The Cardiff Times

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WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON, M.P, COALS, DOLES, AND CONSOLS. Now that the Chancellor of the Exchequer h&s Promised to exempt existing contracts with 'Oreigners—though he will not do the same for the Britisher. who may be trading at the same station—and has in this way agreed to surrender 'tt least half the revenue, viz., a million of siioney, which he hoped to derive from his new impost for the current year, the question of obtaining other sources of revenue becomes more pressing than ever. The position now is, that Sir "lichael's proposals for new taxation will raise le- than a seventh of his estimated deficit, ■^hich is seventy-one millions. Of this sum he has already raised sixty by loan, and new taxes were to bring him in the remainder. Dolps to Landlords. When Sir Michael Hicks-Beach says that the ■Soalowners are better able to pay taxation of -his kind than the farmers, he misses the point. The question is whether, at this period, when the whole community is suffering from heavy taxa- tion, a special sum amounting to more than ^2,300,000 a year should be raised out of general taxation and handed over to agricultural land- lords. The continuance of the grant means that the whole produce of the coal tax and a good fleal more is absorbed by these rural landlords. I The sum paid out in relief of agricultural rates '-)r rents is equal to the produce of a little mo-e than a penny in the P, on the income tax, It Would, they say, pay the interest on eighty Millions of the debt. But, altogether apart from taxation for the war and the growth of military Expenditure, the question arises, is agriculture that depressed industry which under ordinary circumstances entitles it to special relief ? What Mo the facts upon which an opinion can be formed respecting this matter? I think they are these. In January, 1896, the chairman of the Royal Commission, Mr Shaw-Lefevre, was about to submit a draft report, when Mr Chaplin, the new President of the Local Government Board, got one of the Commissioners, Mr Little, to produce a draft report with proposals for reducing land assessment. The discussion with almost undue and, indeed, indecent haste was forced on the House of Commons, and Februaxy 17th was fixed on when Mr Little s report (and &ony other minority report) should be presented to the then Home Secretary. Yet before that date even, and before any report was handed to the Government, Mr Chaplin on February 11th, 1896. gave notice in Parliament of his intention to introduce a Bill dealing with agricultural rates. And accordingly that ridiculous measure was introduced. This, in conjunction with the above brief narrative of the facts, shows that the Government had no hesitation in applying pressure even to a Royal Commission Vhen it answered their, purpose, al- though Mr Balfour now professes that he cannot hasten the report of the Commission now sitting upon the subject of local taxation. It also shows tbat the Unionist Government or 1896 took the initiative in the framing of that clumsy and ridiculous measure for relieving agriculture called the Agricultural Rating Aeo; °t i.896. The concocted a. plan, drafted a Bill, then tried to bully the Commission into pre- senting a hurried interim report which should bolster up their scheme in the eyes of scientific I People. The same thing, mean dodge as it was, it will be remembered, was adopted in regard to clerical tithes in the following year. Rents and Relief. The real objects and result of that Agricul- tural Rating Act for England, Scotland, [ and Ireland was not to relieve 4gricultural distress generally but to raise rents or to maintain unduly existing high rents by lowering the rates. The system of abate- tnent prevailed (and does still to some extent) so generally in our agricultural districts that land- lords were able in most cases to get the benefit ^Of themselves immediately. As Mr Chaplin himself observed at the time and in 1891—" If j rates are high the owner gets less rent if they "lye low more rent." Either way the landlord Sets the money. It will be found that rent3have "een raised or abatements reduced proportion- ately to the lowering of the rates, so that little or no good to the farmers generally has been done, and none at all to the labourer. Counties like Essex, where agri- cultural depression really existed in 1896, gets tlle least relief by the Act. The following is an ^stance given me the otaer day A farm of 200 8^res there at a rent of 10s an acre, with rates ttt 2s 6d in the pound, gets under the Act zC2 16s 3d of relief every year, while a farm in Lancashire Of the same size at a rental of iE3 an acre, and ^ith the rates at 23 3d in the pound, gets *^0 18s 9d of relief. Even accommodation land and building land heldjby speculators are relieved 01lt of the pocket of the nation through these ini- qllitious and ridiculous Acts. Consols- National securities have declined during the two or three years to a most alarming ex- Consols, which stood not very long before he outbreak of the war at 114, have already a'len to 94. It may very well happen if the war rags on into the autumn and next winter this 1 will continue, and the only way to check it is find further sources of revenue, and thu3 fore- 'tall supplementary estimates, and avoid the ^eeessity of borrowing later in the year. Such Ofrowing, if it has to take place, would also listen the banking crisis, which a number of j. ancial experts are looking forward to with no '^tle dread. For it must never be forgotten that, hereas the reserves of the Bank of England gold, those of the country banks generally *y largely consist of Consols. These securi- have already in three years lost one-fifth of ~'r market vaiue. Stale Coal Mines. the Government is so concerned as regards c ^°r the use of its Navy our Welsh steam s> why not at once follow the example a Ceutly given in Germany, and go straightaway **0 Purchase for itself some of the coal areas that SiQ ^e*t- Herr Breferd, one of the retiring Prus- [ Ministers, has bought for the Government 0 very large and important coalfields in t0?6tPhalia. The price which the Minister is said ^v° paid —one million sterling—is considered j>„ vfry .low, considering the advantage lted. The coal is said to be of excellent and the coalfields are flanked by rail- an<^ canals, and intersected by three navi- cb e rivers, which will render freight very vice and the coals, when produced, of real ser- the country. Moreover, the Government, m Prussia, owns and runs all the rail- S.S y,' made independent of the coal riDg, a^d0 the public, so that the purchase 5*h Jl°'1 be of great advantage to both. ^at State was about to become the f0y ,r °f these collieries was carefully concealed, c0(lj it become known the controllers of the st0 would moat likely have had the sale sel e<^ 01 v,'ould have mado the purchase them- ir,(j 15• This coal ring is already a very Stltia! power in the country. Recently \v}jj ^ps' °f Essen, bought certain coal mines tla." It is alleged, had previously made con- 1^" s with the ring, and entered into the stipr- dually made by the ring regarding the <.I.I¡t¡ ^f i-j.tlle output of coal produced thereat. U)r, .VruPP, having become tho owner, required vvto!Jllnc- to hand over to that company the 'heir output from the date of purchase, Wv-<3n^ c'ainied the riglit to have the contracts ^oc'°U"ly in--id;a by tho. carried out. Legal between the Kmpp firm and the Kivr wore entered upon, and a verdict was v- 0:1 May llth in favour of the ring. Thus t VQ8 13 now by law able to have it?, contracts I a*tftUj £ eiit of ontpnf nut in force. I CiU,'tnilJY.ent of ontpnf nut in force.

