Weekly Mail

(NOW FIRST PUBLISHED, j HER HUSBAND'S SECRET. —— I BY CYRIL SEYMOUR. CHAPTER XV.—(CONTINUED). The rough, not to say rude, interrogation with which he is greeted, disturbs thequanimity of Mr. Foulger. Emboldened by the momentary silence during which Arthur surveyed his visitor, that person had begun to muster something of a business mien. In imagination he was drawing off his gloves, bowing elegantly, and sitting down with a smile. But this was only one of Mr- Foulger's feats of fancy. He was still standing by the door, very ill at ease, in the act of placing his hat upon the table, when Arthur burst wrathfully upon him in the terms given, causing him to tremble in every limb and to drop Mr. Griplooker's discarded beaver to the floor at his feet, whence it rolls merrily away to the hearthrug, to be kicked contemptuously back to him by the owner of Honeysuckle House. Just a little matter of business, sir," at length he stammers. "Business? What earthly business can you have with me ? Well, Mr. Hunt, you see I have been so unfor- tunate as to lose my appointment on the staff of the Sentinel, or-OJ Lose your appointment!" cries Arthur. Why, you wretch, you were kicked out of the office-or ought to have been, I mean." Mr. Foulger is beginning to feel that so far as kicking goes he is at last likely to get IS deserts. Arthurs face is red with wrath, and it is as much as he can do to keep his itching fingers from the fellow's wrinkled throat. The unwelcome visitor makes another start, running in his apprehension over ground already covered. Well, I've been, you see, sir, so unfortunate as to lose my appointment on the staff-" Damn your misfortune! Come to the point. I suppose it's money you want." Mr. Foulger is unprepared for language of such severity. The big, big D that had just been hurled at his head causes his blood to run cold and sends a shiver down his back. I wouldn't have called upon you, Mr. Hunt," he goes on humbly: but, you see, I am left pen- niless-almost starving—and I don't know how I am to get back to London unless I find a friend to assist me." "A friend to assist you! How can VOU claim friendship with m Who the deuce are you ?" "You have forgotten me, Mr. Hunt. I knew you when you lived in Coalcaster—that is, I— I Cut short this introductory humbug and say exactly what you mean, man." Well, as I was saying, sir," Foulger falters in a stumbling tongue —" I think at least you are the same gentleman—that is, Mr. North—Mr. Edward North—who married Miasa Laura Dene, the actress at Coalcaster five years or so ago." What if I am Edward North ?" Well, I thought you would—you would help me on that account. I belong to Coalcaster—was born there the same as you, I believe." You are here after blackmail, you wretch- speak the truth—not charity. Ot charity you are utterly undeserving." I'm not! I am sure I'm notFoulger protests. "But sir"—the speaker is now dis- charging his fatal shaft, and he is the most faint- hearted of bowmen—" but, sir, I never knew that your first wife was dead. And I saw her only a few months ago. Alas, how brief is our existence here!" Mr. Foulger has crossed his hands and turned up the whites of his eyes. He is recovering him- self a little. "Keep your canting lies until they are required!" is the fierce retort. Say no more. I perfectly understand you. Mark me! If I did the right thing I would pitch you straight through that window." Mr. Foulger turns his face furtively towards the window. They are on the ground floor, but even in the dusk he can observe the hard rockery that would receive him after be had been dashed through the glass. "But," proceeds Arthur, "I won t take that course just now. How much do you require to clear you out of Easterloigh ?" Thank you, sir, thank you!" Don't thank me, you miserable cur—answer my question! Five pounds ? There, take these," and from a desk by his side Arthur counts out twice that tale of sovereigns—" take these and never let me see your face more. If you —if you ever dare to approach my house again—I break every bone in your vile carcase- This way," and with a significant gesture he opens the door and points along the corrider. I'll see you safely off the premises. Remember, don't retu; again; but, if you do, you'd better bring a medical man with you." Walking the fellow quickly into the hall, Arthur unfastens the main entrance and permits him to creep over the threshold unmolested, though itching all the while to kick him down the short flight of steps in front of the house. But he refrains from violence and contents himself with watching Mr. Foulger into the public path, along which the late assistant-editor of the Sentinel shuffles in the dusk towards Easterleigh. Arthur is shutting out the storm when an arm is laid upon his shoulder. He turns with a. shiver. It is his wife. "How you start, Arthur! Why you're getting as nervous as myself. Who is that man ?" A begging impostor, dear." Why did you allow him in the study ?" He had a recommendation from a friend, and I didn't exactly know who he was at first." Oh Mary said something about it—North was the name mentioned, I think ?" Arthur disregards her question. "I've got rid of him," he says, "and I don't think he'll return again. By the way, have you got this week's papers by you ? That was a pretty scandal down at tha Flapjly office, wasn't it ? And so the subject is changed. Mr. Foulger does not return again to Honey- I suckle House—at least he is in no hurry to do so. This recent interview has been quite sufficient to convince him that any further communication with his newly-found source of supply had better be carried on at a distance. But, cowardly as he is, he has no inten- tion whatever of abandoning the plan he had some time ago determined upon and which the dis- covery of his deceit had necessitated his putting precipitately into action. Henceforward he will enlist the services of the Postal Department. But he must be cautious. There is such a thing as imprisonment with hard labour for the writers of threatening letters having for their object the levying of blackmail upon her Majesty's subjects. Mr. Foulger. however, is quite to the emer- gency. He is not without skill in epistolary correspondence, whatever may be his merits or demerits in the matter of general literary work. One winter morning—just after those Christmas festivities for which he had so poor a heart— Arthur comes downstairs and finds a blue envelope marked "strictly private" upon the breakfast table. Breaking the seal he reads:— 19, Garret-row, Easterleigh, Jan. 5. Sir,—As I was unable in our late interview to thoroughly impress upon you my views in the little matter of business on which I called at your residence, I have decided to put my proposals on paper. I have no wish to stir up an awful scandal —nobody knows better than you how awful that scandal would be—and no doubt we will both agree that at all events it should be kept from the ears of Mrs. H. She would not care to learn that she only holds her place on sufferance—that in reality it is filled by another lady—nor would it be wise to let that lady knnw that you have a wife in the rural retreat of Littlethorpe. It would do me no good to bring about unpleasantness that could only be settled by the interference of the law. Indeed, I wish you well, and trust that your secret may never be discovered. I would, however, only be doing my duty by laying the thing before Mrs. Hunt, but this I will not do unless I am compelled. —Yours faithfully, PHILiP FOULGEE. P.S.—Please send the £2 per week we spoke of by post-office order every Friday to me at the above address, aud oblige—P. F." Such is the missive wnich greets him. What are you reading about, Arthur?" inquires Florence, looking up from her morning paper. That paper is the Swedeshire Daily Sentinel, of course. "Nothing particular, darling only a little private business about a house I want to buy in Easterleigh." Ah," remarks Florence, coolly. She is quite certain that she is being deceived. Perhaps it may be only a trifle; but of late there have been too many such signs that something is sadly wrong in their once happy household. CHAPTER XVI.