The Cardiff Times

FARMER BLACK-LISTED." Salvation Army Incident. There were many witnesses on both side" in the case of Arthur Nicholas, local farmer, who at Monmouth on Wednesday was summoned for being drunk on the licensed premises of the Red Lion Inn on the night of Saturday, April 16th. Defendant strongly denied being drunk, but three policeofticers and others stated he was under the influence of drink. P.C. Jen- kins said the defendant went and joined the ring of the Salvation Army. Defendant I made a bet that I would joint the Salvation Army ring, and thus won a sovereign. I then went to the depot and pu part of the bet on the plate. Tom Jones, a well-known member of the local Salvation Army corps, stated that the defendant behaved like a gentleman when attending the Salvation Army meeting. Capt. Parker Did he sing.? Witness I believe he did. The Mayor announced that the majority of the Bench felt that Mr Nicholas should be convicted. He would be fined 5s and costs. As this was the defendant's fourth similar conviction within twelve months he would be placed on the black list. For serving the defendant when he was under the influence of drink Archibald Phil- lips, landlord of the Red Lion Inn, was ordered to pay costs, but was not convicted.

THE SEORET DISCOVERED. At Cardiff on Wednesday John Hutchinson. haulier, was charged with stealing about 10 cwt. of coal from the Roath Coal Yard, the property of the Great Western Railway Com- pany. Mr R. Vachell, who prosecuted on behalf of the company, said prisoner was em- ployed by Mr James Douglas, who had been suffering from shortages, and complaining to the collieries. Mr H. Samuel, for the defence, admitted-the offence, and asked that defendant should be dealt with tinder the First Offenders Act. The magistrates considered the case too serious, and sent prisoner to gaol for one month.

AN UNMERCIFUL BEATING. At Abergavennyon Wednesday Geo.Skyrme and Charles Roger Hughes, of Hereford, were summoned for cruelty to a horse by beating it on March 13th. Evidence was called showing that the defendants were seen driving a worn- out and ill-conditioned animal on the Hereford- road, near Abergavenny, and beating it un- mercifully with heavy sticks. On* witness said that it was more like beating a carpet than a horse, and the blows could be heard a long distance off. Skryme was fined JE3, and Hughes (who did not appear) was fined £5. The Bench described the case as one of gross cruelty.

RENDERED CALLOUS, It doesn't trouble me whether I get seven or ten years. I have tried everywhere to get work." Thus Joseph Arthur Hewitt, labourer, and a. native of Leeds, spoke to the Pontypridd Sti- pendiary on Wednesday when remanded on two charges of breaking and entering two business premises. Defendant was stated to have broken the windows of Mr W. J. Vaughan and Mr T. B. Evans and extracted boots and shirts. Deputy Chief Constable Cole, in applying for the remand—which was granted—intimated that another charge would be preferred against prisoner.

EGG CRUSADE: ANOTHER STANDPOINT At Llanelly on Wednesday Thomas Lewis, Elkington-road, Burry Port, summoned Harold Watkeys, a youth residing at Thp Level, Burry Port, for assaulting him with eggs on March 24th. Mr T. R. Ludford, who prosecuted, said that on March 24th Lewis was going home when an egg struck him in the chest. He caught the defendant, who slipped away, and a minute later another egg was thrown, striking him in the eye so fbrcibly that he had since been unable to use the eye. P.S. Thomas said that after Lewis made a complaint to him he saw the defendant on the following Sunday. The Chairman What date would that be ? Mr Lewis Phillips (who defended): Easter Sunday—they would be Easter eggs. (Laugh- ter.) Defendant said he was at Llanelly at the time the alleged assault took place. A fine of £5 inclusive was imposed.

RAISING OF USK RIVER BANK. Inquiry at Newport. An inquiry was conducted by Mr Hethering- ton. on behalf of the Local Government Board, at Newport on Wednesday as to the raising of the eastern bank of the river Usk,between Cor- poration-road and the Channel Dry Dock, for the purpose of removing the danger of flood- ing. It was stated that the Newport Corpora- tion. proposed-to borrow JE696 to carry ou&JJbe proportion of the work which they have to do, the owners of the land abutting upon the river bank have also to bear a proportion of the cost. Mr Lincoln Reed (instructed by Mr Lean) objected on behalf of Col. Lockwood. The Town Clerk said that if ever a great flood occurred the damage to property would be measured not by hundreds of pounds, but by thousands, and perhaps hundreds of thou- sands. The tide on the occasion of the flood of February, 1899, rose, said Mr R. Haynes, the borough engineer, to 41'64 feet above the Alexandra Dock Cill—three feet above the height anticipated in the tide tables. Mr Lincoln Reed said that the wooks were un- necessary, and would also be more costly than had been estimated. A report will be sub- mitted by the inspector.

