The South Wales Daily Post

1 UP TO DATE. F- RHB POET TALBOT RAXXWAY ELFX. The Port Talbot Company's Bill has already SMS6d the House of Lords. Petitions have, owerer, now been deposited iii the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons on behalf of the Bweat Western Railway Company and the Gla- jpafgun County Council praying to be heard by ^Mfescl in committee against the measure. THE MAY QUEEN AT CAPEL COMER. The choir at Capel Corner intend performing Siff W. Storndale Bennett's pastoral The May Queenon Thursday evening. Mr. W. Evans, the encrge Lie leader at Gonner. has for the past two months given the choir a. thorough training, and it is erpeated an excellent performance will be the .esnlt. The artistes engaged are Miss Maggie Navies, Miss Mary Da.Ties, Mr. Maldwyn Humphreys, and Mr. David Hughes. FAX LURK. The OScial Receiver has received the following ei. fitW Rnaaciat of B.»ar,y Gsuninen, of 00, Terrace-road and 2, Wassail- V'eet, Swsansea, boot and shoe maker: Liabilties £.109 2s. lli.asfiets £125s. The debtor states that ue commenced business about eight or nine years jigo without any capital. He carried on a branch business at St. but in August or 1892 transferred it to his son. He had had a. previous failure, having been adjudged bankrupt about 10 years. ago, when his liabilities were £700, and he believes a dividend of 2s. 6d. in the &was paid. Gammon has no oiler to make, and he has been adjudged bankrupt. The public examination ia Axed for the 14th of June. TUB DEATH RATE" The Registrar-General reports that during the past weektthe average rate of mortality in the 33 j;reat towns of England and Wales was 161 per 1,000 of their aggregate population. The rates were :—Highest, Norwich, 22 lowest, Croydon, 8 Swansea, 16 Cardiff, 17. SKITTLE TOURNAMENT AT NEATH. At the..Neath Liberal Club, on Tuesday evening, i skittle tournament, Married v. Single, took place. Mr. Cribb captained the latter, and Mr. David Phillips the former. The single men proved too good for their opponents by 11 points, the scores being: Single, 285; married, 274. SIB. J. T. D. LLSWKLYN. Swansea Town Hall, says a London morning daily paper,,has now received a portrait of Sir John Dillwyn Llewelyn to hang among tho other mayors of the borough. Sir John was mayor in 1890, and scximpressed were the burgesses by his condescension in accepting the office, although ho jeft a deputy to do the work, that they ha.ve per- oetuated his features on canvas, although ihey declined to accept him as their Parliamentary representative. la BPite of His unpopular politics, Sir John is a much-, esteemed figure in Seath Wales, where he is a big landowner. He recently caused some amusement whiJejsitting as a member of the Welsh Land Commission by stating that, although he had struck out a clause in his leases requiring tenants .0 send him a goose at Christmas time the geese jtiii came in shoals. Sir John has had domestic Aria's of a peculiarly painful order. His eldest 1Ioy was drowned many years ago in the presence fhis wife andL himself, who were powerless to iielp him, and only last year the eldest of his two remaining eons died immediately after his engage- ment to be married to a singularly charming girl, GOWBB GUARDIANS GRUMBLE. The very "severe and unseasonable weather of .oe past fenv days has been playing great havoc with some of the garden crops in Gower. The »eeu east winds have been accompanied by severe ^rostat night,.and the result has been that rows :md rows of beans, which are now, of course, high Above the ground,afeave been blackened and kiUed jy the winter fiend. Acres of potatoes, too,.have jecn ba-diy da-maged, the effect of the tops becom- ing frost-bitten being that the tubers will remain runted and wiasned. WHY SO LONG UNBUJMED ? The discussion a.t the last meeting of the Swansea Board; of Guardians with reference to allowing bodiesiof paupers to remain at theWork- ..I>nse for seven or eight days after death tbrought *o light the fauct that in Swansea, more especially in the poorer parts of the town, it is the custom to leave bodies for a week after death before Ahe term eat takes place. Miss M. E. Brock elicited ihis statement from the undertaker during' "&is interview with the Board, and she appealed to tb. chairman to know whether auythintg couidnot be*done to^remedvtlio crying evil. Sir- John's reply was that it did not lie within thov power of the .Board to issue any instruction point- ing to the advisability of interment as soon as possible after deatn. This fact is to be regretted, for undoubtedly the>question is one thai requires- looldng into. Perhaps Miss Brock will be able to iafutta-Msomeof the members of the Sanitary Cewtroittan of the Swansea County Council to take the m&fcUr up. TKH MUMBLES BANDSTAND. The Yacht Club at the Mumbles having failtid to carry out the proposal to erect a bandstand on the promenade, the Mumbles Railway Company- have taken the matter vigorously in band, and already a very handsome stand is Deing erectcdj, on the sward at Bracelet Bay. The band of thoij 3rd Glamorgan Volunteers is to supply the-music —(on Thursday evenings, so it is said)—and'them is to be an cnciosure and chair-seats to defray- expenses, GOUS"&-LANE CHAPEL. The deacons of the Gorse-lane Baptist Chapel have just purchased a new organ for that placfr of worship at an outlay of £80. SOUTH WALES CONSERVATIVE AGENTS. A meeting of the members of the Welsh. Division of the Conservative Agents' Association was held this afternoou at the Salisbury Club,, Swansea, under the presidency of Mr. J. Vye-Paraiintcr (Gower). There wero also present representatives from South 1%.>- morgan, East Glamorgan, Cardigan Boroughs, Cardiff, Swansea, and Rhondda Division., The following officers were elected fortho ensumgj year:—President, Mr. J. Vye-rarmmter; chair- man, Mr. MeClime secretary, Mr. J, W.TaH)ot, (Cardiff); treasurer, Mr. J. H. Mills (Cardiff)^ committee, Messrs. Cox (Llanelly), Morris, (Bwaosea), and Owen (Derbigh). A reso- lution to the effect that the society, shoald insist that until tho local organisa-» tioo agent had been offered the position of election agent it should not be offered to any outsider was carried on the proposition of Mr. Vye-Paa-minter, seconded by Mr. Morris. The next meeting of the Council is to be held at Bridgend on the 4th of July. The meeting then terminated, and.the agents sat down to tea. SCHOOL AT BUTNMILL. At the meeting of the Buildings andlSites Com- mittee of the SwanSea. School Board, which was held yesterday (Tuesdaytenders were received; for the erection of the new school at<Brynmill, Tbe: lowest tender was between £13,000 a.nd £14,000. This means nearly £14 Per head for tho cost of erection alene, quite exclusive of furnishing.

