Evening Express

To-day's Weather. The foreenst of the weatliei throu<rh*ut the West of Enslaud and South Wales for to-day (Friday) is as follows :-S. W. and W. winds, fresh showery; changeable.

TEMPERATURE. RAINFALL Max. Min. Mean. 9 a.m. 9 p. in. 'Total. Saturday ;1S 55 fa I 52'5 -00 -00 1 -00 s"u<lav '19 58 57 57'5 '03 "00 "03 Monday -"0 6-3 58 60-5 -00 -00 -00 Tuesday ,.J2l 67 5.3 60'0 '07 "CO *07 Wednesday. 22. 63 47 F5'0 "03 -00 Thursday.123 62 54 58'0 'GO "— -00 Friday ;24 "16 ="=

Telephone: National. 502- Post-offlce. 95. Telegrams: Express." Cardiff,

WHAT WE THIMK. Xow that the proclamation of the Cardiff Eisteddfod is so near at hand, we begin to feel ourselve-i in the midst of real eisteddfodic activity. Although the Cardiff Committee has been hard at work for many months, its pro- ceedings, held practically in private, have not awakened the universal interest which we hope for and expect upon completion of the first public ceremony in connection with the great event of next year at Cardiff. The start made by the erection of a permanent Gorsedd circle in Cathays Park augurs we'l for the scale of enterprise on which the national gathering wili be conducted here. The committee opens in good style by procuring the finest modern circle in Wales. If the interest of competitors be as keen as the interest of the committeerin all the departments, we shall be able to chronicle a real advance in Welsh eisteùdfochtu next year. Except in the department of music the competitors in past eisteddfodan have hardly shown themselves quite up to date. Many of the prizes, especially in the literary section, have gone begging. and few of the competitions have produced anything of real, actual, permanent value to Wales. We shall see how far the Cardiff Committee, by choice of subjects and by their prizes and their in- fluence, can make our next eisteddfod mark an epoch in the literary and artistic, as well as tha musical, history of Wales. We have not failed to indicate new and wider channels in which they can direct the work of the eistedd- fod, and discover that these suggestions have in most part been usefully taken up.

Powder and Shot. IL 's emphatically denied that Bill Banter bas served Coroner Cuthbertson a nasty trick by stealing his duck's back during the rainy weatl.er. **«.« Fresh Arrival in Mae*'eg Is there anything to shoot here, sonny?" The Poacher's Child: "Nothin' as we can spare just now. But there's another keeper comin' ovir Margain Hill." «»**•* A Spanish inventor is about to offer his Government a new clockwork submarine boat. This is a work of supererogation, for any Spanish warship has only to get near enough for the Americans to turn it into a submarine boat, free of charge. .¡. A Tonypandy grocer has been telling us of the big business done during the strike. The only cash customer he has had this week was a little girl who aid: "Please, mother says will you change half-a-crown for her, and "he'il give you the half-crown to-morrow." »*»* The Swansea "Post" is our authority for say- ing that Coroner Cuthbertson prepared his speech at the Margam inquest slanging the press in manuscript. Why didn't he give it to tIn press for publication in advance, like some of the witnesses did their little story? Our man would have been pleased to interview a coroner. He would have broken the record. Councillor Williams, of Aberavon, has a mag- nificent lad v/hich the town should make its own. It is the transformation of the splendid sands at Port Talbot into a seaside resort, which shall add to the town's prosperity in the future. But not long ago the licensing justices refused a licence for a hotel there. Whoever heard of a popular resort without a hotel? Port Talbot isn't heaven.' « 'k < The summer holidays jtre evidently at hand. Already subtle little "Letters to the Editor" in the dailies are beginning to raise those delicate social and moral questions which go straight to the heart of the great British public as it lies on its back on the beach. Our friend the "Mail" is over its head in delicate, chaste corre- spondence about little boys and bathing. Pre- sently, we shall see the tip of the nose of the sea-serpent coming round the corner; and gooseberries are ripening fast. *♦♦» A provincial firm of game manufacturers (by which is not meant makers of mechanical or canned rabbits) advertise "a good commis- sion to curates, schoolmasters, and ladies" for introducing a certain new game among their! friends. The idea of a Welsh curate calling upon a valued spinster of his congregation with a prospectus in his pocket, and being sud- denly confronted by the lady with a similar prospectus, should lend itself to the play- wrights. And what games there may ensue when the spinster gets the chance of practice with the curate at the new game in the wilds of Wajes. • » • • One of our men called on a prominent member of the Cardiff Piscatorial Society last evening, and was informed that fishing in the Roath Park Lake was never better than it is this season. Just then the angler's charming wife came in with a bill in her hand, and said inquiringly: "Do you recollect how many trout you caught on Wednesday, dear?" "Yes," said the angler, "Nine, and they were beauties!" "Well, the fishmonger must have made a mistake. He has charged us for thirteen." Our man thanked the piscator for his kind information, and withdrew. *<-<*<< Aha! Now we open our Gorsedd: — Sir, In Zetus's review of Dr. Parry's Gorsedd Chorus the following appears:- "\Vhy," asks Dr. Parry, with a;] the enthu- siasm and disinterestedness which characterise great musicians, should not our national institution have its own native music on special occasions, instead of that of foreign growth, like, for instance, See, the Conquering Hero Comes" It is interesting to read the above words when we find that this very composition, composed for the national institution of Wales, is printed in Germany, the Welsh words being mutilated on either side,—I am, Ac., HEN GYMRO. It < < The stories now being told of the wreck of the China show that the British passengers, who were in a large majority, behaved with commendable presence of mind. When the boat for ladies only was being filled, three male foreigners insisted upon scrambling in. and one, a German, was in such a hurry to land that he pushed an English lady aside in order to get off Quickly. "Let him land, he is dying of fright," she said to the quartermaster; who replied, "Thank God he is not an Englishman." Then somebody kicked one of the foreigners; and that was the real stroke of presence of mind. .v. Swansea is making history for Wales at last. Mr. Evan Griffiths placed a pipe in his mouth at Tuesday's school board committee meeting. Mr. Joseph Rosser: "Is smoking allowed here, Mr. Chairman?" Mr. David Roberts (the chair- man): "That is for the members to decide." Mr. David Harris: "I like a man who estab- lishes precedents." Mr. Griffiths, however, said that it was only a dry pipe, and he was merely sucking the amber stem. Afterwards, when it was seen that no lady members intended turn- ing up, Mr. Griffiths started to really enjoy his weed. Some other members lit cigarettes, and even the reporters joined in. It was noticed that the jolliest people in the room were smoking, and the Rev. John Davies, evidently observing this act, tried to make one of the crowd by indulging in the mild occupation of sucking a lead pencil. » • We are not certain whether this should be admitted to this column; there is a suspicion in our mind that it must be some variety of joke. But seeing that a collier from the Rhondda Vach told it us about a grocer, it may be innocuous after all: The grocer had an excellent show of strike-eggs, and displayed them in a large box with a label attached:- EGGS. All new-laid in this box. And it happened that a certain maid belong- ing to the collier bought a dozen, and in due course they were boiled for 34 minutes, and cracked and tasted. And the eggs spoke and tried to get out of the shell, and the house was filled with their gladsome hum. Thereupon the maiden, who had never caught her grocer "in a fairy tale before, returned and read the label again, to make quite sure. "Dir anwyl": she remarked, after a care- ful study, "how this 'ere langwidge do twist a body up' I see it says as they were new-laid in the box. and once upon a time no doubt they was. It's my mistake, indeed." Circumstances alter cases—indeed, they do! Here is a recent quotation from the Missouri Yahoo "The Eagle is screaming! Let a waiting world know it-screaming defiance to his enemies beneath the folds of Old Glory. Wherever we look the horizon seems crowded with enemies. Only at one spot—one solitary spot—is there light and love and recognition to be seen. That spot is England. Old England! God bless her' We love John Bull and have always loved him. and his Lion and our Eagle will be at 'em soon", and then the fur will begin to fly. There is no freedom, no liberty, no honour in the old world save beneath the sway of Victoria. Here's to you, John, across the briny! Stars and stripes and Union Jack, up with 'em! Let 'em wave in triumph o'er a quaking and Qummuxed univer"e During the Venezuelan difficulty this same i editor "We knew it all along. The wretched people who linger out an existence on the pitiful little island which has the impudence to call itself Great Britain are soon to be brought to their senses! To-morrow two ironclads and a torpedo- boat. with Old Glory at the mast-head. start eastward. In a week. or a little more, London will be in ashes, and the nasty little island on its marrow-bones suing for a dishonourable peace. The bully of Ireland and the enemy of humanity is getting beans this time."