Illustrated Fashions. "What constitutes a really well-dressed woman?" is a. question often asked, and is in its way rather a poser, for there are so many styles of looks that no one hard and fast rule can be ] aid down as to where and how withal we shall I he clothed. To my mind the best turned-out woman is the one whose toilettes evince the stamp of individuality while at the same time I they convey a soothing sense of harmony to the onlooker, the general effect being altogether free from any jarring note, created by some to-opro- nounced detail. It is, therefore, not only to those rolling in wealth that the possibilities of perfection in dress offer themselves, for any one possessed of a real individuality of style can go I to some "inglorious" dressmaker who recognises the genius of her patron and will faithfully carry out her ideas without reference to any fashion paper and the rules and suggestions contained therein. To create a style of her own should be the aim of every woman who, possessed of a fair amount of good looks, seeks distinction. In my sketch I have depicted the charms of I one of those exceedingly useful silks slips which will be found equally suited to afternoon and evening wear. This one is distinguished by a yoke of Maltese lace made out of an old collar long looked upon as utterly useless until the idea of utilising it in this manner dawned upon the fertile brain of its possessor. The old saw that if one keeps a thing for seven years au se will then be found for it has an amazing amount of truth in A Lace and Silk Slip. I it, although personally I have even found the seven years doubled before the opportunity oc- curred. There are numerous very narrow tucks also introduced into this slip for decorative pur- poses, and when a thin material such as silk is employed it is a wise plan to put plenty of mate- rial into the blouse, confined possibly by tucks, as by so doing there is no strain on the silk, which therefore fits better and wears longer. Another exceedingly charming model of a silk slip I admired the' other day was arranged in pale turquoise silk, the bodice part expressed in tucked bands from neck to waist, interspersed with cream lace insertion. The throat was finished by a band of the lace insertion with a a rosette of black velvet bebe ribbon at the side. Shirt blouses for morning wear are this season dis- tinguished by the amount of tuckings which are arranged continuously or in groups of three or four from the A.merican saddle-back yoke which the smartest ones always display. Zephyrs, delaines, cambric,' and muslin are used in their construction, and the latter when printed with nosegays of flowers are particularly charming, and look especially pretty when finished at the throat by a stock of silk matching in tone the predominating colour of the flowers. I feel it my bounden duty to illustrate the hat which at present seems to find a very great amount of admiration in the eyes of smart — '7 A Useful Hat. women, though why this should be so I cannoi, say, as it is a style that is only becoming to a few, for it requires a considerable amount of good looks to emerge successfully from the seventy of so plain a style. The Toreador cream straw hat, trimmed solely by a chou of black net (or velvet) and a quill has a certain chic effect all its own, but is not becoming to everybody. It scorns to answer a certain call for something which, while not so exceedingly severe as the normal sailor hat, yet suggests simplicity altogether different from the fussiness of an afternoon hat or toque. I saw a particularly sweet and yet smart woman (the two are seldom synonym ou?) at a very fashionable watering place, whose individuality had aspired beyond the common-place, and while the tout ensemble of the hat was very much what we usually encounter the effect was altogether chic and original. A white felt Toreador hat of unmistakably excellent "build" had its brim draped by a swathing of lace, the front being decorated by a chon of the same lace. This un- doubtedly showed to advantage the charms of a well-cut profile, dark waving hair, and a delicate complexion. Here aga-in was the Hots of indivi- duality struck. Afternoon toilettes mu;,t bo awarded a due amount of consideration, and so this charming gown of golden brown clot rt. relieved by touches of yellow at the wrists and neck must be duly viewed with respect. A certain intermingling of An Afternoon Toilette. gold cord helps to lighten the whole, and a golden yellow toque of chiffon trimmed with ox- eyed daisies completes a charming tout ensemble. Any hat, however, could be worn with such a toi- leote (and herein lies its principal charm) as from a simple straw chapeau to an alluring" confee- tion" of tulle enhanced by a black panns rose in front, nothing would come amiss. For trimming a burnt or l'V,nt\ma hat no: ><avg is so SUlart as,whit,e gauze spotted with black chenille. COQUETTE.

