Evening Express

To-day's Weather. The forecast of the weather throughout the West of England and South Wales for to-dar (Saturday) is as follows :-S. winds and gales; squally; rainy. i

Temperature. Raisfali. ■DATE. J — Max:. Mia. J3Iean.j9 9 p.m.,Total. Saturday I5l 52 48 i 51*0 *16 Sunday 16 55 47 I 55'0 1-12 Monday 17 57 53 53'0 !'0S Tuesday 18' 55 51 52*0 1*20 Wednesday. 19 57 47 5 V5 "12 Thursday 201 59 52 50'5 "JQ Friday |21' 62 54 68-0 *10

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

WHAT WE THINK. "We shall have war with France!" say local wiseacres one meets about the street this morn- ing. A little while ago they said. "We shall have war with Russia." And the average man who says these things gloats over the anticipation. On several recent occa- sions, when the papers' huge headlines heralded an imminent European conflict, we have laughed at the credibility of newsmongers. Our prophecies have proved cor- rect: the situation proved by no means one that would not yield to diplomacy. No situa- tion yet has been (except in the common talk) anything more than a diplomatic matter. "War with France!" say some folk now. They little know, or care to think, of the responsi- bilities of a war, or war would not be lightly spoken of. The Marchand report has reached Paris, and it has proved not a little disap- pointing. It is only a copy of the several reports which the adventurous Frenchman had previously forwarded by way of Abyssinia and the French Niger; it does not come down to the date of the arrival at Fashoda of the Sirdar. As an "emissary of civilisation," who has threaded his way through unknown territory into the Nile Valley, and who trill be able to add much to the geographical knowledge of the Continent. Marchand would be a welcome addition to the lions of the London season. As a political agent commissioned to plant the French flag on the banks of the Upper Nile. and to claim, in the name of the French Republic, sovereign rights in a territory already held in law^-and, after the battle of Omdurman, in tact— l by the Anglo-Egyptian Government, he is an intruder. This is the position—nothing at the worst more than an intrusion. And intrusion is no case for war, but for diplomacy.