COMMITTED TO THE SES- SIONS. Robert Elford. 19. was charged at Cardiff Pclice-court on Friday with breaking and entering the shop of Alfred Bainton, 9. Carlisle- street, between 8.45 p.m. on the 16th inst. and nine a.m. on the 17th, and stealing two pairs of boots and a pair of laces, value in all 16s. —Detective Davey gave evidence of arresting prisoner and finding the boots in his posses- sion—Alfred Bainton stated that the boots pro- duced were his property, and Police-constable Schofield stated that he saw prisoner in the neighbourhood of the shop on the night of the 16tb.-Prisoncr had made a statement to the effect that he had bought the boots for Is. 6d.. and said that Detective Dicks was passing in a 'bus when he was buying them.—Detective Dicks, who was called, stated that he did ride in a 'bus as stated by prisoner, but he knew nothing whatever of the purchase of the boots. —Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the quarter sessions for the borough, which commence on Thursday next. Bail was refused.

DISMISSED THE SERVICE. A naval ccurt-martial wa.s held at Devon part on Friday for the trial of Private Pitts, a Royal Marine belonging to the Illustrious—Prisoner pleaded guilty to behaving with contempt to Mr. Roberts, gunner to his ship, and using threatening and insulting language after being cautioned for his impertinence.—He was sen- tenced to nine mouths' hard labour and to be dismissed ftom the service.

A DISPUTE SETTLED. The dispute in the shipbuilding trade at Connahs Quay, Flintshire, has been settled amicably. The men asked for an advance of sixpence per day, their wages to be paid weekly instead of fortnightly, and that they might cease work on Saturdays at noon instead of one o'clock. The demands have been granted with the exception that the advance is to be threepence per day instead of sixpence, until the present contracts are completed.

Russian Jews SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IMPRISONMENT. Az Northampton Assizes on Thursday (before Mr. Justice Lawrence) the four Russian Jews who are alleged to have committed extensive frauds on tradesmen in various parts of the kingdom, and especially in parts of South Wales, were indicted for conspiring to ùefraud a Kettering shoe manufacturer of 100 pairs of boots. The prisoners names are .Jacob Glass, 28, late of 11, Wedmore-road, Cardiff, Pontypridd, and Hereford; Alexander Myers Keily. 25, Julius Black. 23. and Philip Phillips, 24, late of 24, Wood-street, Pontypridd and Hereford. They were described as travellers, and pie tded not guilty. They were defended by Mr. W. Ryland Adkins and Mr. Marston Buzzard, and Mr. A. T. Toller (Leicester) prosecuted. The evidence against them, which has already been given in these columns was to the effect that defendants took houses in Wedmore-road (Cardiff), Wood-street (Ponty- pridd), 3, Nicholas-street (Hereford), and other places, and put in caretakers, while they resided at hotels. They had notepaper printed giving these addresses, and, purporting to be mer- chants, gave orders for goods, and afterwards pawned them. Tlioy pawned the 100 pairs of boots with E. Crockett, of Pontypridd, for £19, and afterwards gave extensive orders on other shoe manufacturers in Northamptonshire, for gocds. which were. however, not delivered, because the poiice discovered the frauds in time. The witnesses included several from Car- diff, Pontypridd, and Hereford.—The jury, after a few minutes' consultation, found the pri- soners guilty.—Superintendent Andrews said the prisoners had committed serious frauds all over the country, and made a considerable profit out of them. Glass was at Pontypridd two years. He engaged a number of girls to make pinafores, promising them wages after six months, hut he invariably got rid of them before the end of the half-year without paying them anything. Most of the girls were in poor circumstances. The police and the railway companies, especially in South Wales, had had a great deal of trouble with the gang by their frauds and bogus claims. Kelly had traded at Haverfordwest six months previously as a ship- ping merchant, and the gang numbered several besides the prisoners.—His Lordship said that the prisoners had been found guilty on very clear evidence. He could see no difference between the four, and they would each have to undergo four years' penal servitude.

