Evening Express

TEMPERATURE, RAINFALL. Date. Max. Min. ,Mea.». 9 a.m. 9 p.m. Tote.1. Friday 1 — — — *00 'CO "00 Saturday .| 2! AO 26 ?3'0 00 '00 "03 Sunday 31 42 35 38*5 '00 "00 "00 Monday 4j 38 34 36'0 "04 -:o '14 Tuesday 5] 41 44 42'5 *00 *00 '00 Wednesday 6| 45 35 40'0 *02 '00 '02 Thnrsday.^[_7! '37

Telephone, National, 502; Poet-oifice, 95. Te!»grame. "Express," Cardiff.

Bill Banter's Budget I I have succumbed. It has been a struggle such as would have weakened the most deter- mined man. Two patlia have opened out before me-one ieads to the padded cell, and the other to the brink of an intellectual abyss. I have chosen the latter. Read the followingnoem carefully, and I will tell the bi'Aer story in a few words: — I "Cwrley'a coop do howl, And how the cats do prowl: Oll, it is a wonder ii v there is not thunder; It is viiongh to buivt a mumber, And leave vi all alone." TOM PEPPER." Wait a moment! The above may appeal lo nobody, except as the vilest piece of poetry ever written by a cannibal. Before I explain, kindiy digest this — "To Bili Hi.gginti, '"Cardiff assessments are getting very high; Now io our time to get away and fiy. Now we shan't he Ion, beifore we do. It's getting strong, so we shan't ;be long Before we do do do. "CHORUS. "Over the hills and far away. The 'Evening Express' w going some day Somewhere high up by the sky. So we won't get tormented by the fly. • "eMore /0II0W8, from Sirrcrm Bacwards.)" There! It is done! The fttal words are in bold print I fancy I can hear a, shriek of elfin laughter from behind me. "What?" you may say, aghast: "do you take your friemds for drivelling New Year fools, Bill, with mora time to waste than brains to use?" Kav.? patience! This is more than a personal trouble; it is a. catastrophe that ma.y happen to any man. Some considerable time has elapsed I found the first of these tw^ poetic moiiatro- j sities awaiting me at the hand of the moist- eyed morning postman. I paid no heed to it. Next day two letters came. Both of them contained copie" of the verse. I took I1J¡O notice. That same evening, after the appear- ance of the Express," I received a registered letter. It ran "Dear Bill,—I sent you the oihet day r. little poem of my own composi- tion. I have not yet seen it in pnut." Then it proceeded, in cold blood, with "Curley's coop do howl." etc. I was annoyed. I had read this thing four times, and began to know it by heart. But I burnt the letter and muttered am incantation over its ashes. For three long weeks this poem haunt ad me. It came by every post, in envelope-- of every sbapa and size the address, Bill Banter, Esquire, 'Everuiig Expreiss,' aU.i.guked in every conceivable handwriting. I got to read- ing the poem in a Lelpkvs, dazed condition, I yet I fought again-st defeat, even when the bar- maid .at the Loving Ghost handed me a missive, inscribed, "On her Majesty's eervice," with Curley's eternal coop inside. I knew the verse so well by this time that it pet itself to every tune I heard. The 'busses rattled over the roadway to the metre, "Oh. it is a wonder, Why there io; not thunder." I fought hard, and the letters came without a brtak. I tr-Mibled a.9 I opened the correspondence. One day b.<lt week Curley's coop wa- joined by the second selection, and the second was wors-e, and more persistent. I cannot help it. "Bill," said Carr, meeting me oiilv this morn- ing. "You don't seem your old intellectually, acrobatic self ? Nothing wrong, I hope. No •plhthisis? Not going to your long home?" I j ari.swered, wearily — "It's getting strong^lo we shan't be long, Before we do do do This is the whole story. No pen can pour- tray its whole, long anguish. I suspect the office boy know^ something. I have found sciay envelopes containing copies of those verses wherever I turned. The ptall have brought them from every direction, innocently enough, saying, "I've just found a leitter for you. Bill." The reason for my ferocity may now be ex- plained to sufferers. 1 have succumbed. I cannot look that office boy in his victorious eye. Let him take this column home to hie ma! It is for him. Let him gloat with his confede- rates over the fact tha.t he is in print. And not long ago I boasted of the brilliant school of contemporary poets I have gathered round me. Ah! "More follows," saye the poet fiend. Mercy! Not now. The man who tells us monstrous things about the New Year is flourishing yet. But he is rather interesting in his effort this morning: — Dear dliam,—I noticed an inquiry in your column the other day as to where the New Yenr begins. Pemaips, it may be of interest to know ihat at twenty minuteis to ^even, on the morn- ing of Decc-mb&r 31. the year 1897 commenced in fact. The day began away out in the Paci- fie Ocean on the 3 80th meridian. At the hour named above it was exactly midnight at this spot. Of course, there is not a pause. On rushe-3 the Nwv Year over the ,'e1S end through Asia, conquering the earili at the rate <>f one twenty-foun' every hour. By the time ihe sun was in the zenith over Pittsburg it was the evening of the last day of the year in England. At twenty minutes to even that evening In Pittsburg it wa., New Year's Day in England. It is an inrere.-t.mg morsel for thought, a.nd to the strong imagination it i- not impossible to pic- ture the new day of the New Year as some living thing fleeing around the earth on tireless wing at the rate of a thousand miics every time the minute hand of the clock completes a revo- lution.—Yours, &c., OLD SOL. We have not yet tired of the New Year, with all itN vagaries. The "Express" staff last night were anxio<u.s to celebrate risrht along to next December ol. It was all Carr's fault. He sent a message down to inquire- whether the "Express" staff would 03 good enough to drink on this auspieioiM occasion to a hapor- New Year. The inquiry was one of the most needless, silly things I ever heard. It was a foregone conclusion that they would be good enough to drink to a hundred Twelfth- night occasions without a breuik. I sent back a reply to the elect that the "Express" desired all beer aud no formal dailliance with the English tongue. It was a really sweet conclusion to the holiday sen-son. Fifty hot, steaming beefsteak pies from Elliott's were chosen by the staff in preference to any other edibles, a.nd washed down in W orihington's Four-X, pop, ginger beor, ould IriiEi, scda, etcetra. It was a. pathetic scene, never to be forgotten by these privileged to participate in it. The Carmarthenshire Main Roads Council have been guilty of a New Year resolution. All last year they squabbled with the- Llaneily oouncilioris and others over the length of main roads subsidised at Llanelly. The contention has been bitter, but at the council's first New Year meeting yesterday it was decided on the invita- tion of the chairman, Air. W. N. Jones, to drop the tangle for for the wining year. It was a tender peene. Members rose one by one and asked whether there was time for one more round. There was not, unless they wished to carry tha quarrel right along through another veer. In the end the New Year's resolution was adapted. Thus we see all men beginning in peace. The combined political committees open the new year at the Grangetown Conservative Club to night. Do not forget it. The fire in the committee has been very marked of late, and shows no signs of dying away. Several highly interesting matters are to be brought forward, and at the close the Gra.ngetown Club invite the delegates to a smoker.