Powder and Shot. a It is on dit that applications have been re- ceived at the Foreign Office for a variety of schemes for the renaissance of Cardiff, includ- ing a tram-Iiue and a coffee tavern where they purvey coffee. *••••« The longest period that the civic chair of Swansea was successively occupied by one gentleman was between the years 1678 and 1688, during which decade one Thomas Phillips was mayor of the borough. a < During the visit of Herr Seeth's lions to Car- diff during last week, a police officer on duty near the Empire was asked: if you were informed that a lion had broken loose what steps would you take?" "Joliy long steps, sir," replied the constable. » « « The altar of the Swansea Parish Church is ornamented with a valuable Madonna, pre- sented by Thomas Eowdler, whose "Family Shakspeare" added a new word to the English language, "bowdlerised.' According to the tablet recording the gift the latter is supposed to have been painted by Saasaferat, and a com- panion picture was sold for j3750. Some con- noisseurs. however, attributed it to Ludovic Caracci. Agricultural employment has been a.bundant and well-paid dux-ing the last few months. The harvest, owing to the heavy crops, the fact that some were laid, and the simultaneous ripening, was a costly one for the farmer, and the labourers have profited. In the Bromyard Union, the local hands were not equal to the requirements, and a number of Welsh miners found welcome opportunity of supplementing scanty strike pay. • ♦ ♦ ♦ ( We did not think that the spirit of the Cardiff Liberal Association had entered into the Young Men's Christian Association until yesterday, when, immediately one of our representa- tives entered the Autumn Conference of the South Wales District Union of that body at Newport, Mr. John Cory, the president, begged him to with- draw. We hope the young men gathered under the banner of the association are respectable because several of our representatives are par- ticular about their company. A Japanese newspaper declares that. while in Japan the Government is progressive and the people conservative, in China it is the Govern- ment that is conservative and the people pro- gressive. This gives us the eastern trouble in a nutshell. •*•••# "Take away woman and what would follow?" asked a lady debater at a Cardiff temperance club social class the ether evening, whilst talk- ing of women's influence in the good cause. Poor thing, had she been a plain, unobtrusive, old-fashioned woman she would know without asking that man would follow. *< THE ADVENTURES OF WILLIAM DE ROUGEMONT HYGGYNS. At the moment when we were compelled to close the De Rougemont Hyggyns narrative yesterday, we left the ex- plorer at a point which promised interesting, if not morbidly exciting develop- ments. Readers of books of genuine fact or genuine fiction are aware of an easy method bv which the true traveller's tale moy be distin- guished from the imaginative effort of the mere romancer. The man who has a genuine expe- rience to relate of lands and peoples hitherto untouched and untroubled by the universal White lells his story straightforwardly and simply, chronicling his own impressions as he proceeds for the benefit of others. His adven- tures are not of necessity a continual rourtd of thrilling hairbreadth escapes. His tale does not revolve in a succession of sensational episodes round a more or less intricate plot. There are many moments when events appear to pause- when the reader gets no thrill and experiences, no feeling of excitement, when the words. To be continued in our nest," pop in unwelcomely. But the careful reader—the seeker after new ideas, new theories, and new knowledge-finds the history loses not one whit of interest where the sensational element lapses. This is the characteristic quality of the true traveller's tale—the quality which, it will be noted, the De Rougemont Hyggyns revelations possess. The romancer, the purveyor of incon- sequent and unenlightening fiction on the other hand, maps out his plan of sensational inci- dents. He fixes them to occur at certain intervals, and invariably concludes his chapter with a worked-up thrill, calculated to make the reader inquire red-hot for the next. His story loses interest where the sensation and excite- ment are omitted. His effort may be clever from an imaginative point of view, but it is unprofit- able to the student, and the intelligent reader seeking information, instead of shockers, finds the whole thing dull and purposeless. Let the Hyggyns adventures be compared with any book of fiction, and the comparison will let a flood of light in on the differences we have men. tioned. To take two extremes of literature as an analogy What man, comparing the corpora- tion reports of Mr. Harpur with the works of Rider Haggard, would hesitate a moment to declare in favour of Harpur's monthly as characteristic of the truth? The seeker after excitement pure and simple will find interest in Rider Haggard; the searcher for inspiring truth will find Mr. Harpur's works more interesting, though sensationalism is made subservient to cold fact. • »••••• Wild and marvellous as the revelations to come in the De Rougemont Hyggyns history are, it will be noticed that the narrator subserves his most exciting records to the desire for information which he presumes in his hearers. The exceedingly tame method by which his deadly danger was postponed, if not averted yesterday, by no means follows the rules laid down by the public,for fiction-writers, for the simple reason that the De Rougemont Hyggyns facts are reasonable, and, therefore, not invariably piquant to the morbid taste. « » The means and method of my respite," said De Rougemont Hyggyns, continuing his history, were, of course, unknown to me at the time. With the inborn conceit of the average man. I put the result down to a romantic penchant this strange woman in authority conceived for me, whereas it was nothing of the sort. The tribe had fully discussed the difficulty that pre- sented itself during my trial—the hardship under which I suffered in not being able to defend myself. But they had decided that as such a defence was quite impossible (as I was a stranger to their language) they could not forego their duty with this hardship as an excuse. The simple plan of allowing me a respite sufficient to study their language and make my side of the matter understood, had never occurred to them. The keen wit of the Woman in Authority immediately conceived the plan-as a cold act of justice, nothing more. The result was what I indicated. » • 9 • The gibberish whispered into my ear con- veyed the decision of my captors, and was meant to inform me that I could no longer consider myself their guest. I was their prisoner. It was a merely formal following of custom, for which I was none the wiser. My informant took his place in line, and the woman, wheeling her monstre round, headed straight for the rocks, and disappeared round the adjacent corner." The natives lost no time in carrying the deci- sion of the tribe into execution. The delicate nature of the whole affair evidently caused them to abandon any hope of acquainting me with my fate, whilst I. on the other hand, could not conceive a method by which I could communicate with them upon the matter, in intelligible fashion, even by signs. Resigned to the inevitable, knowing nothing of what might befal me, and unable to alter the course of events in a single detail, I inwardly com- mended myself to the care of Providence, and determined to take things as they came, whether I was to live orsiie. "My suspense was not suffered to last many more minutes. My guards by signs comma-nded me to get upon my feet. Unresisting. I suffered ? f 'I. them to lead me forward. Some conuiusion was caused at first by our divergent methods of progression. As I before observed, the islander3 had the strange crab-like habit of walking back- wards, and considered my method of -walking an extraordinary feat. In the attempt to imitate it several of the younger men fell on their heads, amid much laughter. I was led in this strange fashion to a powerful man, who bestrcde a lobster of somewhat larger build than any of the ethers. I manifested some per- turbation on approaching the great beast, whose giant pincers opened and snapped with a sound like pistol shots. My guard told me by signs that I was not to fear. The iobster backed and tore the earth with its claws as I approached, evidently filled with a reciprocal dread of my unusual presence. It was considered advisable to bring me towards it from behind a number of men forming round me to hide me from the beast and calm its fears. In this way I was lifted and placed upon its scaly back, in front of its native rider. The rider grasped me round the waist with one hand. The lobster reared, and plunged towards the rocks. In another moment we were pro- gressing at an awful rate over the rocks, and before I knew what was about to happen we had plunged headlong into the sea, and my cry of dismay and terror was stifled in the bubbling water that closed above our heads." «*•••• De Rougemont Hyggyns has evidently come to another weird sensation, but the unfortunate affair this morning in Eisteddfod-street compels us to cut his story off again until another day.

