Weekly Mail

NOTES. STALB BREAD. It is generally supposed that the fact that bread grows stale arises from the bread becoming actually drier by the gradual loss of water but this is not the case. Stale bread contains almost exactly the same proportion of water as new bread after it has become completely cold, The change is merely in the internal arrangement of the molecules of the bread. A proof of this is, that if we put a stale loaf into a closely covered tin, expose it for half an hour or an hour to a beat not exceeding that of boiling water, and then «llow it to cool, it will be restored in appear- ance and properties to the state of new bread. EDITOR, INVALUABLE TURPENTINE. After a housekeeper fully realises the worth of turpentine in the household, she is never willing to be without a supply of it. It gives quick relief to burns; it is an exoellent appli- cation for corns it is good for rheumatism and sore throats. Then it is a sure prei-eijtii-c against moths; by just dropping trifle in the bottom of drawers, chests, and cupboards, it will render the garments aeoure from injury during the summer. It will keep ants and bogs from chests and store-rooms by putting a I few drops in the corners and upon the shelves; it is sure destruction to bedbugs, and will effeotuallydrive them away from their haunts if thoroughly applied to all the joints of the bedstead, and injures neither furniture nor clothing. A spoonful of it, added to a pail of warm water, is excellent for cleaning paint. EDITOR.

QUERIES. 346.-POTTEù CKAB. How is crab potted ? MOLAR. Tredegar. 347.—MILK CAKES. A recipe for an easily-made milk cake will be esteemed a favour by MILLY, Cwmbran, 348. ONCLE TOM'S" PUDDING. I have heard of a pudding oalled Uncle Tom." Can anyone say how it is made, and if the ingredimts are inexpensive P aydwh. AUNT MART. 349,—RICK RECIPES. Tired of the eternal boiled rice and rioe pudding, I should be glad if some lady reader would kindly furnish a few reeipes in which rioe enters as the principal, if not sole, ingredient, owimit. econ,