MR BAYARD'S SUCCESSOR. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO BSTGIiAITD. Colonel John Hav. of Washington, ha,* been selected by Mr. M'Kviley, the President-elect, to «uc( o-d Mr. Bayard. it will lyj noticed (says "tlie "Evening New-) that the word Vis«l it "selected." Colonel Hav cannot yet be appointed, as Air. M'JhZinlev is not yet Presi- dent. Colonel John Hay, who is to succeed -Mr. Bayard as Ani' fl-.sado.'r to the Court of St. James, i" well known to the general reader as the nuthor of "Jim Bluc'sor" rnd "Little Brteches," and of a "Life of :h«.in Lin- coln." He was at one time uitaohed as sec- retary to President Lincoln, a,nd served through. the American Civil War. He i>- a courteous and refined man, and will prove a worthy suc- cessor to Mr. Bayard.

UNIQUE GEOGRAPHICAL CHART. A unique geographical chart is to be on view I at the World Exhibition at Pari, J tWIll represent Switzerland a hundred-thousandth of its actual size and will be in re'ievo. No map of this innxmanee has hitherto been made in relief, the largest up to the present having been four nundred-thcusandths of the actual eize 50 fur as any European country 18 concernEd. A geographer of Geneva has been entrusted with the work, under the special direction of Coloael Hoehmann, chairman of the Topographical Department at Berne. --?-

THE LEAST TRUSTWORTHY WIT- NESSES. Mr. Labouchere takes with pride a survey cf the swindlers whom he has exposed during the twenty years that "Truth" has been issued. The fir«t writ for libel was served on him a few weeks after the journal was started, at the instance of Mr. Robertson, then connected with the Royal Aquarium. The case is of historical interest, as that in which Mr. Charles Russell, as he then was—the Lord Chief Jus tic e of England as he now is—won fiis spurs at the Bar. The first verdict against "Truth" was in a libel action arising out of a supposed outrage upon a village pump in Lincolnshire. The question to be decided, if I re ir 'ruber rightly, was, says Mr. Labouche-e. whethev the pump was or was not on cue side of the- village street —I forget which side. I put the pump on the wrong side of the street, and in consequence found myself en the wrong side at- the trial, with £100 dameages to pay. The cape first taught m" 'he danger of trusting to the evidence of clergymen. I have gradually learned that, of all witnesses on questions of fact, clergymen are the least trustworthy. Out of six actions which I have defended unsuccess- fully in the course of twenty j ears, two have so resulted from mv misplaced confidence in clergy men of the Established Chuioif

Booth and Gladstone INTERVIEW AT HA WARDEN- Animated Chat on Religious Topics.— Aims and Methods of the Salvation It Army.—Tha General and His Successor.—Personal Impres- sions of the G.O.M. To-day we are in a position to give the full text of the interview which General Booth, recently liad with Mr. Gladstone. It is written by the General himself, and runs as follows — Three o'clock on Monday afternoon, Decem- ber 31, had been fixed by Mr. Gladstone for my interview with him at Haw&rden Castle, and, passing over from Kcighley, where I had been holding meetings the previous day, 1 reaf.hcd the beautiful park in which it is situated a few minutes before that time. Air. Herbert Gladstone met me at the entrance of the castle—kindness itself, as he always is—:)•'d conducted me to the drawing- room, where we found Airs. Gladstone and Mrs. Drew, and, our formal introduction over, they made me feel at home in a moment. I was cold through, and Mrs. Gladstone saw it. Putting one of those delightful old-fashioned easy-chairs—the manufacture of which ?.- a lost art so far as this country is concerned— before the great, open lire, she insisted upon my getting a thorough warm, and we were boon talkiuga way as though we had been acquainted for years. In a few moment* the door of the adjoining room opened, and in walked nlr. Glad8toLle, stretching oUt his hand, ,;reetiiig me in the warmest manner, and putting zn end to the little colloquy with the ladies by summoning me forthwith to the library. I had not i.-efore had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Gladstone. Although often desiring -to hear him speak, I have always been too much occupied with the absorbing thing? of my own sphere to feel that I couid a-iford the time for one of thdoe "big nights" at "the House when friend*/ and toss alike were so often charmed by his wondferful eloquence. Of him as a nwii of ability, energy, intelligence, learning, and high principle, altogther without reference to his political views, I 'have for years entertained a high esteem. I knew that no man. in Great perhaps in .any other nation— had occupied for the last twenty years so large a space in the world's vision: and now here, in his "nn housa, is the opportunity for the convcrtation I had so often desired. Mr. Gladstone's first warm greeting, followed by the mingled invitation and command to join him m his study, not only ended my chat with the ladies, but dispelled any little treptustiou 1 might have felt concerning our interview; and as to the oppo-ition raised by Mrs. GIad- stone in view of the warming operations only just commenced, Mr. Gladstone quickly settled that question by saying that I should find his room the warmer of the two! MR. GLADSTONES PORTRAITS. The art of impressing upon paper, by any sort of machinery, a true reseniLilaiice of the human face divine has as yøt to he dIseovered. Any- way. it seems to me that photography is usualiy a misleading affair: often—very often—-its pro- ducts are so much like, and quite as often so very much unlike. Sitting before Air. Glad- stone that aftRrnoon. with every side and angle "nd corner of that. room crowded with the hooks hI" loved so well, enry lineament, of his coun- tenance grew familiar, simply from the recollec- tion of the picture resemblances so common to us all-ior perhaps no living man has been more fpequently pictured and yet 1 very much ques- tion whether I should have recognised him had I been placed opposite to him as a stranger in a railway compartment. Indeed, I feel sure I should not. The features in the public prints are, as a ruiie, larger, and. to my fancy, seem to ha.ve a hard and masterful look about them— a look which certainly failed to show itself to ine for a single moment in the original that afternoon. On the contrary, while intelligent, expressive, quick, and commanding in IÃ higo. degree, his face appeared equally sympathetic and killdny-so much so, at any rate, aa to make me feel in a few moments as thoroughly at home in the library as I had been a few minutes before in the drawjng-room. "I have not been very well for the last week or two," he said, as we walked across the room, "and hence things here are in rather a confused state," which confusion, I must confess, I saw nothing of. Then, drawing up opposite the fire an easy-chair, similar to the one J had just v:\ü3.ted, he said, "Now you can finish warming your- self," and then passed over, as I supposed, in the direction of t-hs coal-box. I protested that there was abundanee of fire for IDe. "Yes, yes," he said, throwing a great chunk .of wood over the bar. of the fine old grate, "hut we must do something to keep it going." The next moment he had settled down in a similarly low seat near me, and started the conversation by saying — "I suppose, in addressing you as general, I use the title to which you are accustomed, and