A DRESS FITTING DISPUTE. The case of Paguin v. Bruce came before his Honour Judge Lumley Smith, Q.C., on Friday, in Westminster County-court, which was a claim for JE28, balance of an account for dresses made for the defendant.GThe defendant, a. French lady, gave an order for dresses of the value of ;eiSt, and the action was for the balance.—Plaintiffs said the dresses fitted.—The defendant said that several of the dresses she had paid for did not fit well, and she called cn the plaintiffs in Paris, and they said the alterations needed could be carried out in London by their firm. The dress in dispute now wa-i a black silk, and this was of such material as to only fit it for summer wear. It was several times altered, and was delivered too late for the season in London, for which she required it. It was also out of fashion, and could not possibly be worn now.—In ajqpwer to counsel, his Honour said even :f the lady put it on he would be none the wiser.—Defen- dant said it would not fit.—Mr. Lynch: No. not now. She is five inches bigger now than when i-, was made.—Defendant: Oh! no, sir; I am thinner now.—The case was conducted almost entirely in French, the questions being put by counsel ,r.d answered in that language.—Subse- quently a number of experts were called, and Madame Floyd examined in English. One of them was handed a paper pattern, and asked by Mr. Lynch, for the plaintiff, if that would show 76 round the waist. Mr. Abingar (for the defendant)—Just 76 inches. (Laughter). It cannot be 76 inches round the waist. His HonouT-That would be over six feet round the waist. (More laughter.) Mr. Lynch—I did not say 76 inches. It is just 30 inches. The 76 is French. Was she 46 round the waist and 51 round the hips ? (More laughter.) His Honour (naively)-Are these inches or miles ? (Great laughter.) Mr. Lynch—The fashion of the hips has altersd. Mr. Abinger-Your Honour does not take judicial notice of that ? Mr. Lynch—I am going to prove it. (Laughter.) Mr. Abinger said if his Honour would see the dress cn he would at once gae the defect in it. It was too tight. His Honour—No. I sometimes let a gentle- man try on a coat, but I do not allow ladies to try on dresses. A lady friend of the defendant's, called as to the allegation that madame had altered in size, said on seeing her a. fortnight ago she exclaimed, How thin you have got." A witness was called who said that the new French corsets were the cause of many dis- putes. Unfortunately he had them every day. His Honour—Why unfortunately ? Witness—Because they come and have them fitted on in very old corsets and the dress fits beautifully. Afterwards they come in the newest style of French corsets lined with cork on the hips. His Honour-They come with a sort of life- belt on them. (Laughter.) Judgment was given for the plaintiffs for £20, with costs.—This was the amount which it was said had been arranged as a settlement.

