The South Wales Daily Post

THE MADAGASCAR EXPE- DITION. SOLDIERS WITHOUT FOOD AND NUMBERS DYING DAILY. A Dalziel's telegram on Saturday from Paris says. A shocking estate of affairs han been disclosed by an interview in the "Eclair" to- day- with a genltleinan just returned' from Madagascar. He followed the expedition as far as Suberbievill, and makes some strong remarks upon the manner in which the cam- paign was organised. The soldiers were con- stantly without food, and often toiled hard ali day with nothing but a military biscu.t and a bowl of soup. It is difficult to say how many deaths oocurred, but from careful in- quiries he made he was positive that there Ii have been at least 3,000 up to the present. He himself has seen men dying at the rate of ten and twelve a day. These deaths resulted from T1" nn in<Jl from wourids- Only onoe on June ^9, had they many men hurt, and then HTO poor .ellows were abominably treated. Ihere were seven of them, and in oonsequencp oi there being no medicaments at the front the whole week passed) before their wounds could be attended to. By that time the wounds testered and were overrun with wojjms. The 200th Regiment has, completely broken down, and the 50 men remaining had no fight left in them and could only be employed in the rear gu^rd. lo add to the miseries of the situa- tion ,t was olear that the capital couid not be reached before the beginning of the rainy .etMon. For the sake of the suffering soldiers he wished he could say that General Duoheene would arrive at Antananarivo as early as he predicted, but he very much feared' the French would not reach the capital before next spring. The "Rappel" says the amount of the proposed vote to cover the cost of the expedition hae been very muoh exaggerated. Until General Duchesne's estimates have been received the Government oannot fix the exact amount which will be required, but it will be Within 50,000,000 francs, originally reported as the sum necessary to meet the extra ex- penditure. As far as, the Marine Department is concerned, the primates have been exceeded by only two or three million francs.

THE STOKES AFFAIR. CAPTAIN LOTHAIRE RE-CALLED. A Reuber's from Brussels on Satur- day says :-The "Etoile Beige" states that the Govenmrnt of the Congo Free State have sent instructions to the Governor General to re-call Captair. Loth a, re in order that that. officer may throw full light on the occurrences which led him to have Mr. Stokes tried before a court-martial, which sentenced him to death. BELGIUM AND THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. A Central News teiw^raim from Brussels on som'iofafLeiVei^Utr says :-Tb,e Htatements in some of the London papers -to the elfect that Ger- many had joined in the English protest against the execution of Mr. Stokes is emphatically denied here in quarters usuaNy well-informed. Un the other hand, it is believ-ed that King Leopold' visit to-day to the Firenoh Minister Foreign^ Affairs was for the pur post" of obtaining Frenoh assistance against what is described here as England's attempt to make political capital out of the Stokes affair. HEAVY CLAIM FOR INDEMNITY. Mr. Allan B. Stokes, in an interview ou 'Saturday with the Central News Belfast cor- respondent, confirmed the statement that a heavy claim for indemnity woU:o. be made on behalf of the relatives, of Mf. Stokes. Mr. Allan Stokfts has recently received a. consider- able numlber of l^ttfers and expressions of in- dignation from IVi.noe, Germany, and nearly every part of the British Mes. One of these was from an Edinburgh dioctor who waq some years aco enoacpd in mission work with t/hr' deotn«ed'. Mr. Sitok°s is "in constant commu- rui'tvbion with tihe British Foreign Office, through whom the cfaim for indemnity will be made.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A WELSHWOMAN. ALLEGED BLACK TAILING IN I LONDOX. A'b Southwark Police-court, London:, on Satur- day (before Mr. ttlade) Ann Davies, 39, a .Welshwoman, giving an address at a farm in ulamio Road, Llangeitho, Cardiganshire, was brought up on a warrant oharging her with sending a libellous letter to Mr. A. \Y Maobean, builder and surveyor, of Waterloo, London, and attempting to extort money bv menaces. Mr. Joneu, solicitor, prosecuted. -It appea.red from the evidence that prisoner was recently occupier of a milk-shop in Long- lanie, Bermondsey, belonging to the prosecutor, and that she had a irrievaii<*» no-ainc* k;™ „ ;,v, -&JI. YT.J.I..&.I. reference to the transfer of the business. Prisoner claimed £ 30 as being due to her, but, this benur denied, she wrote a long and offen- sive letter, charging prosecutor with being a thief and a member of a. long firm, gang, also declaring tnat unless he settled with her she would bring witnesses and have him put in prison When arrested bv Detective-sergeant i the L DiviRwn, prisoner, in answer to the charge, said, it is quite right. 1 wrote and sent the letter, and can prove everv word. It is true Maobean and his manager belong to a long tvrm gang. I can bring plenty of wit- nesses to prove it, and 1 have been to Scot- land xard to give information."—Mr. Slade remanded the prisoner, and granted bail.-The oaje is much commented upon in Welsh circles in London, where most of those engaged in the imlk-seilmg- trade are Welsh, people, very many of whom hail from Cardiganshire.

TRAP ACCIDENT NEAR ABERGWILLY. MARVELLOUS ESCAPES OF SWAN- SEA EXCURSIONISTS. A trap accident occurred in the parish. of Abergwilly on Saturday morning, when a mother and two of her children narrowly escaped with their lives. Mr. Morgan, who is connected with the Swansea Harbour Trust is spending his holiday with his family in Car- marthenshire. When he was ordering some re- f^ehments at the White Horse Inn, White tfti hndle of his pony was temporarily il ? ,v 'j was /ruelled. Immediately with M A,r ea<* was frfeed he scampered off w th Mrf" Mor?nn, who was in the dog-cart with a baby and' another child. Soon after SdP°thI the "J"* fel1 on to roS and the mother and the other child were \tete\iin The tSw-ay 8°me two mUe8 fro™ vvnite Mill rhe pony s career was ended by a the1ton bit a Ca"' the aniu,al nor uodp ^h^? muoVthe wor9e for the stam-

TV DOWN & SoS FOR RELIABLE FURNITURE. IMMENSE STOCK TO SELECT FF-OA I IDeli SBaBET AND KORRIS I. A Tire SWAN8f1 Before Purchasing, See the Large Stock and Compare Priced M. JACOBS & CO., THE SOUTH WALES FURNISHERS, PORTLAND BUILDINGS, HEATHFIELD-ST-i SWANSEA. m I, r

ALUMINUM MARKET. AMERICAN AND ENGLISH QUOTATIONS. Aluminum is making great headway in the metal market, and it is now need for a variety of purposes and in a variety of ways. It rorms. next to oxygen, the largest constituent element of our habitable earth, and is des- tined in the not distant future to receive trmmenae application. Hitherto the obstacles in the -way of its general use were its impu- rity and its excessive cost, but these diffi- c,ilties have now been completely overcome is three times digbter than iron, tin, and zmc; three and a half times lighter than copper and four and a half times lighter than It is less affected by dry air than any other of the useful metals, and stands boilim water and steam men, and will, therefore0 in the course of time, take the place of lead and other metafe for steam and water pumps, C"' ky its Lightness and nmi-oorrosion it will be largely used by boat builders. It forms good alloys with other anetals, and ingots of aluminum with iron and titeet cast- ings improve their quality. The following mnxpairison of prices quoted in the American and English markets will prove interesting to those who are concerned in the use of the metal: -The "American Artisan" for August 31 quotes No. 1 aluminum ingo.t, guaranteed oven, 98 per cent. pure, at 60c. per lb. in mm-E lots. 58c. in 1001b. lots, and 55c. in ton Hofcs; in "woa file" ingots, 55c.. 52c., and 50c. respec- No. 2, over 94 per cent, pure, for alloying with iron or ,s £ eel. 53c. per lb. in small lots, 50c. for 1001b., 50c. for 1,0001b., and 48c. for 2,0001b. 8nd over. Retail quan- tities, 75c. to Idol. 25c. pt;r lb. Aluminum made specially for horse-shoes and forgings, i and § inch square, and § x J and f x i, is kept in stock by Chicago jobbers at Idol. 15c. per lb. The present quotation, of aluminum in the English market is Is. 6-!d. per lb. in ingots, 2owt. lots. Above 2cwt. lots it would be Is. 6d. per lb.

THE GELLIGAER CHARITY. DISCUSSION AT MERTHYR BOARD OF GUARDIANS. A notice of motion in the ntune of the Rev. Canon Wade stood on the agenda for the ordinary meeting of the Merthvr Guardians on Saturday to the effect that the board renew their petition to Parliament praying that Lewis's Endowed School, Gelligaer, be excluded from the GIamorga-nshare county scheme. The rev. gentleman was unable to attend, and the Rev. Father O'Reilly asked that the motion be adjourned.—Mr. R. H. Rhys. J.P.. Aberdare. moved that it be not deferred, as he thought, it was in- expedient for the guardians to take any further steps in the matter.—Mr. David Davies, J.P.. Aberdare, seconded, and upon a division the motion was carried by nine- teen votes to eighteen.—A subsequent motion, to the effect. that the board con- sidtered it inexpedient to further interfere in the matter, was carried by nineteen votes to seventeen.-Alderman Evan Lewis, Dowlais. gave notice to re-introduce the matter a fort- night hence.

