The Cardiff Times

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THE LIONS AND THE GREAT CARNIVORA. By C. J. CORNISH, F.Z. S., &c. author of Life at the Zoo," Wild England fif To-Day, Animals at Work and Play," &c.) The lion house, as an institution, has the ,Jongest history of any collection of living animals in England. The lions kept in the Tower of London were probably the first large carnivora "jver brought to this country. In early days it ould have been bringing coals to Newcastle, ?or we exported bears in the days of the Romans, ^he British bears, as well as the British dogs, feeing noted for giving sport in the arena. There Vmre lions in the old menagerie at Exeter Change. The last of the Tower lions went to the Zoo in 1835 as the gift of George IV. The Zoological Society built the Terrace under which the bears' dens are now, to hold the lions and other big cats. There they were kept, the Objects of uncomfortable experiments for many years. First their room3 were too hot, and they died of enlarged livers. Then they were kept without any artificial heat at all, which improved their appetite? so much that they ate one another, but even this change was not a per- taanent success. Then the new lion house was built, roomy and warm inside, with splendid Out-door runs for the summer, and the lions and their relations became thoroughly uncomfort- able, though they are still not very long-lived, and do not breed. The consequence is that a very large number of lions, tigers, and leopards pass through the Zoo; leaving it as a rule only at their death. Anyone Who has been a regular visitor, and has an eye for stock," as the farmers say, soon notes the great differences of size, build, colour and charac- ter between one lion, or leopard, and another. hlen who know the lion at home, as in Somali- land, where they are still numerous, or in Zam- besia, notice another distinction. The wild lion never has the big mane which the menagerie lion grows. The wild lion is more like a maned lioness; the grand shock of hair which makes the lion so massive in appearance is the growth of tonfinement in a cold country. But this is all the improvement that can be claimed for lion looks in this country. The Lion Down at Heel." In captivity they are too often down at heel," fcow-legged or weak backed. Nor is this to be Wondered at. The greater number are caught by the Somalis, a hunting tribe south of Abyssinia, en quite small cubs. They are put into na:rrow boxes, only open on one side, and taken to the coast, probably with scanty food, to Berbera, on camel back. Then follows a voyage, during which they are still kept in the box, and Over-fed. Lastly, after the hot voyage up the Red Sea, they arrive perhaps in cold weather at I the docks, where the poor cramped cub is sold to a dealer, who sells it to a circus. If it does develop into a fine animal, it is perhaps pur- chased by the Zoo. But as a rule it does not Raid the Zoo lions, which are rather a picked lot, generally come from other zoological gardens, are presented." A lion is still regarded as a suitable gift for the Princes of the East to taake to the Sovereigns of the West, though Mr diodes's present of one to the Pretoria Gardens ^as looked upon as jesting, which was not conve- *tfent. The best-tempered and, as many persons think, the finest of our recent stock of lions was the cub presented to the Prince of Wales by the Sultan of Sokoto. The writer knew this cub from his arrival, as a playful little kitten, covered With" damasked spots, until he was full grown, with a magnificentgolden mane. To say that he was as gentle as a kitten is to understate his good temper. He was like a most affectionate dog. When full-grown the keepers could pull 1ll about as they pleased, pat and rub his head, Jerk his tail to make him attend, and treat him 11.180 too familiarly. It is a pity that this lion's "'live-weight was never taken. It could easily have been done by getting a bullock weighing- Machine into the passage between the summer and winter houses. Far the rarest animal in the house is the Indian maneless lion from Qojerat. For some time it was believed that these, of which there are very few, were the sole survivors of the race outside Africa. Once lions Were common in Northern Greece. They ate the CD,Mels of Xerxes when his army was on its way from Turkey, and were plentiful in Palestine, &hd in Asia Minor. No one knows how they were killed off in those countries. But Sir Henry t<&yard found that there were still plenty left 111 Persia, though not of the maneless kind, anp that they were regularly hunted by the tribes- men, as they were by the Assyrian kings. The Indian lion, though said to be "maneless," teally has a small mane, and does not differ from the African lion. Its range is now confined to a small area in the jungles of Kattywar, where it IS preserved, though leave is occasionally given to shoot one by the Rajah of Kattywar, who Presented the specimen now in the gardens. One of the lions in the Zoo has killed a man. This happened before it was purchased by Mr Row- land Ward and given to the Zoo. Probably the discomforts and teasingwrhich the beasts undergo 111 menageries and circuses make them ill-tem- while the ease and comfort of the Zoo In menageries and circuses make them ill-tem- Pered, while the ease and comfort of the Zoo baake them- docile. But temperament has much to do with temper. The finest young lioness there for years was bred up in every luxury, having been born in the gardens at Amsterdam aaad brought over here as a mate for the Sokoto Ctlb. Yet from the first she was a most danger- beast, though she never had a day's illnesa. Charming Playthings. The reason why the London lions never breed ^Probably because they ara not fed on suffici- I entJy varied food. That seems the main differ- j ence between their treatment there and at erdam, where they rear families in much Waller cages. The late Mr Bartlett partly admitted this in his posthumous notes. In 1900 there were four adult lionesses at the Zoo with- j a cub between them. The tigers and leopards not breed either, though the South American iltnnas, naturally tame and fond of human ^ciety, do, and their kittens are some of the Sjost charming little creatures in the collection, r^he old puma has had two families lately. She ^eeps them in the T-onse at the back till th& Ksacdens ara closed for the night. Then she S^owa them to go and play in the outer cage. | ft is safe to say that most pnmaa which have not Seen ill-fcreatad when cubs would become quite 5^&e, and even when kept in cages, as at the are friendly creatures. But among the j ana leopards the same strange differences f j temper are common which have been noted in case of the lions. One poor little tiger, which "Q6 a frightful sufferer all his life, and never e before the public at all, was the most nstra.tively affectionate wild animal which I Writer has ever seen. It came from China, it was caught aa a cub, and half-starved, r? that when its head was the size of that of a !?*• months' old tiger its body was no larger lj 9*1 that of a pointer dog. It would purr loudly, the keeper's hand, rub its face against it. could be taken out and handled like a do<?. lost all its fur, and was daily rubbed with tlltrnent till the hair grew again. As its diges Ion Was ruined by starvation it was fed on tlttcJn and bono dust, and looked like recover- until some internal tumour killed it. lie would have made & nice tiger," Sutton said S^etfollv. There is no doubt that mentally, } fcot physically, it was a very nice tiger indeed, pother nice tiger was also one of the li^bern variety, from Turkestan. This was animal which Col. Stafford brought from j^tm.i Afii?y, when on his return from delimit- ^8 Afghanistan The tiger was directed to a jFOfcssor at Warsaw, but the money had not Paid. TUs animal WM named Warsaw j? b'ut camo to Lonricn instead. 1>k 'J68 W'te t&Die, ana orew to a very large size, j 116 *9sgc«^of msawztima rswewas in winter, though it never approached the thick- of the fur of tigers killed in Manchuria and Siberia. The English public scarcely knows of the existence of these very large tigers living in the cold climates of Northern Asia. Far the largest tiger ever seen in Europe (which belonged to Mr Hazenbeck, of Hamburg) was of this kind. Magnificent but Devilish, The genuine Royal Bengal Tiger," of which the Zoo receives a constant supply, mainly from Indian grandees, is usually a most unpleasant, if magnificent beast. As cubs they a.7* distant and supercilious. When grown up taay vary from fantastic bad temper to downright devilish ferocity. There are exceptions. But it is safe to say that all the females, and nearly all male Indian tigers, are far too conscious of their own strength, and too contemptuous of all other creatures, to care in the least to cultivate human society. They despise us, as anyone might see who watches their behaviour. As a rule, the tigers at the Zoo are far finer specimens than the lions. One reason is that they are really much commoner animals, and the easy trans- port by rail of the cubs when caught involves no hardships. There is a positive pleasure in comparing and noting the development of physical strength and activity in these two supreme forms, the lion and the tiger. But the whoie -ace is so well repre- sented in the lion house that it is possible not only to make out a comparative scale of xorce but also one of beauty. The probable order of strength and equipment would run as follows. First, the largest class of tiger. His length renders him more formidable even than the lion. Then the lion, the jaguar, the large leopards, the puma, the small leopards, and lastly the cheetah, though a big lynx, now kept in another part of the gardens, is probably more bulky and equally strong as the cheetah. The jaguar takes the place among the cats of the bull dog among dogs. The massiveness of the head, neck, and forepaws, the short legs, and generally rounded look suggest this. The mag- nificent specimens at the Zoo are from Brazil, yet the Guachos of the Pampas declare that the friendly puma attacks and driver, away the jaguar. This sounds like a monkish tale, but there is very good evidence to believe it true, as there is of the puma's disposition to be friendly to man. A gentleman from Guiana, who was engaged on the Venezuela Commission, told the writer there was no doubt that a puma actually came and lay under the low hammock in which one of the passengers on his river launch had been sleeping on the bank. Leopards, unlike the lions and tigers, are of all colours and sizes, from grey to black, and from the bulk of the largest panthers to small spotted animals hardly larger than tiger-cats. At present in the Zoo collection there are capital instances of these variations, some having the spots so close to- gether that the back and sides seem almost black, while on others they are widely apart. Some have dark buff ground fur, like a tiger's others very pale cream. The lovely snow leopard, recently dead, was evidently a distinct variety, Its colours were those of the grey Angora cat, and its tail very long and thick, like a boa. It seemed a linlc between the leopard and the cheetah, whose claws are only partly retractable, and which is the only wild cat now tamed for sporting uses, though the old Peruvians tamed the puma. Next Friday- THE HIPPOS. RHINOS, AND ELEPHANTS."