which hariiLoni&es with your feelings?" THE AlILJTARiSM OF THE ARAIY. I replied "Yes," that was the appellation ordinarily given to me, that I thought it duly signified my position, and that I accepted it for that reason. I explained that I had not sought it, and was at the beginning strongly opposed to its me; but that having come to be the head of what was known as an army, there seemed no alternative but to accept the title which denoted my position. This led to some ohservations an both sides as to the use of titles. Mr. Gladstone fully recognising their value. I remarked that our military nomenclature had been of great .service to us. inasmuch 8S the sig- nificance of our titles was understood by the common people without explanation. No matter how poor, untrained, or und'sciplmed a man might be, he knew the meaning Of "cap- tain" when he joined a corps, and that it im- plied authcrvtv and obedience. "Yes," remarked Mr. Gladstone, "everybody knows the meaning ^f 'captain.' Air. Gladstone then preferred what seemed to me one of a serie-5 of questions which dealt with the verv first orinciple-s of our organisation. "By what methods." he asked, "were we able 'to msintein the central authority, extending, as it did. t, so many distant parts of the world, while allowing that free and energetic local action so necessarv to vigorous growth?" I explained briefly—at least, as briefly as 1 could, for he stopped me at every point all throutrh the conversation where T do not a.npep.r intelligible—that each of the vari-m* countries in which we were at work constituted a separate territory, under the command Of nn officer ^'h m we styled a commissionerthat, those territories were again sub-divided into provinces, and a train into divisions, and a-ram mlo corps, each a-lw under the command of an officer. "But how," h<* asked, "is the central ?..utho- ritv maintained?" I renlied that, for one thing, the commis- sioners in command of each territory were selected and appointed bv me for five years, a term which couhl be extended or diminished, as circumstance* mivht render desirable in the interests of the whole. THE ANGLO-SAXON ELEMENT. "Are many of the otHcers occupying positions of authority in these countries sent out from England?" inquired Air. Gladstone. I replied that manv of the principal com- mands throughout the world were filled by officers raised, trained, and sent out from Ensiieh-speakmsr countries. I might have added that this was a necessity which will gradually disappear, seeing that each country will, no doubt, in time be very nearly, if not altogether, equal to the task of raising its own leaders, it being a first principle with us that each people must work out the spiritual regene- ration of its own country -Americans must direct our operations in America, that French- men must evangelise Frenchmen, that Indians mvit mission India, and the like. Mr. Gladstone expressed no little surprise at the widespread influence of the Aiiglc- £ >*xon element amongst our people. He pursued the subject :uvther, "How many officers, general, have vou holding position* of authority abroad who were commissioned from this country?" I replied that I was unable to give that information at the monu' it had never occurred to me to make the calculation." "Well," he said, "can you not make a rough '? jruetss?" Again T had to confers my inutility to do so. To wh'ch he rejoined. --ire there twenty "Oh. Mr. Gladstone." I answered, it being now my turn to be surprised, "we send out from this country 200 to 2E.O officers to those foreign fields every year." "'Ahat." he r-aid, "to exercise authority in these conn tries?" I replied in the affirmative. He thought that was a. very remarkable evidence of the strength as well as the vitality or the movement. FiN ANCE. This led to his inquiry as to the number of officers in the Army altogether. On my stating that we hud over 12,000 men and women, separated from the ordinary avocations of life, and main- tained for leadership, be-ides an exten- sive force of unpaid officials, he was not a little moved and impressed, and hIs practical mind at once leapscl to the inference to which he gave expression by the remark that a large amount of money nllht be required to keep so extensive an agency in a state of efficiency. Could I tell him vliat was the entire income of the Army? I regretted I could not. "Well," he .-aid, "can you not make an approximata estimate of the annual revsnue of the Army throughout the world from all sources?" I said it must be considerably over a million stealing. At this his surprise seemed greater than ever, Mid, seizing at once the fact of egeontial im. -?-?- portance—from the standpoint of permanence -that the great bulk of. this 8Wll is made up by the voluntary contributions of the poor I people among whom we are labouring, he said two or three times that it was very remarkable. Pursuing his interrogations in this direction, he inquired as to the number of our adherents. Here, again, I was wanting for the exact figures. On whk-h he remarked it must be over a million. I assented, but a very little thought would have justified ine in giving a much larger num- ber. MR. GLADSTONE AS A TALKER. ber. MR. GLADSTONE AS A TALKER. Other things passed in brief review. Mr. Gladstone is as rapid as he is a forcible and interesting talker. He scarcely paused for a moment 111 his friendly cross-examination, every question bearing directly and intelli- gently either on some of our principles of action, some leading method, or some impor- tant aspect of the results that follow. There wai n-ot a wasted word. There was not a ves- tiga of that conceited method of interrogation wa.) n-ot a. wasted WON. There was IHJt a. Yes. tiga of that conceited method of interrogation which jg intended to assert- Ihe 8upuiority of the interrogater and to mark his condescension in being willing to receive the information one has to convey. Nor was there a hint of that impatience which is -so common in the mariner of some men when dealing with what they are T.-lea.-ed to cail "e.notional religion." Nothing could have been more impressive or more ((''arming than tho quiet dignity and the the ughiiLII gentleness, and yet the lightning penetration, with which Air. Gladstone dIg. ir-ssed with me the Salvation Army, its system, its peculiarities, its principles, its future, that afternoon. THE ARMY ON THE CONTINENT. I forget what led up to it. but about this time he inquired as to the attitude of the Con- tinental Governments towards our work, par- ticularly naming Sweden. I said that, on cbe whole, they were friendly, remarking, by way of illustration, that on my last visit to Scan- dinavia, in the summer of this year, the Crowu Prince of Denmark, who happened to be travelling in the same steamer with me, had taken occasion to assure me of the admiration with which he and his family regarded the ope- rations of the Army, adding that he followed my travels up and down the world with in- terest, and at the fame time expressing his best I wL-hes for our success. "But," said Air. Gladstone, "did you see the I'rincess?" I said, "No; the Prince WM alone." "Well," he added, "from the CÜil- versation 1 had with the Prince I feel xur-e the Princess would greatly sympathise with) our work." Hero, as nn evidence of the appreciation of our work by the Uanish authorities, 1 meu- tioned the fact that I had been allowed to hold, C-l tWO visits to Copenhag-en, nwet. ings in the King's gardens, the gates being