£60,000 TO SAVE A VIEW. At a London Mansion House meeting, over which the Lord Mayor presided on Tuesday, it was decided to further a scheme for raising JE60,000 to secure to the public lands in Kings- ton Vale and Putney Vale, which lie between Putney and Wimbledon Commons and Rich- mond Park. The land to be bought covers 170 acres.

HEROISM ON ENGULFED TRAIN. Earl Grey, Governor-General of Canada, has. at Montreal, in the name of the King, pre- sented the Albert Medal of the First Class to Mr Thomas Reynolds, railway conductor, of North Bay, Ontario, Canada, for conspicuous gallantry in saving the lives of 11 persons on the occasion of the disaster on the Canadian Pacific Railway near Webbwood, Ontario, on January 21st last. Last night's London Gazette," in announc- ing the award of the medal by the King, said the ill-fated express left Sudbury, Ontario, for Minneapolis, on January 21st. On reaching the bridge over the Spanish Rver, where the stream is 250ft. wide and 30ft. deep, part of the train left the line and plunged down the embankment. Two of the vehicles, a first class car and the dining car, crashed through the ice, which is said to have been 18in. thick, and sank to the river bed. The first class car falling into some 15ft. of water, it is not likely that any of the occupants escaped. The fore part of the dining car, in which Conductor Reynolds and several passengers were, rapidly filled with water. Reynolds found daylight entering from the top of a window some 6in. above the level of the water. and grasping a hat rack, he smashed with his feet the heavy plate glass windows. He then turned his attention to the im- prisoned passengers, rescuing those in danger of drowning, and then turned to effect an exit, only to find that the car had settled down, and that the opening made was submerged. He dived and made his exit by the broken window, and, forcing his body between the broken ice and the submerged car, he succeeded in gaining a foothold on the top of the car. He at once commenced wrenching the fan- lights from the roof, and succeeded in rescuing a lad and still another passenger through the small opening thus made. When, shortly after, an axe was brought to him, in response to his cries for help, he enlarged the opening sufficiently to allow of the rescue of the other imprisoned passengers. Reynolds was badly cut and in- jured, and was for some time under medical care.

WITNESS & KNOCK-OUT AUCTION. Mrs Wardrop, of Sussex-square, Hyde Park, was sued for £71, good supplied, at Westmin ster County Court on Tuesday by Sidney Wil- liams, dealer in china and works of art, of York-street, Westminster, and King's-road. Brighton. The defendant, it was stated, pur- chased various articles at the Brighton and London shops, and afterwards sent them back, because she said she was told they were frightful fakes." One of the questions in the case related to six plates invoiced as Lowestoft Oriental." Various experts who were examined differed in their opinions. The plaintiff said they were probably made at Lowestoft and painted in China to suit the European market. Another returned piece on which there was much controversial evidence was a cabinet. It was sold at an auction in Cadogan-place. Mrs Wardrop repented of not having bought it, and the plaintiff undertook to find it for her. She said (according to the plaintiff) that she would give JE60 for it. He recovered it for £36. he said, after bargaining, and charged it at £60 to Mrs Wardrop. The plaintiff now admitted that he himself had purchased tho article at Cadogan-place, but he said it was afterwards put up at a "knock-out." He could not remember the Elace where the knock-out" was held. everal dealers were present. A private deal with a few of you sitting round ?—Yes. Who bought at the second sale ?—I cannot tell you. How much did it go for ?—Some few pounds' difference, but I cannot say the exact amount. Who put it up at the second sale *—I cannot remember. I think Mr Simmonds acted as auc- tioneer. You know who bought at the knock-out "t —No. His Honour Judge Woodfall rtggrved judg- ment.

