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A BLAZE OF GLORY, j ——— !
(Copyright.) A BLAZE OF GLORY, j ——— Br JOHN STRANGE WINTER, Author of "Booties' Babv," "A Name to Conjure With," "The Money Sense," "A Born Soldier," "Beav Ai Jim," &c. ———— SYNOPSIS OF PRECKDING CHAPTERS: Mrs. Garnett, a genteel widow of very small means, determines to marry her seventeen-year-old daughter Betty to Mr. Galbraith, the rich and elderly Vicar of Great Overstanclin^. Betty has fallen in love with Victor L'Estran;e, a cavalry officer, and determines to seek his protection from the persecution of her mother and Mr. Galbraith. Accordingly, she runs away from I home,and travels to the town where L'Es'range's regiment is stationed, only to find from casual conversation in the train, that the troops have been ordered to the Soudan. As her train sfearns into the station she perceives L'Estrange on another platform in readiness to depart. CHAPTER V. OFF TO THE FRONT. When Betty Garnett looked across the gas-lit railway platform and saw the white facings of Victor L'Estrange's regiment drawn up on the other side of the double line of rai 1". her very heart seemed to turn to water within her. She had taken a definite step, she had turned her back on her mother and her home, she had burnt her boats behind her, she had cast her whole life on a single throw of the dice, and they had turned up—blank Here was she two hundred and sixty miles from home. at the spot where she had counted as a certainty on finding L'Estrange, and here was L'Estrange on the very point of going off to active service, on the very point of making a much longer journey from which he might never return. It was even doubtful whether she would be able to get near enough to wave adieu to him. All these thoughts flashed through her mind as the train was slowing up alongside of the platform. She turned to the girl who had come down from London, and who had been the one to give her an etplanation of what was happening in Danford Station. Will they let anyone speak to them, do you think ? she asked. "I don't think so. We're just too late, aa a matter of fact," the girl, Polly, replied. "If we'd been ten minutes or a quarter of an hour earlier, we could have stood at the door and seen 'em file in. As it is, I don't suppose we can get where we can wave a handkerchief to them." Betty gave vent to a great sigh, and the girl looked at her sharply. "Do you know^any of 'em ? she asked. Oh, yes, I do." "Well, you come along with us. Me and my friend mean to get as near as we can. Keep close to us, and we'll try to get a last word." Betty thanked her gratefully, and followed the two girls quickly as they jumped out of the carriage, and )-n along the platform. Polly, indeed, would have jumped down on to the permanent-way and scaled the platform on the opposite side, the platform on which they—the soldiers—were assembled, but a porter, divining her intention, caught her roughly by the arm And prevented her from accomplishing this par- ticular end. Come, young woman, none of that he exclaimed, brusquely. "The public ain't al- lowed on that there platform so don't you try that on, if you please." "Oh, porter, do let us go past," she pleaded. "I've come down to say a last word to a friend. I may never see him again. Do let us step over." "I durstn't do it, miss," said he, somewhat mollified by her pleading tone. "Orders is im- perative on the point. It's not a ha'porth o' use asking me. But, see 'ere: go you out o' that there door "—pointing to the ordinary exit —"and go along to the left, and you'll see a little narrer lane a-tween two wooden railings. It'll take yon up there just past the up-plat- form, and from there, if it ain't choke-full already, you'll get a last look of the men on that side of the carriages at all events." "Oh, thank you kindly; you're a good fellow," said Polly. Now, Annie, and you, little miss, come along, let's run for it." They found the little lane easily enough, and sped along it lest they should find every place at the rails occupied. A good many people were clinging to the places they had taken up, but there was nothing like a crowd. For one thing, nobody who was not personally in'erested in the men would trouble to see them off at such an unearthly hour on a winter's morning, and the regiment had been such a very short time in Danford that very few friendships had teen made by any grade. Those who had found their way there were, almost without exception, strangers to Danford, friend? and relations who had come down from town the previous evening to get a last word and look with those who were going where they had a very likely chance of stopping for ever. Oddly enough, only a few of the wives and children were there. The reason was that, having been hurried away from Blankhampron, with more than a chance of being immediately sent to Egypt, the married women and children had been left in possession of their quarters at Blankhampton Barracks, and the women n< >t on the strength had been earnestly advised by the (ffieers of the regiment to husband their resources by remaining where they were. A few of the last married ones, one or two who were better off, and several sergeants' wives were all fciat represented the usual crowd of weepers !and wailers, which is the almost necessary ■accompaniment of a regiment's departure for •foreign or active service. ft The three girls so strangely different in class and yet so alike in their object, sped along the ?fcarrow lane and soon found themselves like all the others, hanging on to the paling just above ^thv end of the platform. Betty found herself ^tending next to a tall dark girl, very well dressed and evidently a person of some position. fit'a an awful shame," she burst out, in a ofear ringing voice, "that we were not let on to the platform to see the last of them." "victor said it was out of the question," said another roice, further down the paling. Betty pricked up her ears at the word Victor, and looked eagerly to see the rest of 'the party. The last speaker,wag a lady a little .}eyond the middle a. "e, richly dressed, very good-lookir with her were three girls, two dressed aHke in plain tailor made garments, such as made Batty's ;iionth water, with hand- aome furs about their slioulders. The third girl was tall too, taU and eh 11 md very pale. Betty did not know what reh i"n the four might be ,to each other, but she felr bv some strange and curious instinct that the pale faced girl was not Jfcin with the other three. "M". Gilrov is there. frowned t he girl next to Betty. "Why should she be in there and we ■■cut here ? to "My dear," said the elder lady, "she is the 'Colonel's wife. "Well, you are Victor's mother?" retorted Betty's neighbour. Well, dear, they would not let us in, so it's no good grumbling about it. I don't suppose the others like having Mrs. Gilroy %}fh them." "I think she is going with them," said the fair ¡¡;¡rl. -Do yon? Why? Oh, yes. She's getting into the c;image now. Do you see her, mother? In that third carriage from the end." "Depend upon it she is going down to see them embark," said the elder lady. "We might have done that instead of tearing ■eway down here," said the girl next to Betty^ vexedly. t60h, my dear Gwen, it wouldn't have been Any easier," rejoined the mother, "and Victor •Would have hated it. You know how Victor hates a scene. It would have been most em- barrassing for Joy too, all the others knowing that she is engaged to Victor." "Oh, I should have hated it," said the pale girl whom they called Joy. Bettv wondered in a dazed kind of way if another ollicer in the regiment was called Victor, tv the same name as L'Estrange. She glanced aside at this girl, who was also engaged to a Victor, and thought how little she seemed to mind his going. Doubtless he was not like her Victor-no two men could be quite as charming. "Do you see your friend?" asked Polly, breaking in upon her thoughts. "Yeø I see'him," said Betty. u It's more than I do »:y fr sa"1 the. girl, staring eazerly at the platform now almost smpty again. "Do you see Jim, Annie ? "Not now: he's got into the seventh carriage from the end. Ah we shall never see 'em j again, Polly. To or lads, it's all over with 'em I cow." "01; don'' -nv that," called out the girl OQ Eei*' !