BARKY TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. Mr. J. Thomas presided at a meeting of the Barry Trades and Labour Council on Friday evening, when it was resolved that a deputa- tior of the council wait upon the various branches affiliated in the view of the estab- lishment of a co-operative society in connec- tion therewith—Mr. J. Ward remarked that the local Teachers' Association would not join the council because they would thus become affiliated with the common trades of the dis- trict. It was also reported that the local branch of the National Amalgamated Labourers' Union also refused to re-join the council unless they were fully exonerated from blame in con- nection with the recent labourers' dispute in the district, but the council expressed a hope that the hatchet would now be buried.-It was resolved that a communication be forwarded to the district council expressing surprise at the high-handed and unreasonable conduct of the public works committee in refusing to sanction the erection of a headstone at the cemetery by Mr. John Ward, of the Navvies' Unicn, bearing tire inscription, "In loving memory of Jacke,, our beautiful bw

November Fights. — ——- MILDON'S FRIENDS SAY HIS SEAT IS SAFE, More Unionist Workers Needed at Roath.—-Radical-Labour Candi- date's First Meeting. [BY "LOOKER-ON."] The Unionists in Roath Ward are taking things far too easily. If sheer hard work can win the seat, then the Radical scheme will succeed, and the seat will be lost to the Unionist party. The Radical-Labour candidate took affairs quietly at first, but is making up for it now, no less than fifty men being out can- vassing on Friday night. More canvassers on behalf of Mr. Henry White are needed in Roath. Of course, the very inclement weather of the past week has greatly hindered the work of canvassing, but the members of the Unionist party must rout out their macks and overalls and bravely turn into the streets. It is in the streets and by canvassing the best work is done in such elections, P. nd this is the lesson which the Roath Unionists must learn at this juncture. Public meetings way be left to the Radical candidate, who tas to make himself known to the people, auci irtends to have about three meetings every ni^lit from this time till the date of the election. Mr. W. R. Thomas's meeting on Friday right was a somewhat tame affair. The first sign of animation was an outburst of applause, which almost staggered the candidate, viien he was referring to the ancient history of the pontoon tolls, and which turned -nit to be the greet'ng of the audience to Councillor Good. The audience seemed to turn with relief to the iconoclastic councillor, as chough they hoped that he. at least, might be expected to presently provide a break to the monotony. The chairman (Councillor Fox) claimed that Labour should have at least a third of i he elected members of the council, ignoring the fact that already a third of the corporation belong to the Labour party. Of course, the chairman said that m Roath they wene r.ot pledged to either political party; but, then, we have. on the other hand, the declaration of the Liberal agent (Mr. Allgood) that "the reason Mr. Thomas does not pledge himself will be seen a week hence." What did Councillor Fox TO>.i by describing Mr. W. R. Thomas as 'the Tradej' Coun.i.» and Labour candidate"? Is there dawning a glim- mering of conviction that a Trades' Council is not necessarily a Labour candidate? Of course, the candidate (M.' Thomas) would not "pledge himself to any party"; but, thsn, we have Mr. Allgood's further testimony tbat he has accepted Mr. Allgood's municipal pro- gramme, and is in every way a candidate satis- factory to the Radical party. Of course, the candidate had a good deal to say about his relations with vir. Ja^ez A.ones, but the correspondence which he read did not help him much. for Mr. Jones's letter clearly proved that "time. and time alone," was not the reason which compelled his retirelll-2nt. Mr. Jones maintains—what has already been stated—that, with a united nomination on the part of both parties, he would have consented to retain the seat. In spite of this. Mr. Thomas had the audacity to state that the Conservatives had deliberately tried to induce Mr. Jones to come out against himself (Thoma.:), so that they might have "a chance of running a Tory in between them," and, gathering courage from this blatancy, went on to say that "the blame, if any, rests upon Jones, who was not straight- forward enough to say that he was going to stand." Jones, he said in effect, had been shilly-shallying, and the present position was the result. Of course, the Radical-Labour candidate had a good deal to say about additions to the mayor's salary to meet special necessities. That is a favourite catch-vote-cry with a certain class of candidates. Men like Thomas rail at such votes, forgetful that without the vote of a liberal salary out of the rates—whether such salary be voted at once or twice-a large number of the members of the Cardiff Corpora- tion may never hope to attain to the dignity of the mayoral position. In his statement of intention, the Radical- Labour candidate was as vague in his speech as he is in his election address, and had nothing definite to offer the electors of the ward beyond the usual gas." There are certain minor public improvements which the electors of Roath earnestly demand, yet the candidate had nothing to say about them. Instead he talked largely about representing 12,000 workers. This is not a recommendation for Thomas with the electors of Roath. If elected he will first of all be at the beck and call of the Trades' Council rather than the electors of Roath. One crying local demand is for a new and direct means of access from Broadway to Stacey-road, and thence to Newport-road. An opportunity now offers to secure this improvement at practi- cally no cost to th"J town, and this is an im- provement of which Mr. Henry White has already taken account, and which he on Thurs- day night mentioned and promised to support. Councillor John Jenkins believes in retaining Mildon in Grangetown because he is experienced in corporation work, but he opposes the elec- tion of Henry White in Roath although he also has had long and intimate acquaintance with corporation work. The supporters of Mr. Mildon are confident of the re-election of the retiring member. In fact, they scarcely take Mr. Ames's candidature as seriously intended. "If I thought there was any doubt about Mildon's return," said a Radical member of the council last night, "I should be in Grangetown working like a tiger." A great deal was made last night of the fact that Mr. W. R. Thomas is a member of the Cardiff Technical Instruction Committee and one or two kindred bodies, but it was omitted to be mentioned that these offices are all held in virtue of his chairmanship of the Trades' Council. Councillor Chappel's speech last night was a marvellous example of reckless disregard for facts and for consistency. Witness two pas- sages:—(1) "One Labour man cannot move a committee; we want more Labour men there therefore elect Thomas"; (2) "Alone I (Chappell) blocked the Beresford-road Bridge, and saved the town thousands of pounds"