THE ARMENIAN REFORMS. POWERS AND THE PORTE'S CONCESSIONS. A Reuter's telegram from Constantinople on Sunday says: -The report current two days ago that Russia had expressed herself satisfied with the concessions offered, bv the Porte in regard to the Armenian reform scheme was premature, as the Russian Government has not as yet made known its views Acoordfng to dispatches from the Ottoman Ambassador in St. Petersburg, how- ever, the Porte's prujxisalls have made a good impression in Russian official1 circles, and Prince Lobanoff ijS s<a.id to have declared that the concessions might form a basis for fur- ther negotiations. No reply has yet been received by the Porte from Great Britain or France, and these two Powers and Russia continue to exchange views.

^——— SHOCKING BALLOON ACCIDENT. THREE MEN KILLED. A Central News telegram from Bruspeils on Sunday says —A shookine tragedy took place to-day at Losclnetabre'e't, about eight rniies from here. The well-known a-erona/ut Toulet was making a balloon ascent with three com- panions, two of whom, were prominent Brussels tradesmen aud tSht' third an English- man, when from some reason or another the covering of the baCIoon was torn when the latter was at a tremendous altitude. Immediately the gas rusfliwl out and exploded, firiiij the balloon and causing- the car and its occupants to fall wiith a fearful velocity. The horrified Hpecflatois rushed to the spot and discovered the dead bodies of all the unfortunate men f^-arfufKy mangied, Touil't's head beinar cut cican off. The identity of the .Englishman has not vet been established.

SHOCKING SUICIDE IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. The residents in the neighbourhood of the Prinoe Albert Inn, Garnant, Carmarthenshire, were alarmed about a quarter to eleven on Saturday night by the report of some tirearms, and investigations led to the discovery at the back of the inn of a vounr man. named A-cenes Jones, iged 20. who had shot himself by placing the muzzle of a single-barrel (run to his fore- head. The wall near the scene of the tragedy was bespattered with brains. Jealousy of a young fellow living at. 15rv nam man. who, it is stated, was- courting; onus's sweetheart, induced the perpetration of the fatal act.

SAD FATALITY AT CARMARTHEN. AN OLD WOMAN FALLS FROM A CART AND FRACTURES HER SKULL. A distressing accident occurred at Carmar- then on Saturday afternoon. A number of farm people were returning home from Car- marthen market in a cart when the horse bolted! near Tanerdy, and Mrs. Dinah Walt-ers, who occupied the back seat of the vehicle, was pitched on to a stoney road and picked up in all unconscious state. Dr. Price, who was imme- diately summoned, examined the old lady, and! discovered that she had fraotured her skull, .r from the effects of which she succumbed four or five hours afterwards. The deceased was a butcher's widow, and about 70 years of ape. She lived at Alltwallis, near Pen cad er. An mquart will be held this (Monday) evening.

COLLIERY WARNING. Since the passage of Wednesday's deep atmoa- pherio disturbance there has been a marked ri*e Of the barometer over our own and Continental adviS' f. °f ^eat extent has bahle Hint +°m .,?'n ar)d it seems pro- S^h,at cen"re Wl11 Pass across Wales and &n gland. As we are now entering npon the season whjch appears to be met favourable to explosions m mines, all underground workmen tffin«r5°1 carf,f"»y look out for any indlca- X« 4^aT1fej HT,(! to avoid aucil practices as are at^a^a -n,^ any

=-- SHIPPING NEWS. SIGNALLED OFF THE LIZARD- Sept. 14.—Passed East Guldregn, of f( r Hamburg steamers Lame, from tke Indies for Havre Ravensworth, of Newca8 J Got Bland, of Liverpool; a P. and O. ComP*~(f j liner presumed tug Earl cf Jersey, of C»r<\n >• Oumbrae, of Glasgow; Clytie, of Liverpool, of Barrew Alice Depeaux, Braunschweig, from New York for Marie Fleuri, of Newcastle. Passed £ Criffel, of Liverpool, in tow; Kornffl". Grinstad, in tow steamers Ocean, of A i Tripoli, of Liverpool; Ptarmigan, #f Westburyand Aline, of Bristol; Stuttgart, j • Bremen Magellan and Red Rose, of LivefPrLj. Tyne, of Newcastle Killarney, of Cork phone, of Glasgow: Tiieery, of Belfast; ■ Bertha and Blencowe—both of Pioneer, of Manchester; Veronica, of E-ing Ermyn, of Southampton; Swan. 0 pvil** pool; Pennsylvania, fr«m Antwerp for 0f delphia; Oberon, of London Crefe'd' Bremen.—Wind, E., light; weather, fine; smooth bar., 30'20, steady. Sept. 14- —Passed East Steamer Bourg^J^ from New York for Havre. Patted ™^e«f Steamer St. Louis, from Southampton for York. m Sept. 15.—Passed Enst ■ Steamers Trade, New York for Southampton; Scotia, JL,; Montreal for London and Bromsgrove and Solent, of SonthamP1^. Str«am Fisher, of Barrow Peron, of Greta Holme, of Newport: tug GamecocKi j Liverpool, to wing two lighters JesHioco> Newcastle Blarney, of Cork Excelsior. g{ New York for Flushing steam yaoht I^°r'c0t Waterford; Salier, from New York 0{ Bremen Lutece, of Rouen Henry Fishefi Newcastle Monte Vienna, from Montreal London Lee, of Cork Pavonia, ot Liverp i Assaye, from Montreal for London. P?faa, Wast Elizabeth, of Carnarvon Bo'li'hvdJ of Liverpool Jesse Stowe, of Llanelly of Copenhagen steamers Maria, of Rotter* Gazelle, of West Hartlepool; Reindeer, MO* don Boston, of London, for Cardiff Rembrandt, and Shagbrook—all three of don St. Geneis, »f Liverpool; Noordland, I*, Antwerp for New York.—Wind, weather, very hazy sea, smooth bar., steady. SIGNALLED OFF THE MUMBLES- Sept. 14.—Wind, S.S.E., light weather, hazy; sea, smooth.—Passed East: Stea10 Trentard, of London; Citrine, of Glasg0 Inch Longa, of Liverpool Elphinstone. to Newcastle; schooner Useful, of Barro lloads Steamer Opal, of Glasgow. SWANSEA —ARRIVALS. NORTH DOCK. ore- Sept. 13—Alpha, p. 55, Highbri'lare. copp^r g, Vigilant, g. 251, Liverpool, geneial. Yorkehif0' 15a, Granville, nil. Margaret Arm, 28. Aberf* uU- o««- Sept. 14.—Eleetra, 305, London, copper Oupe, s, 396, Portsmouth, nil. Jewel, 149, Du pitch. SOUTH DOCK .,t. Sept. 13.—Rio Poimoso, dO. Bristol, Hei.ry risher, s, 299, Honflcur, til. Avon, s, C'aiiliiT, general. Aatraphun, s, 2,236, Green nU" *n\' Sept. 14.—Ferric, e. 150, Briton Ferry, ?e Brighton, p s, 229,. Ilfracoir.be. excurskm. p s, 93, Ilfracombe, excursion. DoUie, s, 16^- deaux, pitwood. Dunvegau, s. 98, KillorgaJia. lU PRINCE OF WALES DOCK. r,1m Sept. 13.—B-juridge, s, 2,23*, London, nil. s, 925, Glasgow, nil. Sept. 14.- -Ncreg. s, 294, Rotterdam, nil. SAILINGS. O NORTH DOCK. r,lrii btpt. 13 — Marj- Coles (M'Kill«n), KiUyleagh. «u, (Tyrrell), Arklow. Duke of Wellington (Sh 13rOgwater. Marestrickter (Price), Limerick. ^ept. 14.—Alpha, 6 (Luxon), Sau idergfoot. *'„JI f're- (Evans), Belfast. Count d,Aspretn-'D (Sttvensci.), Hcmfle.ir. SOUTH DOCK. ■'rt. 13.—Alexandra, p s Thomao). T'fracon?^, Aoac-ia, s (Mooie), Treport. Sarah (Knight), oruijre. George and Susan (Hearon), Dublin- Pasteur (Le Ba^cadp). La RoclicUe. Nerio (Jeun St. Brieux.. Sept. 14.—Avon, s (Stewart), Glasgow. (•Teukvns), Scillv. Rio Foruioeo. s (Rule), AT°^ mcith. FexTic, s (Hnrns), Manchester. PRINCE OF WALES D0C1C r Sept. 13.—Pal'ion. s (Hnowdon). Naples. s (Archer), Liverp-]. Donio, s (Thointus). Lisl*"1: Sept. 14.—Liver[>ool, s (Richardson), SOUTHAI'LE'VJTI Princess Alexandra, s (Mnrrcv;), Newport. Prince, s (Lucbee), Bristol. Enid, e (Wilton), >c port. Aliop Depeaux s (Carpentier), Rouen. ENTERED OUTWARDS.—September 14. Jt La Rnobelle, Leila, g, B, Holmes. 325, LetricheuX David Stockholm, Man-, s, B. Boagev, 773. G. Lennard r Srbles. Swansea, s, R, Diiwn, '579, F. le Poulangf' Bordeaux, Ouse, s, }1, Hedge, 396, La Sooiete L° meioialc Liclxn. Noreg. s. Nwv, nag, 294. BursHW it Co- Morlaix, Ste. Marie. F, Thibaud, 44, iTo. Uv Roclielle. Pitre Anna, F, Leport, 79, i, G. Wortagne, Marie Angelina, F, Le Flock. 109, J effreJ'1! St. Brieux, Dauntless. B, Pitman, 40. G. Shepherd a. CLEARED.—Sei^tember 14. Stockholm, Marv, s, B, lpTO coil FIt. Brieux, Dauntless, II. 60 1a Rochelle, Leila, s, R. 1.300 coil Cagliori, Orfco, fl. B. 350 coal, 1,850 patent fuel P.sagua, Savernake, B. 1,749 coal Plnladclphia, Maryland, s. B, 600 "moral Bermuda, Benridge, s, B, ballast IMPORTS.—September 14. Bordeaux, Dolli?, s, 320 tons pitwood, W. Pa*ie# IMPORTS CO V-;TWISE. —September 14. Londnn, Elf.-tra, s, 120 ton3 coppcr ingots. 380 t" lead ore, Vivian & SOILS YA Liverpool, Talbot, s, 400 tons general, J. KaC<" frimited) fl I.iverpool. Vigilant, s, 350 tons general. J. R'lC° (limited) Dublin. Jewel, 105 tons pitch, Atlantic Fuel ComP1^" E.^POKTS COAST^'ISE—Septcmbef 14. 4ill Newport (Pern.), llarv Ann, 40 coal, S. & J. I -te Bridgwater, Sampson", 80 coal, French Anthra"" Company „ Liverpool, Talbot, s, general, 15 hunkers, J- (Limited) (1(> Arkl' W, L. Furlong, 130 <>oal, Gwann-cac Gurwen L Lordon, Fitzwilliain, «. 300 general, Tucker & NEATH AND BRITON FERRt-^ ARRIVALS. Sept. 12.—Ferric, s, 149, Bristol, general. Olivio" s, 111. Swansea, ballast. Sent. 14.—Albert, 46. Watcliet. ballast. ExPre^ 40, Watcliet, ballast. Glendyr. 45, Porthgain, ston- SAILINGS.. Of Sept. IS.—Fcrne. (Bunw), Liverpool. City Yor\. s (Baker), Bristol. Sept. 14.—Olivia, s (Connett), Portreath. Go?0' (Ceaton), Huclva, iia Caidiff. CLEARED.—September 13. Huelva, Gogo. s, B, empties

