The Cardiff Times

P. E. GANE, 38-41, QUEEN-STREET, CARDIE. 161 & 162, COMMERCIAL. SXEEJB& NEWPORT, INVITES YOU TO r TEST THE GREAT SAVING ATTENDING THE PUBCHASE OF FURNITURE FROM LOCAL MANUFACTURERS. GUIDE TO FURNISHING It v FREE ON APPLICATION 3 ir

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. dn BY MABON, M.P, bi f. 'S COAL AN EXPORT P «j — Daily Telegraph urged some little jjj, and Mr Balfour slyly hints the same fH if0*' *bat coal is not an export, because it N>tKXbanBtib,e Pr0^Dct of the eartb, which jf Vt This definition is worth a M Ia l^e ^rst place, the labours 1i%}s °yftl Commission have already established c' that in a hundred years' time we shall t4 %• Sib]y be nearer exhaustion of du. coal tfc le, than we are at this moment. It has ? ^i|ieen eatablished that, although we are i. uP^n deeper supplies, the coal, through g| V>2ftJ °f w°rking, is costing no more to get '4 years ago while economy of consumption K °ch ^proved that one ton of coal does Si ^or now as three tons were doing some Vt Q^°" As for the term exhaustible pro- V'he earth," this applies not only to c0al, ^H6r 'r°n ore, to tin, to lead, and to every other > and that this class of products should ltieSjgy interchanged between different coun- cil 8 *°r the benefit of all nations in general, a>nly not for our loss in particular. ^berlainisnot only impressed with the "1It, OOr export trade in coal is unprofitable, some others, he, I find, bu doubts as ^Bdom of selling to the foreigner anything be used in competition with our in- kt4 -There is a complaint being Nih'hat we are selling coal and I and plant and ships to equip V1,s and extend the carrying trade of 1t\!1 Now, if this means Anything gleans that a countrv shall never sell S; 'gner any article of use in industry, o* eDK)ne8« or ")0''er8' 01 halting, or mate- ?tliijj1 *°°ls, or coal. What a singular state for us in South Wales to contemplate. We here to go on with ? Carry this to its toal si and international trade would Ortly cease, for it is difficult to see how the Kj(, e? could be persuaded to purchase useless 8 nothing else. Is it not mo3t extra- and«remarkable that the Protectionist l**11'of* SUCh lapses as these from its ordinary v'ew, which is, of course, that the only ]S> 16°'^ considering is the export trade, and Particularly, in this part of Great ^"bo • ^ow an^ then there seems to be borne 11what is actually the truth—viz., that out of a country represent value loBt Soj,8 eot,ntry and gained by the importing kh %a*Vk'hv exporting is one-half of the j and the vital consideration is what ^edi lQlP°rta ,s received in exchange. Nothing «ould be more foolish than to part with j* Machinery, or ships unless we barter ih* °"ler things which we require to get on jS{0 Work of the nation, and to add to the 'W)je 8 and pleasures of our existence. Thai, V, t is what Free Traders mean when tbey M'C00k the impbrts, and the exports j *'ter themselves." ^8k WlnS of the opposite course is well by both America and Germany. The- ?'ates feed us by the irreparable loss of i' *6rtil>ty of her soil, while denying her- to obtain the best value the world l'Gb*'81 'D exckange for her food supplies. cartels make haste to hand over to v^5<»*ner 'ron and steel and other valuable .S' while supplying them at much higher their own countrymen. The United f i 110 much natural wealth, that her prodi- Vj.11 some directions does not cause her much Ntyj °rt- But, on the other hand, the great German exports daring recent years I^WVCcottpanied by very severe industrial o 10 ths Fatherland. To contemplate see- r's People passing through the same dis- |THS Offering would be appalling. To have donke? f°r our working classes to J^ What next, we wonder? 8bonldwe /° kn°w for whose benefit has been that N etport trad^, while the workers of the JW "Dch distressing rircnmstances ? >1 while during the same period pur were not growing so rapidly as those k^> our people were richer, much hap- tnuch lells out of work" than the the Kaiser were. Workmen's Compensation Act t vv I^Vay^'kttien's Compensation Act and the vN^;6*8' Liability Act unfortunately contain lVlt'C8'011 for the making of returns to show the Systems of compensation which .'shed, and the only sources from )Sh Cift^ statistics can be obtained are the ty q tDs as to cases which come before the tf 0,lrt, aa supplied by tbe Registrars, y r°s are also supplied by the Registrars -thC)ugb comparatively few in number- *3 Sk^s t lhenioranda recording agreements or Private arbitrators under the Work- j ^^Pensation Acts are registered. 4opi. particutars of cases carried to appeal Vi of the Supreme Court. j'Hl 'Cu'ara of all official references to are available in the Home Office. Icnlars as to the certified schemes are *r°m the Chief Registrar of Friendly vw a!t these returns contain some in- iii interest, they leave untouched the y. °1 cases of sompensation for workmen. V%e l0rity of cases compensation is settled an^ no niemorandum ls.registered Oinjj^c'al information therefore is available. • apply individually lo every °'. labour for returns of cases in which VjXl t. R''en compensation, and you cannot IJW to give them, if you did and vHy InformatIon of much value could be V N^^ia0CDe of the large companies which in- tfc8' lability by accident, but yon cannot *0* u 8,11 to snppiy V^sa'0'361' of caBea nnder Workmen's. Si** p°n A.ct dealt with in England and bounty Court judges and County Court the last year was 1.269, as com- 1)370 in the previous year. Of this VUiftfknltme,t0 which the Act was ex- f 14%t tll,1900, showed on increase of 59 oases as V^iint,le Previou3 yea'- Co to tbe c*aea dealt with k>y [J ntt judges and County Court arbitra- i ■>•«», ^ete 538 cases which were either with- ( S <Jd out of coprt, or otherwise disposed t Way m not to euable the officials of fljw'0 give the final result. Of the cases °8atioa finally settled in 1902 within V ,v6»fcai>ce of courts, the d^cisjoos in 801 0'n favour of the applicants, and In 167 | '^respondents. V the award vta ft lamp 'iwSC^t iCS Pa.5ments. In 264 cases the com- Of a ward ted on account of death, and ettl the deceased had left dependents. so awarded was £ 44,353 3af Id— decrease on the figure for tbe prfi- award in each case which rose ia 6(1 • 7d in 1899 and £ 165 8s 9d in 1900 te i ■ 'h 1601, has fallen in 1902 to £ 168 'Jii Weeb,V sum was assigned in 441 if^ty 242 of these cases were of total 199 cases of partial incapacity. *V y tate of weekly allowance for the k In^ie*8 ^ltts been :—In cases of total in- Vs { £ £ '10a lld= 1900> Lla 6d; 1901, \I2s 2d. In cases of partial in- JC 2cl'10s 9d, 9s 8d, and 9s lid. \r^1 <Jej,]CaSes taken into court during 1902, Witl1 by the court or otherwise tfa the seven heads of employment C' °' a*16' 1900 apply were as I *ay< factory, 865 mines. h KMu engineering work, 114 build- v are statistics in the County it Employera' Liability Act, J880, « nnil)ber of cases a8ments fox plaintiffs were given in 136 cases judgment for defendants in 70 rea moved to the High Court, 1 otherwise disposed of 341 and the amount of damages awarded WM.E9,5509a6d. The number of cases in the different employ- ments were :-Railway. 7 factory, 351 mine, 4 quarry, 7 engineering works, 31 building, 122 agriculture, 4 other employments, 22. In the year 1902 the average amount of dam- ages in the case of death amounted under the Em- ployers' Liability Act to JE115 7s lOd under the Workmen's Compensation Act, £16803 Id. The average amount of solicitors' costs was £25 15s 6d under the former Act, and JE11 15s lid under the latter. The number of appeals amounted to 59, and there the cost rose considerably, and in no case could they have been met by an ordinary workman. The great bulk of them were fought under the auspices of various workmen's organi- sations, and those bore the cost.