AN ABEBAVOFF B»ILDERS CLAIM. At the Neath County Courtrthis (Wednesday) afternoon,beforehisHonourJu/5ge bishop, Mor>fii.n Cex, builder, Aberavon, suod Evan ljleweJj'n, collier, Cwmavon, for £ 121 5s., being the tfaurd instalment due on account for the erection of three houses at Aberavon.—Mr. Vifliers Meager (instruc- ted by Mr. S. C. Thomas) appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. C. J. Jackson (instructed by Mr. D. g' Davis, Cardiff) for the defendant.—'The defendant stated that the work was not being properly done, aud claimed £ 25 for loss of rent consequent upon the delay in the execution of the work.- Coansel having conferred,the case wassettled upon terms the particulars of which were not disclosed,

^PANE'S ALL Fur Hats. 3s. 9d., next to Royal J

THE A.NARCHISTS. THE LlEGE"HMISCiiEAN TS. COADJUTORS DISCOVERED, ARRESTS IN FRANCE. The Paris police have succeeded in apprehend- ing an AnaTcbst who carried on a regular corres- pondence with the perpetrators of the recent outrage at Liege. These men formed an Inter- national Association, the members of which were chosen by lot to place bombs in certain European cities in order to wreak vengeance on those per- sons who were hostile to ihe Anarchists.— The Eclair announces that the police arrested not one Anarchist, but several. They appear to have been of foreign nationality, and certainly had relations with persons living abimd.

LIBEL ACTION AGAINST A NEWSPAPER -#0 MR. NEWNEs' DEFENDANT. The hearing of Mr. Harry Seymour Fosters libel action against Mr. Newncs. proprietor of the Westminster Gazette, was resumed to-day, (Wednesday). The action was again adjourned.

BEIGN OF TERROR IN SERVIA. -0)- WHOLESALE ARRESTS. A telegram from Vienna this (Wednesday) afternoon says that a reign of terror prevails throughout Scrvia. Arrests are being made on a wholesale scale in connection with the alleged conspiracy to restore the Karageorgevitch Dynasty.

DANCING IN THE LIONS' DEN. -+- NOT DOMESTIC ANIMALS. Justicos Cave and Wright to-day (Wednesday) dismissed the appeal against the magisterial de- cision in the case of the Aquarium lions. The keeper of these lions was prosecuted for cruelly beating them to keep them in subjection while a skirt dance was periornaed in their cage, but the Westminster magistrate, without going into the merits of the case, dismissed it on the ground that lions were not domestic animals within the mean- ing of the Act The Court now upheld this view, and dismissed the appeal accordingly.

TERRIBLE DEATH OF A WELSH WOMAN. :» ;1- l.' II BCRXT IN A FIT. At Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, yesterday, the body of a poor woman named Mary Jenkins, residing alone in West street, was discovered by two girls lying face downwards on the fire. The aged woman had, it is supposed, fallen in a fit on the fire. She was burnt so severely that death ensued shortly afterwards.

A KOSEBERY ANECDOTE. An amusing story is being told as illustrating the democratic tendencies of the Premier. He was, it is said) amoagihe passengers by the 1.45 through train to Windsor on Saturday afternoon. Being recognised at Paddington when about to enter a lirsfc-class carriage, ho was followed by several ether passengers who were desirous of travelling with a Premier. To avoid them he lin- gered on the platform for some minutes, and when the train was on the move dashed into a third- class compartment. Herahe seated himself in a corner and began to rea<d his paper, imagining himself unknown. Happening, howover, to inquire of a fellow-passenge>- if. it was a through train, he received the answer, "Yes, my Lord." Lord Rosebery smiled and continued to peruse his paper.

TREASON M INDIA. ALLEGED SUPPLYING OF NATIVES WITH BRITISH ARMS. At Bow-street to-day (Wednesday) Joseph Packer, Thomas Gascoyne, and Alfred A. Harvey were charged with a crim:nal breach of trust as public servants under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code. All j he prisoners were formerly employed at Feroscpora Arsenal, in the Punjaub, and it is alleged they illegally supplied the natives with arms. Packer and Gascovne are in receipt of Government pensions, and Harvey is a sergeant in the Ordnance Store Corps. All three were arrested by Inspector Jarvis, of Scotland -Yard, on warrants received from India and endorsed by the chief, magistrate at Bow-street. Packer was arrested at Plum- stead, and he declared he knew nothing about the charge. Re heard a year ago that thereswus some trouble about the natives and arms, but his name was not then mentioned. Gascoyne was arrested at Greet, near Birmingham, and Harvey at Devon- port The latter, oil hearing the warrant read, .said, I suppose I must go with you." Prisoners "were remanded. It is stated that the arms they were supposed to have disposed of to tho native, dealers were eventually sold to marauding tribes-oa the frontier. I8U

THE PA.RNELLITES; « AGIN THE GOVERNMEN T." At the fortnightly meeting of the National' League at Dublin on Tuesday, Mr. Clancy, M.P., who presided, said since tho Independent party returned to Parliament after the late National Convention in the Rotunda, they had endeavoured to seize every suitable opportunity to carry out the policy laid down at that convention. The Budget afforded them an opportunity of doing so. Accordingly they went into the lobby against the Government. That would continue to fee their position during the session. There was no pre- text from their point of view for the existence of the present Government, and the best thing to do I was to send them to the country and to substitute another Government for them. THE BANKRUPTCY OF AN IRISH M.P. Mr. J. R. Cox, who came upfcr public examina-* tion at the London Bankruptcy Court to-day (Wednesday), said lie was Member of Parliament for East Clare from-1886 to 1892. In the latter year the petitioning creditor, Mr. W. liedsaond, was elected. Witness unsuccessfully petitioned against the election, and was required to paywjosts. He disputed £ 1,000 of the total. The anti- •Parnellite party having paid into Court, other side drawn out that amount, which he thought would have covered the eosta. He had never been pressed for the balance, and supposed the object of making him & bankrupt was to pre- vent his future-candidature. The examination concluded. IgXfP""—■■' ii mill mmmmmmmmm*mmrong-

LOCAL & DISTRICT. » <> rnjm ABEKAYOX. DEATH OF MR. D. AFANLAIS LEWIS. — On'. Monday evening Mr. D. Afanlais Lewis, of Aber- avon, died after, an ifnesd of over-three months. Deceased was well-known throughout the Princi- pality, more especially amongst the eisteddfodwr., He was the proud possessor of a rich tenor voice, and travelled, for several years with tho Cardiff Prize Choir as the principal tenor. Lately he travelled with other companies, filling a similar role. PONTARDULAIS. BElON CHAPEL, WAUNCIJION.—Tho- anniversary' services in connection with this chapel were held on Sunday and Monday, when powerful and eioqoent sermons were delivered to largo con- gregations, by the llevs. D. Rhagfyr Jones (Pon- targ;othi), and R O. Evans (Melinerytham). Col- lectaons were made at each service towards liquidating the debt on the chapel. On Sunday mourning the Hev. D. R. Jones preached to-a large congregation at the Pontardulais Coffee Tavern, Ubb*a latter hijna m. 5tf i>lfl aHavo nlinr/'h.