GARDEN AND FIELD. .WI With Hints In Poultry and Stock. By COUNTRY COUSIN. Hints on Breeding Horses. In far too many instances the wrong men em- bark in this undertaking—men who are very seldom capable judges of either the equine race or of equine management. The result of this is that failure follows as a matter of course. But it does not follow that money is not to be made at the industry if capable men took the matter in hand. Three conditions are more favourable now than was formerly the case. In the first place the animals when reared command higher prices secondly, the land required for grazing and the corn for feeding are exceedingly cheap and, thirdly, the stud book, which used not to obtain, enables the breeder to get the best blood pretty readily. In breeding horses, both heavy and light, it is quite common to pay particular atten- tion to the sire, so that it really does not pay a man to keep anything but a really first-class stallion. But where so many horse breeders make a mistake is in not being more careful in selecting mares. Any imperfections are, we think, more freely imparted to the offspring through the dam than through the sire. Such being the case it follows as amatter of coarse that it is not much good paying a high fee for a stallion if it is to be mated with a mare possessed with defects or hereditary unsoundness. Indeed, it will be far better not to breed at ail than to start handicapped in such a manner. In I breeding horses, no matter of what class, it is always a wise plan to keep in view the question of stamina. The foal needs blood and it also needs appearance that we know very well, but I without stamina both blood and appearance are very little good. Whether it be a Shetland pony or a racehorse it has either a load to draw or a burden to carry, and to do this effectually I muscle and bone must both be present. Again, I in horse breeding it is necessary to allow for loss or deterioration of stamina. There is a A Well-matched Pair of Carriage Horses. tendency to do this in all breeds of horses. The I breeder may have a sire and dam passable in bone, muscle, and size, but in maturing them it is very probable that the offspring will lack the desirable quality of strength. This will be so, at least, if there be not some ancestor that has left its strong mark behind. So in breeding it will be a wise plan to always endeavour to have a little extra stamina in hand, as it were. Our illustration is that of a well-matched pair of car- riage horses, and which show the type of horse for breeders to go in for, as good, well-bred animals of this kind would prove exceedingly remunerative. Deep Cultivation. It would be difficult to find a stronger or better argument in favour of deep cultivation than that afforded by the appearance of crops growing side by side during the summer drought, the one on soil that has been deeply cultivated, and the other on such as has been simply dug over one spit deep the one crop would be drooping and half dead from want of water, while the other would be strong and vigorous and apparently thoroughly enjoying the heat and drought, for the simple reason that the roots are able to I easily penetrate into the deeply cultivated soil and find abundant supplies of moisture long after crops growing in the shallow cultivated ground had exhausted their supplies. This is the only reason why allotment holders are able to secure so much heavier crops than the very same kind of land will return when it is only ploughed or dug over. We would strongly advise all having vacant land, which is not required for cropping until next spri_g, to deeply trench as much of it as possible during the present autumn; any and all kinds of garden refuse can be very profitably utilised for burying at the bottom of the trenches, while for land that has been neglected and allowed to get into a weedy state nobetter method of cleaning can be adopted than that of trenching. Green crops are par- ticularly beneficial when buried in soil. If no green rubbish is available, place a good layer of stable or farmyard manure at the bottom of the trench, previously, however, breaking up the soil below the second spit. After many autumn rains old strawberry bed? are especially liable to get weedy, but if the whole of the plot is thoroughly 1 turned in two spits deep there need be no fear about any crop put on the following season not showing good results. After rapid cropping trenching is absolutely neoossary to restore land I to its fullest capabilities. Duck Kesping- The best paving thing in poultry is that of duck keeping. We are perfectly well aware that thay are very great eaters, but on the other hand this apparent failing is in reality an advantage, as the owner can fatten them very quickly, and so turn his money round again. It will be found that if these birds are well looked after they will be fit for market in ten weeks, and in many cases even less and if the owner is able to get them ready very early they will sell well and quickly, The best sort for market work is the Aylesbury, as they are a much larger-framed duck than the other varieties, and as people wrent bigger ducks than they did a few years ago the vendor should endeavour to meet" th^t demand; There is j always a sertcwa amount of pleasure ia ftUenamg 1 to and looking after the wants of ducks. They are always ready for a meal, and, when that is the case, one can very soon fatten them up for market. An important point in the feeding of these birds is to place their food on a-clean board, anything in the shape of foulness in the food will be a great drawback. The great advantage of using a board is that the remaining food can be washed off as soon as the birds have finished An Aylesbury Duck. I their meal, and it is ready for the next time. People who wish to make a good profit out of ducks should endeavour to get them to lay by the first week in December, and for ducks to commence by this time they should be hatched during April or May. Of course there is a considerable difference in the ages at which birds will commence to lay, as some breeds and some strains mature much earlier than others, consequently they will begin to lay at a much earlier date. Very high prices are obtained for duck eggs during December. January, and February. In the Aylesbury district, where so much is done in hatching and rearing early ducklings for the London spring markets, the contract price for eggs is about 3s 6d per dozen, but when sold privately much higher prices are to be had during December and January. Very often 10s per dozen has been given before Christ- mas, and during a spell of very severe weather the price has gone up to as much as 12s and 14s per "dozen, and this price has been paid for ordi- nary eggs and not for ones from prize-bred birds. We"would not advise anyone who has a stock of ducks and drakes to sell the eggs during these months even at the latter price, as it will pay them much better to keep the eggs and hatch them themselves, as the prices they will obtain for the early ducklings will pay far better. We give an illustration of an Aylesbury duck. Diary of Garden Work Week ending August 31st'—Flower Garden.— Advantage should be taken of the recent heavy rain to push on with the work of layering and budding, in order to get all finished before the weather turns hot and dry again. The greater part of the failures in amateur budding is caused by the weather being dry and the bark stubborn and not working freely, but during showery weather or immediately after a good soaking rain, the buds take well as a rule. When taking geranium cuttings it will be best to take them during a dry time, or before the growth becomes softened by much rain, as, when the growth is full of moisture, there is a greater risk of damping. If cuttings are taken during a damp time when they are soft, add more sand to the soil, and place at least a quarter of an inch as a layer on the top. This will to a very large extent prevent them damping. In beeping cut- tings through the winter, especially in a cool house, the two chief things to guard against are damp and frost, and it will be better not to put too many cuttings in each pot. Five cuttings round the sides of a 5-inch pot will generally yield more plants in the spring than if a greater number are crowded in. Sow a few hardy annuals now to make a stay garden in spring. Among the most useful annuala for present sow- ing are-Silene compacta, Virginian stocks, nemophila insignus, and limnanthus Douglasi. These, sown thinly, will make splendid masses in spring. Train climbers on walls. Remove dead and faded blooms from roses, and soak well with liquid manure to help on autumn bloom.; this will be especially necessary where the soil is poor and dry. Vegetable Garden,—The late rains will greatly assist the late potatoes, but earlys and second earlys should be lifted now and the ground cropped with onions, spinach, or some other use- ful crop. Stir the soil among winter greens, and draw earth up around the stems in good time it will keep them steady when the autumn gales come along. Harvest the crop of spring onions before they are exposed to heavy rains. Small growers usually lay them on ma&s and bring them indoors at night. In this manner they are harvested in a dry, sound condition, and if kept in a cool place they will continue in a good con- dition for some time. Tie up endive and lettuces and earth up celery when dry. Gather herbs for drying and vegetables for pickling when in a dry state. Greenhouse.—The time to bring hard-wooded plants indoors again will depend a great deal upon the weather. If September should come in cold and wet place azaleas and other hard- wooded plants under cover, but ventilate freely for a time, at any rate until the plants have got accustomed to the change. One of the most useful azaleas i s Deutsche Perle, as it flowers early with- out much forcing. If the frost can be kept out the general collection of camellias and azaleas will be quite safe in a cool house. The general stock can be kept quite cool, and moved on to warmed houses as required for blooming. Genistas may be worked on the same lines. To keep genistas compact in habit they should be pinched now and again, especially young plants, which are more vigorous than old ones. Cucumbers.—If the cucumbers in frames are required to continue fruiting as long as possible, it may be advisable to place linings around the bed early in September. Anything capable of imparting warmth will do. A mixture of stable manure, leaves, and grass placed round outside the bed will help to raise the temperature. Window C,i -d houldany palms, aspidis- tras, india rubbers, or ferns require re-potting see to it at once, so that the roots may lay well hold of the new soil before winter. Get in the stock of cuttings of pelargoniums and other ,2 plants as soon as possible.

