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CHAPTER XXI. I
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CHAPTER XXI. I The Rector is Troubled. I The Reverend Thomas Campbell, Rector of Baynham, was a man of simple piety, and uied to deal with simple issues. A country parson, poalleseed of sufficient private means, hia life had been uneventful. The simple annals of the poor at least, that section of the poor with whom be was brouzbt into parochial contact, presented, BO far as his experience went, but few outstand- ing features. what had happened to Alan Thornton in his own garden ? that was a problem which probed his usually placid natnre to its deepest depths. For the first time he gained some personal insight into the meaning of the psalmist'* words Oat of the depths have I cried onto Thee, O Lord." All night long he crie3 unto the Lord. Not one load; it made his trouble harder to bear that he had to keep it to himself. He was a man who had no secrets be never bad bad. The occurrences of eaoh day be was always willing to discuss with anyone, with everyone especially was ha willing to discuss them with his wife. His wife and be had never kept any- thing from each other, never, from the day on which they had first met, unto this hour. Whea Sir Philip Ford had gone, Mr Campion would have given much to have been able to go Straightway to his wife. and retail to hsr, at fall length, all the incidents of that eventful evening. It would have been something to have been able to do that. But Sir Philip had drawn from him a promise that he wonid not speak to anyone on that matter at any rate till he came again in the morning. So be had to keep locked in his own heart the dreadfnl fear that the Ølirl whom he bad come to regard almost as if she was his own daughter, had been nearly, if not quite guilty of the crime cf homicide. All sorts of doubts disturbed him. Could it be possible that it was she who had removed the body ? who had endeavoured to conceal her crime ? Fally con- scious as he was that there were physical reasons —to speak of no other reasons—which made this seem impossible, yet he was haunted by a doubt. The thing was made worse by the feeling that Ford not only shared his suspicions, bat was prepared, at any risks and at all costs, to shield her, whether she was innocent or guilty. There, for the rector, was the .ary crux of hia trouble. His ideas of duty, like all bis ideas, were simple ones. Nothing, hitherto, had trans- pired to tempt him to look at what be felt to be his daty with anything but a single eye. Either a certain line of conduct was, or was not, his duty, and there was an end. Suddenly he foond himself adrift among what seemed to him to be a maze of hideous complications. Be had been the witness, or practically the witness, of a frightful crime. He had found the weapon with which the crime had been wrought; the criminal was under his own roof at that very moment. His conscience told bim, or seemed to tell him. that his duty towards society, and, he feared, towards God, required him to at once denounce both the crime and the criminal. Yet, if he obeyed his conscience, as it bad been his lifelong teaching, as man's first, and last, and only daty, into what a sea of trouble would bis action land bim. To begin with, Sir Philip Ford, the best friend be bad in the woild, would never forgive him he knew his man, he was sure he never would. More, he was not certain that his atti- tude of uoforgivingness wonid not be justified. What did be not owe to Ford ? He owed his xeetory in a fashion-vvhich it would occupy too much space to set forth clearly-he owed his wife. Did be propose to repay him by striking at him in bis tenderest place. That Philip Ford loved Doris Owen he personally was con- vinced as convinced as be was that if any tragedy overwhelmed the girl, all the light would so oat of the world lor the man. No one was better aware than he was, that. Ford was a man who had known many sorrows was it for his hand to deal the blow which should crash him, I for all eternity, uncler the greatest sorrow of them all ? Then there was the girl herself to be con- giidered-Dorim Owen Thomas Campion was no fool although circumstances had not httad him to deal readily with compound issues. He did not understand bow the meeting with Alan Thurstoa bad come abont; bnt be bad imagina- tion enough to enable him to guess how it was that they had quarrelled, aud how Thurston's misbehaviour had driven her to an action of which she would have been incapable except in the sudden stress of self-defence. Still, how was it that she had a knife when, in her temporary madness, it seemed to her that she was con- strained to use is T It was not easy for him to believe that she had gone to the rendezvous armed against an emergency which she already had foreseen. Thutfwould be to place her con: duct in an entirely different aspect. Whoever goes prepared to kill, and does kill, can hardly claim to be entirely mnosent. He would have liked to have put some questions to the girl npon his own account, had it not been for two considerations bis undertaking to Ford and tbe fear tbat ber answers might make tbe posi. iion, for him, more difficult than it was already. Suppose she frankly admittpd-alad be bad al- ways found her the son] of candour-tbat she had stabbed Alan Thurston, under great provo- cation then what alternative would he have, what coald excuse him for net at once placing an exact statement of the facts before the guardians of law and order ? If be coald only bate talked the whole thiag over with bis wife, what a comfort that would have been. They understood each other's point of viow i-O well that soma satisfactory result must have come from such a conversation. And yet—there were dangers everywhere there was a danger even there. Incidents bad arisen not infrequently, which had caused him to realise that bis wifs's was not always the indicial point of view. She would be shocked she would be grieved beyond measure; but could be confi- dently rely apon her attitude being jast the right one ? Was it not a fact that where ber sympathy was engaged her judgment was apt to go with It ? He did not doubt that for Philip Ford and Doris Owen she woald be willing to do all she could indeed, he doubted whether, aader certain circumstances, she would not be vlilllog-and ready-to do more than she ought. On one point he felt alsared; that on no terms would she consent to any course of action which would result in subjecting either of the pair to iaeonvenienee or suffering. He feared that stie might not hesitate to sacrifice her principles for the sake of her friends. She had not said so in so many words but he had an intimate con- viction that that was ber notion of friendship. Thus the rector was deprived even of that very human counsellor, his wife, whom he had foaed more than !once, perhaps almost nncoc- aoiously to himself, a very present help in time of trouble. Nor was the case improved by the fact that, while be was unable to say any. thing to,her, aba suffered from no such disability with regard to him. Not only did she assail him with questions, but when he shuffled-the poor man had to shuffle—he was almost mad. dened by the obvious fact that she was labouring under an entire misapprehension of the reasons which actuated his attitude, and, in conse- quence WAS anffering much mental distress owing to ber fear that bo might have bean guilty of something criminal himself. This an- fortunate misunderstanding was intensified by what was-vostibly-his own blundering. For the first time in their lives they came near to quarrelling. He would tell ber nothing, which she, not unnaturally, resented, To her the whole business was wrapped in mystery." She wanted toknow Why he bad aome with two strange man," to fetch a maatt.-bas CD which to convey Alan Thurs- ton's dead body to be house and why, instead -of bringing tba body, he bad tried—and was still trying—tc put her cif with the mere casual intimation that it WA" nowhere to be found. On -and round afoont-thia point, she subjected him Is a croaB-sxaminaiion from which he issued with Ignoraiuy; leaving an impression on her mind that he had been mixed up, in some inexplicable Way, i» some inexplicable crime, in a manner which was much to bis discredit. When, finally, he bade her in so many words, hold her tongue, I and question him no longer, the fountains of ario: were opntd. From bar tsars he turned j and ded from the drawing-room ts the study. Bat there he kaew no rest. AB be paced up and down, and to aad fro, like some caged Miimal, he suddenly recalled a corner of tbe garden which they bad left" unstarched. It was at least possible that the de&d man was lying j tbui. The possibility took soch bold of bis troubled imagination, that nothing would con- tent him but tbat be should go there and then to see. Per the rectory that boor was nncanniiy lata. Where his wife was be did not know. He I SmsUd-withonG much faitb—tbat,. with the ) rait of the household ahe bad retired to bed. Tboro could be no rest for bim while, in bis I fancy's eye. be could see that cemler among the rhododendrons—witb aoaaethmi' in it. Oat I into the night he stole, er< tiptoe, through tho hall, softly across the lawa, to the spot-woexe the thing raigbt be. Suefe ^rs his state of nervous agitation that, for bsjjb moments, be hovered round it, not during to ventufce into its heait—where tbe shadows were. When at last be did, it was almost wttb a ser.w of shocK^ tbat %be realised tbat tbe nJaca was empty. While j be was still peering ucderDS-tb tbe branches and tbe leaves, he board h footsicp on ths road on the othsr side of the beds*. J.;(t stood still, to listen. Appitrant.