REPLIES. DAMSON CHEESE, (Query No. 812.) V/JJoi] the £ r ui^Jaa sumoiont quantity of water to cover it; strain the pulp through a very coarse sieve to each pound add 4oz. of sugar. Boil till it begins to candy on the sides, then pour it into thin moulds. Other kinds of plums may be treated in the same way; as also cherries, and several other kinds of fruit. D Boil the damsons in a little water; when 6oft pass them through a sieve to take out the skins and stones. To every pound of pulp of fruit add three-quarters of a pound of loaf sugar broken small; crack the stones and add the kernels; boil all together till quite stiff; pour it into four common-sized dinner plates, rubbed with a little sweet oil; put it into a warm place to set and dry, and when quite firm, take it from the plates and cut it into any shape you choose. If preferred, it may be poured into oiled moulds. GWENYNEN GWYNEDD. SNOW PUDDING. Query No. 313.) Put a piece of vanilla into a stewpan with a pint of milk, cover with the lid, and allow it to infuse on the stove for twenty minutes remove the vanilla and add to the milk an ounce of pounded sugar whip the whites of two eggs very stiff, and when the milk boils drop in very small portions of the whipped white moulded in the form of an egg; let them stand in the beat until they swell twice their original size, but on no account allow them to boil. Lift them out carefully with a small slice and arrange them in a buttered fancy pudding dish; repeat this until the whipped white is all used. Now beat two whole eggs in a basin with half a teacupful of milk, poor to it the hot milk, add a little vanilla essence, pour gently into the dish, sugar over the top. Bake very slowly until the custard is just set, and the eggs the faintest golden colour; decorate between the eggs with strips of apple jelly or any nice preserve. BELLE MAHONE. CASTLE BASKETS. (Query No. 314.) Beat together four ounces of butter with four of sugar in a basin till creamy; add two eggs, beating them in separately. Mix in very gradually two ounces of ground almonds and four ounces of fine flour that has been passed through a sieve, with half a teaspoonful of baking powder. Half fill a dozen dariole moulds, bake twenty minutes, turn them out, and leave them till next day. Then, with a small, pointed knife, cut round the top about a quarter of an inch from the edge, pressing downwards, removing greater part of the inside crumb; ice them outside with white icing. While the icing is wet put a border of finely-chopped blanched pistachios. Allow them to dry, then fill with any nice jam. Pat a little whipped cream on the top, and form an upright handle of angelica, crossing it and tying it together with a tiny bow cf ribbon. COOK. Llandaff, CRUST COFFEE. < (Query No. 315.) A delightful drink is crust ooffee. It is made thus:—Bake in the oven to a very dark brown colour some thin slices of bread; roll or pound quite fine, keep in a corked-up bottle. While a breakfast cupful of water is boiling in a saucepan put in a heaped-up dessert spoonful of baked crumbs. Let it stand a few minutes, then pour into a cup through a strainer, and sip while hot. ALICE. To CHOOSE POULTRY AND GAME. (Query No. 316.) In choosing poultry, a young cook has short and dub-bed spurs; an old one longer spurs. A young hen has her legs and comb smooth; an old one's legs would be rough and scaly looking. Pheasants can be told much in the same way by their legs and spurs. "With partridges, the bills white and the legs bluish show age, but if the bird* are young the bill jis black and the legs yellowish. Dove-house pigeons when old are red-legged; if young their legs are smooth and grey. A true wild duck has a reddish foot, smaller than a tame one. The age of ducks can like- wise be told by their legs. GWENYNKN GWYNEDD. The chief thing In choosing poultry and game is to know the age of the bird. Duels- Touieduolis have yellow feet, wild ones red feet, and in choosing them mind they have a plump breast and supple feet. Turkeys.— When fresh killed the eyes should be full and clean, and the feet moist, and the legs of a young turkey are smooth and black, while in an old one they are rough and reddish. When kept too long the parts about the vent become of a greenish colour. Partridges, to be young, should have yellow legs and dark-coloured bills. Fotcls, to be in good condition, should have their legs and combs smooth, and be quite plump on the breast and back and have white legs. Geese.-Thtse, when young, have yellow bills and feet, but when old they are quite red. When quite fresh, their feet are soft and pliable, but when kept too long they become stiff. Pigeons require to be eaten fresh to be nice and if kept too long the flesh becomes flabby. When young their feet are tender and soft. Tame pigeons are larger than wild ones. Woodcock and Snipc.-To be very young and fresh killed their feet should be soft and tender, when old they are thick and quite hard, and if kept too long their bills become moist and their throats muddy. Mar gam. IliSNWIFE. To Correspond nts. Acknowledged with tlianki: GWENYNEN GWYNEDD (Kidney pudding and coltsfoot wine), VVKB WIFIE" (Caramel pudding), "FERN" (Coltsfoot wine), BELLE MAHONE" (Kidney pudding), •• DAISY" (Meat balls).

I LIVERPOOL EN FETE. I The Duke of Clarence Opens the New Royal Infirmary, The Press Association Liverpool correspondent flaye B.R.H. the Duke of Clarence and Avondale drove into Liverpool on Wednesday from Toxteth, where be is the guest of Lord Sefton, to open the new Royal Infirmary, The weather was very dull, rain falling at intervals. During the morning crowds gathered in the streets, particularly in the neighbourhood of the infirmary and the Town-hall, and his Royal Highness, who was accompanied by his host, and escorted by a troop of Lancers and a detachment of mounted police, was warmly cheered at various points. The public buildings were decorated, and the bells rang merry peals. At the Town-ball the Duke was received by the mayor, and presented with an address of welcome in a golden casket, to which he briefly replied. He was afterwards entertained to lunch, some of the leading citizens being present, after which the Duke and party drove to the infirmary where the opening ceremony was performed. A procession of trade societies paraded the principal streets.

The action brought by Lady Howard de Walden to recover from the Marquess of Bristol Gains. borough's portrait of Lord Harvey was concluded on Wednesday.—The defendant admitted in oroes- examination that be could find no trace of any payment being made by his grandfather for the pioture.—Justice Kay, however, decided that the plaintiff had failed to prove that the picture wae enly in the possession of the Marquess of Bristol as a loan, and diomlosgd tb$|CltC0 iffyjtf