LONDON'S MEAT BILL. The vastness of London's meat bill would almost make the layman shudder. Put, as the medical officer of the City puts it in his just- issued report, in tons one can only desire to con- vert it into flocks and herds. For instance, 410,380 tons of meat, to be very precise, went into the Smithfield markets last year. Twenty per cent, of this came from America direct as meat, and 17 per cent, from Australia and New Zea- land, to say nothing of that proportion of the town and country killed, which arrived alive from America and was slaughtered at Birken- head and Deptford. Another 11 per cent. is described as foreign. Only one ton in 427 was found unfit for food 187,684 tons were delivered to Billingsgate and the neighbouring tradesmen's shops, and one ton in 244 was condemned. As the proportions of bad food were a good deal lower in each case, the medical officer thinks that Londoners may be congratulated that the system of inspection has improved the quality.

Why the Twain Disputed. How much ?" asked Arthur P. Raglan, of Leeds, England, offering to pay his bill. Nine pounds." answered Clerk Howard L. Dailey, of the St. James Hotel, smiling and bow- ing. The eyes of Mr Raglan, which had shone pleasantly, now glared, and his yellow moustache curled up perceptibly as astonishment contracted his upper fip. Why, it was only lahst night—' No," corrected Mr Dailey, still beaming proudly over his desk at Mr Raglan, yesterday morning at 1 o'clock. But I tell you it was lahst night at supper- time," persisted the Briton, his voice rising into a roar. Well, I reckon I ought to know," retorted Mr Dailey indignantly. Indeed. And dayon't you think I ought to knavow something abayout it ?" "You ? Why, what have you got to do with it ? It's my baby, and it's a girl, and it weighs nine pounds;" came back from the clerk, his own dander rising higher. Nayow, did anybody ayver hear the like ? exclaimed the Englishman, apostrophizing the world at large. Here I come and put up ayover night. I'm ready to start and I ahsk the amount of me bill and this fayliow charges me nine payounds—45 dollars— and when I tell him I've been here since lahst night and he disputes me wayord, tells me I've been here since yester- day morning, and, when I tell him I knayow better, he begins to talk abayout girl babies in- stead of me bills." Who said anything about a bill ? demanded Mr Dailey. "Why, I did, you blockhead.-I'm endeavouring to talk abayout it nayow." But I'm speaking of my ba.by, my little girl, first, you know- Oh, blow your baby," cut in the Britisher. I want to pay me bill" Oh,I see," said the clerk, blushing furiously. All right," he added, anger rising in him again, pay your bill, but don't tell me to blow my baby. I won't stand that from any man." Nor will I stand a charge of £ 9 for a night's lodging and a breakfast," returned Mr Raglan. The new and deeply injured father said no I more. but collected one dollar 50 conts, and the Englishman went out huffily. I haven't got any prejudice against English- men," remarked Mr Dailey bitterly to the 3ym, pathetic bellboy who came to answer a ring for hot water, but if over I saw;), more heartless and unfeeling wretch than that it was in a dream."