dosed to the public for a. season, in order that entrance-monev might lie taken for the benefit of our work among tJw poor there. "Indeed!" Air. Gladstone remarked. "But that was in Denmark. Tell me what is the attitude of the authorities of Sweden towards your labours I told him of the perfect liberty now accorded to 11., in ollr meeting-plaoes, and the growing freedom in the direction of open-air work manifested in "ome towTIiS by permission to procession, mentioning that the last time I was in Stockholm my people were permitted to give me a. public reception, at which it was estimated by the police that some 20,000 persons were present. "But was there any persecution?" he a-sked. "There is no persecution 111 Sweden now," I replied "There had been in the early days of our work there as many as ten of our otficers in prison at the same time, action being taken against us under some obsolete statutes, but the King intervened, ordering the liberation of the captives, and vetoing any further prose- cutions." "This," he said. "is very interesting. The Government, then, is friendly now?" I assented, and, in illustration, gave him the fact that there was an annual subsidy paid to our social work by the Stockholm Citv Council, and that a fine building, with baths, &c., just erected by the city authorities, had been handed over by them to our people, free of rent, adding that one of the Princes had for a long time provided a slight rrraluity to every poor fellow who came to our shelter in that city, enabling us therewith to supply a little extra food. Then we talked' of other countries. Mr. Gladstone's sympathies are as wide as the seas, and no difference of race or language seems to abate "his interest in the problems of all nations. When 1 referred to Italy he was full of inquiry in a moment. I "What did I think of the condition of reli- gion in the Waldensian Valleys? How far had we been able to influence the Italian peasant? What common ground was there between us and the populations of the cities of Northern Italy?" This led us to the general question of the state and prospects of spiritual religion. Perhaps I ought not to say that I was surprised to find how largely I was able to associate myself with the careful and important distinc- tions made by Mr. Gladstone in his words on this subject: if not surprised, I was certainly unexpectedly gratified. n ilat Continental countrT. general, do you think compares most favourably in this respect?" I felt it a difficult question to answer, and I said so. So far as the Protestant Churches are concerned, f thought there was a good work in progress in some parts of Hol- land otherwise, I was afraid that Protestantism, as a rule, was very broad, very cold and inac- tive. and, so fax as practical god!ine«s could be estimated, one country did not appear to me to have much preference over another. ROMAN CATHOLICISM AND THE ARMY. "Is not Romanism making progress in Hol- land' "Yes," I sa>id. "There are, I believe, some advances in that direction." "Had we experienced a.ny considerable measure of oppo- sition from the Church in wha.t might be termed Catholic countries?" 1 repi.t— that, while many priests watched our movements and set a careful guard on those of their people who Inight be influenced by UII, some of the mc.r(3 philanthropic ¡'.ll10.1g the clergy had manifested much interest in my gocial work, and in some case had expressed their warm sympathy with me in other ways. And I could hardly say. either on the Continent or elsewhere, that we lwei suffered more actual opposition from the) C'tholic than we had dene from the Protestant clergy. "But, with reference to the common people, tell me, having regard to tfw extent of your r.porations amongst them, hare you any success amidst the Catholic populations?" "Yes," I explained, "many attend our services, and they are often found at our penitent-forms." ATr. Gladstone appeared to understand, and he spoke with seriousness of this method of con- fessing Chn'st in our services. "But what becomes of those CatholicR who come to the penitent-form?" I replied that, while ,iome became soldiers in our ranks, it was quite a common thing for others, while regularly coming to our service*, to continue, a.t the same time, their attendance at their own Church, and to assure us. with evident sincerity, that they were "triving to live better and nobler livei. oome to vour pe.nitent-fn1"TT1 nnd then en to ro:ifesaior, ?" T replied. "VM." "But how do thev vpflrard V011 ?'. I remarV°d that it was not unumal for the more thoughtful and devout, amonerst them to tell IF that we onefit t" be Catholic*. Thev considered us, T thought, to- h-.vo much in cn-mmon with Franc's of A««wi. or. perhaps. Madame C-uron and the -mystic n13"ó! of reutdonvst?. "Yes." 1,1' said. "T CAP "nn in other T obould t.ovc nrTdc'l. 1'r' douM that our dos-nernt" ■rt-.Rfbodq "pr: 11r"1 to fhp true pro Mice of th«M~ t-iir" "'in h"d i«»ved into open pro-fl'iracv or TV-1 r-t :r1 unWlm?. EXPERIMENTAL RELIGION. The conversation then passed on to the im- portance attached by the Army to the experi- mental aspect of religion. I remarked that we looked upon afll men as being either right or wrong in their relations to God niid the Eternal World, and that when our people came across a •nan the question involuntarily arose in their hearts, often coming to their lips, "Is this man saved?" And if not, by the mercy of God, why cannot that great work be done at once? What doth hinder? Here is an opportunity. 'No.v is the accepted time; behold now is the duy of salvation." And here I said that we are more at home and oftan more successful in this k'*nd of dealing with. the igeorant and the poor than with those wMkaret better educated and in the more coinfort-aHi^v-ircunistances of life. Here Air. Gfladttone made some verv interest- ing and thoughtful observations. whi( h sounded like spoken reflections on truth that rdrep.dy had long possession of hi3 mind, concerning the illiterate and unprejudiced condition of the poor bring mentally favourable to that simple obe- dience to the truth necessary to salvation. I r-inuot call up the words he used I am not sure that it I could I shouild repeat them: but thtr brought vividly to mind the teaching of i two thousand years ago. that it was harder for a rich man- *hat 's. a man with an abundance of either wealth or intelh'et or education—to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for the man who, as this world goes, is so much loss favourably circumstanced. SELF-DENIAL. As to the sacrifices which Salvatiomsm required, he again spoke, with every mark of established conviction, as to the danger to which modern Christianity is exposed from the opposing influences of the world. "The affluence," he eaid, "the tastes, the habits, and the examples of the age are among the most deadly enemies with which religion has to con- tend." "Ye3." I ss-id: "I had found it not uncommon for those making a profession of religion to talk: of sacrifice and zeal for Christ and the salvation of men, while at the same time living lives of luxury and ease, and proving how far there could be religious belief of the most serious cha- racter which was little more than a sentiment, tot-ally divorced from the practice of the very it required and enjoined." I "Ah!" he replied, with evident feeling, and looking away into the distance. "there is nothing, J fe-ar, eagier of acquisition th:1Il the j aspirations a.nd the language of devotion while living a