OUR CAPITAL LETTER. BY "ZINCO." TELL US THE OLD STORIES "—IN MEMO- RI:M:-TRÂFALG..ut'S FLAG—SIR RICHARD BURTON—A NEGLECTED HERO-HIS LIFE'S WORK—STANLEY IN HOT WATER-WHAT WILL HE SAY ?-THE NEW M.P.-A DISTIN- TINGUISHED MAN-A BEAR'S CLUB—NINTH OF NOVEMBER VEETrA- QUICK RE- TURNS !-WÃNDERIN' WILLIE. WE are always re-telling our old stories, and whether they be better stories than the legends of the day or not, they, at any rate, have the romance of old over them-all their flaws are forgotten, and only the halo of their glory remains. It would not do to conserve the truth too severely-it would take a great deal of the gilt of the gingerbread off. Three hundred and two years have passed since the Invinoible Armada set sail from the Tagus, the accom- plished feat which had been promised to Europe for months. Our navy seemed alive to the threatened danger, but the Government then (history does repeat itself) was under no apprehension and was on the point of cur- tailing its fleet. Admiral Lord Howard urged that, on the contrary, it should be strengthened. Later on he wrote bitterly complaining that he could not obtain the services of four ships-the White Bear, the Triumph, the Elizabeth Jones, and the Vic- tory. He was indignant, too, at the Queen's condact to Drake, by which he had been prevented from getting his Plymouth Squadron in oomplete order for sea service. The fault is not in him," he sadly remarked two days later, Ii but I pray God her Majesty do not repent her slack dealing." It was not that her Majesty was so very slack; it was rather that she was so desperately economical in her dealings. All England was in a frenzy of excitement, and all, save the Catholic party, in a passion of patriotism. From hill to hill, from peak to peak, the beacon fires were blazing. From Eddystone -to Berwick Sounds, from Lynn to Milford Bay, that time of slumber was as bright and busy as the day For swift to east and swift to west the ghastly war flame spread; High on St. Michael's Mount itzbone, it shone on Beachy Head." Supineness and slumber were over. Everyone who bad a boat in any way suited to fighting purposes rigged it for sea. The fisher-folk were crowding round the magistrates' houses to be enrolled as sailors; the City and merchants of London fitted up at their sole cost and charges thirty-eight ships with an aggregate of six thousand tons burden, and manned by nigh three thousand soldiers and sailors. Twenty-two ships and over two thousand hardy fighting men volunteered for service with Sir Francis Drake. The force advancing on us had a total tonnage of sixty thousand, three thousand cannon and demi- cannon, oulverins and demi-culverins, nine thousand sailors, two thousand galley-slaves, twenty-two thousand soldiers, three hundred monks, priests, and familiars of the Inquisi- tion, and spare berths for seventeen thousand additional soldiers who were to be taken on board, with the Prince of Parma as Com- mander-in-Chief. To meet this armament, Elizabeth-it was monarchs, not the people then-had sent 34 ships of our own navy, with a tonnage in all of 11,000,800 guns and some 6,000soldiers and sailors-less in numerical strength than a fourth of the Invincible Armada. The dis- comfiture of the Armada has been the subject of glowing pages in history, of grand and immortal verse, and of the painter's brush. It is an oft-told tale. Elizabeth, while the Armada was slowly nearing our shores, was with Lord Burleigh lowering the commissariat for the navy: fish on three days, bacon once a week, instead of the usual ration of 4d. worth of beef per diem. But one Fleming, a Cornish pirate," sighted the enemy, and came into the Sound at Plymouth to warn Drake, whom he found playing at bowls with his captains on the Hoe. Said the gallant Sir Francis, "Let us play out our match. There will be plenty of time to win the game and beat the Spaniards too." And, there was, as history in trumpet notes tell. In the death of Sir Richard Burton we lose a rare man of the century: a tra- Ir B great as .Livingstone and as modest, and a scholar greater than any explorer that has gone before him. Sir Richard was British Consul at Trieste, the inconsiderable but only post bestowed on him for his life labours in the oause of science and the advance of obscure portions of the globe. He was the son of the late Lieutenant-colonel Joseph Netherville Burton, of the 36th Foot and grandson of the Rev. Ed. Burton, an Irish inoumbent. So we bave three great explorers of the century of different nationali- ties Burton Irish, Livingstone Scotoh, and Stanley Welsh. Burton was educated in EUirlaud, he was two years at Oxford, bu left without giving himself time to take a degree. He entered the Indian Army in 1842, and served in the 28th Bombay Infantry, under Sir Charles Napier. In 1851 he pub- lished his first book, Goa and the Blue Mountains." I knew him well in India. From Bombay to Ootacmund, over the Neil- gherry Hills, he travelled as a native, playing on some Indian musical instrument, and such was the perfection of his disguise, and his intimate knowledge of not only Hin- doostani, but Tellagoo, that his identity was never suspected by the natives. His physique rather favoured such impersonations, he being of the Aryan type. He was invalided home, and in 1855 made his famous journey to Mecca disguised as a Dervish, and pene- trated the mosque of the holy city-a thing the infidel" had never before accomplished. His next exploit was a journey into East Africa with Speke, where both the adventurers were severely wounded. Later on, Burton ex- plored Central Africa, under the auspices of the Geographical Society. Then he dis- covered Lake Tanganyika. His next travel was in the country of the Mormons and Cali- fornia. In 1864 he explored vast tracts of South America and the whole of the racific Coast. As Consul he went to Damascus. In 1872 he explored Iceland, and in the same year was appointed Consul at Trieste, in which oflioe he departed this life. Sir Richard has left many valuable and scholarly works—" Goa and the Blue Mountains," The Lake Regions of Equatorial Africa," The City of the Saints," &c., and an impor- tant translation of the "Arabian Nights," published in ten volumes. The great traveller was an accomplished linguist. He was married in 1861 to a grand-daughter of one of the Lords Howard of Wardour, a lady who shared many of his perilous journeys, and who wrote Domestic Life in Syria," in two large volumes. It has been a puzzle to most people intimate with this remarkable career why Sir Richard was rewarded by his country so grudgingly. He did not know the golden secret of silence at certain times; he was no flatterer, no courtier, but outspoken to a fault, and intolerant of procrastination and shifting policy. He was also innately modest. Strange that this death of the renowned explorer-as great in one way, greater in others, than the hero of the hour, H. M. Stanley-should have occurred on the eve of the issue of Major Barttelot'a diary and letters, containing a complete and formal indictment against the alleged misrepresenta- tions and suppressions of the chief of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. The charges against Stanley are distinct and grave, and demand from the latter a prompt and exhaustive reply. The book has burst like a shell in our midst, and we shall wait with anxious interest Mr. Stan- ley's reply. Already many who kissed the feet of the lion of the day are saying, with significant shrug and knowing nod, I always said he was over-rated"; "It never does to overdo a man—he's sure to boil down II I should not be at all surprised to hear bo never was in Africa at all," and so on. Mr. J. H. Roby, M.A., LL.D., of Pendleton, is a distinguished man according to the initials after his name, and his record gives his achievements, which are too many to note here. Indeed, I have a plethora of eminence this week. Suffice to say,Mr. I?oby'is a sexa- genarian he graduated at St. John's, Cambridge, in which college he became a scholar, an exhibitioner, a fellow, tutor, and classical lecturer. He was also an examiner of the University of Cambridge, and when he left he became an under-master of Dulwich College. He filled many offices from 1866 to 1868, but at last left the higher walks of learning for business, becoming a partner in the firm of Ermen and Engels, now Ermen and Roby, Manchester. He has written valuable works on law and a Latin grammar. He has been chairman of important Liberal Associations, though new to Parliamentary life. He is the one hundred and third new member since the general election of 1886. The young Czarewitch, about whom and whose postponed visit to Turkey we are hear- ing such a lot just now, is a totally different kind of animal to his father. He is a delicate, stupid-looking lad, with execrable manners. When this young princeling visited Germany some time ago he created a very bad impression. As a proof of his glaring want —j — j • > j. ,a in addressing the German officers in French, although he speaks their own language very although he speaks their own language very well. The Emperor William was palpably disgusted by the manifold gaucheries of his boorish guest, and treated him with the most frigid courtesy. The Russian prince never troubled in any way to acknowledge the salu- tations he received, and his ostentatious indifference excited a variety of caustic critioisms. Lord Mayor's Day has been arranged for Monday, November 10. It is rumoured that Alderman Savory will revive all the grandeur of the processions of earlier days. « The vendetta has been haloed by romance. It has been the motif of many a stirring tale, of many a tragio play. To-day it stands before us stripped of all its glamour, a oruel, vulgar, treacherous assassination. What is a ven- detta ?-an oath to slay, to wipe out a mortal injury, to remove by the knife a traitor. Never did vendetta reap so quickly the fruit of its crime. Victor Hugo said we ought always to justify a criminal to himself; this in the person of a vendetta is always done. The story of the assassination has been already told through the length and breadth of the land. Vendetta is just a bigger rendering of Judge Lynch. After the arrest of the murderer of Polioe-inspeotor Hennessy Thomas Duffy, a newsdealer, and brother of John Duffy, instructor of gymnaatics at the Southern Athletic Club, visited the prison, saying that he could identify Antonio Soaffidi as one of Hennessy's assassins. Scaffidi was ordered out from his cell, and as he approached the inner barred gate of the gaol Duffy thrust a revolver through the bars I and fired at him. Scaffidi fell to the ground, shot through the neck, and died from the effects of the wound during the evening Duffy was at once arrested, and boasts of the' deed, saying that he is quite willing to han and wishes that there were a hundred men like him in New Orleans, for they woulct wipe out the Italian assassins. A citizatt named Peeler identified Scaffidi as a membe of the gang which ran after and shot NiO. Hennessy. Duffy will get off, and it would seem that, so far as the vendetta was con- cerned, the town was well rid of the bossy Dundee." Mr. Gladstone has taken a roatt again; "Here awa', there awa', wanderin' Willie,* But what a G.O.M. he is, his nataral fo not abated, and his reason as sound--4. ever,