Fashion and Things Feminine. By Miss IDA MELLER. The Vogue in Collarless Frocks. While on the one hand it seems that fashion has almost exhausted itself in ideas of originality, judging by the many vogues in- troduced as new, that are really but modified or exaggerated editors of well-known models of a few years ago, we are, on the other hand, encountered by some startling and daring effects in dress and millinery introduced to us for the first time and distinctly novel in charac- ter. Among these are gowns made with cross-bar or lattice effects, carried from bodice to skirt, princess dresses swathed about the figure in classical fashion, and somewhati aggressive bodice composed of t wo materials' the yoke and sleeves cut together, being of one material, the lower part of the bodice of another, thi- latter stuff crossing the figure in an almost straight line under each arm. A trifle, but one that makes a great impres- sion, is the Toby frill, once more re-instated as a pet fashion, and giving a sweet, simple air to a blouse or bodice. Essentially youthful- looking in character this quaint little frill is. nevertheless worn by women of mature years -the dividing line, indeed, between dress for youth and dress for dignified years grows'" fine by degrees and beautifully less." A pleating of net or filmy, muslin falling over the neck of a cloth or crepe bodice is a summer fashion that merits success, and is daily winning for itself more and more votaries. A pretty edition of the collarless frock is seen in our sketch, which depicts a pleated corselet skirt of pale blue cloth worn with a blouse of spotted muslin, attached to the skirt, being a "bib "of the cloth that, being detachable, can be dispensed with on occasions. The box-pleats of the skirts are stitched down near the edges to the knees, or rather below, and between the pleats are introduced folds of blue or black satin-ribbon suggesting a sash, while the panel front of the skirt is quite plain. Large buttons covered with cloth trim the bib in the scallops and on the shoulders, and the blouse is finished at the neck and wrists with bands of lace. To make the dress four yards of double width cloth and three yards of spotted muslin are required. About Hats and Other Things. The large hat wins all along the line, and while ten years or so ago it was difficult for the woman with a fancy for picture hats and with features that required an important-looking frame to secure a ready-made hat large enough to suit her, to-day millinery fashions border on the grotesque in the matter of size. But the large hat, where a judicious degree of moderation is observed, is the most becoming fashion in vogue, and fully justifies its ex- istence. The finer straws are, of course expensive, but there are some remarkably effective straw and crinoline hats, large and fashionable, that may be bought for a few shillings, and if trimmed with taste give quite good results for a small outlay. One of the most useful hats is the model in black crinoline with wide brim, curling up gently, and pudding-basin crown, with trimming of Nattier-blue velvet ribbon and small pink roses. For windy days the toque may have advan- tages over the "brimmed hat, and the most becoming toque is suggested in our second sketch, the original being carried out in bis- cuit-coloured chip, with bright brown glace silk trimming. „ The loose coat, which is the chief attraction of the sketch, is just the thing that most women need during the summer months. It would serve the purpose of dust-coat or wrap for evening wear during the holiday by sea or inland. i Made of beige-coloured cloth or tussore silk, with black satin collar-facing and buttons, the coat works out extremely well. The sides are open and caught together with buttons and cords. j The quantity of 30-iuch material required for the coat is about six yards. Arranging the Summer Curtains. How to dress the windows is a question of importance to tbe woman who takes a pride in the prettiness of her home, for nothing gives a more charming appearance to a room or to the exterior aspect of a house than ^windows draped with taste. Among the high art styles in vogue are the straight, short curtains of casement cloth or washing silk, and these sometimes take the place of blinds. When they are intended to fulfil the dual purpose of curtain and blind, the best arrangement for a large, straight window is to provide two sets of dwarf curtains, one set dressing the higher sash, the other the lower. In this way the lower part only of the window need be veiled at times— when, for instance, it would be pleasant on summer evenings, to keep in view the light of the moon. Another arrangement is the dwarf screen, instead of the pair of curtains, the screen con sisting of a single straight-across dwarf cur- tain (attached to the lower sash) of spotted muslin or some such fabric, headed by a band of coarse lace insertion to which rings of metal or bone are stitched for supporting the screen to the usual rod. With dwarf cartains long ones are sometimes eschewed, but more often adopted. These, in- plain muslin.with frilled edges, hanging quite straight, are charmingly pretty. Madras mus- lin, with ball fringe also dresses windows daintily. For French windows vitrine curtains of lace are fashionable.

At Pontypridd John James, an ex-railway porter, was sentenced to two months' impri- sonment for indecent behaviour.