—HOPE AND DESPAIR. It was well for Mr. Foulger that he saw fit in this second instance to address hi9 intended victim bv letter. Had he returned again to Honeysuckle House and made a direct personal demand for hush-money he would have met with a rough reception, cost the owner of that little establish- ment what it might. Indeed, as he sits in his study contemplating the brutal epistle in which the amount and mode of Davment are arranged with such startling audacity, Arthur almost decides to hunt the fellow up at his headquarters in Garret-row and th-re inflict upon him tne con- dign punishment which the case so clearly calls for and the scoundrel so richly merits. But cooler reflection and reason, unwilling thougn Arthur is to listen to their dictates, show how instinct with unwisdom would be any such rash action. No, he must grin and bear it and hope for the best, conscious of innocence even in the midst of his despair—not that the consciousness serves him further than to add to his sense of unjust suffering, and to some extect augment his agony, for he is neither stoic nor philosopher. Meanwhile the required remittance finds its way regularly every Friday morning to 19, Garret-row, Easterleigh, where Mr. Foulger luxuriates in a partly-furnished dirty upstairs room adjacent to the little pothouse which he patronises from Friday morning until Mon- day night, when, notwithstanding his great experience in such expenditure, supplies invariably fail, and for the three following days there is no hope but the occasional cup of acquain- tance or the still rarer offer of a. landlord loth to part gratuitously with his liquors, but still more unwilling that a profitable customer should be allowed to expire in the last extremities of alcoholic thirst. Arthur has made little progress in his quest. After long delay he has heard from Mr. Granton, now the lessee of a minor theatre in the suburbs of London; but that gentleman can give him no definite information concerning the Miss Mordaunt of the disbanded Syrens," though he is under the impression, he writes, that the lady had gone North, into Scotland, having joined a touring company playing at or near Sunderford on the unfortunate occasion of the breaking-up of his own arrange- ments by the absconding of the local acting- manager who had charge of the treasury. Granton adds, however, that the enquirer will probably be enabled to learn what he requires by writing direct to Miss Mordaunt's London agent, Mr. Stephen Harris, whose business address he appends. This correspondence has not been conducted without great trouble. Arthur, being in no way aware with whom he is dealing, has deemed it best to do everything through a third party in London, and some half-dozen letters have passed between himself and his own agent before even this result has been attained. At last, however, things are in a fair way for some solution of the uncertainty concerning Laura's whereabouts, and, instructing his commissioner to go on, he awaits events. Nearly five months have passed away since that unkept appointment in Shakspeare-street, and Arthur's suspense is almost intolerable. Of a surety matters are bad enough now, but there is every likelihood that they may become worse: and the danger is altogether apart from Laura herself. Arthur hears pretty frequently of Mr. Foulger. That gentleman has decided upon taking up a per- manent residence in Easterleigh, to the horror of Benjamin Griplooker, Esq., who has more than once approached him with the offer of a free railway pass to London, so that he and the Sentinel may be freed of the reproach of his presence in the city; but Mr. Foulger scorns the overtures made him through the medium of an odd man about the newspaper office. Assuming spirit and humour in his cups, the pitiful rascal sends back answer that he could not think of leaving the many friends he has found in the old city, a city to which he has grown deeply attached and which is in every way suited to the desires of a man of such a moderate inde- pendency as himself. Indeed, his little property, he adds, is situated there, and it is best that he should give it the personal supervision which has lohg been wanting. Arthur hears of this through Dick, who takes his usual light-hearted view of the affair and laughs consumedly over it. And at any moment the drunken wretch may let slip the secret to the world, whilst, if he does not, a miscarried letter or his inopportune appearance may bring down upon Arthur's head the calamity and dis- covery he dreads. But there comes a break in the clouds one morn- ing. A letter bears to him the intelligence that Miss Mordaunt is then appearing at the theatre in the Winter Gardens, Barmouth. Barmouth is situated on the coast scarcely twenty miles away. He will start at once. But, no, that will not do. There is much to be explained before an interview can be possible. His approach must be heralded by a thoroughly explanatory letter, in which at the same time he shall not betray himself. So he sets to work in the solitude of his study to state in a plain, full way the reasons for his strange silence and his suggestions for the future. Florence peeps in upon him whilst he is thus engaged, causing him to thrust his incomplete communication beneath the newspaper by his side, after which he looks up with a clumsy pretence of unconcern. I have only come for the Sentinel, if you are not using it, Arthur," and she reaches over the table, and, picking up the print, leaves bis epistle exposed to view, and by its side an addressed envelope. A letter about the property at Easterleigh." That is his explanation. A very shallow one, too, for Florence's eye had mechanically caught the address, written as it was ia Arthur's bold hand :— Miss Mordannt" Theatre of Varieties, The Winter Gardens, Private. Barmouth. The full force of her discovery does not strike Florence until she has regained the sitting-room; but, once there, she sinks faintly into her favourite basket-chair by the fire, with a face ghastly white even in comparison with the paper on her knee. Has she found the clue to her mystery ? Can this be her husband's secret, and has his love passed away from her to another ? Through her wet, dull eyes she sees the name still before her—the name of the woman who has robbed her of all for which she lives. ) here it is, in staring type-" Miss Minnie Mordaunt, the graceful burlesque actress, is appearing nightly to crowded audiences, at the Theatre of Varieties, the Winter Gardens, in Stimpson's splendid ex- travaganza. I The Beauties of Babylon,' the great success of London last season." On the same page appears a short dramatic notice, probably from the pen of the Barmouth correspondent of the Sentinel. It is headed, "Theatre of Varieties. Barmouth," and reads:— We are glad to observe that the enterprise of Mr. Barlow, in bringing at so early a date to Barmouth apiece new-stamped with the enthusiastic approval of critical Metropolitan audiences, is bsing so warmly recognised by his local patrons. 'The Beauties of Bubvlon' is one of the best burlesques of its kind. It is full of unflagging humour, and on its presentation on Monday night at this house the performers were throughout greeted with the most deafening manifestations of approval. Mr. Charles Rinder, an old Barmonth favourite, showed conspicuous ability in the side-splitting role of Demon Dude, Esq.. as indeed did the whole of the company in their respective impersonations, though we should make particular mention of Miss Minnie Mordaunt, whose charming impersonation of the Countess of Covent-Garden wins the heart of all beholders." When Arthur has concluded his letter to Laura he enters the sitting-room for the purpose of in- forming his wife of his intention of going up to Easterleigh. The apartment is empty. Hearing his step, the maid approaches to say that her mistress, having a slight headache, has gone to her room for an hour and is sleeping now. Arthur buttons his overcoat around him, takes up a stout walking stick, and steps out briskly through the thick snow which still covers the earth slightly, feeling much more relieved and hopeful than he has done for a long time past. The clouds are breaking, he thinks, and the worst will soon be past. True, he must still bear the heavy burden of his secret, but in his heart he knows he is innocent, and he will not allow cold conventionality to shatter his household gods. Laura knows nothing of his new life, and she shall never know anything. Thus she will not refuse to come to his terms for a peaceful continuance of their separation. And that once accomplished, he will speedily find a way to re- move Mr. Foulger from his path and out of Easter- leigh. But whilst Arthur Hunt is walking swiftly along the hard highway to Easterleigh, almost breaking into song under the exhilarating in- fluences of his hopes, the poor white little woman who had crept away to her room before he quitted the cottage by the river has turned her face to the wall, and is sobbing in the direst agony of soul over the child she has taken in her arms and is hugging to her breast, as though she feared for the possession of even that tiny. fair-haired and blue- eyed link of a love for ever lost to her. (To be continued.)