ROATH WARD. THE TRADES' UNIONIST'S CAN- DIDATURE. A meeting on behalf of Mr. W. R. Thomas (chairman of the Cardiff Trades' Council and Trades Unionist candidate for the ward) was held on Friday night in Stacey-road Board School. As chairman. Councillor Frank Fox said that meeting opened the campaign in the ward in the interests of Labour. They had gathered to support the candidature of Mr. W. R. Thomas, who. in the interests of Labour would make an ideal representative A vacancy having arisen, an opportunity occurred for a Labour candidate to come forward and as working men, he claimed they had a' ri-ht to their fair share of representation upon public bodies. Both political parties professed sympathy with the cause of Labour, and thev expected that at this juncture they would carry their professions into practice, and allow Mr. Thomas to take possession of the vacant seat. That had not been so, however, and because Mr. Thomas claimed the glorious privi- lege of independence, he had to face the tur- moil of a contest. Labour men were not pledged to either political party. They were there purely and simply to defend the cause of Labour representation. Had Mr. Thomas proclaimed himself as a Conservative, no doubt he would have received the support of the Con- servatives of the ward. Making an allusion to the Conservative candidate (Mr. Henry White) he maintained that that gentleman as a former member of the corporation, after he had retired, should have allowed a respectable interval of time to have elapsed, instead of taking advantage of every opportunity of re- turning into the council. (Applause.) They should have a Labour representative for each of the ten wards, and in that ward he appealed to working men to sink their political predilec- tions and to rally to the support of Mr Thomas Mr. W. R. Thomas, in rising to submit his programme to the meeting, said he had been selected by the Trades' Council purely in the interests of Labour. He was not there as a politician, and he did not identify himself with either party. He believed the true interests of Labour would be better served untrammelled by party consideration- In the Trades' Council there were 120 members, representing 11000 workers, and, surely, if they agreed to select one of their number, they had a perfect right to do so. Both parties said, 'Tf you had told us you were bringing out a man we should not hava opposed you." But he (the speaker) —as the first candidate mentioned. Mr. Jabez J nes told him distinctly that he had fully made up his mind to retire. To explain the matter fully he read the following letters that had passed between himself and Mr. Jabez Jones. The speaker read the first letter from himself to Mr. Jones of date October 15 and as follows: —"Re Roath Ward Election. A rumour has obtained currency in the ward to the effect that the Trades Council of Cardiff has been the cause of what is termed 'paying' you out. Now, aa you have intima.ted to me on several occasions that it was not your intention to seek re-election, on the ground that the duties attaching thereto involved too much time, and which you could not see your way clear to sacrifice, I naturally came to the conclusion that, even assuming that the political parties had come to the conclusion to grant you a 'walk over,' it would not affect your position in respect to the continued representation of the ward. Time and time alone was the obstacle in the way, which was, so you gave me to understand, so formidable that it could not be overcome. Under the circumstances, therefore, I am compelled to ask you to kindly reply verifying the position in respect to my candidature." Mr. Jabez A. Jones, in his reply, dated October 13, pointed out, "I cannot quite admit that time, and time alone, was the obstacle in the way of my public action in the frture. I do admit- I haye always consistently and persistently stated-tlmt service on the corporation in- volved a great sacrifice of time and-I usually added-when that sacrifice of time is supple- mented by the friction and other conditions which are inseparable from a contest, among one's own friends, then the position is to me worthless, and for the present, impossible, but when it was shown that a large section of the Roath people and the leaders of docu political parties were anxious for me io con- tinue my representation, not merely by a walk over, but by actual combined support, I saw behind me an united body of friends whom I would have served even at some considerable expenditure of time and labour. By that time you had been approached and given your pledge, and as a man faithful to your fellow members on the Trades' Council, you could not possibly take any other course than the one you have since followed, especially since I had told you that your nomination disposed at once, and entirely, of my candida- ture. Assuring you that I have no feeling whatever in the matter, I am, &c." The speaker went on to allege that Mr. Jabez Jones had shilly-shallied, feeling his way from beginning to end. Mr. Smith (Conservative and representative of railway employes on the Trades' Council) said it was not a fact, as stated in the "Evening Express," that Mr. Thomas was nominated by the Radical caucixs on the Trades'Council. He was prepared to stake C5 for any charit- able institution that Mr. Thomas was nomi- nated by a Conservative working man, who took a prominent interest in the Conservative cause. A vote of confidence in the candidate was then proposed, supported by Mr. Pearse (secre- tary of the Trades' Council), and Councillor John Jenkins, the latter of whom reviewed the action of the Labour members of the corpora- tion upon the various questions brought for- ward affecting the interests of the workers. Councillor John Chappell and other speakers followed, and the motion was carried unani- mously.