MUSIC IN WALES. BY D. EMLYN EVANS. Mr John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia). Musical Wales sends its congratulations to Mr John Thomas upon his appointment as harpist to his Majesty, King Edward VII., an office, how- ever, which is not new to our distinguished fellow- countryman, as he had the honour to occupy a similar position for well-nigh 30 years under Queen Victoria. Mr John Thomas has a long and an honourable record to look back upon, since he sallied forth from Penybont to win his first success on his favourite instrument at an eisteddfodic contest, and to take the initial step in securing the pre-eminent place in the art which he has occupied for so many years. Mrs Mary Davies- The announcement that Mrs Mary Davies had decided to retire from the public platform will have been read with much regret by the eminent c-fintatrice's numerous musical admirers, and who have been charmed with the purity of vocali- sation, clearness of enunciation, simplicity of style, and that unforced and natural interpreta- tion of the sentiment of a piece always charac- teristic of the true artist, which marked her every performance, whether of an English ballad, the national melodies of her native land, or the more elaborate aria of the cantata and the oratorio. It is satisfactory, however, to know that Mrs Davies's talent will not be entirely lost to the musical world, but that it will still be employed in the teaching room—an opportunity that our young countrywomen should not neglect to avail themselves of. IVales also tenders sincere wishes for a speedy restoration to health of Mr Cadwaladar Davies, himself an able and patriotic son of the hen wlad." The New Savoy Opera. Apart from the especial interest which must attach to any work left to the world by the brightest English—or Irish—musical genius of his day, Sir Arthur Sullivan, the fact that the work referred to at present was completed by another Celt, Mr Edward German, makes it doubly interesting to those of the Celtic fringe and trebly so to us in Wales, when we remember that Mr Edward German can lay claim to a patronynuc-a familv name not unknown in our midst, to wit, that of Jones. True, Shropshire is not in Wales, but it will serve and truly there are within that picturesque county places and districts more Welsh in both sentiment and speech than some that may be found in counties not afar off within our own borders. To return to our business proper, however, Mr Edward German's share in the composition of The Emerald Isle was very considerable, amounting, as we are told, to eleven original numbers, harmonising and scoring all the num- bers with the exception of two which had been completed by the deceased composer, and writing an introduction and some sprightly dances, in which form of composition Mr German is an acknowledged expert. The opera has been re- ceived as worthy of the Savoy's palmiest days. Apropos the Savoy operas, the difference in the amounts of the estates left respectively by Sir Arthur Sullivan (the most popular English composer of his time, and perhaps of any other) and Mr D'Oyley Carte is somewhat striking. When little Oliver Twist was asked by Mr Brownlow whether ho would not like to be an atithor--i book-writer "—Oliver, after some cogitation, answered that he thought" it would be a much better thing to be a book-seller" and Mr Brownlow considered that the little fellow had said a very good thing." Oliver's reply might not be inapplicable to the writing and the performing of operas, but if ws look at the chequered history of the majority of composers, the gifted author of the Pirates of Penzance," etc.. did not fare badly. The com- poser of "Don Giovanni," Mozart, the master of the world's masters of opera, and who could not be said to have C'6r possessed a five-pound note or its money equivalent that he could have claimed as his own, would have considered him- self rich beyond the dreams of avarice had his worldly possessions reached one-tenth that amount. I A London Eisteddfod 65 Years Ago. In the first volume of the" Musical World," published in 1836. is found an account of an eisteddfod and concert held in the Metropolis in the early summer of that year, and it appears sufficiently interesting to be quoted here. This truly national meeting," as the report reads, which took place at the Freemasons' Hall, was most brilliantly attended. Prizes were awarded for elegies in the Wekii language on the death of Dr. W. O. Pughe. The Right Hon. C. W. W. Wynn, president of the day, and several other gentlemen addressed the meeting on various sub- jects connected with the history and literature of the Ancient Britons. A concert was performed, which consisted chiefly of Welsh melodies with English words sweetly sung by Mrs Bishop, Miss Woodyatt, Miss Hawes, and Miss Clara No- vello. Mrs Bishop was encored in Come, Sum- mer,' accompanied on the pianoforte by Mr Bishop Miss Woodyatt repeated her Adieu to dear Cambria,' and Miss Clara Novello was loudly encored in Jack O'Hazeldean,' also in Fairy El vet with Mr Parry, jrn., who wa3 called "pon to repeat the ballad of The Maid of Llangollen,' accompanying himself on the harp. A new glee by J. J. Jones, Mus. Bac. (Oxon.), who presided at the pianoforte, was excellently sung by Miss Woodyatt, Messrs Terrail, Horncastie, and Parry, jun. It was called The Swain of the and is a composition of great merit, and will, if published, become very popu- lar. Several Welsh airs harmonised by Mr Parry were sung by the principal vocalists and an efficient chorus, with good effect. Mr Oliver Davies on the harp, Miss Dittmar and Master Richards on tha pianoforte, and Mr Harper on the trumpet, elicited great applause by their per- formances. The ancient mode of singing pennillion (epigra- matic stanzas) with the Welsh harp excited much interest, for to sing pennillion with the harp is not so easily accomplished as may be imagined. The singer is obliged to follow the harper, who may change the tune where he pleases also per- form variations while the vocalist must keep time, and precisely with the strain. Those are con- sidered the best singers who can adapt stanzas of various metres to one melody, and who are ac- quainted with the 24 measures according to the bardic laws and rules of composition. The ama- teur will observe that the singer will not com- mence with the strain but take it up at the second or third bar,as best suits the metre of the pennill he intends to sing, and this is continually done by the Welsh peasantry, who are totally unac- quainted with music. Mr Parry, senior, took a part in this unique performance, and sang in the ancient British language, which appeared to give great pleasure to the company, many of whom we conclude understood what was sung. It resem- bles the Italian improvisation there is nothi ng guttural, but the words flow very smoothly." Of all thep ersons mentioned in the foregoing probably the only one now surviving is the Coun- tess Gigliucci—then Miss Clara Novello. Th Mr Parry, senior, was John Parry (Bardd Alaw); and Mr Parry, junior, his son, otherwise known as John Orlando Parry, and who afterwards became popular as vocalist in the lighter class of musical entertainments while Master Richards -then a youth of 17—became known to fame as the author of God Bless the Prince of Wales," Henry Brinley Richards.

Very Explicit. A gentleman, who has just returned from a trip through the Mississippi district of the United States, says that one day he stopped at a negro cabin to ask the way to the village for which be was bound. In reply to his hail an old white-headed man came to the door, and the following conversation took place Can you tell me how to get toB ?" asked the traveller. Saitinly, I kin sah," replied the darkey. You follow dis here road tity jist before you get's in sight ob de next house, and den you turns to de right, an' dar ain't no odder road to put you off from dar on till you gits to whar you is a-going." Liberty has ruined more people than slavery has.

Blinks Lucky mail, that fellow Jones.— Winks I don't see how you make it.—Blinks I Why, he took out a life insurance policy for £ 1,000, and died six days before the company failed.

Illustrated Humour. The pen is mightier than the sword when it comes to signing cheques, i Look, mother!" cried four-year-old Bertie, standing before the mirror and running his finger through his hair, which had grown rather long, look, I'm glowing a girl." Darling," said she, do you love me as much as ever?" "Yes, dearie," said he, with his nose buried in his newspaper. That ought to have I, satisfied her, but she had to ask Why?" Oh, I dunno. Habit, I suppose." I Off the Wronff End. I I Pat: Arrah, now, but railways are a; moighty foine invintiou, annyway." Friend I shouldn't have thought you could see much to admire in them. Pat, seeing that you lost your leg in a railway accident. Pat: Faith, an' didn't I get JE200 damages? Begorra, if it only been my head. Oi'd have owned the loine. Intending Purchaser Has this bull pup been properly broken Dealer Well, sir, 'e ain't bin actually broke yet, but 'e'll snap if yer touches 'im! Those sheep of yours," said the country rec- tor, are in fine condition, Hodge." Yes. sor. 'I sura they be. If we was all of us only as fit to die as them, we'd do, I A Freak. I Diner: Now then, waiter, ^urry up. Worried Wai ter: Excuse me, sir, but are you a calf 's head or a pork chop ? A bachelor says a woman can't Throw straight because she squints. But. just the same, she's accurate When it comes to throwing hints. That ain't what I ordered," said a country- man at a London restaurant, pointing to two slices of venison on his plate. You ordered venison." said the waiter. "Yes I did; but I ordered haunch of venison, just as the bill of fare has it. Them ain't no haunch, them's slices. Still Hope, Impecanious Poet: Good news, dear! That poem of mine— Wife: Has it been accepted at last ? Poet: No; but I' re heard that there's a new magazine just started in London that I haven t submitted it to yet. Peckle: My wife's first husband was a lucky fellow. Olsen: How so ? Peckles: He died. Muggius is not handsome, and he knows it. When his first baby was born he asked, Does it look like me?" Of course they replied in the affirmative. "Well," said he, with a sigh. "break it to my wife gently." No Wonder. I Plytter Yes, poor Grierson has gone clean off his head. The part he had to play was too much for him. Burke What was he playing ? Anything in Shakespeare ? Flytter: No; Monte Cristo at twenty-five bob a week, and six weeks' salary due. Here is a paragraph concerning a suicide, culled from an Irish newspaper:—"It is believed that the deceased put the rope round his neck as a joke, and fonnd, when too late, that he had made a fatal mistake." I The Sad Tidings.—Excitement is often the cause of strange telegrams, as well as of other manifestations. A man who had been one of the passengers on a shipwrccited vessel was rescued almost by a miracle. On arriving at a place from which he could send a telegraphic messsijc. he forwarded the following despatch to hi a brother :—411 am saved. Try to break it to my wife."