SEQUEL TO A BREACH OF PROMISE. I IMMORALITY* AND CRIME. At Bow-street,-London, to-day, Walter Daniel Talbot Turnpenny was further charged on remand with administering noxious drugs for the purpose of procuring abortion to Miss Emily Faithful, who recently brought a breach cf promise case against the defendant, but an arrangement was come to out of the Court. She was re-called and examined. Sho said Turnpenny gave her some mixture and pills, but it did not have the desired effect. He also gave her a white powder which was to be taken in small quantities. She, however, did not take that, but instructed the nurse, after tho birth of her child, to burn it. [Proceeding. ]

A GBAVE-DIGGER SHOT. e SERIOUSLY INJURED BY A STRAY BULLET. Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon a sad accident occurred at Putney New Cemetery. John Ingram was engaged digging a grave when he was struck in the back by a bullet, which penetrated his shoulder-bladeandembeddeditself in his right lung. The cemetery is situated at the rear of the Wim- bledon Common rifle ranges, and th& man was working with his back to them, and at it. e time of the accident a. squad of men from the CivV2 Service Volunteer Corps were practising, and it is sup- posed that one of their number either shot over the range or went wide of it and thus cursed the accident. The Duke of Cambridge only assents to the present use of the range for the sake of the Metropolitan volunteers, although he had been requested by the inhabitants to close it.

A W()DLD-BE M.I\\S DTVORCE. SECOND DAY'S TRIAL. The hearing of Mrs. Dunhill's separation suit was resumed to-day (Wednesday). Mr. Dunhill, recalled, said there was' no truth in the suggestion that he ever committed adultery with Baroness Frerichs.—Mr. Deans, for petitioner, said this was an extraordinary state of things. Mr. Kisch was putting questions on behalf of Baron. ss Frerichs which tnerespondentsyesterday declined to put.—The President said tt. respondent having changed from an adverse to a favour- able witness for the Baroness since yester- day, cross-examination must be disallowed.— Respondent, cross-examined by Mr. Kisch upon tho evidence given yesterday, said he and the Baroness stayed at Mr. and Mrs. Dickson's at Nice because he was a candidate at the timcin Yorkshire, and was expected to bo canvassing the electors. (Laughter.) The Baroness had an allowance from the court provided she did not use the name of Frerichs. The Hotel proprietor knew their real names. —Cross-examined by Mr, Deane, respondent said both he and the co-respondent w^re now living in Sackville-street. — Some evidence having been given to show that Mrs. Dunhill always appeared friendly to the Baroness Frerichs, the latter went into the box and said she had certainly never committed adultery with Mr. Dunhill Her hnsband obtained a divorce from her in 92. The reason she went under the assumed name of Dickson at Nice was that she did not wish her name to appear in the visiting list.—Mrs. Dunhill, who was lriendly, did not know the co-respondent was going under the name of Dickson. Mrs. Dunhill had, however, visited and dined with her since the petition. Once Mrs. Dunhill told her she might sleep in Mr. Dunhill's bedroom.— Examined by Mr. Deane Witness said she lived with Baron Frerichs before her marriage as his mistress. She had not been the mistress of a man named Farnham. Mr* Farnham arranged to pay her £700 to keep his name out of the divorce proceedings, but he did not pay. She never had immoral relationa with Farnham, although she had written him calling him "Dearest Birdie," admitting that he paid her debts and stating that if he would give her a sum half- yearly sha would bo able to go on. The divorce case alluded to was that ot Baron Frerichs, but Farnham was never made a co-respondent. The court adjourned.

THE TROUBLES OF COMPANY PROMOTERS e PROCEEDINGS AT NEATH. THE SWANSEA SMELTING COMPANY. At the Neath County Court this (Wednesday) morning—before his Honour Judge Bishop—G. W. Daviea, metal merchant and metal broker, Stourbridge, sued H. R. Lewis, London, for the recovery of jE50, six weeks' salary at the rate of £540 per annum. There was an alternative claim of JE37 17s. for money expended by the plaintiff while engaged in business on defendant's behalf, and at his request. Mr. Naylor appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. C. H. Glascodine for the defen- dant. Mr. Naylor, in opening the case, stated that a certain number of gentlemen in 1891 pro- posed piwmoting a company for the working of a patent for the extraction of ore from minerals. The company was to ha.Te been called the Swansea Smelting Company, and the works were situate at Yniscedwyn. A good deal of corre- spondence took place, and the plaintiff came down and had an interview with Messrs. Lewis, Cobb (now in Australia) and Phillips. Subsequently the plaintiff received a letter, stating that the defendant and the other gentlemen referred to intended recommending him to the position of secretary and manager of the Co., when formed. Phillips subsequently introduced the plaintiff to the engineer at the works as the new manager. Mr. Davies acted as secretary, and gave orders for g.ods on behalf of Mr. Lewis. After six weeks had elapsed, a: d the scheme got no further, the plaintiff sent in a claim for a month's salary. The defendant repudiated responsibility. The Co. was never registered, and the plaintiff's claim h1.d not been paicll Plaintiff, cross-examined, stated that Lewis had paid for contracts into which he had entered as manager, ono with the Dynovor Company for the repair of a blast furnace. For the defence it was contended that the pja u- tiff was not employed by the defendant at the salary quoted. He was qualifying for the position he was to occupy upon the formation of the com- pany.—Hi3 Honour gave judgment for the defend- ant with costs.

HER MAJESTY AT MANCHESTER. Lord Egerton, having inquired by telegraph whether the Queen suffered any fatigue from the ceremony of opening the Manchester Ship Canal on Monday, has received the following reply from the Princess Beatrice:—The Queen thanks Lord Egerton for enquiries. She is not over-tired, and looks back with pleasure and gratification at yesterday's (Tuesday) reception at Manchester.

CERTIFICATES MADE EASY. In the Queen's Bench to-day (Wednesday), Justice Hawkins was asked to postpone a case be- cause the plaintiff was ill. He said, however, that he would not take medical certificates any more, and should require an affidavit. He remembered a caso where the medical certificate stated that a lady was unable to rise from bed, and within half an hour he saw her hobbling about the court. (Laughter.)

THE ANTI-BETTING RAID. The Northampton magistrates to-day (Wednes- day) granted summonses, at the instance of the Anti-Gambling League, against Messrs. Frail Brothers, lessees of the Northampton Racecourse, for allowing betting to be carried on within the enclosure,

CHARGED TO DEATH. George Bevins, a young brewery etoploy6 at Burton, hanged himself to-day (Wednesday). Deceased, who had been accused of criminally assaulting a little girl, left a letter declaring that, while innocent of the charge, it had preyed npon .his mind.