-v be ttlo bad been heard, because presently a voice iaqairfeU, Who is there ?" It was the voice of the Baynuam policeman. The roarr-Irow 191Jg SreatSi Pes- fUAx ot It'3 all right, Felling It's only me." Evindently the policeman recognised the speaker. I beg your pardon, Bir, but I thought it might be somebody after your flowers there's been a good deal of that sort of thing aboat lately-tn,mpe, and that lot." Thank you very macb, Felling. Jast going home?" Yes, sir, I'm just going home. I've been out on my rounds since eight o'clock." Since eight o'clock?" The rector considered. M Haven't you been home since then ?" No, sir, I have not and as it's now past one I shall be glad..Ioget there." So I should tbinlr. Thank you foi; keepirg a watchful eye apon my flowers. Good-night." Good-night sir." Tbe constable's heavy tread was heard passing down the road. His departure was a greater relief to the rector than that gentleman would have cared to admit the first sound of his voice had affected him in an altogether indescribable manner. All at once he appreciated the sen- sation of the crime-stained wretch, when un- expectedly, be feels the policeman's hand upon his shoulder. He could hardly have suffered more had he himself stood in danger of arrest. Alone again, he reflected, with each calmness as he coald command. If Felling left home at eight o'clock then be was out when—when it had all occurred. He was still out when those two intrnsive strangers had called at the police station with their story, and the belongings of the missing man-if, that is, they had called as they had threatened—which explained Felling's evident ignorance of the fact that anything unusual had happened to ruffle the village calm. Immediately He began torturing himself with inquiries whether it would not be the part of wisdom-to cut it at its lowest—to have been himself the first to broach the matter to the man. If Felling saw those two strangers, and heard their tale, would be not vtondcr why the rector bad said nothing to him of tbe eventa which had almost, if not quite, turned his gar- den into the scent, of a tragedy—and place the worst conatrucl ion on bis silence ? So affaeted was idr Campion by this view of the position that he all but started in abase of Felling, and possibly woald have done so ciaite had be not saddenly found himself confronted by Mrs Cam- pion, in a condition of what vras very near hysterics. ,fTcml" sho nailed. Tom, what are you looking for? What are you looking for at thiB hour of tbe morning ? Who was that you were talking to 1" Her utterance was so broken by her sobs that it was with difficulty she spoke. Plainly this was a case in which it was necessary to exercise martial authority. It was out of the question that be should have a scene with his wife, out in the garden in the small hours of the morning. He assumed a tone of command. Netta, I am surprised at. and ashamed of you. I imagined that you were in bed hours ago. Come indoors with me at once." This Budden assumption of a tone, which was at once that of a sorrowing clergyman and an aggrieved busband, apparently took the lady so completely by surprise that she entirely forgot any purpose which might bave brought ber there. She suffered ber husband to march ber, without attempting the least remonstrance, like some chidden child, back to the house, and straight upstairs to bod. Indeed, to such a point waa the comparison to the naughty child carried, that the rector, addressing her in a tone which she had never heard from him before, forbade her to open bee month to speak, and positively com- manded her to go to sleep at once. MrLq Campion was one of those old-fashioned persons who believe that it is the part of a wife to obey, and to endeavour, to the beat of their ability, to not up to that belief. Therefore, how- ever much It went against the grain, she obaeived the first part of his injunction, and refrained from speceh. Obedience to the second part sbe found more difficult. Sleep comes to as at no one's bidding. It is to be feared that the rector was able to command its presence no more for himself than for his wife. And while the p.oo woman lay in troubled wakefulness near by him, be cried, in wide-eyed unrest, out of the depths unto the Lord, CHAPTER XXII. Mrs Thurston Inquires for Her Husband. Never before had there been each a break- fast at the rectory as that. The two little children were the only persons who were at their ease. Their aunt, Miss Rodda. was uncomfort- ably conacicos that there was not only electrieitv in the domestic atmospheie, but, also. that there was something fery curious, and even mysteri- ous, in the entire situation. Her sister, usually the'most easy-going of women, was evidently in a condition of physical and mental disturbance, which it was not agreeable to have forced npon one's notice. The rector was, if anything, in a worse state than his wife. It is Btrange what strain and sleeplessness can do for a healthy man in the coarse of a single night. Mr Campion looked actually ill. Hia usual morning nppetite had fotsaken him. He ate and drank nothing he said nothing either. He scarcely ooened bis lips to drink, or eat, or speak, from the moment he sat down to the moment in which-evidently anxious to take advantage of the first opportunity which offered—he hurried R*The only grown-np wbo showed to advan- tage was Doris Owen. It was her attitude, as well as her presence, which had such a barren- sing effect upon tbe unhappy rector. To have to meet her on the old terms of pleasant familiarity, as if 1309bing whatever had trans- pired to in any way affect their relations one to the other, that, from his point of view, was bad enough but that she should assume an air of unconsciousness of the fact tbat anything bad occured-that was almost worse. It seemed dreadful to him that she could appear so cool, so calm, so self-possessed it was to play the hypocrite on a scale which, to bim, appeared to be monstrous. He was consoions, too, all the time, tbat she Was looking almost unusually charming He, certainly, had never previously been so much impressed by her physical graces. And that made it worse than ever. That she, a mere girl, unpractised in artifice, should look 10 sweet, aud boar horself so sweetly, wbo, last night, had almost, if. no quite, done a man to death, with her own hand. '» Then the rector rushed from the breakfast- room, be threw himself on his knees beside his study table, torn by such a tumult of conflict- ing emotions, that only the God to whom he addressed his frenzied words conld have traced them to their several sources. How long he remained there be never knew. When be rose he was, if not refreshed, at least calmer. Re- calling the smell duties which called for his im- mediate attention be set out on their perform- ance there and then. It was "absolutely nscas- sarv that be should do something which should keep him as much as possible from thinking, until he had bad that farther promised inter- view with Philip Ford. As it chanced, circum- stances conspired to keep hila engaged in out- lying portions of his parish, and prevented him from returning to the rectory, not only for lunch, but until the afternoon was well ad- vanced. At the door be paused to ask a maid if anyone bad called to see him, and, when she answered no, was just turning into his study when 'a lad cams ap tbe gravel patb, with a telegram in his hand-a reply-paid tologrim for him. He tore it, open To Rev. Thomas Campion, The Rectory, Baynbam. I have reason to believe that my hus- bapdj Alan Tburaton, came yesterday to see Mila Owen, who is staying in your house. Please let me know if be ia with you now. Have no news. Expected him last night, Am very anxious. If not with yoa can you ten me where he is Mrs Thurston, Glynde, Essex. Mrs Thurston's tnessags was a trine inco- herent, as telegrams are apt to be. bat its mean- ing waa sufficiently dear whatever had become of Alan Tburaton he had'not gone borne nor bad ho communicated with his wife, who was at home. As be realised what the fact might signify his heart began to piay the same ugly- tricks it had played the night before. Wbat should he tell this woman, across the wires ? There was tha reply form in his hand he would have to tell her something. 'If Philip Ford would only come. Hardly had ths wish been nttered, than, 10 1 the man was there. His familiar form came past the window. Rushing out to him with the sagernsits of a boy, the rector thrust the tele- gram into his baud. Read that !