• f< '■ r '-We are like you, come tc see the las: p oughtn't to look on I the da. k .o.■ r ng them bad luck." J "God know-, I don't want to do that, miss," said Annie, with something like a sob in her throat. "None of us want tha\ no matter what they may be to us personally. said Gwen, in her clear ringing voice. Clu-n ^he tnmed and scanned the platform aci.n. "1 believe just going now. mother, she said. "I don't think Victor can see you. You see he is looking out of the li_;ht into the shadow." She looked eagerly for a moment, then snatched a handkerchief out of her breast. Victor, she caiied. waving it high above her head. There was a moment's silence, a hesitation among the little grout) of officers still standing upon the platform, then L Estrange turned and came hastening down the low embankment towards them. "bother, darling, good-bve. God ble. VOI1." he cried, straining her to his heart. "Good- bve. darling, good-bve. Effie, wish me good luck, oid girl, and take care of the mother. Good-bve, Joy dear girl—it was good of you to come down and see the last of me. Gwen." his voice had dropped a little now that he was quite close to Betty as he stood hanging on to the paling with ghastly face and bloodless lips. "I shall never get back alive out of this. Some- thing tells me so. I trust her to you, remember. God bless you. old girl. we've been the best of chums—— My God, what's that?" The exclamation broke from him almost in a siso. for he had caught just one glimpse of Bett.'s stricken face ere she sank down by tin- paling in a dead faint. "L'Estrange! L'Estrange!" someone called from the platform. ? I must go. but what does this mean ?" I: Estrange cried. "It's nothing, sir," answered Polly. "It's only a young lady as came down with us from London to see the last of a friend. It's been too much for her, poor thing. Don't you trouble. I'll look after her." "L'Estrange! I/Estrange," came the warning cry again. "Coming," he shouted back. "Good-bye. Good-bye." Then he rushed back again, and in less than two minutes the train had started on her way.. When Betty came to herself again the winter day was just breaking through the darkness of night, the platform was empty, the line deserted, the crowd gone—only five women were around her, two of them endeavouring to bring her to her senses again, and the other three looking on. "Better now?" said Gwen L'Estrange, who was supporting her head upon her arm. Betty struggled up. "Oh, yes, thank you. It was very stupid of me to tumble over like that. I never did such a thing in all my life before. I can't think what possessed me." We have nothing to give you here, poor child," said Mrs. L'Estrange, kindly. "I wonder if we could go to the refreshment-room and get a little brandy. Is it open, do you think ?" She spoke in a helpless appealing kind of way, as a woman does who is not in the habit of providing for herself on emergency. "I don't want brandy, thank you very much," said Betty. "It wouldn't help me a bit. Thank you very much for your kindness." She turned away. but Gwen L'Estrange caught her hand. "You look so ill," she said pitifully. "Please don't trouble about me," said Betty. Then a bright thought struck her. "I am sure these kind young ladies will look after me till they go back to London." Yes—yes—we will, dear," put in Polly, eagerly. "It's very kind of you, miss, but we'll take care of her till we're back in town, and if she should feel faint, we'll go right home with her. It's right kind of you to be so feeling, for we're not quite the same as you." Mrs. L'Estrange smiled. It was a very wan smile, painfully near to tears. I have come down to say good-bye to my only son," she said in a shaking voice, "with my two daughters and my son's wife, who is to be. My heart is very sore and I can feel for others." The ready tears welled up in Polly's haggard eyes. "God bless you and bring your son safe back again," she said, if only for your sake. for you're a good woman," and then she dashed her hands across her eyes and put her hand under Betty's arm. "If there was more like you there wouldn't be so many like us." She turned resolutely away, drawing Betty with her, the other girl from London followed walking as one who is blinded with tears. Mrs. L'Estrange stood looking after them. "Gwen," she said, "that little girl is a lady. How comes she to be with those two ? "Accident, I think," answered Gwen. "And she's hard hit too, poor little soul. Fancy dropping down in a dreadful faint like that. I could almost have thought she knew Victor." "Oh, no. He called out because he was so startled to see her drop so suddenly," said Mrs. L'Estrange. "Well now, let us go back to the hotel and try to get some breakfast, Joy, my dear girl. I'm so thankful you were brave enough to keep up till Victor was gone. It would have upset him more than anything if any of us, and especially you, had given way." "Oh, Mrs. L'Estrange," cried the pale girl. "Oh, Mrs. L'Estrange, he will never come back, never, never. I know it. I feel it." She broke down then and bent over the paling sobbing as if her heart would break. "I have seen the last of him—it is all over." "Others are with us," said Mrs. L'Estrange, trying hard to be very cool and collected. "Think of me, if you had dropped down like that poor little girl. I am so thankful you kept up before him. It is natural that you should be overcome now it is all over." "It is all over. All over," said Joy, in a tone of firmest conviction. CHAPTER VI. FACE TO FACE WITH FAILURE. Two minutes after she had parted from L*Estrange's mother and sister, Betty found herself hnrrvins away from the station along the road which led into the town of Danford. Where are we going ? she asked faintly. "To get a good breakfast," responded Polly, promptly. "They're gone, poor fellows, and whether we see any of them again or not, we shall do no good by lying down and dying in the gutter of sheer hunger." Betty could not pretend that she was not absolutely sick and faint with hunger, to say nothing of the fatigue through which she had gone, and the overwhelming disappointment that had met her at the end of her journey. She was too young and too thoroughly inex- perienced to