THE HOUSEHOLD. A pair of knitted bedroom shoes is always an acceptable present, and the one I am describing to-day is very pretty and easily made. The proportions of thisshoe are easily altered, and by working to a paper pattern any size may be executed. It is carried out in petticoat wool with a moderately fine needle and is commenced on 10 stitches instead of the ordinary method of lifting the vertical stitches of each row, the hori- zentral thread which lies between these is taken in the second and all succeeding rows. In working the toe tha nearest horizontal stitch is lifted, also the vertical stitch at the end of the row only. This increases and slopes the work at each side. When the stitches number 20 work on the first eight a suai^ht strip foi half of the back part. Here lift the nearest horizontal loop, but not the one at the end. The work thus slopes slightly, but the stitches remain the same. Work the requisite length in (the model 10 rows) and fasten off. On the final eight stitches of last part of foot work a corresponding Strip, but in this miss the first horizontal and I A Knitted Shoe, take the last vertical threads. Sew the slipper into shape, add a felt sole, and work round the top a row of one chain, one treble for the ribbon or elastic. The trimming is worked separately as foltaws —Make a chain the proper length to fit 6asity round the top, join into a circle aid work* one double into the next stitch, pull the thread through as if yon were beginning another double, but instead work three chains, and then draw the thread through the last chain and the loop yoivhave kept on the needle simultaneously, ana repeat from*. In the second row the raised chain-stitches are worked over the doubles and vice versa. The trimming is crocheted or sewn to the upper edge of shoe. Here is a pretty pincushion in the shape of a thistle. The materials required are two stout used postcards, a piece of green velvet, a piece of purple silk orsatin, II. ball of tinsel, a short length of narrow ribbon velvet, and some wool clippings for stuffing. From the cardboard cut two thistle-shaped pieces three inches long. The ball is one and a half inches wide, and the flower about one inch at the bottom and two inches at the top. Covet the round with green velvet and cross it with the tiasel to form squares. Cover the flower part with the purple material. Now take the narrow velvet, which may be black or green, and overseam it all round one thistle, making the join where the stem would be, and arranging there a small loop. Sew the l other thistle to the other edge of the velvet, stuffing firmly as you nro-eed. Finish by edging A Novel Pincushion. I all round both edges with tinsel. For a pocket cushion you could simply prepare the two thistles apd sew together without stuffing. It is quite time a start was made with any knitted clothing intended for the fast approach- ing winter. Moreover, the little fancy article generally known as a hug-me tight illustrated here entails a considerable amount of work. It can, however, be easily completed in a month's spare time of the average housewife. It is intended for a girl of ten or twelve years of age, and if, desired, can be worn as a petticoat bodice. It is beautifully warm, being worked in the finest make of white vest wool, and is capable of stretching to suit the figure. In putting it on the seams come under the arms. It takes li oz. of white vest cool, and ioz. ball of pale green lustrine knitting. Pale green is a nice soft shade. The smartest way of fastening the fiug-me-tight ia to sew on three sets of pale green silk ribbon and tie it down the front. The needles are number eight size of long bone, as they have to accommodate a good number of stitches. Cast on 50 stitches with the wool. First pattern row r slip one, *over, slip one, knit two, pass slip one, over; repeat from "to end of row, knit the last stitch. Knit two plain rows. Repeat these rows until 102 rows have been worked. With- out breaking off wool cast on 48 stitches at end of 102nd row, making 98 stitches in all. Com- mencing at first pattern row, work the three rows I A Hug-Me-Tight. I ikltwy described for another 90 rows. Cast off the same 48 stitches. Continue along the same row with the first pattern row. Work two plain rows, Repeat last three rows until 99 more rows have been finished, when the work is cast off. The pattern being reversible, it does not matter which bide of the hug-me-tight is turned inwards. Lay the piece of knitting on tbe table in such a ;«J.M to make it look like aT with a short stemr Double this stem until it touches the top, then fold each side to the side of the stem, and sew wbei-a the sides aad stem correspond. This leaves two armholes in the correct position. The crochet -edging is quite simple and extremely light in effect.! It is applied round the armholes add also all round the edfTe of the hug-me-tight. First row Wool, fivatreble into first hole, miss next hole, put five treble into third tote. Con- tinue right round the garment. Second row: Lustrine, four single into first four treble of preceding row, three treble into bole between clusters of white treble repeat until finished. Everyone knows how delicious really,good drop cakes are for afternoon Lea, but it is not everyone who knows bow to make them and it is for those who are still unenlightened on this subject that I add the following recipe T: k an ordinary teacup for measuring the flouc • nd sugar, using one cupful of sugar and two of flv. Weigh the cupful of sugar and allow half the quantity of butter. Work the butter into the flour throughly, and then add the sugar and a good teaspoonful of baking powder. Beat up good toaapoonful of baking powder. Beat up two eggs with two tablespoonsfuls of milk. and add to the mixture, stirring well all the time. When well mixed,[take a teaspoonful of the dough and arop it on a buttered baking tin. Cover quickly with castor sugar, and bake in a sharp even for five minutes. ETHEL.