AN OVER-CONFIDING MAID. The moral of hackeray's Balad of Eliza Davies has evidently been lost upon a Liver- pool domestic, who recently, at th« Empire Theatre in that city, met "promiscuous-like" m engaging and attractive young man. To this agreeable swain she chanced to let out" that her employer was away at the seaside, his house being shut up, and she her- self temporarily residing with her parents. The sw.ain also ascertained from the confiding damsel the exact address of the house. The seci.uel was told on Thursday in the Liverpool Police-court, when David Robert Gibson, the yov.ng lady's chance acquaintance, appeared in the dock to answer a charge of burglary com- mitted at, the house in question, and of stealing therefrom a gold watch, a silver watch, and other articles. It was stated by the police that after his arrest the prisoner said, I must plead guilty." He was remanded.

A UNIFORM IN DISPUTE. E. G. Lloyd, or Sly, formerly an employe of the Post Office, was charged at Cardiff Police- court on Friday with having vacated his office, and unlawfully failing to deliver to the supe- rior officer of the Post Office the uniform which had been issued to him. and which under the regulations was not his property. Mr. C. A. J. Ward prosecuted on behalf of the Post Office. Evidence was given by the officials. One of them stated that he called at defendant's house on the 7th inst., when he saw the uniform divided at the seams. The lining appeared to be missing, and he refused to accept the uni- form in consequence. Two days later he called again, when he was informed that the clcthes had been destroyed. Defendant handed him seme of the buttons.—Defendant claimed that he was entitled to the clothes, as during the first five months of his employment he had not received any uniform, and had worn out a suit of clothes in consequence.—He was fined 10<: and costs and ordered to pay 25s., the value of the uniform.

WEEDS AND WATER FOW L. At a meeting of the Cardiff Parks Committee on Friday morning, Alderman Beavan pre- siding, the parks superintendent Mr. Pettigrew) reported that weeds had grown up very thickly in the lake, and eight men were engaged in cleaning them out. About 260 mallard and ten Muscovy ducklings had been hatched at the Roatli Park Lake during the season. From four swan's nests eleven cygnets had been obtained-sev,m white, and lour black. Black swans are rarely reared in this country.

CARDIFF OPEN SPACES. At the meeting of the Cardiff Parks Com- mittee on Friday, the borough engineer sub- mitted an estimate of £1.900 for laying out the recreation ground given by Lord Tredegar near Roath Church.—The Chairman emphasised the need of economy, and the committee decided to defer the matter until after they had visited the site.—Upon the proposition of M". Gerhold it was decided to provide half a dozen seais for the Canton Recreation Ground.

IMITATING THE ARMY." The Dean of Norwich has astonished the steady old Church folk of the Eastern Counties by boldly adopting one of the most character- istic practices of the Saltation Army—the self- denial week. Several thousand pounds are wanted for a new cathedral organ—the dean describes that at Norwich as the worst in England—and he has just issued an appeal to Church people to abstain from alcohol. tobacco, and all dispensable luxuries for a week, and present the saving effected to the organ fund. -3.

CREW DEVOURED BY SHARKS. A boat belonging to the Russian ship Bay of Naples, while crossing the 1';11' at Noumea, New Caledonia, capsized, and fourteen of her crew were devoured by sharks within few of their would-be rescuer»

SWEEPINGS OF THE MINT. The sweepings of the Mint ire not to te despised. There is a gald "sweep" und a s'ber "sweep." The last sweep from the gold ;o'nage had been accumulating since August, 1896. Il was disposed of in March, 1898, and brought in £t.67. There had been no sals of silver "sweep" up to the date of the report, but 21 tons had been accumulated. There is a Jom by vaste on the geld coinage which the sweep does not make good, but the Mint made a net profit on the silver bullion purchased for coinage last year of £399,670.

OLD BAILEY TESTAMENTS. On Thursday at the Central Crimina.i.- court, London, Mr. Justice Grantham, in an interval In the business, drew attention to the dilapidated con- dition of the Testaments used in the court for administering the oath on. He did not know who was responsible, he said, or who provided them, but it was time new ones for the old were provided. (A laugh.) After consulting with the clerk of arraigns, his lordship said he had learned what it might be interesting to know, viz.. that the existing Testaments had been in use so many years that no one knew their origin, or who was responsible for buying new ones. "In those circumstances," he said, "I would suggest that for the future new books should be provided once a year." (Laughter.)

BAVARIA'S MAD KING. A remarkable instance of telepathy is related by the German papers with regard to the *nad King Otto, of Bavaria, who, it will be remem- bered, has been confined for many years in the Castle of tlirstenreid. A week or so ago be was found in his chamber weeping bitterly. and. being asked what was the matter, rep'ied, "She is very ill, and her suffering. Kills we:" He alluded to a young woman to vhom he was passionately attached some years age. A few day? iater he exclaimed joyfully, She is out of danger! She is safe!" it was after- wards discovered that at the very time he announced her illness the lady in question was so seriously ill that her life was despaired of, and at the hour he said she was better a great improvement had taken place in her condition.

