Evening Express

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. I DATE. TKMPBSATUKF.. Max. Miu. Mean BAHTJ-ALL Saturday. 4 60 39 49'5 001 Sunday 5 — — — (J'OO Monday 6 53 30 44*5 O'OO Tuesday 7 59 30 44'5 000 Wednesday. 8 59 35 47'0 009 Thursday. 9 b9 35 47'0 O'OO Fridav 10 59 35 47'0 O'OO TheTempevaturerenreseut8 extreme reading of the thermometer for 24 hours enueci taken in the slmneat Owrt-y-V;l, Peuarth. The Rainfall registered at Cwrt-.vVil, Penarth, for the ?4 noiira ^ndpd c, i'.

-? LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL SERVICES. THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.—In Resi- dence The Very Rev. the Dean and the Ven. the Archdeacon of Monmouth. Holy Communion: Mid-day. Morning 11, Chauta hymns, 78 and 75 ?reacher, the Archdeacon. Afternoon: 3.0, .itany 3.30, Magnificat aud Nunc Dimittis, Arnold in A; hymns, 80, 177, and 219; preacher, the Bev. Minor Canon Skrimshire. Chants and hymns by the Holiday Choir at 6 p.m. t11ronghout the \'n?ck. -0& _u

PUBLIC NOTICES. UNDAY AFTERNOON POPULAR SERVICES, PARK-HALL, SUNDAY NEXT, at 3.0 p.m. Address: Rev. DR. PIEBSON. Soprano Solo, "The Holy Light." Anthem, "When Wilt 'Llieu Hear the People?" Chairman, JOHN íjVXX. E-q., ,I.P Selections cn the Great Organ pad String Quartette at 2.30 p.m. 42330 .?. LA- Telephone, Natinnaf, 502; Post-office, 95. Telegrams, "Express," Cardiff.

NOTE S. BY "OBSERVER" CARDIFF. Saturday Morning. The reader who situ down to-day to the en- joyment of his "Evening Express" (you new." do so with our morning contemporaries, you know-you just gulp down their contents along with your coffee, and scoot for business) — the reader, I say, who sits down this evening to the enjoyment of his "Express" will notice a considerable difference in the appearanoe of his favourite paper. The "Evening Express" has long had a repu- tation for push. pluck, and smartness; indeed, has long outpaced its contemporaries in these essentials of a newspaper. In lisutning ie- sults, in despatch, in enterprise, it can take on all its rivals and give 'em an eqsy beating. It has done so for a long time pa.=t under various disadvantages, among,t which the great fire was an incident; and what it nas done in the past it will du in the future, and do it still better. But in another important particular we are undergoing a transformation. For the future we fcliall not alono be a bright, newsy news- paper b'lt we fhall have so much pleasant mis- cellaneous reading irto the bargain that our paper will become almost :t daily magazine. *In th3 home, at the club, and everywhere else. these advantage will be at once apparent. In short, the "Express" will b3 everybody's paper. Everybody's Paper! The business man will find much to interest him in the "Express" the sporting-man will still relv with confidence on famous tips and its nnique services of news and notes; the pler.-sure-ccker will be told ;n chattieet style what to see and when and where to s,e it; th) funny man will tnjov our jokes, of which wa intend mnking a very special feature; paterfamilias will extract from our last pag-e bright, pleasant reading for his people, a.nd added to all this thHe will be tales, tit- bits, and trifles galore. Of loca.1 notes there will be more than ever, J».nd readkrs -.nho ta-ve wrong3 they want set right and placed in the focus of the fierce blaze that emanates frrm public opinion can do no better than write at once and at length to the "Evening Express." The Sporting Man will bring into play all his forriili'ic t:uckiness, and local notea of all kinds will be a speciality. Amongst other matters we fvhall have a spe- cial daily article on matters of local moment and topics of conversation unioiigct C'arditfians, and there will be musical and dramatic notes from a bright ond well-qualified pen. Thon, sgain, qinte as an etcsetera, for I am far from exhaust- ing the stock of good things, there'll be a series of articles on Church affairs. So now, having said this much. I shall leave the reader to the enjoyment of hLs improved and re-modslled "Evening Express." ",T. W." writes :—" I have read with disgust the proceedings against the (poor Cardiff news- vendor, -Tabez Purnell. and your oomment. on the name. By the" way, the poor fellow had the option of a fine; but, to all appearance, he was too poor to my it, and is now, I suppose, doing his 21 days. The sentence is out of all proportion to the offence. I would suggest that the case be bid before the Home Secretary. Here is an honest Cardiff hawker, who-clonly fault is that he is deformed, a.no. perhaps, not over wise, turned into a gaol-bird for an offence which was committed on the spur of the moment. It is cruel and scandalous, and had the stipen- diary tried the case. the result would have been verv different." "J. 'V." will be glad to hear that a kind friend paid Jabez Purnell's fine, but it is no thanks to ths magistrates that an honeet man .?- ?.?-- is not now doing his 21 days and taking the first skp to ruin. I hope Mr. Brain's proposal for the forma- tion of a Greater Cardif fwill have careful con- sideration, and a cordial reception from his fellow members I)f the council on Monday. It is a most important project, and one that "an only redound to the honour and prosperity of Cardiff. Great municipalities are enlarging their borders everywhere, and there is no rea- son Ion earth why Cardiff should not follow suit. Of course, the Little Gardiffians may be trusted to ap ly their insignificant sprag; but it is full time they were squelched. All honour to Councillor Brain, and all success to his proposal' Complaints are made to me that Wood-street is verv badly lit, and that. as a consequence, the street is anything but pleasant or even safe to walk through late of evenings. This is a matter worthv of attention. There ar.e re- spectable people living in that neighbourhood; but some very unsavoury characters also, to whom darkness is a. sweet and precious thing. Let Wood-street be better lit by all means' Sir,—List week nearly 150 cases were dis- posed of at Barry on Monday and Friday, and on the latter occasion the sitting occupied close upon eight hours. It is scarcely fair to expect the magistrates to sacrifice so much of I their business time week after wtr-k, and the question, therefore, which urges itself for consideration i8 whether the time hal"1 n01 airi\(d when a stipendiary magistrate should be appointed for the ])mas Powis petty-ses- sional district? Pontypridd and other places ir. the couniy Hecured the services of a atipen- diary long before such a large amount of regular police business a3 that at Barry had developed, and a movement in the same direc- tion might with ndva.ntage to the district be made bv the authorities at Barry and Penarth. —I am, &c„ JUSTJ CEo —KITtrun—ttrir-i-nenmuMiiiiajmii*»«■■■■ n -A.

