Evening Express

TODAY'S WEATHER. 4 The forecast of the weather throughout the West of England and Soutli Wah>s for to-dav (Wednesday) is as follows :-N. W. to IV. Kinds, light; fair gene- rally.

TEMrKUATURE. RA.IN-FALL Mas. | lllm. jMeau.,9 a.m. 9p.m. iTotal. Wednesday.jl7. 75 i 57 i 66*0 | "00 -00 I "00 8 67 i 57 62'0 *00 "00 '00 Frid-iv jl9 72 56 64 0 "41 "00 '41 Saturday |20 75 55 66'0 "00 *00 -00 Sunday ,21 80 63 71*5 *C0 "CO "00 Mondny .j22 78 40 59'0 *50 *00 .50 Tuesday 123 *00

Telephone: National. 502. Post-office. 95. Telegrams: Express Cardiff.

I I I in p If WHAT WE THINK. It takes a good long time to till old Mrs. Grundy, and her uncle:, her cousins, and her aunts. The Grundy family has grown so strong during this prudish generation that in wise after years, when her name dies and is forgotten and is resurrected, the emblematical description will be resurrected and commented on, and peradventure catalogued as the nine- teenth century deity of English watering-places. Future generations will tliereon make fun of our superstition. And in the history of the age the following item will be entered, under the date of Auxust 22, 1838": Strong evidence of the influence- wielded by this deity of unclean suggestion, even in such remote places as Penarth, is forthcoming in the action of the local district council, which interdicted even the necessary presence of gentlemen in swimming baths for the purpose of teaching ladies the healthy water-exercise of polo." The sooner the age of purity and innocence, which shall record some modern events in such a light, overtakes the world the better. It is surely coming, although the Grundy family dies hard. It has not struck us yet, appa- rently, that the constant hints of evil and suspicion breathed by so-called "purity" folk are an insult to the men and women over whom the Grundy people set themselves as watchful guardians. It has not yet come home to us that the suggestion of evil is calculated to create evil where none before existed. Evil does not come without the thought of evil, and the careful separation of the sexes, even in such innocent recreations as bathing and swimming, is an evil suggestion which is not born out of actual purity, and which must in time to come be cast out in disgust ere the world attains the purity which we all would seek. The Creator did not see fit to create any Grundys to watch over their fellow-beings when the world began, and there is absolutely no evidence that they are needed now, or that they work any actual good, or that their existence is in any degree a necessity. In the instance of the crusade against mixed bathing, what useful purpose has been effected? Have the British and foreign watering places where mixed bathing is allowed seen any need of their existence. The answer is clear, and it is "No." Why, then, on this ex- perience should this wretched suggestion of impropriety be still allowed to breed impure thought where none exists?