Troublous Times.—" Nothing seriously wrong at your house, I hope—I saw the doctor goins: in to-day?" said a man to a neighbour. "Well, it's certain he'll have to call again." "Bless" met What's the matter?" "Oh, he called to-day about,having his last year's bill settled, and it's still )n *he sam« nngettled'coadltieiM" .1

MUSIC IN WALES. BY D. EMLYN EVANS. New Brighton Eisteddfod. We regret act having been able to be present at the musical eisteddfod held at New Brighton on Saturday, the 26th ult.—the third annual meeting under the direction of Mr Llew. Wynne. promoted by the management of New Brighton Tower; but we are glad to know that the event proved fully a3 successfnl as its predecessors, the extensive theatre being crowded, and the competitors generally of good quality and numerous as many as 35 baritones taking part in the preliminary competition in their class, for instance. What is of chief interest, however, are The Choral Contests, and here a certain amount of disappointment is felt, not because the contestants were unsatis- factory, whether as to number or merit, but because they were almost entirely limited to one nationality. The interest in the chief choral competitions at the Llanelly National Eistedd- fod was largely discounted by the fact that the competitors there were practically Welsh here, with but one or two unimportant exceptions, they were all English. In the present state of things what is generally desired by the public, and perhaps by many musicians, is a fair trial of strength between representative choirs belonging to the two chief competing peopJe- English and Welsh and when that international contest can be secured, it will probably prove not only in- teresting and exciting, but also help to indicate to us more or less correctly where we are. Apart from that phase of the question, it would, perhaps, be difficult to bring together a. more able number of competing cbohs than the six that did battle in tbe male voice class at New Brighton on this occasion, viz. Manchester Orpheus Society, Southport Vocal Union, St. Helens, Talke and Djstlictl Warrington, and Wigan Harmonic the test piece being Protheroe's Britons." The first prize in- cluded A Silver Challenge Cup- in addition to money—and was won this year ry the Southport choralists, under the leader- ship of Mr J. S. Clarke —a body of singers who distinguished themselves at the Bangor National Eisteddfod last year the Manchester Orpheus Society, who then proved victors, and who were declared first last year at the New Brighton, being now awarded second honours. In the chief choral competition (mixed voices) the contesting choirs were St. Helens, Talke and District, and Waenfawr (Carnarvonshire). Tbe Welsh choir, we regret to learn, was com. pletely outclassed," and St. Helena-last year's winners-had to deliver the challenge shield to the redoubtable choristers hailing from Talke and District, led by Mr Whewall the second prize falling to St. Helens, another excellent body of singers, conducted by Mr Harry Berrey. We think we are correct in stating that the Welsh element is pretty liberally represented in this choir, and that Mr Bsirev is maternally of Welsh descent. The selected tests in this class were Handel's "0 Father Whose Almighty Power," and Isalaw's Gently comes the breath of evening"—one of the Bangor selections. It can hardly be said that the Handelian chorus, though most estimable in itself, is quite the thing for a high-class competition at the present day. The remaining choral item was that for Juveniles, the pieces being Maidens blithe," and Grwilym Gwent's Summer (" Haf "), arranged by the present writer for soprano and contralto voices Everton Village, under tbe leadership of Mr R. T. Edwards, being placed first, and llamsey, led by Mr E. Fennab, second, the other choirs being those of Garston. and Rhos. Thus Wales cannot draw much consolation from the results of this year's competition at New Brighton a competition that loomed rather large in some of our contesting choral circles a year or two ago. As will have been observed, Welsh choirs were but sparingly represented in this year's li9t—-and not at all in one of the classes; and it ia possible that a late return journey on a Saturday night may be a deterrent in the instance of choirs bailing from a distance —as would be the case practically with all Welsh choirs. It is just possible, also, that the principle of entrance fees which the energetic secretary has instituted in connection with these meetings, in both the solo and choral classes, may be a stumbling block to some. We are a highly conservative people at times, having a strong leaning "towards the traditions of our fathers, and believing that what was good enough for them ought to be good enough for us." But be that as it may, the principle is a right one, and, as we have recently endeavoured to show, some such an one must be adopted if our more important eisteddfodic competitions are to be conducted and the increasing work despatched promptly and systematically. We have the best authority for stating that this despatchfulness and system were in strong evidence at New Brighton, and the management have no reason to be otherwise than satisfied with the general results. This, we trust, will induce other eisteddfodau promoters to adopt similar methods, and thus redeem us from the old-standing, and often too well-founded, charge of slovenliness in the conduct of ollr National gatherings. Publishing Welsh Compositions. The correspondent who writes us concerning the compositions of John Williams, Dolgelly, and advocating their being published complete, is informed that the two marches mentioned are not by John Williams, but by John Parry (Parry Ddall)- the blind harpist—and are found amongst the latter's published works, as we have repeatedly pointed out in the Welsh musical Press. Any one sufficiently versed in Welsh musical matters would at once perceive that John Williams could not have written the marches in question be was no instrumentalist, ho knew nothing of instrumental forms and the structure of instrumental pieces, and his knowledge of harmony was but limited. In these things he was neither better nor worse than his Welsh contemporaries all that can be s>id is that he was more gifted than they as a jnelodist. A number of his tunes and anthems ^rearranged by later composers) may be found in various hymn- tune collections and other publications, and probably include all that was considered—by men such as leuan GwylIt and Owain AJaw- to be of any particular merit.