—ycu see ha has not gone home What am I to say to her ?" Witb impassive countenance Sir Philip read the telegram. Give me .hl) reply form." Campion gave it him. UtJ wrote something on it, and banded it to tbr. attaudgnt messenger. Can you read it ?" The lad read out what he had written. To Mrs Tburaton, Glynde, Fsgex-I know soihing of Mr Thpraton's movements.— Thomas Campion. That's right; see that it's dispatched at once." The messenger departed the two friends were left alone together. In tCe rector's utterance was an unwonted hesitation. Is tbat—is that qaite true—tbat answer yon have esnt ?" Perfectly ian'fc it ? Yoa know nothing of Mr Thurston's movements, do you ?" | To say so baldly, hardly—hardly conveys (he Mr Thurston's movements, do you ?" To say so baldly, haidlr-haxdly conveys the [ entire trutft." [ This woman asks you to tell her where her husband is. Yoa can't, can you ?" I-I wish I conld. Has—has nothing been beard 1" Tbat is the question which I wished to put to vou." Mr Campion took off bis soft felt hat, to wipe tbe moisture from his brow. Ford, I bave suffered many things because of that man, since last night. I should not have thought it possible that the wbole face of nature could so suddenly have changed even the light of God seems tiidden frcm my eyes." Sir Philip eyed the speaker closely, noting the marks of disturbance which were written large all over him. Campion, you are overwrought. You want a change. Take them all with you, to somewhere where it's bracing it will do yon good." Go away ? With this—this shadow banging over me and mine? I should feel as if I were running away. No Ford, I—I could not run aWay—until, by God's great mercy, tbe shadow shall have lifted You use exaggerated language in itself a aign of overstrain. I thongbt yon prided yourself on the avoidance of words and pbrasea which were more strenuous than theoccaaion required." Is there any language too emphatic, as the old writers have it, too horrific, to express the situation as it appears to me I know of none. Ford. where is Alan Thurston ? Tbat Question shouts at me from the heavens. I would the answer did. And yet—I am afraid—of wbat the answer ie." Sir Philip leaned back upon his ease, and smiled. Campion, yon are melodramatic—actually. I had not thought that you, of all men, could be that. And with the aun laughing down at you I" Philip, I am beginning to wonder if, in this matter, I am wise in listening to yonr voice to doubt if it is not tbe "loiCII of evil. You may laugb but on me your laughter jars. Where is the knife you took from me, all stained with blood ? Do you know tbat tbe coat under which I carried it, my waistcoat, my shirt, even my body, were stained with the blood—tbe blood of the man whose wife blUl telegraphed asking me if I can give her news of him. Do you call that a thing to laugh at 7 God forbid 1" Gently, Campion, gently I Here'e Miss Owen 1" Mr Campion turned hastily round. Doris Owen was coming towards them across the hall. At sight of her the rector seemsd to change countenance. He drew a little back, as if he were afraid of coming into contact even with her garments. Ford took off hla bat a saluta- tion which she acknowledged with an air of gravity which almost amounted to stiffness. "Sir Philip, I wanted very much to see you. I was wondering how I could send you a message. May I speak to you now ?" May you ? As if I shall not be too highly honoured if you will only condescend. Where sball tve apeak ?— here, on the doorstep ?" Please, no let us go into the garden." She came down the steps, and sbe and Sir Pbilip moved side by aide across the lawn, towards the summer-house. The rector stood staring after them with almost unnatural in- tensity. Grant that she be innocent I" Tho words came from bis lips as he prayed for something which be feared could not be grantsd. (To be Continued.)
-BISHOP OF LLANDAFF AND FOOTBALL
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BISHOP OF LLANDAFF AND FOOTBALL Address to Cardiff Y.M.C.A. Lads' Union. The growth and influence of the Cardiff Y.M.C.A. Union was strikingly de- monstrated at the Park Hall, Cardiff, on Sunday etening, when a service was held in commemoration of the sixth anniversary. The great building waa uncomfort- ably crowded, and hundreds had to be turned away. Tbe members of the Union to the number of 1,200 occupied tbe body of tbe hall, The Lord Bithop of Llandaff delivered an address on the tbree dutios in life, The lada listened with deep interest. Yoa all want to be men," said his Lordsbip. Some of you want to be men before your time." But tbey should try to avoid it; but once men they abould strive to be good men—strong spiritually as well as physi- cally, and imbued with the determination to do their duty to themaetvea.to tbeir neighbours, and to God. Tbere waa a great deal of good in football. His Lordship Will very fond of the game, but it bad its dangers. Very often tbe barm came not so much to the players as to the lookera-on, One particular danger was that of betting. As they toned their life, tkeir character, they should beware of that terrible and most iu. sinuating temptation. Mr T. M. Heywood pre- sided, and amongst others wbo took Dart in the service were Mr F. S. Higman, general secretary of the Y.M.C.A., and Mr G. H. Davies, snner- intendent of the Lads' Union, Mr George Beale, Mus, Bac., gave an organ recital bo tween 6.30 and 6.45, and during tbe evening Miss Marianne Squire, a pupil of Madame Hughes-Thomas, Hang a few solos, and selec- tions were also rendered by the Cambria Male Voice Choir, ander the conductorBbip of Mr J enkp Morris.
LOCAL TAXATION.
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LOCAL TAXATION. Returns for Last Financial Year. Local taxation returns for the financial year 1903 show that in tbe 61 administrative counties of England and Wales (sxclnsive of the county of London) £2,319,656 was collected for licence duties. Tbe receipts from rates (including fl,164,798 for elementary education) amounted to £4,434.413, and the grant under the Agricul- tural Rating Act to £388. ]56. Receipts of the local authoritiea for the year (exclusiv eof loans) amounted to £11,6401258. Deducting from this £2,994,876 received on account of elementary education, tbe total receipts for the year wore £370,&17 more than in the preceding year. The total expenditure is set down at £11,764,714, and deducting £3,124.143 in respect of elementary education (including loan charges) it exceeds the expenditure of the same authoritiea in 1902 3 by £206,047. The total annual value of the county rate basis Of properties ratable for county pur- poses waa —Of agricultural land, of buildings and 0IberbereaitameotB.£83.523.345:; total, £108,480,699. The aggregate amount of rateii raised for general county purpose* was 3r359,277 more, and of those raised for special county purposes £1,127,415 more, than-was raised by rates for aimilar purposes in the previous year. If the rates raised for the purposea of elementary education be left out of account the increase was £310,961 in the case of general county rates, and £10,933 in that of special county rates. The Exchequer contribution accounts of tbe Connty Councils ofSonch Wales and Monmouth- shire show receipts of £285,016, and expenditure £285,525. Other receipts, including transfers from Exchequer contribution accounts and expenditure other than from loans on general ands pecial county funds, daring tbe year ended Marsh 31st, 1904, omitting sums paid into Police Pension Funds,which do not pass through the accounts of the county funds, were in Wales and Monmouthshire as follow Receipts, £770,181 expenditure,
MOTHER'S HELP IN CUSTODY.
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MOTHER'S HELP IN CUSTODY. A Newport Charge. At Newport on Saturday Gwendoline Davies (19), Clydach-street, Brynmawr, was brought up on remand for stealing a gold diamond ring and some silver articlest valued at JE8 10s, from Mrs E. Rosser, Caerlieken Farm, Kemeys.with whom she was engaged as a. mother's help. Mr Digby Powell, for the prosecution, explained that Miss Davies and her mistress had some words, and that the former1 left the house on October 17th without notice. The articles were subsequently missed from the bouse. They did not want to press the caM unduly, but he regretted to say the girl was not what she seemed to be, The manager of Messrs Rainforth and Son, jewellers, Newport, said prisoner came to the shop stating that sbe bad lost her purse, and asking for tbe loan of 5s on a diamond ring until the follow- ing Monday. Witness gave ber 5s, but prisoner did not come back on Monday. He did not take tbe ring in piedge. The manager of EVIessrs Chileote, of Bristol, deposed to receiving from prisoner by post a sHverCommonion service, for which they paid JE1. Prisoner was sent to gaol for three months..
EARL CA WiOR.
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EARL CA WiOR. The London correspondent of the Birming- ham Post writes It ia understood that Sir Edward Grey will at once resign tbe chairman- ship of the North-Eastern Railway Company, and on this bead the rumour may be mentioned that Earl Cawdor, the late First Lord of the Admiralty, may return at no very distant date to tbe similar position on the Groat Western which he resigned no IOD while since in order to become amemdsr of Mr Balfour's Cabinet.