recognise the exact status, or I might say want of social status, enjoyed by the two girls who had befriended her, and she was more anxious to get out of the way of JJ Estrang-e S m jther and sisters, to say nothing of the tall paL girl who was his affianced wife to trouble h-rself about trivial matters, or what seemed only trivial matters to her at that moment. She thought these two young women might be servants, wearing their Sunday best, and though she ha 1 never found herself on intimate terms with anyone like them before, they were kind and friendly towards her, they knew the ropes, so to speak, and they would prevent her being overwhelmed with a sense of loneliness and isolation before she had made up her mind wha to do with tha future. They tramped along the dirty road and came at last to the street which led into the principal street ot the town. That loaks a likclv place, Annie, was Polly's rem rk, as she pointed to a decent .coking coffee-house. I "in you go," said Annie. So i'i they went, and Polly, apparently always the foremost spirit ot the two, ordered a substantial breakfast of coffee and hot rolls, with a good dish of fr ed eggs and bacon. '• Alwavs eat when you rc down in the dumps," she said with a brave att-mpt at jollity. Then she added in a whisper to Betty: "See here, dear, I don't want to pry, but have you any of the ready with you ? If you haven't you must breakfast with me. I'll stand Sam for you." "I've ple» v of m mey, said Betty, with emphasis. Yes, pi "ty of money, but oh, hew kind of you to t:ii ik of it. "Well, dear." sail the other, with easy fanailiariiv, "we shon d be kind to each other; re all 'in the same box, aren't we ? Now Fetty. ulth .ugh she might not be suspected of possessi t^any common sense, from the way in which s'.ie' had acted hitherto, had M feast n instinct of hiding the truth from her comprn ons. ° I don t know about being <»yactly in tfie same box," she said, making a valiant effort to apeak in very collected and ordinary tonea. • You have been very kind and friendly to me, but 1 didn t come down here, you know, to eee the regiment go away, I didn't come to say good-bye to anyone. I came on quite a different errand." Oh, did you really ? Why now, I quite thought you knew the young fellow that came down to say good-bye to his mother." 0 h. whatever should make you think that?" cried Betty. V> hy, when a girl seems eager to see some fc'icr go o.t ly train, and then drops down I i. i hunt warning, in a dead faint, what is one to I'.ink? He gives a great iump and he says: Good God. what's that ?' "aml I tells him at once that you had come down with us to see the last of a friend, and then they called him sharp from the platform and so he went running buck, and in two ;wos the train was gone." "Oh, but there was nothing in that to make you think he knew me," said Betty. Well, if it comes to that, nothing at all, dear. Of course, it was only my fancy. Erl. but that fair girl was bad after he left! I thought -'he d have sobbed her heart out." Betty sat and toyed with her roll like a girl in a dream. So Victor had recognised her, and what could he have thought to find her in companv with two such girls as these She looked "first at one and then at the other as they- sat facing her at the little table. What could he have thought of it all ? To see her watching the departure of the regiment at Danford Station when he had believed her to be safe at Rockborough, to find her with two such companions ? They were not merely not ladies, they were commonness itself. Their looks, hair, hats, dress, accent, grammar, all were significant of the same thing. She must contrive to get rid of them, and then she could think out the situation. Un'.il then, she could do nothing. I am bound to say that all three of them made an excellent breakfast. The coffee was good, and the run from town and the long wait in the raw morning air had sharpened the appetites of all three of them. "What made you faint off like that, dear?" asked the sympathetic Polly, suddenly. blushed violently. "Well, I had never ,,e'n a regiment go away before," she said, in almost apologetic tones "and, to tell you the truth, I was tired and upset, and those ladies next to me-" "Belonging to the young feller that came down to say good-bye ? Ah, they were cut up, poor things, and no mistake about it. I was sorry for 'em. Well, I'm glad you had no more reason for dropping down as if you'd been shot dead. Some people are subject to that kind of thing. I never am. When I die, I believe I shall die standing. Well, what about our getting back to town, Annie? We don't want to spend any more time than we can help in this dog- hole. "There's a train at ten past nine," replied Annie, with her mouth full. "We'll go by it. And you're sure we can do nothing mce for you, dear ? she added, to Betty. „ "Oh. nothing, thank you a thousand times, replied Betty, promptly. "Come as far as the station, and see the last Come as far as the station, and see the last of us." "Yes, I will. Oh, I've plenty of time. Till eleven o'clock, I've nothing to do. Betty was getting quite a diplomatist, and put them off with a glibness which was astonishing even to herself. At this time she was in reality feeling nothing. So long as these two were with her, she felt that she must shew a false face to the world, that she must hide the gaping wounds which had been torn in her heart and her trust. When they were safely off and on their way to London again, she would have time to think, to act, to decide on some plan, and to carry it out. So she would go with them to the station and would see them away, and make quite sure that she had done with them for ever. It seems queer, dear," said Polly, breaking in upon her reflections, that we should be sitting here eating our breattiost quite friendly together, and me and my friend don't even know your name." "My name is Elizabeth," said Betty. "Elizabeth—that's a nice name enough. I suppose your people call you Lizzie? "No, I've never been called Lizzie," replied Betty, volunteering no further information. They sat a while longer, and then went out for a turn down the principal street before it was quite time for their train. It was a wide but very dull street, and the shops were, to those accustomed to London shops, beneath contempt. "My I'm glad I don't live in such a hole as this," said Annie, looking with disdainful eyes at a hat marked Very choice, twenty-three shillings." Twenty-three shillings for a thing like that! I wouldn't put it on my head At last they turned in at the station, and the two took their places in the train for London. At the last moment Polly pressed a piece of folded card into Betty's hand. "If ever you want a friend," she said, all in a hurry, "you just come to me. Write me a line, dear; this will always find me." Then the train began to move, and Betty realised that she was at last all alone in a world of which she knew absolutely nothing. When the train was out of sight Betty opened the card which she still held in her hand. It was a shabby card and badly printed. Miss Violet Drummond, 20, Petersen-road, Fulham, S.W. Miss Violet Drummond,' and her friend had called her Polly How curious Perhaps she had given her the card of a