One for the Farmer. "Well," said Farmer Briggs to the artist, how much will ee' paint my farm with me standing at the door for?" (i Oh, five guineas," said the artist. Done," said the farmer. "Come to-morrow. In due course the painting was finished. But, alas I the careless artist clean forgot to paint in the worthy fanner on the picture of his farm. "Yes; I like it," said the farmer; but Where's me, lad—wbere's me?" The error be had made flashed across the artist, but be tried to pass it off with a joke. d Oh," he said, you've gone inside to get my five guineas." "Oh, have I?" said the nettled old chap p'r'aps I'll be cootnin' out soon, and if I dew I'll pay ypu; in the meantime we'll bang it np and wait.

She Didn't Whip Him Then. A mother and her three year old boy entered a Gilmor-street car. The little fellow was in a peevish and rebellious humour. Finally, the patience of the mother became exhausted, and she exclaimed- I'll whip you for this when I get you borne." Whip him now, madam. If 5on wait till yon get hom8 he will not know what you are whipping him for, interjected a gentleman whose patience bad been worn out long before. The mother looked surpriaed.but did not accept the gentleman's advice.

A Tale of a Tail.—AStrasburg farmer objected strongly to the manner in which his bullocks swung their tails when drawing the plough. It annoyed him, Having pondered oyei the matter for some weeks be had an inspiration. Taking a heavy lump of lead, he tied it to he tail of one of the bullocks and observed, Let's see what you make of that." The beast obligingly made an effort, and the next moment the farmar was on the ground with six teeth missing and one side of his face out of symmetry. And there the tail ends. Stern Father: 80 yon want to marry my daughter, eh ?—Young Man I do.—Stern Father What's your salary ?—Young Man Oh, I'm not particular. Just give me a trial for three months, and if I fail to give satisfaction as-- ••