THE CHANNEL SQUADRON ANCHORED OFF SCARBOROLTCff. The Channel Squadron, which had delayed o:i account of the fog* was sights S<iarborougli at twenty minutes past fy Saturday morning, steaming in three The vessels anchored off the south cheek o> Castle Cliff shortly before half-past ele^ when the mayor and corporation prooeede'^j the flagship and welcomed the admiral squadron to Scarborough. The ooncoiir36 spectators was immense. On Sunday a great many people visited ships of the Channel Squadron, anchored Scarborough. On Saturday night Vice-AdH1' Lord Walter Kerr and his officers attend6 j banquet held in their honour at the Hotel. On Sunday 150 boys from the ship8 *l,jll entertained, and to-day (Monday) 400 me» be entertained.

A CA^O~DE^TKOYEN. THE FIRE ON A TRANSPORT STEAMER. ——— ^JJ, A Router's telegram from Marseille^ .0 Saturday says:—After remaining a jo- water until eleven o'clock this I?1? > ing the hinetl trai.sport Comorin, on rt''u ijy fii« broke out on Friday night, settled down und^ai the weigiit of the v\ hi"h rive -engines had pumped on board- jp entire woodwork and the inside of tn^re. have been bui-nt, but the iron framework ,y mained. Tho ship's cargo was eTltl di'troyod. Printed and Pubiisi.'Hi for the Proprietors T)A Vi l) DAY! at the Of?.ces ot "South Vales Luiiy l'ost, 211, Swansea.

WHAT WAS IN A NAME? I am a. surgeon with a tolerably good practice my age is foity, and I have heard1 xuyseif called good losing, and never thought I was bashful till I fell head over heels in love with Lucy Houghton. You see, -Lucy is omiiy twenty, and' I am feaunted with t'w fear that there is too great e disparity between our ages. However, I at last decided to vena the dear girt a valentine, and on the back of it to inscribe my love and otfer her my hand and heart. Lacy is an orphan, and resides with a maiden aunt, also a Miss Houghton—a Miss Griselda Houghton. I am a modest man, but truthfulness com- I pels me to declare that if ever a woman made a dead set at a man Miss Houghton dId at me. -Besides beir.g ten years my senior she is not the sort of a lady I admire. How oppo- site she is to my Lucy, who is a fragile, rosy- cheeeked, bine-eyed darling, whereas her aunt is a massive woman, with a Wellington nose and with cheeks of a purplish red. I had bought a. sweetly pretty valentine, inscribed my versiried offer of marriage on it, put it in an envelope—being very careful to address it to M i ss Lucy Houghton—arid wajs about to post it when there was a vio- lent ring at the surgery bell. My greatest cium, Jack Darner, was in with me at the time. so I asked mm to post Lucy's valentine for me, being anxious she should receive it by the first post on St. Valentine's morn, a* something seemed to tell me that °he would be looking for one. The next day was a sad one for me, for on that day I bade farewell to Jack Danier- we had been like brothers—who started for Australia, a relative having offered him a partnership in a large sheep run. I shoui.d have fe it his departure much more had not my mind been so deeply en- froseed in feverishly wondering whether ucy would say "Yes"' or "No" to my poetically urged request. I wended my way tv her residence in an MKleseribable state of agitation to know my fate. 0 I was usered into the dtawing-room, and1, in common parlance, before I knew where J was a pa.ir of massive arms were thrown ■around my neck, a weighty nead. rested on my shoulder, and a deep voice murmured: Neediiess to say, George—darling Ceorge my answer is 'Yes. I-I dont understand you. Ml..i8 Hough- ton"—for it was she—I gasped. "Yoa will soon, dearest, she returned. My mind may be a complex one to some, but to you it will be an open book—love will render it so." And then she actually imprinted bomb- shell of a kiss on my mouth. But, madame." I cried, in great distress of mind, and ineffectually trying to disen- gage her arms from my neck as a servant entered the room, but hastily retreated' on beholding the state of affairs, there—there is some horrible mistake." "What do you mean, George?" she asked, reproachfully. DtouTt you think that 'I love you?" I hope you don't, madam A fervently exclaimed. Hope I don't ?" she screamed, glaring—it neatly was a glare—at me. Then why did yon send me a valentir3? Yesterday wasn't the 1st of April, was ]. "No—no," I stamme;:bewilcterea; "but I think to-day must be. I never sent you a valentine, madam, thcagh I sent one to I Lu—your niece." My niece:" she shrieked. "Then why did you address it to Muss Houghton? 1 turn Miss Houghton. She is Miss Lucy Houghton." Houghton." I didn't address it to Mi>.s Honghton." I m afraid I roared. "I was particularly careful to put Miss Lucy Houghton. But don t, you think, madam, we could discuss th" matter better siting down?' 1 asked, for she had never removed her arnid frjm mv neck. I'm—er—a tritiq weak about the )egs." Miss Houghton uncoiled her arms, went to a desk, took out a large envelope, handed it to me, a.nd asked in a most sepulchural tone pf Voice — Mr. Rainhaim, is that Miss Houghton on the envelope, or is it not?" It is," I said, much puzzled. "And is it vour haii-dwriting, or is it not?" I carefully examined tt, and am thankful to say was able to reply: "No. Miss Houghton, it is not my hand. writing. It's a wonderfully clever 1im.itar tion, but it's not mine." It was quite clear to me now. Jack had evidently addressed another envelope, and put my valentine in it. Not your handwriting' Then w iio?e is it?" asked Miss Houghton, turning an un- earthly colour. Taen I explained to her how I had been the victim of a practical joke. Prodiuce your friend, and perhaps I'll believe you, said the lady, looking most in- credulous. I cannot. He is on his way to Australia, I regret to say," I replied. "A likeiy story," laughed Miss Houghton, hysterically. But it won't do for me I'm ioo old I mean fro too wise—to swallow tuch a tale. I can see through your perfidy Since you sent me the valentine vou've lizard that Lucv has come into a small fortune, and have determined to jilt me for her In Tins is the first time I have heard a word about a.ny fortune! I exclaimed, indig- nantly. Yoa can tell that story in <*>urt shrieked Mi's Houghton, "for let me ;e)t you that you shall not trifle with my affec- tiotM for nothing: This is a declaration of marriage, and you'll either marry nr* or be had up for breach of promise Which n it t'~> be?'* "Miss Houghton," ± said, you were the 'last woman on earth I wouldn't marry you! Is your niece at home?—for 1 wish to see her." Yes, here she comes! exelaimeu Miss Houghton, as she entered the room. "Lucy she exclaimed, melodramatically, and point- ing to me. behold the wretch who has broken your aunt's heart To make a long story "hort. I to!d Lucy everything. She—darling—believed me. and. what is more, promised to be mine. A few rfavs after I had a letter from Jack Damer, from Teneriffe. with the fol- lowing postscript: D ear Old Boy,—Forgive me for playing | the last practical joke I fear I shall be able I to play on you for many years. You know my failing. I really couldn't resist the temptation. Needless to say. I wasn't so mean as to read what you had written on it." I There is no doubt that the infuriated lady wil] carry out her threat, and the case cer- tainly looks black for me. The thing i.s. will the court stay execution until Jack for- wards the necessary affidavits from Aus- tralia? Anyway, what months J. shall h?ve ':0 ■wait! And I can imagine how Miss Hough- ton's counsel will dilate on the fact of Lucy having come in for some money, for which I deserted his fair client, and broke h»-r heart. "What's in a. name?" Well, so far-as I can see. there seems to be a breach of promise case in the name of Houghton