life the opposite of all that they I think it was here that the regulation prohibiting any Salvation soldier from using intoxicating (liquor was referred to. Of this Mr. Gladstone appeared to be aware, but on my adding that, while there was no positive rule to that effect, our people, almost I to a, man, were also abstainers from the use of tobacco, he wao; much interested, and on my telling him, further, that we lost a. large number of soldiers in consequence, the smoking habil appearing afteri to be more difficult to break away from than the drniKing habit, be remarked, "But you say that this prohibition is not an absolute rule?" "No," I said, "it is not, but our people have gone ahead of us in the condemnation of the usage, and have come to think very poorly of anyone who indulges in 1l, so that those addicted to it yenerally abandon the practice, or forsake us THE SUCCESSOHSHIP. "Now, excusie my asking," said Air. Glad- stone, with a- serious a.nd somewhat apologetic air, "but I am sure that tlie question of the fcutcessonship to very important position you hold will have occupied your earnest "attention. Will you tell me whether any arrangements have been made for filling up tins post when the time arrives for your rei'icval from it, and inform me, pieawe, what they may be ?"' In as few words as possible, I endeavoured to describe the nature of ihe arrangements that have been made for this important busi- ness That- it was the first duty of the general fhr the time being to nominate his successor in writing, such nomination being placed under cover 111 the hands of the solicitors for the Army, whose duty it wan to deposit is, unojjened, in a place of security; that its contents need only be known to the general himself, whoever he might be, he having the power to change the appointment at any time, as his judgment might direct. Air. Gladstone listened to these statements, and then asked whether there were allY arrangements made which would give legal force to such a pro- cedure. Was there a deed? "Yes," I said, "a d?ed drawn after much thought, settled by eminent counsel, and enrolled in the High Court." "That is well," he re-ponded. "It was a peculiar position," I10 said, "that we had taken up. Even the Pope is elected by a conclave of cardinals, and I think we must go back to. the Tudors of the sixteenth rentnry to find an example of a system of personal nomination by the person occupying the post of authority similar to the one you have chosen." CARDINAL MANNING. Here, or at some other point of the con- versation, Cardinal Manning's name came up. I said I knew the cardinal slightly, and had met him, and that I liiad looked through one of the volume^.of his biography, and had been disappointed. Mr. Gladstone asked which volume it was. I replied the second. He said that he wa»s not surprised at my feeling. He thought the first volume, which related to his Anglican experience and associations, was 1110re worthy of perusal than the second, which re- ferred more especially to his Romieh career. I then spoke of an interview I had with the cardinal a shore time beiore his death, arnd tne surprise I felt in one of the opening sentences of the conversation in which the cardinal re- marked that he thought there could be no ques- tion about the Spirit of God being with me in the movement, for how else, he aaken, oould I have been kept so far faithful to the in-eat doctrines and principles of Divine truth a" had het'11 my happr forttlPe. I spoke also of the spiritual character of our conversation, there 1wing ouly one sentence in it which 1 thought could be interpreted as controversial. I said it iva>i truly like the talk of one spiritual man with ar other. Air- Gladstone said he was not surprised that the cardinal should make the observation as to the Holy Spirit's influence on my work to which I had referred, n«*r at the spiritual tenour of his conversation at the interview, a", from his own observations, he believed that Cardinal Manning had attached very much more im- portance to the work of the Holy Spirit during the last few years of his life than during his former career. LITERATURE. A reference to biography brought us to lite- rature generally, and thence to the field before the Army in this direction. General Booth then described the adventures iournalist-io of the Army, which had a combined circulation of nea.rlv one million per week. SELFRIGHTEO USNESS. T do not know whether it was the mention of religious books that led to it, but as I rose to leave Air. Gladstone remarked with some emphasis that there was nothing that surprised him much more than the objection ho found running through many religious works to what was described as "self-righteousness." "While I cannot understand," said he, "how any man with any true knowledge of his own heart, or of his life, or of the Holy God Whom he worships, can possibly conceive that any thing he can think, or feel, or say, or do can be deemed worthy of presentation before Him, as constituting any meritorious ground on which to claim His favour, I do think that, instead of condemning righteousness in any form, its cul- tivation should be encouraged, and its all- important need insisted upon." To express my sympathy with this view, I remarked that a gentleman, a little time back, had been seriously asking me whether thought there wa.s ever coming a time when he would be able to get aw:iv from the shadow of self, to which inquiry I had answered "Never"; that there must of necessity, for ever and ever, be a self, and that it was to be hoped that it would come to be a holy self, from the shadow of which he would neither be delivered nor ever wish to be. Before leaving, Air. Gladstone said, "Now, all these things you have been telling me are inte- resting—most interesting—but I cannot hope to gather them up and retain them in all their mani.fold particulars and correct relations in my poor head," touching his forehead as he spoke. "Have you any book in which they have been formulated and described?" On my saving that I was afraid that v/e had no one volume which in itself contained this informa- tion, he replied, "Well, I think you should have. Such a book would be very interesting and very useful, and would, I think, bring you in a great deal of money." I remarked, however, that we had several books which together would give much of the information on which 1 had conversed, and I promised to forward them. As we walked across the room to the door, where Air. Herbert Gladstone wa»s waiting to conduct me to that untimely luncheon, I referred again to my promise to eend along some of our books, on which he thanked me, again assuring me of the pleasure the interview had given him. and, grasping hands, we parted, possibly not to meet again until we meet in "the AIornin,g." PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS OF MR. GLADSTONE. It may be asked what were the general im- pressions made upon me by my conversation with this remarkable man? No matter how widely divergent opinions may be respecting MA (Gladstone's political views a.nd legislative action, there is no room for opposing estimates of his intellectual powers, his oratorical gifts, the lofty positions he has filled in the councils of his country, or the vast influence he has wielded in the world. No one oould be with him, and hear him talk in the unconventional manner I had the opportunity of doing, without receiving some defimite and lasting impressions respecting him. In my case, what were they? At least, what were some of them? The first thing that struck me was his earnest- ness— you might term it his unaffected earnest- ness. He put his heart into my business, and that right away. I have been only too accus- tomed, on tha occasions of similar interviews with leading men, to a little languid interest, displaying itself in a few common-place quns- t'ons, or dry, polite platitudes, hashed up to serve the purpose of the hour, and that occa- sionally from men professing to live and act in the interests of religion. So that I found this eminent man manifestirg unmis- takable concern to hear and know what was bfing done by an agency altogether apart from his own re'isrious organisation for tho outcast people of the world, and trouble taken to iiiouire r>s t" tb8 inner meaning of it aH, I could not help being deeply moved. I was :-1".0 much impressed Iw the ,1);0." made me fer-l nt home :111 in a moment. TI,fi -presence and mariner of some men seem dost in pd to stagnate all emotion and to freeze up and tir pfa.v even the ordinary faculties of utterance. 