HE WOULD BE HEARID. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A GUERNSEY- CHURCH. A curious scene took place in one of the country parish churches in Guernsey last week. The curate, who had come to the parish some two months before on trial," and who, it is stated, had not been found entirely satisfactory by his rector, was assisting for the last time in the performance of th3 evening service. Before giving out the hymn immediately pre- ceding the sermon, he announced his intention of saying a few words to the congregation. He then informed them that. to his great annoy- ance, he had been prevented by the rector from preaching that ever.ing's sermon, and that he was, therefore, seizing this opportunity for say- ing a few parting words. He went on to give a full and detailed account of the quarrel between himself and the rector, saying that he knew he had won the love of all the parish, and that he was being sent away without any alleged reason. He grew more angry and excited every moment, and spoke of the rector in no measured terms. One or two of the congregation got up and left the church, and others testified their disapprobation by coughing, dropping Preyer- Books, and otherwise attempting to create a diversion, while the organist made a futile attempt to begin playing the hymn. Nothing daunted, the curate continued for some time in the same strain, telling his story with much gesticulation, and even introducing the names of various leading parishioners, who were sup- posed to have taken up the matter. When at last he paused for breath, the vicar hastily stepped forward and gave out the hymn, whereupon the curate instantly left the church, pausing at the vestry door to say, in impressive accents, ''Good-jye, my people!" The parishioners are now awaiting fresh deve- lopments with much interest, for the curate, though he is no longer there in an oflicial capa- city, announces that he will not leave the neighbourhood until it is clearly explained to him why he was not allowed to remain as curate, and this explanation the rector seems disin- clined to give.

HOW THE RATS GOT THE EGGS. Blame tht Kansas City "Star" if you don't believe this rat story. It is about how the eggs got u way from the drug-store soda foun- tain. The clerk says he was awake, and saw it all. This is his tale:- "With the st').lth of Spaniards, two sharp- ened fellows approached and climbed upon the sc da counter Selecting an egg at the edge of the baskei, the bigger of the two rats clasped it with all four feet, holding it close to his body. Then a third rat appeared and threw himself on his back on the counter, directly under the rat who clasped the egg, about four inches above him. "The.se details being completed, the second rat laid hold of the first rat's tail, and pulled him off the basket, and, presto! the rat lying on his back caught him, and the egg was safely landed on the counter. "In a jiffy rat No. 2 and rat No. 3 dragged their living egg sled along the marble counter to a place underneath where a shelf projected out. Here the two rats scampered down out of view behind the counter, first leaving the rat holding the egg at the very edge. "Next the rat acting as the egg sled delibe- rately dropped over the edge, back downward. The clerk did not see the rest of the proceedings, but supposes the rats underneath caught him. At any rate, in a few moments the two rats appeared, swiftly dragging their comrade and the egg across the floor on his back."