Powder and Shot. O The great delight of the Cardiff tramway employes in their Bristol trip last Sunday was the prospect of getting out of range of the Sunday Closing Act. And how they did enjoy their freedom! The principal alteration of football fashion th'3 season will be the abandonment of second strings. Most clubs will fall back on local junior ten mi for their relays, and matters will get wierdly mixed. .ø "Owing to the inclemency of the weather eprlier in the sCJson." said an Ilfracombe land- lady, "the summer girls are blossoming very late this year. The Cardiff crop is only just arriving." • m "It often happens." said a thoughtful collier, alluding to the would-be coal conciliators, "that a man will start in with the intention of being a peacemaker and simply wind up by compli- cating the light." **«••• This year, as it happens, we have no particu- lar use for Herr Lobner's invention of a mecha- nism for measuring and recording the 1,000th part of a second. In ordinary Cardiff summers, however, it might be useful for calculating our average periods of bright sunshine. If Lady Henry Somerset gets her facts for temperance oratory after the fashion of her coat-strike figures, we can't say much for her "reform" campaign. She hasn't got the right enTl of a single stick of coal-strike talk in the "Westminster Gazette." < < Mr. T. E, Ellis, M.P., Chief Liberal Whip, and Mrs Ellis have been staying with Mr. Kearley, M.P., at his shooting-box, near Bryntrillyn, Denbighshire. Mr. Ellis has made rapid progress towards recovery, and looks quite restored to health. He will soon remove his shooting-box t) Westminster. • » » "Were there any marks about him by which you would know him again?" asked the police- man who had arrived at the scene too late to be of any service in a Temperancetown row last night. "Yes. sir," said the indignant young woman, who was doing up her back hair and com- plained of having been assaulted. "I left two long finger-nail marks on his face. I'd know him right enough." < < < The Chinese around Hong Kong are giving most encouraging evidence of adaptability to Western ways. When a British surveying party landed on Saturday near Deep Bay, a crowd of a thousand villagers assembled, and after beating of gongs and shouting for an hour or two. they shut the gates. That was the Oriental method. Then 70 bluejackets and two Maxims were landed, and the Chinese were given ten minutes to open the gates again and they did it well under the time without any gongs and shouting. Tha.t is the Western system of the- "open door." The Chinaman is always open to the logic of a Maxim. t < That last idea of the Penarth district coun- cillor upon the bathing question yesterday will create astonishment amongst our sweet young men and maidens. He told the interviewer that "A girl would naturally see no harm in bathing with her brother, but then this gentleman could not be a brother to all the members of the ladies' club, could he?" Of course he could. Why not ? A man to whom a number of girls have promised to be a sister writes us a long letter to the effect that any man can be a brother—it's so easy. We agree with him. « « « • A Cardiff engineer who has been visiting San Paolo says that in a general's inspection of a Government railroad in one of the Northern States, he found at one of the stations a strong young man doing nothing. "Do you wish any- thing, my friend?" asked the General. "No. sir; I am employed here!" "So' What are your duties?" "I have to till the water-jugs in the office every day." A little astonished, the General passed into the next room. where a young man was smoking a cigarette. "Are you an employe?" asked the General. "Yes, sir," came the answer. "I am the assistant of the gentleman in the next room." • » • c « » Our local Puritans don't gild their oratory. When Alderman R. Cory and Co. objected to th.: sale of intoxicants in the new Park Ward Radical Club they were told the club would bj a losing instigation on teetotal lives. People wh" acn't know our Sunday closers intimately wculd say, "Of course. Mr. Cory and the others retorted by declaring they would make any losses good, and so support their principles. But, no! That's going from easy theory into eelf-sacriftcing practice. It's too much. The eelf-sacriftcing practice. It's too much. The objectors held their rockets tight and calmly gave in to the beer. ♦ » ♦ » Some members of the Canton Conservative Club will remember this last, pic-ric. Ninety of them went to Weston. Some went Oil to Clevedon, and started back for the Weston boat about 8 p.m. An interesting light railway (single line) connects C.evedon and Weston, and there was an equally interesting block, the kind of thing which leads passengers to move the train along themse ves by sheer force of their profanity. The deacons of the club will put the fact on record to the credit of the members that the wanderers had not sufficient profanity at their command to hustle the cars along to Weston ere the last boat went. And the stranded clubites had to borrow a cheque from Councillor Illtyd Thomas, who was stay- ing there, to get them home by train at three a.m. They are studying up cuss words now. H" was admiring the Tower Bridge from the Thames Embankment, and the Londoner who overheard his comments asked him where he was from, and on being told, he said, "Swan- sea? That's in Wales somewhere, iijn't it?" The man from Abertawe stopped mopping his pcsi'irmg brow. "Somewhere in Wales, you benighted idiot," he yelled, as he glowered fiercely at him. "Did you think it was near Talienwan, or Seven Dials? Did you think a town of a hundred and ten thousand human beings wasn't worthy a place on the map?" Tiu Cockney gasped, and prepared to fly. "P rt-.ps," continued the irate one, "you've got an idea that this mundane sphere of ours con- sists of that. conglomeration of nondescript homlets called London? Well, it doesn't." And being a fine and large man, he left the Embank- ment with a whole skin and a scornfui satisfied smile. » Many amusing stories are told in connection with the severe storm on Thursday last, but the following, at any rate. has the merit of being true. Three cattle dealers were standing outside the Neath Police-station; one was an Irishman and the two others were Welshmen. When the darkness came on, the Welshmen became very nervous, "and one remarked: — "Duw. duw, Shoni, there's dark it is. It's the end of the world I do believe." "Well." replied Shoni, who was trembling like an aspen leaf, "it do look like it, indeed. "Never moind, my biioys," said 'the Irish dealer, "we've been life- long friends, haven't we?" "We have." Well. then," he continded, "let's go into the Waterloo and have the last drink and go together." They had the drink, in fact, "severeal," but they weathered the storm. < <t More of the Grundys. The "Western Daily Pi ess-' believes the Welsh must be a Grundy nrtion. It remarks that some time ago there was a controvert as to the propriety of allow- ing people to go to the British Museum on Sundays. The whirl and gaiety of the place wers thought, perhaps, to be too alluring. But if the views of a Welsh town councillor should be represented in Parliament, the next con- troversy will be as to the propriety of allowing ptcple to go to the British Museum. For this good man has been to the British Museum, piesumably just to see how wicked it is, and he has told his horrified townsmen that the corridors are "lined with heathen deities in all their shameful nakedness." This, as a speci- men of art criticism, requires no comment. Indeed, it is calculated to reduce admirers of sculpture to inarticulate wrath. And, in conclu- sion, the southern critic gives it as his opinion thai only the Welsh language could supply cfithets- that could appropriately be used in reply to this town councillor. Sunday School stories always reach us about Wednesday. Deacons and teachers who can tell them feel the influence of Sabbath holiness too much on Monday and on Tuesday to repeat them to the Gentiles. We hear this one from Canton, promising not to reveal the Gospel school — "How did you like the lesson?" asked the superintendent of a bright little lady whom he met outside. "I liked it very much, sir." "What was it about?" "Oh—all about the miracle of the seven thou- sand loaves and five thousand fishes which the twelve Apost'es ate." "What? Seven thousand loaves and five thou- sand fishes, and twelve Apostles? You have got hold of the wrong end of the stick, my child. How do you think that possible?" "I don't know, sir. P'raps the Apostles had been sufferin' owin' to a strike." "Rut even then they couldn't eat all that?" The little lady pulled her stocking up reflec- tively. "I think that is where teacher said the miracle came in," she answered, "but I think the miracle was they didn't bust. The eatin's easy enough." Sweet, thoughtful innocence! « A mean man can multiply excuses infinitely faster than our teachers can expound such maxims as "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you," and "Help your neighbour," and ouch like. Here is a specimen of the style in which the selfish man eases his conscience in a letter to the "Bristol Times": Sir,—I have been assailed, and, no doubt, lrany people to-day have been, by beggars who justify their existence by a declaration to the effect that they are appealing for others. The "others'' are the Welsh miners. It is to be heped that certain kind-hearted, but ignorant, people will be warned in time, and not contri. bute any sum for these wilfully idle fellows. I say "ignorant" because, with no knowledge uf the facts cf the case. many gpod-natured people will, upon the merest provocation, put their hands in their pockets, anrj think that they are doing good. No man has yet been born who would work when he can be paid for dcing nothing. It is ridiculous, therefore, to blame the miners for their idleness when they have the knowledge that pay is to be got without merit. I know that it is quite likely that the old rag of "starving families" will be flaunted in my face; but, whiie misguided generosity exists, starving families will go on increasing, and common-sense prescribes a cure, I which must be applied to the root of the matter. Pauperism is rife to-day. and it is preposterous thx- honest men should have to work to keep l,palth in the bodi&s of dishonest '"slackers."— Ycurs, &c., MAGISTER. Ycurs, &c., MAGISTER.