PRESENT-DAY IDEALS.
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PRESENT-DAY IDEALS. Speech by Mr John Hodge at Swansea. On Saturday eveniag Mr John Hodge, of the Steel Smelters' Union, addressed ? large gather- ing of workmen at Pentre Estyll, Swansea. He said working men needed higher ideals of life's duties. Tbey required to realise that there Mas something higher and nobler than football and the finding out of tbe winners of the next race. If workmen could only realise tbeir responsibili- ties, and take as great an interest in tbeir Trade Unions and in political matters as tbey took in the latest winner and football teams, they would bring about aueh a revolution as would make possible such reforms as the establishing of old age pensions, tbesolvinlt of the unemployed problem, and tbe feedihg of school chldren. (Applause.) The ideal of Pailiameut, be pro- ceeded, wall low when it passed a BilI for the unemployed without financial provisions to operate it. The churches and chapels had low ideals when they cried out against mixing politics with religion. Yet if they took the trouble to read tbe Prophet Isaiah, tbey would find ibe story of au agitator who always mixed politics with religion- iii
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I'm glad I don't live in Germany right now," said tha man who was trying to occupy I three aeats kt ouct! In the et!eet ca.r; I'm l afraid of cholera." I; No donbt yon are," aaid bis neighbour savagely I know a. farmer wbo had I wbole feov^flia of it other
--TALKS ON HEALTH. -4>
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TALKS ON HEALTH. -4> By DR. ANDREW WILSON. About Headaches. There is uo denying tbe fact that headaches constitute not merely a. common but aiso a very annoying affection of our everyday life. One might go tbe length, without exaggeration, of saying that certain persons are rarely free from headaches. Hence such people spend tbeir Jives in a state which if it cannot be denominated actual pain is none the less such as unfits them for discharging agreeably tbe ordinary duties of xistence. If any adivoe e therefore be givan by way of enabling us to understand something of the causes of this trouble,and which sball also lead us in the direction of cure, a certain amount of good may be accomplished. It is wall to remark at tbe outset tbat the term hea.d- ache" is too general to be of any great service. It is applied under ordinary circumstances to express the existence of a dull, heavy feeling affeating the brain, bat in addition it may be used to describe a state of matters in which actual pain exists. This pain may be general, or, on the other hand, may be located in one sneoial region of tbe head. Again, headache is a symptom of a very large number of diseases. We find it equally in tbe case of commencing typhoid fever, and in one of liver disturbance. We find Uiat one who suffers from indigestion may complain of headache, and in addition we have neoralic headache to reckon with, and also siokjheadaehe, or wbattisaleo termed megrim." We thus know that headache, viewed as a mere symptom, may arise from many different causes, and it is precisely thia plural origin of headache which constitutes the chief difficulty in dealing with any CllSe. SomeAJseful Hints. Certain types of beadaoho bave been recog- nised by doctors. The first of these is what is known as tbe headache of congestion. By this latter term we imply an nnasual lulness of the blood vessels everywhere. Congestion itself forms the first stage of inflammation, but, of course, tbe disease may end with tho congestion itself, and proceed no farther. Headaebes of this kind are always made worse when the sufferer lies down. When, on the other hand, he sits upright, bia symptoms are lessened. It is, however, different on the other band with the type of headache which depends upon an insuffi- cient supply of blood to the brain. This class of headache is relieved by tbe patient lying down, and is made worse when he aisume3 an erect position, for the reason that in the latter posture the heart experienoes a greater difficulty in supplying the brain with its normal amount of blood. When we pay some attention to tbe seat of tbe pain experienced in headache, we are also able to glean some informattion regarding the nature of the complaint. A well-known authority holds that if thePain is mostly repre- sented in the forehead the eaoae of the head- ache will be found in gome derangement or other of the digestive ortans, but if tbe pain, on the other hand, is mostly experienced along the top of the bead, the brain itself is regarded as tbe probable seat of the disturbance. Head- ache, mostly experienced M the back of tbe bead, is :said: to be due to disorders of the bipod system, and to be specially associated with that common condition we teim anaemia," or bloodlessoess." Lastly, if the pain does not shift about, if it is fixed and of a very intense character, and more especially if tenderness of the scalp or skin of tbe bead be experienced, tbe existence of some definite brain trouble may be suspected. Hints Regarding Treatment. It must be confessed that unless we can be very sure regarding the exaCt source of tho head- ache the treatment adopts must be of a some- what speculative character. It h obvious, of courae, if a person is found to be suffering from digestive disturbance or liver derangement, ac- companied by constipation, that tbe resulting headache can only be cured by attention being paid to the removal of tbtwe causes. The enre of constipation and the stimulation of tha liver towards the more perfect performance of its work are the lines on which the treatment should be based. Headaches of this kind are generally relieved by a. light diet and by tbe taking at night of three grains of calomel, followed by a. dose of Apenta water in the morning. Tbill is a very old fashioned form of treatment, bnt in many oases it is extremely effective. Where a considerable amount of pain exists, and more especially where the pain comea and goes, and ia of tbe character which we see in the case of neuralgia, the probability il that auch remedies as Antipyrin and Phrenacetin may do good A powder composed of five RraiØI of Antipyrin and five grain of Phrenacetin may be tried, and the dose repeated in four boola if no relief be ob- tained. Caffeine, which ia tbe active principle of cofiee, has also gained a higb reputation for the cure of headaches of this character. A pre- paration of uaffeine ia known as the Effei vescant Citrate of Caffeine. Tbe dose of this, added to water, in. which it effervesces, is twenty grains. Occasionally headaches of the type we are con- sidering mayyleJd to a. doae varying from twenty to twenty-five grains of Bromide of Potash given in water. Even a cap of strong tea or strong black coffeo will suffice to relieve a head- ache of the type under discussion. The General State of the Body. One important remark which should be made regarding headaches is that they teach that the general state of the body should be rigidly examined by way of discovering any special con- dition likely to account for the headaehe. 1 have spoken of the beadacbe which accompanies tbe anaemic or bloodless condition. It is obvious that plenty of fresh air, nourishing food. and the use of iron are indicated here. Tbe best pre* paration of iron to be given in thia case is that known as Dialysed iron, tbe doBe being 10 to 15 drops, taken thrice daily in water, after meals. Headaches are known to occur in perrons snffer- in from eout and rheumatism, but more especially in CiLses of tbe first-named ailment. The gouty headache is cored by leaving off meat foods, and by adopting in great part or entirely a vegetable diet. All forms of alcohol should be interdicted in cases of this latter kind House Drains. I have received a request from a reader of this column to the effect that a word or two of warning reRardiogtheeffects which bad drainage exerts upon our health would form an appro- priate topic for notice. My correspondent ia perfectly correct in his view that a very large amount of sickness, tbe cause of which is not easily to be discovered is due to the defective sanitary arrangements in our bouses. Tbe great principle of sanitary drainage I have always bold, might be very well illustrated by tbe case of the kitchen sink. Tbe sink itself may ba held to represent the whole bouse. If the discharge pipe of the sink passes directly down into a iraic, it is obvious tbat sewage gases from the drain can easily pass upwards into the kitcben. If, on the other band, the waste pipe is cut ahorl, and made to discbarge into a properly-trapped gully, sswage gases are prevented from entering tbe house. Tbe principle of any trap is that of securing an air opening between the waste pipe and the drain into which it rtlDB, so tbat:wben waste matters are not passing down the pipe, fresh air is pass- ing upwards. Every soil pipe carrying away waste matter from bouses should be treated in tbis manner. The house, so to speak, is in this nay cut off from the drains at each point of its contact with tbem, and no house can be regarded aa safe to live in unless its system of drainage has been properly accomplished. Drain Diseases. Amongst the diseases which are undoubtedly liable to be conveyed to us from living in bouses which may practically be regarded as continue- tions of tbe drains, because the soil pipes are not cut off therefrom, we may enumerate typhoid fever, sore tbroat. headache, possibly and a number of other minor troubles. It has been a debated question whether the germs of typhoid fever can be con- veyed to ua from the sewers. Myseif. I think it ia perfectly probable, inasmuch as evidence is at band to sbow that it ia not so mach the sswer air which carries gerrcs into our houses, as the very fine spray ?esultiDg from I drain fall, and which may give forth germs to the air. At the very le&!t, we may assume that in any bouses to which senuige gases bave more or less easy aecesa, tbe inmates will be liablb to suffer from a condition which can best be described as that of a low etate of health. This particular condition forms the general country or territory whence many diseases may spring. In other words, if we have the vitality of our bodies lowered by breath- ing eewaga gases, we are then laid readily open to attack from the army of those microscopic enemies of ours we term microbes or eerms.