friend. It did not matter, she would never have wanted to make use of it, so she tore it across and across, scattering the fragments over the permanent way. Then she turned and walked out of the station and towards the town. Yes, she was alone in Danford, for she had seen the L'Estrange party go off by the same train as the two girls, Polly and Annie. More than that, she was alone in the world. She had noticed a seat by the roadside not very far from the station, and when she came to it, she sat flown and began to think. Well, she had made a complete hash of everything— everything. She had thrown away mother, home, every chance in life. for the sake of a man who was openly affianced to another woman. He might have been her lover-indeed, she hardly thought of doubting that-but they could never, with that barrier between them, have been anything to each other. It was characteristic of the girl that she never once thought of going back. She had been mistaken. She bad put her hand to the wrong plough, but she never once thought of turning backward. Slie took out her purse and counted her poor little store of money. It was pitifully little. One, two, three, five and sevenpence halfpenny. And that was all that she had between her and starvation. She might try to get work, she might try to make a decent living, but how ? She had no knowledge, no experience. She was ignorant of everything excepting a certain amount of piano-playing, a smattering of drawing, and a toil-rable knowledge of plain needlework. So what could she do ? She bethought her that she might try "her luck at a registry-office for ser- vants. Through that she might find a place as under-nurse, a ward to little girls. She did ~Mt know anything about young children or „vcn little girls, but perhaps that would not matter. So she took up the burden of life again, and walked back into the town, trudging wearily alone, for she was terribly tired, until she came across the kind of office for which she was look- ing. This she entered and preferred her request timidly to an austere looking lady with spec- tacles, who sat at a big clesk by the window. "Any experience? she asked, sharply. "Well, not exactly," stammered Betty. "What do you mean by not exactly?" demanded the lady, looking up and fixing her through the glasses. Either you have experi- ence or you haven't. Which is it?" "Well," said Betty, driven to bay, "I don't know anything about children, but can do housework and I can sew." "Ladies will have some experience," said the agent. "You would have a better chance as maid to young ladies. What references have you ? "None." "No references ? Oh Well that takes away your best chance. "I have never been out." said Betty, firmly. True but you must know people who could speak to your character." |*I don't know a single person in Danford," said Betty, feeling ready to cry. "H'm, that's a pity. Well, sit down there with the others and I'll see what I can do for you. You must pay the fee for entering your name in the books now, a shilling. Thank you." Betty took her seat along with six or seven other applicants in tho further end of the double room. There were only four and seven- pence halfpenny between her and starvation 110 n i i6 lady after another interviewed her until she had seen quite a dozen of them. All objected to her want of experience, some to her youth, and everyone to her absence of references. Quite impossible that I could take you in my home and let you associate with my young daughters without some very positive recommendation, said one lady and after that Bettv, without another word, went out into the street determined that come what might, happen what would, she would never set foot in that house again. She wandered along like a girl in a dream. The street was beginning to get crowded, and Danford folk are none too dainty or gentle in their manners. She found herself pushed and jostled as she wandered aimlesssly on, and she was too heart-sick and sorrowful to resent, it. But she never thought of going back. She had burnt her boats behind her and she did not even regret the fact. But what should she, could she do ? She had taken her life into her own hands and they had proved utterly and absolutely in- competent to perform the task she had given them. Still, what could she do? There was one way. There was one door by which every mistake could be made right, one course by which every difficulty could be smoothed out. She could get something some- where which would put an end to all her troubles. Her mother would never know, nobody would know, and least of all the one who had gone away that morning, the one whom she had come so far to seek, the one who had, though perhaps without knowing it or meaning it, failed her. And she made up her mind that she would take that way. She would spend her little remaining money on what would carry her safely and easily through that door which was the refuge of the worn-out and weary, those who early or late had found life a mistake, an impossibility. So, full of this resolve, Betty walked into the first chemist's shop that she saw and said: "If you please I want a small quantity of laudanum." (To be continued.)
THE SALVATION ARMY.
THE SALVATION ARMY. GENERAL" BOOTH'S RELATIVES RESIGN THEIR CONNECTION. The Central News says that, owing to grave differences with the Salvation Army on matters of doctrine, "General" Booth's daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Booth-Clibborn, and the brother of the lat- ter, Mr. Percy Clibborn, have resigned their connection with the Salvation Army. It is understood that they have joined Dr. Dowie's "Church of Zion" at Chicago. Dr. Dowie has recently announced himself as the Prophet Elijah, and has publicly de- clared that the Salvation Army, as well as certain other specified religious organisa- tions. "must be smashed."
PROFIT SHARING BY WORKMEN.
PROFIT SHARING BY WORKMEN. That profit sharing by workmen is the best antidote for slackness in work is un- doubtedly true. The difficulty is, however, that the moment a workman becomes a partner with the master he has, to some extent, to share in the lean as well as the fat years. But it is quite certain that in some such system the masters will find the best solution of the difficulty which pre- sents itself in regard to workmen doing less work than they reasonably could. So long as an artisan reaps no advantage by doing a larger amount of work in the day than he now does, so long will the present troubles exist. It has also to be borne in mind that in some trades it is comparatively easy to arrange a reasonable system. Take the case of a contractor who supplies bricklayers and carpenters, and at once it becomes o^1_ dent that a satisfactory system of profit sharing is not easy to carry out. But ob- viouslv it is for the masters to elaborate such a plan and place it before their work- men for acceptance. Mr. Livesey has been very successful with his gas company, and we should be glad to se him formulate a plan for some other business; the discus- sion of it might lead to some practical, though we fear but partial, solution of the present dimculty.—"Builder."
Advertising
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- THE PRESERVATION OF STEELWORK.