ALLEGED INSULT TO ENGLAND. WHAT THE MASTER OF THE HAABKT SAYS. The allegation that the Norwegian barque Haabet. wlwfi is now imioading 'at Roath Dock, Cardiff, had entered the basin a week ago living a fltwr unrecognised by the English Government is denied by tlioje who were in charge of the boat on uhat occasion. One of .\II' representatives on Friday endeavoured to jgeoure a.n interview with the captain. but failed to find him aboard. The mate, how- ever, emphatically repudiated the allegation, and .w-id that "he flag which was flown by the barque was a legal!v recognwed one. Asked if tho statement rhat the Swedish and Nor- wegian Conswl had taken the matter up was correct, the mate gave our representative to understand that) the rumour was without toun- dafcM"n' ,L,, nu

COUNTESS DROWNED WHILE FISHING. A Dalzi i's telegram from Paris says:—A 4isp»teh from Bonrgr.e. in the Department of Tarn, states that the 'Jomte-se De Penqny was drowned on THursdav whil- fishing in pond 1. r'tluD+.AGn ",4 T"t.(I.,ras.

NOTES FROM THE METROPOLIS. tFP.011 OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENTS. LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING. PEKING AND ST. PETERSBURG. Lord Salisbury will have great difficulty in adequately re-placing Sir Nicholas O'Conor at Peking. No other member of the Foreign Office has so intimate an acquaintance with China and Noith Pacific questions as the late Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. Although ÍJe only directly represented us for two years i.t Peking, he obtained considerable experience a dozen years ago, when, as Charge ctAnaires. he negotiated important treaties with the Chinese Government respecting Rurmah and Thibet, whilst his training under Sir Wil- liam White ritted him well for the high posi- tions which he afterwards filled. Lord Salisbury, however, always manages to fill the round holes with round pegs. and an able man rapidly acquires experience. No doubt Lordi Cromer would be a worthy suc- cessor- but he cannot be spared from Egypt. The most likely man will probably be found in Sir Mortimer Durand. who was mentioned as a possible successor to Sir Frank Lascelles at St. Petersburg. Sir Mortimer was, however, too closely associated with the "forward" section in India to be a person,a grata at the Russian Court. His knowledge of the East is second only to that of Sir Nicholas's, and, as he is a man of remarkable abilities, the Prime Minister may find in him the Ambassador he requires. VALKYRIE'S RETURN. To a frienu of mine Lord Dunraven on the eve of his departure for America con- fided his fears that the excursion steamers would render a fair test of the merits of the Defender and the Valkyrie impossible. His experience of previous contests had taught him that, no matter how well-inten- tioned were the efforts of the New York Yacht Committee, these would be almost worthless owing to the fact that they would not be supported either by law or general opinion. It may safely be assumed that he will never race in American waters again. His action is universally supported here. Yachtsmen of position assert that through- out he has acted as a sportsman and a gentle- man, and that no other course was open to him than that of withdrawal. Though Mr. Iselin's conduct after the second race is unfavourably compared with that which the Prince of Wales showed to the Vigilant and which Sir Richard Sutton showed to the Puritan ten years ago, it is the decision of the New York Yacht Committee which comes in most for censure. It was the duty of the committee to have re-called both boats directly the Defender hoisted the flag of protest, is the general verdict, failing which the race should have been allowed to stand. Recrimination is. however, of little value, and it is as much in sorrow as in anger that sportsmen discuss the end of the con- tests for the America Cup. A WELL-DF.SERVED HONOUR. Mr. Harry Bodkin Poland, Q.C., on whom her Majesty has just conferred the honour of knighthood, was the greatest authority on criminal jurisprudence. For the laBot 40 years every case of importance at the Old Bailey was either conducted or defended by him. As a cross-examiner he had few equals, whilst as a pleader he stood un- rivalled. Yet he never pressed a point un- duly against a prisoner, and waa always the first to in.,ist upon the benefit of the doubt being given to him. Absolute fairness was one of his chief characteristics, and this was established at a very early part of his career. A few years ago-just before finally retiring from practice—-he took silk, and barristers from all parts seized the opportunity to unite in honouring him at a compli- mentary banquet. Equal pleasure will be sdve-n at the bestowal of the honour of knighthood. THE MAN OF THE MOMENT. "Ban iey" Barnato. the financier, is certainly the man of the moment. His every action is as much chronicled as are those of the Royal Family. Last week he Made two millions before ten o'clock, and it is as likely that he will clear another two next week. He had not even the proverbial twopence with which to start life, yet he is now residing in Earl Spencer's town house, which he has taken for eighteen months, until the palatial mansion which he is erecting in Park-lane is completed. His East End origin occasionally manifests itself during fits of excitement, which, however, are extremely rare. He has been known to "lose his hair" over a game of billiards for threepence, but nothing on earth will induce him to play cards for money. He is still a young man, biessed with a charming wife and1 a charming child, and he has the reputa- tion of being one of the best fellows in Lon- don. Success he attributes solely Lo the fact that he trusts absolutely to his memory and never wants any notes. This success is calculated at about twenty millions. CHESHIRE CHEESE. Cheshire seems to be in a bad way just now. Depression in the coal trade and fail in the price of Cheshire cheese are ample causes for the outcry that is mow being raised. There is, however, !ittk dbubt that for the fall in prices of cheese tho farmers have themselves to blame. In endeavouring to make a cheese that will ripen earlier an infe- rior cheese is produced, which, at the same time, does not keep so well. It is really diifieu'lt to obtain Cheshire cheese at any London restaurant. Chedciar is generally I offered in its stead, and no ei.treaties will secure the real article. A few restaurants make a soeoialitv of this much-appreciated cvmt^tibie, but the time was not long since when not to have Cheshire cheese to offer was to be regarded as second class. No doubt the importation of Canadian and American cheese lias seriously affected the trade, but the concurrent detetrio-ration of good old Uht-shire is a greater factor in the fall of prices. THE PROPERTY MARKET. Last season large properties were at a discount, but with the revival in trade much is expected in the landed estate market during the forthcoming autumn season. The cliiet properties which will be put up for auction are the remaining portions of Lord Ancaster's Gwydyr Estate in Carnarvonshire, about 9,000 acres, Lord Carrington having acquired the historic mansion and park; Ruekley Grange, near Shifnal, one of the finest residential estates in the West Mid- lands, and Colonel Currie's Queaoh Estate in Herefordshire. Three other states, extend- ing over 11,000 acres, are also expected to attract much attention. These are Viscount Brtdport's landed possessions in Somerset and Dorset, and LaAdy Huntingfield's GSevering Hall in Suffolk and Thambleby in the North Riding of Yorkshire. THE DRAMATIC SEASON. The coming week will see the re-opening of the dramatic s-toson. It is true we have latelv witnessed new performances at certair West End theatres, but not until the Lyceum and Drury Lane are in full swing can it be said that the autumn season has fairly com menced. On Thursday we shall have Sir Augustus Harris officiating as one of tin authors of the patriotic drama-, "Cheer, Boys, Cheer, with its thrilling Incidents of South African life, in which the historic episode of Captain Wilson's famous stand twill not be forgwtten; perfect representation of Hyde Park in the season, and the house of a lady of title during a. fashionable i-eception as well as a. glimpse of Hurlingiham, with real polo Snies in tihe background. Saturday will see r. Forbes Robertson in management at the Lyceum, and, with Mrs. Patrick Campbell, civing whait is believed will be a record per, formance of "Romeo and Juliet." Mrs. Patrick Campbell h-a-3, fortunately, recovered from the indisposition which occasioned the postponement of the event for a. week, and the bicycling accident which Mr. Nutoombe Gould, the future "Friar," met with the other day will not prevent his appearance. Mr. Could wd'U have his aim in a sling or in "splints," but this will not affect his elocu- tionary efforts.