FEMININE FANCIES, FOIBLES, AND FASHIONS, BY A LADY. r.All Sights ReserveJ The Mephistopheles hat seoms likely to become very general, though I consider it neither becoming nor graceful. I believi I have described it before. The shape is conical and very high with the brim at and back cut in rounded points; and laid hack qlli> flat against the crown, there being the "eual number of bow, piled one above anothev Kvtil an extraordinary altitude is robbed. Thr. is a shying black strav mad* in t' is shapo locka wtll on some people. *Vhitti silk ribbon withpearl edge, combining wit&> kw" of black ribbon, is used for triTiming ani3 cream ribbons are largely worn on hats "iuS bonnets. I observed a dark bhM (navj) gown worn with a blue gauze bonnet, on which cluster of whilst bow. placed, these firing an agren- abl. relief. Another bJu., gowr. was similarly relieve by having a front of wide crdraft yak lac* 1:1* inio the svirt. Dark Diue is, perhaps, the most popular of ail coli>urt just now. The universal becorui-*gnes« d thip tone renders it a favourite; the colour does not easily fade, and imy be relieved with white or very agreeably. Dark birc 1" my farourita colour, for it pever looks vulgar, and is never out 0" fashion. 1 am glad to be able to chronicle, though not from personal experience, that mauve coloured washing materials are not liable to suffer at thl. hands 0:: the laundress if only care be taken not to «ubjec<" them to the action of soda or washing powders. Charming are some of the mauve cam- brics 1 have seen. The ground is of the lovely shade, which is best described as a mixture of violet and pink, spots of various sizes in white forming the pattern. Another pleasing varifty had alternate stripes of white and mauve. I saw i gown of this class made up with black lace and mauve ribbons, which was extremely elegant. Atone of our most fashionable diaper's I noticed a white Nainsook Garibaldi skirt, with collar and cuffs of black velvet, to be worn with a black silk This is an old fashion revived, and I am not sorry to see it. A dress of this charactor cannot, of course, be worn on ceremonious occa- sions, but it makes a nice homi dress, and is both easy and elegant. A novelty is the lace scarf made up with a gold or gilt embossed ring. through which both ends are drawn after the fashion of a gentleman's scarf. Other and smaller rings are fastened.on each end just above the lace which terminates the scarf. I observe a return to greater simplicity in the trimming and make of bonnets. For example, there is a close-fitting white straw, which has a gathered edge of black velvet. White lace, fastened with gold-headed pins, is used further to trim, black ribbon strings being used. I cannot under- stand the introduction of black ribbon in place of velvet, for the former is not, as » rule, becoming even to the fairest complexions, whilst velvet is soft and redeems even a sallow complexion frota dulness. We often ask ourselves and others When shall we get a complete chang* of fashion in dress? We seen, to be tied and bound to certain prevailing styles for the term of our natural lives. Still, from time to time find dressmakers branching ont into modes that bear the ftamo o originality; though, after all, the: are but re-productions of old forms. Such, for instance, wa; a dark- red crepe gown, mad» in straight linej, with a rather wide band of red silk tha htm. The bodice was cut-in a long, sharp point, and hollowed ou*; round the neck so to f&rm a tort of three-quartor high bodice. A fold of r.d &ilk encircled tha opening, and a laco kerchief filled in the space near thll neck. Thin, ag tin. I observed a dress of this class made with leg-of-mutton sleeves, raistd on the shoulders by tho introduc- tion of pads. Another tnak* of fleeves is that set ic full round the trm-holo, gathered again at the "lbow joint, below which the outline o5 the arm is rigidly followed. I have just received from the pattntee some ad- mirable dress-suspenders. Thest are shaped ir the form of braes*, and intended to relieve the hips from such pressure as onus"; accrue from wearing weighty gowns in the ordinary manner. Tha Oraeea I describe are intended to transfer some of the weight to the shoulders—equalising it in fact, and a* the same time rendering tin carriage of thoss inclined to stoop more erect. The braces ara fastened to the skirt band by means of an arrangement that is simplicity itself. Just now our gowns arc Lot heavy, but, at the winter advances and thicker materials are introduced, the brace suspenders will, I think, provs a great comfort, i.nd I trust their use will prevent those "tooping habits contracted by many young women who spend so much time over their desks or books, and seldom fail to develop round shoulders, as opposed to that erectness of carriage which, apart from its gracdfulness, is as certainly conducive to health as it is to beauty. Every woman who has read Tho Autocrat of the Breakfast Table must, 1 think, feel both love and admiration for Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, the author. Purely no man ever wrote with inch a clea- insight into the intricacies of the female character, or with a mor* understanding svmpathy of the peculiar trials and feelings of the sex to which I belong. As George Eliot wrote on one occasion :—"It is no advantage to bo born a woman siill, one gets used to it." "As the eels do to skinning," said a friend of mine; which, being interpreted, means never. In a strict sense, I do not believe one does ever get used to those peculiar sorrows anrt trials which are the heritage of women. But J. have rtu away from my subject. I was abort to say 1 saw a portrait of this celebrated professor of medicins and clevir author th" other day, and found, is o, unusual I think, that the mental photograph one has drawn of some of those who interest us, hut whom we have never seen, is strangely unlike the original. Mind pictures are very sel-irra faithful copies. There is a goodly number of new photographs in the shop windows. Mrs. Langtry is taken larger than ever: The cabinet portrait of her Majesty the Queen is also considerably enlarged. And cer- tain persons who last week were objects of curiosity in a certain law court may now be seen in effigy in the photographers' windows. Unless men and women can ensure themselves against breaking certain laws enumerated in the Decalogue, and do not desiro to be exhibited in connection with their misdeeds, it would be well to leave the pleasure of sitting for a portrait to those who never infringe the proprieties, and these are just the people whose portraits nobody cares to see, and that do not sell. I inspected yesterday a number of charming materials made in imitation of certain Oriental goods, the price of which does not allow persons of limited means to indulge in. Designs and colours of these imitations are more or less faithful re-pro- ductions, and many are so near akin to native manufactures that none but an expert would dis- cover the difference between pattern and copy. T purchased some muslin made closely to resemble a certain Oriental kind of muslin. It cos", me 3s. 9d. the piece of twelve yards. I have made myself a dress of this muslin, and it is wonder- fully effective. There are various colours and patterns, but the one I purchased has a greyish white kind of ground, with a running pattern in indigo blue. There are to be had also pieces of self-coloured muslin—dark red, olive green, sea green, blue, yellow, brown, and other colours. These are admirably adapted to the purpose of draping windows, easels, cheval glasses, and other articles of like character. Easels are to toe bought at the shop I am referring to. It is usual to place some admired picture or drawing on these easels in boudoir or drawing- room, and to drape the frame with some auaint- looking or gorgeous tissue. Such bits of colour about a room considerably enhance the effective- ness of our sitting-rooms. There is often an odd corner or a bare space where an easel and picture may be placed to advantage. We are given t6 crowd our rooms too much with knick- knackeries now-a-days, and ao considerably increase the parlour-maid's cares, and ours. To see elegant trifles loaded with dust affects one disagreeably with a sense of dire unfitness, and unless the staff of servants be large, or, otherwise, if the mistress of the house does not charge her- self with the duty of du-ttlng her drawing. It is what we often see, more is the pity. Tomatoes are so very wholesome, and just now so very plentiful, that I give a recipe for tomato salad. Take four lipe tomatoes, cut them in slices; then make a dressing of a tablespoonful of fresh salad oil, another of vinegar, a tea-spoonful of Tarragon vinegar, and a dessert-spoonful of powdered sugar pour over the tomatoes, and garnish with watercress. All salads should be made about half an hour before they are intended to be eaten. Hard-boiled eggs. cut in slices, make a nice garnish when watercress is not at hand. I have much pleasure in giving, according to request, a recipe for making pot-pourri." Gather the roses on a fine, dry day; those are sweetest which have not been washed in a shower, and, for choice, moss roses and the old-fashioned cabbage and damask roses are selected. Dry the leaves in a sunny window, and see that all moisture is re- moved before doing more, else the pot-pourri" will smell of mould. Put some of the leaves into a jar, and sprinkle on them with finger and thumb some bay salt. Then add another layer of rose leaves, sprinkling more bay salt, and so on. Get some lavender, dry, and strip it from the stalks. If possible add myrtle and jessamine leaves. Stir the contents of the jar every day for a week. Then put in dried leaves of scented verbena. Take a Seville orange well dried, stick it full of cloves, put into the jar with one or two Tonquin beans, a stick of cinnamon, and a good size piece of orris root. Cover close. A preserved ginger jar is good for the purpose when no more elegant receptacle is to be had.