THE PRESERVATION OF STEEL- WORK. For the proper preservation of wrought iron or steel work it is not sufficient merely to cover the surface with paint, or even to imbed the metal in material believed to be air-proof or water-proof. All scale, rust, dirt, and moisture should be carefully re- moved as a precautionary measure. In some cases scale will ultimately fall away? leaving parts of the metal bare, and it al- ways exercises a deteriorating effect, es- pecially upon steel, or it consists of mag- netic oxide, which is negative to steel, and is, thereore, a fruitful cause of corrosion- Similarly rust, dirt, and moisture must be removed, because the first of these will con- tinue the process of oxidation, and the others will commence it in parts hitherto unaffected. In important engineering works it is generally stipulated that all foreign matter shall be removed from the metal before painting or similar treatment, but in building construction where steel- work is ordinarily hidden away so that de- terioration can never be seen, special pre- cautions are rarely taken. Scale, rust an- dirt are often simply covered with paint, the steelwork is put in place, buried and forgotten or perhaps in a similar state but without a coating of paint, it may be embedded in concrete. In either event, serious corrosion must ultimately ensue. Hitherto the removal of scale has been most frequently effected at a small cost by pick- ling in dilute acid, afterwards neutralising by lime-water, washing and drying. More recently the sand-blast has been employed with considerable advantage. This ingeni- ous apparatus has been much used for cleaning off scale, paint, and other sub- stances from iron and steel ehips before painting or repainting, and quite recently it was applied with great success to the ironwork of a station on the Manhattan Ele- vated Railroad in New York, for thoroughly scouring the metal surface before applying a. new coat of paint for experimental pur- poses. The question of its employment for the preparatory treatment of structural steel work is well worthy the considera- tion of architects.- "Builder.
HEALTHY AND STRONG
HEALTHY AND STRONG When you feel "run down," and can't face your work properly, you have only to take a course of Gwilym Evans' Quimae Bitteis, then you will relish your food a;, I IÙk up your bodily strength and sp r; tos quicker than you lost them. Gwilyni Evans* Quinine Bitters is The Best Eeme.lv ior Indigestion, Weakness, Nervousness, Lnsg of Appetite, Fatulence, Low Spirits, Sleeplessness, and Chest Affections.
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS. When you ask for Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters see that you get it with the namd "Gwilym Evans" on the label, stamp, and bottle, without which none are genuine. Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters is sold every- where in bottles 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d. each, or will be sent, carriage free, on receipt of stamps, direct from the Sole Proprietors: — The Quinine Bitters Manufacturing Com- pany, Limited, Llanelly, South Wales.
LOCAL BILLS.
LOCAL BILLS. Thursday was the limit of time allowed by Parliament for handing in memorials com- plaining of non-compliance with the stand- ing orders in the case of the first hundred Bills on the general list. Among the Bills against which there were no memorials were Swansea Corporation Bill, Swansea Cor- poration Water Bill. and the Ystradfellte Water Bill.
Advertising
IN THE DEPTFT OF WINTER, as in tr., Iw:(1 nt rf summer, HOSE'S LIME JUCR CORDIAL stands unrivalled as a delicious wholesome ILwl refreshing beverage. Mixed with Itnt water, it supplies a delightful drink for all occasion;, prevonting chills and purifying the blood.
THE MAN OF THE MOMENT. ---
THE MAN OF THE MOMENT. SIR EDGAR VINCENT, K.C.M.G., M.P. In the present House of Commons there are seventeen pairs of brothers, and amongst these by far the most distin- guished are the brothers Vincent, Sir Howard Vincent and Sir Edgar, the latter of whom had the houour to second the Address in reference to the King's speech at the opening of Parliament on Thursday. The Vincents are a much titled family. Both Sir Howard and Sir Edgar have earned their honours by their services to the State, but they come of a long line of baronets who trace their descent uninter- ruptedly from the 12th century. The first of the family to be honoured was Sir Thomas, who contrived to keep in the good graces of Queen Elizabeth, who journeyed down to his seat and partook of his hospi- tality, and gave him a knighthood to con- sole him for the expense to which he had been put. Sir Thomas went to Parliament and since that time no les than 10 bearers of the title have had their fingers in Eng- land's parliamentary pie. But the eleventh baronet, possibly because he was a younger son, and never expected to participate in the family honours, was brought up to be content with the prospect of holding one of the fat livings in the gift of his sire. So he went into the Church, and became a Prebendary of Chichester and the eleventh baronet; and his son, who begat Sir Howard and Sir Edgar is also a clergy- man. Sir Howard Vincent, as everybody knows, is an enthusiastic volunteer, as well as lawyer, editor, and special correspondent, and one who has travelled practically all over the world.His younger brother, the member for Exeter, is not so universally known, but as Sir Edgar is now only forty- five, time may remedy the public uncon- sciousness of his personality. Like most of the sons of the aristocracy nowadays, he went to Eton for his schooling, but did not subsequently proceed to either of the great universities, but "finished" at various centres of learning on the Continent. Then he went to India on a visit to some of his old Eton friends, who had became subal- terns in the regiments stationed there, and what with sports and big game shooting, and the usual round of fun and frolic in the military centres in India, twelve months passed. He made considerable use of his travels, and every scrap of know- ledge which might be likely to be of use in the future, he carefully relegated to the archives of his memory. Then he came back to England, fascinated with what he had seen of the military life of India, and com- menced to study for a commission. In the examinations for entrance at Sandhurst College he took first place, and later at the final examinations he again came out "on top." In the same year he was at the head of the list of candidates in the open com- Petition for appointment as Student Drago- man at Constantinople.. He had studied I both the language and the habits of the Orientals in quite a remarkable degree, but as his life in the Sultan's capital, which had been comparatively uneventful as com- pared with the realisation of his ideas of life in the Army, he did not avail himself of the opportunities to go to the Porte, and finally became a second-lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards. But his knowledge of the East was put to good use later on, when he went to Eastern Roumelia as private secretary to Lord Edmund Fitz- maurice, and Military Attache to the Bri- tish