-----.-J.. HEADMISTRESS VINDICATED.
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.-J.. HEADMISTRESS VINDICATED. Carmarthenshire Rector Withdraws Allegations. The Carmarthenshire Education Committee recently bold an inquiry respecting certain serious allegations made by the Rev. J. M. Evans, rector of Mcrtbyr, Dear Carmarthen, against Miss Sarah Williams< headmistress of the non- provided school in that village, who strongly re- pelled tbe charges. On Saturday afternoon, at an adjourned meeting of the committee, the clerk (Mr J. W. Nicholas) read a letter from the rector, who is one of the managers of tbe school, as follows —" With reference to tbe charge of improper conduct against Miss S. Williams, the oerson who was chiefly responsible for the cbarge, is not—•» I a!12 informed—prepared to have her statements investigated at a public inquiry. I have, therefore, written to bliss Williams withdrawing all the imputations on her character so far as my patt in tho matter is ^concerned, and I have in Form 9 (sent herewith stated that her conduct has been satisfactory."
DEATHS ON A CARDIFF TRADER.
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DEATHS ON A CARDIFF TRADER. At the end of October, the British steamer Simoom arrived at Cardiff from Copenhagen with her flags at balf mast, owing to tbe traRi. I ally endden death of her commandot, Captain Collins, wbo belonged to Cardiff, in the chart- house while the ,vessel was in the North Sea. Tbe owners of the vessel, the Bedonin Steam Navigation Company (Messrs W. and R. Thompson, of Liverpool), pic- moted Mr P. W- Langworthy, the chief officer, to be captain. Captain Langwonhy navigated tbe Simoom from Cardiff to New York When be left Laid'ff be appeared to be in tbe beat of health, but cable adviees have been received frem tbe New York aenu that Captain Langwoithy died suddenly on the 7th inst. In the short space of six weeks that vsssel has been under the command of two mastere, both of when b»v« diodfiUH trejojafitfecaess. k
Y GOLOFN GYMREIG. -
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Y GOLOFN GYMREIG. Dymunir i'n gohebwyr Cymreig gyfeirio eo hebiaethan, llyfrau i'w badolygu, &c., fel y canlvu" Ifano, Oil Hedd, Berthwia-atreet. Cardiff."
AT Y BEIRDD.
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AT Y BEIRDD. Gwyliau HaweD i holl feirdd a darllenwyr y Golofn. Tangneredd ar y ddaear < ddynion o ewyflys dda." Mae englyn "Yr Haul," gan Brychan, yn gywir ei gynghannedd, er fod ei gystrawen yn wael. — Mae'r englyn ar Hon a elwirgwraig yn llawer gwell ei gystrawen, ond yn iby angbywir ei gyngbannnedd i ymddangos nid oes y paladr a'r as jell olaf yn gywir. Aed Brychan ati J'W gywiro, ac anfoned ef i'r Golofn etc mae'r englyn fel y mae yn werth hynny o drafferth.— Mae'r gan glod yn rhy leol a pbersonol. Diolch I Asaph Glyn Ebwy am ei englynion clir a phersain. Dewg gan y Gol. glywed am 8i; anhwyldeb, ond cred y gwel ami i Nadolig ar ol hwn a llawen iawn y b'ont. Telyneg dlos yw'r eiddo R. E. Jones ar Glan yr Afon mae rhyw gyfanrwydd ynddi sydd yo boddbau.—Gyda'i gennad, cedwir ei gan arall Seren yr Hwyr hyd amser mwy cyfaddas i telyneg dlos yw honno befyd, Mae Seboo Derwydd Aman yn ailchi o'r goren.—Braidd yo rhy hwyliog a phregeth- wrol yw'r penhillion ar Gorphsnwyd i fod yn geidd gain. Hir-a-tboddaid cryf a da yw un Gweledydd i'r rliweddar Ddr. Parry. Ysgrifenna Gweledydd:—" Nidoea ambeaaeth ynwyf o gwbl yughylch anghywlrdeb y llinell, Ac arno Y mae i bob llinell gynghaneddol orphwjsfa a phrifodl. Yn y llinell dan sylw ceir y cyfryw yn arno a' gyw- reinwaith.' A ydyw y oydaeiniaid yn y brifodl uchod yn cyfaleb yo rbeolaidd i'r oydseiniaid yn yr orphwyafa ? Nac ydvnt. Paham ? Am fod m yn arno y'nglyn h.y., heb Jafariaid rhyngddynt a'r unrhyw gydseiniaid yn gyw- rMnwatth. wedi en gwahanu gan lafariaid, aef, Y rheol yw, o. bydd dwy gydsain y'nglyn yng nghorfan yr orphwvsfa, rhaid cael dwy gyd- sain y'nelvn yng nghorfan y br<fodl, aef, in y sill neaaf i'r odl. Nid yw o an gwahaniaeth pa drefn fydd ar y oydseiniaid yn rbanau ereill llinell parthed 1 lafariaid ond os bydd llafariaid rhwng y cydseiniaid yng nghorfan yr orphwyafa, rhaid eu cael feUy yng nghorfan y brifodl. Edryoher ar y llinell yn ei tbrefn ddiwvgiedig—' Ae arno gyweirnod.' neu 0 gryno gywreinwaith.' Dyna y rheolllywlr. Mae'r llinellau. A breain barwn- (D. Benwyn) ac Addoer hoced ei ddryghin (Gweledydd) yo wabanol hollol i'r llinell wallus yn nhrefn eu cydseinaid, ac vn gywir fel y maent." (" Talfyrrwvd" barth eair ac ymadrodd, am nad oea ond colofn at wasanaeth y beirdd i yd, golofn honno i fod yn farddoniaetb. Am yr un rheswm, adawyd allan luaws enghreifftiau Gweledydd o'r priferdd ayn parebu rheol y gramadegan. Gall a fyano cannoedd ohonynt mewn awdlau a cbywyddau. Mae Gweledydd yn gywir ei eglurbad o r rheol rhaid i'r acen ddiagyn ar yr un cydaeiniaid yn neupen llinnell; ac oni wna, bydd yn grych a llyfn. Ond ceir amryw brifeirdd yn ei banwybyddu "Dryecodd ni am bedwai- caDt (Gwallter Mecbain, Gwaitb," cyf. I., tad. 18S-llinnell a ddifynnir yn ddigollfarn gan awdurdod o satis Cynadelw yn Nbafpl y beirdd," tnd. 27) Breiegaeb, tirfiacb, na'r rhai cartrefawl (G. Meebain, Gwaitb," cyf. I.. tud. 322); Ydyw't acbos a.'i dyrcbaif (laaan Deulwyn, Gorcbeation Beirdd Cymro," 1773, tad. 138); Ac i Ryddeich yn gerddawr a "Dlulleo yatoria well wall (Lewya Glyn Cothi, Gwaiah," cyf. II., tnd. 315): mae ardeml Maredydd ac A'th Ngwrth- eyrniawn (L.G. Cothi. "6,,&i&b," cyt II., tud. 347). Dyna unig sail cyfiawnbad y llinnell Ac arno gyweeinwaitb." Glynned y beirdd, fodd^bynnag, wrtb y gramadegan.—Gol.) Newidiwyd paladr englyn Ap Rhidiao i oagoi proeat, gyrcb a'i aagell gyntaf i oagoi y bai rhy debyg. Ond y mae llediaith etc yo y paladr enw gwrywaidd yw llwue ao felly, llwno tew, cra. fuaaai gywir.. Amaerol a gloew yw telyneg Teifi at "Dod mae Nadolig." Diolch am dani.