Vegetables and Fruit Strawberry beds whit 11 need attention should be hoed in fine weather. Unless a point is made of destroying weeds now there is sure to be trouble WbCll straw is laid down, for it will then be difficult to get at them. Protection is necessary for wall fruit-tree blossoms on all clear nights when the tempe- rature is at all low. Insect posts—forms of aphis, in particular—often attack Peach and Nectarine leaves in their youngest days of growth. It is only by examining the young leaves minutely that the pests at their initial stage of injury can be detected, when strong tobacco water or other suitable insect exter- minator must be instantly applied. The following cure for, or rather precau- tion against, blight in Potatoes first appeared in an almanack published in the year 1600. and was reprinted in a popular book of fifty years ago called The Best Method of Doing Common Things. It may be worth a trial. Cut the Potatoes in two, put them in strong salt water, add some blue stone to the water, let them lie in it one night, then lay them to dry two or three days before you plant them. Hoeing will be necessary as soon as the tops of the early-planted Potatoes appear to destroy any weeds and loosen the soil. Then draw up a little of the soil to the plants, not enough to cover them unless the weather is very cold hut so as to afford a little protec- tion from cold winds. &c. If there is danger of night frosts it will be advisable to get a supply of dry litter straw, fern, or something of the kind xeady at hand to throw over the little plants when necessary. This, though a little troublesome, often saves the young growth from getting frost-bitten, which means a delay of some weeks, as well as some injury to the crop itself. A little salt may be sprinkled between the rows before the first hoeing, but nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia are better employed just before the final moulding. Few vegetable crops pay better for watering than Peas, and from the time of flowering until ready for picking they may be watered about twice a week with sun-warmed liquid manure. Peas well fed at the roots are always more juicy and sweet than those which suffer from want of abundance of moisture or nourishment. It also makes a great difference to the length of time during which they can be gathered. Starved rows are quickly over, but those which are well supphed with liquid manure will go on blooming and beating for a considerable period. A Vegetable Marrow makes a considerable amount of growth before it begins to fruit, and though some flowers may be produced at a fairly early stage they are almost invariably male. The female flowers do not appear until later-at first on side-shoots. To get fruit earlier, therefore, it is necessary to reproduce the condition artificially. This may be done by stinting the food supplied to the plant and by stopping all strong shoots at once, after- wards thinning and regulating the numerous side-shoots that will start as the result of the treatment. The fruit thus obtained may be smaller than would follow normal growth, but it should be quite large enough, and it will be much earlier. This also applies to Melons and Cucumbers especially to ridge Cacumbers, for unless they begin to fruit early they have no time to bear much of a crop before the warm days of summer are over. In the Flower Garden. Gladioli may planted now in well-pre- pared soil, the bulbs being put in about 6in. deep and the same distance apart. In sum- mer, when their flower spikes appear, each should b3 secured against wind by a stake, and the surface of the soil mulched with inainure. For flowering in September a batch of corms may be set out a few week# later. In readiness for the colourless days of winter cuttings must be made of double single, Ivy-leaved and other Geraniums and Fuchsias, removing every bud until the middle of September. Fuchsias from seed, best double mixed, are most satisfactory, kept back by the same disbudding method. Primu- las, especially double sorts, which take longer to develop, can be sown at once for winter blooming. Freesias may be sown now, tin. deep, in pots of sandy soil, and kept in airy, sunny positions. It will be found best to spread the sowing of seeds over as wide a period as possible to provide a succession. Some three weeks or so before moving Ever- greens it is advisable to cut round each plant with a very sharp spade, severing the long growing roots, and forcing the shrub to form new ones in a compact ball, which can be readily lifted with ,a good mass of sovil when the due time arrives. In preparation for the shifted plant in its new position the ground should be thoroughly dug and manured, but no fresh manure should be worked into the upper layer of the soil where the replanted shrub will first begin to put out its roots. The hole should be roomy, quite a foot greater in diametef than the spread of the roots. The soil should be made thoroughly firm above and around the roots in planting. After planting water may be heavily applied to the roots. Anemones are easily raised from seed. But whether the seed is sown in boxes or in the open ground, the soil must be very fine, light, and smooth. The seed is extremely small, and must be barely covered, the slightest sprinkling of sacd being sufficient. To pre- vent drying, the ground should be shaded, especially if the sowing is in the summer, and if a box is used it should be covered until the young plants appear. The seeds are attached to feathery appendages, which under natural conditions np1<) to distribute them, floating theTr a ray < n t ie wind. When they are massed in a packet, the appendages should be got rid of by rubbing the whole in a handful of dry sand. The seeds are then re- leased, and can be sown with the sand, the rest being thrown away. Heliotrope mav be very satisfactorily culti- vated as standards or climbers. Young struck cuttings are the best. to start with. In the case of standards it will be necessary to select a young plant clear of any side-shoots in fact, all side shoots must be removed, and not allowed to make headway until the de- sired height of the plant is attained, after which a wire frame fastened to a stake should form a head, to which the young shoots must be tied out. This operation must be gradual. as if pulled out too early the shoots soon break off. The first season will see the forma- tion of a good head, but flowering must not be permitted until the second year. As climbers, the Heliotropes are perhaps more productive in blossoms, as one may from the first train out every shoot from the base, and take them up over rafters or on a wall inside the house. If on a roof the wires should be stretched some distance from the glass.