M'Grath's Marriage. [ EXT IIA Oil DIN A HY LETTER SEAT TO A WIFE. At a pleading diet of a Sheriff Criminal-court, Glasgow. Elizabeth M'Quade or M'Grath, 586, Govan-road, pleaded guilty to a charge of mar- j rying James Watson, 585, Govan-road, on the 26th of February, 1897, 'at 196, George-street (city), while her lawful husband, John M'Grath, 45, Pollack-street, was still alive. Mr. Thomas Dykes, writer, appeared for the accused, who, he said, had been badly treated by M'Grath, and was compelled to leave him five months after the marriage, which was in 1890. Mr. Dykes then read the following letter, which M'Grath had sent to his wife from Dunoon in 1893 "Writing for the moment surrounded by every comfort, with the waters of the Firth stretching as far as the eye can reach, and the sun glinting gloriously from the white sails of the yachts as they go racing by. only the neces- sity and the pleasures I expect to enjoy enable me to overcome the leeling of refmlsiveness and aversion which I feel towards you, and to ask you if you will agree to sign a bond, in presence of two witnesses, that we mutually give each other liberty, and from now cease to hold our marriage contract binding. I do this. first, because I wonder now how I ever fooled myself into taking you; secondly, because circumstances, combined with my good fortune and intelligence, have enabled me to form an affection for and to receive every pledge of love from the young woman whose residence I am writing from. Now, as to you, I was truthful and constant until your action drove all feeling from me. To her I have given ail details, and as I have her sufficiently under rrty influence, and she considers life with me, even under the circumstances, a greater plea- sure than without me, you will surely enable me to place the golden circlet on her finger by means of the marriage ceremony, because if you sign this calmly and deliberately I would lead the way and take the risk of imprison- ment. Looking over my shoulder, she read> this as I write, and I promise to give her your ianswer. I have always felt that there are moments of pleasure in one's life that amply compensate for moments of mental agony, and some of them I am enjoying now—happi- ness too unearthly, too Eden-like to last. per- haps. When I contrast her pleasant form and beauty with you, I would give worlds if I had never met you. But I cannot undo that now. Suffice it to say that the tall and willowy form of my Highland sweetheart as we step from the train at Gourock to the boat. the scene as we cross to Kirn. the darkness, the keen air. and the lovely being beside me, completely obliterated allmemoryof you. You know that my wide course of reading and the study I have given to the beautiful enables me to compe- tently judge this; her proud expression, the elastic outline of her features, her dark and almost foreign complexion, will make me dare anything to obtain possession of her, as I dared all opposition to retrieve your llOnour. Stroll- ing along the esplanade one Sunday, she pointed out the Cloch l ighthouse, and I recall the time we saw it from the Gour'ock side. She, I know, has never met one who could interpret her feeling-, as I can. "Silver-tongued Ian Dhn," she playfudy termed me when stand- ing on the beach of the Holy Loch under the gray shadows of the Argyllshire hills the scene recalling that poem, "The Lady of the Lake." I whispered to her. Scott must have had such another form as hers before him when writing (YOU know the passage), beginning, Never did Grecian chisel trace a nymph." &c., and it is so; the genius of Canova never sculptured, nor the wondrous artist hana of Angeio never nm". trayed, a more perfect form than that possessed by this daughter of the Gramnians. Well read, she understands Ine, but I surpass in expressing my ideas and at times hold her spel-bound. I will show her your reply: on.y, for God's s: ke, free me, and if yoa will consent'to sign this, that will do it, because the sheriffs in such cases only inTo-e twenty-four or thirty- si v hours, if all parties know of the former marriage and agree to the other.—I alll, yours irdifferently, J. M'GRATH." The Sheriff; I)oe-3 he coiclude by enclosing the girl's photograph? (Laughter.) Mr. Dykes: No, my lord. The Sheriff: Is Mr. M'Grath here? I should like to see him. Procurator-fiscal Hart: I gave him notice to come Mr. Dyke said the accased was entitled to a divorce, but was unalxe to raise the funds necessary to carry it through, and not hearing from him f >r five years she "was induced to enter into this seccnd marriage. Quite recently two women were sent by the husband to inquire if she would contribute something to- wards the expenses of an action for divorce being raised against him. She refused to have allyÙÜng to do with t118 women, and the result was that the police were informed of her second marriage. Mr. Dykes asked the sheriff to dismiss the woman in consideration of the treatment she had received. The Sheriff, addressing Mrs. M'Grath, said he need hardly tell her that bigamy was a serious crime, but the circumstances in this case were very peculiar indeed. It was quite manifest that the present prosecution was instigated on the part of the husband to v'n- dictively punish her than hv any real desire on his part to vindicate the law. The very extraordinary "etter which had been read from M'Grath showed him not oinly to be a egoist of the most pronounfred character, but he should think a man of the most heartless cruelty. His lordship cou.d quite believe that M'Grath had Ll-treated the prisoner while -he was under his power. If M'Grath had gone through the ceremony of marriage with the girl referred to, and if he had been in the docl, he thought he should have taken occasion to illustrate the seriousness with which the law regarded the crime of bigaxay. But, consider- ing the life which Mrs. M'Grath appeared to have led while she was under her husband's power, the disgrace brought upon her by the public exposure of domestic affairs, and the time she had already spent in prison, he would be justified in taking the exceptional course of dismissing her with an admonition.