SCIENCE AND HEALTH By Or. ANDREW WILSON, F,R.CS. On "First Aid." I was talking the other day to a surgeon who was engaged in teaching an ambulance class, and our conversation turned on the ignorance which prevails regarding the means to be adopted for the relief of those suffering from accidents in emergencies. This ignorance has still to be dissipated by ambulance instruction of universal kind. The St. John Association in England, and the St. Andrew Society in Scotland, have done and are doing noble work in the education of the people, but that work still demands more labourers and increased exertion if the bene- volence of mankind is to be exerted to its fullest on behalf of those who suffer. My friend re- marked that the teaching of ambulance had to include not only the telling people what to do hi emergencies, but also their instruction in what should not be done. Everybody is willing to assist in the work of saving life, but everybody does not know exactly what ought to be done. and this gap owl edge is where ambulance teaching appears the instructor in the prin- ciples of first aid. I agree with my friend entirely. I have had a good deal to do with ambulance teaching in one way an3 another, and a little book on Common Accidents," written by a number ofji|fi-ieri^s pun(j myself, has had a very wide circulaafen &S a handy manual for those who would be lakridy men—and women. The education o. ths-Seople in first aid princinles to my mmd should Iftgin at school. There f would have boys and gix-ls taught physiology (and the laws ot health), so that they would come to an ambulance class knowing something of the heart and circulation, of the skeleton, of the nature of breathing, and of other details of our daily life necessary as a foundation for under- standing how to treat emergencies properly. On Teaching Ambulance. This is the difficulty of ambulance teaching. The good doctors who take time and trouble to instruct, the public have to devote a good deal of time wnich might be spent in true ambulance work to teaching their pupils the ordinary facts of physiology which tbov should have learned at school. This is not fair to the doctor, who has to cram a great deal of practical work into a very limited time, and tha wonder, to my mind, is that the results of the instruction are as good as they appear to be, considering the amount of ground the toicsiter has to cover. Then there is also the difficulty with adult students of getting their Oiten very original notions regarding the human iraine supplanted by correct conceptions of things. One student, for example, resembled the lad Huxley spoke of who could never remem- ber on which sioes of the heart the tricuspid and mitral valves were respectively situated. He wouid continually misplace them, until Huxlev syir.pathetically remarked that as regards the mitral yalve (placed on the left side and so-called from its resemblance in shape to the episcopal headgear) its position might be known from the consideration that •• a bishop could never be in the right I" Then there are people who will use the biggest words they can find to denominate things which might as well be called bv short and popular names. The gullet is called scienti- fically the '• oesophags," but a man wishing to show off his medical knowledge informed the doctor that he had brought his bov to him, because he had swallowed a halfpenny, which the iatner added had stuck in the boy's sarco- phagus. I here is aigo another type which will persist m misspelling even simple words. Bronchitis is 0f £ en as not written down Brown l\.atys, asgif it alluded to a female person or persons, in distinguishing the par- ticular fit a person has suffered from it is not uncommon to find one of apoplexy or enilensv styled" a fit of perplexity The Value of the Knowledge. There has never been a work of grea,ter benevo- lence than that which has for its aim the diffu- sion of lirst-aid knowledge, and I am making an appeal to-day for increase in this instruction all round. Lilre a knowledge of swimming, an ambu- lance training arms a man or woman against a host of evils which are liable to happen to everybody at home, in the street, or while cycling, or travelling by land or sea, or under any circum- stances of life. Let. everyone of my youthful readers especially make a resolution that next winter they will attend an ambulance class and obtain after certificate of com- petency, and they will never regret either making their vow or keeping it. The deepest and most poignant sorrow one can feel, I should say, is that experienced on being told that one might have rendered valuable aid—even to the saving of life—to those in distress if one had only known what to do. And snch knowledge is easily acquired, because it is instruction of an interest- ing kind. Let us wish all success to the ambul- ance movement, and let us, best of all, forward its .truly humanitarian objects by making a brave show of candidates for certificates when next season dawns. Fried Fish and Typhoid Fever. A great deal of interest has been taken of late days in a report which details an outbreak of typhoid fever in Southwark. Lambeth, and Kensal Green — all three London districts— alleged to be due to infection by means of fried fish. The Southwark epidemic in particular is that which is said to present the most reliable evidence of this mode of acquiring tha ailment. Typhoid fever is an ailment which is not in- fectious "in the ordinary sense in which that term is used. That is to say, it is not infectious from person to person in the way in which, say. smallpox or scarlet fever is propagated, for the reason that in typhoid fever the germs are not given off from the breath, mouth secretions, or skin, but are confined to the bowel discharges and the secretion of the kidneys. If these dis- charges be perfectly disinfected and ordinary cleanliness be observed as regards the patient's surroundings, there is little fear of infection. We get typhoid lever from water or milk, into which the germs of the ailment have been allowed to escape. Thus, what gives it to one in this case of an epidemic gives it to all. A polluted water supply with millions of germs breeding and multiplying in it is liable to infect a whole community,"and this, indeed, is the history of most of the outbreaks of typhoid fever that occur. Then, again, we know that oysters, cockles, and mussels, taken from beds over which sewage from a town is allowed to pass, will con- vey the fever. The germs live in the shell-fish for a certain time, and when the?-e are eaten in- fection is naturally conveyed. Many cases of this kind were noted in London a few years ago, and one good effect of the warning thus given has been the greater care exercised by purveyors of oysters in seeing that their shell-fish are laid down in pure water. A Difficult Problem. With fried fish the case is one of great diffi- culty in the exact determination of the mode of infection. The evidence would seem to point to the fact that those who consumed fried fish-and in one case at least fried nsh from one particular shop—were infected, and the number and occur- rence of. cases appeared to depend on the fre- quency with which and on the amount of the fish which was consumed. It is difficult to conceive of fish being infected with typhoid matter. If the fish consumed typhoid material such matter would not be likely to affect its flesh, and pre- suming the fish was dnly cleaned and properly cooked it iF-, still more difficult to find an origin for the outbreak in this direction. The cooking process, one may presume, does not include any- thing susceptible of conveying the germs of the dicease, and the degree of heat to which the fish was subjected would be all in favour of the des- truction of any germs which might be contained in or adherent to it What is left for us to believe is in the contamination of the fish after it was cooked. That fried fish left in insanitary sur- ruoundings, or even close to mussels or cockles which are liable to contain typhoid bacilli, might acquire infective properties, is, of course, a reason- able enough thing. I aiii not .w.-are that the sanitation of the fried fish shopi has been specially mentioned in the report. Doubtless this point has received the close attention of the authorities, but on a priori grounds one might bo inclined to suspect contamination from tho pre- mises rather than from the food, or at least, from the surroundings as being a more probable source of mischief than the food itself. At preser exact origin of the epidemic remains some' of a mystery. Hot Weather Troubles.^ i With the warm weather we shall be havioc usual accession of cases of summer diarrh British cholera, which in young infants espe": '1 is a very fatal disease—that is in children one year old. In adults it is an ailmei usually to some imprudence in diet It > -J dom fatal, but is always weakening. F.-t-.g under-ripe or over-ripe fruit is a common • i! ■ of this affection, but it may, apparently, vene without any special cause being trac< Drinking cold water or other cold drinks *vf.. heated is a practice liable to be followed b symptoms. The treatment here is to ke patient warm, and to give' a dose of castor-oM which a little laudanum (say 15 drops) ha V added. They may suffice to cure the sympti an ordinary case" If the case is of a more nature hot poultices should be applied ove' stomach and bowels, then we may give a ill: xt, composed of five drops of chlorodyne a. drops of dilute sulp" uric acid in an our water. This may be taken every hour as Ie the pain and the diarrhoea continues Lat if the latter symptoms persist, a dose of mixture will probably suffice to check it. care must 'be exercised in the matter o; v- of course, and all indigestible things m avoided. Fish and meat should be tal examined to see thev are fresh and free fr tainting, and fruit of all kinds and shellfis. better be avoided, as likely to bring on a '■ rence of the ailment.