SPIRIT OF THE WELSH PRESS. TBT GWYLIEDTDD.J The Welsh newspapers discuss the result of the late election and the probable changes that will follow the defeat of Mr. Gladstone. The Baner, after giving the opinions of the leading London and provincial daily press, and its comments upon them, has come to the conclusion that Mr. Glad- stone cannot, with honour, retain office, for the country has pronounced against him." The Herald says:—"Although the majority of the electors have turned a deaf ear to the appeal of Ireland, through Mr. Gladstone, one thing is settled, and that is, that sooner or later Ireland will have Home Rule." The Genedl says:—" The future is dark. But of one thing we are certain, the cause of truth and justice will gain in the long run. In the meantime we should much like to see a Welsh party formed." The Goleuad quotes the statement of Mr. Michael Davitt that Welshmen know but little of politics, and then makes use of the following paradox:—" The electors in other parts of the kingdom know more of politics as a theory than Welshmen do; but we venture to assert that nowhere than in Wales is the instinct of what is right more thoroughly realised." The Gweithiwr congratulates Wales upon the cause of en- lightened Liberalism being greater within its borders than any other part of the kingdom. It is no small credit to Wales that it has come out of the ordeal with so clean a garment." The Seren attributes the defeat of Mr. Gladstone to tyranny, religious bigotry, and injustice, which cannot long exist in such an enlightened country as Great Britain." The Celt abuses the Saxons, and says:—" The Celts have been loyal to truth and to themselves, but the Saxons have been cursed to believe a lie. There will be no peace to the wicked Saxon until he grants the demands of the Celts." Gwalia recommends the formation of a political party, under the term" National," to which all classes who believe in the integrity of the Empire should attach themselves, and says:—" The crisis is so great that every patriot should sink party differences, and unite in carrying into effect the resolution of the country at the recent election." Llitdmerydd," of the Tyst, reviews the Welsh elections with a coolness and self-assurance which is refreshing. The following are a few specimens of his style:—"The Tories have won the Pembroke Boroughs; hut Mr. Allen was only a Liberal in name. It is said that the influence of Spurgeon turned the election in Radnorshire. Strange mis- takes people inake when they meddle with matters they do not. understand. The changos in Anglesey, Merionethshire, Cardiganshire, and the Carmarthen Boroughs are a great gain. The new members are thorough men, and it is hoped that West and Vivian have learnt a lesson. Mr. David Davies winces over his defeat, and threatens an inquiry. I am proud of Wales." This gentleman is so bigoted that he gives no one credit for honesty and intelligence who differ from him. This is how he writes of the most distinguished Nonconformist ministers in the kingdom.-—" Mr. Spurgeon went very far in what he said of Mr. Gladstone and his measures, and was listened to by thousands because of his popu- larity as a preacher. It is supposed that Dr. Dale was probably influenced by his friendship with Mr. Chamberlain. The Wesleyans have been shaken the most. Mr. Arthur's letter has done great harm. There are several Welsh ministers Unionists, but they have neither influence nor abilities." Lladmerydd is himself a minister, and poses as the political censor of the Principality. The Llan deals with the subject in a serious and elevated tone, and condemns Mr. Gladstone and his actions in severe terms. It says:—" With every possible respect for Mr. Gladstone, we are bound to condemn his conduct in setting class against class. He has debased his character as a statesman by threatening the landowner with the hostility of the farmer; by threatening the House of Lords with the vengeance of the masses, and the dynamite of the Fenian upon England. By threatening he shows his narrow and bitter spirit. Our political morality is low. Statesmen do not consider the consequences of what they say pro- vided their objectjs gained. They tell untruths. misrepresent facts, and use language and weapons most discreditable. There is no difference with them between good and bad, between truth and false- hood. What we want is leaders of a different spirit—honest and straightforward—who would endeavour to bring the different classes of society to a. better understanding of each other, to help each other, and make the success of the one the benefit of the others. One of Mr. Gladstone's latest words are, The civilised world \s on our side! The Llan of this week contains admirable reading. It is one of the best conducted papers in the Principality, and displays an elevation of tone and purity of language which is in striking con- trast to some of its contemporaries. Several of the papers notice in terms of deep and mournful regret the sudden death of the Rev. Roger Edwards, of Mold, one of the most in- fluential Nonconformist ministers in the Princi- pality. He was found dead in his study on Monday afternoon, the 19th inst. It is too much the prac- tice in Wales to make heroes and giants of our public men, and our newspapers and magazines too often contain fulsome notices of deceased per- sons of the most ordinary and common-place type. The Rev. Roger Edwards was not one of these; he was, in the highest and truest sense, a great man. He was modest and retiring, and yet exercised an influence as great, if not greater, among the Calvinistic Methodists than any other minister of the denomination. Like many Welsh- men of his day and generation who have risen to the surface, he received very little educational advantages in his youth, but he was industrious and painstaking, and used every means within his reach to obtain knowledge. For some time he kept a day school at Dolgelly, which will be shown by his biographer to have been the most inte- resting period of his life. He was the editor of the first newspaper, after the Seren Gomer, that was published in the Principality, called Oronicl yr Oes. This was in 1835, eight years before the Amserau was started. He was also one of the first editors of the Traethodydd, a quarterly of unusual merit. Mr. Edwards was 75 years of age when he died. He was born at Bala and was the son of a sturdy, honest Puritan, which, no doubt, gave the tone to his Radical views on politics. He, however, held his opinions honestly, but never used an unkind word in their advocacy. He was a finished Welsh writer, a man of sound judgment, and possessed of a large amount of common sense and good temper. I write of him from personal experience and a friendship of over 40 years. The Hamilton Col- lege, New York, had just conferred upon Mr. Edwards the title of D.D. The Drych maintains the high character of its literature, which is in advance, as I said on a former occasion, of the papers published in Wales. "Aneurin Fardd" has a well-written article on strikes. He suggests that safiad is a better and purer Welsh word than streic, and that Cymrodedd is a better word for" arbitration" than what has usually been adopted, and gives illustrations from the Welsh Bible, in con- firmation of his opinion. Mr. Parson Price con- tributes a series of admirable articles on M The Cultivation of the Voice," which I find are copied into some of the Welsh papers without acknow- ledgement. A number of other contributions, of a practical and useful character, appear in the same number. The leading articles are short, and to the purpose. The politics of the paper are Radical, and predict for the Hero of Penally a victory. Our native press may profitably take a lesson from the American Drych. m

THE LATE MRS. AND MISS OLLIVANT. PULPIT REFERENCE^ BY THE VICAR OF LLANDAFF. On Sunday evening last at Llandaff Cathedral the Rev. J. R. Buckley, in the course of an eloquent discourse, alluded to the loss sustained by the recent death of Miss Ollivant, the daughter of the late Bishop of Llandaff. Speaking more parti- cularly of her exertions to advance the spiritual well being of those by whom she was surrounded, the speaker mentioned that there were many in that congregation who in by-gone years had enjoyed the privilege of attending Miss Ollivant's Sunday morning class, and must teel that by her death they had been deprived of a very dear friend. To those Sunday lessons, so lovingly and earnestly given, were due deep impressions of religiou3 truth. It had beon her sincere desire to lead her members from the Bible class to the Confirmation class, and thence to the table of the Lord, and nothing gave her greater joy than to see them faithfully attached to the Church and con- sistent followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. An appreciation of her work and her worth had been shown by many, who had placed wreaths of beautiful flowers on the coffin which contained the remains of one whom they truly loved, and to whom the deceased Christian lady was so lovingly attached. After referring in touching terms to the late Bishop Ollivant, whose home for many years had been a model of what a Christian home ought to be, the vicar proceeded to say that side by side in the churchyard grave, resting till the resurrec- tion morn, lay the remains of the faithful shepherd, the gentle, saintly wife, and the devoted daughter.