RELEASED BY A STORM. During a violent thunderstorm at DArlaston early on Monday a very exciting incident took place in the Wake Grounds during the Wake carnival. A wild beast show has been located in the grounds, and when the storm was at its height the wind blew over a cara- van which contained a lione-s. The animal succeeded in effecting its escape, and it was eventually found crouched under a timber truck. When -.everal men attempted to re- capture her the animal clawed viciously at her would-be carters, but after considerable delay she was captured and placed in another cage.

TALES ABOUT BISHOPS. A bishop «aid the other day, "The two things of which I am most tired are 'The Church's one foundation and cold chicken. The hymn seems always to be chosen wherever I go, and hind hostesses with quite extraordinary unani- mity provide cold chicken for luncheon." There was once a prelate who liked always to have the same dish. Bishop Baring would write to a country vicar. "Don't prepare anything extra for me; cold be'2f will do." He used to carry his own bag, and was sometimes called "Charles Baring Cold Beef Carpet Bag." The late Bishop Thcrold held a confirmation on a Friday in a parish where the vicar only gave him a fast-day fare. On expressing a hope to the bishop that he could do without meat. he said, "I see a tapioca pudding; that is v.-hat I like best for luncheon."

DUCKED O THE SEVERN. At Stourrfort Police-court (before Mr. B. Danks, chairman, Lord Harrington, and Messrs. A. Jones and A. Baldwin) Mhs Lily Worth, residing at Severn House, Stourport, was sum- moned for assaulting a boy named George South all, aged seven years, by ducking him in the Severn on the 9th inst. Mr. Thursfleld appeared for. complainant, and Mr. Loft for defendant, who was not present in court.—The evidence was to the effect that Miss Worth and a lady friend had been boating on the Severn, and afterwards remained in the boat at the side of the river reading. Complainant and other boys were sitting on the bank, and annoyed them by throwing piecss of stick in the river, and would not desist. A gentleman from another boat then ran some of the boys, and Miss Worth chased Southall, and took him a considerable distance to a raft in the Severn, where she ducked him up to the neck in the water. This was the assault of which com- plaint was made.-The hoy said he was only throwing sticks into the river to see them race, and he denied throwing a stone.—Mr. Loft addressed the court in Miss Worth's behalf, and submitted she had only committed a. tech- nical offence, and that she was justified in chastising the boy for the way he had behaved. —The Bench said they were surprised at the lady's conduct, and said it was a strange pro- ceeding for her to duck a boy in the river as she had done. They fined her 20s. and costs (253.).

PORT TALBOT PIER. On the 6th inst. we received from the Central News a telegram emanating from Porthcawl, announcing that th? Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company's pier had been damaged by the storm. We now learn from official sources that the pier suffered no damage whatever, and that the report to that effect was erro- neous

An Alpine Accident. 0- HOW ONE 1.R FIC WAS SAVED AT Tll E COST OF ANOTHER. Souro further particulars are given in the "Daily Yews" of the terrible accident in the Ortler Alp?. The two brothers, Bonislas and Andrew Kotula, set out for the ascent of the G'jisterspitze early on Friday morning. Bonis- las, who was a schoolmaster, has made many ascents, and was an enthusiastic lover of nature, and he it was who persuaded Andrew to go with him. although he knew that Andrew had nevir yet climbed u, mountain. When they came to the glacier Bonislas bound the rope round himself and his brother. It was 45ft. long, so he doub12d it, and made a sling round his own body, and another round hi: brother's, although he should have known that if any- thing happened both nooses must be drawn together, and by pressing the bodies must prevent each from helping the ether. Bonislas was walking five yards in front of his brother when uddenlv his feet sank into the "now. the body followed, and in a few seconds Andrew saw nothing of his brother. The noose of rope round his chest cut him so fearfully that he was mad with pain, and felt himse.f slipping towards the crevasse. In a seccmd he thought of his pocket-knife, and took it out and cut the rope. Then he ran for help. The guides who afterwards came to th3 spot saw at once that tha crevasse in the glacier was covered with only a few inches of snow, which was of a different shade of hiteness. The body was found 70ft. below in a pool of glacier water.