TO-DAY. Sun rises, 3.5 a.m.; sets, 4.11 p.m. High water at Cardiff. 3.22 a.m., 4.6 p.m. Weather forecast: North-easterly wind.s; fres-h fair. Sir James Paget horn, 1814. Police-court, 11.0. Beard of Guardians, 12.30. Dr. Pierso,!) at Wood-street Chapel, 7.30. Boxing competition, Rouebery-hall. TEN YEARS AGO. January 11 ten years ago fell on a Monday. Cardiff Council met under the presidency of the mayor (Dr. Jones). Alderman Sanders moved, and Councillor Be:'van seconded, that the Old Roval Hotel licence should be allowed to lapse. This course was not agreed to by the council. Peimission was given the Cardiff Tramways Company to can-y out the Cathays Tramway e\tension, though one member expressed tho hope that the trams would not disturb th9 worshippers at St. Andrew's Church. The country was much agitated by news tha.t Germany had annexed Samoa, and tele- grams were to hand from America giving l'ar- ticulars of a terrible snowstorm and blizzard, which had blocked the railways and telegraph system, and wrecked sixty vessels. The new Parliament was to mee* on the morrow, and Sir E. J. Reed, Cardiff's mem- ber, wrote a letter to the '"Times," whi h appeared on the 11th, wanting to J:now why the new Parliament was to be iuira-ssed with any Home Rule or County Government pro- posals by either of the great poltioal parties. -?.-