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LITgRARY, ART, AND DRAMATIC NOTES. The management of the Cardiff Theatre con- tinues to present good, honest melo-drama to their patrons, and, judging from the well-filled houses they have received, it is as profitable as it is welcome and entertaining. Man to Man." the piece that is being enacted this week, is a drama of great merit. It shows a considerable knowledge of stage-craft and constructive ability, and preserves through- out the unflagging interest of the audience. To give an outline of the plot would, perhaps, have the effect of decreasing the interest of the audience. The drama has already been played for over 500 nights, and there is every probability of it being played a still longer period. The hero of the piece is played by Mr. William Bourne, the author. His expression is manly, and bears upon its face the results of study and artistic ability. Mr. Richard Ellerton also presents an excellent sketch of the one genius of the piece, whilst the characters of Philip Ormond, a practical" clergyman, and Ned Doyle, an erring, but, in the end, repentant, youth, are respectively well pourtrayed by Mr. George Stuart and Miss Eugene Forbes. The comedy element is well catered for, and is in the clever hands of Mr. T. G. Warry, who makes all the running. Mr. Clifford Bown received loud applause for his excellent acting as Bill Burkley, a convict. Miss Leslie Lester as the heroine, Ethel Maythorne, delineates the cha- racter with great naturalness and sympathetic power. Miss Lavinia Dove, an old maid of the orthodox type, is faithfully pourtrayed. Special mention should be made of the scenic effects, especially the railway collision in the third act, which is highly creditable alike to Mr. Fletcher and his staff at the theatre and Mr. Wilham Bourne, the author of the piece. Theatrical fame does not satisfy Mrs. Langtry, who now meditates an incursion into the fields of literature. Her spare time of late has been devoted to a work of fiction, which will deal with phases of society in which she has played no inconsider- able figure. It is expected that the novel will be published in October or November next. The London correspondent of the Kreuz Zeitung of Berlin has had an interview with Mr. Irving, who told him that Faust" is not only the greatest Lyceum success, but the greatest success ever known in London. Next season, or next year, as the case may be," said Mr. Irving, "I shall pro- bably add to the play a new scene—an adaptation of The Witches' Kitchen. In answer to other questions,-he said:—"I have had invitations from Germany, France, and America to take Faust' to those countries, but London holds me in pleasant bonds." Mr. Maurice Barrymore was asked, on his arrival in New York from London, what Mr. Irving thought of Mr. Dixey's imitation. Mr. Barrymore said :—" He has met Dixey, and the story goes that Irving remarked, 'I am delighted to see you. Permit me to congratulate you on your admirable imitation of myself. I see that you have achieved great success in it.' Oil, really, you flatter me responded Dixey, seemingly at a loss for an appro- priate reply. Not at all,'continued the tragedian. I may say that your imitation not only equals, but'—with a tinge of sarcasm—'quite surpasses me. I leave the Lyceum shortly for a mucii-needed vacation. If you would like, to succeed me during the summer at that theatre the pu jiic would, perhaps, hardly notice the change. Can this be ( Madame Christine Nilsson's marriage with the Count de Casa-Miranda is likely to be postponed for some time, as the Vatican has raised flom" difficulties about granting a dispensation, the bridegroom elect being a Roman Catholic and the lady a Protestant. The other day an actor who had been doing the the lead in a company that went on the Common- wealth plan turned up in New York with dust on his shoes and a cane in his hand. Someone asked him," Just got in ?" Yes," he growled. Weil, how do you like the Commonwealth business! "There isn't such a thing," was the grim reply. It's common poverty." A second series of Mr. Bullen's Old Knglish Plays is about to be issued. It wiii be in four volumes, containing Nabbe's works, and selections from Rowley and Davenport, and in everything hut the paper it will be printed uniform with the first series. This on account of the technical difficulty of obtaining enough supply of the former paper, but anot her equallv as good has been substituted. The book is to be £118. a volume. There are, says Mr. Bullen. many old plays preserved in public and private collections in MS. which as yet have never been examined by any competent scholar." I suspect," he continues, that some are hidden away in libraries, others rotting in lumber rooms," and furthermore Mr. Bullen makes an earnest request for helpers in the work of finding these wandering sheep and storing them within his editorial fold. Mr. W. D. Howells has the following in the August number of Harper's Magazine on the literature of to-day:—"The greatest excellence and the greatest beauty are still, perhaps, as rare as in the past; but we think that the literary average is in some ways higher than it ever was More honest, and faithful, and skilful work is done, and more of it. A ring of earnestness, unafraid and unasked. is the key-note of the best modern writings in all kinds, and which, more than anything else, characterises the real literary endeavours of an epoch serious, sympathetic, and conscientious beyond those that have gone before it." The new volume of the Goethe-Jahrbuch is of unusual interest to English readers. It contains a batch of letters which Goethe wrote while a student at Leipzig to his sister Cornelia and to his friend Behrisch. The letters are in German, French, and English, and it is evident from more than one of them that the student took an interest in his English. Under the date of May, 1766, he writes of his occasional melancholy moods. and of his resorting to verse-making for relief. But, hark ye," he says, in a like situation of my soul I make English verses. Eng- lish verses at which a stone would weep. In this moment thou shalt have them. Think on it, sister; thou art a happy maiden to have a brother who makes Knglish verses. I pray thee, be not haughty thereof." Mr. Alfred Austin is engaged on another book of poems, which he will name" Prince Lucifer." Under the veil of fiction he purposes to discuss the religious conflict and ethical uncertainties of the age. The track of the romance runs in the neighbourhood of the Matterhorn. Lady Shelley, it would appear, has shared her greatest treasure—a lock of Shelley's hair—with Miss Alma Murray, as a memento of the latter's assiduous impersonation of Beatrice. The frag- ment has been set by Lady Shelley's own hands in a locket of fine gold. The colour of the hair is dark brown, intermingled with a few threads of silvery grey. Students of Wagner may be interested to learn that a few of the master's letters, which rarely come into the sale-rooms in England, are to be sold by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson on Friday, the 30th of July. They comprise part of a lot ot 600 autograph letters of German celebrities. With the surplus wood from Burn's bedroom at Dumfries, after binding the facsimile of the poems, Mr. Elliot Stock will make paper knives in commemoration of the Burns Centenary. Dr. Johnson, a hundred and ten years ago, dis- cussed the laws of literary copyright in some remarks that are still to the point." Those interested in such matters will find the doctor's ideas dis- played in four quarto pages under the date March 7,1774. The interesting document is to be sold in Messrs. Puttick and Simpson's rooms on Friday next. The same collection also offers a rare field for the collectors of autographs. It contains specimens of the epistolary powers of Smollett. Lord John Russell. O'Connell, Campbell the poet, Tom Moore, Dickens, Landor, Southey,Wordsworth, Robert Browning, Cardinals Newman and Manning, Richard Wagner, Mr. Gladstone, and of many other men of note. On Saturday afternoon the first instalment of pictures from Blenheim Palace, the property of the Duke of Marlborough, was sold by auction at Messrs. Christies. The number of pictures sold was 76, and the amount realised £34,834. Amongst the principal works sold were:—"Travellers Halting at an Inn on the Banks of a River," by A. Cuyp, which realised 1,750 guineas; Madonna and Child," a group of two figures only —the child standing on a parapet, by Rubens, 1,360 guineas; The Adoration of the Magi," a large composition with life-size figures, a repeti- tion of the picture in the Louvre, by Rubens, 1,500 guineas; The Return of the Holy Family from Egypt," by Rubens, 1,500 guineas; The Holy Family," a composition of three figures, by Rubens, 1.000 guineas; h Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me," Christ blessing children, ascribed to Rubens, but the work of Vandyck, the figures being portraits of the painter (Snyders) and his family, 800 guineas; The Departure of Lot and his Family from Sodom, a brilliant picture by Rubens, presented by the City of Antwerp to the great Duke of Marlborough, 1,850 guineas; The Holy Family assembled in an Apartment," by Rubens. 1,200 guineas; The Distribution of the Rosary," a finished sketch on panel for a large altarpiece, 1,510 guineas "Anne of Austria, Wife of King Louis XIII. of France," in black dress and large fan-shaped white ruff. life size to knees, by Rubens, 3,700 guineas this was put up at 1,000 guineas. "Filial Piety," a woman nourishing her old father in prison with her own milk, by Rubens, 1,200 guineas. Venus and Cupid endeavouring to restrain Adonis from the Chase," a large picture, by Rubens, 7,200 guineas; this picture was bought in.

MR. IVOR JAMES ON CHARLES EDWARDS AND HIS TIMES." Our readers will remember that in the spring of the year, before the Cymmrodorion, Mr. Ivor James read an exhaustive paper on Charles Edwards and his Times." A lengthened abstract was published in the Weekly Mail at the time. A translation appears in the July number of the Traethodydd, the leading Welsh quarterly maga- zine. In a review the competent editor of the Goleuad says :—" Another article of the highest rank is that of Mr. Ivor James on Charlts Edwards and his Times.' We are not using any exaggeration in saying that there never was written anything of this nature in Weish of higher merit." It is understood that the translator of the paper is the editor of the Traethodydd, Principal Rowlands, of the Bangor Normal College.