SOCIALISM IN SICILY. A Dalziel's telegram from Rome on Sun- day aavs: —TweJvo prominent members of the Rfivclu-fconary Socialfefe pa.r^y an Sicily have been arrested in Palermo. Most of the prisoners occupy good social positions, aanong them being Prince Outo, Baron Coluaja, three barristers, two fflvil engineers, and three landed proprietors. The action of the autho- rities in causing these arrests has had a very j disturbing effect

THE MASSACRE OF MISSIONARIES. -0 WOMEN MURDERED BY FANATICS. HARROWING DETAILS BY AN EYE-WITNESS. The Press Association states that the Church Missionary Society has received by the Chinese ina> 1 the following account, written by the Rev. H. S. Phillips, of the massacres at Klwhen -About 6.30 a. Ti1. on Ausfust 1, hear- ing .shouts from the direction of Stewart's house (I was sleeping in a house five minutes' walk off, though spending most of the day with the Stewarts). I went out, and at first thought it was a number of children playing, but. I soon was convinced that the voices were those of ex- cited men, and started off for the house I was soon met by a native, who almost pulled me back, shouting that the Vegetarians had come. 1 said that I must go on, and soon got in sight o. the house, and could see a number of men —say forty or fifty—ca.rrying off loads of plunder. One man seemed to be the leader, carr>ing a small flag. I could see nothing of any Kuropeans. and, as t-his was in full view of I the rioters. I crept up the hill in the brushwood, and got behind two trees from twenty to thirty yards from the house. Here I could see every- thing. and appeared not to be seen at all. As i could still see no foreigners. I concluded they had escaped, and as to go down was certain w- 1 thought it better to wait where I was. After a minute or two the retreat horn was sounded, and th" Vegetarians beRan to leave, but before they did so they set fire to the houses. Ten minutes after this every Vegeta- rian had 'gone. loam", down a.nd looked about the front of the house, but could see nothing of anyone, though I feared something dreadful had happened, as I heard the Vegetarians, as they left, saying repeatedly "Now all the foreigrtrs are killed." I just then met one of the servants, who told me that the children were in tho house in which Mis<s Hartford, of the American Mission, was staying. I found Mr. Stewart's eldest, daughter, Mildred, there with a serious wound en one knee, and another severe cut. When 7 had washed thtse and put what old cahoo we had to staunch the bleeding, I turned to Herbert, Mr. Stewart's son. who was most fearfully hacked almost everywhere. Then Miss Codrington sent me a message that she, too, was in the house. I found her in a fearful condition, but with cold water and rags we managed to staunch the bleeding. She begged me not to wait, as she thought Miss Topsy Saunders was alive. I then rushed up to the back of the hou.se "nd found the oodies of Mis^ Topsy Saunders Mi3s Stewart, Miss Gordon, and Miss Marshall! The latter was awfully cut. a.nd her head was almost severed, but beyond the wounds given in the struggle the bodies were not mutilated. Later i found Miss Ií. Newccmbe's body at the fcot, of the hill in front of the house, where it had evidently been thrown. Aa I couid then see no traces of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, Miss N. Saundera, and Lena. the nurse, we hoped some had escaped, and I returned to the house, where the children (the four Stewarts) and Mbs Codrington were. Presertly Miss Hartford arrived. She had a nasty cut under one ear, but had been saved fiom death by a native Christian. I I learned !1t»r from Miss Codrington that the u5 v es 'e Zenana Missionary Society who lived in the lower of the two houses, which tcrmec the. ivuchen Sanatorium, after a futile effort to e-,cape, got out ut the bark and were ""Mediately surrounded by Vegetarians. At arst they said they intended to bind them and carry them away, and they begged as this was the intention that they might be al- lowed their umbrellas, but this was refused. Some even of the Vegetarians seemed touched with their pleadings for life, but an o'd iiwasang man, alone of the natives who did not take part, begged that their lives might be saved. Some of the Vegetarians wera inclined to spare them, but were ordered by their ibaders -o carry out 'heir orders. Had they been able to escape into the brushwood around they might have been saved. The great misfortune was that only two were dressed. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, I learned from Kathleen Stewart. Wdie not dressed Lena, the nurse, died protecting the baby, whom Kathleen managed to carry out of the house, though not before the baby's eye had been injured. Miss Nelly Saunders, Kathleen told me, was also knocked down at the nurserv door while goirg to help the children, and as we arterwards found the remains of a burnt body there, we had little doubt it was hers, For a.oiig time we .thought that at least Mr. and Mrs. Stewart had escaped, but later I found th.-tr bodies, or, rather, ashes, in what had been their bedroom. The Hwasang people seemed to have no hand in the affair, although, doubtless, four or five Vegetarian families were concerned. The natives say that the Vegetarian band (':tIne from the east road of Kurhen' city, many from Aniong and Abdiengban, within 30 or 40 li of Kuchen. KATHLEEN SFEWART-S STORY. The story told by Kathleen Stewart, one of the surviving children of Mr. Stewart, is thait on August 1—the birthdJay of her brother, Herbert—she ajad the two eiktar children went out early to the hMs to gather flowers. HtOir- mg horns and drums, the.v ran to sro the pro- oassaon, a8 titey supposed it to be, and met the crowd. One man seized Kathleen by the hair and beat her. The others ran away scream- in?. Kathleen got away and ran home. She saw her fatthe-r enter h.«- •wjt'htT'f. room. This wao the 'tqt seen of en+her of flhem. Kaithleen hid under ths bed. Mildred, unafal- to do D. Jay upon the bed, and was attacked and wounded in tihe knees. Kwbhleen was not discovered. She beard a. rushing sound, md. finding- tlhat the bourse wao burning, drmo-w.d ^•r.Wl on ft and went to the nurserv. pulled the ba-bv from tinder the bcrl". of the dead nur.=e and carried it out in safetv. and one bv one her two wounded brothers. Taking the fO'T chifdiren one at a time ",he started for J1" Hniittfond's. I-Ttlf way she met a native, and induoed him after some trouble to help he". STRANGE CONDUCT OF THE BRITISH CONSUL. Reiiter's agency says —Th« Church Mis- sionary Society have received a letter from Fucban confirming the impressions that the recent outrages i Kuehen were due to anti- foreign, and not to ant.i-Christiin, feeling. A coi respondent of the ,;Chirta Mail" writes ns follows concerning the action of the British follows concerning the action of the British Consul:—"Th^ first iu-ws of the massacre came to us on Fridav night in Pi hastily written letter of Mr. Phillips to Ithe Rav. Mr. Earmis- ter, of the Church Missionary Society, who was at, Kuliang, a summer re?ort. about nine miles from here. He went ironrediatelv to s°e Archdeacon Wolfe, who was also ait Ki lliane. and early on Saturday morning .thev started down to Foochow to see Mr. Mansfield, the British Consul. They met him coming to Kuliang, and told him the contents of Mr. I'bi)Hpf' letter, but- he refused to go back with them. Eventually Archdeacon Wolfe and the Rev. Mr. Bannister, two English missionaries, finding ithnt their own consul would do nothing for them, went to the American Consul, Colonel Hixeon. As soon as he h*ard the terrible news, he went to sr-e the Viceroy, who, after some pressure, put the Government launch at the disposal of Colonel Hixson, to take a party up "the river to Cui Kan, whence thev could go inland to look for the wounded. Within an hour and a "half affh-r hearing the new?, he was in the Viceroy's va,men. fo>:T inile^ from ■tho consulate. Late in tin? afternoon^ the launch went up, taking Archdeacon W olfe. M: Bannister, and Colonel Huson.

THE CUBAN REVOLT. DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH TROOPS. A Dalziel's telegram from New York on Sunday says :—Reports just received from Hdvannah state that a. battle occurred between Colonel Guerido and Maceo. the Cuban insur- gent leader, at Savigne on the 30th wit. The Government troops engaged numbered 1.250, aud the insurgents were about 1,200. The fight began at the foot of a hill, in an attack by the Spaniards upon a. small force of Cubans. M-aceo and the bulk of his troops were am bushed at the- top of the hill, and while the Spanish troops were pressing for- ward to attack the Cubans in front of them he led his men by a detour, and attacked the Spanish rear. The latt-er made a. stubborn resistance, and the fighting continued the emtire diay. Maceo's brother, Iwith five hun- dred cavalry, arrived next morning, and the battle was resumed and lasted another eight hours, when the Government troops were van- quished. They left two hundred: killed and wounded on the field, including two office^ killed and nine wounded. The Cuban Joss is unknown, but the insurgents claim it did not exceed 45.