A "WESLEY" DOCUMENT. The Wesleyan authorities at the Conference Office, City-read, London, have recently come into possession of an interesting document of some historic value, and whichcroe3 to show beyond all question )hat, whatever the founder of Methodism may have been in his early days in relation to the Church of England, he was in his latter years rn out-and-out Dissenter. It is a certificate of ordination in the hand- writing of Dr. Coke, the founder of Wesleyan Missions, bearing»the unmistakable signature of "John Wesley." The document is as fol- lows:—"Know all men by these presents, that I, John Weslcy, Master of Arts, late of Lincoln College, in the University of Oxford, did on the third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty- eight, by the imposition of my hands and prayer, and in the fear of God, set apart Thomas Owens for the office of a LVaccn in the Church of God. Given under my hand and seal, the 10th day of August, in the year above written.—John Wusley." It was known pre- 1 viou-sly that Wesley ordained bishops for 1 America, and ministers for Scotland. Evidence is now given that lie so far repudiated the Anglican Episcopacy as to ordain, with his own hands, one of his own "Helpers, as he termed them, for purely English work.

LOST IN LONDON. At the 'meeting of the Hampstead Board of Guardians on Thursday it was reported that the list of persons admitted to the workhouse infirmary during the week included a young' woman whoso name is believed to be Ellen Maddiaon. The circumstances attending her admission appear to be of a very singular r character. Who she is and where she comes from is at present enshrouded in mystery. It 1 seems that at about half-past seven o'clock cn 1 Tuesday morning, when it was raining hard, a resident in Willoughby-road. near Hampstoad Heath, saw the young woman, v,ell-drL*ss°d end < good-looking, sitting on the front steps of a house in that road, wet through, and appa- 2 rently very ill. She was conveyed to the police- station, where a change of clothing -uas pro- ] vided for her, and she was seen by the police divisional surgeon. Nothing could je ascer- tained from her-apparently, not from want of will to speak, but, it is supposed, fro -a absolute loss of memory. In a small hand-bag which i she carried were found a purse, tont "I" a few shillings, and a luggage label, bearing the J words, "Miss Maddison, passenger to Louden," ( together with a box key. Her collar was marked "E. Maddison." She is apparently j about eighteen years of age. ]

VISIT OF A CHESS CHAM- 1\ < PION TO CARDIFF. Mr. J. H. Blackburn, the well-known chess i player, who as champion of England has com- I peted against all the crack players of Europe, will visit Cardiff to-day at the invitation of the local chess club, and will this evening, at the Temperance Club, St. John's-square, play simul- taneously with twenty of the best local expo- nents of the game, a feat which it will be remem- ( bered, he performed on the occasion of his last s visit to Cardiff. The games will commence at 1 6.30, and the club give a cordial invitation to t all local enthusiasts to attend. r