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A VISIT TO THE SOCIETE OOOKERILL WORKS, SERAING. rBi MOBIEN.J I need not remind the reader that the members of the Society of South Wales Engineers did not go to Belgium to study the fine arts, &c., but simply to view the collieries, ironworks, and other similar industries of that extremely busy country. I am told that during my absence from home a vexed Cardiff contemporary has been blaming me for not dwelling on something besides the industries of Belgium. My answer is that our editor has taught each member of his staff to keep to his text. While with the South Wales engineers I felt it was my duty to study, to the best of my ability, the industrial problems they themselves had come to study, and to transmit the result to the readers of the Western Mail. As is well known to the members of our party, the enterprise of the proprietors of the Western Mail in sending to Belgium a represen- tative of this journal with the representatives of South Wales industry, and the absence of a similar functionary on behalf of the other Cardiff daily, were frequently commented upon. The Western 71ail did not do, as some I could name did, viz., hash up from the programme and other cheap sources a report of our visit to the Belgian indus- tries Think of the impudence, too, of a stay-at- home journal blaming the representative of the enterprising Western Mail for not dwelling while on his travels upon subjects outside his text! I may state hero that as each windmill we saw in the Low Countries was left behind it seemed to bring the South Wales Daily News to the mind of some members of our jovial company. At no place were the South Wales Engineers more impressed than at the amazing works of the Societe Cockerill. When I state that 11,100 are employed at these works and that there are 337 engines at work, the reader will be able to form some notion as to the vastness of the enter- prise carried on here. The works are situate at Seraing. It is a town six miles above Liege, which is about 90 miles from Brussels. Steamers run up and down the Meuse River close to the works,and the mai n lines of railways to all parts of the world are communicated with directly from the works. We travelled from Liege to the works in tramcars drawn by small locomotives along the river bank. The country was hilly, but the slopes and dells were rich in fruit trees, while on some of the slopes, facing the south, we saw vines trailed along tall poles. The gigantic works are situate in the hollow of the hills. We were met at the entrance into the works by M. le Baron E. Saidone, managing director, and many other officials, one or two of whom spoke English, but with a strong French accent. We were ushered through the grand entrance, which was Banked on both sides tJY fine offices. Inside the doorway was a spacious green lawn, with a fountain playing in the centre. At each of its four corners was a full-size statue of a workman, and each represented one of the classes of men employed by the company. We passed into avast workshop, which, I think, could not have been less than 100 yards long, but something less in width. Running its full length wrre stands or tahles, at which men were busily engaged upon various pieces of machinery in different stages of preparation. A striking sight, was iiuge locomotives, like gigantic elephants, standing in mammoth propor- tions, with their fronts directed across the building; and their boiler parts against the wall. I do not know how many of these we passed as we waikod aloi)g, but we saw sufficient to understand that this industry was in full swing here- Immense lifts, worked uv compressed nir, passed along the top of girders beneath the roof. From those lifts were suspended powerful chains for lifting to any position required tho huge pieces of castings at which men were busily employed. Some idea as to tho extent of the works and the variety of the work done may he gathered from the following particulars:— The works comprise an area of 108 hectares, or 267 acres. The capita! of the company is 15,000.000 francs ( £ 600.000). The wages paid annuallv amount to more than £ 400.000. The daiJy consumption of fuel exceeds 1.380 tons. The works comprise twelve departments, and their annual production is about 1;1,800.000. They make, with the ship-yard at Hoboken, Antwerp, and their fleet of sea-going steamers, the most com- plete establishment in existence. The following is a tabulated list of the men employed and the m,teiiinery in use:- Officers Engines. Department. and ———————— Workmen .T Number H-P 1. Coalpit,Colard.with'J an(j 2/5 Esperai.ce ( coke 30g0 47 16(M 2. Coal-p.t, Caroline f ovens and Marie ) 3. Mines S60 13 212 4. Blast lurnaces 430 13 190 5. Foundries 320 8 8B 6. Ironworks 97Q 70 2584 7. Steelworks 1540 75 I 513:1 8. Forges 250 27 489 9. Fitting-shops 1460 21 433 10. Boiler and Bridge Shops 750 14 243 11. Ship Yard, HoDoken 550 6 86 12. Transports, .Stc 430 43 3220 10. Boiler and Bridge Shops 750 14 243 11. Ship Yard, HoDoken 550 I 6 86 12. Transports, .Stc 430 43 3220 Administration Offices 370 -=-I-=-. 11,110 337 114588 The shops at Seraing have constructed up to now 52.600 machines and divers mechanical installa- tions, plus 480 vessels and boats. They can furnish annually 100 locomotives, 70 steam engines, 1,500 different mechanical constructions; 9.852 tons of bridge-work, turntables, roofs. and boilers 14 sea-going steamers and river boats in iron or steel; armoured turrets, steel guns, hydraulic presses, and cranes of every system. The works were started in 1817 by an English- man named John Cockerill. Seraing was then a small place of 1,924 inhabitants, now it is a large town. In the neighbourhood of the works are extensive miners' schools, and education is obligatory upon children before entering upon employment in the company's works. There is also a School of Mines for the training of head miners and mining inspec- tors. Here is also a dispensary belonging to the society, from whence medicine and necessaries are distributed gratuitously, not only to sick workmen, but also to their relations whom they may have to support. Pensions and assistance when needed are also given to the workmen, and in 1882 these amounted to £ 6,510. There is, moreover, a Provi- dent Fund for needy workmen, which has at pre- sent to the good £ 4,320, and a retiring or pension fund for the officals, amounting to a280. It should be added that the company produce their own iron, &c., ore and coal. The visitors were delighted to witness the hospitals and orphanages of the company. We were ushered into a large building situate in its own grounds. Passing along lofty and well-ventilated corridors we came into splendid rooms, well lighted by many windows, and most excellently ventilated. Here were rows of small blue bedsteads, with bedclothes of snowy white. We traversed several of these rooms. These were the hospitals of the works, and into which injured or sick workmen were taken, and attended by the nurses and doctors of the works. These fine rooms were scrupulously clean, and, as I said before, their ventilation was perfect. I am happy to say there were not many inmates. Among the few we saw here was a sick old workman. His resemblance to the portraits of the Iron Duke attracted the notice of all the visitors. He coufcl only speak Flemish, but I gathered that his name was Scherren, and that he was born at Brugen 86 years ago. At another part of the hospital I found the chief doctor, who could not speak English, explaining to a group of Welsh- men how a man who stood before him, and upon whose head he held his hand, was nearly decapitated a few months ago by an enraged woman. The man had lent the woman 100 francs, .and he called upon her for the re-pay- ment of the loan. They quarrelled. He left her house. She followed, and, throwing her apron over his head, plunged a large knife into the left side of the neck. This is mentioned as showing that this hospital is available to others besides those who may happen to get injured at the works. Flitting about the rooms were nurses, called here sisters of charity. Each was neatly dressed, and wore on her head the white summer-bonnet, with round hoods rising at the sides and above the chin. We then proceeded to the chapel, form- ing part of the same building, and the entrance into which was from one of the corridors. This was furnished with the usual altar and coloured symbols and decorations, including natural flowers. The chapel could have accommodated about 100 worshippers. But the most touching scene of all was to come. Standing in a semi- circle facing us, in a small open plot of grouncIP we found between 60 and 70 orphan boys, not one of whom seemed above twelve years of age. They were dreased in neat dark suits, and each wore a white linen collar. Each stood bareheaded, and gazed at us with quiet interest. Near them were young sisters of charity or love. The little ones-God bless them !-had been deprived in the inscrutable ways of Providence of fathers and mothers. Our Cymric hearts were instantly touched, and pre- sents in money were made to the little ones through the hands of the smiling young sisters of love. I am sure I saw the tears welling into the eyes of some of the sisters at the evidence the act afforded of the sympathy of the Britannic visitors. It seemed to me that the whole place was surcharged with the electricity of the heart—one touch of Nature maketh the whole world kin! From there we proceeded to a place t) us mere touching still, namely, the quarters of the little orphan girls. About the same number of motherless and fatherless little girls stood in a semi-circle, in an open plot similar to the other one. They also were very neatly dressed, and one, not above three years old, came toddling along to me, but was instantly caught by a young sister in charge. It was quite evident, by the open and frank air of these, as well as the other little ones, that the sisters of lovo had not, by the exercise of undue authority over the orphans, expelled from their little minds and hearts the sense of home. A collection was made here also. One left the precincts of the orphanages fully believing that the Father of the fatherless would send down His blessings abun- dantly on the loco parentis at the great works of Seraing We were entertained with luncheon by M. le Buron De Saidone, who presided. The usual toasts followed. During our visit the flags of Britain and Belgium fluttered in the breeze over the works.—[.This article has been written some time, but has been unavoidably held over from time to time ic consequence of the pressure upon our space.-ED. lV, 31.)