He Will you b§ mine ?=rShe (cuffclf) • Ko.-= years (g»^QB§ly)< Iss,-

MUSIC IN WALES. BY D. EMLYN EVANS. A NEW HYMN AND TUNE BOOK- In no branch of musical art probably is Wales so well to the fore as in hymn tunes, whilst our collections of hymn tunes cannot but be a source of gratification and legitimate pride to the Welsh musical bibliophoiiist. The honours of being protagonist in this, as in other matters con- nected with our musical awakening, must be awarded to the late Rev. John Roberts (Ienan Gwyllt), whose Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol (Congregational Tune Book), published in 1859, created a revolution in Welsh:psalmody, not only amongst the Calvinistic Methodist body with which he was connected, but throughout Wales generally. His efforts on behalf of the pure and the refined in congregational song, as against that which was vulgar and clap-trap and which had prevailed too long, bepr fruit still, notwith- standing the fact that the story of the flesh-pots of Egypt is being re-enacted here, as in other instances in the world's history. For nearly adecade Ieuan Gwyllt's collection held the field practically speaking, when Stephen and Jones's book for the use of the Congregationalists made its appearance, and which was also a considerable success. Strictly speaking, however, the present series of tune- books and the present system of publishing—i.e., by the denomination itself—was initiated by the Baptists, whose Llawlyfr Moliant" (Hand-book of Praise) was issued in 1880. The snccesscof this excellent collection opened the eyes of other denominations in the matter of Drofit-of revenue which could be applied to denominational purposes and the way having been shown it was more or less soon followed by the Congregationalists, the Calvinistic Methodists, the English Baptists in Wales, and now the English Presbyterians in Wales—which collection is our particular subject at present. It may be well to state here that the Church in Wales has not been inactive inl this direction, and that a book for the use of the Welsh Wes- leyan Methodists is also in course of prepara- tion. When this last will have made its appear- ance, psalmody amongst the various religious bodies in Wales will require no further efforts so far as collections are concerned for some years to come; whether the Church will profit by the successful experiences of the Nonconformists— particularly as to having one book for the four dioceses—is a matter for itself to decide. | The English Presbyterians—or Calvinistic j Methodists—of Wales do not profess to be a very powerful body, nothing compared to their Welsh brethren for instance—the highly respected and far-famed Hen Gorph." Possibly the former may have a large confidence in their future, or it may be that, like many a danghter of Cambria who has received her" finishing" education in England, or has become possessed of English predilections the old ways of the Welsh mother may appear too narrow and circumscribed for proper present-day accomplishments. At any rate, this new collection of Hymns with Tunes is an ambitious and weighty volume, and as such demands careful consideration. In some material points this book differs from anything hitherto published for Wales in the matter of psalmody. The number of separate tunes included is some 870 odd, a very large total if compared with similar coUections. The fine book recently issued by the Welsh Calvin- istics has but little over half that number, whilst he English Presbyterians' excellent Church Praise" is over 300 less. The Welsh Baptists' Llawlyfr Moliant contains a little less than 300 tunes, and the Welsh Congregationalists' Caniedydd Cynulleidfaol exactly that number, both acknowledged to be excellent collections, and which have commanded enor- mous sales, and are recognised respectively us the one hymn and tune book amongst those influential denominations. The above shows a, great disparity in the number of tunes already, but, thanks to)heextent of re-printing, the tunes t actually printed in this book reach the enor- mous number of something over 1,370. Room has been found for this large lot of tunes by sacrificing the number of hymns and the correct title of the book would have been not Hymns with Tunes," but" Tunes with Occasional Hymns," for we repeatedly have three and four tunes allotted to one little hymn of four or five short verses, the whole number of hymns being just 750, the majority of which are very brief. In the English Baptists' (Wales) Book of Praise," the other extreme is to be met with, not a few pages of hymns appearing minus any music, only the names of suitable tunes found elsewhere in the collection being indicated. The better order and balance is shown in the Welsh Calvinistic, Baptist, and Congre- gational books, where all hymns have their appropriate tunes on the same or the opposite page, and where an average of from two to three hymns to each tune obtains. In the present collection nothing has been gained by the repetition of tunes to such an extenc, added to an already numerous selection, but ths un- necessary addition of some scores of pages to its bulk (consequently adding to its cost and un- weildiness), and the loss of a sufficient comple- ment of hymns. This is not the place to enter into technical I details, but we may mention the confusion caused by adopting the same names for different tunes arranging the same tune for different metres and in different time printing the same tune in different keys and even giving different arrangements of the same melody in the self- same metre. It has been strongly advocated by some writers, and with much good reason, that some one arrangement of well-known chorales should be adopted by all the denomina- tions, so that harmony in its fullest sense should prevail at those united meetings which are sometimes being held, but here we have a denomination as if it were inviting the elements discord within itself. We must pass by other matters—such as the astonishing assertion, six times repeated, that the author of the common metre tune" Facrant was, or is, some R. Hilton, whereas every tyro should know that it is taken note for note from Richard Farrant's well-known anthem, "Lord, for Thy tender mercies' sake and so on. It is impossible to lay these eccentricities at the door of the musical reviser of the collection, but when a new edition is called for they should be corrected with a strong hand. Having felt compelled to say so much in adverse criticism of "Hymns and Tunes," the much more pleasurable duty remains to call attention briefly to its many good qualities. As the work is issued by Messrs Novello it need hardly be said that the printing, paper, and bind. ing are above reproach. The same must be said of the high standard maintained in the selection of tunes. Of course, all collections must he more or less unequal as to contents, and it is futile to attempt or expect a collection that would absolutely please and satisfy everybody. This, however—taken as a whole—is remarkably; free from what we have termed vulgar and clap- trap, and commendably so from that which is common-place and jejune, or dum-dum," as sometimes termed. It cannot be said that the field of selection has been limited to any nationality—Welsh, English, or German. A catholic liberality is displayed, and in this direction the result leaves little or nothing to be desired. It would pro. bably be too much to say of any collection that no good tune has been omitted, but whether in old German, English, or Welsh chorales, or in modern productions by the best esteemed tune writers in England and Wales, the variety and number found here should prove satisfying enough to the most exacting of musical connoisseurs.

Hymns and Tunes of the Presbyterian Church of Wales." Published by the C.M. Book Agency, Carnarvon.