MYTHICAL RACE MEETING. CLEVER SCHEME BY WHICH BOOKMAKERS WERE DUPED. There is no limit to the audacity and ingenuity of the racing Tampers. Their latest exploit has been the invention of a meeting—programme, results, starting prices, and all-and "spofing the London sporting dailies with it. The "Sportsman," which has just discovered the fraud, tibtes that the meeting was attributed to Trodmore. Cornwall, as being held on August 1. an^jt that both the prC2:ammc and the report were sent to it by a correspondent who signed himself "(j. Martin, St.. Ives. Corn- wall." Investigation has shown that there is no such p'.apc as Trodmore, and that no race meeting was held en August 1 in the neigh- bourhood of St. hes, Cornwall. "Martin," by himself, or (what is more probable) in league with others, invented the whole thing for the purpose of defrauding bookmakers. It is not every professional who will take bets in the case of country side leather flapping meetings of the character of this bogus Trodmore one, but the most appears to have been got out of those who would. Some of the Fleet-street divi- sion were tapped for considerable sums bearing in mind the character of the "fixture." The prices cf the successful horses were beautifully graduated, the first winner being returned at o to 4 against. Two 6 to 1 chances won, and, oddly enough, these figured in nearly all the double event and accumulative bets. According to the return Mr. George Edwardes ran a horse called Wisdom.

AN ARCHDUKE'S ROMANCE. This romantic story is from the "Kolnische Zestung":—Archduke Heinrich. of Austria, desiring to marry Miss Leopoldine Hoffmann, against til--will of the Emperor, hit upon the expedient of arranging for the "passive assis- tance" of a priest, who dared not celebrate a. marriage under pain of the Emperor's anger. So th3 Archduke gave a banquet, to which he invited the priest. After the soup had been served he rose in his place, on which the guests expected a toast. But the Archduke, point- ing to Miss Leopohline Hoffmann, pronounced slowly and solemnly, the words. "Most Reve- rend, this is my wife." Miss Hoffmann imme- diately afterwards rose in her turn. and said, "This is my husband." According to the theory of "passive assistance" in Germany and Austria, these words, spoken before a priest, rendered the marriage of the pair valid and sacramentally concluded.

A MOTOR-CAR HUMORIST. Francis London was fined 10s. and costs on Tuesday for obstructing Waibrook with a motor-car. When the policeman told him to go back—he had entered the street by the wrong end—he began to work a pipe, remark- ing, v\ e have to do this for three minutes before we can start. When the three minutes were up. he took hold of a screw, and began moving that. saying, "We have to do this for two minutes." Tha crgwd was blocking up the way by this time, and defendant next took hold of a handle and worked it, with the remark. "We have to do this for one minute." He then backed slowly out.

RECOVERING A WIFE. An extraordinary application was made to Mr. De Rutzen on Tuesday by a lady, who explained that she was an Austrian, and had come to England on a pleasure trip. She had prolonged her visit beyond the time origina.ly intended, and her husband had now sent a detective over here with instructions that. if -he did not quit England of her own accord he was to pack her things up and take her forcibly to the railway station. She was expecting that the. detective would arrive on Tuesday, and she desired his worship to grant her protection. Mr. De Rutzen -aid he was sorry that at present, he could do nothing

DEATHS FROM "OVER- LAYING. Dr. H. R. Oswald, the deputy-coroner for Central London, spoke very strongly at an inquest on Tuesday night concerning the death of a four months' old child by "overlaying." He said that all th"1 preaching of coroners seemed to have no effect on parents, and that until a law was passed prohibiting the sleeping of infants with their parents deaths from suf- focabon w0111<1 continue. In London alone over 1,000 children were killed annually in this manner. In Germany, he believed, there was a law of the kind. with the result that suffoca- tion of infants was almost unknown.

WANTED HIS WATCH. Mr. David Emery, whose watch was stolen from him in Borough High-street. London. asked, when the thief was brought up at th" Southwark Court on Tuesday, if he might have it back again pending the trin'. Mr. Fenwick suggested that' perhaps it would be safer with the police. Mr. Emery: I think it will be ah right if I carry it without a chain. It is the chain which gives these people their chance. Mr. Fenwick: Perhaps that is so. You can try the experiment, but be sure a\1(l produce the watch when required by the policc. _Jl"

QUEER LOVE TRAGEDY. An old woman of Berlin has been murdered by her "lover." When a girl. Amalie Weinkauf. the victim, was in service, and on retiring received an allowance. At the age of 60, how- ever, she fell iu love with a carpenter about half her age, named Franz Golscher, and when her former employers heard of the altered state of affairs they stopped her pension. Golscher "eem" to hayeeél her a terrible life. and on Sunday, in a fit of rage, he struck and strangled her. He has besn arrested. The woman was said to be 79 years old.

