The Cambrian

AGRICULTURAL NOTES. J BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. I AGRICULTURAL IMPOSTS. Measured by AGGREGATE values, increases to- J gether approaching Z14, 0-00, 000 are shewn in 1838 in the imports of grain and flour, of fruit and vegetables, and of dead meat and other miscel- laneous animal produce; and although imported dairy produce and live animals represent some- what smaller sums in the past year, the total reduction on this amount on the import values of 1897 did not reach £ 2,000.000. The imports of I live cattle were 569.000 in number, compared with 618,000 in 1897. and 563,000 in 1896, and it is to be noted that except for the usual quota of imports from the Channel Islands, the supplies of live cattle in 1898 were furnished by three countries only-the United States, Canada, and Argentina. The two former countries sent re- duced supplies, but the latter country, as his been the case for some years, once more ma- terially augmented her shipments. Imports of sheep were greater than in 1B97, shewing a total of 664,000 in 1898, against 612,000 head in the previous year, and 770,000 in 1898, the supplies from the United States and Canada being, as in the case of cattle, again smaller while those from Argentina, which now include nearly two- thirds at the sheep arriving in our ports, were ) increased from 345,000 to 430,000 head..The sheep imported from Iceland in 1898 were 28,000 in number, and 4,300 came from Chili, while a comparatively new source of supply has to be noted in the Falkland Islands, whence upwards I of 12,000 sheep were sent to the United King- dom in 1898. The steady and continuous growth exhibited by the imports of dead meat in recent years was maintained in 1898, the beef, mutton, and pig meat, with other unenumerated forms of meat, reaching in the aggregate over 806,0(X) tons, as compared with 736,000 tons in 1897. As the equivalent in meat of the live imports above noticed may be put at 209,000 and 227,000 tons respectively in the two contrasted years, these figures direct renewed attention to the development of the seaborne section of our meat supplies in the twenty years covered by their supply. When it is remembered that the normal rate of meat production assumed to have been derived from our own live stock within the year has shewn no diminution, it may be concluded that, although the calculation as to home produce can never with much certainty be applied to the conditions of a single year, the supplies of animal food, home and foreign, available to the population of the United Kingdom, which have so continuously augmented of late, have again exceeded all former records. These plentiful supplies may go some way to explain the general drop of meat values in our markets. REFORM OF LOCAL TAXATION. There has been a good deal of tinkering with local taxation by way of subventions, but the inequalities are almost as great as ever, and some remarks of the Premier shew that a revision must come sooner or later. He referred to the fact that the exemption of personal property from rating is not part of the stable, fixed, statute law of the country, but that it has been re-enacted every year since 1840. He does not, however, promise that the Government will deal with the question at an early date, or that they have any particular views as to the direc- tion the reform should take, except that he does not envy the Government which takes the matter in hand; but he does remark on the extreme injustice which throws this vast expenditure upon a kind of property, which is only one-fifth of the whole property of the country. We may suppose that as the Tithe Bill will only remain in operation for two years, and the Agricultural Rates Act will expire at about the same time, that there is some intention before then to take the subject, as a whole, in hand, aad to prepare a general measure to reform the entire system of local taxation. SUMMER NITRIFICATION. Nitrification of the land is an important process in summer which we should be careful not to check, as upon it the fertility ef the soil largely depends. In fertile soil two microbes are found, which have the power of living on nitrogenous matter, and producing, between them, nitric acid as part of their life functions. A writer pointa out that plants take up their nitrogea in the form of nitric acid or as a nitrate, and, as nitrates do not exist in the soil apart from these organisms, and are never applied as a manure except in the case of nitrate of soda, it is easily seen that these microbes play a very important part indeed. It is also seen how it is that nitrate of seda acts so quickly and energetically on all crops. In order that this nitrification should go on satisfactorily, certain conditions are requisite: soil with a sufficient amount of nitrogenous organic matter, a comfortable temperature, fresh air, moisture, and an alkaline substance present like lime to unifee with the acid when made. Farmyard manure is crammed full of the organisms, so that a dressing of this supplies both the germs and the organic matter upon which te work; this being one reason why dung gwes such good results. Again, the genial temperature of summer promotes the action of these germs which ceases in the cold weather. Dampness is necessary, but the excessive wet of winter tends to wash out the nitrates. The stirring up and loosening of the soil during the ordinary acts of cultivation supplies the fresh air, so that the process goes oit in all ordinary soils during the summer months. The want of any of these conditions will arrest the formation of the nitric acid and the germs may be actually killed by a dressing of some substance, such as fresh gas lime, and the soil then equires to be re-inocu- lated BY adding dung or compost afterwards. INJURY TO MALTING BARLBT. It is no use growing good malting barley and them spoiling it in the threshing. It is stated by experienced malsters that barley, when badly threshed, suffers deterioration to the extent of 5s. a quarter, and it is estimated that enormous sums of money are thus lost to the farmer. This occurs through clese threshing. The injury is net limited to those corns which are cut in half. Close nipped corns from which too much has been clipped from on" extremity or the other are equally, aad, perhaps, more objectionable, as also are other corns that have been peeled or bruised. It is inferred that a corn is not cut or damaged as long as it will grow, but a damaged