1t' wa; not "0 here. Had I been accu-"tornei-1 to mef-t )f 1'. Gladstone fro: my [youth 11n T could nnt have felf, inn" free to think, and feel, and soeak than I did ill that fragmentary hour of that first aft^noon of onr acouairitanoe. A nrl. yet t1u:\rp TO no }{1yit,v. approach1"■ ■ cvi the bap«5 T w" tn" of a <.tT':1.n9pr for +1,(' dis- play of that f1ll.:1Jitv: !1llvwn.v, it waR pot thore. On the other hand, ther- WM1 the total absence of miTf'-inrj. jjfper) or Jo"r1'j, or "(w. descending..At every point I ^o'dd not 11"h1 feeling fib a* T W:1- in contact with :1. loftv ""n1. controlled h", motive- of jrenero-ic- who wa~- pleased, 10 Imrn t'f'T11('th; of what l;h? 11 -nT"id°rf"1 work of Grid. T was impressed wif.h whn-t. f have no doubt, is usual with Afr Glad-t-oof—*ho halv't of irointr at, once to t1w heart of +be things hp is considering. ITce \ivs something important, and iI) his examination r" went I"tr:>;0'11t tn t1,ç' verv vital" r," tt." as n}II'¡;:1\ after r>hn«e of 't passed before lum. T wf»o improved 11' tho 3i"interH," irrVioMi with vhieh he rvnrsned hi. innuiries. TTo did pot look 11D0n the thing with any mere wondering curiosity a/s t(1 how it might, nflTect some system of tr11th ",1,h he entertained. ;1" to how it could he utilised 0" turned to good ,n')1,nt for ")1'1'' scheme of nr ")'11: thwvlw with which hie ww ?""opi'1.t"'ri TT!,i ':1"0;1' "110 to know 1,o, far it. "1. « icp "1,1 Divine plan, ')11(] iT) .1,+ re.-p"ct ;t was Jil-ely t" promofo t'hl'1 benefit "f mankind. HE OUGHT TO TALK. I oould not help but be impressed with the "hoicp of beautiful <1nd expressive wordo; h iej¡ he evidently had f t perfect command. There was no hesitation- The phrases 1 wanted to express the .exact shade of meaning he desired came at will, and that, I thougM, ill tones most grateful to the ear. I had hetrrd it said before the inter view that he wm ø gpwtt talker, Jkt&a the -?- interview, it-i&jny conviction that he ought to talk. It is a luxury to listen to him. It is a. shame for him to be silent. It surely is the message, and not the age of a speaker which is the vital matter. The nation ought to insti- tute some oft-recurring occasions Oil which, so far as his strength will allow, and 011 topics .outside the region of political controversy, or [inside it, as far as that goes, lie should have an opportunity of talking for the benefit of the world. A man who has something to say worth j saying, and who can say it after so intelligent and graphic a. f.1,hi,Oll, smely ough t. to find, both occasion and bearers. If I had not myself had so much to say that afternoon, he would assuredly never have found a more willing and interested listener than myself. A SALVATIONIST QUESTION AND THE ANSWER. Aly Salvationist friends will ask me how far I was impressed with Air. Gladstone's religious realisations? I shall answer, that I had not much opportunity forjudging: but I may say that not only was the whole tenour of that con- versation favourable to such a conclusion, but that there were passages in that interchange of thoughts, views, and feelings that produced on my mind very forcibly the impression that among the many things carefully (onsidered and experimentally known to W. E. Gladstone are the governing influences of the Holy Spirit and the saving (irace of God. ?'Ui- -?-?-

TWENTY YEARS OF "TUXTTIL' Labby's Recollections Include a. Parisii Pumfl Libel. This week "Truth'' completes its twentieth year of existence. Not unnatu- rally, Truth looks backwards, and it has many interesting stories to tell, as every journal has which has any real life in it. The first number of "Truth" contained exactly 32 pages, advertisements in- eluded. For many months post the pages have been 64. One of the many libel cases on which Labby's recollection rests was an action brought against him in Lincolnshire respecting a supposed outrage upon a village pump. "The question to be decided, if I remember rightly, was whether the pump was, or was not, on one side of the village street—I forget which side. I put the pump on the wrong side of the street, and in con- sequence found myself on the wrong side at the trial, with J3100 damages to pay. This case is memorable as the first in which a verdict was recovered against Truth' in a. libel action. The views which I expressed were derived from a worthy cleric. Another verdict with damager. was obtained in a case where my information primarily came from two beneficed clergymen, while in many other instances I have had the duty of correcting statements made on similar authority. By these means I have gradually learned that, of all witnesses on questions of fact, clergymen are the least trustworthy." All the cases in which "Truth" has prevailed are not referred to, because that would expand the retrospect "beyond reasonable limits." The Brooks case makes an effective termination to twenty years of militant journalism, but. for better or worse, the end is net yet. The Brooks go on for ever. -?.-

PILUiUirS FULL STOP. A MALE OR FEMALE "OR fUS- TIAN. The theatrical sensation of the /moment (says the "Daily Mail") is the sudden stop- page at the Olympic Theatre, where the run --0[', to be more accurate, the walk—of the "Pilgrim's Progress suddenly terminated with Alonday evening's performance. Chat- ting to a representative of the "Daily Mait; one of the members of the company said: — "Business has, of course, been very btd, but we might have lasted out a respectable run had the piece had a fair chance, for it is very beautifully done, and, I think, generally speaking, admirably played. But there has been an awkward element to contend with." Gallantry forbade the actor to go into details, but in professional circles the facts arc well known and freely discussed. Bluntly, they are these:—The management, being of opinion that the part of "Christian" would be more effectively played by a male player, offered the part to Mr. Ben Webster, who "t, oncc undertook to study it, and to appear on Tuesday evening. But the proposed altera- tion was faced by the emphatic objection of Miss Grace Hawthorne, who, it is said, declined to relinquish the part. Of course, there was no. imputation of inefficiency on the part of the lady, who, according to her critics, acquitted herself quite satisfactorily. It was simply decided that it would be an excellent thhig to have Mr. Ben Webster as the hero. Miss Hawthorne didn't think so.