THE CAKDIFF CAMERA. CRISP PARAGRAPHS OF LOCAL GOSSIP. As the time for the international contest between Scotland and Wales approaches public opinion is busy regarding the composition of the Welsh team. Everyone confidently anticipates the giving of the Government jrrant to the University of ^\ales. Ifie Chancellor of the Exchequer met the deputation in a very open manner. So the projected new railway to London has ended in .-unoike. What with the talk oif the amalgamation or t'he local lines with the great London oampanies, Cardiff in future should be better served. The niight ibeiForo la«t tlhs magic words, "HoU'?e full," were .posted up outside the Tiiet\,t.e Royal, Cardiff. It really look$if interest in thing* tlieatrieal was reviving in this town. I gather from "Observer's" Notes that there is ;1. possibility of the Prince of Wales honour- ing the Cardiff Exhibition with his presence- I sincerely trust this may be the case, as it will make a good stir in business audi other circles. I "lith to-day's issue of the "Evening Expiess'' a new and exciting war s'torv, called "False Evidence," will commence. From tho first instalment I should say that the narrative will be thrilling, and 1 would recommend all my readers to follow the hero's fortunes closely. 1 he Brothet% Spink arc excessively clever in their "act" in the pantomime, the "Forty Thieves," now running merrily at the Theatre Royal. T!ie long rm balance of one of them on "the shouldirs of t he other as he drops from the trapeze is something new in these pares. President Kruger peems not to be EO easy to deal wirth as we at first thought. lie has promised to release Dr. Janieion ttnd his co-prisoners under certain conditions, but the English GOYBrnmant are not 1 ike'lv to accede to the demand. What iis going to hip- pen, tlhen? Russia, it seems, is now molbi'.ising. She has ordered 'half a. million geeioC from Germany. She f<hou<id have ordered :<11 equal number uf German sausages. The latter, when stale, would make .-iplendid' projectiles for a liekli ser- vice gun. In deference to popular opinion the Hun- garian Band last ni$ht played "Rule. Brit- tania" outside the Rova". Hotel, and, i.mmedia- telv afterwards struck up the "Boulanger Ma rcii. Would not the "Marsellaise" have been more appropriate .v The extension of our 'borough boundaries will surely meet w.it*i no opposition 'from those re- siding within its proposed limit when they learn t'lia-t '"the inhabitants of the newly-in- eluded districts will have the advantage of Cardiff's fine cemetery. Who would be alive in weather like tUiis, when they m:ght be in- humed under cuch enticing condition* ? UJBIQUE. -? ??_?..

1JY THE G.O.M. "FUTURE LIFE AND THE CONDI- TION OF MAW THEREIN." The "North American Review'' contains the first of a series of articles 11" Mr. Gladstone on "Future Life and the Condition of Man Therein." The following passages we have tried to unravel, but have failed. Some of our readers may understand them clearly. They are these:—"There are those who think the two thinars, survival and immortality, are but one, and seem to suppose that the case of sur- mounting death is like that of obtaining a passport which will oony us onr the frontier of some foreign country. Were this once done, we have no further impediment to appre- hend. but, on the assumption of the identity of survival with immortality, it is to be ob- served that it is a pure assumption, and nothing more. We have no title to postulate in limine that powers which may be so ad- justed or equipped as to face the contingency of death must. therefore, be in all respects such as to be certain of facing with a like impunity every other contingency which, for aug-llt we kr ow, the dimness of the future may unf .dd in its ample bosom. Such questions may remain open and without prejudice for independent direussion." ?- -?

CUT HIS THROAT. A SWANSEA INNKEEPER'S RASH ACT. On Friday night a man named Burridge, landlcrd of the Compass Inn, Goat-street, Swansea, was found in the cellar with a big gash in his throat, from which blood was flow- ing freely. His wife was supporting him in. her arms. He had tried to commit suicide with a pocket knife, and now lies in a. critical condition. -?-

Dei nis Casey, a marine fireman, having a taste for literature, surreptitiously crept into the shop of Charles Cousins, hair- dresser, Th om ps o n-f tr eet, Barry Docks, on Wednesday evening and abstracted a copy of "Tit Bits." which was on the counter. Coming out, however, he deliberately tore up the copy, and scattered it to the four winds. The same evening he stole several pocket knives from the shop of John Leben, tobacconist, in the same street, and was shortly afterwards arrested by Police- cous'table Matthew/ On Frida.y morning Caaey wae sentenced by the Barry magistrate to three months' hard labour for eaoh offence.