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Suit for Conjugal Rights. WIFE'S INFATUATION FOR A TRAVELLING ACTOR. In the Divorce Division on Thursday a peti- tion was presented by Mrs. Hannah Glossop praying for re-titution of conjugal rights. Mr. Barnard appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. Priestley for the respondent,, Mr. Tom Alison Glossop. Mr. Barnard said the parties were married in 1882, and the husband had refused, and still refused, to live with the petitioner or to render her conjugal rights, and in his answer he alleged that the petitioner had been guilty of misconduct with Mr. W. F. Colville. To that Mrs. Glossop, the petitioner, and Mr. Colville gave a positive denial. The trouble arose between the parties because the husband thought petitioner neglected her home and treated him badly. On many occasions it was stated that the petitioner absented herself from home. In July, 1893. the troubles which had led to the present proceedings commenced by the arrival of a travelling theatrical com- pany at Belper, about two miles from Am- bergate. where the Glossops lived. The manager of the comprny was Mr. Colville, and Mrs. Glossop was frequently away from home: and went to Belper, leaving word that she was going to see her mother. In April, 1896, Mrs. Glossop left a note for her husband, saying she was going away with the children. Subse- quently Mr. Glossop had inquiries made. and then it was found that there were two vans in the neighbourhood, one of which was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Colville, the other by the children and the servant, the theatre being rigged up in open spaces at various places where the company happened to stay. Mrs. Colville was an invalid. The petitioner began to visit the Colvilles in July, 1893, and from that date it was stated that the petitioner was often seen walking with Mr. Colville, and she also visited the theatre. Mr. Barnard, for the petitioner, said a total denial would be given to the allegations made by Mr. Glossip, and he subsequently called Mrs. Glossop into the witness-box. She gave an emphatic denial to misconduct alleged, and said the occasion that led her to visit the van was the painful illness of Mrs. Colville, during which she gave her all the assistance she could until she died. She denied that she had ever been in the van alone with Mr. Colville. She admitted that Mr. Colville had kissed her, but it was at the request of Mrs. Colville, for the kindness she (Mrs. Glossop) had extended to her during her illness. She had never misconducted herself with Mr. Colville, or any one else. She was fond of acting. Mr. Colville never had his arm round her waist, but his son George might have placed his arm in that position when they were walking together. She was not surprised at Mr. Colville kissing her after Mrs. Colville had given her permission for him to do so. When he did so it was a "platonic kiss." She certainly had never been in the van alone with Mr. Colville. Mrs. Bentley, the eldest daughter of Mr. Col- ville, said she heard her mother ask her father to kiss Mrs. Glossop, as she had been so kind to her during her illness. After her mother's death she was not surprised to see her father kiss Mrs. Glossop. She never saw her father kiss Mrs. Glossop until her mother asked him to do so. She was kindness itself to her (wit- ness's) mother down to her death and funeral. Mr. W. F. Colville. the manager of and aetor in the company engaged at Colville's Pavilion Theatre, gave an emphatic denial to the charge made against him. He admitted that he had kissed Mrs. Glossop, but it was at the sugges- tion of his wife. He subsequently kissed her, but it was as he should kiss his own sister, and in no other way. Mr. George Colville, the eldest son of Mr. Colville, said in 1893 he was thirteen years of age. He had kissed Mrs. Glossop. He had also kissed the ladies in his father's company. It was quite possible he might have had his arm round Mrs. Glossop's waist when he was out walking with her. His Lordship summed UP. and the jury found that the petitioner had committed adultery with Mr. Colville. Her petition was, therefore, dismissed with costs, she having a separate estate.

JUGGLING WITH TH OFFER- TORY PLATE. Few people grudge the silver piece that is placed on the offertory plate on Sunday morn- ings but according to an old verger who has had years of collecting there is souie little juggling connected with the offering. A certain Yorkshire manufacturer, whose mills are of the finest description, places sixpence on the salver when really confronted; but whenever the chance presents itself he disregards the collec- tion and slips away with miser-like craftiness. Nor is this all. He has been more than sus- pected of doing tricks of the sleight-of-hand description to retain the silver piece he pre- tended to bestow. A sixpenny piece with aj hole through it was discovered on the plate one morning, a ting length of white elastic cord being fastened to it. Some explanation seemed to be required, when the collector immediately recognised the man of cloth as the owner of the pierced coin, his declaration being sufficiently lucid to be at once accredited. The iggardly giver had the silver piece fastened to the lining of his leeve by means of the elastic, a gleam of the coin being allowed the collector, when. the finger and thumb releasing it, up the sleeve it woul drebound. On the occasion above, recorded the elastic failed, and the sixpence fell among its more honest associates. A fashionable church in a select provinmial city owns one or two discreditable members. several bogus half sovereigns having been found in the plate during a recent series of special services. Evidently these had been used for show purposes, fo rinvestigation decided them to he sixpences lI1 borrowed e01ouri'-sold 1eaf being carefully laid over the surface aii< rims with deceptive re,u1t-although the collections were in aid of a blind institution much in need of assistance. Oie of the meanest tricks is yet to record. A fashionably-dressed stranger placed a crackling piece of paper on the plate at a small seaside church, the benevolent donor having the sats- faction of knowing that she was much noticed in consequence In this case the cheerful giver had merely utilised an advertisement note—one of the sort common a few years age—but she received the temporary credit of generosity all the same.