FORETOLD IN A DREAJL The "Daily Mail" tells this remarkable story: —On the night of August 12. Count Cibrario, belonging to one of the most ancient families of Turin, awoke the rest of the house, announcing that his son was dead. He had, he said, seen him distinctly during sleep. He saw that blood was flowing from his son's head, and the young man explained to him that he had fallen down a precipice. On the following morning news came that the count's son had been killed in an Alpine accident during an expedition of which his father knew nothing. -r-

MENDING A LION'S TAIL. During a fight a lion in the Glasgow Zoo had his tail badly torn. and Dr. ,T. M'Call, of th? Royal Veterinary College, .j^as called in. Some arrangements had to be made, however, to enable him to deal with his rather refrac- tory patient. The legs of the lion. were secured, and the tail was put between the bars of the cage so that the surgeon could perform the necessary operation fro111 the outside. Eig-ht stitches were put in and the tail was then bandaged.

PIPER EINDLATER'S SWEET- HEART. The Dundee "Courier" states that Mr. Find- later has nnw got a letter from the solicitor of Miss Gellatlv, the lady who claims to have be-en his sweetheart. It is stated that should II the wedding not take place the lady is to take to the stage as a,, dancer.

= Another Paris Tragedy. BRUTAL FATHER BRAINED BY HIS YOOG DAUGHTER The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Mail" saj-s:—One mere horrible drama has been added to the long list of crimes that have startled Paris of late, and, as in all the other cases, drink may be set down as one of the most potent factors of the occurrence. At Beaulieu-les-Fontaines lived a family composed of father. Arcade Quevreux, the mother, and two children—a girl named Angela, aged eighteen, and a boy named Edouard, aged four- teen. The father was in the habit of punishing the hoy without rhfyme or reason, and nearly every time he entered the house. On Sunday night, returning home intoxicated at about ten o'clock, he entered the boy's room and com- menced to thrash him with a belt, using the buckle over his head. The girl Angela, exas- perated beyong measure at the groans of her brother, seized the poker, and rushing into the room dealt the father such a blow on the head that he immediately fell over dead upon the floor. The mother thereupon joined her daughter, and together they beat the head and face of the man into an unrecognisable mass, and thel] went and informed the police. They have been put under arrest at Compiegne.

DENTIST'S REVENGE. TURNED THE TABLES ON HIS WIFE'S ADMIRER. The Vicomte de A. S.. one of the most ele- gant automobilists in Pans (says a Paris cor- respondent) had frequently observed in his excursions a young and very pretty lady cyclist. He obtained an introduction and found that the lady was the wife of a fashionable dentist in Paris, Monsieur T. The vicomte ob- tained permission to call, and he was received in the drawing-room by the lady on several occasions. At length, however-, she became alarmed by the ardour of his admiration, and told her husband. Monsieur T. accordingly appeared on the scene next day. and surpris- ing the vicomte in the midst of a passionate declaration, affected to regard him as a patient, and asked him to go to the operating- room. The vicomte gladly jumped at this means of escape, and said that one of his back toetn was givmg- him trouble. As a matter of fact he has a fine set of white teeth, of which he is inordinately vain. The dentist made a ca.refu1 examination, then suddenly applying his forceps, whipped out a superb molar. "There," said he; "I do not think it will be nece-sary to call again. Your troubles are at an end He then calmly took twenty francs from the vicomte, who could only by a power- ful effort suppress his emotion. He has not since called.

A LIVING TARGET. There is a certain amount of excitement about being a Hungarian landowner that can hardly be pleasant in such weather as this. The latest story from Vienna, sent by the "Morning Leader" correspondent, suggests that the state of affairs in Hungary must he very much more unpleasant than it could be if only the followers of Captain Moonlight were in charge of affairs. At Sajos-Patak, in the extreme north-east of th* country, a landowner named Sigmund Bogyag is lord and master of the whole dis- trict, it seems..His serfs, getting tired of his tyranny, stormed his residence, armed with guns, revolvers, and various farm implements. They seized Bogyag, bound him securely to a tree in his own park, and demanded three im- portant concessions from him, and promised to release him and return quietly to work if he granted them. Their demands, which related to wages and hours of labour, were extremelv moderate, and in every respect justified. M Bogyag bluntly refused to accede to his in- feriors' demands. Thereupon the enraged peasants shot at him several times with guns and revolvers. A Her wounding him in six place- they again offered to release him if he gave in. The intrepid landowner, however, defied them to do their worst, whereupon they commcnced to direct a hot fire against him, while some hacked at him with scythes and hatchets. In this brutal way they did him to death. The perpetrators of this outrage are still at large, although the authorities have done their best to capture them.

CHIVALROUS PIRATES, A Consular report refers to the boldnes3 of the Chinese pirate as being surpassed by the apathy of the provincial government. Perhaps the word piracy is scarcely applicable to the acts of these adventurous robbers. They have no armed craft of their own with which to give chase and run down their victims. The usual plan is for a band of men to go on board n passenger .aunch disguised as ho.ie--d, men. When a suitable spot 's r-u-hH they throw off all d:.sgu!e. overawe the crew and passengers by flourishing revolvers, and then half the party -taud by ready to shoot, while the rest proceed to search the passengers and their uggage; and when they hav9 taken all they want they transfer themselves to another boat or land near a friend.y village, where a division of the spoils takes p'ace. They are not devoid of a certain chivalrous feeling. Cases have been known where, after having robbed some rich passengers and made a good haul, they have restored to the poorer passengers what had already been taken from them. On other occt^ sions the; have overpowered the master and crew of a launch, and "borrowed" the use of the vessel for a few hours, during which they have overhauled a junk known to have valu- ables on board. Having pil.aged the junk thev have steamed a^ay to their own village, and before landing they have offered to pay the master for the time his launch has been detained.