BARDDONIAETH.
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BARDDONIAETH. DOD MAE NADOLIG. Dod maa Nadolig Ar aden y gwynt; Cawn gysegredig SaJmau fel cynt; Gwelwn y Preseb Ar fro a bryn, A Tbad Ttagwyddoldob Mown bythol wyn. Dod mae N adolig: Y mynydd mawr Rydd gin wynfydedig Ar doriad wawr; Fo ddaw'r weledigaeth Ar feusydd glan; Cawn glywed barddoniaeth Yibrydol gan. y Dod mas Nadolig: Mae doethion y Fiydd Yn hoifi caredir Diyfodiad y dydd; Mynyddoedd a bryniau Ddyrcbafant en Her f Ac arnynt bydd WDal1 Angylion y Net. Dod mae Nadolig Gwaredwr y Byd: Mae Nef oleuedig O'i gwmpaa o hyd 01 eana, fr enaid, Ganiadau dy ffydd; Malt Bywyd beodigcid I ti yo y Dyad. Caerdydd. Bees Rees (Teifi):
Y MEDDWY'N.
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Y MEDDWY'N. Liane roen, a llwno dew, gra«,~»yw'r meddwyn, Ormoddol fod llwydlaa Rhwth ei rawd, heb rith o ras, Gar dia9, yw'r wr diflai. Treorei. David Daviei (Ap Rhidlan).
YR HAUL.
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YR HAUL. Haul, a'i wn yw ei oleum',— yna I am an ei tblyani; A'i hardjercbog wretogi; Teyrn y nen-tarian I ni. Trebarria. Brychan.
Y CAETHGLUDIAD
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Y CAETHGLUDIAD (The Captivity). Cantata (teilwng o'i alw yn Oratorio), gan Mr D. Emlyn Evans. Coetbglodus Caetbgludiad,—yn deilvtng o dalent ein henwlad, Ser cynyrcb taDt moliant mad D. Emlyn byw ei daimlad, Stockton-ar-Dees. Asaph Glyn Ebwy.
"JOB."
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"JOB." Oratorio gan Mr David Jenkins, Mat.Bae., Cantab. Arddunol fel gardd .0iaD,-a difai Fel Dafydd ei bunan: x Yw "Job." meda pawb yn mhob man, A bydraetb yn mhobadran. Asaph Glyn Ebwy.
SEBON.
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SEBON. Gwaa rbeidiol y ddynoliaetb—yw'r Sebon I'r syber ei accowaeth Baw beliwr —rhwbio btilaetb, A graen dag ar ddil-groen daeth. Cwmaman. Dayid Davies (Derwydd Aman).
Y DIWEDDAR DDR. JOSEPH PARRY.I
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Y DIWEDDAR DDR. JOSEPH PARRY. Parri anwvlaf ein per iawn 8mWr- Y Celt moliaDoal-hyfedru. fydrwr Yr haul cerddorol-y cawraidd arwr Yu Nheml ei Náf-el mwynaf emynwrl Gwlad y Gan i glod y gwr—ymgryntedd Pan y cwympodd angau ein pen-campwr: Abercraf. G
Y DIWEDDAR EOS LLECHID.
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Y DIWEDDAR EOS LLECHID. Eos Llechid, hoewwas llachar—ydoedd, Ac asvdwr awengar; Ac mor serchog, hwyliog, ar Elrawd, a neb o'r adar. Asaph Glyn Ebwy.
" GOPRHENWYD."
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GOPRHENWYD." Lesmeiriol olygfa Ar gopa Golgotha Mi welaf;yn marw Dywysog y Nen Mewn dwyfol dotturi dros deulu v gollfa, Yo dyoddef gwac&dwydd hoelio ar bren Pan ydoedd ellyllon y fall yu eu duweb YD ffaglu ffagodau brwmstanaidd i'w ael, Fe waeddodd yr Iesu mewn ton orfoleddu8- Gorphenwyd t Gorphenwyd I Mae'r ffordd vvedi'i chael Trwy riniau yr Aberth a roddwyd gan Iesu, Boddlonwyd y Tad yn y nefoedd yn Hawn Y Ddeddf a goronwyd, Cyfiawnder goronttyd, Ymguddfan i'r euog a gafwyd mewn lawn Yn mhoethder y frwydr, nan oedd dae r ac offern Yo blysio am waed y Dihalog Per, Dolefodd yr yo uchel, Gorphenwyd I" A ffynoo iachusol sy'n rbedeg o'i gur. gorphen creu nefoedd a gorphen creu daear, Eaneder yr awyr a dyfoder y mor, A gorphen oren dyn yo Eden ddigymar, Yo hyawdl fynesu gogoniant yr lor Ond wele y gciphen rhyfeddaf yn banes Y Duwdod ei Hunan yw gorpheu y Groes- Gorphsn y drefn fendigedig sy'n llOches l'r truioO mewu tyoibestl, trwy'r baeddiant a roea. Pan floeddiodd yr Iesu ar groeabren, Gorphen. W1d I" Direrynodd y ddaear, tywyllodd yr haul Y beddtm agocwyd, a'r meini a holitwyd, Gwabanlen y Demi a twygwyd i'w sail Gorpbenwvd 1" fydd sylwedd y gan waredigol Am byth yo y nefoedd gan dyrfa ddiri', A olehwyd, a ganwyd, trwy rinwedd iachusol Y ffynon a lifodd ar ben Calf&ri. David Davies (Derwydd Aman). | CwoBunan, Aberditr.J
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
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FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. Zee's Santa Glaus. By QUEENIE SCOTT HOPPER (Author of The Old Year's Cloak," The Old Days and the New," Turned Oat," Joev. Zoe, and Old Mother Hubbard," &c., Ac.) Oh, Brenda I" Zoe danced into the gaalit sitting-room, ber chseks flushed pink with the cold, and her eyes shining with excitement. We've seen him, really seen bim, Joey and Seen who ?" Brenda asked. Santa Claus I Really and trnly Santa Clans I" I suppose," said Brenda, in a slightly superior tone, yon mean the picture Santa Claus -an Walter Willson's Christmas advertise- ment. I've seen it too, for quite a long time, on those wooden pailines beside the schools." No. dear," declared Zoe, eagerly. Real true, live Santa Claus and Walter Willson's 'vertisement is just like bim. He waa in a motor-car, and be had a lovely big fnr coat and cap, only not red, like the one he is wearing in the picture. And such a beautiful beard white acd-shi a v and soft like snow. I sai cl to Joey, Isn't that gentleman in the motor 'x,&ctly like Santa. Claus ?' and Joey looked, and said, H'm, yes shouldn't be surprised if it was, too. He's got a lot of parcels with him in the car.' "It couldn't be Santa Claus," said Brenda decidedly. "Nobody ever sees him, you know. And, besides this isn't Christmas Eve it's only the 20tb." Somebody must have seen him, some time or other, or how could they draw his picture ?" argued Zoe. "And, as for being too early, Christmas Evoison a Sunday this year, and Santa Claus can't be'spected to work on Sunday. 11 Then, you see, this place is growing so there's such lots and Iota of raw houses all round about. I 'spect Santa Claus finds be has to start earlier than be used to do, else be would bave, to leave somebody out." Well," said Brenda, with u little sigh, Claire says we had better not be too eager about him,' for she wouldn't be surprised if he I left us out this year." Zoe'e eyes grew round with dismay. Why?" she gasped. "We haven't been naughtier than usual, have we ?" 