Illustrated Fashions. This year many people have, on account of the weather, delayed taking a holiday till now, pre- ferring, the touch of chilliness in the air of September evenings to the somewhat close atmosphere of an autamn Bight. There is much wisdom in this, for autamo.it without doubt one of the most delightful seasons of the year, espe- cially to those whose artistic sonaibilittea find a deep source of satisfaction in the wonderful richness of colouring which pervadea a landscape when the first whisper of coming winter tnrns the greens of summer into gold and orange deepening into crimson. There is nothing which can compare in depth and gorgeousness of colour with the tones of the leaves whose doom is already sealed. A Serviceable Costumi. I Many people whose lot in life peewits of such indulgences are departing northwards to the moors. and as the girl of to-day is sufficiently advanced in her ifaas, she in many instances spends her days tramping aver stretches of heather-covered country with her male relatives gun in hand. Others, again, restrict their sport- ing tendencies to driving over in fetching toilettes to lunch with ths sportsmen. -But in either case a certain style of dress is absolutely necessary, and the tailor-made element reigne supreme. The costume sketched is eminentlf^well suited for either of those occasions. It is ma«6>?f brown homespun which is slightly flecked with white. The short skirt is pleated to the waist, and the trim little coat is tight-fittingj, with a red leather collar and belt. The edge of the skirt is finished with leather, as this is necessary when tramping across a moor. Everything worn on such occa- sions must be made of some strong, serviceable material which can stand any sort of weather and plenty of hard wear, bat must also be cut and fitted to perfection, and zendered distin- guished by its chic simplicity. Homespuns were for a time altogether out of fashion till they A Smart Coat. I caught the fancy of some titled notabilities in the world pf dress, upon whom their possibilities dawned and this, together with their undeniably good wearing qualities, has brought them into a vogue which promises to be enduring. Besides, these serges are much in demand, and for street wear smooth-faced cloths in shades of tabac and brown and another dull red—which, for want of a better nanie, is called somewhat aptly beet- root." BlueL bpth of a royal tone and the navy shades—which, though not startlingly new, are exceedingly becoming—are ever in request, and look very chic with a contrasting note of colour introduced by a lizard green or bright red leather waistband. The smart coat sketched is of a pntty-coloured cloth, relieved by the introduction of Japanese silk embioidered in green, gold, cerise, and pale blue. The atyle is quite the latest, and lined with coloured silk or satin it makes a pretty and cosy wrap. No collar, save a strapping of the embroidery, ia used; for, indeed, ooilMs seem to be goimg altogether out of vogue. Light cloth jackets, especially those in different shades of fawn boxcloth, are much worn completed by military collars and cuffs, trimmed with a bright colour. It is quite noticeable how very far the loose sac-back coats have dropped out of fashion, A lienayatecl Blouse. I aud in place thereof we have the close-fitting tight bodices, which I am told are to be quite one of the leading features this winter. Coa-ta of all kinds, whether tight or loose, are lined with dainty-coloured silks. and in many instances further brightened up by gold or otherwise orna- mental buttons. It is not given to everyone to boast a figure which can stand a tight-fitting coat, and therefore modified bolero is still en evidence; but there'is ngthing which looks so smart uid striking as a well-built English girl in an equally "weU-boilt" tailor-made which fits the figure easily yet closely. I warmly recommehel the subject of my last sketch to my readers.' as in it is reveated the possibilities of an old blouse. This blouse originally was of cream crepe de chine, and was made with a transparent yoke of string-coloured lace cut slightly square at the throat. It bad had little wear during the summer, and showed little trace of even that,- but was found unsuited for autumn because of the exposure it gave to the wearer's throat and .chest, which were not over-strong. This difficulty- however, was got over by lining the bodice 'up to 'the throat (after removing the lace yoke) with a fresh bit of mate- rial, and covered it over so as to obliterate all differences between the old and the new with some fresh lace, which also covered the neck. band. A long pointed end of lace was allowed to fall loose at either side of the yoke, and it was daintily finished by a small applique of white roses of padded chiffon. COQUETTE.

Dorothy was heard talkiug to her rabbit. Five times five," she sahl. Six times six, seven times seven." Between time. she shook the rabbit violently. "Dorothy." said her mother, "what are you doing to your rabbit?" •• Well, papa says," replied the child, that rabbits multiply i ..rJ"J,