Secured the Post, An undertaker advertised for a driver for a hearse, &nd among the applicants he selected a good-looking, strong fellow, with a solemn coun- tenance, and took him into his private office. Before employing you," said the undertaker. I want to know if you have had any experience in this business ?" Well, I never drove a hearse," admitted the applicant. but I've driven the next thing to it, and I think I can give you satisfaction," How do you mean ? I don't understand," and it was evident from the undertaker's puzzled look that he was speaking the truth. Why," said the applicant with coniiaeucs, I drove an express parcel yah tw seven yearg." i

Illustrated Humour. No one has ever shown a Platonic love for money. Can it be that those huge blocks of buildings in London took the name of "Flats" from the people who live in them? Little Ethel was sitting in the garden, and the sun shone in her face. "Go 'way! Go 'way!" she cried. Move a little, Ethel, and it will not bother you." said her mother. "No, mamma, it must move," replied missy, with a frown, I dot here first." It may be hard to save your tia, But there is this about it- It's easier to live within Your income than without it. -+-- i Pressed for Money. MrsCawker: I'm so glad that my little boy went to the head of his class this morning. :How' did you come to do it, Tommy ? Tommy: The rest of the fellows had guessed all the other ways of spelling the word. The farmer was very short-handed, and had been compelled to engage a town boy, whose knowledge of agriculture and kindred subjects was extremely limited. One day he sent the youth to a, wheat field to see if there were any crows among his wheat. When the boy returned from the field his master asked him if there were f any crows there. The boy said he counted twenty-two. "Did you send them away?" asked the farmer. "No," replied the lad, "I thought they belonged to you." Reassuring. Old Lady (at the Zoo, viewing the boa con- strictor): Oh, what a, horrid snake! Will he bite? Keeper: No mum; he allus sailers his wittles 'ole. Condor: Hawkins says he never borrows trouble. Penton: No. hs findsenough trouble in borrow- ing money. May I ask, sir. how it is that you and your brother are so bald?" inquired tho inquisitive barber. "Well," replied the customer, "I'll tell you, if you promise not to say anything more about it." "Oh, certainly, sir." "Well, it's because our hair has fallen cut." Didn't Want to Tax his Strength. I Friend: I say, Pa.t, this is the worst-looking horse I have ever seen in harness. Why don't you put a little more flesh on him ? Pat Faith, yer honuer, the poor baste can scarcely carry the little mate that's on him now t Mrs Dawn You hateful thing. You told Millie Meadows you only wished you ware single again. Mr Dawn (with happy inspiration) Of course I did. It was only that I might experience once again the joy I felt when you accepted me. darling. Mrs Dawn You dear boy I knew you I couldn't be so cruel. Too Much for Him, Servant (bursting into the room) Oh, mum, I offered 'im some water, an' 'e went into a fit an' frothed at the mouth Mistress (much alarmed, thinking she refers to the dog) Gracious, Jane! What can it be— hydrophobia ? Servant No, mum, a tramp. "Business is beastly slow," remarked Hartley with a yawn. I only know of one man whose trade-is looking up, and he a an astronomer."

A lady asking a sailor why a ship was called Ió she," the ecru of Neptune ungailantly rephed that it was because the rigging cost so much." I' Schoolmistress Edward, give me the defini- tion of excavate. 'Edward To hollow out, Schoolmistress Give me aseateuce containing

Welsh Tit-Bits. Tieyn 9 Dipynau Cymreig. By OADRA WD. Tribarrau Morganwg. On my way to the Eisteddfod, at one of the stations, I noticed an athlete carrying his bicycle over the bridge from one platform to the other and between Porth and Pontypridd the fol- lowing triplet was put together :— Fi welais heddy' Fhunan Ryfeddod mwy na'r cyfan, Dyn yn myn'd, heb gamu'i war, A'i geffyl ar ei gefan. In front of the Eisteddfod Pavilion I repeated this my last effort at composing a triban to about half a dozen of the Welsh bards who were at the time enjoying a social smoke; and this, after a remark from one of the sons of Ceridwen, that I was always faithful to the old dialect of Gwent and Morganwg, drew forth the following old triplet from Watcyn Wyn, which he had heard in Car. marthenshire not long ago,'and was very much appreciated by the company:— 'Rwy'n ishta ym&'s cetyn, Yn cisho dal pyscotyn; Ond nid yw'r gwr a'r gynffon ffl&t Yn tynu at y mwytyn. At this moment Gwili made his appearance, and the following triplet was put together on tiie spot :— 'Dyw Gwili ddim yn gwaela, Ond gwella mae i ganu; Os gwel e' oes Methusalem, Bydd lwys ei drem pryd hyny. Gwili had been crowned only the day before, nnri it is said that Dyfed burnt on the Eisteddfod grounds, from the first day until Dafydd Mor- ganwg finished reading his adjudication, over a pound of tobacco! This, however, was not-quite; so bad as what Gwilym Llwydiarfch, of Maesteg, did once at an Eisteddfod at Cefn Cribwr. Having sent in a poem on the subject given for competition, he started early on foot to be pre- sent; and on his way, through |Ccaig-yr-Aber, he cut a walking-stick with a big knob on, about the size of his fist. It was said that during the reading of the adjudication on the subject Gwilym had competed on, he unconsciously devoured the top of his stick and swallowed it 1 A Bettws Tradition. There is an old tradition at Bettws, near Bridgend, of how an undertaker who carried on business there one day spoilt a good trade and ruined his reputation. A poor mah having died at the village, the undertaker was ordered by a near relative to make the coffin, at a given price. Being under the influence of drink-when he took the measurement," the coffin was made much too short, and the remainder of the story is told bya local-wit in the following lines:— Bu farw yn y Bettws Bererin gwael ei lun, A'r saer wnaeth arch oedd fyrach o lawer na'r hen ddyn. Y planca yn rhy fyrion, A'r arian oedd yn scant, A beth wnaeth gwas y diafol Ond tori'r coesa' bant. A Popular Institution. Forty years and more ago there was a very popular gathering with Welsh women in the iron districts of South Wales, called "Cyflwyiia." This developed into the larger institution which was humorously described by the eminent ballad singer, Dick Dywyll, Te-bach Merthyr," which he sang with great success and to the amusement of the thousands in the fairs and markets and through the towns of South Wales. His graphic description of these parties, and how they con- ducted themselves at such feasts, made every respectable woman shy of attending such meet- ings, The following old distich which I picked j up the other day is a concise view of what took place in addition to the eating and drinlriTif*:— Lie bo dwy, y bydd cownsela; Lie bo tair, y bydd chwedleua.; Lie bo pedair, bydd comisiwn; Lie bo pump bydd chwarter sessiwn; Lie bo chwech bydd seisus creulon; A lie bo saith, bydd crogi dynion. The Gorsedd Meetings. The Gorsecld Meetings a.t Merthyr were about the best conducted I have yet seen. The great improvement which is ob- served in connection with the Gorsedd ceremonies has to a great extent been brought about by the unwearied attention which Arlunydd Penygarn has given to this ancient and unique institution for many years, and it is gratifying to him as well as those who in days when the National Institution was less popular rendered him material assistance to see it de- veloping to what it now is, and the ceremonies appreciated by men of culture and distinction of many nations. There are among the elders of the nation men who can remember the Gorsedd meetings conducted in a manner most unbecom- ing, which went very far to damage the popu- j larity of the Eisteddfod. Of late years, the Gorsedd meeting seems to be a source of strength to our National Institution, and one in which everybody can take part. There is yet room for improvement, especially as regards the manner in which people are admitted into the circle. Why should it be that the Recorder is the only one who is to decide who should be let in and who should be left out ? I think it is high timo that every member should have a Gorsedd badge, which should be worn at the procession to the Gorsedd meeting, and no one be admitted unless he could prove his right of admission into the mystic circle. At Merthyr the entrance was not too carefully guarded, and at some of the meetings thore were not even grown up people within, but numbers of children who had no right to be there, while some were outside who had a right to be in, but they could not prove their right, as Eifionydd was not at hand. Those about to be initiated members, having passed the examina- tion, or selected as honorary members, should have their badges before the procession starts. This would do away with the difficulty which is always seen at the entrance to the Gorsedd. There was one part of the ritual of the Gorsedd meetings of the Chair ef Yir Iarll and the Chair of Glamorgan not carried out at Merthyr, that which com- pelled the bards to produce a specimen of the old Welsh Bardic Book at the Gorsedd, and which was depicted in the sketch of the Gorsedd on the cover of the Eisteddfod Programme by Mr T. H. Thomas (Arlunydd Penygarn). This was a custom lest the method of writing upon wood should be forgetten and lost. The preservation of this curious and ancient invention is attri- buted to a singular circumstance which happened in the ftfteenthcentury. The Welsh people at that period, in consequence of certain oppressive laws that were enacted by the English Govern- ment, which prohibited learning amongst them and denied them all kind of writing materials for registering their records and recording their poems, &c., the bards at that time resorted to the use of a very ancient invention or method which their forefathers had practised—to write or cut their letters upon staves of wood, the. tradition of which had been praserved among the bards from very remote times. In addition to the obligation imposed upon the bards to preserve the ancient practice of siting, Llywelyn Sion, of Llangenydd, says that "the Welsh bards had recourse to the Coelbren as the only means of recording their knowledge. The restricting laws referred to were imposed upon. them in consequence of the insurrection and civil war that existed in the days of Owain Glyndwr." The probability is that we shall never again have recourse to this rude mode of recording onr literature upon wood. But the old alphabet is worth studying, and if some of the old customs are worth repeating at the Gorsedd, why should this be left out ? There was another custom observed in years gone by in the processions of the Eisteddfod Gorsedd which I think would add much to the picturesqueness of the scene, i.e., for those who were the adjudicators of the chief poems to carrj on their shoulders in the procession a goldfn axe each, called Bwycll Llawdden," an emblem of fair criticism and upright judgment. This was done at the Abergavenny Eisteddfod in the year 1838.