Embassy at Constantinople. In 1881 he was appointed assistant to Her Majesty's Commissioner for the evacuation of Thes- saly and Epims, ceded to Greece by Turkey. At the conclusion of the labours of that commission the capacity for affairs shown by Mr. Vincent, as he was then, won for t him the important post of representative of British, Belgian and Dutch interests on the Council of the Ottoman Public De- partment in Constantinople, and in the following year his colleagues elected him president.. For two years he continued to work assiduously on behalf of Western Europe ia the Sultan's affairs, his acquain- tance with the embarrassments and com- plications of the latter meanwhile becom- ing practically unique. Then he became Financial Adviser to the Egyptian Govern- went, an extremely arduous and respon- sible post, but one in which he acquitted himself well, for the restoration of pros- perity to Egypt was largely due to his ex- ertions. How remarkably the re-juvena- tion of Egypt has been accomplished in the course of the last twenty years I demon- strated in my references to Lord Cromer, a short time since, but for the financial re- surrection of the country no small credit is due to Sir Edgar Vincent. As evidence of the progress of Egyptian credit, during the six years that he was adviser, it may be stated that the selling value of Egyptian securities in 1883 was £ 76,251,678, and in 1889, it had risen to £ 103,362,730, this result having been obtained with a diminution of the Egyptian Government and of the taxpayers. While in Egypt, Sir Edgar undertook and carried out with success a reform of the Egyptian currency. When the financial difficulties of Egypt were overcome he left that countrv to re- turn to Constantinople, he having been ap- pointed Governor of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, and since that time Turkey has re- gularly contrived to pay the Russian war indemnity, thus removing one of the chief political dangers of the Sultan's Govern- ment. Turkish credit has been greatly improved, and Turkish stocks now rank closely afl-er Egyptian. All sums due on the debt have bef'n satisfactorily met, and an average sum of 2.000.000 Turkish pounds has been annually redeemed by means of various sinking funds, so that Turkey has now been removed from the list of coun- tries in embarrassed financial circum- stances, and has entered resolutely the path of economic progress. Railways have in- creased also from 960 miles in 1889 to about 3,000 miles at the present time. In 1897 Sir Edgar relinquished the Governorship of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, and returned to the land of his fathers. For about 17 years he had been energetically engaged in re-organising and squaring up the monetary muddles of Abdul Hamid's Government as well as those of Egypt, and the holiday to which he looked forward he had thoroughly well earnedi. Both countries decorated him with their orders, and from the late Queen Victoria he received the Knight Companioship of St. Michael and St. George. Sir Edgar is a man of considerable culture, and his knowledge of Greek is al- most as profound as his genius for the ad- ministration of the £ s. d. of nations. His Grammar of Modern Greek" has been ad- opted as a standard work by the University of Athens. Two years ago, Sir Edgar essayed to maintain the legislative traditions of his family, and went to Westminster as the member for Exeter. He is married to a daughter of Lord Feversham, who, as Lady Helen Duncombe. was the most notable beauty of her season. Sir Edgar has re- cently taken to motoring, and like many another devotee of the automobile, has gone through the ordeal of being arraigned before a magistrate for "furious driving." The constable admitted that Sir Edgar only travelled at a high speed when the road was quite clear, and that there had never been any danger of an accident. But the magistrate was determined to have his little laugh at Sir Edgar's expense, so he fined him JB5, and remarked that it was too small a sum to be any punishment. Sir Edgar has a very pretty place at Esher, in Surrey, in the midst of delightful scenery and well laid gardens. From floor to roof the house is packed with costly furniture, magnificent books, statuary, old masters, panels and bronzes. Lady Helen, who has travelled, considerably, uses for a paper weight, a gold nugget weighing three ounces, and in its natural state, which was presented to her on the occasion of her visit to South Africa. Trophies of Sir Ed- gar's residence abroad, of course, abound, and among the "curios" is an old-fashioned goat carriage with a history. When the Spanish Infanta visited Paris just two hun- dred years ago for the purpose of being betrothed to the Dauphin, the Grand Mon- arque presented her with this goat-car- riage, and naturally Sir Edgar prides him- self on possessing so romantic a "relic." The marriage between the Dauphin and the Infanta never came off, however. An- other of Sir Edgar's possessions is the tent used by the Turkish general at the siege of Vienna in 1684, which, in the dog days is "pitched" on the lawn, the grass beneath it being covered by a wonderful carpet which was originally the property of a for- mer Ameer of Afghanistan. Among the many paintings which adorn the walls of Esher Place—the Vandycks, Batticellis, Van der Veldo's, and Gainsborough's—per- haps the most striking is Benjajnin Con- stant's life-size painting of Lady Helen Vincent. In another room is the largest landscape ever painted by Hobbema. The house is itself historic, for it was erected in 1528 by Cardinal Wolsey, and subse- quently owned by Lords Howard de Wal- den and the Dukes of Newcastle- "Wol- sey's Tower," now a tottering ruin, is a picturesque landmark in the grounds. Not far off, in the "Tudor Garden," is a gi- gantic tulip tree, which is hundreds of years old, and possibly the finest specimen of its kind in this country. FREDERICK ANNESLEY.
LITERARY BUREAU.
LITERARY BUREAU. Dr. Fairlie's work on "Municipal Admin- istration," published by theMacmillan Com- pany, opens with a most exhaustive histori- cal survey of cities and their government, beginning with the Greek and Roman world. In later parts it classifies and de- scribes municipal activities, and deals wit municipal finance and organisation. aim and reference is primarily i but its principles are based on ex P • from all countries. And. in all 9^ i Dr. Fairlie is right, th city IS assumIng something of its old ;n +up tance, being less and les9 m S A xv fV>aI Industry," by Dr. P R b t the natural history of a highly P. Roberts, is the naT;u Anthracite or.nl specialised industry.. Antnracite coal in the United States, b«mg limited to a par- ticular area, is a natural monopoly. It 1S Soited on the hand by a strongly or- ganised syndicate, on the other by a solid ffninn composed ot workers from a score of nationalities with nothing in common but the needs of their labour. Thus many in- teresting economic problems are presented in a verv concrete shape. Nothing con- nected with the industry is omitted, from the geology of ^anthracite to the housing of the workers. The book is published hy the Macmillan Company.
LOCAL PATENTS.