LORD COLERIDGE. t:; Lord Coleridge, though suffering considerably at times, is reported this morning to be still im- proving.

THE GERMAN FLEET. M The second division of the German fleet left the Firth of Forth to-day (Wednesday).

Aconsignment of the VERY FINEST NEW CO. LIVER OIL just to hand at the Cambrian Drug Company, Chemists, Portland-street, and is being retailed at 10d. and Is. 6d. per bottle, or in bulfc tiv v

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT 91 HOUSE OF COMMONS. WESTMINSTER, Wednesday. The House of Commons met at noon to-day. PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILD HEN RILL. After disposing of some private businesthe I House went into committee on the Prevention oE Cruelty to Children Bill, which extends the pro- visions of the Act of 1839. On a provision to prevent parents allowing their children to seli in the streets between nine at night ;:nd five in the morning, an amendment to insert the word "'know- ingly" alter the word parents was negatived by 130 to 27. Mr. SNArE moved au amendment to provide that an exception in the case of ehi.dt"en ens ployed at special entertainments for charitable objects should not apply where the entertainment was held on premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor. This was agreed to.

THE AM^OF^BAKSOM." THE BETTEHMENT PRINCIPLE. Mr. Chamberlain's ncir scheme oi public com- pensation "I think that the best way would be to submit all claims to an official arbitrator, who would be instructed to give for the property such sum as would ba given by a. willing buyer to a win- ing seller, in other words, the fair market price."

A MAM^BITIM OFF., THE DOG IT WAS THAT DIED.' While on a visit to the Rev. Raymond Peily, tli; this town, a young gentleman from Emmar-Aiel College, Cambridge, had hi-j noxc completely bitten off while caressing an old favourite dcg of his host. The young man is progressing as well as can be expected. The dog has b^en destroyed.

BIG DIAMOND ROBBERY. A CARELESS CUSTODIAN. On the arrival of a Calais express at Paris, yes- terday (Tuesday), an Englishman complained that durin^the journey from Calais he had been robbed of a bag containing £4,000 worth of diamonds. He explained that he had travelled alone in a carnage with a man whose acquaintance he had casually made at Calais. He fell asleep during the journey, ana on awakening found that the stranger had left the carriage and that his bag had also disappeared.

NEATHTRAMWAYS v, COMPANY. • -+- This is the question which is exciting a great deal of interest at Neath. It is common know- ledge tliat the Tramways Company are not able to carry on operations as they could desire; henoe their proposal to the Corporation. The terms embodied in their proposal are not definitely known, but £11,000 is mentioned as the sum re- quired by the company. In the event of the Cor- poration purchasing, a large additional sum of money will have to be expended to put the per- manent way and rolling stock into proper regair.

E0ME0 AND JULIET. o RUSSIAN COpy OF THE TRAGEDY, An unusually tragic occurrence, reminding one of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, took place at the funeral of a young man in War^a^ named Makoffsky, who had poisoned himself in conse- quence of being refused the hand of a lady he was deeply attached to. The young lady in question followed the corpse of her lover to the Catholic cemeterv, but when the funeral procession had reached its destina- tion the girl was suddenly seen to fall hcavilv to the ground. A physician was at onee sent for, but all enbrbs to bring the young lady to life were 10 vain, and it was afterwards discovered that she also had taken a dose of poison. If they could not live together thoy were determined that in death they should be united,

LAW AND THE WOMAN, o MRS. THOMPSONS PITEOUS PLEADINGS. Mrs. Thompson pressed upon Justices Cave and Wright yesterday (Tuesday) her claims in the strange paternity case. The lady, who spoke with considerable emotion, said she had received a letter from Mr. Justice Day on the sub- ject, and she understood that he was back.— Mr. Justice Cave said that he was not in the courts at any rate. Moreover, the Lord Chief Justice, who also had her case in hand, was seriously ill.—Mrs. Thompson: Yes; and I am very sorry to bear it. But see what is going on. When the Lord ChieC Justice is away on circuit Mr. Justice Day says he can do nothing till the Lord Chief Justice's return; then when the Lord Chief Justlca returns Mr. Justice Day is away, and so the Lord Chief Justice says he can do nothing till Mr. Justice Day returns. 1 think I have had more than the patience of Job. I am the last woman in the world lomake trouble without cause, but you eannet go on for ever torturing human flesh as you have tor- Lured me. Mr. Justice Cave We cannot interfere. Mrs. Thompson: You must interfere; yon must, you mu t Mr. Justice Cave I am afraid we cannot help you.

WORK A NIL W,A GKS. DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. In the French Chamber or Deputies yesterday (Tuesday;, a motion in favour of an eight hours day having been referred to a committee, the Premier refused to accept a motion tj permit trade combination on the State railways, and the Government was thereupon defeated by 50. MINERS' WAGES. The reduction of miners' wages in Scotland is regarded by the Miners' Federation of Great Britain as sufficiently serious to call for special attention. In view ot tho contingencies of the moment the Executive ha.ve thought it desirable that a special general aonference of the whole Federation shoufn be called to concider the present position in Scotland, aod take such steps as may be considered necessary. THE LONDON CAB STRIKE. There is no change to report in the condition of affairs in connection with the London cabmen's strike. Lord Si rewsbury has arranged for an immediate sale of all the premises and entire stock used by him in his business as cab pro- prietor. At the Marlbororsgh-street Police-court, London, to-day, two cabmen, named Wilford and Jones, were each ordered to pay a fine of £ 10, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment, for as- saulting another cabman who refused to join the Union. STRIKE AT HARTLEPOOL. The shipyard joiners at tite Hartlepcols came out oi strike yeste rday (Tuesday) afte: noon. r] hey asked a month ago for an advance of 3s., but the employers refused to concede this or any other advance. The men took a ballot before coming out, and decided by a large majority to adhere to their demand. THE MINERS' LEADER. In a letter to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Mr. Pickard states that his health, which is better now than it has been for some time past, has nothing to do with his reported intentions regarding the Miners' Federation of Great Britain or the International Congress. The .causes which may lead him to take the^eported intention can only be avoided by the policy of those acting in concert with him.

LIBERAL DEMONSTRATION AT NEATH. The adjourned meeting of delegates appointed to make the preliminary arrangements in connec- tion with the forthcoming Liberal demonstration at Ne&th, was held last (Tuesday) evening. It was decided to communicate with Mr. William Williams, M.P., asking him to appoint a date upon which the demonstration shall take place. It is understood that Mr. Williams will use bis influence with other local members of Parliament with the object of securing their presence at the mass meeting.