An American, seeing a l-eview at Aldershot, made no remark Tinfcri the Horse Artillery went by at full gallop theu he was beard to mutter to himself the simple v;crd Snatea Old Lady Little boy, wba. would your father do if he should find you smoiuug .—Little Boy He'd—puff—prpb'ly IHk Old Lady Little boy, wba. would your father do if he should find you smoiuug .—Little Boy He'd—puff—prpb'ly IHk o'-Urdsao. .i"

Illustrated Fashions. AI This has been essentially a season of trim- mings, and many and varied are those which havo obtained the approval of Madame la Mode. Lace took the first place, and was to be seen in all tints, from the purest white to deep yellow, twine colour or black. It appeared in severs forms such as flounces, insertions, and incrusta- tions, while on the most elaborate gowns it was Ubed as an applique on chiffon, the work neces- sitated in so doing adding greatly to the costli- ness of the toilette. Ribbon also was much in request as a trimming, and it is probable will continue ts be so throughout the early autumn season. In very narrow widths it forms a pleas- ing finish to the edges of frills or flounces, while satin ribbon about an inch or an inch-and-a-half is stitched in conventional patterns on to the collars, revers, and the skirts of cloth gown. Ribbon velvet appears in graduated rows on skirts, and forms a pleasing contrasting note on lace and muslin toilettes, and fascinating cravats in which the ends are finished by ornamental tags and fastened into place by a paste buckle. Hats, in nearly every instance, show a touch of black velvet in some place or other in their trimming, while others have the brims bound with it. In fact, it seems as if the best modistes cannot turn out a dress and its accompaniments without the telling touch of black velvet. Fou- lard has no more effective decoration than gra- duated lines of black velvet ribbon on the skirt, especially if the foulard itself has a white ground lightly patterned with black. The pretty blouse depicted is of a creamy satin-surfaced foulard spotted with black, and made with numerous- A Pretty Blouse. 1 nipped tacks.both on the bodice and. sleeves, and trimmed with lace insertion interthreaded with narrow black velvet ribbon. The sleeves are very full at the wrist, in the fashion admired by so many, and are caught into a transparent band of lace. Black taffeta is another material much en- hanced by a trimming of black velvet ribbon, together with sundry paste buckles or buttons, which are nearly always used in conjunction with velvet ribbon, as:theyobviate the possi- bility of any heaviness of effect. A really chic Parisian toilette was evolved from black taffeta, dull white silk, cretonne applique, and black velvet ribbon. The most novel applique of the year is to be found undoubtedly in the flowers and festoons cut out of cretonne and run over with gold thread machine stitching, which pro- duces a really very fascinating effect. A supe- rior quality of cretonne must be used, and per- haps the French cretonne which can be obtained at the best and most important furnishing ware- houses yields the most artistic and charming results. This applique is employed most success- fully on the revers and coat facings of some of the smartest black cloth costumes. The flowers of cretonne are laid on to the surface of dull silk, cream preferably, but possibly of some pale- toned colour, and in every case there is more or less of the gold stitchery to heighten the effect. Cretonne applique is so much admired that it has extended its inflnence to hats as well as gomis, and appears also on the prettiest sun- shades and cravats, and even figures on evening shoes. Shoes, by the way," have been worn by the smartest women to maAcli their evening toilettes, and indeed in many instances are'mad.e of the same material. The dainty gown il!rated is of embraideiod grass laws, for fliotii '.i ?bric is not so lughin A Dainty Gown. J fashionable opinion as it was some season ago, it still is to be met with, and is worn by those who are not swayed by every breath of fashion, but select what is becoming to themselves and cool and comfortable to wear. Indeed, this particu- lar dress had quite a distinguished air; and made its mark among a crowd of extremely elegant toilettes. It was made with a shaped flounce at the hem of thin silk, which matched the grass lawn exectly, and was piped all over, at the top in a band of white silk covered with an applique of cretonne. The rest of the skirt fitted the figure closely, and had much open work embroidery on it. The bodice had a yoke of white silk covered with cretonne applique, and pouched over the band in front. It was com- pleted by a hat of straw of the same shade as the dress, the brim in front being concealed by a wreath of pink roses, and then foliage and buds the pink and green tones being echoed in the colours of the cretonne flowers. The hats for late summer wear promise to be, if possible, even more charming than their pre- decessors, and there seems positively to be no A Becoming Sat- I end to the inventive genius of the millinery I mind. B!H< '■ ;,e hats trimmed with ostrich leather a coriain vogue all their own, and (fee £ >emayed ti o»« pf the most alluring,