LOCAL PATENTS. The following information, obtained from official journals for the week ended January 4th, is supplied by Mr. N. Watts chartered patent agent, 31, Queen-street. Cardiff- Gloucester Bank Chambers. Newport and 58, Wind-street, Swansea:—Applications for Patents.—Henry Smith Watkins. Swansea, combined tobacco pipe and clean- ing pin, No. 25,932, December 19th. In- ventions Provisionally Protected.—John Isaac RIchards. I..lansamle.t. improved fire- crate. Applications to Register Trade Marks.—Walters, Nash a.nd Co., Swansea, for canned fish and fruit. • — » l ~Z~7-_ H L. I 111 ■ Alm 1 A cup of Van Houtsji's Cocoa W I for supper is the best nightcap. 1 van C2eoa m is so perfectly digestible that there is no M s B fear of its causing a bad night's rest. Its vl ■ nourishing qualities enable the blood to m B build up, during sleep; the matter wasted B ■ by the previous day's work, worry, or I I excitement. It soothes the nerves and is H a alike strengthening, pure and delicious. ■ ,dog& 10 va n o Vft coa ) vanfloutei^Qicoa [ I When ordering cocoa, don't forget to mention I I t x that it Is Van Houten'8 you want. M '7.
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WELSH UNIVERSITY. PRINCE OF WALES ELECTED AS CHANCELLOR. PLACE OF INSTALLATION CEREMONY FINAL DECISION DEFERRED. The Court of the University of Wales held a special meeting at Shrewsbury on Friday for the election of a Chancellor. The Senior Deputy Chancellor (Dr. Isam- bard Owen) presided ,supported by a large attendance, which included the Junior Deputy Chancellor (Hon. Geo. Kenyon), the Vice-Chancellor (Principal Roberts, Aberystwyth), Principal Reichel, Bangor Principal Griffiths, Cardi; Lieutenant- General Sir James Hills-Johnes (the treas- urer), Sir Lewis Morris, and others. Election of Chancellor. The Senior Deputy Chancellor said that the nomination of the Prince of Wales had been made by every member of the Court, with the sole exception of one who was tra- velling in Japan. The signatures to the nomination had been printed and circula- ted. There was one signature to add to this list, viz., that of Mr. Brynmor Jones, who was away in Egypt at the time that the list was printed. He (the speaker) had forwarded to his Majesty the King the memorial passed at the last meeting of the Court, and in reply he had received the following letter: "Sandringham, Norfolk, "29th November, 1901. "Dear Mr. Owen,—I have submitted your letter and the two enclosures which accompanied it to the King. "His Majesty commands me to ask you to be so good as to convey to the Court of the University of Wales the expression of his warm thanks for the two resolutions which you have forwarded to him. "Pray also assure the Court that the King highly appreciates the kind and loyal terms in which they allude to him and to his connection with the University, and that it gives him sincere pleasure to as- sume the title of Protector. "Believe me, yours very truly, "Francis Knollys." (Cheers.) He had also communicated to the Prince of Wales the unanimous nom- ination of the members of the Court, and had received from Sir Arthur Bigge, the following reply: — "York House, St. James's Palace, S.W., "December 7th, 1901. "Sir.-In reply to your letter of the 5th inst., I am directed to inform you that the Prince of Wales is much gratified to know that the members of the Court of the University of Wales have nominated him for election as Chancellor of the University in consequence of the King having resigned that position. "His Royal Highness gladly accepts the nomination, and, if elected will be proud to occupy that distinguished) office pre- viously held by his Majesty. "I have the honour to be, sir, "Yours very faithfully, ) "Arthur Bigge." (Cheers.) Proceeding, the Senior Deputy Chancellor said that notwithstanding the nomination of the Chancellor was un- animous they had in accordance with the statutes to elect the Chancellor by ballot, and he asked the Hon. George Kenyon, Mr. Alfred Thomas, M.P., and Principal Reichel to act as scrutineers. The vote having been taken, the Hon. George Kenyon announced that all the votes. 49 in number, had been recorded m favour of the Prince of Wales, whereupon the Senior Deputy Chancellor declared his Royal Highness duly elected Chancellor of the University.. Place of Installation.—Riva^ Claims Discussed. The Corporations of Caidiff^ Swansea, Aberystwvtn. and Bangor applied t0 have the installation ceremony held in their re- spective towns. In the course of a discus- sion that ensued, The Senior Deputy Chancellor stated that the installation was simply ceremonial and had no legal force Mr. D. E-Jones 1 hen we are discuss-ng a thing that may take placa within three months or that may beput off for a year. The Senior Deputy Chancellor said much must. depend upon the Prince's present en- gagements and upon the arrangements for the (the speaker) was s,ure i. T° £ Zr f Plea6Ure" of the Court to r6 rliff jp* tl0n* that had come from j Swansea tint day, and they f pleased; on a future oo- and Abe0ryst°weyIh.dePUtati0nS h'°,U „i!r Mar<!lant Williams (Merthyr, Sti fsked whether the faco of the a,rtt' Swansea deputations addressing ie Court that dav would preclude them beiu§ heard on a future occasion? ..Senior Deputy Chancellor I do not think it would preclude anv further state- llhmt. The claims of Cardiff having been heard. Swansea's Invitation was next submitted to the Court by a do.,l Potation consisting of the Mayor of Swan- sea (Mr. Griffith Thomas). Alderman Rich- ard Martin, Mr. Howell Watkins, Mr. Mor- j gan Tutton and the Hon. Odo Vivian. The Mayor of Swansea said that imjaedi- ately they heard that his Royal Highness 1 had accepted nomination the Town Coun- cil met in full body and passed the resolu- tion inviting the ceremonial to be. held in Swansea which was the largest Welsh- speaking town m Wales. (Hear, hear., and laughter.) So far Swansea had been visited but once by the University Court. and rhey felt that the installation of the Chancellor of the University of Wales should take place in a town that was, and always had been, a Welsh-speaking town. Although its population was only some- thing like 100.000 pounds-Oovd laughter) —he meant 100.000 people-it was the cen- tre of the metallurgical world of England, and it had in its immediate neighbourhood a teeming population which.would be de- lighted to have the opportunity of welcom- ing his Royal Highness at Swansea. fl*ul the town would be prepared to do all that w? necessary to uphold the dignity of the installation and to give hi" Royal Highness a good opinion of the Welsh-speaking part of his Principality. (Hear, hear.) The Prince, if he came, would be entertained right loyally by Mr. Graham Vivian, of Clyne Castle, where before her marriage the Princess of Wales once stayed. It was now the turn of an extra-collegiate town to have an installation, and of the extra- collegiate towns Swansea was the most im- portant in Wales. (Applause.) The Hon. Odo Vivian, said that Swansea had no hesitation in making known its claims, for the arguments in favour of those claims were of the strongest. (Laughter.) T> !