corn MAY grow perfectly, and yet be most objec- tionable, as it will mould on the floor. The husk of these corns which are injured in threshing steep mere quickly than the others, and the growth does not maintain that uniformity after the process of steeping which is essential to the production of good malt. It is, therefore, recom- mended that farmers should examine carefully the machine they propose to use before the threshing season commences, in order to see that neither the drum nor concave is worn in the centre. If they are worn the drum will have to be set too close, and the grain will either be damaged at the sides or will escape unthreshed. Great attention should be paid to regularity of feeding. The engine should be driven at an even speed, and proper care taken in the adjust- ment of the several parts of the machine. More- over, if a good sample of barley is desired, an undue quantity sheuld not be passed through the machine in one day. DESERTINQ FARM SERVANTS. Attention has been called to a subject which is of great importance to farmers in Scotland, and, to seme extent, is England, namely, the deser- tion of farm servants. This has become very common, unfortunately. The farm servant who deserts possesses nothing you can attach, and, as the law will not impose imprisonment, he can laugh at the farmer. At the Agricultural Con- ference at Edinburgh last year, the subject was mentioned, when Mr. Walter Long suggested that, if farmers combined not to engage a man who had failed to complete his former engage- ment, the evil would be stooped. BUT such a combination would be improbable, for if there were net farmers to entice men away, we should Rot hear so much of the desertion. The East Aberdeenshire Farmers' Association, in conjunc- tion with a consideraUle number of local farmers' associations, have petitioned in favour of a8 amendment of the law, so that a limited term of imprisonment may be imposed. If the law was so altered, desertion would soon stop, but the correspondent who remarks on the evil, thinks such an ameadment is very unlikely to take place. A SWISS EXAMPLE. Farmers have often kicked against the children not being available for farm work, owing to their being compelled to attend school, and now we have Sir John Gorst (who as Vice-President of the Privy Council, is the Minister in charge of educational matters in the House of Commons) doubting the wisdom of the' present policy. He has referred to Switzerland, where the children are seen hay-making, harvesting, picking fruit, and tending the goats and calves on the moun- tains, at a time when, perhaps, the schoolmaster is making himself useful as a waiter in a Swiss hotel. He remarks that a more highly-educated people than the Swiss are not to be found. They managed to learn everything that was important for them to know, and their intelligence developed to such an extent that they were the greatest Continental exporters of agricultural products. And why was this ? Sir John says it was partly because they had the good sense to keep their schools open all the winter, when it was better for the children to be inside the buildings, and to close the schools in the summer, when it was best for the children to be out in the open air. Yet this is a leown w* have not learnt.

Alk AA%A A Ak t ^ATTENTION P Bottle Makes 0R,]GIN CE E -11-1- ICIIT OF DELICIOUS 1) CE 3 NOtMNTOXICATINC BEEMa > 1—; MASON'S EXTRACT OF HERBS. F ImpU Bottle W j,r^-j MEWBALL ft ^0H,Kottingh^ Ug^

HOSPITALS AND THEIR COST. I lour great hospitals while excellent are also costly institutions. Few of tbem can manage to keep their expensees within their incomes —at least, for any length of time—and since the wells of charity, though deep, are not in- exhaustible, it becomes a matter of some im. portance to inquire how far from finality we are in this matter of cost. Of expenditure involved by increase in work we do not now speak. Money to provide for this will doubt less always be forthcoming. But if the cost- liness of our hospitals increases more rapidly than their work, it is to be feared that there may be more difficaly in finding the funds necessary for their maintenance. This sub- ject has lately been discussed in The Hospital' which considers whether or not the causes of the increased cost are likely to go on, and concludes that they will and must. For, it has been argued, that—(1) He would. indeed, be an optimist who would dare to hope that the cost of building will get less. Everything seems to point to a steady increase in the cost alike of labour, material, and supervi- sion. (2) The staff will psabably contiue for some time yet to grow, for the more nursing becomes a mode of getting a living, and the more it becomes divorced fram that religious enthusiasm which led its earlier devotees to submit to long hours, hard work, and bad conditions as necessary parts af their sacred mission, the more will nurses follow the cus- tom of the day and demand higher wages, shorter hours, and better accommodation. No one, then, who considers the number of hours that some nurses are still on duty can imagine that we have yet reached finality in the matter of staff. (3) How far medical men will continue to ask in the name of me- dical science for more elaborate and more exr pensive accommodation for their patients it is difficult to say, but it does not seem likely that they will lessen their demands. When everyone talks as if he knew all about germs and the requirements of aseptic surgery, a surgeon who puts up with a wooden operat- ing table, runs the risk of being considered out of date, and it is the same all round. With each new theory new demands are likely to be made and new appliances asked for, not entirely because they are known to be of practical utility, but to a large extent because they accord with the theory of the day, and abviously essential to logical completeness in hospital construction.—and we do not think we have yet attained finality in medical thee- rising. It is by no means certain that before another ten years are over we may not find them asking for separate wards with nurses' room attached, in which each operation crse with its two nurses may remain isolated from the rest of the community; while probably very shortly will come the request for a com- pletely separate staff for dealing with septic and suspicious cases. So that when we are asked where til this is going to end, we can only answer that certainly we have not got to the end yet.