-?- Pantomime Rehearsals a A VISIT TO THE CARDIFF THEATRES. A Pen and Ink Sketch of the Produc- tion of the "Forty Thieves" and "Dick Whittington." Few people know what a pantomime rehear- sal is like. It is almost as interesting to wa.tch the performance in its ombryo condition, before the glamour of full dress and scenic effects and the perfection of stage arrange- ments have been introduced, as it is to sit 111 the balcony and watch the faultless procluotion of the finished pantomime after it has run a week or so. I had an opportunity just before ChrWtmMt during the exceptionally busy preparation sea- son, of witnessing the stage rehear -als of buth "The Forty Thieves" and "Dick Whittington," the pantomimes at the Royal and Grand Theatres, Cardiff, which have been drawing so largely this season, and are still in full swing. Both pantomimes were nearing completion, and both rehearsals were partly in full dress that I is, the rank and file of the chorus and ballet were in all the glory of stage attire,with dainty dresscj silken tight-fitting1 habiliments, o/nd shin'ing accoutrements, but the principals wc-rt, in their ordinary every day costume. The fol- lowing description of a visit to one of the theatres will give an idea of the kind of thing to be witnessed at bo'th. My friend and I enter at the closely-guarded sta,ge door, and pick THE RAW MATERIAL. I our way up the back staircase, past the dr'P6sÎ11g--I'Ooms, filled with noisy, laughing, frolicsome ballet girls busily adorning ttiem- selves for the business inhand. There is I just enough glimmer from the footlights and I from the bandsmen's jets eo enable us to find our way to the dress circle, where we etc down in comparative darkness to watch- The stage is a picture of bustle and con- fusion! carpenters and scene shifters are moving about in double quick time, cutting and ham- mering and screwing and fixing; the ballet- g;rls, who are dressed and in readiness, ard stand- ing in groups in the rear of the stage; tho principals } congrogaocd in smaller companies, some leaning against the wings, others, with hands in pockcts, lazily lolling about the scenery, all merrily chatting and laughing, whilst tho stage manager an.d master of the ballet race about from side to side, full of activity, and scatt-e-ring instructions with Gatiing gun rapidity. In i few minutes the assembling of the or- chestra indicates the approaching coinmence- l. ent of the rehearsal. The stage is cleared of all but the carpenters, who, with redoubled activity, give frantic finishing touches to the scenic arrangements. The musio strikes up, and a start is made. Everything goes well for a time. Then a sudden shout from the stage manager, who stands in a front angle, book in luind, making voluminous notes, causes a sutiuen stoppage. 1 he ladies of the ballet are trouping on. They are supposed to be rushing in with a joyous shout: but instead they parade on with the re- spectable solemnity of a. mourner at a funeral. "Go back, ladies; go back, that won't do," cries the manager. "You mnct troop in with a shout, something like this." and he runs to the rear and comes in from the wings with the agility of Cardiff harrier during the first 100 yards, and giving vent to a whoop that would do credit to a. Red Indian. The ladies try again, and this time aro a little more successful. They do it yet again, and at length win the approval of the for- midable individual wilh the hook. Then they form into marching order, and tramp round the stage in single file as though for the inspection of the audience. It does not need the practised eye to detect. the professional from the noviice, or "extra," the local girl engaged for the occasion to swell the ranks of t'he ballet. The "pro." walks with head erect, and spright'liness in every limb. The "extria" in stage garb is often a peculiars constituted individual. She may be a well- formed. welil developed, and graceful girl, but too often "he iis somewhat otherwise. There is the tell-tale housemaid's knee, the drooping head, the rounded shoulders, the uncertain, step, the ili-formed hands, and that surest sign, of the tyro, the stage consc/ousue-s w'hich reveals it- self in the fact that she is absolutely at a In-A as to what to do with arms end 'hand?. Of course, all there imperfections are not notice- able in one individual, or the management would quickly relieve itself of such an un- desirable specimen of feiroinine unloyelinees, but it is difficult to get an "extra" without some defect in form or deportment. The "extras" are the worry oif the stage manager' !■fe. If they are in cflroru^ they per- sist, in the earlier stages, in singing out of tune or out of time: if they have a manoeuvre to perform, -one or the other wdl 'be sure to get out of place and upset the whole movement: if they make an entrance, they come on and lose their heads when the glare of the footkghts meets their eye*; and, in attempting an exit, the first half dozen will romp out and THE FINISHED ARTICLE. ?- choke the wing, blissfully oblivions of the fact that they are keeipmg a long queue waiting on the stage. Such vagaries as these have to be dealt with by the stage manager, and every feature of entrance, exit, and en- semble polished up to perfection before the first night. The principals work on their own lines. They are about as comical when rehearsing in their own everyday attire as wh.en performing in stage costume, only the humour springs from another source. A comedian walks on, dressed in long ulster, turned up at the collar, for the night is cold and "ifi wings are draughty. He sings a song of ultra comicality, and the character of the words and music of the ditty, compared with the costume of the singer, appear so incon- gruous that we roar with laughter. The actor goes through with his business in a methodical and business-like fashion, stopping now and then j.) hold a confab with the musical con- -?- ductor, but rarely exerting himself beyond giving a slight comic twitching of the face or, an involuntary wave of the hand. In the meantime the detachment responsible for the gtaee fittings are busy at work, little heeding the singer and his song or the three or four principals, who, when the melody is over, hurry to the front, a.nd there express the most comical sentiments and indulge in the funniest patter in the most common-place manner. When this somewhat sombre farce is over. a quartette of dancers trip ill, .and proceed to do a pas de quatre in their every day attire, a feat which requires considerable dexterity. The movement of the dancers in their long- dresses is not exactly what might 1)(' called graceful, but it gives an idea of the dance, and is suffi- cient for the purpose of the dancers and the I accompanying. And so the rehearsal proceeds. Occasion tliy it may be interrupted by a, shout that a piece of scenery^-a tree, gable, or what not—is on the point of falling; anon, ])I>rh:J.p6, the iime-light man comes in for a blessing in dis«gui-<e: or a demoiselle de ballet has forgotten her helmet; arid, maybe, all the while the cutting reproofs of the stage ma.uager are supplemented by occa- sional peremptory commands from the acting manager, or the lessee, who watch the pro- ceedings frnn the stalls or a secluded corner of the ba-lcon.v. It is ofioti two and three o'clock in the morning before a pantomime rehearsal is over, and yet nianv people think a life on the etago is all glitter and glorv. AUTOLYCUS. ?-