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CURRENT AGRICULTURAL I TOPICS. r BT AGRICOLA" OF TH2 FIELD."] The system adopted by the Royal Agricultural Society of offering prizes for the best managed farms in that part of the kingdom where the show for the current year is being held most people agree in considering of great utility. At any rate, it has the effect of making known, far and wide, the chief features of the farms placed in com- petition, and if there are any of seemingly striking merit, popular attention is directed to them with greater force than would be rendered possible by any other means. The competition was this year limited to the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and arranged into four classes, those over 550 acres, those between 250 and that limit, those between 100 and 250 acres, and small farms not exceeding 100 acres. Norfolk farming has usually been con- sidered amongst the best in the kingdom, conse- quently not a few have been anxious to learn its salient features. Several writers for the agricultural press visited the prize farms while at Norwich or returning from the show, and some few of their reports have already met the public eye. By these we are informed that the four-Course system of cropping which Norfolk gave to the rest of England nearly half a century ago is still pursued there in its integrity. This scarcely redound, to the credit of the farmers of that county, for, now that corn growing has become so unremunerative and labour is so dear, it seems only reasonable that it would pay better to prolong alternate pastures over the second, if not the third and fourth, year. Norfolk farmers, both on large and small hold- ings, appear, however, to fatten large numbers of stock, and in carrying out that object to consume large quantities of artificial food. This is the chief meritorious feature in their management, and but for it they would suffer depression in a ten-fold degree more than they do at present. I think it would be well, therefore, if farmers of other parts of the kingdom, while abandoning the Norfolk system of cropping, were to imitate the East Ang'ians more generally in feeding larger numbers of stock to a given acreage than they do at present, and by the lavish use of oil cakes or home-produced grain send more extensive outputs of meat to market. Even small farmers in Norfolk fatten large numbers of stock, it seems. The winner of the first prize in the section not exceeding 100 acres is Mr. Charles Devereux, of the neighbourhood of Harlington, his holding being only 88 acres, 63 of which are arable and 23 permanent grass. No breeding of either cattle or sheep is con- ducted on the farm. but from 100 to 120 lambs are sought in June to be fed on the artificial grass layers until November, when, having received to half a pound each of cake per day during the whole period, they are usually disposed of at a profit- About a score of Irish steers take their place, which are fattened on sliced mangolds, hay and •traw chop, and 7lbs. or 8'bs. each of oil cake per day until about February, when they go to the butcher. After this some home-bred cattle are usually bought for summer feeding, so that the stockage is heavv for such a small holding, and six or seven tons of linseed cake are bought in the course of the year. About ten acres of mangolds are grown yearly, which form the principal root crop, as the land, being heavy, is better adapted for it than for turnips. If we take the larger first prize farm of Mr. E. T. Learner, of Burgh Aylsham, a very similar system will be found prevailing. Mr. Learner's total holding is 346 acres, of which he has this year 70 acres cropped to wheat, the same quantity to barley, and the same to alternate grass, the remaining portion of the arable having 30 acres to mangold, 30 acres to turnips, and 10 to oats. The total arable consists of 280 acres, the remainder being meadow. He feeds annually about 150 bullocks and 200 cross-bred Iambi;, his consumption of oil-cake reaching to nearly £100 annually, one-half being linseed and the other cotton cake. It does not appear that any home produced corn is given to the stock as a substitute for oil-cake, neither j does it appear by the particulars of the other Norfolk prize farms which have yet met the public eye that this practice is being resorted to largely in that part of the kingdom. This many will con- sider another error of judgment, showing that farmers in other parts of the kingdom are superior to Norfolk men on the point. The general manage- ment, however, appears to be very high class especially in the cleanliness of the fields and the heavy yielding character of the grain crops. Mr. Learner's wheat crop of this year gives promise of yielding, it is said, over 40 bushels per acre, and his barley from 45 to 48 bushels per acre. Mr Devereux's wheat has been pre-estimated to yield 44 bushels per acre. Thus it will be seen that if Norfolk men continue to grow corn crops as befon they manage to raise heavy ones. Probably it is too early as yot to proclaim a revi- val in the sheep trade, but such lamb sales as have taken place in tho past fortnight certainly display a more active demand at hardening rates. At Messrs Biddell and Blencowe's great Kesgrave lamb sale, held near Ipswich last week, Essex graziers bought largely, several to the extent of from £200 to J6300 each, and, according to the reports, the top prices of cross-bred lambs varied from 30s. up to 37s. 6d. per head. Of course, the bulk sold con- siderably under 30s. each, but a general opinion appeared to prevail that sheep are likely to sell better as the season advances. Considering bow bright has become the prospect of a large and heavy yielding turnip crop, this appears to be only likely. Last autumn there were more mouths than seemingly could be fed remuneratively throughout winter, and in consequence the prices of store sheep fell very low. Now prospects are altogether the other way, and should farmers dis- cover that the.sheep stock in the country is not equal to consume all the roots grown, prices may bo expected to advance with every successive autumn fair. Professor Wrightson. of the Downton College, has written to the Times on his old favourite subject, the marvellous early maturity of the Hampshire Down breed of sheep. A very good flock of the latter is kept on the College farm, and Mr. Wright- son selected therefrom seven lambs, which on being weighed on July 19 when about six months old, averaged 142jlbs. each live weight, the heaviest scaling 1691bs. According to his method of calculation, he considers that the carcase weight of the latter if slaughtered would be 92Ibs., and that the average carcase weights of the seven would be 761ba. each. This certainly appears to justify the assumption made by Mr. Wrightson that the Hampshire stands par excellence above our other British breeds for early maturity. Such lambs ought, however, to be slaughtered now, and not allowed to get riper, the only effect of which would be to overload the carcases with ao much fat that the mutton would not be so saleable as it is now. In districts where long-woolled sheep are still kept the only way to make the wether mutton of the flocks saleable is to sell for slaughter early whereby, not only is a higher price according to weight realised, but room is made for other stock to be kept, with more economy in the consumption of food. Ram sales are very general during August, an d apparently we; are just now in the midst of them as regards the Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Cots- wold breeds. The best breed of sheep to keep must depend very largely on circumstances, some varieties being more suited to certain soils and other circumstances than others. There can be no doubt, however, on one point—a flockmaster keep- ing a breeding flock ought always to seek for the best ram be can lay hands on, and when he goes to a ram auction he should never mind expending an extra £5 note to secure the sheep he thinks will answer his purpose best. If, as has been often observed, a bull is half a herd," a ram also must exert to a considerable degree the like influence in altering the character of progeny in the flock, either for the better or for the worse. Sheep breeding in England is not only an art, but has been brought almost to the rank of a science. That like get? like we all now, but there are many considerations, as to the adaptations of rams for ewws in respect to colour and other characteristics, which require the exercise of very good judgment indeed, and there is no Royal road for the attainment of this any more than there is to learning. Jonas Webb and other eminent breeders only attained to high suc- cess by attending scrupulously to what some might consider trifles. It is usual to speak of such men as having been specially endowed with rare gifts for their vocation, and probably they were but no great breeder yet succeeded without studious application to his business. We often hear now-a-days of superior new varieties of cereal grain, these being highly selected ones, brought to a high degree of perfect- tion, by using for seed year after yw tlie best of the best, until grain has been deriv d ren- superior to that of the self same variety w; en d)mitted to ordinary culture. There is a way, however, of getting really new varieties of wheat by taking the pollen of one plant and impregnating the feathery stigma of another therewith, a delicate operation requiring an expert for successful performance. Messrs. Carter and Co., the well-known seedsmen of High Holborn, have achieved so great a success in this direction that they were able last week to show large breadths of three distinct new varieties of hybrid wheats to some literary gentle- men paying a visit to their Essex farms, Messrs. Carter will not have any seed corn of these hybrids to dispose of until next year, but fixity of type for them appears to have been obtained.