WIFE MURDER. AWFUL TRAGEDY AT CARDIFF. Suicide of the Murderer. A GHASTLY SIGHT. At mid-day on Saturday a terrible tragedy was enacted at No 9. Eisteddfod-street, Cardiff. A man named William Slade, a carpenter, shot his wife in bed. blowing out a portion of her brains, and afterwards turned the revolver upon himself, inflicting a wound in the head which is in all probability fatal. From par ticulars which have been hurriedly gleaned i. appears that Mrs. Slade, who is about fortj years of age. led a loose life at Cardiff nnti about eighteen months ago, when Slade, it is stated, married her. For some time previous to this she had been living with him as his wife. She had, it is said. a comfortable home. but was given tt' drink. Seven or eight months ago the couple went to London, and lived at Battercea. What was the nature of theii (THE MURDERED WOMAN.) married life there we have not been able to a-certain, but apparently it was not of the happiest kind, as Mrs. Slade deserted her hus- band a fortnight or so ago, and came to Cardiff. Since then she has been living at Roath. On Friday she went to No. 9, Sisteddfod-street, where a friend of hers-a Mrs. Townsend—occu- pied the front room upstairs, and asked if sha and her husband could be accommodated for The night if they could not get a bed in a cheap restaurant. She could not afford mOrt than 2s., she said. During the conversation ii transpired that she expected her husband ir the evening. Good-naturedly, Mrs. Tcwnsend offered to give up her bedroom and sleep on the couch. About eight o'clock Mr. and Mrs Slade arrived, and during the evening the<v« does not appetr to have been any quarrelling between them. Mrs. Townsend saw them ii bed at ten o'clock on Saturday, "as comfort able as could oe," to use her own words, ant then she left the house. About five minute; to twelve Mrs. Pethick, the landlady, hear( two shots fired upstairs, and, being afraid tf. go up alone, ran out to alarm a neighbour and give information to the police. A constablo was soon at the house, and on proceeding to the front room was confronted by A Ghastly Sight. Lyirg on the bed were Mr. and Mrs. Slade. both with bullet wounds in the head. from which blood was flowing copiously over the sleets and blankets. Slade's head was hang. ing slightly over the side of th3 bed. and near was a six-chambered revolver, with two chambers loaded and four discharged. Dr. Mullin was called in and examined the wounds. A bullet had entered Mrs. Slade's head near the right temple, and a portion of her brains were pro- truding. It was seen at once that her condi- tion was hopeless. She was, of course, uncon- scious and died in about half an hour. Slade had shot himself in the face. the bullet entering the head at the side of the nostril. He was not, however, so badly injured as the woman, and was conveyed in a cab to the infirmary, where faint hopes were entertained of his recovery. Motive for the Crime. It is surmised that the motive which led to the commission of the terrible crime is jealousy. Slade, who is 37 years of age, and belongs to Milford, knew, of course, the character of the woman whom hi had married, and when she left him it London and returned to Cardiff he probabl; came to the conclusion that she had relapse' WILLIAM SLADE.—The Murderer. Into her old mode of life. Whether, on his arrival in Cardiff on Friday night, he saw any- thing to justify his suspicions is not known. The Bedroom. The bedroom in which the tragedy waa enacted is fairly well furnished for a house of that class. When the room was entered after the shooting took place Mrs. Slade had nothing on but a chemise, which was prettily embroi- dered, and had a blue ribbon running through the open work. Slade had his trousers on, and was lying on the side of the bed. On a dressing table were some slips of raper which had been written upon, and these were taken charge of by the police. The revolver is an ordinary six-chambered one. and was lying on the floor when Police-constable Davies (8) entered. The Injured Man. Our reporter, on visiting the infirmary, Wlti informed that the man's name was William 3iade. He was bhot in the head, the wound being a terrible one, a.nd of such a nature that very little hope was held of his recovery. Interview with a Neighbour. David Brinning, who lives at 7, Eisteddfod« street, next door but one to No. 9, where the tragedy was enacted, says:—"I was told of the murder by my wife just before twelve o'clock. I ran at once mto No. 9, where the constable had already arrived. In the bedroom occupied by Slade and his wife the sight which met my eyes was a ghastly one. The man and wqman lay side by side on the bed, she in her night- dress tinder the bedclothes and he partly dressed on the counterpane. Slade had a bullet wound on the right side of his forehead, from which blood was flowing, and the woman's face was a terrible sight, being covered with blood. Fhe revolver, which had two empty cartridges, tvas laying upon the floor. I helped to carry -he man into the next room. and he was after- wards taken to the infirmary in a cab. I had i conversation with a friend of Slade. who ivas with him yesterday, and he told me that slade had appeared very funny in his manner, ind had fired a shot from his revolver up thf vhimney of No. 9. He also said that he likei ais wife, and ha had followed her from London.' 1)v,A TH OF THE WOMAN. The unfortunate woman lingered until shortly ifter half-past. twelve, when de.:th took place. Dr. Mullens stayed by her side until the end. Shortly afterwards the ambulance arrived from the police office, and upon this the deceased was conveyed to the Bute-street Mortuary, there to twa4t an inquest. Immediately the tragedy oecame known in the town a large number of men. women, and children visited Eisteddfod- street, and they stood morbidly watching the iou:e and speculating upon the latest results )f the tragedy until the arrival of the ambu- ance told its, own wonderful story. The crowd gathered even more thickly round the door when the body was removed, and doctors, press- men, and policemen were besieged with ques- tions as they left or entered the premises. Incidents in the Death Chamber. One of our men. who was amongst the first ;0 reach the room where the tragedy occurred, lescribes incidents of the scene) which are omewhat remarkable. Women flocked into the awdry room, and most of them took the .ragedy very coolly—nonchalently, in fact. Che man lay perfectly helplces, with wide-opett