1 don't think altogether that" said Brenda, soberly. I don't think Claire supposes be would leave us out on purpose, but petbaps be might forget. Tbis is such a little bouse, you see. And if you come to think of it, it is a very long time since anything nice happened." Lots of nice thinpa happen to me," main- tained Zee. I bad a lovely time to-night with Joey, looking into all the shop windows, and planning what we would buy if we had money enough. Santa Claus has never forgotten as before," she added in tonea of faitb, after a moment's pause. And he looked at Joey and me with such a kind face out of the motor-car; I'm sure he meant to come. You haven't taken yonr list away, have yoa 1" No,' said Brenda. It's still there." And she glanced at the strip of paper, neatly tied with a blue ribbon to one of the chimney- piece ornaments, and bearing the request: Please, Santa Claus, bring Brenda A new box of crayons Lady Sybil's Choice A pair of gloves." A corresponding atrip, dangling from another ornament, petitioned in somewhat usste&dy- looking printed capitals Please, Santa Claus, bring Zoe Anything yoa think sbe would like beat." Ob, i-, i" 8aid. Zoe, with a wistful glance up the chimney. I am nearly sure he will come. Look, Brenda, there's a visitor on the bar of the grate—one of these black hanging things, you know, that Claire says means a visitor coming. And it is such a long one. I am sure it mnst be my great, big, beautiful Santa Claus." But all the same, Zoa could not belp feeling joat a little anxious and worried. The 20ttt was a Wednesday. On Thursday she saw nothing of Santa Claus except Walter Willson's advertisement on the palings near the schools. On Friday morniDg she had a terrible alarm. From one of the bedroom windows she could see her Santa Claus in the motor, speeding along the high road with his back towards the village. She gave a little chokiog sob. It waa true, then, He bad finished his rounds and gone away without leaving anything at Vine Cottaga. Zoe's heart was very hea\y all that day, and she could not chatter merrily, aa Bhe generally did, to Claire, when tbey went out together in the early dask of the winter afternoon. Claire bad to go into a bouse in the village for a few minutes' chat with an old lady who was ill. and ahe left Zoo oats ide in the little garden, looking, with her bands clasped behind her back, at tbe bright berries on Mrs Marriott's hoUy tree. 11 Teuf I Teuf I" It was a motor-oar coming round the corner. Zoe ran to the gate, and a joyful Ah I" flut- tered from her lips. It was her Santa Claus. Not gone qaite away, after aliI" He could not helpseeing the radiant little face at the gate, gazing at him with sach pleading eyes. Ho nodded to her, positively nodded, in a friendly, familiar sort of way and then (Db I wonder of wonders 1) just as be bad passed the gate he brought the motor to a standstill. Did you want to speak to me ?" a cheery voice called out from the depths of the for collar. This is the second time I have seen you looking at me very intently." A bright colour flooded Zoo's face as she ran to the side of the motor. It was only-1 w&a so glad to see yon come back again she said, eagerly. I was so afraid you had gone away without coming to as because Claire said she didn't s'pose yon would remember ns bis Christmas. I hope you don't mind my seeing you. I know people are not supposed to see you when yoa come but indeed I couldn't help it, dear Santa Claus I" This motor-horn does make rather a noise, certainly," said Santa Clans, with a twinkle in hie eye. Le; me see, where is it that yon live ?" I'm Zoe, yoa know," she answered. We live at Vine Cottage over there." Santa Claua Dolled from his pocket a note book bound in morocco. Vine Cottage," be said, thoughtfully. My memory is not what it nsed to be, I few it's well that you meationed it. And wbat ia it that is wanted at Vine Cottage ?" Well, I'm afraid it is what Joey would call rather a large order," said Zoe, apologeti- cally. "Bot if yon tbink there are too many of UI, please would you leave out me ?" Very well," agreed Santa Clans, gravely. Lot us bear what the others want." I'll begin with Brenda. She comes next to I me-about three years older. Sbe wonid like a box of crayons, please, and a pair of glove*, and a book Lady Sybil's Choice;' it is such a nice story, all about the Cruaadera and Jerusalem- Claire had it lent to her once, and she read some of it tttood to us. Then there'* Joey, he j wants a watch and a. pocket book, and aome fretwork toola. Aud 1 know Agnes wants a new prayer book, and a box of notepaper and envelopes. There's Claire still I don't quite know what to ask for her. 1 know she wants lots of things, but I tbink they're mostly for as, and Father wants some new collara and bandker- chiefs ob, yes I and some peace of mind. Claire says be needs the peace of mind dreadfully be is 1t0 worried abont things jart now, and so is Claire. I think that is why she thought you might not come to as tbia year but yoa would have come, wouldn't you ? A real, trne friend doean't ever forget people." 11 Vvell, I don't think Saata Claua will forget you, Zoe but mind, tbis it our secrat. Don't tell anyone that you saw me this afternoon." "No," promised Zoe. jumping up and down with delight. I won't tell anyone—not even Brenda.. Thank you so mn t' as the motor began to move. Good-bye, dear Santa Clans I Good-bye I" And Zoe scampered back, jnst a moment before Claire came out of Mrs Marriott'* front door. Christmas Eve, gray and cold, with falling snow at night. Everyone bad gone to church except Fatber and Zoe. Father, tired and not well, was resting in hia big armchair. Zoe set on the bearthreg, her bright bair glisteninit in tbe firelight. Her Sunday lessons weie learnt and put away. Sbe was thinking of Santa Claua. Suddenly a knock at the front door made both Father and Zoe jump. I wonder who that is ?" said Zoe, springing up. Shall I go and see ?" Father, half-asleep, gave a slight aound of assent. Zoe ran to the door. Ab, my friend Zoe I" exclaimed a hearty voice, aa she opened it. Excuse my loud knock. bat this was rather too big for the chimney I" And Santa Clana, dear white-bearded Santa Clans, with snow on his for cap and overcoat, lifted from the doorstep a mighty pack which he set down in the passage. Zoe, with a little shriek of delight, clasped both arm.- round the snowy sleeve, "1 am leaving these parta to-moeiow after- noon," said Santa Claus. "I hope yoa and I all your folk will have a merry Christmas. Give me a kiss, Zoe, before I go. You mav not see me, perhaps, next time I come." Instantly Zoe's arms were hogging his neck, and Zoe's glowing face was buried in the beauti- ful white beard. Dear, dear Santa Clans 1" sbe cried, in a choked voice. "Thank you so very, very, very I much I" Ob the rapture that arose over that wonderful ( pack t Everybody found in It what they had I wanted most, and ao very, very mach besides f When at iaat it occurred to Zoe to ask whethe* Father had got tbe peace of mind he wanted aba coald only see that ba, as well as Joey, had received a very handsome pocket-book. with a few crisp rustling papers inside, and a scrap of wilting, which said :— From Santa Claus. With hearty good wishes." But Father seemed ao extremely jsleaaed witb tbia present that perhaps Santa Clans knew beat.
A Motor Party's Escape. .