THE MOST NUTRITIOUS. EPPS'S L.0 va E I- GRATEFUL-COM FORTI NG. COCOA BREAKFAST AND SUPPER. — Burglars made themselves comfortable in a curates house at Rhosddu, Wrexham, daring his absence. They slept in his bed. ate ADD drank his refreshments, and on leaving exchanged their ragged shirts and socks for new ones from his wardrobe. A Bristol baby farm, called in advertisements a happy Christian home," was investigated by the police, and the refined couple" (as advertised) in charge were sentenced to three months' imprisonment each for wilful neglect of the children, who were in a shocking condition. Playing a quiet game of cards, without stakes, IN a London park resulted iu the arrest of two young men. The magistrate sympathised with the prisoners, who had unwittingly broken a bye- la.w, and fined them only Id. each. -sgga The Physician's Cure Bsj for Gout," Rheumatio LM || Gout and Gravel; the 1 safest and most gentle J Medicine for Infants, Children, Delicate ITe- Th.e Universal Bemedy for Acidity of the StomacJa, males, and the Siok- Headache, Heartburn, Indigrestion, Sour Eructations, ness 0f Pregnancy. Bilious Affections. L Sold ^ronghout' th^ W^L N.B.-ASK FOR DINNEFORD'S MAGNESIA. WORTH A GUINBA A BOX. BEECHAM'S PILLS FOR ALL BILIOUS & NERVOUS DISORDERS. SICK HEADACHE, CONSTIPATION, WEAK STOMACH, WIND, IMPAIRED DIGESTION, I DISORDERED LIVER, AND FEMALE AILMENTS. Prepared only by the Proprietor, THOMAS BEECHAM, St. Helens, Lancashire, in boxes, ts. lid. (56 pills) and 2s. 9d. eaoh. with full directions. Sold everywhere. -oucap ee OR HIGH QUALITY F0B ACCP<^™ARVELL0US VALUE! T2F frlif m 7 t\ H. Samuel'* Watches are the VERY BEST Watches to be procured, JjpL aid A St I /JLr f /i| H. Samuel's REMARKABLY LOW PRICES are a CONSIDERABLE T3p wl &f li, I I J\M SAVING on ordittary retail shop charges. JJL | ll lEllii'- I I PI LARGEST CHOICE of Watches i-i the Kingdom. GOLD & SILVER (T_jJ I PPM fit ij. I A. fe. LJ JEWELLERY. CLOCK 5, Cutlery, PLATS, Ac., all NKWRST \ZjP lifuSSl i i- VP's jp Bm! DESIGN'S, gljfgsr WORK at LOWBST PRICB. JgL Ml Hi H. Samuel's Watches ooataln H. Samael'c Guarantee of {Lr^S LBall the LATEST and BEST Excellence: THf tPwSxe&tt&nP Itr L^a^wjjHjV scientific improvements, many A MONTH'S FRE3 TRIAL TTaMmnlBBt frT uIIhI protected by HER MAJESTY'S allowed with all purchases. If (L-JI MllS sliiid ROYAL Letters Patent, and only dissatisfied the full amount to be obtained in H. Samuel's returned or goods exchanged as MR REAL" GOLD BEWARE ENGLISH IEVERM \M WATCHES. SYSTEMS? m'oxthStiit "Watches, 35/ lJy Q 10/6For f sarw'ss jewelled movement; ex- FOR Gentle- G<X>D«. BUY DIKBOTfrom AA IAs Worth paosion balance; in strong mAn frfl/- Samnei and aecore the CJ dust-proof cases of a special me"' ?U' > HIGHEST QUALITY at the dottble- „ fiSJ material exactly reaembUng &c.. LOWBAT PRIOB. ALL WARRANTRO. ojSk real siWer in appearanee. COMPLETE oEHCRIPTlVJE illustrated Catalogue, with 3,009 H. Sananelis price, 10/6. ^nfmivtnn and HUNDRED'S of TeatiiAoniaU. presented gratis or ty—y lM W qAUUFfS Sterling 10 ADY *dd/S»- RAILWAY FASE PAID op to 30 iJT £ 3 SI™ "ACME" WLS ■" "■ M "SSLJSNISS: H. SAMUEL, 7, St Mary-wtreet, CARDIFF. M S3 35/ And at MARKET-STREBT, MANCHESTER. (f|J

(Copyright. ) A DANGEROUS GAME. By FLORENCE MARRY AT, Author of "Love's Conflict," "My Own Child," "Parson Jones," &c., &c. "Wen, Flo, and how are you this lovely after- noon ?" said Margaret Hallerton, genially, as she entered the drawing-room of her young friend Mrs. Arthur Willoughby. It was a pretty and cosy little room, replete with every comfort that a reasonable young woman could desire, and beautiful with many token of Love and Remembrance, without which there it no Love. But the owner of it did not appear to be in a disposition to appreciate it. Siie was a lovely girl of not more than twenty, with large blue eyes, and rust-coloured hair, and a slight graceful figure. But though it was a glorious autumn day, with a bright sun and a bracing air, she was cowering over the fire as if she were shivering with cold, her eyes } dull, her whole demeanour spiritless and ) depressed. "Wretched!" was the sole response she made I to the cheerful greeting of her friend. "Wretched! Nonsense!" exclaimed Miss Hal- lerton, who had been a schoolfellow of Florence Willoughby, and knew somewhat of the varia- tions of her morbid temperament. "What is it ? Have you caught the influenza ? "Influenza! said Mrs. Willoughby, contemp- tuously, as if mere influenza would be an insult to her present malady. "Would any bodily illness have the powsr to make me feel as if I should like to kill myself ? Mercy! Is it so bad as that ? And no wonder, when you sit crouched over the fire on such a lovely day, instead of taking a brisk walk with me. What you have a fire to-day at all for, I can't think. I'm as warm as a toast with exer- cise." "And I'm horribly cold," replied Mrs. Wil- loughby "cold and, as I said before, wretched." "Have you had your afternoon tea yet, Flo P "No. 1 am too utterly miserable to think of tea." Oh, let us have some, then; I should enjoy a cup, and I am sure it will do you good. May I ring for it ? Thank you. And then, if you've no objection, we will have a talk together." When the tea-tray arrived, and M ss Hallerton HAD served her friend and herself with two good 'tups cf tea, she sat down beside her and said: "IW, Flo dear, tell me all about this grand 4otible 1 It cannot be anything connected with your home—you, who have only been married six months and are envied by every girl in "urliiton for having captured and carried off handsome Arthur Willoughby." "That's all they know about it," replied Flo, significantly; "handsome is as handsome does!" Oh come, come cried Margaret. You are not going to insinuate that your husband is at the bottom of your melancholy ? Why,Flo, I'd as soon believe that he had run off with somebody else 11 "Well, it may come to that! There's no saying." "My dear girl, you must be ill,"said Miss Hallerton, in a tone of concern. "If I thought y6a wouldn't be offended with me, I should say you were wandering. What on earth do you mean P "Only that he has made me wretched for ■ some time past. I've not said anything about it hitherto, but I can keep it no longer to myself. The fact is, Margaret, Arthur is too handsome— the women won't let him alone. The very first picnic we went to after our marriage, that flirt Cissy Bertram got hold of him, and strolled about the woods with him all the afternoon, whilst I was miserable, and when I told him so he only laughed at me." Margaret Hallerton laughed herself at the re- membrance. "Wasn't I there too," she said, "and didn't you make a goose of yourself, Flo, by shewing so openly how jealous you were of him ? No wonder he laughed at you. Everybody was laughing to see the way you went on. But surely you are not going to revive that old grievance now P "Oh, no! there is no occasion! There have been plenty more such incidents since. If it is not one girl, it is another. Last month we went to Emmy Sullivan's birthday dance, and there he met a Miss Lovell-a. hideous creature with carroty red hair, which Arthur declares is the true pre-Raphaelite colour; and since then he has been painting her as 'Sabrina fair '—going to her house two and three times a week and staying there, sometimes, for hours. He has never drawn me as 'Sabrina fair,' or anything else I "No, dear, I daresay not! Yours is not a classical style of beauty, Flo, though I have no doubt that Arthur prefers it to all others. And youinust remember that he is an artist, and your comfort depends on his success. He must take models wherever he can find them. You knew that before you married him. It is ridiculeut to throw it in his teeth now!" "I shouldn't mind his having professional models, but to go to other ladies' houses, and stay there such a. time! Besides, Margaret"—in a lowered tone—"she writes to him. I am sure of it, and I won't stand it! No woman with a proper sense of her own position would! But how do you know this ? 