C HIM EINIRE LAN D. A Belfast paper sjavs: —The disturbances attending tha seizure e ca-M at Truegh, Uounty Monaghari, by emergency men a few days ago threatened a. "serious development. The ground in the vicinity of where the emergency men were employed has been discovered ploughed with bullets. When the hostilities began the police charged their rifles with buckshot, and, matters becoming mo.e ominous, these were withdrawn and ball cartridge substituted. It is generally admitted that, the withdrawal of the emergency men by Sir John Leslies steward saved" serious 1

VICAR-APOSTOLIC FOR WALES. CONSECRATION OF BISHOP M08TYN. IMPOSING CEREMONIAL AT RIRKENHEAD- ("BY "MORIEN.'I I LIVERPOOL, Saturday Night. This morn ng the Right R^v. Francis Mo.-tvn, 0 1J., of lalacre, Flintshire, was consecrated iiishop of A sea Ion and V icar-Apostolic of VV ales at the Church of Our Lady, Birkenhead. The V icar-Apostolio of Wales" is only 35 years of age, having been born August 6, 1360, and is said to be the youngest ever raised to the chair 01 a bishopric. It also puzzles one to account for thus associating Wales with Asea- loii. 1 had always associated Ascaloii with uncircumcision and Phiiktia's daughters, for does) not Holy Writ say, "Na fvnegweh hyn yn Gath, nac yn heo/Lydd &mllun" ¡; The reader wd.ll forgive me for forgetting the English version. I have been listening to Laim all tiie morning and it is a treat to fad 1 back upon my mative Welsh. I was forcibly rein Hided this morning during tho Latin servrioe at the Church of Our Lady of a. Welsh prayer-meeting in the country in Wales. Those who offered up pu/buc prayers dsd to in pairs, one immediateiy succeeding the other. The first of the two prayed as well as he was able iu the EngHah tongue. The one aucceedine htim understood not a word of English, and, therefore, not a word the other 'had ?aid, and thus the mono^lot Cymro com- menced his prayer in Welsh :—"D^ar Lord, r.:v brother has addressed Thee in English. ] did not understand a word he said to Thee, but I suiopa-e Thou understandesit English and all ot,ier outlandish lingoes It is a good job that J-hou doest; iss, indeed!" During the two hours and a half that the service of consecration, lasted this morning, 1 did not hear a word of either English or Welsh spoken from the altar platform by any one of the worgtously-robed priests, a-^d had it not been for a book of translations entitled, "Order of Consecration of a Bashop," which I bought in ohuroh for a sly I would have been in a similar predicament to that m which the Welsh countryman found himself. Doubtless 0 <>f a Roman Catholic to all thi, worbd be that the consecration meant ne d>d:- Tv of I-ather Mostyn to the service of the Divine Mysteries. a,«id that that is alwa ys done in the language of the Cteears. But it will not satisfy a WetHh mountaineer that the living thanks of God are best rendered in a language Which, has been praotically dead a thousand 1 am thus, on the threshold of un- report in the .humour to cross swords with the Pope and his College of Cardinals The Church of Our Lady at Birkenhead is about a mile from the Landing Stage on the Merncy. The approach to it is along a rather steep road, ascending a distance of about a mile, the wide road the entire distance being flanked by houses of business, which, as regards outward appearance, are not of the highest class. The church is situate in the midst of a. dense population of the working-class order It is needless to state that bv Our Ladv is meant the Blessed Virgin Mary, and. iudging by the frequency with which one saw her ideal portraits in this church—in painted win- dows and as a figure in plaster casts artistically decorated—no one in that locality had the shgntest doubt that the Virgin was a Roman Catholic, and that she fully believed' the doc- toine of the Real Presence, which Bishop Latim-er declared was an article of faith that was a scandal m the eyes of even the Turks! In its style of architecture the designer of the church seemed to have followed the mo«t ancient desum, namely, a ship, or navis. f-om h na^6 Dave" 18 der,v^- is a largo a rcw of windows with lozenge- shaped panes on both sides. Several of the windows were painted glass containing figures. thuf fn°TtlCed the fi^re of St- Joseph with the infant Jesus sitting upon his left arm. in the° traditional representation of u,t!, T r d"nn& His three years' ministry, ^ith[ the nimbus the sun's emblem -around His dead. He was aho.vn with the two fingers and thumb raised, in the act of imparting a blessing. On one of the pillars of the nave » as a. realistic figure .representing the Cruci- fixion, which to Protestant eyes was far too realistic, bemuse it had a tendency to teach to limit the Atonement to the bodily sufferings. OIl the right, hand in advance was an altar to th* Virgin, surrounded with lighted tapers- i he space occupied by the altar described a perni-circles with the altar ilEing the arch. i- O'6, were two rows of painted windows, one above the other, occupied bv Apostles, holv maidens, martvrs, and others, mostly associated with the narratives of the Holy Writ. The altar was raised gradually backwash,and was resplen- dent with golden ornaments and with fresh alTThA 1^SeiT £ re in !ar^e bouquets, filling all the spaces between the emblems, giving to Tte,P?v K Spa^ a Tcharming appearance, aaw +h <• mer;^lnec' that ancienit ecclesiastics j T,hat t}-e Creator adorned the earth with flowers, and tney supposed -that it would not be displeasing tc Him to adorn also the temples erected by mankind for Divine wor- ship with the most lovely of Cod's own crea- If delightful, even to one ith t^ie blooc of Puritans m his veins. But that blood was Druidic before it was made Puritanic. Above the altar were seven lamps, held up by lofty stands, every lamp burning. The middle lamp of the seven was loftier than the other six, which were three on each side of the centre cne. Those seven symbolised, as did th« seven, golden candlesticks in. the Temple at Jerusalem., seven lamps of the true taoernacle r.amelv the heaven* and the seven planets, and 'fifrf, one 8Un ln spring in ihe sign of the Iishes. lhe seven days of the week indicate the "pan of the heavens, on the east side from north to south, with the :,un risin" on the longest day. But in the ChHch the sun, as Mercunus, rising over the. middle of the altar, is indicated by the highest lamp. with three on each side of it. Thus, while the omciatmg priest has his back towards the con- gregation and his face towards the east, he faces the emblem of the sun in spring and in September, or spring and harvest times. Thus although the Divine service is held m a conse- crated building, that building and its arrange- ments described the things of "the true taber- nacle. The Church of Our Lady, though comfortably filled, was by no means crowded, but it was aprarent that the congregation was largely- composed of the higher classes of scciety, and that was fully confirmed later on when the fyrllection plates, heavy with gold pieces, were handed about from pew to pew. At half-past ten o'clock in the morning the organ, which is on a gallery above the west end of the church. pealed forth a processional hymn, and the clergy poured in. The>e included Cardinal Herbert ^nughnn, in full canonicals, the Bishop of s -w«b' the Bishop of Birmingham, the Biehop of Newport and Menevia, the Bishop of cl0tLu'.i.s IWJU wie isNOP-tiesigiiate of Ascalon and the Vicar-Apostolic of Wales. These ecclesiastics were accompanied by monks, all clothed in brown monkish habits, with hoods, and with a. cross and a rosary suspended from the girdle of each. They were followed by a large procession of surpliced clergy, each wear- ing his black biretta, or cornered cap. the signi- fication of which I cannot get any one to ex- plain. The trains of Cardinal Vaughan *ad the bishops were can-fed by acolytes dressed as choristers. The Most Reverend Cardinal vaughan and the five bishops wore their fish- head mitres, and were preceded by an official carrying a lofty silver wand, bearing on its point a silver cross. The congregation stood while the procession passed, and the organ pealed forth a"'d tne choir sang. The cardinali and bishops and attendants proceeded up the etepe of the altar. The numerous canons, wear- ing short purple cloaks edged with ermine, took their seits on the raised pbtforrn on either side of the approach to the steps of the altar. On the extreire,left when facing the altar. and on the left of the canons on that side of the chi'rch, was the crimson throne of Cardinal Vaughan as a Prince of the Church of Rome. Next to the throne was the Pope's High Cham- berlain, clad' entirely in purple, as directlv representing, as it appeared, the Holy Father. It was stated that he had come direct from the city of the Csesars to be present at the ap- pointing of a vicar-apostle to act as a shep- herd to win erring Wales back to the fold of St. Peter. It. is not clear whether a vicar apostle or a vicarial apoetle is higher than a bishop, but it seems to me he is. A vicarial apostle would be one acting on behalf of an apostle. It would apjiear, therefore, that. the Holy Father, by appointing Father Mostyn Vicarial Apostle of Wales, but Bishop of Asoalon, has strikingly honoured Wales. The Holy Father represents St. FeteI. the Apostle, and the Bishop of Ascalon represenbg. in Wales the Holy Father himself. We are thankful for honour paid to our dear old country, come from where it may. Let us all hope it is true what we hear, namely, that the Bis Imp of Asca- lon and > icarial Apostle of Wales c-au preaoli in Welsh like a John Elias or an Edward Matthews, and that he can sing the hymns of Wales in a way equal to the manner in which Madame Wiliiams-Penn can render "Pa le y niae yr Ampn?" But, t-rutli-pad truth-to tell, I did not find the slightest reason to-day to suppose the rumour is well-founded If the vicarial apostle cannot preach. in Welsh to the tannine natives of Wales, he may as well not make the attempt, notwithstanding his descent from the anciort princes oi Hwynedd. The api^i^ancc of the chance was splendid vvitili jtos eorg'eou.; emblems, its flowers, its lIevoo lamps, its suspended shining mysteries. its painted windows. through which streamed the light of day. brigihtening a Little the dim religious light, and, withal, the goiigeously-robed Prince of the Church, dazzling with gold iace and wearing his state jewelled matre, and the bishops likewise wea<rhio- their full oanonioails and wthite mitres. The entire picture reminded one of some of those grand pain.t.inga by the old masters desc.ripitive of those great ecclesiastical scenes of the Middle Ages. whon the Pope, cardinals, bishops, abbots, prior. and monks ruled emipercrs, kings, and princes as well as the common people. I do not know how it was, but some- how f;V thoughts would flit over the centuries and roam among the humble fishermen of the I Sea of Galilee. and picture Simon Peter coming suddenly up^n the scene. And it, was not easv to consider that the Prince of the Apostles would have l>eheved that the emblems and svmbols one !