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A Motor Party's Escape. EXCITING STORY. A thrilling motor-car story by Mr T. H. Bell wood appears in the current issue of "Motoring Illustrated." A short time ago, be says, a well-known motorist, accompanied by hie wife, two sons, and a chauffeur, were returning home in a splendidly-equipped motor-car after a motor tour of several days. The road lay in dis- trict unknown to any of the party. All went well from Harrogate nntil within a abort distance of Darlington. Coming to a straight stretch of road the car was aped at about regulation limit. A level crossing, withont gates, was observed in the distance,, bounded on the left-haid side by a high wall, surronnding some works, the other side being a patch of waste land. No active signs of human or railway life being apparent, the speed of tbe car wis not materially diminished to cross the lines, which at tbis point were level with the roadway. The car was wittbin a few yards of tbe crossing when suddenly, and without the slightest warning, tbe rear end of a railway track emerged from the gateway leading from the works. So close were the motorists it wall aD utter impossibility to guide tbe car out of danger or to apply the brakss and poll np withont dash- ing into the trucks or stopping dead in the middle of the line. So quickly did gie truffles travel on tbe roadway that disaster seemed in- evitable, bnt tbe chauffeur, conscious of the value of the lives undbr his charge, with remarkable presence of mind grasped the wbole situation. With tbe desperation of a man fighting fot life against tremendous odds, and in leaa time than it takea to record tbe facta, ho cleverly swung the car across the ro,d in the hope of charging down upon a heavy poat. So accurate was his judgment tbn his wild, inataotaneooe hopes were realised. But instead of coming to a dead stop, the fotce of the impact, after smashing in the front part of the sar, turned ita body in the direction of the train, and half way acroas the metals. Catastrophe was still staring the party in tbe face, and seemed certain. Nevertbeleas, reardless of tbe terror and con- sternation of the occupants of the car, Ut4 chauffeur pat on full speed, and the progress of the car jumping and throbbing over sleeper^ after aleeper, chased by railway waggona, ir better imagined than described. AU had happened, practically speaking, in a fraction of a second. Meanwhile the engine- driver, becoming aware of wbat was happening at the other end of hia train, as quickly aa possible shut off steam and put on the brakes. So narrow bad been tbe escape from a terrible calamity that ere tbe train oouid be brought to a standstill tbe buffer of tbe waggon crashed into the rear of the car with iacb violence that the latter was lifted bodilv from the ground, the door being smashed in and wedged firmly in the framawork of tbe car, its construction, however, being sufficiently strong to sava those in the back seats from being crashed and mangled to death. It apeaka volumes for tbe pluck, courage and promptitude of the chauffeur in a moment of extreme peril, that be managed under Bach difficult and thrilling circumstances to take .bis font passengers out of the very jaws of death. Beyond severe shock as a result of the intense mental strain of those awful momenta* and a few bruises, no serious harm was done to tbe car occupants, and with a badly damaged car, both fore aft, tha motorists were enabled to reach home without farther mivbap.
Worse Than Nero. I'
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Worse Than Nero. I' MARK TWAIN ON KING LEOPOLD, K new champion, possibly more doughty than any that has arisen bitbarto, has come forward oa behalf of tbe oppressed natives on the Congo Free State. The man wbo now seeks to stir np afreab 'tbe indignation of the world at large, and of Americans more particularly, against the atrocities which bave been perpetrated under Belgian rule, is Mark Twain, who can appeal to a larger audience than perhaps any other living writer. He is con- ducting bis mission with characteristic energy, and the forcible language in which be omits attention to the pitiable plight of the natives of tbe Congo is calculated to arrest the attention of tbe most indifferent of bis bearer*. Beside Leopold, King of the Belgians," says Mr Clemens, carried away by his indignation, Nero, Caligula, Attila, Torquemada, Genghis Khan. and each killers of men rs* hwh- amateurs." Mark Twain takes for his text statistics, which ahow, he says, that since King Leopold has had absolute control of the Congo Free Stiitfl the popu- lation bas b&en killed down from 25,000,000 to 15,000,000 souls. Tbe massacres, starvation, beatings, mutilations, and outrages visited npon tbese helpless negroea are incredible until one bas read tbe calm record of facts. Tbe King's opponents say he has a.n incentive to whole- sale murder in the prospect of an. increase in hia profits from thexubber industry. The outlook," saya Mark Twain. is that England will presentlyinvitetheotber Powers to join her in demanding a searching inquiry into Leopold's performance this inquiry to be con- ducted by a commission, not appointed by him, as was the late one, but by themselves." Mark Twain has published at bis own expense a nampblet entitled Ring Leopold's Soliloquy," in which he epitomises the evidence against the Belgian monarch. Well-authenticated stories of shocking atrocities and wholesale slaughter by King Leopold's black raiders and other aubordi- aatesof the Belgian Government fill its pages.
MR LAB0UCHERE RETIRES.
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MR LAB0UCHERE RETIRES. In the Sere and Yellow Leaf." itfr Laboucbere, who has represented North- ampton in Parliament since 1880, bas decided to rstire on account of advancing age. Hia de. cision was communicated to his constituents on Saturday in a letter, written from Florence, addressed to the Liberal electors in his con- stituency, in which he says :— I bave delayed until now making this announcement because it was impossible to know when a Geseral Election would take place, and I thought tbat it would be more convenient to you for me to wait uutil the date of the election was settled and near at hand. I do not tbink my withdrawal will affect the position of parties in Northampton. In Dr. Sbipman yon have a member whoie Parliamentary action bas been in accord with the ptedgea that have already aecnted hia return, and on whose per- sonal worth all are agreed. Yon will have no difficulty in finding a man to replace me aa eager to promote the cause of democracy as I aID. and wbo will be better able to fight for tbe caaae tban one in tbe aere and yellow leaf." Mr Laboncbere first entered Parliament at member for Windsor in 1865, but in the follow iog year he was unseated on petition, and from 1867 to 1868 he sat for Middlesex. In February, 1864 he unsuccessfully contested Nottingham. His fellow member for Bome years in tbe repre- sentation of Northampton was Mr Charles Bradlaugb. Mr Labouchere in 1894 opposed Lord Rotsebery's appointment aa Premier. Be beaded a cave some 20 members who are understood to have been in favour of Sir William liarcourt's Premiership, bnt e/enjMially he with- drew bis opposition.
j HOSPITAL GIFT OF £ 20,000.
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HOSPITAL GIFT OF £ 20,000. Princess Christian of Scble»wig-Holatein, attended 07 Mn Dick Canyngham, on Satur- day afternoon opened tbe Hampstead General Hospital, the foundation stone of which her Royal Higgbncss laid Eotne two years ago. An agreeable surprise for aU, iaclndicg the Princess, was contained in the speech of Sir Henry Harben, the president, who described hea Hoy a) Highness not as a patron, bat as tha patron saint of tbe hospital. He said that if the chairman of tbe Council of the hospital would undertake within a very shott time to raise £5,000, be WiaØ authorised by an anony- moalS donor to say a gift of wonid be made to the hospi.al Tbe Princcss had thus laid soother foundation SlODe-tbe foundation stone of getting the hospital out of debt. -o-
DISASTROUS EXPLOSION.
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DISASTROUS EXPLOSION. !I Calamity In British Cumbia. Victoria, B.C.. Saturday.—A number of people have been killed and many injured at Kossland by the explosion of a magazine belonging to I Centre Star and War Eagle Mines. Grtat damage baa been done to the town.—Renter. )
I------__----! FRENCH DOCTORS…
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FRENCH DOCTORS ON TEETOTAL DRINKS. Several distinguished Paris doctors have writing in recent issues of L'Bvenemen* npon the folly of those members of tho lbUo who, by an inordinate uso of mineral waters aad teetotal drinks, thin their blood and debilitate their stomachs." Dr. Mercier-Lebon, ia partieo- lar, points oat that the majority of miaatal < waters are medicinal liquids, containing large quantities of chlorides, carbonates, sulphate#, 1 etc., which should certainly not be drunk indie* ériminatel, nnti be ntend8 thaI tbe co?&in.- oas mineralisation of the system wnbollt check or moderation becomes, in many cases, as great a danger as a'cei.iliam or excessive to smoking. If tbis continues, be predicts, before I ten yoar pass, we sbsll sea doctors frescriBing for inveterate teetotalers a pure wine care: \)octors, he says, freqasntly prescribe mineral waters In the belief that if fhev do no good they will at least do no hArm. But aro they qmte sure II lie states that appendicitis is by statiati.?* shown to bo far more prefect among teetotalers I tban áwong moderate users of ulcobol, pro- bably oo account of the weakening of tbe apponciix by excessive KiinutlliMioB.