SCIENCE AND HEALTH 1 By Dr. ANDREW WILSON, F.R.S.E., So. Mysterious Disappearances. Of late days quite an epidemic of disappear- ances has been chronicled in the pages of the daily journals. Chief among the cases of this kind to which public direction has been directed that of MisM Hickman stands out most promin- ently by reason of the peculiar circumstances attending the vanishing of the laly, and also by reason of the apparently hopeless nature of the quest for her. Theories without number in this, as in all similar cases, have been propounded to account for the disappearance. These may be summarised as including hypotheses of violence resulting in death, detention, mental aberration, or wilful and intentional absence. That which is strange, however, is that, despite the publicity which the case has received, no recognition of the lady has been recorded, that is,proceeding on the assumption that Miss Hickman is still in the land of the living. Very few people who disap- pear can remain entirely lost in these days when everybody reads the newspapers. The public be- come in this way a huae hand of unskilled detec- tives. Tbey are placed on the alert because of the disappearance having become a prevailing topic of conversation. Every person who lets lodgings, for example, would at once pay special attention to the case of a lady applying for apart- ments and settling down in a neighbourhood in an apparently aimless fashion, for it is hardly to be supposed a lady doctor would be able to exer- cise her profession uuder such circumstances. It ia inconceivable, unless on some wild theory of dissatisfaction with her life, that Miss Hickman would engage in any other vocation, although a case is known to the writer in which, after a family quarrel, a young lady vanished, to return after six months' absence, during which she had been engaged as a tablemaid. She had bought a servant's box and outfit, and had obtained a situation through the kindly offices of a registry keeper, to whom she had told a tale ot desertion. Her own attire she had packed up and left at a railway station. It was ultimately recovered from the lost property office. It is true that, apart from tbe possibility of assistance being afforded in the way of concealing a person who desires to hide' his or her tracks, chance may favour a. vanishing person. The case ot Miss Hickman, however, is all the more interesting, if tiso all the moie mysterious, in that, in so far as the public are aware, tbere'existed in her case no grounds for disappearing such as are presented in many other instances. She is described as healthy, as strong-minded, and sensible as a doc- tor should be, as being free from any love en- tanglements, and as having no worries at home or in hospital. Beyond these statements it is true there may be facts unknown to the public. All they can do, however, is to judge the case on the evidence submitted to them in the statements of father and friends. So regarded, the mystery deepens and the strain and tension naturally become increased in due proportion to the ap- parent hopelessness of the search. The Medical Side. Connected with tbe subject of mysterious dis- appearances, there is a medical side which has always proved to be of extreme interest, es- pecially to those who are concerned in investi- gating the aberrations to which the human lirki^ is liable. Physicians tell us of a liability certafq persons exhibit to a loss of what may be called the sense of personality. Their identity becomes confused or lost. They forget their name, theiWesidence, their occupation, and all the details ot their existence. But this state of affairs may be ^sociated with other symptoms leading to erratic-behaviour. The wandering in- stinct comes into play, and such subjects disap- pear from their homes and friends, and may,as in lecorded ca*es. pas* t6 distant localities. Now conies into such histories a curious element. In the new locality there is developed a second per- sonality, a second or other seJi.as it were. Again appealing to recorded cases, we'ljnd the instance, for example, Of a man, who, united such aberra- tion, as has been noted, settled fhuvn in a dis- tant town under a strange name, adopted a trade or occupation different to his owr, and obly woke up to the consciousness of his real personality after a lapse of many months. No reason existed for the disappearance save that of brain trouble He had a perfectly happy life, was free from debt, had no worries, and had led a perfectly respectable life. It is safe to assume in such cases, or at least in most of them, there is repre- sented a tendency or bias in the direction of that nervous trouble known as "epilepsy. This ailment is a many-sided one. Seen in its typical davelopment, it presents us with the typioal fit of convulsions in the street, wit- nessed in others of its phases; it is associated with erratic conduct, with hysteria, and with other nervous symptoms. Especially in the case of epileptics do we see the production of the stateknown as double-consciousness," whereas, we have reen, tbe patient seems to possess two selves. In one he is normal and natural, in the other he is another person. Sometimes he will pass at regular periods from the one state to the other. The contrast between the two is often ex- tremely marked. As his natural self he may be a respectable citizen, a fond parent, and an accu- rate business man. In his second self be may be a drunkard, a swearer and a generally disreputable person. The chances are that he has no recollec- tion in each scate of the other and opposite self. Legally, we see how acts committed in the normal period are to be viewed as those of an irrespon- sible person. It took a long time for this truth to filter into the legal mind.and the consequences to many a poor wretch of tbjs ignorance 011 th3 part of the law-duly cautioned by medicine— wete highly serious. Thanks to tbe persistent teaching by medical men in the witness box, judges now recognise that a prisoner concernin,( whom there is distinct evidence of erratic brain action, is a subject, not for the convict prison, bat for an asylum. A Double Life. These cases of double consciousness may lead, as we have seen, to the disappearance of the patient, who sets off on his travels under a new identity. There was one case in which a young man woke up to himself on board a sailing vessel bound for New York. He had been shipped as an ordinary seaman, but it was soon noticed that he was unfamiliar with the duties proper to those before the mast. He was then sent to do odd jobs on board, and when he regained his normal state was ahle to convince the captain of bis)dentity. He bad no recollection of klaviog home be had parted with his clothes, since he was found dressed in sailor's slips." Another instance of the same kiud was illustrated by the case of a person who in his" second self mounted the box of a four-wheeler which was standing at a public-house cfDor while tha driver refreshed himself- This man drove miles into the country, and was stopped by the police noticing that he had no cabman's badge, and that he looked too well dressea for the driver of a "growler." Instances of this kind might be indefinitely multiplied. They illustrate very aptly one cause, at least, of the disappearance of apparently sane people. For it must be remem- bered that ordinary epileptics are not included in the category of insane people at all. On the contrary, the epileptic brain is often found to develop intellectual qualities of a high order. Several of tha heroes of history have been epileptics, among them Julius CsBsar and Napoleon the Great. Epileptic colonies, now being established for the care and treatment of afflicted persons, are retreats for sane people, not lunatic asylums. It is true that epilepsy may beaeen in the iusane, but it is to be clearly borne in mind that per se the disease is not ne. cessarily one one which is to be ranked as within the confines of lunacy. We may, of course, admit that the boundary line bewteen certain epileptic cases and those of insanity may be very finely drawn, but the same remark applies to the de. marcation betwixtordinary sinelffe and insanity. Dryden's lines about the thin partition are singularly true. Tbe expert finds it highly difficult to construct an exact definition of insanity sO difficult is the task, indeed, that, as one authority put it, we may make the definition so narrow as to exclude an insane prisoner- in the dock, or so wide as to include the judge on tbebench. A Curious Brain Phase. In connection with the state of mind which serves to explain some otherwise un. aecountable disappearances of people re- garcled aa perfectly natoral beings, there remains for notice another curIous circumstance. This relates to the experience most of us have undergone of feeling on visiting a pla:e perfectly strange to us that we have been here before." Poets and novelists, from Longfellow and Tennyson to Dickens and Thomas Hardy, have all noted this curious feel- ing as of a recollection of a past revived*by present surroundings. It is as if in some former state of being one had visited the spot or place, the memory proper to the former personality having been handed on to our present consciousness. It is Jdlfficntc to explain this little trick on the part of our brain. If we could assume the revival of a definite but deeply-bound memory reproduc- ing an actual occurrence, the circumstance would cause us no surprise. But there seems to be such a revival without any definite basis for its repro- duction at all. Memory can only deal with what is stored up in brain cells, and with those impressions wbioh have been derived from with- out and received by our senses. There is one explanation, however, of this brain trick which is ingenious, and which, if it does not commend itself to everybody, none the less contains ele- ments of probable truth. Our upper brain, the front of which exercises the highest mental functions, exists practically in two halves or lobes, a right and a left. Of these two, we know the left is better developed and consequently the more active. It governs oar right side, and is, therefore, responsible for righthandedness," as well as for speech. The right brain lobe is some- what subordinate in its action. Ordinarily, we .nay believe that in the exercise of our intelli- gence both lobes act practically in unison. If we suppose that, from one cause or another, one lobe (say the left) acta out of unison with its neigh- bour, we should expect to receive an impression similar impression is received by the other or light half, we experience a sense of familiarity, as it were, with the event, owing to the previous action of the other lobe. In other words, a rapid memory is constituted in the short interval elapsing between the reception of the impression by tbe two brain halves. Irregular action of this kind might therefore explain the sense of having been there before. If we further go the length of believing that such independent action of the brain-halves be carried out more distinctly, one might thus explain our cases of double con- sciousness. It would indeed be startling if iu the future we should be taught that certain mysterious disappearances and cases of double personality were to be accounted for on the theory that, while sane conduct depends on the control of our lives by both brain lobes, one or other of them, left to itself, should be capable of altering the whole course of existence.