J. H. PANK can soli a FUR HAT at 23. 9d 1250

CRICKET. -+ CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY v. YORKSHIRE. There was little prospect of cricket to-day (Wednesday), rain having fallen heavily, but the players turned up at 11 o'clock, but no attempt was made to play till 12.18. and then before a ball was bowled rain again fell and prevented play tiil 12.40. Though, dull, the weather has slightly im- proved. N. F. Dreee and Perkins added 53 tor partnership, and then Parkins and Healing were dismissed with Wainwright for two deliveries. After lunch 49 were added, and then at 3.17 Cam- bridge dec.hired their innings closed, which left, Yorkshire 3/-t9 to win, and less than three hours ic get runs. The sun shor.c out., and Tunmcliffe and ¡ Wardail hit in dashing style, but made several I risky strokes. Yorkshire scored [0 in fifty minutes. Spore. :— 0x5.; muiK, K. 1st, Iuninps. 2nd liinii.ijs. Pouplas, t: Hunter b Hirst 19 b WainwrighJ ^3 Pouplas, t: Hunter b Hirst 19 b WainwrighJ ^3 MiU'h."iI, lir.v, b Peel 75 b Whitehea-1 S2 KieM.e W'mvright t>Moovhr>usc 13 1> K Latjiam, c sub. b Wainwright. 2 b Pec 'S N. ¥. Druce, c Pool 1) W 0 1» Waiuu i i^ht el Perkins, c snii. h Wiumvrieht. 15 b Wainwright o.'J JIeari"!r, c V/biteh.°ad b \V.-iin- YTipkv- 1 b Wainwright 0) W.Cr. Dnuv. •.•T: nnWIffe bi'eel 9 not out 6».; Kn);inson, V.'ae.uvri i. i» Feel !i no! out U4 Osborne, c Hunter h P.ii-r.t 1 Burroaprhr. not oat :j» JSxtras 5 Er.traj § Total i T.ua! -i40' v J. i.. 1st Innitigg. r'na innings. Warrt.all, run out Iv r' H-alin^r bSouffJas 33 Ttiniiielifi'e, cMiteht'll ne J. c Burroughs bD'glas 47 Brown, eN. F. Druce b Ooixxno 12 not out 5 Wainwright, bKoblnson li not ont 2 Peel, ibw, b Burro!i £ lis 20 j Hormsev, c V/. G. Druce b j Mitchell 1 | P. L. Wo;xih.vl, c Uohinson b j Douglas ? J WUiteh<;a<ltc Osborne b Douses 22 Hirst, t, lijbinsau 19 Hunkr, not out 5 Moorhotise, absent 0 Extras 3 Extras. 4" Total 147 -v:j Tota: 104 LORD SHEFFIELD'S XI. V. SOUTH AFRICANS. With but a short da.y's play at Sheffield Park old Tuesday the home team at the close had lost seven wickets for 198. On resuming the game this morning the weather was unpromising, and the innings closed for 233. The South Africans were first represented by Frank Hearne and lioatiodge, Briggs and Bailey sharing the bowling. On re-

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sum?ng play after luncheon Rontledce was stumped, having shown good cricket in an innings of 75 minutes'duration. Score:- LORD SHEFFIELD'S 1st Innings. 2nd Innings. B. Wentwortb, b Johnson 41 Murdoch, s Halliwell b Rowe 21 A. Payne, b Howe 43 Brann, b Sewell 24 W. Kewhamc Johns'n b it owe. 4 Briggs c Sewell b Bowe 24 A. F. Somerset c Johns'n bjRowe 13 A. Blaekman. c Halliwell b Howe 23 s Humphreys,c Caslers b Rove 5 }«. A. Barley, b Howe 16 Birth, not out 0 Extras 14 Extras Total 233 Total. SOUTH AraicAXS. F. Hearne, c Payne b Bailey 0 t? Rout:edge, st ButtbH'mphreys 50 .•<$ C. L. Johnson, c Somerset b Bailey i0 C. H. Seecull, b Brigg* lt« li. A. Halliwell, st Butt b Britgj 3 C. Mills, b Humphreys 7 C. H. Sewell. 1 b w bBrigjf 3 Castens, st Butt b Humphreys 2 G. Cdpps. not out 14 G. Middleton, e Bailey b Hum- phreys 0 }. G. Itowe, b Extras 4 Extras Totals .130 Total. WARWICKSHIRE v. NOTTS. Rain fell at internals during the morning at*. Birmingham to-day (Wednesday), and at the time fixed for this match to commence it was impossible, to proceed with the match, while there seemed no prospect of there being any play before luncheon. L% The weather, in addition to being wet, was mise r- ably cold and cheerless and there were, practically, no spectators on the ground. A start was marle at 2.20 Robinson and Pike, the overnight not- cuts, being opposed by Shiltcn and Whitebe&d. The weather continued to be bitterly cold .and only Barnes, of the last few batsmen, made-my stand, the innings closing for 146 and leaming. YV arwiekshire 137 to get to win. Warwickshire-* commenced their inniags at 4.40 with Diver and Quaife, Attewell and Ilardstaff being bowlers.. Diver played most attractive cricket, scoring wi'ii great rapidity, more especially off Hardstaif. Barnes relieved the latter at 20. but srili runs came freely. Scores:- NOTTS. 1st Innings. 2nd Innings, J. S. Robinson, c Lilley, b Whitehead 10 c Locker, b ShiltonV 40 Pike, not out 18 c Whitehead, b Shilton .50 Flowers, c Bainbridge. b White- head 36 b Shilton 2 J. A. Dixon, b Whitehead 106 cLiiley.bWJcfLiteheaaf 8 Gunn, b Whitehead. 25 bHilton 11 Daft, b Whitehead 5 b Whitehead 4 Barnes, c Lilley, b Whitehead. 0 e Diver, b Siii1ion.»20 Attwell, b Shilton 16 b Shilton 3 Bagguley, c Lilley, b Pallett 5 b Whitehead 5 Sharpe, b Whitehead 1 not out 1 HardstafT, cLaw, b Whitehead 11 lb w, b Shiltoiu ;0 Extras. 5 Extras ^2 Total 238 Total Jf.46 WAittVl CiSUl RE. lstInning-s. 2nd Innings. W. Quaifc, bAtteweli 14 not out Bainbridge. b Attewell Diver, b Sharpe 3 not out ^371 W. G. Quaife, b Attew ell 58 i Law, c Bagguley, b Hardstaff 68 L. C. Docker, e Gunn, b Barnes 70 Lilley, run out 0 Shilton, b Barnes 0 Paliett, b Birnes 10 Whitehead, not out 8 Knot too, c Daft b Hardstaff 4 Shilton, b Barnes 0 Paliett, b Birnes 10 Whitehead, not out 8 Knot too, c Daft b Hardstaff 4 Extras. 6 Extras 0 -1 Total 248 Total <1 1 M.C.C. AND GROUND V. KENT. This match was resumed at Lords yesterday. Martin and Waiter Hearne finished off the Marvle- bone first innings in twenty minutes for an addition of 14 runs. The total was 261, or 194 to the good. Kent cut up most disastrously at their second attempt before the lowling of Pougberand, i J. Hearne. In an hour and halt the whole side I were disposed of lor 62, and at ten minutes to two the Marylcbone Club won by an innings audi 132 runs. Score K-EXT. 1st Innings. 2nd Inaings. Mason, b J. Hearm' 26 b Pougher Alec Hearne, b Pough -v 15 retired huit -0 Gto. Hearne, b J. Hearne 1 b J. Hearne 0 Wei gal I, b Poughe* 1 b I'ougiier .13 Mar!in, e and b J. Hearue 5 c and b J. Hearne 1 Birch, e and b J. Hearne 3 stStor'r b J. Hearne* 0 Maiehant, b J. Hearne 0 c Pough'rb JHe'rnt»2l Taylor Jones,st. StorerbPough'r 5 b J. Hearne ,11. Wright, e ke b J. Hearne 8 c Heseltine, b J. Hearne < 2 Walter Hearne, not out 0 not out 6 Kuttall, c Storer b J. Hearue 0 c Davidson b J. Heamt* 0 Extias 3 Extras. Total 67 Total „62 M.C.C. c Taylor Jones b W. Hearne 81 Lord Hawke. e SLu-chant b W. Hearne 54 Dc Trafford, c Mas '-n b Wright 2S y' Chatterton, b Martin 18 Carpenter, b Wright 6 > Davidson, c Martin b VV. Hearne Z2 „ E. J. Key, e G. Hearneb Martin 452 1 Pougher, b Martin 0 Storer, b Martin. 0 )< Heseltine, b Martin 6 yji J. Hearne, not out 0 Extras 6 Extras. — i Total 261 Total Extras 6 Extras. — i Total 261 Total