11 asked Margaret gravely. "Sccause he had three letters last week in a woman's hand. I gave them him myself, and I 8JU sure they were not from his mother or er. When I asked him who they were from, ne put me off with something about business. But they were written by a woman—I could swear to it-and I believe they came from that horrid Anna Lovell." "You have no right to say so, without fur- ther pToof," said Miss Hallerton, who looked upon prying into private correspondence as little short of a crime; "nor have you any right to demand to know who writes to your husband, andiwho does not. Would vou make Arthur a slave," accountable to you for all his actions, whether honourable or otherwise ? "Yes, I would-I would!" cried Flo, im- petuously, where another woman is concerned No woman shall write letters to him that I may not see! I won't have it I I'll go to her house and tear all 'hor hideous red hair out of her head. I'll put the case in the hands of my solicitor. I'll tell my father and mother, and see what they will say to Arthur insulting me before we have been married six months! Oh! it is shameful, infamous, abominable!" And Mrs. Willoughby threw her head down upon a sofa cushion and commenced to cry. Her friend let her give way to her emotion for a short time without remonstrance, but -when she raised her stained face from the cushion again she said: "Do you know, Flo, that you are making a terrible spectacle of yourself r I really did* not think that you could be so foolish! If Arthur had left you for ever you could hardly make more fuss about it." "Ah! it is all very well for you, who have never loved as I have-who have never wasted your time and your affections on a man," wailed Mrs. Willoughby, "to talk like that; but—but—wait until you're married, and your husband treats you as Arthur has treated me, and then say-say-whether you like it." "■I'm sure I hope I never may be married, if this is a specimen of it," replied Margaret, "but I am sure of one thing—1 would make certain I was not mistaken before I condemned, or even suspected, my husband. What has Arthur ever been to you but loving and attentive ? He .seems to worship the ground you tread on. And then to suspeet him of the greatest crime of which he can be guilty-infidelity-on the evidence of a mere letter. Oh 1 for shame! I thought better of you than that." "It's/not a mere letter," sobbed Flo. "There were three only last week. And besides, he is not the same as he was. He has scarcely looked at me lately, and he never sings over his work, as he used to do; indeed, he has been quite dull, not to say melancholy—grieving for his beloved Anna, I suppose, and wishing he could live with her altogether, instead of only seeing her three times a week. Faugh! it makes me ek Flo, Flo, you are most unjust 1 Where TINS vour passionate love for this man gone ? TXCLAWRIVD Margaret Hallerton, in a tone of reproach At that moment, the postman's knock was heard upon the door, and soon after a maid entered the room with a letter, which she handed to Mrs. Willoughby. "For the master, ma'am," she said curtly. As soon as she had disappeared Flo turned upon Margaret Hallerton, with blazing eyes. "There!" she exclaimed, holding out the letter for her inspection, "perhaps you will believe the evidence of your own senses. There's the creature's writing again. That makes four letters in one week! Is that enough for you, or am I to wait till she has written forty P The impudence of the woman daring to write to a marrted man like that! And she thinks she will get him away from me, does she ? She thinks she will ensnare him with her lovely carrots! But I'll kill her first, and him too, and myself into the bargain," concluded Mrs. Willoughby, in another burst of tears. Miss Ballerton examined the letter handed to ber. It was certainly addressed in the writing of a woman, or of a man who wrote exactly like one. It was written on tinted and scented paper also—and the stamp waa stuck on crooked-all indications of feminine correspondence. But What did these things prove, after til P "Now, L8 it, from a woman, or is it not cried Mri Ailioughby, almost fiercely. "It I%ilie it, certainly," replied Mirgarer "butwhfrfif it should be? Is Arthur neces sarily urttitbfut to you ? Even should thi., letter cqzp, from the person you suspect, it doct not prove it oomes with his approval. Wome; have boon known before now to persecute mei with thehr attontic-ns who would have given tl-, world to get rid of them. Trust Arthur in tliih as in all things, Flo, arjl let him be the judg, of who riaail, or who shall not, write to him." "I shall do no such thing," exclaimed the irate wife; "he shall receive no more letters f;otii th,t woiKBU in this house. If ho wants to hear from her he may go and fetch his news by word of mouth." And seizing the letter from Miss Hallerton"* hr/jod she tlnew it into the fire, when it WM iinufviMtely burnt to tinder. "O Flo, Flo!" exclaimed Margaret, shocked at her daring. "And what business is it of yours P demanded Mus. Willoughby, ready to turn round upon her friend, because she knew herself to be in the wscsajr. "Kone at all, certainly," replied Margaret, "but I warn you that it is a dangerous game to play, Flo, and one tint may lead you into serious trouble. Don't you know that there is a penalty attached to de-troyirrg private papers that do not belong to you ? "Hut who is to know?" said Mrs. Willoughby, turning a shade whiter—"unless, indeed," she added, "you turn round and betray me! "Is that quite fair of v(,ii ? said her friend reproachfully. "Did I ever do it in the old days when we were chums at school, and have I shewn myself to be less trustworthy nines P" As she tipoke she rose. She was too much hurt and shocked by what had occurred to wish to stay any longer with Mrs. Willoughby just then. "Good-b>e, Flo," she said, holding out her hand. "Good-bye," echoed Flo, without appearing to notice it. "You are just like everybody else- all very well as Jong as things go right, but no more use than the fifth wheel of a coach directly one is in need of help." "I don't see the need." replied Miss Ha'lerton. "I think you are Irightening yourself at a shadow, and using a ticod husband badly, in putting so little trust in him." And with that she left the room. Mrs. Willoughby sat for some little time, staring into the fire and watching the htst sparks in the tinder lefr; by the burnt letter die out. Then she herd her husband come down the stairs frrllr. 