CONSTABLE AND CANARY. George Poynter. a constable of the Metro- politan Police, 206 H division, was placed in the dock before Mr. Cluer at Worship-street, London, charged with having stolen on the 21st inst. a cage and a canary bird, the property of Morris Weiss- blooù. There was a second charge against the prisoner of violation of duty as a police-con- stable in neglecting to deposit the said property at the police-station.—Mr. Margetts, solicitor, i defended; the Commissioner being represented' by the chief inspector of the H. Division. HebecCLL Myer, wife of a glazier, of Newman's- buildings, Cox's-square, Spitalfields, said that about three o'clock on the morning of Tuesday she, being anxious about some washed clothes she hud hung out over-night, got up and looked out of the window. It was broad daylight, and at the moment she heard footsteps in the square and saw a policem-an in uniform. He stopped near her house where a cart had been left. and after a few minutes stooped down and took a stick, and then with the stick lifted down a bird-cage which was hanging on the wall of the house. She saw him walk away with the bird and cage. and knew no more. She could not identify the prtsoner as the po1ieemau. Rachel Weissblood, wife of a tailor, said the bird and cage, her husband's property, she put out on Monday and left it out all night. She missed it at ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, ann information that it had been sto1en was given at the police-station. The witness said the cage was valued at 2s. 6d. and the bird at half a guinea. Later on Tuesday she saw the bird at the station. Mr. Cluer a.sked if it was produced, and a canary in a wire cage was placed before the witness. She said it was the bird, but not the cage.—Mr. Margretts asked the witness if she seriously meant the bird was worth 10s. 6d., and whether it was a cock or hen,-She did not know. Inspector Taylor said the bird had laid an egg that morning.—Mr. Margretts: Obviously, then, a. hen bird is not worth 10s. 6d.—Mr. Clrer: Many hen birds, wild bred. and this looks like one, sing very well, indeed. Inspector Taylor, H Division, gave evidence as to the prisoner admitting he had picked up tho bird, and saying he was sorry he had not reported it. The prisoner was charged by order of the Commissioner. Cross-examined, the inspector said that the prisoner had been fifteen years in the police; There were some reports against him, three of them serious, but he had been eight times commended and more than once rewarded. Mr. Cluer ordered a remand, allowing the prisoner liberty on his own recognisances.

—j. A FAIR. BEAUTIFUL SKIX—Snlpholine Soap gives the natural tint and peach-like bloom of a perfect complexion, makes the skin smooth, supple, healthy, comfortable. Tablets everywhere, e—1

Tarsimomous Humbug.' COUNCILLOR GOOD TALKS TO THE PARKS COMMITTEE. The Cardiff Parks Committee on Friday con- sidered the advisability of inspecting various parks and open spaces in the town.—The Chairman (Alderman Beavan) said that a large sum of money was being spent, and it was just as well to see what they were getting in return.—Councillor Good asked how the mem- bers proposed to go round—whether they in- tended to walk or drive.-One or two members replied that it was too far to walk.—Mr. Good protested against this expenditure of money. On the previous day the public works commit- tee, at the opening of the new road, drove in carriages, with men in green uniforms. He thought they ought to be a-hamed of them- selves. Laughter.) Mr. Gerhold: And there were more "flags" there, Mr. Good, paid for by the corporation. (Renewed laughter.) —Mr. Good: Well, the public works committee only wanted a couple of mounted policemen with their sabres drawn to com- plete the procession.—Mr. Meyrick: We could, go on bicycles or motor cars.—The Mayor: I! think it is a little childish to talk about these tiny little matters. It is wasting public time. We have to work for our living, and time is money. Mr. Good has all the time on his hands. I protest agains this parsimonious humbug.—Mr. Jones also protested, and eventually the chairman was asked to arrange for the inspection to take place in the second week of July.

MUSIC IN CARDIFF PARKS. The question of allowing bands to play in Cardiff Parks again came before a meeting of the- parks committee on Frida ymorning, held under the presidency of Alderman Ebenezcr Beavan. At the last meeting the committee recommended that in future the revenue derived from the boating and fishing at Roath Park Lake should be devoted towards providing bands, but when this recommendation came before the county council it was referred back for re-consideration.— Mr. Lloyd Meyrick now stated that he could not see any objection to collections being made or picgrammes teing sold, and he begged to move that bands should be allowed to play on these terms.—Mr. Lewis Morgan seconded, rnd Mr. Gerhold having supposed the pro- position was unanimously carried.

MR GLADSTONE'S FAMILY. It the winter of 1896 a student at the Uni- versity of Upsala, Sweden (says the "Times"), happened to find an old and seemingly rare book in his library. The book contained a history of the Swedish nobility, and among those noble families mentioned was the Glad- stene house, (:1', as it was written in Swedish, Gladtsten. Believing that it would interest Mr. Gladstone to possess the book. the student sent it to him as a present. Some time after the venerable statesman forwarded to the young man in Upsala his photograph and the following letter:—"Hawarden Castle, Chester, April 16, 1896. Dear Sir,—I hope you will for- give the exorbitantly long delay in my acknow- ledging your obliging and very acceptable gift. First, it was duo to my distance from my country, and then to heavy arrears, together with very pressing engagements; never, I can assure you. to frivolity or indifference. The emigration of a portion of my family to Scan- dinavia in the seventeenth century is an iirportant fact in my family history. They were borderers, and I have always supposed it to have been due to the cessation of warfare on the border after the union of the Crowns urder James I. in 1603. I am extremely glad to have Scandinavian blood running in my veins. The other half is of the Celtic High- landers. I send you with much pleasure the Lest photograph of myself that I possess, and with best thanks, I remain, yours very faith- fully, W. E. GLADSTONE, set. 87."

ADMIRAL CAMARA Admiral Camara, the movements of whose fleet have recently given cause for so much speculation, is. it is not generally known, English on his mother's side, for bis father, who wa.s a marine captain, married a Miss Liver- more, in Liverpool. He, like his comrade, Admiral Cerveras, graduated from the Naval Academy at San Fernando, which he entered in the very year that the latter was leaving (1851). He saw service in the Morocco expedition, and did not gain his captaincy until 1871. In pri- vate life Admiral Camara is somewhat of a moody recluse. He is an ardent Monarchist, and was one of those who advocated the giving of the crown of Spain to Alfonso XII.