EXPLOSION NEAR ABERAVON. BLASTING ACCIDENT ATtNEW PITS. FIVE MEN SEVERELY BURKED* On Tuesday last whilst the sinking op«ra tions for some time carried on at the Scrutton (Purth) new pits, near Abergwynfi, were being proceeded with, an accident, resulting in severe injuries to five men, took place. The accident is reported to have taken place whilst the men were engaged in charging rock for blasting purposes, the pa-wder. having become suddenly ignited through contact with the iron used for ramming the charge. Vt is stated that all the men are more or less injm-ed, one being in a very critical condition. The jits are being s ink by Messrs. Perch and Cix. who<ivn culiienes in Souih Walei.

NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING. GUN AT l-;b. The SPRING TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES of 20 sovs each with 200 added winners extra second to re- ceive 50 sovs o.it ot the plate,—Five turlongs. S 7 Mr Pv-ser* C .M. -.s Fiaiay 1 8 7 Mr D Cooler's £ a.iatiy M Cannon 2 8 10 Lord T Watts .) 8 7 Mr L de Rothsshiid' Taia T Loa-cs 0 8 7 Duke of D.ivon.^hir j'e Silo G Barrett u 8 10 Sir J Miller's c by Sheeu-Urphan A.ir.es S Loatcv 0 Bettinrr 5 So 2 en Saintly, 7 to 1 agst Taia, arid 10 to 1 bar t«*o.—Gnat Moss made practically all tile runnim', ana v-on easily by two lengths bad third. RUN AT 2-lb. A (at entry) PLATE of 2 0 w-uioars extra.—Five furlongs. [3 12 r Russfi'a Slow Step Malay i 9 fc Mr Jewict's i-rea G Cualcner 2 8 12 Dake of S>t Aioan's Posterity i. 8 12 Capt Bayloy's World"* Kart A White 0 3 lz Oa;/t Bla.-k's Saturn S Loates C 8 12 Col c by it^selery—Millers Daughter Madden 0 3 22 Mr Walf-ics's Noah's Ark W Pratt 0 8 12 Mr W dson's vlabicano C Loates ,0 8 i" Mr E de Wilt's Meuiton Paddccks .F X'ratt 6 8 12 Mr J Cawnom's Sylyanns M Cannon 0 8 12 ^ir J Duke's Robert Dow Rukaby Q 8 9 Baron l-lirsch's Bn'jterine J V. atts 0 8 9 Mr Helly'a f bv True/it'-Dor jtl;v E>i-agg!etail Hustaole 0 8 9 Mr Hammond's Lady Pol! .HTon 0 3 7 Coi North's Quoea Saraband G l'arr ti t) 3 9 Mr Koao's f by Minting—Jikii .J V«*oodburn 0 8 9 Mr L de Rothschild's Gav.rey .T Loates 0 3 9 Mr Sal'.scliins liabiata A Watts 0 Q.w 8 9 WT Sherwood's War Queen Wingfield 0 8 6 Mr Makterman'« Helen Carte AUsopp (i 3 9 Sir M Fitzgerald's Eilen iiea-j G Brown G Betting D to 4 agst Freak, G to 1 liibieauo, 100 to 12 SylvaDUS, 100 to 13 cash Elm fiiiy aud Gawrey, EO to 7 each Queen Sr.rabanr! and Posterity, and 2; to 1 each Lady Poll and Slow Step.—Wen by ashort head; three lengths separated second and third. RUN AT 3-0. The NEWMARKET STAKES of 4500 80Y; a sweep- stakes of 30 SOYS each, the re«jfc»der from the iun.l, for three-year-olds; coiis Ejti^T^llies 8st llib the second to receive 10 p. r cent and the third b per cent upon the wilole otaLti.—Ono mile and tuo fur- longs. 9 0 Lord R)scbêr" Ladas J Watts 1 9 0 Mr D Baird's St i-'lo;*ian M Cannon 2 8 11 Mr D Cooper's Glare T Loates 3 9 6 Mr Jennings's Sir Joan Broad .A W aifce 0 § 0 Dnke o: Portland's Galston Bradford 0. Beating 100 to 8 on Lada", 10) to 6 a.;t St llo- rian, 25 to 1 Glare, Cj io 1 Galiton. and 100 to 1 Sir John Broad.—The quickest away was Sir John Broad on the right, followed by Lauas cn the stand side, witii St Florian next, and Glare in the rear. In this order they ran until half a mile from home when Ladas pulled his way to the front followed by Glare and St Florian, and won ha.rd held by two lengths: three lengths separated second and third. Sir John Broad was last. Time, 2 min. 22 sees. RUN AT 5-30. A SELLING PLATh) of 10o &o»Tj, for tw.:>¡car-olà;. live be.on" 8 9 Mr Larnbourne's Merry Bcao Fialny 1 8 9 Mr Larnbtcn's f by Prelude—Full T.lt's dam F Pratt 2 a.12 H.R.H. of Wales's Soveral. J Watts 2 8 12 Mr Tatam's Jummy .G Brown 0 8 12 Mr \Vehb'« e by Loivland Chicf-Hcut Day Riakaby 0 S 12 Djkc of Portland's Irish Tones Ailsop;> 0 8 S Mr Mxtre's i by Merry Hampt01i1-Hip- stone .L.Awhile 0 8 9 Mr Smith's Gretna G Barrett 0 8 9 Sir R W C-r: Iiii as Siecle.8 Loates 0 8 9 Mr W Cooper's Mrs Graham Bradford 0 8 9 Mr L do Rothschild's Bali-iarda Tioaied 0 8 9 Sir C Hartopp's f by Brag—Cipoletta M Cannon 0 Betting 5 to lagst Cipoletta filiy, 100 to 30 Meary Echo, 5 to 1 Balis,irdo, 10 to 1 Mrs Graham, and 100 to 8 others.—-Won by three, lengths; a length sepa- rated second and tbird. RUN AT A PLATE of 103 sovs penalties and allowances.