BARON'S EVIDENCE. An attendant at Hanwell Lunatic Asylum, Mfilard Smith, was summoned at Brentford Tuesday for ill-treating an inmate of the asylum named How. Dr. Daniels said that while he was showing Baron De Forest over the asylum they saw through the glass doors of Ward No. 3 two men struggling. When they got inside the lunatic was lying on the floor exhausted. Baron De Forest described the struggle, and said that he saw two blow3 struck.and each of them found its mark. One was a swinging blow. The defendant had one hand on the man's throat or neck. The defence was that the patient was refractory when asked to put on his coat. Dr. Chittle, a medi- cal assistant at the asylum, siad that he bad been unable to find bruises on the body. The Bench, after retiring to consider their verdict, said it was possible that Baron De Forest was mistaken, and they dismissed the case.

TO GROW HAIR ON A BALD HEAD. BY A SPECIALIST. Thousands of people suffer from baldness and falling hair, who, having tried nearly every- advertised haJr tonic and hair grower without results have resigned themselves to baldness and i ts attendant discomforts. Yet their case is not hopeless the following simple home pre- scription has made hair grow after years of baldness, and is also unequalled for restoring grey hair to its original colour, stopping hair from falling out, and for destroying the dan- druff germ. It will not make the hair greasy, and Can be put up by any chemist:—Bay Rum 3 oz.. Lavona de Composee 1 oz., Menthol Crystal J dram. If you wish it perfumed, add half to one teaspoonful of French Fleur Per- fume, which unites perfecty with the other ingredients. This preparation is highly recom- mended by physicians and specialists, and is absolutely harmless as it contains none of the poisonous wood acobol so frequently found in hair tonics. Do not apply to the face or where hair is not desired. 19908

NEWPORT BOOT-MANAGER CHARGED. At Newport Alfred Sandey, Caerleon-road and Clarence-place, was charged with embez- zling 10s, lis, and 10s, the property of Wye- lands Specialities, Ltd., Newport, for whom prisoner had been manager of the boot department. Mr Moxon, who prosecuted, said it was prisoner's duty to receive money for the company and to give receipts. There was the usual system of carbon papers, so that there would be a white receipt given to the cus- tomer and a carbon duplicate left in the book. One of the cases on which a charge was based was that of a pair of boots sold to a man named Gatehjouse for 16s 6d. After exhaustive evidence was given for the prosecution, prisoner denied feloniously embezzling or con- cealing. He said he had neglected to account for the money owing to the rush of business. The case was dismissed. {

Illustrated Humour. The Fool of the Family. She Oh, yes, I quite believe there's a iool in, every family, don't you ? He Well—er, my opinion is rather biassed. You see, I'm the only member of our family. Paddy's Scripture." An Irishman got some clothes on tick from a Jew, who had recently started an old clothes shop in Dublin, but could not be made to pay for them. As a last resort the Jew, to soften his (Pat's) heart, quoted the following to him: You were naked and I clothed you." And you were a stranger and I took you in," replied Pat coolly. The One Alternative. Perplexed Master of the House Well, Bridget, what's the matter ? Bridget (angrily ): Your wife, sor. came into the kitchen this morning and insulted me, and it's one of two things-either she leaves the house, or I do Not the Play House. In a large city office some juniors were talk- ing and figetting, much to the annoyance of the older clerks. At last one of the latter, a foreigner remarked Stop that noise, boys. This is not a play- house this is a workhouse." Flattering. Mra Fairfax Mrs Horton had the compli- ment of her life last week. She had her photo- graph taken. Mrs Eager Was it so nattering ? Mrs Fairfax Well, rather. It was taken by the man who burgled her house. The Amphibious Fibber. Jim Thomas says he stayed under water for nigh a minit-'n-a-half one day last summer." Indeed He must be amphibious." Eh Well, if that's the Greek for liar you've hit it right first time." A Fishy Question. Papa," said the little son of the marine editor, you know all about ships, don't you t" I know something of them, my son." Why do you ask I only wanted to know ifaea dogs generally go in barks." Orator I thought your paper was friendly to me ? Editor So it is. What's the matter ? I made a speech at the Oddfellows' dinner last night, and you didn't print a line of it." Well, what further proof do you want of our friendship." Abashed. Young Man (noted for his pride in telling of his foreign descent) Yes, I was born in Brussels. Young Lady Indeed Then you are what we might call a Brussels sprout. The Early Bird, etc. Man," declared the old-fashioned preacher, is a worm." And," said a man who had been married three times, and who was occupying a small space in a rear pew, woman is the early bird." The Stay-up-Late. You look like a wreck to-day, Anna. Have you been sitting up all night again reading a novel ?" Yes, madam. It was such a beautiful story, but they didn't get married until nearly five o'clock this morning A Paternal Restriction. Little Johnnie Mother, tell me how papa got to know you. Mother One day I fell into the water, and he jumped in and fetched me out. Little Johnnie Hm that's funny he wont let me learn to swim. A Discovery. I can't tell her she's the first girl I ever loved. She knows I've been engaged before." Well, tell her you're glad you discovered your mistake in time."