HINTS FOR BRITISH TRADERS. According to a Consular report relating to British trade in the Tonga. Isiands, Pacific, quantity, and not quality, is what the people want, and British manufacturers must, if they wish to retain this or any other market, make thing of the quality their customers wish to have, instead of sending goods which they con- sider their clients should, if they are sensible. require. On Tongan gala days, such, for example, as the King's birthday, Constitution Day, and the King's coronation, sports of all sorts are organised, at which near.y the whole population attends. It is at these that the lads and lasses like to look well and newly- dressed, and if they are able to appear in a good outfit for the day, they do not in the least care if it tumbles to pieces next morning, as its work is don&. That is why nothing bur, the cheapest things find acceptance here, and why the French and German goods find favour. It can easily be conceived, therefore, that well- made lasting British goods do not fulfil the required conditions either in qua ity or price; they last too long. and it is in this way that, especial.y in drapery, British manufacturers must alter their tactics and manufacture showy rubbish for those who wish to buy it, if they do not want to let their foreign competitors oust them from this market.

SWIMMING THE CHANNEL. In an intrview on Tuesday with Mr. Frank jlolmes, of Birmingham, who proposes to attempt to swim across the English Channel from Dover, a Dover correspondent elicited that the swimmer will make the attempt I during the present neap tides, which extend over the next few days. The weather in the Channel, howevef. has during the last feW weeks, owing to the excessive heat, been so uncertain that it cannot he depended upon fr0m one day to another. He, therefore, does not fix any absolute date, but will take the first favourable opportunity. The temperature of the water has never been so favourable to distance Channel swimming as it is at the present time. Mr. Holmes went out with his boatman on Tuesday and tested the water, finding the temperature to be 66 to 67 degrees. This is the highest temperature known in the Channel for many years, previous swimmers who have attempted the swim having had much less favourable conditions with the water at a temperature of 60 degrees or even less. Mr. Holmes has every confidence in his projected swim, and calculates that he will be able to get across the Channel on three tides, which practically means about eighteen to twenty hours.

PANIC IN A SHOW TENT. An accident which caused excitement almost amounting to a panic occurred on Monday night in a. show tent on a piece of waste ground in Southey-street. Beckenliam-road, Penge. While the operator was giving cinema- tograph entertainment to an audience of some 200 persons, chicfiy children, a paraffin lamp suspended from the top of the booth fell on to the screen and set it on fire. The audience at once rushed for the exits, and a terrible struggle ensued. Happily, however, none of the audience were seriously injured. It was, however, subsequently found that the operator, William Cunaird, was lying near his apparatus badly burned about the face and arms. The fire did serious damage to the cinematographic films, which were practically destroyed, the damage being estimated at nearly £400.

Rush Through Flames. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF AN EXCURSION TRAIN. i The Paris correspondent of *the "Daily Mail" says:—The South-west of France, between Bor- deaux and the Spanish frontier, has been the theatre of grandiose but terrifying scenes. caused by vast conflagrations in the fine forests of Luxey, Lipo=they. Labouheyre, and in other districts of Saint Jean dlllac, near Marche- prime. An excursion train returning from San Sebastian to Bordeaux had an extremely sen- sational adventure. After IJassing the station of Labouheyre. about midnight, in a hot and terribly oppressive atmosphere, and in a dark. cloudy night, suddenly the train came in sight, of a spectacle of appalling terror, but of mar- vellous magnificence. A forest fire, which had been raging for some time, suddenly by a bend in the line came within view, rushing down. upon the train like a mighty tidal wave of a. sea of flame, lightingul1 the near landscape with the brightness of day. and making danger in this way appear more imminent than it really was. During the time necessary to sto:) and reverse the train, the passengers were greatly alarmed at ths growing nearness of the flames, which surged and roared along under the influence of a rising wind, while sparks and burning twigs were flung aloft, whirling like meteors across ,-Ie smoke beclouded sky. The train was reversed in time. and the passengers and employes exerted themselves for about a couple of hours in beating out the flames near the line. Another start was now made, but after arriving in the midst of the district swept, by the flames, these again revived with fury, and it seemed equally perilous to return or go on. The carriages became hot and the timber and woodwork began to crack. In the dense electric, laden atmosphere the passengers were nearly suffocated by the unendurable heat, while through the windows they beheld the tempest of fire gathering about them once more. Moments were precious, and the enginedriver Lopez, and the stoker, Durete, determined tr make a ran for their lives. They closed dowr all the windows, drew the blinds, and put or full steam ahead. Meanwhile the passengers from being terrified and excited, had given waj to absolute paroxysms of folly ftnd panic Women fainted, children screamed, and mei yelled in mad exasperation. The very sleeper. were burning under the rails, hot ashes anc sparks were blown from overhead and fell or the train, the woodwork began to kindle, and ominous cracklings and crashings were heard every moment in that breathless wild rush for clearer air and safety. The train, however, was soon out of danger, and the passengers, no'v laughing, and crying, and shouting, thanked the driver whose daring resolution had saved them. The town of Marcheprime was threatened h7 two vast forest fires at the same time—one from the west and the other from the north-west. All the inhabitants of the district worked together attempting to beat out the flames, but they were forced back rapidly, and did not succeed till within a mile of Marcheprime. Two deaths occurred, an old man and ;1 child of five being burned to cinders. The whole length of the fires extended 30 miles, while one of them was seven miles in width. The cause app2c1N. m one case, to be lightning. Several farms anc houses are burnt, without leaving a trace. The speed and force of the flames were so grea' that they leapt over bare spaces of 50 yard: width at various parts of their progress.