TH FY CALLED HER "WIGGY. Minnie Donald, one of the mo»t frequent occupants of the dock at Marfborough-street- court, appeared before Mr. Plowden, with a handkerchief tied over her head, to answer the usual charge of being drunk and disorderly, and using obscene language at Lisson-grove. Asked what she wished to say in her defence, she buried her face in her hands, and, appear- ing to be crying bitterly, said, "I have lost my hair, and now they have taken my wig—the only wig I've got. Oh, dear me! I had to tie this round my poor head, and at the station they pulled that off, too. I have nothing- nothing to wear at all, now. Mr. Plowden (to the constable): Did you see anything like a wig lying ¡t.boul? The police-constable assured his worship he did not. The prisoner (in another outburst): They call me "Wiggy, and it always upsets me when I've had a drop. Mr. Plowden: I am sorry you have lost your wig—the more so because you seem to feel it so acutely; 10s. or seven days. Taking her hands from her face the prisoner burst out laughing, and leaping from the dock left the court exclaiming, "Thank you, your worship, thank you; God bless you. God bless you."

WASHING THE TIGKR. A good story has been copied in the papers from "La France du Nord" about a Cossack, ignorant of the French language and equally ignorant of fear, who was hired at Moscow by th.e lion-tamer Pezon to clean the cages of his wild beasts. Their understanding, or misunder- standing, was arranged by means of gestures and dumb show, as that unfortunate Tower of Babel hindered intelligible speech between the Frenchman and the Cossack; and Pezon thought that the man thoroughly understood what he had to do. The next morning the Tartar began his new duties by entering with bucket, sponge, and broom, not the cageof a tame beast, as his master had done. hut of a splendid untamed tiger, which lay asleep upon the floor. The fierce animal awoke and fixed his eyes upon the man, who calmly proceeded to wet his large sponge, and, unterrifted, to approach the tiger. At this moment Pezoti appeared upon the scene, and was struck with horror. Any sound or motion upon his part would intensify the danger of the situation by rousing the beast to fury; so he quietly waited till the need should arise to rush to the man's assistance. The moujik, sponge in hand. ap- proached the animal, and. perfectly fearless. nroceeded to rub him down as if he had been a horse or a dog; while the tiger, apparently delighted by the application of cold water, rolled over on its back, stretched out its paws, and. purring, offered every part of its body to the Cossack, who washed it as complacently as a mother bathes her infant. Then he left the cage. and would have repeated the hazardous expeviinent upon another savage beast from the desert had not Pezon drawn him off with difficulty.

SHOT FROM THE RANKS. A strange occurrence, doubly strange in an army so disciplined as the Prussian, is reported hy a "Daily News" correspondent from Eylau. General von Lentze. commanding the 7th Army Corps, arrived there on Monday evening to in- spect two battalions of the 14th Infantry. Tv hile the inspection was going on a shot was fired from the line of troops, vhich struck Major-general von Rabe, penetrating tus thigh, and killing his horse. An inquiry was at once set on foot. The affair caused the greatest foot The affair causes the greatest sensation sensation in all circles.

Macdonald the Convict. BURGLARS CAREER AND WHAT ENDED IT. The man Macdonald, who was on Wednesday at the Old Bailey sentenced to penal servitude for life for shooting police officers at Euston, has had a most remarkable career. Nothing was known of him until the beginning of last March, although, as stated in evidence, the pro- ceeds of numerous robberies at country houses then found at his Leicester lodging showed that he had successfully evaded detection in a num- ber of mysterious crimes involving a great amount of property. As at Upton Hall so at the residence of the Bishop of Peterborough, the Bedford Grammar School, &c., he entered the premises during the even- ing by means of the servants' bed- room. His entry to Upton Hall is typical of the methods adopted in other instances. He climbed a rain-water pipe to the servants' bed- room window and, monkeylike, held on to the window sill until he had drilled a hole in the sash to enable him to pull back the catch with a contrivance of his own invention. His climb- ing powers are described as remarkable. At Upton Hall. so cleverly had the robbery been effected, that the police doubted for some time whether the place had been entered from out- side at all. About this time, however, a man- sion at Olney was similarly entered, and on Inspector Hooper proceeding there he found the burglar had hidden a labourer's flagp-bag, which contained the clue that secured the burglar. Besides the burglar's implements in the bag- the prisoner when out burgling always assumed the garb of a country labouring man -was a white soiled shirt made by a Leicester hosier. This located the town. On the waist tab was a laundry mark, and this was traced to a lain dress at Leiceste', who unhesitatingly identified it, and also its owner as the accused. She gave tJn prisoner's house. At Leicester it was discovered he had a com- panion-a, female. On her was found a cipher letter of most remarkable character. The ex- perts at the Foreign and othor Government Offices wdre set to work on it, but all agreed that the cipher could be known probably to only two persons—the fugitive and his com- panion The woman scld up the Leicester pro- perty and came to London, and strict observa- tion was kent on her. Once the police, finding her in a compromising situation, detained her for inquiries, and found on her a cipher letter they were able to make cut. And through this the prisoner was ultimately trapped. On the day of his arrest he had inserted an advertisement- in the agony" column of a morning paper.

WHY MEN WON T GO TO CHURCH. There is an open discussion on the question "Why men won't go to church" in the "Church Gazette." The reasons suggested by various contributors include the following:- The average man cannot receive with favour strange and mysterious doctrines and ritual. So long as creed is placed before character, and practical Christianity prevented by theo- logical, will men refuse to ally themselves with the Church. What especially galls the average man is the fatuous tediousness of the sermon. The effeminacy of many of the clergy, upon whom men of the world look with good- humoured contempt. The dictatorial attitude of the Sacerdotal clergy. The narrowness of the Low Church clergy. But is there any limit to the reasons that can be urged in this connection?

SOUGHT REST IN THE GRAVE. Dr. George Danford Thomas held an inquest at the Islington Coroner's-court on Bruno Hayn, of 7, Ball's Pond-road, Islington, who poisoned himself. The d800ased "as :1, foreman hairdresser, and had always ^coined very happy. On Sunday night he seemed upset and went to his bedroom. Half-an-hour afterwards he was found insen- sible, and died 111 a few minutes. It was found he had taken a quantity of cyanide of potas- sium. He had written the following letter to his employer3:- I wish to do away with myself. I am sick of my life, whilst I have no luck. Don't be upset about it. Don't worry, for I am sick of my life. You don't know how many tears I have shed. I can't get over it. I have taken poison to die soon. In the grave I shull he at rest. I wish you a hearty farewell. This is the last from your unlucky friend, HAYN. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."