I. A CYCLING STORY ABout TWO CARDIFF PANTOMIME ARTISTES. Those of our Teaders who have seen Kennedy Allen in the circus scene in the Theatre Royal pantomime cannot fail to have noticed the df-xtrous manner in which he balances himself upon the circus "gee-gee." Some may ima- gine that this arises from. his previous ex- perience of horsemanship, but Kennedy in- forms us that he has no acquaintance with that noble quadrupedi He acquired his acrobatio powers of balance from the common or garden "bike." We have noticed Mr. Allen's aversion to this popular form of recreation, but untiL to-day never knew the real cause. As might be expected, Humphries, the wicked "Ali Baba"—as one would naturally suppose from his w.eight—is at the bottom of the whole affair. After some persuasion and a threat or two from our fighting editor, Kennedy weighed in thus: — Well, Humphries and niys?lf would learn to ride the bicycle. The first difficulty was to obtain a machine strong enough to support his lifteen-stone of too-too solid, and not too heavy bo be propelled by my 9&t. 41b. massive frame, for the deed must be done in strict secrecy, and it required one of us to hold the other on. I think Humphries had the easiest time at the holding-on stakes. The machine was secured. After a few preliminary knocks on the shins from the treadles whilst trying to wheel it along, and falling over it twice, to the intense amusement of several small boys, a. lonely spot on the Penarth-road was reached in safety. The horrors of that afternoon would fill columns. But "r will be brief." We readied home bruised, but, ready for the evening performance, arranged t-o meet for another trial the next day at one o'clock (for success had not transpired that day.) I chuckled to myself over a glorious idea. I would take the bicycle unknown to "fa.t and artful" from its hiding-place and practise two or three hours and learn to ride, return ard meet him at one o'clook, and astonish him by im- mediately mounting and speeding off to the practice ground before his bewildered eyes. T rose me betimes—and followed out the fir.>t pari of my deep soheme. "The way was long, the day WM cold, I The bicycle was infirm and old"; and I found that it was, indeed, a hard, cruel world After persp'ringly and patiently perse- vering, ait the end of two hours' hard work. at last I oould sit in the saddle and put both feet on the treadles. I would ride back! I started, reached an incline, lost my grip on the I handles, went bang into a lamp-past. After collecting my thought* and a few other scat- tered portions of self and bicycle, again I essayed the task. All went well for a hundred yords or so, when, oh !—horrors!—a trap was oommg in the opposite direction. I was bewildered by the moving objeot; I put my teeth to- gether, made a spurt to pacs it, became ner- vous. a.nd got the worst of the second fall with the machine, luckily, on the opposite side to that on which the trap was pacing. I con- cluded to walk home! arriving just in time to re-place the machine, When Humphries saun- tered up. "Have you been waiting for me long- '?" queried he. "Only just turned np," replied I. "Did you like your interview with the lamp-post?" said he. I answered not. "That wa" a graceful evolution you performed when passing that trap," he cynically mur- mured. I knew then that my secret was out. It thereupon transpired that he had thought of the same glorius idea as myself—to get out early, learn to ride. and astonish me—and cad just arrived in time to see me meander off with the machine, and had followed a.nd enjoyed himself at my expense for a couple of hours. "It nmkes me weep, Ali's u regular btv-b» black sheep."