t Illustrated Humour. Small Boy (to gardener) You haven't any scarecrows in your garden. Gardener No, my boy. Smalt Boy (innocently) Of course, ypa don't want them when you are there yourself. Old Gentleman What would you like to be when you grow up ? Boy I'd like to be a bricklayer. S' That's a commendable ambition. Why would you like to be a bricklayer ?" 'Cause there's so many days when brick- layers can't work." Hard on his Knees Small Boy (to individual with very baggy trousers) Naw, guvnor, if yer goin ter jump, jump I Old Gent (pointing to a lanky youth at his side in a trMncM) How much for this boy—half fare, I suppose ? Guard Well, no. He looks as if be were kept on half fare at home and needs a change. Full fare, please. Fannie," he said, "yon are the only woman I have ever- loved-" Clarence, how- The others," be continued, "were all girls." „ „ Straw: Did anything happen while I was out, James ? James Yes, sir. No one called to collect a bill. Closely Rented. The Lady Excuse me, sih. I seem to have met yon before. Are you notXrelative of Mr Josh Binks ? The Gent No, madam. I am RIAJoah Binks himself. The Lady Ah, then, that explai^ the re- markable resemblance. I'm sure we shall be on good terms, said the man who had jnat moved into the neighbour- hood to the grocer at the corner. No doubt of it, sir. Especially," he adde4 as an afterthought, if terms are cash." ———_ > In a Montana hotel there is a notice which reads: — "Boarders taken by the day. week, or month. Those who do not pay promptly will be taken by the neck." An Obliging Piscator. First Fish How are you getting on ? Second Fish No luck at all. The fellow at the other end of the line is an idiot. First Fish What's the matter ? Second Fish Why. I took the bait an hour ago, fand I've been waiting ever since for the fellow to put more on. An Irishman having the good fortune to have JE100 left him by an old uiwle went to tell the priest the good news and ask his advice. Shure, Michael," said the priest, the best advoice 1 can give you is to prepare for a rainy ^Meeting Michael a few days after, he a<aked him how he was going on with his legacy. "Beeorra." said Mike, "I've followed your riverence's advoice. Shure, I've sent to Dublin for a hundred pouuda worth of umbrellas. An Extensive uonscenation. There was an old negress named Hannah, Who stepped on a piece of banana, With a slip and a slide More stars she espied Than are seen in the star-spangled banner. The following are extracts from a music cata- logue :—" Trust Her Not"—for four shillings, "1 Would not Live always" without accom- paniment. See the Conquering Hero Comes" with full orchestra. "Come Where My Love LieB Dreami rig" with illuminated cover. There. Was a Little Fisber Maiden in three parts. Enervated 'Enery (on the cadge) 'Sense a starvin' man the liberty of speaking to yer, mnm. All 1 want to know is, can I 'ave that bone after1 your dorg 'as done with it ? The Mistress (not to be btaffed): Don't wait for that one. poor man—if you go and scrape a, little behind the dustbin yon'll find qaite a lot that Fido's buried in the corner. Her Tour.—Belle Married next week ? Why,. you told us you were booked for a personally- conducted tour with a small select party I- Marion Yes, dear, but George is part*' {|