>eheld in front of the altar of Our Lady of Birkenhead had anything to do with the religion of the Nazarene. But it must, however, not be forgotten that in Revelation iv. it is shown that these emblems and symbols were seen bv St. John the Divine in Heaven itself, and that in the third chapter we read of the Seven Spirits of God. Let us he careful, therefore, lest in the midst of our reverence for our tarnest and honest Puritan ancestors w« do not despise things honoured by the example of Heaven. I recollect when, at the Gorsedd, the bards firsi wore their official new robes of white, blue, and green, a gifted Nonconformist, minister scowled and condemned. But when he was reminded of the scenes described by an inspired Apostle in the Book of Revelation he appeared puzzled, and he became silent, with Aaron. The gorgeous things before one spoke in language of their own to the initiated, and I admit that to me they spoke powerfully of a. time when the things of "the true tabernacle" —Nature, the visible earth and sky, with the sun, moon, and stare, and the seasons—were the only revelation the Creator had imparted to thinking mankind. There is something wrong with the mind and' the heart of the man and the woman whiehi do not sympathise with the expression of the aspirations of pious people in all ages in the history of the world. Now. 1 find it beyond my powers to describe the scenes that were enacted during the two hours and a half the Latin service Fasted. It was like a descriptive sermon by Christmas Evans performed in character Now and again one's thoughts were carred away by the suggestiveness of the gorgeous display to think of Sir Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terra- in tho play of "Thomas A' Becket" and the Canterbury Pilgrims. But then came the recollection that this gorgeous ceremonial was not the shadow and the pageantry but the reality of the ecclesiastical pomp of the Middle Ag-e-s and of a still earlier period, when the Cthurch had to contend and compete at Alexandria, Autioch, Ephesus, Imperial Rome, and Britain with the attractiveness of the dramatic ritual of the Pagan creeds, so called. It is when these things are substituted for realities that they are wrong and objec- tionable. The ancient Nonconformists believed that in their day they had been substituted for true religion, and for that reason they turned them out of their sanctuaries. Almost everything done in the Church of Our Ladv to-day was of a symbolical character. Thus, amongst the kneeling bishops beneath the seven representations of the seven stars, one carried a candle hither and thither. That seemed to nymboli-e the seeker after truth wandering among the uncertainties of things of this life. I do not say the wandering rush- light symbolised thM, but to me it seemed to do so. The proceedings commenced by the assistant [senior bishop 'addressing Cardinal Vaughan as followsMost Reverend Father, Our Holy Mother the Catholic Church prays that you would raise this priest here present to the episcopal1 charge. Cardinal Vaughan: Have you the Apostolic C omIIÚssion ? Senior Bishop: We have. The Cardinal: Let it be read. The Apostolic Brief was here read, and at the close the Cardinal said, "Thanks be to God." The bishop-elect then swore on the Gospels to obey the Holy See in all things, and to visit "the threshold of the Apostlee"-Rome — "every four years." '1 he words of the oath con- cluded as follows:—"Each and all of these pro- visions I will faithfully observe, with the more readiness because I know that nothing is there- in contained which can be contrary to the alle- giance due from me to her Gracious Majesty, Ousei: of ÜJt.P realms, and her successors." '"hen proceeut^ many rites and ceremonies, 31 then an examination of the bishop-elect as to his theological belief. He declared he be- lieved "the ison of God, the Divine Word, was born of the Father, from all eternlty." Then I came the question which split the Church into fragments in those ag<s when people thought for themselves. "I believe," said the Vicar Apostle of Wales, "the Word, born of the Father from all eternity, is consubstantial, co- omnipotent, and in all things co-equal to the Father in His Godhead; that He was born in time, with a reasonable soul, through the Holy Ghost, of Mary, ever virgin, thus having a two- fold ^irth—one before all ages, from the Father; the other in time, from His Mother: that He is very God and very man; distinct and perfect in either nature, the one only Son of God, not by adoption or in mere unreal appearance, subsisting in two natures, and of two natures consisting, yet in the oneness of a single person. That, a/ touching his God- head. He is impassable and immortal, but that in His manhood He suffered for us and for our salvation real bodily pain; that He was buried, and rose again the third day from the dead by a true resurrection of the flesh; that in the very body in which lie arose and in soul He ascended into Heaven on mi fortieth dav after He had risen again that He sits on the right hand of the l ather, whence He is to oome to judge the. quick and the dead', and to render to ea^h man according to his works, whether good or evil." The foregoing declaration of belief will be extremely interesting to many. Welsh Sunday School students as being a clear declaration of faith agreed upon by the stronger party in the Christian world centuries prior to the rrotestant Reformation. 1 do not think that one such student in a thousand has ever seen the foregoing belief before. Then followed other points of faith, which might appear trivial after the foregoing, but the Bishop of Ascalon and Vicar Apostolic of Wales swore he believed them all. After- wards Mass was sung, followed by ths "Agnus Dei," and one of the most dramatic incidents of the day was when the cardinal, bishops, canons, priests, and monks united in the chorus. Then followed the Litanies of th-i Saints, Then Cardinal Vaughan, with the mitre off his head, invoked the Holy 'ibost to descend on the bishop-elect. This was succeeded by the laying on of hands and the anointing of the bishop-elect, the head being t-nv&loped in a napkin, and the cardinal, facing the altar, chanting the "Veni Creator Spintus." In reference to the anoint- ing, the following was chanted:—"May it plentifully flow upon his head, may it reach his lips, may it run down the skirts of his garments, and descend to the extremities of his body, that the oower of Thy Spirit may fill his inner man and compass him round about. May con- stant faith, pure love, abound within him." Two lighted candles were brought in, in allu- sion to Luke xii., 35, also two loaves and t" o small barrels of wine, "as the sacrifice of the New Law." At the conclusion of the consecration, the Bishop of Ascalon and Vicar-Apostolic of Wales, wearing his bri liant state mitre and full canonicals, and having his train carried, walked about the church, casting his blessing in al! directions upon the congregation by a gesture w- th his right hand. The "Te Deum" was chanted—"We praise Thee. 0 God we acknow- ledge Thee to be the Lord: Thee, the Father Everlasting, all the earth do worship," &c. The choir rendered the "Halie.ujah Chorus" iu fine style. Then, after the right rev. car- dinal had pronounced the blessing, the clergy of every grade, in gorgeous recessional order, passed down lhe principal aisl' followed ty the cardinal, looking a vc-ritable prince of the Western Church. As he walked slowly along, his train being carried by priests, all bowed the head reverently to receive his blessing. BIOGRAPHY. The Hon. and Rev. Francis Edward Mostyn, D.D., was borrt at Tailaore, Flint- shir. August 6, 1860. He is the fourth sur- viving son of Sir Pyers Mostyn, Bart., J.P., D. L, of Trtla^re, • Flintshire, bv his wife. the Hon. Frances, gciond daughter of Thomas Alexander, fourteenth Baron Lovat, of Baau- fort Cattle, Inverness-«4'i re. He' was or- daintd priest at Our Lady's Church, Birken- head, September 14. 1884. He was :> rwointed assistant to his cousin. Mgr. Slaughter, the rector, when he resigned owing to ill-health on the 3rd of Serrtemt^r. 1891, and he suc- oeedi?d h;m at th" t church. One of his mi ce.scors was Bishop of St. Asaph in the fourteenth centurv. His cousin was t.he R;ht Rev. Francis Geonre Mc^"tvn; D.D., Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, who died in 1817. aged 47. Thr'e of the "English martyrs were his an- cestors — 1. "Fbi'bn Howard. Earl of Arundel. I 2. WililiaiTn Howard. V'=connt StafFoM. 3. Blessed Mfimraret Pole, Countess of Salis- bury.