NEWS GLEANINGS. A boy eight years of age, named John Henry Reeves, of 16 South Market-street, Newport, was drowned in the Old Dock at Newport on Thursday. Spring Cleaning.—Windows Cleaned practi- cally, expeditiously, and economically.—Send post-card the Original Firm. Minny-street. Cathays, Cardiff. Telephone, 741. 1 On Thursday afternoon John Chancey, aged 35. of No. 1. Helen-street, Roath, was admitted into the Cardiff Infirmary in an unconscious condition, suffering from concussion of the brain. The injured man. while employed in loading a ship with patent fuel at the Bute Docks, fell down the hold of the vessel. Dyeing and Cleaning Up-to-date.—Every Description of Clothing. Household Furnishing, Ac., satisfactorily treated.—Send post-card (Company well known), Minny-itreet. Cathays. Cardiff. 2 Neyland Athletic Sports were held. under the most favourable circumstances on Wedne-day. and before a, very iarge atten- dance. In the bicycle races there were several competitors from South Wales, including Tom James of Penarth. who was first in the one mile scratch bicycle race. Spring Cleaning.—No More Delays.—Carpets effectually Beaten; new patent: up-to-date machinery just put in,-Send post-card, the Original Company. Minny-street, Cathays. Car- diff. Telephone. 741. 5 The annual athletic sports in connection with the Ancient Order of Foresters, Court Roso of Teify, were held on the College School Cricket Field, Lampeter, on Wednesday, and were very successful. Spring Cleaning.—Carpets taken up and re- 1aid or re-arranged 1>.1' practical men. on the shortest notice.—Send nost-card Minny-street, Cathays. Cardiff. Telephone. 741. 6 The (hildren connected with the Swansea Ragged Sunday School, numbering nearly 650, were taken to Langland for their annual treat on Thursday. Mr. S. Meager, the superinten- dent. and a staff of teachers were present. Spring Cleaning.—Lace. Ac.. Curtains Cleaned and Finished in our well-known style.—The original Company, Minny-street, Cathays, Car- diff. 3 The masons on strike at Swansea have declined arbitration. The death at Tenby on Wednesday of Mr. John Lewis, for many years borough trea- surer of Haverfordwest, is reported. Spring Cleaning.-Carpel:5 Chemically Cleaned. -0 fading or shrinking. Moths effectualIv removed: wonderful results. Company well known.-Minny-street. Catlia\ 3. Cardiff. 4 A verdict of "Accidental death" was on Wed- nesday returned at an inquest he!<j at the Begelly Arms, near Narberth, on the body of John Hier. aged 22. who fell off his bicvcle on Begelly Hill on Sunday and sustained shocking injuries. Dyeing and Cleaning by Post, Carriage paid one way. Price sent by return of past; be"t wo!"1{man,hip: moderate charges; company well-known.—Minny-street. Cathays. Cardiff. 7 Mr. Arthur Burrington has obtained honour- able mention at the Paris Salon with the pic- ture "Arrested," which, it will be remembered. was hung at the last exhibition of the South Wales Art Society.

A FLOWER FOR THE PRINCE. » A pretty incident occurred during the Prince of Wales's visit to Birmingham Oil Wednesday. As his Royal Highness wals walking to the hall for luncheon, with Earl Spencer and Lord Warwick, a little girl. nine or ten years of age and nicely dressed, crept into the roped-off enclosure, and, running up to the Prince. handed him a small and apparently insignifi- cant button-hole. His Royal Highness seemed intensely pleased, and shook the child warmly by the hand. and thanked her for the flower, which he carried with him into the hall. The incident drew forth much cheering from the spectators.

TO DARKEN GREY HAIR—Lockyer's Sul- phur Hair Restorer is the quickest, best, safest. costs less, effects more than any other. The colour produced is the most natural. Lockyer's Sulphur is the only English Hair Restorer. Universally Relied on. e—2 Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters, Nature's own remedy for the sufferings arising from Indiges- tion, Liver Disorders, Xervousness. and all Chest Affections. Sold in Bottles 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d. Avoid imitations. e4919-1 ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE AGE is Spencer's New High ArjTi Hand Sewing Machines, with walnut cover and full Silt of appliances' for £2 18s, 6d. cash- Money returned if not approved. Best value in Sewmg Machines- Spencer's Domestic Machine Deppt. St. John's- square, Cardiff. p.663C-m.w.f. Invalid Chairs. Maal Carts, Perams. on Hire bv Week or Month.—Spencer's, The Cardiff Machine Depot, St. John's nburch-3q., Cardiff. e645—m.w.f. Machine Depot. St. John's nburch-3q., Cardiff. e645—m.w.f.