I SCIENCE AND HEALTH I By DP. ANDREW WILSON, F.R.C.S. Depopulation. The question of the increase of the population of any country bears a very direct relationsliip to the prosperity of that land. It is quite obvious that as a first principle the e access of the country's work must depend not only on havinga population which is efficient as regards health., but also one the numerical strength of which must be more than equal tc make good the loss which death, whether in the shape of old age as a. cause or disease, inflicts upon it. Our last census showed that the population of Great Britain fell some 300,000 below the expectations which were formed by those qualified to judge of what the figures might prove to be. But it has beenpointed out that the withdrawal of a large number of the male population for service in South Africa would materially affect the num- + faa^es especially resident in these islands at the time of the census taking. Apart, how- ever, from this Júter contention, those whose business it is to concern themselves with the vital statistics of thecountry incline to the belief that during the last ten years the population of this country has not increased at the rate repre- I sauted by at least the two previous decades. The proportion of loss, however, in Great Britain iL.Sma^ -certainly we in nowise equal the condition of matters represented across the Channel in France. There until at least within recent years it might be said that the births i practically equalled the deaths and no more, eaving thus nothing of a surplus for population increase, and left nothing to account for those conditions of national prosperity dependent on an influx into the world of new souls. The depopulation of Prance has, indeed, long been a matter of grave concern to those who in that land an occupied with the duty of compiling its vital statistics. Other European countries, and particularly Germany, are more akin to our. selves m the way of increased births. The American Case. IJhaweiieen reading an account "of an ex- interesting paper read by a Dr. Engleman at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association with reo. spect to the decrease of the true Ameri- can population. He lays the grave charge at the door of American women that from one cause or another they are unwilling to become mothers, and adds that the task of populating America is now handed over to a crowd of immi- grants coming from all nations, and exhibiting all degrees of education and culture. In the eighteenth century the average number of chil- dren per family in America was five. It was 4'5 at the beginning of the nineteenth century, while at the end of that century it had BUnk to between 1*8 and 2-1 per family, whilst among the immigrant population the number of chil- dren per family amounted to twice that amount. Mr Herbert Spencer long ago declared in one of his social essays that, if the educated well-to-do classes refrained from populating the land while the lower classes bred abundantly, there would be an obvious danger, the higher element in society being swamped by the lower. It would seem that America is very much in this position to-day, and I fear that statistics of the relative fertility of the middle and lower classes in Britain would show similar results. The social problem thus presented to the thoughtful mind is one of extreme importance. Thelower classes must undoubtedly be led by the higher and better educated if they are not merely to do their own share of work in this world, but if that work is to be successfully organised and carried out. Hie need for the thorough education of the masses therefore becomes more apparent in view of the facts I have just named. The Health Question. 1-. There is also another point of extreme interest in comuBction with all questions relating to in- crease of population. It is not enough that we should have a population more than sufficient to equalise the loss due to death, but that the man and woman of the present and future alike should be healthy units. I could not help think- ing that the work of the recent congress on con- sumption would tend towards the improvement of the national health by preventing a grave disease to which so many of us snenmb. But beyond all this there is the need practically to ensure that our land is peopled by strong men and women, and not by weaklings. We can only effect thi# draaimble end when thetlducation of the people in the laws of health is duly under- taken and supervised. In this way we find a fresh argument for the instruction of the people in sanitary laws, whereby their lives may not merely be made healthier and therefore hap- pier, but whereby aJso their working power may be conserved and increased. The great lesson it seems to me that illness of preventible kind especially implies loss of money as well as loss of energy, which is the foundation of our money- earning powers, requires to be more firmly every year impressed on the minds of the people. Better far that we should use the school as a means of training our children in the observa- tion and practise of health laws than spend money on sanatoria for consumptives and in- crease our hospital accommodation. These things are no doubt necessary to-day, but in a higher area, conditions of health matters being made part of our national "programme; we may lessen sickness with all its attendant expense, I misery, and risk of premature death. Veterinary Surgeons on Tuberculosis. It may be interesting to note that the veteri- nary surgeons, recently met in congress in Edin- burgh, passed certain resolutions which are at one in their nature with those submitted to the Consumption Congress in London in respect to the desirability for continued protection of the public from risk of tuberculosis disease derived from meat and milk. The resolution was clear and distinct, and I have pleasure in recording it here :—" That this meeting desires to express its strong conviction that no evidence has yet been produced which warrants any relaxation of the regulations in force for the protection of man against tuberculous milk and meat." It was aJso resolved to petition that the regulations in force against the sale of diseased meat and milk should be made uniform and general in their application. The hope was also expressed that Government at an early date should institute experiments to determine the question whether Dr Koch's views regarding the difference between tuberculosis in man and the ox were to become part and parcel of scientific belief, or whether on the other hand they were to be dis- carded as contrary to fact. Ice in Hot Weather. The tremendous consumption of ice which hot weather entails, whether in the shape of the ordinary article or in the shape of ice-creams, is a subject which has received considerable atten- tion from sanitarians and medical men. It might be thought that if microbes or germs were present, and therefore became part and parcel of the ice, their vitality would be completely checked. That this is not the case is proved by many experiments. For we know of many germs which can resist the freezing for length- ened periods of time and yet retain all their powers of propagation, just as we know of others which only extreme degrees of heat are capable of killing. Some recent investigations into the quality of ice supplied to large towns are, how- ever, of a reassuring character. The chief source of the ice thus supplied is. of course, Norway, and ca.reful examination of this ice reveals the fact that it is of a remarkably pure character, and free from harmful germ life. This is a satisfactory fact, and one which may go far to relieve our minds of a suspicion, harboured in certain quarters, that the use of ice may be injurious from the presence of disease-producing germs. But I need hardly add that all depends on the source whence the ice has been obtained. That taken from many Brtish sources I am afraid would hardly stand the tests applied to the Norway ice. The only fact which we may fael somewhat thankful to record is that only a very small proportion of the ice used in this country comes from local sources. The American Barber. 1 I have to note that America has again taken the lead in sanitary matters. The hygiene of the barber's shop is a fairly sore topic with the male raind in this country, for the sterner sex knows that certain skin troubles are extremely liable to be conveyed by means of unclean brushes, sponges, towels and even by the shav- ing brush or an unclean razor. They have long recognised these facts in America, and, if I rnstake not, in Paris there oxist municipal regu- lations for the sanitary conduct of the barber's business. I notice that in the state of Michigan especially regulations are framed for the pro- tection of the public against infectious ailments liable to be conveyed bv the barber's work. It is eminently desirable, I think, that the hair- dressers' shops should come under the notice of our sanitary inspectors Ü1 this country. I bring no charge of general uneleanliness against the trade. The nigher class shops find it to their interest to provide each regular customer with a separate mug, soap brush and sponge of his own, but there is still wanting on the part of a good many members of the trade a fuller appre- ciation of the value of cleanliness in the exercise of their ancient art, The other day in the person of a friend I saw a grievous case of loss of hair, declared by a skin specialist to be fre- quently seen as the result of the use of dirty brushes, and similar cases must of course be of fairly frequent occurrence. It should be vary easy for the barber to learn the elementary rniea of disinfection, he has always plenty of hot water at hand for sterilising bis brushes, and be works largely amongst soap, which is in itself a mild disinfectant. One may be charged with advocating wholesale inspection cf everything and everybody in this way, but when cases of communicated akin disease form texts for tirades against barbers the little piece of advica I have just grvsn cannot surely be regardod in. anvthiuff j