THE MEN A small foot often gives a young man the big head. The wise man expects everything from hinfl self; tho fool looks to others. The fool is pleased with himself; the wtafr man dissatisfied. Score one for the fool. Even the laziest of men can usually ø6 some work that some other fellow imcial to do. As a man grows older he sees what an iW he used to be, but fails to see what an he is. It takes a wize man to suffer proaperi but most enny phool kan suffer adveTsitr.- Josh Billings, The man who is in trouble can always an what an easy thing it would have been for him to keep out if he had only thought. A man always trying to get something that does not belong to him will go out and bor- row trouble. II Give me the man who whistles at his work," says some gushing writer. All rightv Promise to kill him and you can have him. No man shall ever be poor that goes to himself for what he wants, and that it tho readiest way to riches.-Seneea. The man who tells all about his joys and keeps his sorrows to himself has not got f.V town yet. lie would be warmly welcomed/ Every man feels instinctively that all tlld beautiful sentiments in the world weigh Iett than a single lovely action. The man who thinks more of himself than any one else thinks of him is in a position to ,.1; .J"rl: 4-1- .1 It is not untfl you have walked into puddle that you can seef the different paths that would have led you safely around it. LITTLE CUPJD. Ah Love is blind," the philosopher said, As he saw the fond lovers go by; H Yes, blind till after a fellow is wed," A benedict said with a sigh. If you want knowledge you wnust toil for it; if food, you must toil for it, and if pI sure, you must toil for it. Toil is the lawlil Pleasure comes through toil, and not by self* indulgence and indolence. When one gets tq love work his life is a happy one.-Ritskin,