STEALING WITH THE HELP OF THE FUENITIIKE VAN. The "Alelbourne Argus" of November 2C contains the following report:—It is evident that members of the ancient and dishonour- able profession of housebreaking will not be content to comply with the jaw providing for a compulsory Saturday half-holiday. Ou Saturday last a thoroughly competent house- breaker continued at a job as late as five o'clock in the afternoon, and it is the inten- tion of the authorities to bring the offender under the official notice of Air. Peacock, in his capacity, at any rate, of Ministerial head of the Penal Department. The housebreaker, J by his action, openly claimed the right of working when he liked and how he liked, and the Government will now, no doubt, in- vite him to work for a reasonable term in one of the few positions where the Saturday half-holiday does not run. According to the account of the police, a carrier named Michael M'Donne!' was driving his empty lorry and pair of horses down Collins-street on Satur- day afternoon, between four and five o'clock, when he was hailed by a person not extra- vagantly dressed, who wore, in addition to the ordinary apparel of a respectable citizen, a brown hat with a black band round it, and who had the misfortune to be minus t'vo front teeth and one finger of his right hand. The apparent capitalist engaged Air. M'Donneli and his van for a job of furniture- removing, offering the carrier the sum of 2s. 6d. to carry some furniture from Messrs. Beauchamp's auction-room to an address in Fitzroy. The carrier assented, and backed in his cart in the right-of-way next to Beau- champ's, while his employer proceeded t,) load it with chairs and other articles from the auction-room. With .about three-quarters of the population at the bicycle races, and the other quarter at the sporting fixture at Maribyrnong, it might be thought that no prying busybodies would be in Collins-street at that time of day, but an employe of A#ssrs. Bavlee, the adjacent auctioneers, had managed to keep away from the delirious joys of the "bike" competitions, and the equally exciting pastime of steeplechasing on a course as hard as a bill-discounter's heart. This gentleman formed the idea that Messrs. Beauchamp ought not to be moving on Saturday after- noon. and communicated his suspicions, to Constable M'Liney, who was ou duty close by, with the result that the constable went across the street to. fee who it was that was packing up the "bits of sticks" that were at least entitled to remain at rest until Alonday morning. Then, as a well-known novelist happily puts it. a strange thing happened, for, as the constable entered the right-of-way, the employer of labour vanished into empty space, like one of those expert Indian fakirs who throw a roue up into the sir, climb to the top. and then disappear with [111 inscru- table smile. Only the half-loaded "an of furniture remained there as a solid and sub- stantial fact, to prove to the constable and to the carrier that they were not the victims of an hallucination.

COUNTY-COURT JXTDGE FOR THIBTY-EIGHT YEARS. 1'hl> counfv-eonrt judgeship of Bath, to be Y:1('ted by the resignation of Judge CaiUffd to-day (Thursdav) has been offered to Mr. William Dlindas Gardiner. Judge Caillard's teure of office has been longer th«in that, of any living countv- court judge, and pnvr« a period of nearly 38 years. Both he and ATr. Commissioner Kerr, of the City of London Court, were appointed in 1859. the vear in which Mr. Gardiner wa,. called to the Bar ait Lincoln's Tnn, but Judge Caillard is senior by two months.

MILITARY AUTHORITIES AND THE QUEEN'S RSTG-y. Beth the civil and military authorities of Ald< i-flhot are considering how best to celebrate her Majesty's long reign. The prevailing idea at present -is that a grand review, similar to that which took place on the occasion of the Jubilee, but of even greater magnitude, shall be held on die Queen's birthday. It is expected faat, in iwMitiori to 60,000 or 70,000 troop- of I all arms of the service at home, there will be marshalled troops representing the military forces of the Colonies under her Majesty's dominion.