GARDEN AND FIELD. With Hints en Poultry and Stock. By COUNTRY COUSIN. Tha Supply of New Laid Eggs, There is little hope of the English poultry keepers being able to compete successfully with the foreigner in the wholesale egg market, because absolute freshness is not regarded. The only chanee for the English poultry keeper to be suc- cessful with eggs is in supplying retail traders, large consumers, and private families with i genuine "new laid eggs." In this direction lie can call the market his own, as the foreigner is out of the competition owing to distance. But if the home producer intends to makes-profitable thing out of new laid eggs, there are certain points upon which he must be very particular, as at present' these are too often neglected, greatly to his own disadvantage. Briefly, these points are as follows :—He mast take measures to pro- vide a regular supply all the year round. He must also make certain rules as to gathering and the keeping and marketing of the eggs. An egg which is at all doubtful must never be sent to market; this is most important. as once a reputa- tion is gained for reliable eggs the producer must keep up that reputation lie must let his cus- tomers see that his word ca.n be relied upon, and that when they purchase fresh eggs they know they will always get fresh eggs, and not any which may be classed as fairly fresh or I- seconds." By carefully attending to these little details, and by making a point of supply- ing the smallest purchaser with the same care as the largest, the home poultry keeper will soon be sure of a constant market and good prices. Always remember the old axiom that honesty is the best policy," and if by chance a second does get among the new laid, and mistakes will sometimes occur even where the utmost care is employed, always replace it; indeed, give two Eggs in a neat open-work basket. rather than lose a customer. Dealers of good repute make use of an ingenious device for test- ing the freshness of eggs, known as candling." A candle, or better still a lamp with a lens, is placed at one end of a dark room. Theegg to be tested is held by the thumb and forefinger against the light, when the air Fpace in the egg is plainly visible through the shell. This air space in a, perfectly fresh egg is very small, and is just visible at the broad end of the egg every day this space becomes larger, and all èggs in which it is ulainly to be seen should be sold only as "cookers." If eggs are exposed for sale in the window. always put them in a neat open-work bloket. FInch as is shown in the above illustration. Custard Marrows. Custard marrows are not so much grown as the larger kinds, but they are well worthy atten- tion, as they are of excellent flavour, while as they take up less room than the larger kinds, they are very suitable for small gardens. Among the best of a somewhat numerous class of these things we may mention the Elector's Cap, the Yellow Custard, and the Improved Variegated Custard Marrow, of which we append an illustra- tion. The variety generally advertised is the lellow Cnstard. aJid this is an excellent variety on account of its free growth and good qualities.. Ihe Elector s Cap Marrow is one of the smallest on account of its free growth and good qualities.. The Electors Cap Marrow is one of the smallest of the custard varieties, and produces an abund- I ance of fine fruit of good quality. The Improved Yariegated is noted for the much greater size of its fruit, whicn ireQiiently weigh as much as seven or eight pounds. A plant"of this variety snould not, as a rule, be allowed to carrv more should not, as a rule, be allowed to carry more than four fruits. If the plants of this class are I given a little careful watering they will prove most prolific and admirably adapted for growing where space is a consideration. No one need fear a bad crop from either of the varieties mentioned above, as they are of simple culture, a«id will ) grow in a very small pp,ce For planting in the Opt!1 air under iiandll^his or small frames the third week or so in May will be quite soon enough. Although these plants will succeed in any decplv cultivated and well^inanured soil, yet in private gardens a more gfenerous course of treatment I may well be adopted. Stations should be formed by excavating a space and filling up firmly with half-spent manure, and surfaced with fertile soil. The plants when set out under the hand- lights or small frames will soon commence to grow apace, and as soon as the /.ider, are reached, Improved Variegated Custard Marrows. or on the advent of warmer weather, the lights may be wholly removed. The sunny position is of the greatest importance, and if on a bank sloping to the south all the better. Oftentimes failures are to be traced, especially in small gardens, to planting in a sbauy position. We are indebted to the courtesy of MM. Vilmorin, Andrieux et Cie, for the use of the above illus- tration. Bees: Management of Swarms. The time at which a colony will throw out a swarm will largely depend upon locality, the state of the weather, and the autumn treatment it has received. When hives are well stocked with bees in the autumn they are ready to swarm several weeks earlier than those left with a weak popula- tion. When a stock becomes very strong in spring consequent upon the rapid increase of vonngbses, and stores are plentiful, tha queen begins to deposit eggs in drone-cells, and the workers begin constructing queen-cells, in which eggs are deposited about four days previous to a swarm leaving. The first swarm upon its quitting the hive is always accompanied by the old queen, while the young queens are yet in embryo. The indications that swarming is" about to take place are the crowding of the inmates at the entrance of the hive, and a general restlessness and ex- citement both within and without. As a rule the swarm clusters upon some low tree or bush near the hive, and should be secured in a straw skep as soon as possible. If the swarm is to occupy a frame hive, furnish the frames with clean empty combs, so that the queen may be enabled to commence laying without any loss of time if empty combs are not available fix strips of comb-foundation to the underside of the top bar of each frame. By using whole sheets of comb-foundation the bees are saved an im- mense amount of time and labour, as each con- tains enough wax in its projecting walls to enable the bees to completely lengthen out the cells, so that all the wax they have to provide is for the that all the wax they have to provide is for the cuppings of the cells. Frame hives should be placed on the ground close to the spot where the swarm have settled, and directly the bees have been shaken into the hivmg-skep throw them on to a newspaper or sheet spread in front of the frame hive, having one end drawn over the alighting board. In a short time the bees will enter the hive and cluster among the frames, then the hive C3,n be removed to its permanent position. After the swarm is hived, if they are fed for about the first week or ten days, it will be very helpful towards giving them a fa.ir start. Diary of Garden Work. Week ending Juno 1st. Flower Garden.—If dr alias are strong xin dwell hardened they maybe 1 uited now, but the hardening is most important. no plant should be taken from under glass til it has been well exposed to he air to harden ;he foliago. All tender plants for outside plant- hig should be treated in this manner. Geraniums, lobelias, and other bedding plants may go out (W if they have been well hardened off. The ■ -r-ry tender things such as zinnias, marigolds, d heliotropes should remain under shelter for ite another week. Standard briars budded last mmer should be looked over, and all brier oots rubbed off. Clear away suckers from the ise of all worked roses. If insects are present bacco powder will be found useful. A few hours ter using it wash it off with the hose or syringe. -ocks and asters for show should be planted in ch land, nine inches apart. Give plenty of ater, and when fairly established top-dress with ch compost and keep moist. Work zinnias and arigolds on the same lines. Plant out late- .ruck violas and pansies, also various seedling lants. All recently-planted evergreen shrubs ill require to be mulched and watered. It is me now that all biennials and perennials were )wn. Choice things, such as auriculas, carna- ons, etc., may be sown in boxes in a cold frame, ad planted out when large enough to handle. Fruit Garden.—Destroy all insects do not ait until they have coiled themselves up in the of-iage. Tobacco-powder forms an excellent ri-eticide, it is quickly and easily applied, and >ron-.pt/tnde is important. A soaition of soap, oz. or 3oz. to the gallon, will kill insects, and is heap. Soft-soap is a good cleansing agent, and here uro petroleum mixtures which can be pur- :ba.sed very cheaply. In bad cases tobacco powder nixed with soap" and water, one ounce to the ballon, and applied with a syringe, is very effec- tive. There are plenty of goci insecticides, but for use on a large scale we want something cheap and effective. This will probably involve some experiments with different things at different strengths, as some insects require more killing than others, and of course bad cases need stronger doses than where the attack is slight and the insects few. Remove coverings from wall-trees, and in the course of the next two or three weeks finish thinning the young wood of nectarines and peaches. Do not crowd the young wood, but leave sufficient well-placed shoots to fill up tho allotted space. Do not overcrowd, and where a number of fruits are set and swelling, begin thin- ¡ ning early. Vegetable Garden.—Sow Waicheren cauli- flowers for autumn, and plant out those sown iu March. It is very easv to have cauliflowers irom now until broccoli come in, but in hot weather give the plants a mulch of manure. Sow a few seeds of Brussels sprouts for late use. If the early-sown plants are ready set them out. Asparagus should be plentiful now. Cut every- thing, large and small, till the end of June, and then let all grow together. Keep young planta- tions free from weeds. A little artificial manure or a sprinkling of salt will prove beneficial. Plant out early celery as it comes ready, including celeriac or turnip-rootod celery. Plant Windsor broad beans for the last time. Th in all vege- tables. Beet will transplant v ■ • U if the work is done carefully. Sow -h beans and runners, scarlet and other-, between rows of late potatoes, and if the ;and is poor a sprinkling of superphosphate way be given. Plant out early-raised leeks. Greenhouse.—Sow primulas and cinerarias cover the pots or pans with squares of glass, and shade from hot sun. Cyclamens which have been pricked off in boxes may go into 3-inch I pots now, using one-half best loam and one- quarter each of leaf-mould and peat, with enough coarse sand to keep the soil open and sweet. Do not bury the bulbs. If Scarborough lilies want more room ropot them, but they flower best when not overpotted. To induce them to flower freelv stand them outdoors in the sunshine when growth is completed at the end of July. Prune acacias and genistas into shape and when the new growth starts away repot them. Repot azalias and camellias. Cuttings of roses grown under glass will root now in a genial hot-bed, shaded and kept close. All zonal geraniums intended for winter flowering may go into larger pots, and a.ll blooms kept picked off. Young plants struck during February and grown on into 5-inch or 6-inch pots are better than old plants for winter. Cucumbers and Melons.—Now is a good time to start these in hot-beds if frames can be spared. Melons require different treatment from cucum- bers. The melons require heavier soil and free ventilation, but no shade. Window Ga-rde-n.-Fill window-boxes with suit- able plants. A mass of dark heliotropes and golden nasturtium Coolgardie is both effective and iragrant. Other things may be used in a similar manner—use fewer varieties of plants, of better habit, and if possible some fragrance.