THE RUSSIAX COURT. LIFE THERE NOT SO ATTRACTIVE AS PEOPLE THINK. Life at the Russian Court is not quite so attractive as foreigners usually believe, says a writer in "Woman's Life." At least, for the Czarina it involves as much work as plea- sure. She holds no "Drawing Room," but, as the patroness of a great many benevolent societies and Imperial institutions, where the children of the nobility are educated, she has to receive a number of people on business, and also those who are entitled to a presen- tation. It requires a great deal of tact, and a very good memory, to say the proper thing to everybody. The Dowager-Empress was famous for both. Never did she forget to inquire after a sick daughter or an absent son. Once only was she known to make a mistake. When the veterans of the Turkish- Russian War were presented to her, she asked General Verofkine. who had lost his hearing in the war, whether his eyes weTe still trouble- some. The great Court balls at the Winter Palace are brilliant spectacles. Nearly all tho guests occupy high positions, and are personally acquainted with their Majesties, an.1 have to be there when the Czar a.nd Czarina take their round tkrousrh the magni- ficently-decorated bal'-rooms. They arrive at hatf-past nine precisely, and leave at mid- night. During these hours the visitors may be compared to dummies, as they hardly dare to move. Woe to the dame whose modiste has been tardy, for at nine o'clock the gates of the palace are closed. On 'great national occasions, like the wedding of the Czar, or the coronation festivities, all the ladies invited have to appear in the national costume, the kokoschnik (diadem). «,nd veil; -but at the ordinary ba-lTis the length of the train and the decollete of the waist are only subject to Court etiquette.

A STORY OF THE RIVIERA. A few years ago (says "Woman") sojourners at a very fashionable winter resort on the French Riviera were much interested in xhe sorrows of a certain smart lady whose hus- band, after a lingering illness, departed this life, leaving her inconsolable. The deepest and rrost sombre of weeds testified to her unmiti- gated woe, a.ad' daily she made a pilgrimage of devotion to the cemetery where her hus- band's remains rested. She was so prostrated with trrief that the constant companionship of an elderly* oldier was not remarked for some time, as he was a friend of the dead man, and vent to mingle his tears with the widow's at the tomb. This inelai eholv promenade was regularly taken during a whole winter, and in the end tongues began to elack. and ere the season was ended the lady's brief engagement and immediate marriage caused no little talk. Even after her marriage, however, she bewailed her first husband, and never during her second marriage did she wear aught but bl&ck gar- ircmts. The second husbard died in London about a fortnight ago, and, though it is raid that the 1mion. wag by no means a happy one, the widow har- again been in despair, and for seve- ral days insisted on retaining her husband's body. At lost- it was buried in a lovely a.nd celebrated country churchyard near London. New she has departed to the Riviera, to exhume the first husband, in order that his remains may be placed in the new grave with those of the second, a spaoe for her own being left in between.

THREE TRAINS COLLIDE A Reuters telegram from Madrid says:;— Three trans were m collision in the fatal rail- way accident at Caeetaa on Friday, and nine carriages were wre ked. The passengers in- jured numbered twenty. Neither of the two pa-sengers killed has been identified.

The mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Gwen M'Andrew, Heath-road, Maesfceg, has caused quite a sensation in that district, and the police and the missing woman's friends are making diligent, inquiries for a clue. She was last seen at the railway station, at six p.m., on +he last day of the year. She is 5ft. 6in. in height, last day of the year. She is 5ft. 6in. in height. stoutish, fair complexion, light brown hair, lost two or three front teeth, and is 28 years of age. She wore a grey, Welsh plaid skirt, black eilk jaoket, white sailor's hat. with black crown and brimmed with black ribbon.

.?-? Biggest Boy in the World c- HE HAS TWELVE FINGERS AND TOES. Young, Anton ia Ten Years Oldf Weighs 1501b., and Is Five Feet High. The largest- boy in the world is Anion Mochty, and he is a peasant boy living with his parents, well-to-do ij^ople, at Haindorf, in lower Austria. He is ten years old. This growing Colossus weighs at the present time loOlb., his breast measures 45in. from arm pit to arm pit, aid his head is 22in. in diameter. He is exactly 5ft, high. As a small :-hihl he way so phlegmatic that he refused to learn to walk for four years after his birth. With the beginning of his fifth year he began to creep, and after a little while learned to walk. When a baby Anton was thought rather small. His mother nbrscd him until hi;, fifth year, and he took little solid food before that time. On his fi>th birthday, when there was a party at his father's house, the boy first attracted attention on account of his large features. During the last two years he has gained over 701b. in weight and 2ft. in height. Nature gave Anton six toes and six fingers on each hand and fcot. All thes? members are per- fectly developed and well shaped, except that the small fingers stand out from the rest. The joints, however, work like those of the other fit gers. Anton's footgear is expensive. His wcoden shoes, as well as those of leather, must be made to order. He wears his father's trousers, coats and vests, shirts, underwear, and hats, and would be taken for a young man of twenty if it Wari not for the freshness of his complexion and his youthful manners. Where Nature is so generous in one direction she must be expected to evea things up. So ii happens that Anton is by no means a bright boy, but, as in the case of M. Canon- Berg, he enjoys average intelligence and a sunny temper. In his village they can him "the rubber ball," on account of the rotim. dity of his features. The causes that con- tributed to the boy's extraordinary size are as yet hidden to th3 scientists who have under- taken to explain the phenomenon. He comes from r crmally-built parents and his numerous brothers and sisters are distinguished neither for largeness nor for extraordinary toes of fingers. Anton has never been a big eater.

A NEW USE FOR TIGHTS. LADIES WEAR THEM INSTEAD OF UNDERGARMENTS. In New Y ork, it seems;, the wearing of tights is not confined to ballet girls and dancers. They are worn instead of the union undergarments by the best-dressed society women. "Thin women may wear them, but fleshy women must," the head of a ladiea* clothing establishment says in a contemporary^ "lou see, with excellent quality of wool and silk, you can get more warmth with less ma- terial thau in any other style of garment. There is an especially fleshy woman patron of ours for whom we have tights, made espe- cially, of extra, thickness and warmth. She is thereby enabled to dispense with underskirts, and, l^esides gaining more freedom from ham- pering petticoats, she avoids adding more bulk to her hips, and her chamois-lined skirts hang beautifully. All the best dressmakers advise tights for fleshy women. We sell the eques- trian tights for riding, bicycling, skating, and all cutdoor sports, chiefly on account of warmth; and with short skirts or 'bloomers.' because they are better than long hose, which are likely to wrinkle or crease or get unfa- stened and look loose and untidy and feel uncomfortable, even under leggings. Tights, if they are of good quality, always fit, and take away the necessity of those abominations —garters. We always have a good sale of equestrians as the skating season comes on. There is such freedom of motion in them. You may laugh, but I think thr. ballet, has been more of an object-lesson in dress reform than the 'new woman.' You wouldn't think it, but the silk ones are warmer than the wool, and much more expensive. Black we sell mostly. I can almost tell a. woman who wears tights by the way her skirts hang, and by her walk. The dressmakers say that tights belong to the era. of fine art. in dressmaking."