— One mile 7 8 Mr Ellis's Opera Glass, 3 T Loates 1 7 8 Mr T Jennings's Qnickthorn, 5 .W Pratt 2 7 11 Lord Eiiesmere's Ca.stlewood, 3 Bradtord 3 7 11 Lady M SieviePs Altieri, 3 Allsop^ 0 Betting 11 to 3 aget Opera Glass, 0 to Alrit;ii, 5 to 1 Quickthorn, and 100 to 8 Castlev,*<.(^nick- thorn made the running from Opera Glass until a fur- long from home, where the latter challenged, and won by two lengths bad third. RUN AT 4-50. A SELLING PLATE of 1:3 sovs weight for age.— Five furlongs. 9 2 Mr Combe's Conachar. 6 Rickaby 1 9 2 Mr Archer's Golden Arrow, 6 J Watts 2 8 7 Mr James's Dirk, 3 T Loatej 3 9 2 Lord Molyneux's Ejector, 5 F Pratt 0 9 2 Mr Lynham's Prank, 4 Allaopp 0 9 2 Mr Gottschal'c's Bouthiiiier, 5 M Cannon 0 8 7 Lord Penrhjn's Isola, 3 G Chaloner C 8 7 Mr Joicey's Seafarer, 3 Pradterd 0 8 7 Mr Hutton's Sir Oracle, 3 Win^tield 0 8 7 iVlr Jennines's Marguerite II, 3 .J vVoodbu:n 0 6 7 Mr Wilson's Us"uebagh, 2 W Pratt 0 S 2 Mr Jennings, jun's f by Trapeze-Cecil, 2 „H Grimshaw 0 Betting 6 to 4 agst Dirk, 11 to 2 Golden Arrow. 7 to 1 Conachar, 100 to 14 Bouthillier, 100 to 7 ba.r four. ) After a tedroos delay, caused by the fractiousness of Sir Oracle and Conaohar, the latter got off clear, aud making the whole of the running won by two lengths; a neck separated saoemd and third. Bouthillier was fourth, Prank filth, Ejector sixth, Isola next, and Cecil filly last. RUN AT 5-0. The SECOND WliLTSK HANDICAP PLATE of 150 sovs, added ta a sweepstakes of 5 sovs eaca for starters winnersextra secand to receive 25 sov.. out of the plate.—Six furlongs. 7 9 Mr D Cooper s Paprika, 3„ M.T Loates 1 7 b Mr Russel's Platter, 3 Finlav 2 8 0 Lord EUesmere's Beilarmine. 4 Bradford 3 713Barou Hirsch's Soclc, 4 liuuiLold 0 7 8 Mr Smith's Heath Cottage, I S Loates 0 7 S Prince Seltykoii's Zamct, 6 .J Woodburn 0 if 0 Mr Low's Profit, 3 Huxtable 0 JBettisig 9 to 4 r.tst Heath Cottage, b to 1 each Paprika and Platter, 6 t; 1 BeLarmiae, 7 to 1 Poor Box^and 10 to 1 each Soult aud Zamet,—Won by threelengths faliC between second and third. BETTING ON THE COURSE JUST BEFORE THE NEWMARKET STAKES, i THE DERBY. > 2GO to 1CO on Ladas w af jjkJLOO to 15 a-st Glorias, t f c5«T40 to 1 agst Gallop.ug Disk, t «.

LATEST ,iCKATCHINGSf. Wehavafcee* oSicially isl:ot-ia»j«d t'tm. ""ft(:r;'OI'i: of the f»ll«wiag scratchir.ps — July Stakes, Newmarket J ely .Meeting— Mai'.iei Rose. Clarcnce a..ud A-vond.-ile Stakes, Sacdowu ftdrtt— Princess of Terk. All ts- Pen (dead). All handicaps where the, weights haTe appeared-— Irish M.iil and Richard. A!! engagements in Baron irir$ch's same— Gallant and Faalard. Coventry Stakes. Ascot—Maiden Rose. Winasor Castle Stakes, Ascot—Surprise Me. All engagements ia Mr Buxierick-Cloete's name- Cidu. Midland Deny Stakes, Leicester—Ahednego.

SAD BURNING FATALITY 1. SWANSEA. A CHi LD IN FLAMES. I At th" Viii ierb' Arntfi, 3iafcd, this (Weccesot.y) afterua6i<i Mr. E Sirick iielu an inquest over the body of Saraii Jane Webber, agod 5, daughter of John Webbsr, 30, Bafod-llitreet, wiw died ycstardf.y from bunas re, 'I ceived on Sunday morning last. Deceaseds lather suited tiiat on the morning in question ha went downstairs and lit tho lire, leaving; his wife who vraj unwell, in bed. When the wafer boiled ho went up again to see his wife. several of the children having gona down in the meantime ic their nightdresses. While upstairs he j Ktrraams, asd rushiag do wo saw one 01 his children with its nightdress rtil in SMiiRR. He cxtiuguishod them as quickly as possible, and finding that she was badly burned upon the right side sent for Dr. Jab oz Tho man, t whoso assistant oaaae, and ha oi- either Dr. Thomas attended deceased up tiil the time of her death on evenir;g. livideriee w .s ab;o given by a neighbour. Medical evidence tended to show L' that deceased died from tho shock and burns, and a verdict of "Accidental Death was returned.

THE JABEZ BALFOUlt COMPAXIEa At SheSield yesterday (Tuesday), Meersbroek Park Estate, the property of t. e Lands Allotments Company, one oi: the five speculations in which Jabez Balfour v.as concerned, was. by order of the Official Receiver, offered for sale by auction. The company bought the estate fit tecu years ago, when it was valued &t £ 75,000. They really paid £ 50,000, but i: was plaeed by them as au asset at 'j £ 126,000. Afterwards the company sold thiriy- aovou acres to the Sheffield ( orporatiou f»r a i public park, and the remainder new came under the hammer. A large number of lots were sold, the total realising £ 2iS,410.