'HP studio, whers ho had been working sine* ot early morning, and encounter ti:e maid ill passage, and, to her horror, she hearcf "Any letter for me, Jane ?" "Yes, fcir; I gave it to the mistress," the giri replied, and then Florence knew that her !un would come next, and hastily shove' led the re- mains of the tinder under the ashe" grate. Arthur Wi loughby entered the room n. once. He was a handsome young fellow, and usually as gay as a lark, but son:o cloud had unaccountably hung over him for the last few days. "Where is my letter, Flo ?" he asked hastily. "I have not got it." replied his wife. "iiut Jane says she cave it to you." "She is mistaken. She brought me one lelte-; it was for myse t. I have just burnt it." "Who was it from, dear f" "Why are you so anxious to ascertain, Arthur? Are not our private letters sacred ? Can we not keep them to ourselves P The young husband looked surprised at hei tone, but replied, without commenting on it: Why, certainly. I should be sorry to think that mine were not. I know I receive letters sometimes from my bachelor acquaintances that I should not care at all for you to read." "From your bachelor acquaintances. Oh, certainly," replied Kio, with an emphasis on the word. Arthur regarded her for a moment. "What has come to you this afternoon, little woman ? he inquired; "are not you well P "Perfectly, thank you." ."Well, since there is no letter for me I will go back to my work, whilst the light lasts. But should it come let Jane bring it up to me at once, will you, Flo ? I am expecting one of importance." Oh, decidedly! You shall not, be kept wait- ing one moment, replied his wife in a tone which she intended to be very sarcastic. "I know you will be awfully anxious. You may depend on receiving it the very instant it arrives." Willoughby paused for a moment and lookeu at her, as if he were not quite sure if she were jesting; then, softly closing the door, he went back to his studio. He was certainly changed of late. There had been a time when he had never thought of entering or leaving a room without giving his wife a kiss, but the last few days he had appeared pre-occupied, or indifferent, and almost unmindful of her presence. But Florence was not in the mood to notice it now. She only sat there, with clenched teeth, rejoicing that the hateful letter was in ashes, and would never reach her husband's hands. But when he came dewn to dinner, and she observed how absent he seemed to be, how he listened for the sound of tiie postman's step, and coloured when it approached their door, she began to feel seriously alarmed lest her jealous fears should prove to be well founded. At last, when their dinner was concluded, it seemed as if his restlessness would not permit of his re- maining in the house any longer, and he slipped out of doors-to send a telegram to Miss Lovell (so his silly wife concluded), or to meet BFT* by appointment, perhaps, and stroll about W,. her in the dark, where their communion wouIU be unheard and unseen. She conjured up AT sorts of ridiculous ideas in her jealous Imagma* tion, and then went to bed to cry her&W sleep. When she waked in the morning Arthur was slumbering by her side, but she fancied that he looked careworn and anxious even then. Dreaming of Miss Lovell (the silly girl thought), and instead of waking him with a kips she crept out of bed and quietly slipped on her dressing- gown and sat down to read, till Jane should bring up her cup of tea. When the maid ap- peared, a yellow envelope lay beside the tea- cup-a telegram which had arrived for the master, the very first thing in the morning. "Just as I thought! said the young wife to herself. "He did go out last evening to send a telegram to that odious thing!" She advanced to the bedside, with a look of triumph. "I shall catch him now," was her inmost idea. "What a fool she must be to have despatched it so early!" "Arthur," she continued aloud, "I am soray to disturb you, but a telegram has just arrived for you, and doubtless it is of the greatest im- portance. Arthur rubbed his sleepy eyes, not half com- prehending what she said, and sat up in bed, but half awake, to read the message. But as soon as he had taken in its import he leaped to the ground as if he had been shot. "Quick! quick! my dressing-gown," he ex- claimed, and as he threw it hastily around him, he opened the bedroom door and called out: "Jane, Jane! where are you P cOme ÀeIIe When did this telegram arrive ? "Only this minute, sir. I brought it up at once." "But there was a letter for me yesterday after- noon-it says expressly there was a letter. What did you do with it ? Why did I not receive it ? If there has been any neglect in this matter you shall answer for it." The maid was half crying. "But indeed, sir, I am most particular about the letters. There was one for you, as I took to the mistress, and there wasn't no other, that I can swear to." "And you told me the letter she gave yoa was for yourself I" said Arthur Willoughby, turning to his wife. Florence was now thoroughly alarmed. What could there be in that telegram to make her husband so angry ? Having gone so ¡ far, she had no courage to confess the truth. Of course I So it was. Jane doubtless misread the address. What object could either of us have in keeping back your correspondence ? But is it of sueh vital importance ? she went on, sarcastic- ally, as Arthur commenced hurrying on his clothes, and ordered Jane to fetch him a hansom. "Cannot she wait till you have had your break- fast ? Who was it who once said that no iuaw can be expected to make love on V. stomach ? "Make love! What are you talking abouiro- said Willoughby, staring at her. "Are yet. mad P This telegram is from my mother's com- panion, and it says that if I wish to 2£J! h1" alive I must go to her at once! She sent a letter yesterday to ask me to travel by the night train-the very letter I conclude that Jane and you appear to have lost between you! My God! if I am too late I shall never forgive you! Florence turned cold with apprehension and alarm. Slic knew how devotedly attached her husband was to his mother, and now, if she had been the means of preventing him from receiving her last farewell, she believed that Arthur's words were true. "I did not know-I had never heard-you did not tell me," she commenced tremblingly, "that your mother was ill." "No, no! I did not wish you to share my anxiety until I knew it to be well founded. Miss Smith has sent me several letters about my mother lately, but I never thought it could be as bad