GOOD PRICE FOR STOATS. The New Zealand Loan and Mtrcantilo agency; Company, as will be seen by advertiament, arC. paying seven and six each and carriage forJ live stoats.

THROAT IRRITATION AND COUGH.—Soreness and dryness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and affecting the voice. For the a* aympfcona iue Epps'iK Glycerine Jujubes. In contact with the glands at thaJ moment they are excited by the act of sucking. tbM Glycerine in these agreeable confections becomes actirelyl healing. Bold only in boxes 7Jd., tins Is. lfd., labelled? JAMM EPPS A CO., Homoeopathic Chemists, Londoa.'V Dr. George Moore, in his work 011 Nose and Tbroatt Diseases, says The Glycerine Jujubes prepared few James Epps and Co., are of undoubted service u an curative or palliative agent," while Dr. Gordon Hollnet Senior Physician to the Municipal Throat and Be Infirmary, writes:—"After an extended trial, I have] found your Glycerine Jujubes of considerable beneCtia 1 moat all forms of throat disease." LCMlS COLEMAN'S LIEBIQ'S EXTRACT OF MEAT AND MAXX WINE.—A 2s. 9d. bottle of this celebrated wine sent frein by parcels post for 33 stamps. Over 2,000 testimonials^ received from medical men. Coleman and Co,(Limited)^ $old everv-h-, LOWY