Andrew Fletcher of Saluoun. in a letter to the I Marqttis of Montrose, wroteI know a very wise man thr.t believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he n^ed not care who should I make the laws of the nation."

MY PREfTY BABE. My pretty babe has gone to rest, Closed are her eyes of blue I've laid her fondly in her nest, Now what must mother do ? Her nest is in her cradle-cot, Fluffed round by softest frill; And there she sleeps in sweetest sleep, When all the house is still. And I must work while baby sleeps, To mend and sew and bake For I have not a tick to spare, Till she again shall wake. • » • I I My precious babe has gone to rest, Closed fast her eyes of blue Closed fast her eyes of blue I've laid her softly in her nest, Now what must mother do ? Her nest is 'neath the churchyard tree, 'I Wreathed round by vine and rill; And there she sleeps in quiet sleep, Where all is calm and still. How can I work, and yet I know I have no time to spare Why grieve so o'er the churchyard fcent f Her spirit is not there. Nay, let me work while baby sleeps, Life's journey bravely take And then beside her rest awhile, Till we together wake. Caroline Tickner.

DUTY'S PATH. Out from the harbour of youth's bay There leads the path of pleasure With eager steps we walk that way To brim joy's largest measure. But when with morn s departing beam Goes youth's last precious minute, We sigh 'twas but a. fevered dream- There's nothing in it." Then on our vision dawns afar The goal of glory, gleaming Like some great radiant solar star, And sets us longing, dreaming, Forgetting all things left behind. We strain each nerve to win it. But when 'tis ours—alas we find There's nothing in it. We turn our sad reluctant gaze tJpon the path of duty Its barren, uninviting ways Are void of bloom and beauty. Yet in that road, though dark and cold, It seems as we begin it, As we prest on-lo we behold There's heaven in it.