HOURS ACT AND EARNINGS. A Considerable Reduction. A correspondent writes :—It is apparent that Welsh colliers' earnings have been materially reduced since the Eight Hours Act came into force, and comparing the earnings of colliers as given by certificates at the County Courts, he states that two years ago the average earnings taken at one of the courts in the" Hills district were over 35s per man, whereas, at recent courts, the earnings of the whole of the defendants summoned amounted to only 27s a week. The defendants summoned at the various County Courts are not as a rule the best class of colliers, but that does not enter into the question, as they are the same class at present as they wet e two years ago.

A verdict of Suicide whilst of unsound mind was returned at the inquest at Stone, Staffordshire to-dayon David Mould, of Fancy Walk, Stafford, who drank a quantity of car- bolic acid and spirits of salts and jumped into the river, after shooting at his sweetheart at Chebsey, on Monday. The marriage of the had been twice postponed on account of deceased's violent conduct. Twenty-two cartridges were found in his pocket.

mMm BY< reason of its novel and ingenious herbal Ijjjjj the age, Zam-Buk possesses the double value of g preventing as well as curing skin disease. It is the most concentrated and perfect healing prepar- discovered, and it owes its superiority over ? all ointments to the wonderful way in which the N pure extracts used are blended one with another. <t No home-made salve can do the same good. Keep a box always handy for daily mishaps A I LY NEED. 1 RANKIN'S OINTMENT is the Best, I This is now by ail confessed. 1 Kills all VERMIN in the Hair. | Has no equal anywhere. HP* ■ FRIEND it is of every Mother, j&s? wft I Get it and you'll use no other. | Manufacturer*: I Sold by all Chemists, 43 Fifty Year* in the I I 3d., 6d.. 11- KILMARNOCK, N.B. Market. ""■ ■III' !«■ I.I I. "II »— ■■ I 4 Phynadaa't nj 0F|| | k ■ k, ■ gH aH B M «[ B Cure for Gout, Bheumatic Govt and Grawj. The. Universal Remedy for Acidity of the ——————* Stomach, Headache, Hawthorn, locLigeetian, Baht and TPfrgfr Sour Eructations, Bilious Jttfioctjre AporMsd for jlegulu GN-ESIA A ■ ff Wash the "Witch" way. ] NO RUBBING. No hard soap. No soda. Rubbing clothes" drives out only the coarser particles of the dirt and drives the stain into the fabric. Dirt should be loosened out" of soiled clothes-not rubbed in. The big makers of cloth of all kinds never permit the goods to be rubbed when washed in the mills. They merely have it soaked-then rinsed out. That's the Witch" way. Cloth manufacturers know best how to wash a fabric clean-that's why they use our soap. The all-soap soap in powder, "Let the clothes soak overnight, I In the morning they'll be white." "Witch" does your washing all by itseif because it is so marvellously pure and concentrated — not loaded with one-third to one-half water like hard soaps and dry (?) soaps. "Witch" is hard soap dried by a secret scientific process and then powdered. Worth your while to try "Witch," isn't it? Get a packet from your I grocer. NOTE.—The 2d. packet of Witch con- tains more than twice as much as the uX&fl? Id. packet. AIKO Witch" is packed loosely so that it will not "cake and KT absorb moisture. A "Witch" packet, although slightly smaller than other soap packets, will do twice as much work -easily. In id. and 2d. packets- 'of all g-rocers, olimeil and store- M2 f 202