Welsh Tit-Bits. Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion, BY CADRAWD. A Lost Art. (Continued from our last.) The ancient Welsh laws concerning hawking, one of the principal games which formed tJa Royal pleasures of the Kings and Princes of Wales and their courtiers in early times. The Venedotian Code. Gwerth Stebogau. Cap. XV. Sec. I.—Nyth hebaue y Brenia- pant atal. The eyrie of the King's hawk is a pound iQ value. Sec. EI.—Eu ken rud—Chugeynt. A red eyass, six score peuce. Sec. III.—Gwedy bo mudtayr agayn, pant (velly) os e brenin byeuyt. After mewing, and becoming white, a poaad, if it belong to the king. Sec. IV.—Os mab uchelyr byenuyd, chuegynt a tal. If it belongs to an uchelwr, it is six soon pence in value. Sec. V.—O byt muteyr os ken rud, trugeynt ft tal. If mewed, if a red eyass, it is three score panes in value. Sec. VI — Hnyedyc obyt hebaue, pedeyr ant* geynt adal. A male, if it be a hawk, is twenty-four pence in value. Sec. VII.-—Nyth llemysten, pedeyr arugejmt atal. The eyrie of a sparrow bawk is twenty-fou pence. Sec. VIII.—Llemysten keney menet emad, aeudec ceynnyawc. A sparrow hawk before mewing is twelve penes. See. IX.—A guedy edel emud, pedeyr MW geint. And after mewing, twenty-four pence. Sec. X.—Pa ederyn bennac aao y tayauc m gnert (vyd) ay yar. un keynnyauc a tal. Whatever bird may belong to a taeog, is of (lit same worth as his hen—one penny in value, Tbe Gwentian Code. Cap. XXVI. Sec. V.—Cheveugeint yw gnerth nyth gwalch. Six score pence is the value of a buzzard's neat. Sec. VII.—Trugeint yw gwerth gwalch kyn inut athra uo yny mut. Three score pence is the worth of a buzzard before mewing, and whilst it shalhemaib in tha mew. Cap. VIII.—Lletty y penkynyd ar kynydon oil gantao, uyd Odynty y brenhin. The lodging of the chief huntsman, havingftll the huntsmen with him, is in the King's kila- house. Cap. XXIII. Sec. II.—Blaida chadnoac amry- uaclon eteiM ny wnelant namyn drwc, ny wnaeth- pwyt gaerth kyfreith arnunt, ryd yw y pawb en Had. A wolf, a fov, and various others which onlj do mischief on which no legal worth was fixed, it is free for everybody to kill. Cap. XL. Sec. 4.-Croenllostllyda.n. hanei punt atal. The skin of a beaver is half a pound in value. Sec. VII.—Croen carlog, deudeg keinhawi atal. The skin of a titchet is twelve pence in value. Dimetian Code. Cap. XXXVII.—Tri pryf adyly y brenin M gwerth pyt ubynnao y Uather; llostllydan, abelea, achatlog kanys ohonunt y gwneiz amaryen y dillat y brenin. Three beasts of which the King is to have tha worth, in whatever spot tbey are killed—A be«v«r, a marten, an ermine; becausefrow them tht borders of tbe King's garments are made. Dull Gwynedd. Crwyn e traetha hynn. < Cap. XIX. Sec. II.—Croen byd, wyth tlttl. bawe. The skin of a hart, eightpence. Sec. VI.—CroeD gaaM. an keynyawc kyfreith. The Rkin of a goat, one legal panay. Sec. VII.—Croen yorc, un keynyaoc. The skin of a roebuck, a penny Sec. VIII.—Qoert croen llwynanc, wyth keys yauc. The skin of a fox, eightpence. Sec. IX.—Croen deurkey, wyth keynuyaoe. Tbe skin of an otter, eightpenoe. Sec. X,-Croen bleyt, wyth keynnyauo. The skin of a wolf, eightpence. Sec. XL-Croon beleu, pedeyr arhutfeynt fcaytt nyaoc. The skin of a marten, twenty-four penee. f^ec. XII.—Croen lloslledan, chueugeynt feeyn nyaajc. The skin of a beaver, six score pence. Cyfreithiau Cymru. Book XXVII. Cap. VI. Tri ibftr bryf y sydd yn cyfreith—Balen, « llosgllydan, charlwng. » • » • There are thi^ekinds of vermin in law—Amar> ten, a beaver, ao^ an ermine. They are cogniz- ably in law for thorakins, with which tbe Queen V robes are adorned, ttfeerever they be killed. The skin of the spattletafl or beaver is a species o( brown fur, which was most rare. An elahorate article may be seen in tht "Grea.1 Llundain (1805), with a woodcut of tha llostllydau, or the spattletail, an animal which has become extinct in this country for many a century. Giraldus tells that they were only found in the Teifi river when he itinerated the country. Mountain Ash. Superstitions concerning this tree are man^ among the Welsh. Wearing a garter of tilt green bark of the mountain ash was an excellent preventive to protect a person from being be* witched by a sorcerer orconjaror; and smalV rings made of the slender branches were made and buried under cock-pits, when cock fighting was a craze, that no evil power should charm or prevent them from doing their best. The bards cnt their letters on staves of thic tree, as they were wont to believe that worms oi moths never could emoloy themselves to ds' stroy it.

Songs for the People. Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, ia a letter te till. lensw a very wisf man that believed thatifamanwereteratIMeem Biakeallthe ballads he need net cars whe Shoal# make the laws «f the nation." THE SECRET OF SUCCESS. One day, in Huckleberry time, whop llttlfl Johnny Flails And hslf »4ozen otherboya were starting witl their pails, To gather berries Jbhnny'apa, in talking wit'/ him said That he oeald; teUbim how to pick so be d COIIW out aheatt. "First find your bush," said Johnny's pa, "an^ then stiek to it till You've picked it clean. Let theee go chasinf about who will In search of better bushes; but it's picking tella my SOD- To look at fifty bnshes doeent count like picking one." And Johnny did as he was told Midenre enongl he found, By sticking to his bush, while all the othen chased around In search of better pteking, 'twas as his fathec said: For- while the others looked, be worked, and I( capoe out ahead. And Johnny recollected this when he became (t man; And first of all he laid him out a well'deter* mined plan; So, while the brilliant trrfiers failed with alt their brains and push, Wise, steady-going Johnny won by "sticking tC his bush." St. Nicholas.

Baying for the fcise.—A dabbler on tbe-&oat; Exchange was sitting in a friend's office one hof day last summer, when be informed his friend!' that he had pieked up a chpap thing during the winter. It stood at 33 then, and yesterdav it touched 94 t" he said. By Jove, what at extremaly lucky fellow yon are ? What was it ttt said his friend. A thermometer," was theqoief xeply. Mrs Hoon Mra Kidder'-s batev fell ootof r second-storey window-yesterday, and wasn't ho> £ a bit. Doesn't that seem Btrange?— Mr Hoon £