as this. My poor dear mother I To think —to tbink-" And here Arthur's fortitude gave way, and be turned his head aside and wept quietly. Florence Icrged to take his face in her two hands and klar away the tears, that raised him hands and klar away the tears, that raised him in her estimation, but she did not feel worthy to do so. Should he know, should he ever find out (so her guilty thoughts ran), the hand she had had in keeping him from his beloved mother's dying bed, he would resent her having displayed any interest in the matter. So she busiad herself in preparing him a cup of coffee to take before he started, and in packing what he might require for the night in his hand-bag. She lot ked so ghastly pale as he bade her good-bye that he pitied her. "My dear little girl," he said, "don't look like that you frighten me! These things must happen, de" r, but I hoped from not hearing yesterday that my mother was better. I will write to you at onre, and I shall return home as soon as I can." He kissed her hastily, and was going down to his cab, when he rt-tumed, and catching her in his arms embraced her fervently, saying: "Don't think me unkind for not having been as cheerful as usual lately, but I have been so miserable, Flo." "Oh! why didn't you tell me?"sobbed his wife; "it might have saved—saved "No, dear, I didn't want you to be worried unless there was a necessity for it. You re very, wi- ..?/ dear to me, Flo. Take care of yourseif while I am away. Remember you are all I have in the world now." He rushed off, leaving the girl, if possible, moie mifcerable than before. A telegram, iater in the day, told her that all was over before lie had time to reach his mother's house, and that he intended to remain away till the funeral was over. A letter which reached her the following morning declared how infinitely ncre wretched he was for not having been with his mother at the last, and announced his intention to over- turn all the post-offices in London until he found where that letter had gone, which Miss Smith had written to summon him to her side. Flo, who had been crying with fear and con- trition ever since ber" husband had lelt her, was so overcome by the reception of this epistle that she sent for her friend Margaret Hallerton to ask her advice as to what stie should do. "J have only one piece of advice to offer you, Flo," replied Miss Hallerton, "and I think you will guess what it is before I utter it, and that is to tell Arthur the whole truth as soon as he returns to you." "Oh, no, no, I couldn't." "Then where is the use of consulting me ? I am sure of one thing-that you will never be happy again until you have made a clean breast to your husband—you will never feel honest in accepting either his caresses or his praise. Besides, it will clear up this foolish misunderstanding between you, and knock all the nonsense about Miss Lovell out of your head." "But he will never, never forgive me," sighed Florence. "I don't think so, but if he is angry and disappointed for awhile you must accept it as a just punishment for your want of trust in him. Arthur is a thoroughly good fellow, Flo. Few women have so kind a husband. Shew him that you appreciate his goodness by confessing how unworthy you have been of it." Arthur came back looking wretchedly ill and out of spirits, and disinclined for anything like love-making or amusement He shut himself up in his studio almost all day long, and employed himself on a portrait of his mother, which he was painting from memory. Florence thought he must have gained some inkling of the truth, and avoided her in consequence. At last she was so wretched that she determined to take Margaret's advice, and confess the sin of which she had been guilty to her husband. His worst anger (she thought) could not hurt her more than his silence and apparent coolness did. So she followed him to his studio one morning, and knocked gently for admittance. "Why, Flo, is it you ? What on earth do you want P 11 inquired her husband, as he opened the door. "I cannot bear it any longer," sobbed his wife, "your indifference to my society shutting yourself up alone for so many hours-" She was proceeding when he interrupted her. And have you felt it so much, my poor little wife P How selfish grief makes ur, I I have been thinking so much of my own loss that I have had no thought for you." He drew her gently into the room, and attempted to put his arms round her. But Florence pushed him away. "No, no, not yet! I must tell you something first. I have been very wrong, Arthur- "Not so wrong as I have, little woman, and the mother whose loss I so deeply lament would be the first to tell me so. But one circumstance connected with her death upset me terribly. You remember the letter which Miss Smith saii I should have received the day before-" "Yes—oh yes; it is about that unfortunate letter I want to speak to you. I—oh, forgive me, darling, for I can never forgive myself I burnt it." "Did you P" he answered, carelessly; "it is not much matter, for I should not have seen my dearest) mother alive had I received it. She had left us even then. But I could not forgive Miss Smith for not summoning me earlier. Old fool! I abused her so for it that I was quite ashamed of myself." "It is a mistake, then ? It was not my folly that prevented your saying good-bye to your poor mother ? cried Flo joyfully. "Your fault, my darling ? What do you mean ? How could it have been your fault, under any circumstances P "0 Arthur, I have still my confession to make, but be merciful to me, for I have suffered so terribly on account of it. I told you a falsehood, dear. Jane did give me that letter, but I fancied it was from Miss Lovell, and I was so jealous that I threw it into the fire." And Flo fell upon her knees and hid her face in her husband's lap. Miss Lovell!9 be exclaimed with wonder- "why, what put such a ridiculous idea into your head ? Miss Lovell has never written me a lino in her life. 0 Flo, Flo, what have I done to make you suspect me of keeping any secrets from you ? "It was all because of so many letters coming for you in the same handwriting." "Old Miss Smith's," interposed Arthur. "And I thought-I thought-O Artie, how can I tell you ?-that you-you-had grown tired of me, and—and—— "Taken up with Miss Lovell instead ?" said her husband, smiling. "0 Flo, how you 111USt think that I admire red hair." I Carrots interrupted Flo. "Well, yes, carrots," continued the husband, I "which are so lovely in a picture, and so difficult to deal with in real life. But had it been gold, or nut-brown, or black, how could you, could you believe that yeur own husband had forsaken the little girl he swore to love aed cherish for ever ? 0 Arthur, Arthur! forgive me!" was all she cried. And, he raised the wet sad face and laid his own against it. and kissed forgiveness on the foolish childish lips. "(fcily you must promise me never to hum a letter of mine again," he said, playfully. "Oh never! never!" replied his wife-aad the never did. LTim END.]