A MAN OF MYSTERY. STEPNIAK NOT THE MAN WHOSE OBITUARIES WERE PRINTED. George Kennan, the Russian traveller, says the published reports concerning Stepniak, the leader of the Nihilist par^y outside of Russia, are incorrect, and that the obituary pubK.shed is really that of Professor Dragomaniff, another Nihilist leader. Sa.id Mr. Kennan:—Stepniak was a man of mystery. Stepniak was not his legal name, and it simply means. "On the Steppes." He assumed it when the Russian Government placed an immense price on his head. and the Russian offkrlals never knew that Stepniak was the man for whom they were searching far a.nd wide. He was one of a most noble family—a family which stood high in Russia—his real name being La-zeroff. He. with 192 ethers, was tried for an attempt to overthrow the Government in 1878, but was saved from Siberia fcy the powerful influence he commanded. He was not at the time a. Nihilist, but became one after this trial, and rose to the leadertkip. The Government learned what he had done. and arrested him. He Was convicted, but escaped when on hia way to Siberia., and for months was sought tw the police. All tibia time he was in the Czar's dominions. Ultimately, he made his way to the frontier, and wait to Italy, where he pub- lished his first book, "Underground Russia." He then went to London, under the name of Stepniak, a.nd conducted the literary bureau of the Nihilist party, or the Terrorists, as they aI' known in Russia. He there wrote "Russia Under the Czars," "Hie Russian Storm Cloud," "The Career of a Nihilist." and "The Russian Peasantry." At the game time he published a weekly Nihilist pamr, which has a.n immense circulation in [Ruaafe. At the tifne of his death he had just about completed, in collabo- ration with M"!s9 HI8ba. Stretton, of London, a work entitled. "Hie Highway of Sorrow." which dealt with tjie persecutions of the reli- gious sect known In Russia as the Stundists. He was the most brilliant Russian refugee, and in his death tfe liberal party loses not amly a great leader, out a great advocate.

SAVED THE SHIP. A REMARKABLE DEVICE USED TO FLOAT A STRANDED VESSEL. "If there be one thing upon whioh I pride myself next to my hobby of the strictest accu- raov," remarked Colonel Monkhouse, as quoted in "Judy." "ii is upon my presence of mind. It lias often proved of the utmost value to myself, and also to others. On one occasion I saved thousands upon thousands of pounds to a steamship company, simply by my habit of rapid thought, followed by equally rapid practice. It was iti the Mediterranean, when I was on my passage out to India. By some blunder of the first mate we ran on to a sand bank. and there we stuck. The sea was calm, and there was no panic; but the question arose as to what was to be done. Wait till the tide rose? There was no use in doing that, for in the Mediterranean there is only a. rise and fall of an inch or two. The captain proposed to signal the first vessel that passed to take off the passengers and crew. and leave the vetsel to her fate, as she was so fast that to attempt to get her off by towing would have been of no use. A storm might have proved useful, the oaptain said, by giving us a little mora water, owing to high waves, but there was not even the most remote chance of one, but the observation gave me a suggestion. I knew that the cargo which we were taking out eons-isted largely of chemicals. I Mked the captain if he knew what these chemicals were, but he did not. We, therefore, examined the ship's manifest., and I a.t once knew that the steamer wa-s saved Among the contents of the hold were large consignments of tartara.fced soda, of carbonate of soda, and of tartaric acid. I caused the casks to lie brought up on d.eek, a.nd had the heads knocked out. t.he two former chemicals being ipfled' up on one side of the deck and th#> third on the other. At a given signal the whole of the crew started to shovel the material overboard—there were altogether «ev«ral tons of it. Immediately the sea in our immediate neign-Jourliood rose and got into the utmost commotion, tfco'.igh quite close at hand the water was all oalm as a duck pond. There was a heavy lurch and1 the vessel slipped ofF into deep water. How wa* it that throwing chemical* overboard raised a storm* The matter was sinmle enough. I had selected the ingredients that constitute a aeidlitz powder, but T did it on a large scale. Nn. I was not awarded salvage, but toP pass/Tigers and the owners presented me with testimonials." ?-

We ara getting fixed up an the Western Mail m Buildings. W-th Mr. Kemp to cflothe us and Mr. Phelps to decorate us with rare exotics and— please us with Ittsrions fruit, life 1& exceedingly^ pleasant. Now we have gained a fuelling of security, for Mr. Harry Oousnns. solmiVrr. has, j* opened a staadting on the ground floor. F'.ir-on nished with cloches, provision, and law, wa, about defiance to Kruger. h M irt.hf 1891