ABERYSTWITH BOATING FATALITY. At Abervstwith on Rn.tivlg.r- EVM "Davies II was fined £ 2 and coat,* for hiving, without a licence. f-k-pn oh I rfc of a pleasure hont 0>1 August 29 when Miss P^ol" of Tiveroool. ,1' Miss Rswwll'"«. of Rn.o^on. ^r.-v.vir 7 hv M, foundering of the vess outs',l' the hai honv.

THE AMERICA CUP FIASCO. OFFICIAL CORRESPON- DENCE. The Pres-s Association states that Lord Dun- raven on Saturday cabled to Mr. Richard T. A. Grant, J.P., secretary of the Roval Yacht Stiuadron at Cowes, the correspoTiid'enoe with the New York Yaxfrit Club Coinruititee on the subject of the recent events in coi. nectiou with tihe race for the America Cup. and expressed a desire that it. should be published in England. Tiie folowing are the letters that passed :— MR. ISELIN'S LETTER. "Defender, Wednesday. "DE>:II'LoN Dunna.ven>—Although the regatta committee ihave gtiven the Defender yesterday's race, under the circumstances I should much prefer callling tlhs race off and it to- morrow. I trust this will meet your views. If so, kindly reply at once.—Very truly yours (Signed). C. OLIVER ISELIN." LORD DUNRAVEN'S REPLY. "439, Fifth-avenue, Sept. 1Z "Dear Mr. ls.elin,-I 'have received your note in whioh you express a wish that yesterday's rase yhoifd be re-saii'led. That is, of course, a proposition to wlMah I cannot agree. You would not have protested had you not con- sidered that the Valkyrie had < aused a foul by committing a breach of the rules, and if she did sh»* must take the const riuences. The regatta committee have d)ecdded, accoirdling to their best judgments for reaiso:ts which I confess are beyond my comprehension, that "he. did break the rules. I made no protest, because I thought the foul was probably acci- dental, but I consider the Defender caused it. You consider that the Valkyrie was to blame. The committee have decided that you were right and I am wrong, and so the matter ends. Yours very truly, (Signed) "DUNRAVEN." THE CUP COMMITTEE'S EXPLANk TION. "Septembd 12, 1895. My Lord,—Your letter to Mr. Canfieid, dated 11.30 p.m. yesterday, did not reach the New York Club until one, and was not handed to us until eitcht this morning. The com- mittee regret that an earlier reply was, there- fore, impossible, ay the corfimittee fully en- dorsed the answers given to your proposals by tho two representatives who had the honour of discussing the same proposals with you at the Waldorf last evening. Any reply would Dot have altered the situation, and any dis- cussion, we presume, would now be superfluous, ln regard to jour letter dated September 10, you will recollect that Mr. Canfieid, to whcm it was delivered, was requested not to open it until the ptroiest wsis decided, and Whis request was renewed after you h&d learned tha.t tne protest was entirely in the hands of the regatta committee, not our; The lc.tijcJ" was handed to him about 12.20 p.m. on September 11, and the protest was not decided until about 2.30, when, with the least possible delay, it was submitted to our committee. We can only regret that the terms which you named therein as absolutely essential should not have been so presented when the agreement of terms was formulated and signed.—We have the honour to remain, your obedient servants, "AMERICA CFP COMMITTEE. "(Signed) A. CASS CANFIELD. "Secretary. LORD DUNRAVEN'S REPUDIATION. 439, Fifth-avenue, 8ept. 13, 1895. "Gentlenteu,i have the honour to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th inst. You say that the letter of last Wednes- day nig-ht to Mr. Canfieid was not handed in at the New" York Club till one a.m. on Thurs- day, and was not. iii, your hands till eight o'clock the same morning. There must. I think, be some mistake. I received Mr. Canfield's letter at 10.30 p.in. on Wednesday, and my reply was dei vered- by my own servant at the New York Club at 12.15 by the club clock. The steward or clerk in charge was called up on I, the telephone at 12.30, and' requested to find out if Mr. Canfield was at the Knickerbocker Club, and, if so, to deliver the letter at or.ee. The reply was that ihev would endeavour to find Mr. Canfieid that he had but a short tinn- left the New York Knickerbocker Club. and had left word that he would call at eeveu a.m. to see ]f there were any messages for him. The request that Mr. Canfield should not open my letter of the. 10th until the protest was decided was unnecessary, as the cup committee were not. hearing the protest, but whether my letter of Wednesdav night was delivered a.t the New York Yacht Club nt 12.15 or one a.m. whether it was in the hands of the committee at seven or ei"lrt, and whether my letter of the 10th was read at 12.30 or 2.30 p.m., appears to me a matter of minor importance. What is of importance to Tre. at any rarte, is the totally unjustifiable opinion implied in your letter on the 12th, that in coming to the decision conveyed to you in my letter of the 10th I went back on the agreement signed by Mr. Smith and myself. You aav. We can only regret that the conditions winch you named there.in '— that, is, in my letter of the 10th—' as absolutely necessary should not have been so presented when the agreement of terms werp formulated.' Permit me to observe that I named no particu- lar conditions as indispensable, as you will per- ceive on referring to my letter. f hold that in any matter a fair field and no favour is a condi- tion precedent to any agreement to terms, and that, failing that, any party has a perfect right to withdraw absolutely or conditionally. Articles of agreemerut cannot, amd are not, intended to lay down fixed rules to meet evpn- imaginable contingency. Certain contingencies have arisen, as you are aware. Confining myself to the subject of my latter—the overcrowding- ^ar.m 1oi-'f October I wrote concerning tne difficulty of ensuring a clear course, but did not insist upon my views because I thought the persons responsible should be free to take what steps they thought best in the matter. In view of the failure in that respect, it mignt have been botteT if in my letter of the 10th I had absolutely withdrawn, but my de- sire to sail off the races was great, and I with- drew conditionally, and suggested steps which I thought would remove the" difficult. Those steps were not taken. I held to mv deter- mination to sail no more, and in so aciintr I emphatically deny that I went back in any way on the agreement, as to terms. I did not know whether Mr. Can field and Mr. Busk were officially representing the commiHee when they came to see me at the Waldorf. J judged by the conversation that they were not, and I understood from them that the committee had not come to definite conclusions upon mv letter. I now conclude from your communi- cation that they were officially representing the committee. In that case the proposal made 0 to^me by the committee was tha-t I should v. u lid raw for my determination expressed in my ki.tcr of the 10th, and slhould 00ll! the th'ra, and, possibly. final, race on the condi- tion that. sufficient room was secured at the stait, and that in any further races my sugges- tion that the dates of the races end times of starting chould not be made public should be carried cut. That proposition did not com- mend it-elf to me. No one has denied the ovei crowning of the couryo, but in any ease eithtr my complaint W:"6 in the opinion of the committee unjustifiable, in which ca^e I could not have agreed with them, and should have withdrawn, being fully convinced of the necessity and prepared to take full responsibility for doing 430; or it was justifiable, in which latter case the com- mittee were. I think, bound to give redress before the next race was sailed. I so far with- drew my letter of the 10th as to sav I would sail the third race if the committee would under- take. to declare the race void if in their judg- ment either vessel was interfered with by the steamers, the committee putting anybody they liked on board the yachts. I Was willino- to leave the matter in their hands, stipulating only that they would put an experienced, practical yachtsman on the Valkyrie. As far as T am concerned, I have no wish to continue a discus- sion which you accurately describe a.s super- tluous, and will conclude by mv regret that, if any desire to re-sail Tuesday's race "af! known to exist, the regatta, committee did not order it to be re-sailed under Article 10 of the New York Yacht Club regulations, in which case, whatever my opinion as to the oause of the foul may be. I should have been at the disposal of the committee, and that the cup com- mittee could not see their way to adopt wha.t appears to us the simpler course of lioistino- letter G yesterday and postponing the r £ e until such time as they had arrived at a definite conclusion upon my letter of the 10th. I have the honour to remain, gentlemen, yours very faithfully "< Signed) DLNRAVESN."

THE STEEL TRADE. ATTEMPT TO FORM A GERMAN UNION. A Central News telegram from Berlin on Sunday says —An important meeting was held yesterday at Coblontz of the heads ot the large steelworks in the districts of the Rhine West- pliaha. and the Saar River to see if steps could be concerted to obtain an inorease in prices. The meeting, which was mainly of representa- tives of works manufacturing half stuffs, at- tempted to secure the unanimous approval of the formation of a union of rolling mills, but it was, clearly, very doubtful whether the plan will be carried into effect, as many large firms are against coalition.

m,. H. H. Marks has received a letter from a? ?lli government Board stating that an oflictal mquiry into the supply of water bv the kast, Wafer Company in 3t. Ge-irge's- Ui will bt- opened on October 1 p«*t-