THE BEST TONIC. Nervous troubles are closely related to tronbles in the digestive ORGANS indeed, they are gener- ally traceable t. defeuti ve digestion. Most nervous people a:=è dyspep tic also. The stomach does not digfHt the food, the necessary supply of vital particles which the blood should receive from properly digested food fails, the demand made upon the blood by tho various organs of the body, for these life and strength giving particles cannot be answered, and the result is felt almost immediately upon the most sensitive portions of the human organism-the nerves. Impure blood irritates the nerves and causes nervous debility. Weak person.; are generally nervous. In nine cases out of ten if the imperfect digestion be remedied the nervousness and debility will dis- appear. GwiJym Evans' Quinine Bitters has been tried and proved to be the best tonic ever It discovered It strengthens the digestion, purifies the blood, braces the nerves, and gives tone to the whole system, restoring its equilibrium, and increasing its power of resisting disease. Sold everywhere in bottles, 2. 9d. and 4s. 6d. each. Beware of imitations. See the name Gwilym Evana." on label, stamp, and bottle. -Ir-

HIGH WATER IN 8 WANSBA HARBOUR Compiled from Greenwood's Nautical Almanac I HIGH NRIGHTS NKARKST MII -DAY WATKB• PriiM'e oi NT. D'k 8. P'k Day of Month Q-r'nwioi Wales Dock. i-tide I J-tide -Mean Basin.i ilisin Time. blorn. Even. CILr.. CILI. _i- August. A.M. P.M. P. I. F. I. v. J. Jr. Friday 11 8 S3 8 4 3) 5 29 8 21 8 22 ss Saturday.. 1-9 6 9 24i 29 6 '28 8 'J2 8 21 2 Snndtty 13 9 9 69 .8 6 27 1 it 1 19 7 Monday 14!10 -010 49 20 1> 25 8 19 8 IS t Tuesday 1 Ul 2C. 25 4 Wednesday 16! 0 1 U 24 7 -6 1 19 1 17 Thursday 17l 1 17l 2* 9 26 3 2^ 2 IS 8

CLARKE'S B 41 PILLS are warranted to cure, in either sex, all ioquired or constitutional discharges from the Urinary Organs, Gravel, and Fains in the Back. Free from Merzury. Established upwards of 30 years. In Boxes, v. 6d. each, of all Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors throughout the World: or sent lor sixty stamps by the Makers, TBB LINCOLH AzrD MaI.411D COBNTII B DRUG COIIPAK*. Lincoln. r' | Stung by a 3elly fish! | F To be stung by a Jelly Fish is not a O r pleasant experience and may prove T very troublesome unless you have J J HOMOCEA handy to apply, when all J pain and swelling instantly vanishes. x HOMOCEA is an invaluable remedy ? 5 at the Sea-side; should be used for J SUNBURN, BLISTERS, WASP- J 5 STINGS, and all kinds of Insect Bites. ? Use also for CUTS, BURNS, # TOOTHACHE, RHEUMATISM, and all SKIN TROUBLES. # | HOMOCEA | J Touches the SPOT• J I* and Soothes the Aching Part. ♦ & i llomosea Liniment t Free from Gn-asc or Oil, for all A Rheunatic Pains, &c., &c. ■* Veterinary | Liniment. | A Free f om Grease or Oil. Invaluable 5 4 in Kennel, Stable, and Farm. 4 Ssmnla of eithar tha shsvo sent froi by nost xj $far 3d. in S'.amp3 to pay cost of poataga and W packing. Address:— M K KOMOCEA, ZvfccJ., | T92, H&millor Street, EK?K £ KH £ AD. 4

THE ROYAL JUBILEE METAL EXCHANGE (INCORPORATED). In consequence of the holidays, there was a. smaller attendance on 'Change than usual on Tuesday afternoon. Those present were Messrs. Roger Beck (Gowerton), Wm. Williams (Maesygwernen), George Rowe (Worcester and Forest Works), Wm. Davis (Ebbw Vale Co.), Gwilym Evans (Llanelly), O. R. Thomas (Llanelly), G. H. Strick (Gurnos Co.), J. H. Strick (Cardonnel Co.), R. W. Tolfree (Dowlais Co.), T. W. Jones, W. H. Francis, C. Wright (Gowerton), Captain Jenkins, Thos. Freeman (Clayton Works), H. Clement (Morriston). W. Lean, T. Herschel Jones, R. Hardy, Macnaught (J. Watson and Co.), H. Chalk (T. Ford and Co.), G. L. Morris (Millbrook), John Dyer (corn merchant), P. B. Mainwaring (Llanelly), F. K. Clegg (F. S. Saunders and Co.), J. R. Watson, W. Bright (Fairwood), J. Corfield (D'llwyn and Co.), J. I .angham (Barrow Co.), R. Rosser (Ciifriw), J. T. Da vies (Blaenafon Co.), J. Lester (Carmarthen), Joseph Harrop (Groves- end), J. H. Pound (Midland Railway), Harold Perkins (H. Perkins and Co.), J. Thomas (Llan- gennech), C. G. Biggs, C. E. and H. M. Peel, D. Lewis (Gorseinon), Joseph Lewia, T. Simm. C. Forester, R. W. Evans (Llanelly), B. Oliver (Morriston), D. Bevan (Morlais), Rufus Lewis (Gowerton), Bertie Morci*, Geo. Deere (Rio Tinto Co.), Thos. Lowndes, &e. PIa IRorc.