KILLED BY WATER RK! NK" ING. A Parisian workman made a wager on Mon- day that he would drillk 24 l1ints of water. It was arranged that he should lie down on the floor with a funnel between his lips, into whicA the liquid was to be poured. The man on his back gulped down pint after pint with appa- rent ease. After a time, however, he lay quite motionless, and blood and water began to now- from his mouth. He was taken to a hospital. where he died.

AN ENGLISHMAN'S HAREM. About three year? ago a member of the Cey- lon Civil Service, Mr. Le Mesurier. embraced Mohammedanism and married Miss Alice Eivett- Carnac, although he already had a wife. The Ceylon Government, taking a serious view of Mr. Le Mesurier's conduct, dismissed him from the public service, and his wife obtained a judicial separation. Mr. Le Mesurier's ap- peal against that decision has now been unani- mously rejected.

ESCAPE FROM DROWNING AT PENARTH. Early on Wednesday morning two gentlemen, went down to Penarth beach for their morn- ing's bath. and conlnlenced to swim to revenue cutter anchored a short distance from the shore. One of them reached the vessel, but his companion was seized wfth cramp mid-way bctween the bcach and the hoat. and com- mcnced calling loudly for help. Instantly a boat was sent out from the cutter, and he was rescued and brought to the shore in a very exhaustedcondition.

AN EMBARRASSING GIFT. At Darlington County Police-court Jar, a Smithsoa, of Heighington, was charged by eiaperintendent Davison with moving a pig into the county of Durham, contrary to an order under the Diseases of Animals Act. It i^ absolutely forbidden to send pigs from Yorkshire into Durham. Mr. Meek, who ap- peared for the defence, said that defendant was a lady at Heighington, who had had a pre- sent of a pig sent her from another lady near York. Tha sender of the pig or the railway company who brought it should be summoned. The magistrates' clerk thought it doubtful whether any charge could be made ont against the defendant. Superintenùent Davison asked that the cas'e should be adjourned, and he could bring witnesses from York to show that it was by the desire of the defendant that the pi? came at all.—The Chairman dismissed the case.

INTEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY. An interesting memorandum has been issued by the Commander-in-Chief, and is forwarded for publication. It says that it is the duty of company officers to point out to the men under their control, and particularly to young soldiers, the disastrous effects of giving way to habits of intemperance and immorality. The excessive use of intoxicating liquors, says the- Commander-in-Chief. unfits the soldier for active work, biunts his intelligence, and is a fruitful source of military crime. The man who leads a vicious life enfeebles his constitution and exposes himself io the risk ofcontractirg disease of a kind which has of late made terrible ravages in the British Army. Many men spend a great deal of their short term of military service in the mLitary hospitals, the wards of which are crowded with patients, a large number of whom are incapacitated from earning a live- lihood in or out of the Army. Men tainted with this disease are useless to the State while in the Army, and a burden to their friends after they have ^eft it. It shond not be beyond the power of company officers to exercise a. salutary influence in these matters, more parti- cularly over the younger men.

PRIZE FIGHT NEAR CARDIFF STOPPED BY THE REFEREE AFTER SEVEN ROUNDS. In the early hours of Wednesday morning a prhs fight was brought off just outside the Cardiff boundary between Mike Flynn, of Ogmore Vale, and Aaron Davies, of Rhondda. The men met some time ago, but the match ended "unsatisfactorily, Flynn winning on a. foul. Both contestants have fought a number of minor battles in their respective districts with varying success. This fight was for a purse of £10. and a well-known Cardiff sport was chosen referee. Flynn imme- diately got to work, landing several body blow^ I quick succession. Davies's returns were a trifle short, but he got home eventually twice on the jaw. Clinching was indulged in to a large extent, and the referee cautioned both men. Bes iming, first Flynn and then Davies ,appeared to take a good lead, but at the end of the second round there was little in it. The fight continue I to hi of <i very give-and-taks character, and the referee had to repeatedly caution the men from clinching. At the end of the seventh round the '.•(Merer thought it ad- visable to stop the fight and declare it draw, remarking as he did so that the men were "Tatting too loving." Very little damage was done on either side. th? affair being spoiled by the tactics of the men.

SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTH- SHIRE CLERKS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting ot the directors of the South Wale? and Monmouthshire Clerks' Association was held at the Caledonian-chambers, Car- diff, un Tuesday evening. There were present Mr. Charles Massy (in the chair), Messrs. G. H. Bedford. W. E. Jenkins, W. Blow, and J. S. Cullen (secretary). A number of applications for membership were dealt, with. On account of the strike a larg-e number of claims for out of employment benefit were passed for payment. Other business of an ordinary character having been transacted, tne meeting terminated with a vote of thapf to the chairman for presiding.