THE HEAVENS IN MAY. The Time to View Halley's Comet. With the coming of May astronomy begins to be placed at a disadvatage, for the increas- rig day and decreasing night make the stars less and less visible. The sun algo raises light mists, which, although almost invisible. obscure the brightness of the stars and make them appear dim and faint. During the early part of the month the planet Mercury will be an evening star. He rises about 4 o'clock in the morning and sets at nine at night, about two hours after the sun, thus affording a fairly good opportunity of seeing him before he makes his appearance as a morning star. Venus, the planet that is between Mercury and the earth in point of distance from the sun, is a morning star rising an hour before the sun throughout the month. Jupiter is now visible practically all night. He rises early in the afternoon and reaches his greatest height above the horizon about 9 o'clock in the evening. At half past one in the morning on the 1st of May, and at eleven thirty on the last day of the month the constellations Hercules, Corona Borealis, Ophiuchus,and Scorpio, will be on the meridian. Scorpio is a long straggling group of stars and appears, from this part of the world at any rate, very close to the horizon. Possibly the brightest star Antares may be seen shin- ing through the mists and glare of bright lights which are always present on the horizon. Almost directly above Scorpio there is a group of six stars in the form of a half circle, with the ends, or arms, pointing upwards and slightly to the left. This pretty little constel- lation is known as Corona Borealis. Its brightest star, which is fourth counting from the end of the left arm, is known as Gemma. To the left of Corona and almost level with it is the constellation of Hercules, the kneel- ing man." Unfortunately, poor Hercules. according to the views the ancient took of him, never appeared to us as a man on his knees but as an acrobat performing on his head. This constellation is composed of thirteen stars in the form of an irregular five-sided figure enclosing a small square. In this little square between the stars representing the left hand top and the right hand bottom^ corner there is a beautiful cluster of small stars, which is one of the finest of its kind in the heavens. If the weather is very fine and clear about the ninth, when there will be no moon for a few days, it is just possible that it may be seen with the naked eye. Ophiuchus, the serpert bearer, is a large con- stellation composed of smalt faint stars, and situated almost directly below Hercules. In- tertwined with him is the serpent which he is supposed to be holding. During the whole of May Halley's comet will be noticable—for the first part of the month in the morning sky, and after the 18th in the evening sky, setting later and later each night until on the 30th it approaches the sun and fades away from sight. On the 1st the comet will appear close to Venus in the morning sky. On the 17th he will come within twelve mil- lion miles of the earth, this will be about his nearest approach to us. The following day, the 18th, he will cross the sun's face at almost half past six or quarter to seven in the even- ing, and the earth and the moon will pass through his tail, but nothing will happen, except perhaps that the comet will leave a few very small pieces of his tail behind him as a memento of his visit. After this he will appear in the evening sky, setting later and later each evening. On the 22nd he will appear of cnor mous size, his tail stretching away into the sky in front of him, for after a. comet has passed the sun and begins to tiavel away into space, its tail precedes it. This will be the best evening to view the comet. On the 26th the comet will passs six million miles below the point where the earth was on the 6th. I

.Tohn Lehane (59) was sent for trial by the Cardiff Stipendiary for committing an offence upon a Wrl of 13 named Mary Maria Cooper.