-This market h- greatly B.a ■ A. during the week, a fall having taken place from the 1st to the 3rd of 5s. 6d. per ton in Scotch 8s. 5d. per ton in Middlesbro', and 4s. 101. per ton in Hematite, while to-day prices have recovered 3s. 5d., 63. 6d., and 3s. 9,1. per ton respectively. This distuFR8D market has put a stop to any V,U. Otiing done, especially for consumption, but the market has recovered itself, and it is anticipated that in the course of a few days it will have regained the loss above mentioned. FINISHED ION AND STBEL.—Tho fluctuation in the prices of Pig Iron has not interfered with the finished Iron and Steel trade, and in the meantime the price of Bessemer Bars has been advanced by makers to -96 5s. and Siemens to JE6 78. 6d., while the other branches, Merchant Bars, Sheet Iron, &a., have also been advanced in price. All the works are well booked forward to as great an extent as they wish to. TINPLATES. —The shipments are as given below, and a slight increase in the STOCKS is shewn. The advauce in the price of Bars will have added to the firm quotations given, for Plates. PIG IRON.—Glasgow warrants, 69s 9d, 709 69s 8d, 69s lid, cash buyers. MIDDLESBRO'.—No. 3, 69S 4JD, prompt; other numbers in proportion. HEMATITE.—Warrants, 74s 4d, 75s, 74s 4!d, 74s 6d, for mixed numbers, f.o.b. Cumberland, according to brand. WELSH BAHS, Y.8 Oa Od to £8 58 Od. Angles, &c., at usual extras, f.o.t. at works. SHEET IRON.— £ 9 Os Od to R9 10s Od, f.o.t. at works. STBEL RAILS.-Heavy sections, £6 5:1 Od to £ 6 12s 6d light do., £ 7 5s Odto £ 7 15s Od, f.o.t.; sleepers, angles, channels, <TC., accordiug to section and specification. STEEL SHEETS.— £ 9 a3 Od to aCg 10s Od, with the usual extras for the higher gauges. BESSEMER STBIEL.-Tiuplate bars, C6 5s Od to L6 7s 6d. SIEMEN'S TINPLATE BARs.-Best, X6 7s 6D to XG 10s. All delivered in the district; nett cash. TINPLATEfI.-Makers' quotations for Bessemer steel- coke, 16s Od to 16s 6D; Siemen'S|(coke finish) 16s 6d to 16s 9d ternes, per double box 28 by 20 C., 29s 6d, 30s Od, to 32S 6d; best charcoal, 17s 6d to 18s Cd, according to finisl. of brand; wasters, 6d to Is per box less than primes. Odd size-i usual extras. All delivered in Priuce of Wales Dock, Swansea cash, less 3 and 1 per cent. Big sheets for galvanising, 6 x 3 x 30 gauge, £ 12 10s. Od. per ton, f.o.t. Finished black plate, E12 10S Od per ton, f.o.t. Canadas, iClO 10s Od per ton, f.o.t. The Swansea Harbour Trustees have famished the following official return of tinplates received from the works, shipped, and in stock Week ending Last week. Corresponding Aug. 6, 1899. week last year. Boxes. Boxes. Boxes. Received 49,901 60,251 30,400 6hipped 41,709 38,459 28,801 In stock 1,96,480 188,288 123,432 COPPER.—Chili bars, ±76 bs Od t) ±76 12s 6d. BLOCK TIN, E143 15,1 Od to X 145 Os Od. SPKLTEB.— £ 25 58 Od, per telegram received on 'Change. LEAD.—English, JE14 12s 6d; Spanish, X14 10s. SILVER.—27|d. ANTHRACITE COAL.—Best big vein, selected for making purposes, I3 6d to 14s Od second quality, do., lis 6d to 12s Od ordinary large, according to quality and selection. 10s to 10s 6d; small rubbly culm, 5s 3d to 5s 9d par ton. All delivered f.o.b. Swansea, cash 30 days, less 21 per cent. STEAM COALS.-Larg-el Its 6d to 13s Od; second quality, do., 10S 6d to Its 31 bunkers, according to quality, 8s 9I to 9s 3d; small, 7s 6d to 8s 6d per ton, delivered f.o.b. Swansea, cash 30 days, less 2 per oent. BITUMINOUS COALB.-Lare-e (No. 3 Rhondda), 12s 6d to 13s large (No. 2 Rhond la), Its Od to lis 6D thro' do., 98 6d to 10s small do., 8s 3d to 8s 6d per ton, delivered f.o.b. Swansea, cash 30 days, less 2! per cent. COKE.-Best foundry, 258 to 27s 6d; furnace. 238 Od to 24S Od per ton, f.o.b. Swansea, cash 30 days, less 2! per cent. PATENT Fuzi,12s 6d tc 13s Od. IRON ORics.-Tafna (per Naylor, Benson and Co.) 15s 9d to 16s Od. Rubio, 16s 9d to 17s Od per ton, ex-ship; cash, 30 days. PITWOOT>.—18-- 6d to 193 Odper ton into trucks, nett, oash 30 days.

Drayton Manor, the well-known seat of the Peel famdy, neur Tamworth, lias been let for a term TO Lord Wilton, who has been for som8 years the tenant of Houghton Hall, Lord Chol- mondeley's Walpolean domain in Norfolk.

BORWICK'S BAKING POWDER. E Q oTo wK2 E R, A Pure Manufacture well known for upwards of 50 years. When ordering Baking Powder insist on having Borwick's Tv/TTnT^ A T FOR CAKES, YORKSHIRE PUDDIN»S, GINGF-RBEEAD