showed that it dealt with the dis- covery of refuse in the River Aire, and that the printer had dropped an e." Scene: Boarding-house at Margate. Mr. Muvvins (coming down to breakfast after a restless night): Mrs. Bordhouse, I remem- ber reading in a London paper that "Margate is all alive just now." May I ask if that was written by a journalist staying in your house, and occupying the room I've been sleeping in ? It is asserted that the eight hundred men who work in the Paris sewers are as healthy as any other eight huxuh od Parisians, and it is notable that they are especially free from infectious diseases. If this fact M mentioned to show anything it is to prove that an open drain under the parlour floor is the highest form of sanitation. In a North Riding village lived an elderly man who had been married three times, but had been as often bereaved. After the death of his third wife a rumour was circulated as to the fourth wedding. On being ques- tioned he replied vigorously in the negative, Nay, not I; what wi' marryin' on 'em an' what wi' buryin' on 'em, it's ower expensive. Ah can't affo'd it na mair." The Baby Stood on His Dignity. -Some time ago, when the little King of Spain was confined to his room by illness, he received a visit from the Prime Minister, Senor Canovas, who called him by his pet name. Ah," said he, how is Alphonsito to-day?" The little king looked up severely. "To mamma I am Alplionsito," said he; "to you I am king." Tipped.—" If I might venture," said the auest in a low tone, as the dignified waiter assisted him in the matter putting on his overcoat, "to give jou tip" "Yes, sir," die waiter, relaxing considerably. "I ,-I. -,uld advise you to try earnestly to "< eak ':ourself ot the habit of fingering ymoustache in a severe abstracted manner while you are taking a dinner order. My hat, please Thanks Voltaire was a remarkably ugly man, deformed and considerably undersized. On one occasion he had seriously offended one of the pages of Frederick the Great by call- ing him a fool. Shortly afterwards the king took a journey, in which he was accom- panied by Voltaire and another gentleman of the bedchamber. The page rode ahead with other members of the household to prepare for accommodations on the way. In the first carriage sat the king, in the second Voltaire and the other gentleman- of the bedchamber. At a village where they were to stop for breakfast the ps-ge had informed a number of peasants that in the second carriage was the l-ing's favourite monkey, dressed as a gentlemen, and seated by the side of an attendant, and that the monkey had the vicious habit of snapping at the bystanders whenever he was suffered to leave the coach. To prevent this the page asked the peasants to attend the coach door, allow the gentleman on the left to descend, and immediately shut the door again. Should the monkey cut capers and try to get out, they need only give him a few taps on his knuckles. In due course the coaches arrived. The king alighted, and was followed by the gentle- man in the second coach. Voltaire found the door slammed in his face. He shook his head and gesticulated, to no avail. He railed at them in French, but the peasants, understanding nothing of the language, thought it mere monkey chatter, and laughed the louder, threatening him with their sticks. At last the tumult reached the ears of the king. He sent down messengers, who released Voltaire from his unpleasant predicament, anl arrested some of the countrymen. But when Frederick learned the whole story lie was so mightily tickled that he laughed away all Voltaire's Shrieks for revenge, and pardoned the ingenious page. The story sounds improbable, yet Voltaire's appear- ance was strikingly suggestive of a monkey, and mav have deceiywl a crowd of ignorant peasant

Another Bank Failure. Prolonged Trmt for An Audience.—At ia afternoon concert heM a short time :\go an apology was offered for the non-a} -tr- ance of an artiste. A sutrihtute had Ilee. found, however, conomhag whom the apologist made the mo>i ontous announce- ment, "Madame X. will sing For all Eternity.' Scene—A Paris restaurant. Enter a fussy old gentleman, who, after choosing his table, beckons to the waiter. :tJl(l says confidentially, "I wnnb a really good dinner. Here's your tip beforehand. Now. what do you recommend?" Waiter, looking cautiously round and whispering in the customer's ear, "Go somewhere e["e Printed and Published by the Proprietors Messr. Daniel Owen and Co. (Limited), at the WESTER* MAIL Temporary Offices, Tudor-road, Cardiff, I> the County of Gitinioi tmn. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMUEi: CC, 3).1,.