A SATURDAY SERMON. There is perhaps no element in nature so universally despised as clay, and yet it is indis- pensable to man in almost every state of civil- ised existence. From clay we get brick, pot- tery, porcelain, and cement. The slates which cover our houses are nothing more or less than clay, which has undergone enormous pressure. Pumice stone, as well as lava, are modifications of clay. The solid foundation of the earth, or at least all those most solid ma-sses seen near the surface, are in a great measure due to it. Our streets are paved with them. and some of the most enduring monuments of all ages are chiselled out of them. when they have become crystallised into granite. Our schoolboys write upon them. Thus, common clay may be regarded as one of the most essential and abun- dant combinations with which nature works. She works on a large scale, with the simnlest forms of matter, and never with those substances which are ezceedingly complicated. The greatest number are produced with a Mw mix- tures of two, three, or four elements, and of these the mixture we call clay is ono of the most frequently and largely used, and one that pro- duces some of the most complicated and grand results. C^S. Illjngworth. results. S. Illingworth. Little But Strong. The characteristics of the natives of the Emerald Isle vary considerably. In some parts the national idiosyncrasy is displaved in the delightful proverb, Contention is 'better than loneliness." But in other parts of Ireland I affability is the chief note. The natives go out of their way to agree with everybody (except British politicians) whilst striving at the same time to express their own views. An English- ma.n who knew this trait tells a humorous story. One very windy day in March he was passing along an Irish road. He remarked to a passer- by, at the same time holdine: his hat on with both hands, "Not much wind,"is there?" The native eyed him quietly, then replied. "No, surr; but what there is is mighty sthrong."

a A Tragic Position.— once." says a well known writer, sat next to aremarkable stranger at a dinner that was given t-o a distinguished personage. Marvellous wine3 circulatcd freely, but the stranger contented himself with half a glass of claret. You don t care for mine '?' I hazarded at last. He turned on me a face full of chastened melancholy. On the contrary,' he siad. I am rather fond of it.' The topic sud- denly became delicate. Perhaps he was a dip- somaniac, who had reduced himself to half a glass by a miraculous exercise of will. In fact I I live on wine,' he added, and proceeded to criti- cise the vintages of the evening with a delicacy and discrimination that made me wonder whether wine after all was mcst truly enjoyed, not by the palate, but by the divining poetry of genius. You may think,' he said, that I am bound to a moderation little short of total abstinence by some mysterious vow. There is a port coming round now,' be continued with an abrupt change of tone, that it is criminal to drink at a gather- ing like this. If you gave most of these people British port they would not know the difference, Who is this gnest of ours,' he exclaimed with a flash of anger, that he should have this wine drunk in his honour ? There is net a god in all mythology that deserved such a libation.' When the wine reached him he frowned, and I was afraid to touch it. iklav I ask what in the scheme of civilisation ycu may be 0 I inquired humbly. I am a wine taster,' he answered with simple dignity and if I, the only man at this table who knows anything about these wines were to drink them I should lose ray palate and be rained.'

THE HOUSEHOLD. Now that spring is so far advanced, our thoughts naturally turn to summer, and its pursuits. For those of us who possess gardens -,i r d the pleasures of this season are manifold, and what with planting and trenching, bedding out and seat making we need have, no idle moments. A very easily made garden seat is constructed by procuring some pieces of battening, and screwing two pieces across each other, joining them with strong screws. Repeat this again, and screw to each a piece from A to B. as in Fig. 1 of the illustration. Then get eight or nine lengths of battening, choosing the length according to the number of persons you wish the seat to hold. Screw these in firmly at intervals of about one inch, tailing off tho sharpness of the angles. It is as well to screw in two supports about half way up the back of the seat, so as to give it extra strength. When the woodwork is complete give it two coatings of paint or varnish. You will then have a cheap serviceable seat. At this A Home-Made Garden Seat. j time of year. I geiera-IIy find, one is apt to lie much troubled with worms in flower-pots. The best remedy for this is limewater, only the lime must be fresh. Take a piece about the size of a, teacup and leave it to dissolve in a bncket ol water. When this is done pour off the clear water, and thoroughly saturate all tho soil in the affected pot. It will sometimes be fonnd necessary to repeat this four or five times, but in the end the result aimed at will be accomplished. A question often asked is Wrhat am I to do with odd pieces of wool of every colour and kind, which have been accumulating in my work-basket for years t' The answer is gci.orally. Oh, they axe quite useless; I should throw them away." But if we act on this advice we make a great mistake. These despised fragments make up into charming crib or perambulator covers, which arc quickly worked, and are so pretty and bright. Take a fairly thick crochet hook and be careful not to work too tightly or you will spoil the appearance of the coverlid, besides which it will not wash well. Excepting for the outside edge all kinds of wool may be used in the same cover—Shetland, Berlin, double Berlin, and I fingering. Select a length of wool about two yards in length, of any colour you like, and crochet a chain of six stitches. Join this in a circle and work into it 16 stitches of double crochet. You will then fasten off and have a I -c: fiSI I How to Utilise Odds and Ends of Wool A | Crib or Perambulator Cover. j Crib or Perr.,m balator Coyer. small star, and if you count 16 stitches of double j crochet as eight, you will have eight spaces, j Now take a longer piece of wool of some other j colour, and work two double crochet stitches into j the first space, four double into the second space, and repeating alternately in eace space when you have been into the eighth yon will will be at the point freni which ycu started (see Fig. 1) Now take a still longer length of another colour, and work two double stitches on either side of the stitch, consisting of two double crochet in the row just completed, and in the middle of the four make four double stitches again. Continue this till yon have retunled tOlllc point from which you started, wnc-n you will observe that you have four corners, and two stitches between each corner, It i6 now better to leave off colours, and use j black fingering wool, being careful to work only in single crochel. Work two stitches only in single crochel. Work two stitches between ea.ch group of two, and make two chain between when you come to the groups I of four, work one stitch in the centre, then three chain, and lastly one other stitch, all into the same centre (see Fig. 2) When you have made two squares complete place the wrong sides together, and single crochet them, using the little loops of the two a.nd three chain. This will form a slight ridge on the right side. You j can add the other squares in the same manner when they are ready, making the co,,erli(I any j size you please. We shall soon be able to do without fires in ( the sitting-room, and to the careful housewife this means a great decrease in household ex- penditure. A very pretty screen for placing in front of the emrr.y grate is the one in the I V t A Pre Li-v Fire Screen. I t illustration. It is llle:w\; o';e of wirowotk con- j struction, which costs but little to buy. Into this you thread alternate rows of coloured sarsanet ribbons. It is better not to mix more than two shades, either pale pink aud pale primrose, light blue and dark green, or red and white. The hand of the screen should be bound round with ribbon, and also have a pretty bow of ribbon attached to it. To get rid of blackbeetles, pound some plaster of Paris, mix it with double the quantity of oat- meal, add to it a. little sugar, and strew it on the floor and in the chinks wht—3 they appear. This will rrove most effectual. I Many people suffer with relaxed throats during the spring weather. Three very easy ways of treating them are as follows —Firstly, use the voice as little as possible secondly, do not drink anything very hot or very cold thirdlv, avoid draughts and cold air. ETHEL,

Probably. Mrs McCanber Here is a notice saying that if the bill is not paid the gas will be cyit off. Mr McCauber Let 'em cut it ofl. Who cares V But what shall we do ? Put in electric lights." But in time the bills for them will come- in.' Oh, well, perhaps something else will be invented by that time."

We had to put Puffer out of H, Fat Man's Club." What for ?" •» Soniehodv beard hitr. say that he was trying to reduce hie wsight.