F Athletic Sports. SMART RUNNING BY CAR. DIFFIANS AT BRECON. Ladies' Skipping Races at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Ought To Be a Bit Interesting. There seams to have been quite a, merry littlsr time for Cardiffialis at Brecon on Thurs- day They only managed to secure a third in the srrint, it is true, and that after Long had won his heat a bit easily. But in the following events they scored strongly. In the quarter- mile flat Williams, Jones, and Long, all of C¿.rdiff, finished in ,be final in the order their names are written, whilst Tucker, of the Jockey C.C.. won the ihree-mile cycle handicap. Wil- liams, who won the quarter, is, if I remember aright, a youngster who last season was run- ning in the boys' races off scratch. He scored a bit cleverly at the finish on Thursday, and just managed to stall off Jones by a bare half- yard in 52sec. Russell, who won the first heat from Jones, was moving wonderfully well, and won his heat in 50 l-5sec—a slashing race between him and Jones. The final of the sprint was done in 12sec. by Sheen, of Ebbw Vale, off the 16yds. mark. He won so easily, too, as to suggest that there are several handicaps at hia mercy this season. In the cycle events I mention ahove that Tucker, of the Cardiff Jockeys, won the distance race. I am delighted, however, to note th, victory of Burge in the half-mile scratch race After riding remarkably well at Bristol, Burge, it will be remembered, had a very serious mishap on the road. I was afraid that the accident would interfere with the nerves of the Aberdare rider, but from what a friend who saw the races at Brecon tells me Burge has not suffered in the slightest in this respect. This being the case, I have hopes that he will be in something like form when the one or two other Welsh championships come to be decided. En passant, Harry Cullum will not, I hear, be able to go up for the English championships this year owing to business engagements. The secretary and executive of the Brecon Dog Show are, as I mentioned a few days ago, deter- mined to do the very best in their power to accommodate the large number of fanciers that will be sure to travel up to Brecon. I am pleased to be able to announce that the show committee have made arrangements for a special train to be run from Merthyr on the arrival of the 7.55 train (Taff) from Cardiff. This means that Cardiff, Newport, Rhondda, &c., fanciers can leave the Welsh Metropolis at a reasonable hour on the morning of the show, and arrive in Brecon at five minutes past ten. The secretary very kindly has arranged to put back the entry time of dogs to the show and the judging to suit that train. By the way, will those South Wales fanciers whc propose travelling to Brecon kindly communi cate with Mr. Fred Short or myself, so tha an idea may be got as to about how many will be making the journey and proper arrange- ments made. I hardly know what to think of the rumour that Hellings has gone North. Hellings is such a funny chap, and takes such peculiar ideas. He was generally thought to have thrown in his lot with Exeter last year for example. He stayed down there a week or so, and then-camf "rolling merrily home." He was quite hurt. too. when he saw the newspaper suggestions that he had thrown over Llwynypia. He may have gone North, but I shall wait with interest to hear of his movements. By the way, the "Swansea, Daily Leader" is a bit "huffy" over the matter, and says that on his last year's, form Hellings will not be a very great catch for any club. What's up, then? Are the grapes sour, or what? Cardiff Seconds are having quite a busy time of it this week. An extra match on Wednes- day was followed by another on Thursday, thi? time with the Newport Garrison. could hardly be called the Seconds, perhaps, for the Brothers Lowe. probably with the object of getting their hand in for Worcestershire, were assisting. Assisting to some purpose, too. for R. Lowe secured no less than eight of the visiting wickets* and those for only about 38 or 40 runs. He was in tine form with the bat, too. and put on 23 runs, of which a 6 and two o's were between point ttnd cover. His fatal predilection to the leg stroke got him into trouble at the finish. The fourth summer show meeting of the Ladies' Kennel Association, which opened on Thursday and extends over to-day (Friday), is decidedly the most important ever held under the auspices of the society. Most of the cham- pion dogs in the various breeds in England, > Scotland, and Ireland will enter the lists, and were it not for the laws of ifaarantine we should have had the cream of the noble canine species from France and Holland. Altogether 850 dogs will compete, and 300 cats, and between £4,OOD and £5,000 will be awarded in prizes and trophies. The catalogue is crowdcd with aristocratic names, and among the donors of specie prizes and trophies are the Countes; of Lonsdale, the Countess of Ilchester, the Countess of Warwick, and the Duchess of Bed- ford. The Princess of Wales is sending some of her favourite borzois, collies, bassets, and pugs, but not any of her household pets. Among dogs which have wan distinction in all parts of the country to come under the eyes of the judges will be the champion Great Danes of Mrs. Hors- fall, the Skye terriers of Mrs, Hughes, th. Scotch terriers of Mrs. Hanay, Mrs. Panmure Gordon's collies, Mrs. Butcher's Irish terriers, Mrs. Musgrove's borzois, Mrs. Hood Wright 9 deerhounds, and Lady Granville Gordon ? chows. A class which will excite much interest is set apart for the pets of operatic and dra matic artists. There are about thirty exhibitors in this class, including Miss Mary Moore, Miss Ka-ti Santley, Miss Ada Jenoure. Miss May Haivey, Miss Mabel Terry Lewis, Madame Mar- garet Reid, and Miss Esther Palliser. There ought be some fun at the Sophia Gardens on Saturday week, July 2, on which occasion the Grand United Order of Oddfellows hold a sports in honour of their centenary celebration. Taken in all, the programme is as original as it is extensive. There are couple of handicap-foot races—80 yards and 120 yards- tug of war, obstacle race, three-legged race, sack raoe, egg and spoon race, &e. Then the fun comes in, for there is a ladies' 60 yards race for members' wives. Following this come a trio of skipping races—80 yards, 60 yards, and 50 yards—for members' wives and daugh- ters. As was only to be expected, the better halves have not been taxed too severely, for, independently of their having possibly for- gotten how to skip, 50 yards is quite far enough t3 ask a- matron to run. The daughters under twelve and under sixteen respec- tively have been taxed with 60 and 80 yards. I am a, wee bit doubtful as to their abilry tj skip and run straight, and so would advise separate courses railed lor them. Of course, they may go straight enough, but I am think- in'' of a woman throwing a stone at a dog or fowl on a flower bed. If there is a window anywhere but in front of them they are sure t) hit it. There is a considerable amount of specv'H.iion in pedestrian circles as to what will be accom- plished on Saturday next on the Manchester Eocecour^e, when Harper and Ban«ist-?i' meet t) run 130 yards for £200 aud what must be understood to bo the championship. There are those who tell us that Bannister is able t:> get something like four vards inside evens, but in his handicaps he has never shown that t'me, and we may infer that his backers would hardly be likely to divulge tuch a secret if h.) had done it n a trial. If he can travel so fast he will beat Harper,' as in his best day the Bulwell pedestrian could not go much faster. They are both in active training. Harper at Blackpool and Bannister outside Sheffield. On Harper's Burnley running, given a good day, he will likely equal a couplo of yards better than ovens, and that will be worth going a long way to see, especially if Brnni^ter goes one he.,ter. WELSH ATHLETE.