THE WEEK'S MARKETS. CORN. Gloucester .Saturday.—English wheat small sappty| quiet, unchanged. Red 35s 6d to 36s white 36s t0 36s 6d per qr. Foreign wheat 6d to 9d cheaper—Plato 39s 6d, Russian 39s 3d to 43s. Manitoba 40s 9d. Mate unchangeid—Plate 27s. Bessarabian 36s 9d. BarleylQi 3d. Oats unchanged. Rather dull, cold. CATTLE. Usk, Monday.—Following so closely on tbefftk there was a poor attendance and supply at the fort- nightly market to-day, and business was slow. Quota- tions :—Best beef 6id to 7d, second quality 6d to.&td- wether mutton 8Jd, ewe 7d to 7Jd, lamb-lid to Is, VBM 9d to 9id per lb., "ows and calves f-12 to £16. year- lings £8 to fl2, two year olds Bll to JE15, sows and pifll f,6 to £10, strong stores 35s to 456 each, three raoutm old 25s to 30s, weaners 20s to 23s each, heavy weight porkers 9s 6d to 10s 6d a score, light do. 10s 6d to 11s. score. Builth Wells, Monday. Large attendance and plentiful supply cf store cattle cows with calrtt sold from &11106 to M4 and barreners £10 to £ 1210a store cattle realised moderately satisfactory prices and were in average request. Prices for pigs were un- changed. Rates for produce, etc., were Eggs 11 fat Is, potatoes 4s per cwt., butter Is 2d per lb., and lhw hens 4s per couple. Roath, Tuesday.—Live stock.—Cattle—There was again a very short supply of fat cattle, only about40 on offer; there were more buyers present, and business brisk at high prices. Sheep-short supply, only a few pens on offer,prices even higher than previous week's lambs also very short and sold at almost prohibitfro prices. Calves also short supply prices well main- tained. Pigs-this week there is almost a famintf in pork the supply of Irish having dropped off Welsh pigs were in greater demand Irish sold at from 128 bd to 15s per score Pembrokeshire pigs making from 12s 9d to 13s (through); baconer-very few on offer at from Hill to 12s local pigs, which as a rale Bfell bad, found a ready sale—sows from 8s to Sj only a few on offer. Dead meat business quiet—Beef—besfc sides 6Jd to 7}d, hinds 7}d to 8d, fores 5M to 6Jd • second quality cow meat from 5JC to 6 £ d. Mutton 64d to 7Jd, wether mutton from 7f d to 8$d lamb 10jd to Hid. VeatMtolOd. Pork as per quotations for lift weights quality good. Neath, Wednesday.—Monthly market held to-day. .when there was a big supply, but trade was slow. Prices :-Best beef, 12s to 12a 6d seconds, lis 6d calves, 7d to 8d sheep—smalt lOd. heavy 9d, ewes 7d, shorn 8d. lambs, Hid pigs-light 12s 6d to 12a 9d. heavy lis 6d to 12s cows and calves, £10 to £14, PROVISIONS. Carmarthen, Saturday .—The supply of butter hM greatly increased, and a reduction of fully Id per pound has taken place, price paid 13d per lb., fresh butter in lbs. 13d to 14d per lb. Eggs 7s to 7s 6d per 120. Llandilo,, Saturday.—Butter in lbs. Is 211 to Is 2id per lb., ditto in tubs Is l £ d to Is 2d. Fowls Is per lb. Eggs 17s and 18 tor a shilling. Welsh cheese 6d per lb., Lampeter, Monday.—Trade to-day was fairly brisk, land much business was transacted. Poultry as usua, found plenty of buyers, and prices ruled fairly welll old hens fetching 3s to 3s 6d per couple, and young poultry 4s. per couple. There was alarge number of store pigs and a good clearance was effected, prices she wing a. slight reduction since last, month. Fat pigs (alive) realised 8s Sd a scere calves fetched 4^d per lb. butter. Is 2d per lb. eggs, 9 for 6i • potatoes, 3s 6d per cwt. Rhayader, Wednesday.—Not a verv largo attend* Rhayader, Wednesday.—Not a very largo attend- ance, and the small supply of farm produce met with a ready sale." Old hens (live) soM from '3s 6d to 48 per couple chickens, 4s to 5s bd eggs, 18 for Is duck eggs, 16 for Is potatoes, 4s per cwt. and fresh butter, Is 2d per lb. HIDE. SKIX. FAT, AND WOOL. Rhondda. Pontypridd, and Absrdari Hid#, Tallow, and Wool ContpMy. Limited, Treforast. Saturday.—Hides (without hora« or skillUt SOlbs and upwards, ordinary flayed, 6id perfect flayed, 6fd 80lbs. to391bi.. 6!d, 6}d 70lbs. to 791b}.. 6d. 6*d: 601bs. to 6iHb! 5id. Gid; 501ba. to 591bs.. 5td.6d: 491bs.acd under, 5Jd, 6d heavy cows. 601bt. and up, 5±d, &{d light cofrs, £ 91bs. and under, 5Jd, 5fd; bulls, 4Jd. 4td: cuts and warbled, 4d to 54. Calf skins—17lbs and upwards, 6Jd 12tbt. to 161ba.. 8id: Illbs. itnd under. Bid: cuts, 7d. Wools, 2a to 9s. Fat--best sweet clean, 3ld; teconde. 2d' common, lid. Salt. 2. 0(1: a .n.

YOUTHFUL J.P.s Mr Stewart Smith, K.C., who gave evidence Tuesday before the Royal Comtnisison on the Selection of J nstices of the Peace, statod that the two sons of a lord lieutenant were appointed to the Bcnch at the ftges of 21 and 24, and that two other men were appointed when 22 and 24 years of age.