Welsh Tit-Bits. Ticyn o Dipynau Cymreig.' By CADRAWI. May, the Queen of Seasons. Mr Boriase. in his curious account of the mut ners of Cornwall, tells us :—" An ancient custom still retained by the Cornish is that of decking their doors and porches on the 1st of May wit green sycamore and hawthorn boughs, and of planting trees, or rather stumps of trees, before their bouses and on May Eve they, from towns, make excursions into the country, and, having cut down a tall elm, brought it into town, fitted a straight and taper pole to the end of it, and painted the same, erect it in the most public place, and on holidays and festivals adorn it with flowers and garlands and streamers. He adds This usage is nothing more than a gratuiation of the spring season and every house exhibited a proper signal of its approach, to testify their universal joy at the revival of vegetation." Another old writer, in his Specimen of Etymo- logical Vocabulary, considers the May Pole hi a new and carious light; and we gather from him that onr ancestors held an anniversary assembly on May Day. The column of the May I (whence our May polci wes the great standard of justice in the e.y-co-iiinons, or fields of May. Here it was that the people, if they saw cause, I deposed or banished their governors, their barony I their kings. The judge's bough or wand and the staff or rod of authority in the civil and in the military are both derived from hence. "A mayor," he says, "received his name from this May in the sense of lawful power. The crown, a mark of dignity and symbol of power, like the mace and sceptre, was also taken 1 rom the May, being representative of the garland or crown which, when hung up on the top of the May pole, was the great sigDal for convening the people. The 1st of May—or as the Welsh call it, Calati Mai was considered as the boundary day that divided the confines of wintor aud summer, allu- sively to which there was instituted a sportfnl war between two parties, the one in defence of the continuance of winter, the other for bringing in the summer. The youths were divided into noops, the one in winter livery, the other in the gay nabit of spring. The mock battle was always fought booty. The spring was always sure to obtain the victory, which they colebrated by carrying triumphantly green branches with May flowers, proclaiming and singing the song of joy. of which the burthen was in these or equiva- lent words:—We have brought the summer home." Mr Brand tells us that he had been more than once disturbed early on the May morning by the noise of a song which the women sang about the streets and who carried a bundle of garlands which they offered to sell to those who wished t-o buy. The words of the s-ong were the following: Rise up. maidens, tie for shame. I've been four long miles from harae* I've been gathering niv garlands gay, Rise up, fair maids, and takejn your May. I It was also the general custom in ancient daye to go round the bounds and limits of the parish in this month. The clergyman, accompanied by his churchwardens and parishioners were wont I to supplicate the blessing of God on the fruits of the earth, and to preserve the righto- and pro- perties of their parish. It is supposed tha t the origin of this custom dates from the time of the i heathens. Again, on the 29th of May the anniversary of the restoration of Charles U. was held, and it is still the custom in places for people to wear in their hats the leaves of the oak. This is done I in commemoration of the marvellous escape of that monarch from his purs ier*, who passed under the very oak tree in v.fcich he had secreted him- self. This happened *itor tho Bait'e of Wor- cester. There is an old^ong. called "The Royal*. Oak Tree," printed in the first volume of Hogg's "Jacobite Relics," in which the following couplet Occurs:— Old Pendril. the miJJer, at the risk of his blood, Hid the King of our Tsie in the king of the wood. I often looked at this old scng. with the picture of the old oak tree. reverently framed and hung up in the study of our late vjf;ar, who was lineally descended from and bore the name of the King'H saviour. The political significance of the display of the royal oak on the 29th of May has long since died away, like the wearing of the white rose on the 10th of .June— The fair white rose has faded, From the garden where it grew; The old tinges arc passed a way, And weary are the new. Whitsim Customs. Among the most singular customs now obsolete observed in the Whitsun season is the one noticed in late years at En sham. Oxford. There the townspeople were allowed to cut down and'carry away as much timber as they conld lay in th. Abbey yard, the churchwardens making the firs* chop on the trees. As much as they could carry out, in spite of the opposition of the servants^ they ware to keep for the reparation of thf church. By this service (hey kept the right of: commonage. Kidlington. in the same county, had a custom on the Monday after Whitsun week to run aftef a live fat lamb. The manner was that the maids of the town, having their hands tied be- hind them, should pursue the lamb until one of them caught it by her teeth., This expert was titled "The Lady of the Lamb." The yictim was then dressed, and, with the skin hanging on. carried on a pole before the lady and her com- panions to the green. Here a Morvs Dance WIll performed and the rest of the day spent it dancing and merry-making. The day following the lamb was part baked, boiled, and roasted foC- the lady's feast, where she presided with ho", companions, music, and attendance. The Morvs Dance was the chief amusement it Wales on this festal day. The nomber wbf. represented the dance, according to Shakespeare- was nine— The nine men 's Moi is is filled up with These were attended by a .Tack and Gill, or, a( they are called in Wales. Y Ffwl a Megan > the Jack, or fool, acting the clown, the Megan a man dressed in woman's clothes, and with thf face smutted, to represent a hag. Both enter.. tained the assembly with all kinds of tricks, ant. the Megan solicited contributions from the spec., tators. In almost every "village in past yeari there was a green (or a twyn). a patch of gronng levelled for dancing. In the Morys Dance th(/ dancers were all men, their dress ornamented with ribbons, and small bells attached to till knees. Peculiar Old Welsh Hymns, (Seventh Instalment.) Erayn genhadol :— FiOeu. lesu mwyn, gasol, Dywaiitiad rhyfeddol O'th Ysferyd Sancteicldiol ar bobl y bydj Hen deuiu'r luddev.on, Barbariaid a.nuocthion, I A. vir Eivv'r Anwylyd, Y Fwlws, Bwlamiaid, Y Conges. Timaniaid. Y Swssoos, y Cwsoos, a r Cisses lieb d., Y Crwmen, Croonianiiaid, A'r Mabometaniaid, A'r Joloffs wir ddelo i'w addolf. The following was a. very popular hymn at Soa\ Merthyr, when the church was blessed with t, strong revival under the ministration of the Ref. Daniel Jones :— 01 na allwn i nav.r ddringad Haner cynted a'm dymuniad; 'Hedwn gyda'r awel hytryd, Maes o r 6vd i dfT y bywyd. Funeral hymn:— Ceffyl pren sydd imi'n gymhwys, Ar ci bedwar troed mae'n gorpluvyf. I fvn'd rhwng pedwar o'm ffryns pona., Mewn crya gwyn yn dyn aPt dana', Tua'r bedd a'rn traed yn gynta. The compositor, in the first hymn which 8.£ psared in the sisth instalment, misread my T* for "F." Please read Tair, Tair, <tc." and no' Fair."

His Only Chance.—A short time ago a,l th olunteer rango at Wormwood Scrubbs a recrui# was taking a lesson in firing, bat not with verj promising re-Lilts. After repeatedly failing tc hit the target at 300 yards, the instructor tried hi :u at 200, with the same result.' He then d. cided to try him at 100 yards, bat fee rosultr were even wors? than before. Losing i i. i'ionc* the instructor exclaimed in disgust i yotfe bayonet, and go and stab the biooroirg i hi«y' it I.? yc;ir oaJj ehaac*