OXFORD r; ^BRIDGE—POETS. It jtS-ry or snu is ht:r literatwe, pev'try is tlie chief glory of that literature; and as the two Tj aivcTsities may fairly be celled the cradles of English poetry, thc*v a.-e entitled to. a large share of tlie national glory. The poets whose names are missing froEi the niuster-roj.'s arc but few. But amongst 1:1-e, is the createst Mzae of au,t for, little afc we know of SLakespe.Vs life, it is | eerisin that no )x>rtion of it was spent at University. The certiinty is not so gtwt in tlu.; esse of Chaucer ;i340—14(50) the lather SngiisH -T, poetry for there are references to both TJu.we.tsitie^ 1 in (JanterbuTv Tales." Thus, the eireumBtteaee^ that the clerk—the original cf v.hose ]>orti^it Îi!\ thought to have beeu Chaucer himself—is Oxon ian and that a met ore of a pcor Oii^'xCL, SoLolar m lodgings occurs in the tale of the MiHes,; are ai'cej'.tcd by some authorities as evidence tjiat. Chaucer studied at Oxtnrd. But I;y jihers thej evidence cn behalf of Cambridge if Ijeld to IK5 equally^ ifcpoag; for the tale of the Re&ve ha.« reference to the adventures of two undergraduates of th", Stdar Hall. Cantebriggv," who took a walk out Trumpington way. If such eviden.* were r.dIT;t iec{ it would go to prove that Chaucer studied at both XJriireraitJiiii, but in the absence if direct evidcuw-, the wisest course i* to admit tlie oiatm of neilket-.i Yet nati cajmot ^eip wifhiiig thai it Vad be-.u wwible to plsujf his nar-i- at the head of the Cambridge poets to begin with Chaucer and end with T'eiinyton to have the jrolden thread of poetry running tlirough our history in unbroken ecsitinr.ity for a period of six hundred years.—" Ternpie Bar* for March. WOMAN AND THE MUSICAL IDEA. This aptitude for dealing with the oonorete uiaken woman a good housekeerser and a. manager cf a family; it helps her admirably for working in organisations for benevolence or for mutual ic- provement by it she may, even without great ldsalitv. paint famous if not great pictures, a* Pos-a Bonneur lias done; especially does it fit her for producing works of fiction, which first of all must deal with the concrete life of every-day beings. Nor does it keep her from being a poet, ia which department of art, she has done SOID" charm- ing and noble work, her best being of the lyrie order: shert poemis of her own feelmgr.; sometimes narrative or descriptive poems,—the dramatic and epic in their highest forms being seemingly beyond her. And so, while her strong tendency towards the concrete haus made it easy for her successfully to Ret to music simple words, such as express definite incidents or individual experiences, her d f instinctive shrinking from the abstract hail kept her, from interpreting, as in the composition of grtafc operas, life aud passion in their broad, universal aspects; and from producing great symphonies, in which, in the trsjiseendentaJ realm of harmony, life and passion have their very essence. Such an art does not suit woman's spiritual conformation. It ia too vayue and formless to her; she cannot picturt the hole after the pile of sand has been taken away. Moreover.—I say it at the risk of abuse,—1 <x> verily believe that she is at all timea more interested in the pile of sand than she is in the hole. At its best a hole is but an empty place, the mere contemplation of which ma-kes one feel friend- less and homeless; while without the sand it is nothing less than the speetrt of infinity!—"The Atlantic Monthly" far March, THE CRUSADERS. Christianity could not imicediately and directly t&ange the far. of the world but it mitigated the horrors of th,tJ.ne, by infusing itself-into warlike institutions. As the investiture of the toga was the first honour conferred on the Roman youth, so the Germans were incited to ideas of personal con- sequence, by recovering from their lord, their father, or some near relation, in a general assembly, a lance and a shield. Each petty prince was sur- rounded by many valiant young men, who formed his ornament in pwwe, his defence in war. When tbe tribes of the north h:ui renounced idolatry, and adopted the religion of the south, the ceremony of creating a soldier became changed from the delivery of a huice and shield to the girding of a sword oil the candidate; the Church called upon hid always to protect her, and Christian morality added t«e ^-i^ations of rescuing the oppressed, and preserving psaae. A barrier was thus raised against cruelty and injustice; and objects of desire, diefinct from rapine and plunder, were before the eyes of martial yoyth. The true knight was courteous and humane^ stern and ferocious. All protector of the weak his mind was elevated and softened, generous and dis- interested. But the enemies of the Church, as well as the foee of morals, were the objects of his hatred; lie became tlie judge of opinions as well as of acticsaa, and military spirit prompted him to destroy xwtfott I than to oonvert infidels and lieretics. The engrafV ing of the virtues of humanity, and the practical duties of religion on the sanguinary qualities at the warrior was a circumstance beneficial to the world. But the mixture of spostle and the soldier waa a union which reason abhors. It gave rise to a feeling of violent animosity against the Barweni6 and was a strong and active cause Of the Crusades. London Society for March. ALCOHOLISM IN FICTION. Ono of the moot powerful stories in Mr. Caul son 3f ernshan's recent volume, A Book of Strange Sing," is devoted to the ruin of a fine intellect and a promising career by the fatal dominance at alee' olic craving. The same sombre motive m appears in one of the narrative studio which Mrv Vi-eorge Egerton entitled Keynotes," anH i £ is again present in the strongest chapters of Alan St. Aubyn'l latest aoTel, "To His Own Master." These are but three instances of the choice, by present-day writers, of aleokc&asi as a narrative theme; and the matter to te noted is the curious and signifi- cant change ui tfes imaginative treatment of this evil of inebritr wl ich has become observable daring a period trail within the memory of men and women nca I living. Through the sixteenth, sevens teenth, and eighteen \i centuries, and even during1 the first halt' of the present oentury, the vagaries of intoxication were among the most highly favoured materials of low comedy; to-day the horrors and agonies of t&e ourae of mefority provide suggestions for the grimmest aad gloomiest tragedy. VCithoa^ doubt this change of tone on the part of the piv. ducars of fiction is mainly due to a general deepen* ing and purification of public sentiment; but when the tide of opinion begins to rise there ? always some arte literary mariner whose boat is the firsf to oorne is. "oon the flood. In this case there if •Little doubt t&at the name of the man who caught the tide was Charles Dickens. Here, as elsewhere, he was an originator, for I feel certain that I an right ia saying that the terrible story of Th* DrunkardV .jkath in the Sketches W

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