GARDENING NOTES. [BY MR. J. MUIE, MABGAIJ. NEATH SHOW.—Before my notes of another week are due, the Neath exhibition of garden produce will have been held, and ail who are interested in a first-class, well managed, thorough going show should visit it. Two or three years ago the Neath Shows were the most spirited in the principality, and the officials now, including Mr. W. Whittington, the hon. sec., who is a host in himself, are mostly the same as produced such successful results before. I am told the prospects of a good show are brighter than ever, and it is absolutely certain that those who favour the meeting with their patronage will have every reason to be fully satis- fied with, the innumerable instructive and interesting products which will be brought under their notice. WHITE LILIES.—Of late these have been bloom- ing everywhere, and whether as seen in the garden, or cut and arranged in rooms, they are always attractive and pleasing, they are not con- fined to large gardens, but may often be seen in the smallest of cottage ones. They are alike valued in town and country. About the middle of July, masses of them wete in full bloom in all the London parks, thousands of them were being sold in Covent-garden market, and they were freely introduced to dinner and bail-rooms, where effec- Live flowers are always in demand. The variety is L. Candidum. The bulbs of it may be brought in and planted any time during; the autumn or winter, and although it does not come to its best the first year after planting, many flowers will be produced, and when planted for a year or two it will bloom annually with the greatest profusion. There are many other kinds of good lilies, and as a class they merit more extensive cultivation. PUKPLE CLEMATIS.—• ne of the best of all Clenmtis to bloom fred, and "TOW everywhere is the purple C. Jackinanii. This is the variety so often seen scr imbling up the fronts of houses and displaying an attractive mass of purple biossoin at the present time. There is no more showy Juiy or August ciimber and it may also be made into a fl >wer bed by planting several plants here and there, and pegging the shoots down to the ground as they grow. This clematis, like all the others, is difficult to propagate, the vounj: plants bein produced by grafting the buJs (In to small twiys of roots. This can only be done by practical hands, and though I would like to tell jour readers to propagate their own plants, I must advise them to buy them. But thev are cheap, and may be bought fråm 9 i. ro b. eacii. FLORAL I'iUEPLACKii.—Tlie most interesting of all floral sig ita tn London dUllng the London season ■ii'o i hu iloe-MTiiioiiti in Wool-nml mansions on dinin r anii hiiii tjccaaioua. Tno wh ile house espocially for the latter converted into a gay conservatory, tbo rooms, staircases, halls, balconies ana every available .space being embellished with he most stattl" of exotics, and the prettiest and sweetest of flowers. Nature could never excel the charming spots produced by the hands uf the florist and the Innst lavish work uf the gilder, or sculptor pales before the glems of flora. Even the most artistic of mantle-shelves and tire-places are considered objectionable, and it i" gpnerally in the recesses of these that exquisite flow; arrange- ments are carried onto A favourite system is to have a very large mirror placed in a rustic frame which is adorned wiul quaint creeping plants and beautiful fl jwers. Cnoice orchids are often employed, they are both rich and effective in appearance, but equally good results mny often be secured from commoner flowers, as one of the prettiest arrangements of the kind I have ever seen was on a recent occasion when lilies were freely used, and the best of all tne fireplaces was one entirely decorated with Lilium Earrisii and maidenhair fern. The flowers of this lily are pro- duced in graceful sprays, and the colour is a sctt cream. The flowers were disposed in rather a dense mass at tHe bottom, but they gradually lessened as they branched up the sides, and they terminated in a mere spray, on each side of the mirror at the top, the centre of the latter being left bare to reflect the flowers and those who went tllere to inspeci tbew. Tile maidenhair fronds were massed and entwined amongst the lilies, the fresh green was most agreeabie and pleasing and the tragrance emitted by the lilies was diff- used throughout the rooms which were cooled by blocks of ice placed in the window recesses and surrounded by reeds, and water-lilies, 1 may say one of the houses I aw referring to is the palatial residence ot Lord Londonderry, and by no means the least affective decoration I saw in London recently was thar executed for the successful litigant in tho notorious Tichborne trial. Those of your readers who decorate their empty fireplaces in the sumirmi time with fancy papers and feathers, should substitute the rustic frames and mirrors, I have mentioned and they couid always enhance their beauty by decorating them with the flowers of the garden, or the terns uf the woods, and the ornamenLal grasses and wild flowers of the fields. CUCUMBERS FAILING.—A reader, Ystrad Riiondda complains that his cucumbers lose their blossoms, and that the fruit becomes veliow and withers when about 3 inches long This is a cowmon com- plaint amongst cucumbers in all seasons, but more especially in spring and autumn. It is produced, by various causes. When the soil in which the plants are growings very fiine it is apt to retain a great deal of moisture, becomes too wet, and then the fruit die off. Plants which are grown with the aid of bottom in the the forepart of the season, generally suffer if this is withdrawn suddenly, and the fruit fail, and crowding the branches and leaves is also a fertile source of failure. A remedy which may be generally applied is to clear off a.U useless soil from the surface of the mound where the roots are growing, add a fresh layer of rough lumps of loam mixed with a little manure, thin the shoots and branches well out, water with care, and give it a temperature of 80 degrees, and if possible place a little fermenting material to the soil so as to induce the plant to make fresh fruit. This bottom heat should only be very gentle, and not withdrawn too suddenly. Do not allow any plants to become crowded as it takes some time to rectify this evil. HOLLY BERRIES IN JULY .—The other day Mr William Llewellyn, of Court Colman, who is a keen and appreciative observer of pecularities in vegeta- tion sent me a spray of holly-berries, which ili the most remarkable for the time of year I ever saw or neard of. The shoot if not over three inches in iengta, and there are over sixty berries firmly adhering to it. They are as fresh and bright as they could possibly be on the 25th of December There are many green berries on the tree from which this was taken, and as it is not very since the holly trees were in flower, I must owu that instances of this style of fruiting is beyond my comprehension. THE FRUIT Cnops OF 1886.—The Gardener'. Chronicle of July 24th, publishes a report of the state of the fruit crops in every country in England, Scotland, and Wales, and from these it appears that all small fruits are, or have been, heavy crops. Plums good, apples and pears light, peaciies abundant, cherries plentiful, and quality rather under the average. The reports from Car- marthen Denbigh, Glamorganshire, Merionethshire and Pembroke show apricots to be under average, plums average, cherries average, peaches anf nectarines under, apples under, pears average, small fruits good average, strawberries good average, and nuts an average crop. SPIHCEA PALMATA.—Most of your readers who take any interest in plants or flowers, will know the common white flowering spircea japonica, and the above is a good companion to it, as it produces its plume-like flowers in the same way, but they are of a beautiful rose colour. In some instances when growing in ordinary garden soil they are rather pale in colour, and are disposed to bloom of different shades of pink, but the most intense and beautiful coloured flowers I have ever seen of it were on plants growing in Kew gardens. These were not planted in ordinary positions but were growing in a very moist, marshy corner in the rock garden, and they were so bright and distinct looking, that I concluded thev were a new and im- proved variety, but wasjassured of their only being the common spiroe i palmata, and my next conclu- sion was that I had learned an important wrinkle in its culture.

CAilLJllI~FLOWJ^K SHOW. This annual fixture comes off on the lltli of August in the Sophia Gardens, and several addi- tional features of interest are promised. There will be a bee-lent and demonstrations in bee- keeping and implements of horticulture will also be exhibited. In the matter of music I he arrangements are most satisfactory. The grand band of the Grenadier Guards, under the baton of Mr. Dan Godfrey, will divido the duties of Lhe day with our excellent local band from Cytarthfa. With these induce- ments and the prospect of a capital show of plants, fruits, and flowers, a good attendance may be regarded as certain, and the committee have obtained concessions from the Great Western, Taff Vale, and Rhymnev Railway Companies in the way of fares on the day of the show. The secretary is Mr. A. D. Bassett, of 4, Church-street, Cardiff, from whom all inforinatiuii may be obtained.

THE Morning Advertiser of February 22nd, 1888, has tlie following" Messrs. COX and CO., South- ampton Buildings, Holborn, Itouuon, have lately beea instrumental in obtaining many large sums irom the Chant^ry Paymasters. Tne prompt and cheap system adopted by Co* and Co. wui greatly assist person* to obtain what legally belongs to them irom the vast accumulated hoards 111 Cuauci ry. ll is surpri,i,ig that the Court of Chance; > \1°;>' ""1 receive many more ap- plications an- ry Tn-i. and there is no doubt thai when p with whic inquiries can be inaue and stablished, thr Messrs. Cox aud Co.'s agency, it known, t.i of those who secure what only a» ts :u Woiu the rightful owners will be greatly 1111. ,.I.q. ENORMOUS FOKTUXES UE Br'Ti'D in the COFitT oi CHANCERY, amounting 1,. iiuO^OO^OO,' which really belong to the people, including all classes of the community, from the peer to the peasant. WB EARNESTLY ENTREATEVEKYON E to Send to Messrs. COX and CO., and obtain their list of Christian and Surnames in fuli of the 50,000 persons to whom all this vast wealth belongs. Price i c. 6d.-pOSL¡.1 order. And if they find their names, or those of any ancestors, they should obey the instructions it contains. A fortune ma/ await them. 87B r WARNING,-When you ask for Reckitt's Blue see that you ael it. The manufacturers beg to caution the public against imitation square Bine, of very inferior quality. The Pat-is Blue in squares is sold in wrapper* bearing their name and Trade Mark. Set use all other#.