Cardiff Town-hall THE TEMPER ANCETOWX SITE. Discussion of the Cathays Park Scheme.—Deputation to Wait on Lord Bute.—Protest by Canon Thompson. A meeting of the special Cardiff Town- liall Committee was held at the T own- hail on Wednesday afternoon. Alderman P. W. Carey presiding. — The Town- clerk presented his report, which showed the total number of houses in Temperaneetown winch would have to be dealt with under the Housing of the Working Clashes Act was 245. The total number of persons occupying for which provision would have to made was 1,155, incllolJing soma 328 families. At the present time there were 30 vacant houses.—Air. Hughes moved that the usuall procedure be taken, that the report he printed and sent to the members, and that an approximate estimate of the cost should be presented for providing for the 1,435 persons named "in the town-clerk's report.— Air. Waring seconded.—Air. Ramsdale: Do I understand that we shall have to provide for 1,435 people?—Alderman Trounce: Yes.—Air. Ramsdale: Why, it is a colony! It was pointed out that the 30 houses might be occupied when the time came for action. Air. Yeall thought it would mean 1,600 persons by the time the thing came into operation. The Mayor said the formidable difficulty that Calue uppermost now was, Had they not better strengthen ibt-ir position as to providing that accommodation which was imposoed upon them by the Housing of the Working Classes Act now that the town-clerk had told them that they must cio that before they demolished other property ? To his mind that opened up a very big question. Mr. Robinson said that probably within a mile of Temperaneetown there was a large number of empty homes ready for occupation The Alayor said that at the particular time there might not be five. Instead of 100 houses open to them they might not find five. yfr. Ramsdale said the common sense view was to think if they could not find a plac? where they should not have to buy up so much property or find workmen's accommodation. He thought Lord Bute would let them have Cathays Park. There they would be away from the hooting of railway trains. To go to Tempe- uncetown was madness; to stay where they were was madness. Air. Veall said the approximate value of the sites should be set otft, and 1c7 it be shown how much woufld lave to be paid if they had to resort to eompuloory powers. Air. R-auisdale: Let's go into the thing do novo. It is reporting and reporting and Kill- ing our officials witholllt any goot1. He moved, as an amendment, that a sub-committee be appointed to approach Lord Bute with a view to obtaining a lease of Cathays Park, which would meet their requirements. At present they were going on a wild-goose chase. Where "laB the land to 8upply 1.500 people with houses within a mile of Temperaneetown? He did not think they would get it. Air. VeaM seconded. Dr. Buiist asked if there had been any nego- tiations about the park. It was rumoured in the town tha.t there had been. Air. Bamsdale (indignantly): I haven't.—Air. Ramsdale subsequently decided to withdraw his motion ,1-8 all amendment, and move it as a eub- ataiitive resolution. Dr. Ruist, reverting to artisans' dwellings, thoug-ht it would be a great blessiirig for the corporation to have to undertake them. He moved an amendment that the reports be sent forward without an estimate being asked for, and that the mayor call a special meeting of the council to bring the thing to a climax. He added that in intro- ducing other schemes it was simply drawing a. red herring across the trail. Mr. Robinson seconded. Air. Ramsdale did not like to be vindiotive, but something should be said when it waa stated that a red herring was being drawn across the trail. Long before the Temperance- town site was brought forward the Cathays Park had been put before them, at a price. When he moved the Cathays Park idea he did it with all sincerity. He had stood for the present site, but he now did not think it large enough. If they coulei, without buying a lot of property, get a freehold site within prac- tically a stone's throw of the present site, sureiy It would be well. The Chairman said they had been accused of delay, but it was for the good of the rate- payers. Alderman Jones said he was prepared to fight the Temperanoetown scheme on its own merits, without introducing another site, and when they knew the whole probable cost of getting hold of that place they would say, "Doi.'t buy bricks and mortar: go anvwhere else." As to adopting the present site, it was the fault of somebody that it had not been begun after it had once been decided upon. Now they were twitted because they were said to be trying to draw a. red herring across the trail. A Her further conversation, Mr. H nghes's pro- position was carried. Mr. RamsdaJe then moved his resolution as a substantive motion, the names of the Alayor, Alderman D. dories, and Messrs. Ramsdaio. Robinson, Veall, and Dr. Buist being included in the sub-committee, Air. Robinson making vigorous protest. Mr. Ramsdale said he knew Lord Bute was favourable, for he had had negotiations with the Post Office people before he let the other land. Mr. A eall seconded. He believed Cat.hays Park would be preferable, because he did not like having to buy bricks and mortar. Before long, it was hoped, a road would be run across from Cathays to Canton, which would put the two places within three-quarters of a mile of each other. ATr. Waring: I think I saw in the "Western Alail" that negotiations were going on with Lord Bute. The Chairman: You must not notice Air. () W aring: Not notice the "Western Alail"? The Chairman: You must not notice the "I/iancsrvan Gazette." (Laughter.) Mr. Ramsoale's resolution wa.s carried. Mr. Robii son then proposed that the '1x1 rough engineer ascertain the cost of acouiring the National Provincial Bank, the Griffin Hotel, and the rest of tlie south side of Quay-street that did not belong to the corporation.—Air. Munn seconded, and this was agreed to. CANON THOMPSON'S VIEWS A PROTEST AGAINST THE VULGAR TREATAIENT OF CATHAYS PARK. As the purcnase of the Cathays Park by the Cardiff Corporation was discussed at Wed- nesday's meeting of the Town-hall committee, a representative of the "Western Mail" nought an interview with Canon Thompson, who nad already expressed an opinion, that the park ehould be preserved for recreation. At first the canon was not iiiclined to sav anything tr.ore on the subject, but when he was informed that on the authority of Air. Ramsdale plans had been prepared for building on portions of the park he said :— "That would alter my views- I would like- to see the park thrown open to tho public, out "f there is to be a vulgar treatment of the sit* by the erection of villas or cottages, 1 would much prefer that the scholastic buildings should be located thera." "And municipal buildings?" "No; I don't agree with the principle of cen- tralisation of all the public building* iu one spot. I would like to see tho 11-hall rsiilain on the present site. If the Oathays Park is to be built upon, let the corporation require it, and after setting apart a portion for the college, museum, technical school, and other educational buildings, devote the remainder to the public. Take Ala'oon's 1 Day. If the weather happens to b? wet there ir no pubbc place in Cardiff to which our visitor* can go." "Winter gardens would supply thf deficiency." "1" 011 can call it what y.n like, but we ough to have some' place under cover to which thi visitors to Cardiff o:.uld go and be entertained I go so far as to advocate a band on Sunday I afternoons, and would not confine their per. formances to gacr»-d music. I am no rigorist, rmt T would draw the line at some of the gil]v music-hall ditties. There is plenty of classical music—-sacred and secular—whirl? rould be performed without hurting the suscep- tibilities of anybody."

ANOTHER MYTH EXPLODED. It may interest numismatists to learn that, according to a recent report of Professor Dr Bahrfeldt, the well-known numismatist, th' celebrated thalers of King Frederick the Great'* "Deathday" are a myth. The thalers which bore the inscription "17A36" were supposed to have been struck on the 17th of August. 1785, tho "deathday" of the. Great Frederick, and numii-smatirrts soow made them nitre by the eagerness with which ihey were collected, with tho result that a few years ago very h;gh prices were given for the few that remained. Pro- fessor Bahrfeldt now states that these thalers were not struck in commemoration of Frede- rick the Great's death. He explains that during the reign of Frederick the Great there were I in Berlin two mills for minting, one for stamp- ing small coins and the oth-er for thalers. Later or:. however, large coins, were stamped at either mill, and emh took a distinctive mark. Thus it luipiieiied that the small coin mint adopted A as iw mark, and this ktter was placed in the middle of the date, thus 17A86. Other thalers have been fomd with other dates and the letter A on them. AlanV museums in C-armnny havd I *uch tihalers, and set store upon dheau