THE HOUSEHOLD. Vturious additions to one's household furnituM ean be made by the amateur carpenter, thougl many of these are debarred from showing what capacity they may possess in that line for want of a lathe. It is doubless a most important factor in carpentering, but it takes up a deal of room, and it is not everyone who can spare 4 space in the house sufficiently large to take# lathe. Nowadays, however, it is possible tit produce some extremely useful articles of fur- niture without its assistance. The ta.ble here illustrated, for instance, can be made with ordinary tools. The legs are composed of turned spindles 3ft. by Ilin- which are procurable at. most shops where materials for carpenters am sold. Having bought the legs, the next thing ia to roughly scale ana plan a circle, the diameter required, and arrange the cross pieces of the framework so that they touch its bounds at regular intervals. To aecornmodate twelve legs, these are set at each 30 degrees of the 360 that I A Home-made Table. complete the circle. Nine pieces of half-inch stuff, four or five inches wide, form a support for the table top. A round piece of wood is also fitled into the square block of the leg, about a third below, to assist in keeping the whole rigid. The framework of the top is kept taut by four angle pieces shown in the sketch of the table top these also serve to affix the top from below. The framework must be mortised into each leg. If the whole is made of pitch pine, it may be stained and polished, but if deal is employed then painting and finishing with enamel will give a good effect. A large Japanese tray could be used for the top in preference to a board. The tab!e legs must be cut so as to stand firmly when the whole is finally fixed, otherwise the slightest alteration will result in a rickety super- structure. Some very pretty soiled-linen bags have just been brought to my notice. They were of em- broidered sateen, and down one side was a slit, some four inches in length, and bound round ita edges with sarcenet ribbon, the idea of it being that, without disturbing the drawstring at the top, small articles of daily use such as collars, cuffs, and handkerchiefs, could be easily dropped in. This was a distinct progression in linen bags* A Handy Linen Bag, With Slit in Side for the Reception of CollttS, Handkerchiefs, Etc. and one that should meet with general appro- bation, for everyone knows the trouble of pulling open the tightly-drawn month of the bag, a labour that for such small effects seems more than is necessary. There is nothing so beneficial to the health at this time of year as a short visit to the sea. It is the finest tonic to the overworked or enervated —far better than any amount of medicine-and thoroughly se.j;s them up for the winter. To those who can participate in the pleasures of bathing its benefits as a health restorer are manifold. But in many uases it does more harm than good, as is evinced lty the pinched face, bine lips, and chattering teeth of the unhappy bather. A very good remedy lov those who are apt to suffer from cold after sea-bathing, but who do not in any other was show signs of its having disagreed with them, is the foot-Datli of warm water placed ready in their bathingmachine when they from thp sea. And if the feet are immediately placed in this while the rest of the body is being dried much benefit will be derived from it. People are very apt to get their hands much burnt and freckled from bathing in salt water under the rays of the sun. For them I would prescribe the following remedy—one which I hav#, always found most efficacious for whitening tlx* hands and arms A teaspoonful of borax, ont ounce of glycerine, and one pint of orange floui water. Milk cheeses are very excellent substitutes for cream ones, and there is no reason why the-i shotdd not be made at home, the only difficulty which seems to arise being the want of a cheesc box. Now this may sound very alarming, and ont instantly conjures up in one's mind acheese vat or mould, never for one moment thinking that an old biscuit tin can be converted into practically the same thing. The only thing to be done is fee Cheese Box Made from an Old Biscuit Tin. pierce three rows of holes all round the tin as in the picture, and see that the lid fits quite tightly. Having described the home-made rat, I will now give you the recipe for the cheese. Dissolve a teacupful of salt in two gallons of warm new milk, and stir into this about half--a- teacupful of weak rennet. If the milk has be- come cold it should be warmed to 95 deg. Fahr. —not higher or the curd will be hard. Put this aside for a couple of hours, when the curd shonld be quite set. Then cut the curd across in every direction with a curd knife (which can be ob- tained for a very small sum) and bale out a good portion of ^he whey with a cup or spoon then drain the curd through a cloth over a colander, an< £ pack it in your cheese box, sprinkling salt be- tween the layers. See that the crmi is mode- rately dry before packing in the box. Then put the lid on the box. fastening it firmly, and tarn every day, placing a very light weight on the top. It will be ready for use in about e week's time. Cream cheeses can also be made in the same manner, in which case they should be kept for ten days, a-s it makes them more mellow and imparts more flavour. As an article of food cheeserankn very highbeing eminently nutritioas, wholesome, and digestible, but it must be welt masticated, arcr it is the neglect of thi^ precau- tion which is the reason for its frequently dis- agreeing with delica-te stomachs. Rotten cheese again is very unnwhol somto., It ts not generally known that fiuo may safely be stored in boxes if just wiped over with a olot £ slightly moistened with kerosene, or, if some clothes dipped in kerosene are folded amongst them. It is advisable to look at the fur coerc few weeks to see that the smell of the oil is stifi strong, for only so long as its unpleasant odour lasts go the moths keep away. Iron and steel goods can also be safeiy stored without fear of rust, ii before wrapping them in paper they &r< wiped over with a cloth moistened with kerosene This oil is also \ery valuable for clt-aning painted woodwork and the staired boards of a room. ETHEL. 4.

One of my latest sxperienees :n E ox, Tior,don," the Bishop of Wakefield wriw*, WM an introduction to ar.;1 enrolment in a fathers* meeting,' conducted by the vicar s wife, in a parish of St. George'a-in-ths East. Twice If visited this somewhat tjpvci society of 10 or » poor working-men, 5011. of iheir. fathers, and very hearty abd pieameit friendly they were. 1he first visit I reoeived a parcel containing a jgeirof red leather slippers, with a letter.beginr nrot, Dear fellow farther,' which pnzxled good deal, t'll I m&ce cut it was from a shoe maksr out cf work, a rnecsber of this fathers' meeting,1 who cxp'ained that, caving nothing u do, he reaanze,tiry flot with his ey*. and nat made the slipper. aM reaiawed your aIfr. itOBSte fellow tartber