} U sPent an hour that day poring over Bradshaw, and found that from a railway point of view Swansea was most centraj. Glamorgan had 51 per cent. of the whole population of Wales, and Swansea was far easier ct access from other parts of Wales than either Cardiff or Aberystwyth Mr. Morgan Tutton said that the rivalry between Cardiff and Swansea was purely friendly. (Hear, hear.) Of the 170,000 people of Cardiff, how many comprised the Welsh element, the interests of which that Court had to safeguard? From this stand- point the case for Swansea was infinitely superior to that of Cardiff. Again, Car- diff, as a collegiate town, would have its turn on the ordinary rota. (Laughter.) For once Swansea would have a look-in. The Swansea, deputation did not come from fv.SIri! co,mmittee; they were sent with the lull power of the Council behind them. They were authorised by the General Pur- poses Committee—(A Voice: "Ah, a com- mattee >—yee but thait committee com- prised the wnolG Council. Every reason> every feeling, every desire must tell in favour of the selection of Swansea. The Senior Deputy Chancellor thanked the Swansea people for the very cordia. invitation tendered by the deputation. Though the Court had been but once in Swansea, there was no member of the Court present at that meeting at Swansea that would not be very glad indeed to at- tend another at Swansea. (Hear. hear.) They had by no means forgotten the hearty welcome accorded them on that occasion. In thajnkiijg the deputation, the speaker re- ferred to the presence of the Hon. Odo Vivian, whom they were all glad to see, a.nd to remember all that his late father had done for the cause of education in Wales. There would be an added interest to the next visit of the Court to Swansea in observing at first hand the great work which the members of the Court under- stood was being done at Swansea in the de- velopment of higher technical education. (Anola-use.) The proceedings then terminated.
LOCAL WILLS.
LOCAL WILLS. The wil of Miss Anne John, of Old Lon- don House, Y stalyfera who died on the 4th of August last, has been proved by her bro- ther, Mr. Edward John, the Old London House draper, and the estate of the testa- trix has been valued for probate at £ 217 19s. lOd. The executrix of the will of Mr. Henry Herbert Morgan, of 21, High-street, Mer- thyr, formerly of Swansea, who died on the 15th of December last, and whose estate has been valued at ±*444, is his widow, Mrs. Gertrude Helena Morgan. Probate of the will of Mrs. Jane Radford, of Pendre House, Swansea, who died on the 2nd of September last, has been granted to her husband, Mr. George Radford, and her nephew, Mr. Hector Dicksie, of Pendre House by whom the late Mrs. Radford's ef- fects have been valued at £906.
SWANSEA GENERAL AND EYE T,…
SWANSEA GENERAL AND EYE T, HOSPITAL. it ine secretary of the hospital begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of the tollowing contributions: —The em- ployes of Vivian and Sons Fuel Works and Ore Wharf, North Dock, £ 11 ■ employes of Vivian and Son's Ha- fod Laboratory, £2; employes of ResolveD Colliery, L7 7B. employes of Clydach Foundry, £ 5 18s. 7d. employes of Clydach Tinplate Works, £9 12s. iQd. employes of Bennett Bros., builders, £8 lis. 10d> employes of Pembroke Dockyard. £5 ^s.; employes of Margam and Mansel Tin Works, JB.10 is. 9d. employes of Cvm aer, Glvncorrwg Colliery, £1 17s. 6d. employes of South Wales Canister Co., CJ5 14s. Mr W. Jones, bridge foreman and his gang, G.W\R., Neath, £ 3 15s. Id. • jyfr. J. Jen- kins, yard foreman and his gang.G.W.R., Neath,. £ 1 Is. employes of the G.W.R. car- riage department, ISeatli, 9s. 8d„em- ployes of Melincrytban Chemical Co., £ 4 10s. 2d. Wokkingrnan's Club, Neath, L3 19s .oil. Liberal Club, Neath, 91 9s. Id. Working Men's Club/and Institute, Swan- sea, £ ^0 St. John's Church, Clydach. £ 3 1 ™:• 5 Seion Welsh Congregational C hape Glai.s, £ 1 Calfaria Baptist Chapel, C lydaoh, £ 2 4s. Id. Bidfctopstone Church, £ 1 5S
THE SCHOOL FOR THE INDIGENT…
THE SCHOOL FOR THE INDIGENT BLIND. The new school buildings, upon a site of Srteen acres at Leatherbead' ox which Prin- cess Christian recently laid tje 'memorial- stone, will replace the premises to be va- cated in June this George s- eircus. Southward which, th the site, have been purchased for £ 140,000 by the Baker-street ¥1d Waterloo Railway Com- pany for purposes or a generating station. The" school was originally opened for fifteen inmates by Jour benevolent individuals in 1799, in w1^ been the notorious Dog and Duck tavern in St. George's Fields. Those premises being taken twelve years afterwards tor the site of Bethlehem- Hos- pital, tlit governing body bought a freehold site opposite the Brass Crosby Obelisk (1771) and there erected a new school for 112 pa- tients. On April 25, 1834. Archbishop How ley, as President of the Charity, laid the first M:one of the present buildings de- signed alter the domestic Tudor style by •John Newman, whose plans comprised an enlargement and a remodelling of the for- mer premises so as to provide for a total of 220 inmates. The new buildings at Leather- head. we read, will receive the same num- ber for the present, and are designed by Mr, C. Pemberton Leach.—"Builder."
[No title]
M>. George King. a leading Portsmouth 1 solicitor and deputy-coroner for the bnr- ough. found shot in his office on Fri- day. having evidently committed suicide, Deceased had a large criminal and private practice.