Evening Express

St!3int5S aijljrt55f3. I GRAND CHRISTMAS DISPLAY! TO-DAY! Enormous Variety I TO-DAY! One-half Saved! I H. S AMUEL. H. SAML EL. lIe SAMUEL. WATCHES CUTLERY DIAMONDS ELECTRO-PLATE RINGS STERLING SILVER BROOCHES CLOCKS 1 FREE PRIZES I' TO PURCHASERS! ¡' CALL CALL TO-DAY! TO-DAY! Watches! Watches!. (.Kilts' #*ai Siire- Wsfches. 8/6, 10/6, 12! 13/6, 21/ 35/ 8/6, 10/6, 12/6, 14/6. < I. Btai Goid Watches, haudsomalv ?njrared, 21/ 25/ 30/ 3-3/ 42/ 18-caTat Sold Knsiish Le¥8r Watch, ]rw'!H_, ut mpeiisatfd. and balanced; ail H. lattsfc improvements, £ 5 6a.0 Th* Clbletr-iyed "Anne" Parent Lever Wa:ch. dust ♦seisins :an, sclid milrer iwies. warranted 5 ,aJIQ » million. in thousands supplied to rne Arn»> ia South Africa, 25/ 13-c-irit Gird Enghah three-quarter piat» 1.e,u Watch, adjusted for all temperatures. £ 8 10s. 0d. j} H SAMUEL'S WATCHES ARE DISTIX. r rrisHSD my THE rn-;f:^ioy OF VALUABLE [NVEiHKOX:?. PftOTKt TKD BY ROYAL I.ET- ] rERa LATENT, WHTCH GIYE ADDITIONAL >TKEN'<3T.,H TO A WATCH, AND RKNDEK IT 1 :APABWS OF WITHSTANDING THE HARDEST ,V EAA Rings! Bracelets! Rings! B r a c e I e t s Real ffio'.i HaTi-marksd Gem Rings. jet with re»l 3/6, 5/6, 8/6. C.W imai Goid Hall-mark»d Signet Rmis, 4/6, 6 6, 8/3. 10/6. iir stone) and Half Hcup Rins, ls-rat .old. 30/ 35/ 42/- aa4 to £30; »ui:abl« for Christmas Present*. Beautiful :.3-a.rar gold '5 stonei Halt Hoop Opal >tiug>; t1.. stoats iuppited in these rings sre of tii* most '.r.jti'Hi.-s dssoriptiou, and faii to Htw ;ha ui.'Boat admiration. 42/ 50/ 60/ Ths MW Fashionable Brackets. 1-adie*' Real Gold Th, MW Fashionable Brackets. 1-adie*' Real noli and Bracelet*, 35/ 42/ .]0/ n*i with Pearls and Turquoise, £ 3 3s. 0d., £ 4 0s. 0d., £ 5 5s. Od. Magnificent Ladies' real Goid Watch Bracelet, £ 4 10s. Od. Mt with Pearls and Turauoisas, jejios.od. Gold Curb Chain. Bracelets, 13/6, liJ-, 21/ 25/ Ladies' Real Goid 811ardl and Huff Chains. 25/ 30/ 35/ 42' Khh RIXFS MOUNTED OD E R PERSONAL ;ci>tKvt>iox. FINEST WOKKMANSHIP: 5TONK3 DtRKCT FROM THE AFRICAN MiNKS: Rl.Vt-rS (,OVKR\MKXT HALL. MARKED BEWARK Ob' WOJ{THLESS IMITATIONS; 1 CALL TO-DAY! Dazzling Array! SAVE POUNDS! Splendid Bargains! ( H. SAMUEL, 7, ST. MARY-ST., Cardiff. e7%1 m C. TpALMER, T HE CASH JAILOR. END OF WINTER SEASON SPECIALITIES. £ i. a. EREY TWILL OVERCOATS., 1 7 6 To order 1 (.11 Wool, Siik Facings j i or Velvet Collar). „ RAINPROOF OVERCOATS. 1 10 0 „ (Grey and Coloured, Latent Styies). MELTOX and BEAVER OVERCOAT 1100 M (Blue. Black. Brown, and Fawns; Siik, Velvet Col- lars). BLACK OVImCOAT 1 10 0 [ (Vicuna. Twill, and Cheviots, Siik Facings'. rROCK SUIT 2 15 0 „ (Silk Faciaga!, (Vicunas, Iwills, and Cheviots). DRESS SCTT 2 10 0 (Siik Facingsi. (Vicuna3, Twills. and Worsteds!. NONPAREIL SERGE SUIT. 2 2 0 M I (Fast dye. Winter weight). rwEKD snr 115 o H I] (Sp¡.mdirl .alue; tl311al J price 4~-< 1. j ] Tha a bo?- Special Lines are to Effect Clearance p^evi^us to Stocktaking. rHE IAROSST WOOTLEY STOCK IN SOUTH WALKS TO SELECT FROM. PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. I T C. pALMER, 66, QUEErN-STREET, CARDIFF, AND 3-5, CASTLE-STREET, SWANSEA. e9471 THE MOST NUTKiTJOUb. • p GRATEFUL-COMFORTtNQ. COCOA W %jr Pi BREAKFAST— SUPPER j1 ,0.1, fftujur Retires pRIZE DRAWING BENEFIT JAS. | BE ED.— Winning N-imbers i5. 691. 2.614,1 2.557. 3,501. 3.851. 1.777. ?.288, 1.023 2,059 3.266. 3.657. 10.011. 1.168, 4.45J, 3,612, 1.883. 7i, 5,i)9, 2.377. 1.884, 1.305, 454, 4,370, 5.192. 1,495 4.593, 2.174. 3512il6

Telephone: Natiaaai, 5^2. P*«t-olflce, 95, Telegrams: Expren. Cardiff.'

The Floiver controversy has ended in a draw. The R »v. J. E. Flower crested a mild sensation ar Barry by reflections upon Congrcgat;nr.al Cburcbes in Wales. Those reflections were vague, nd might well have been allowed to (Irc into the oblivion which overtakes galie: efforts. But some peon!? said they saw ioul misrepresentar feion and a variety of other things in the remarks. They held :n investigation in private, and now Mr. Flower says the find- ing or the committee has been misrepre- sented." To be "misrepresented" is often the fate ot tiiosa who hide their light under it bushel, ilr. Flower lacks grit. If the abuses he attacks are so flagrant he should risk all-including the penalties of "the law of libel"—in order to secure the purging of the Churches. What would Martin Luther or John Knox have cared for "the law of libel"? The Rev. J. E. Flower is not made of the stuff which forms reformers, and, as he cannot carry out the part, he had better drop stage presentation of it. Lord Rosebery comes out of the furrow to-nieriit. Great expectations hang upon his speech, and the shortcomings of G.P.O. are likely to be brought home to many parts of the country in a very vivid man- ner, for the breakdown in the telegraph wires, which ought to have been avoided, has not been repaired, and some parts of I the country will have to do without the speech. They will not greatly lose. Many of the expectations based upon to-night's utterance are doomed to disappointment. It is not for Lord Roseberv, at the very tail end of the African conflict, to filch the honour won by the lives of men by pro- pounding a cheap and easy method of ending the war. And beyond South Africa there is no question of really vital interest. The internal dissensions of the Liberal- Radical-pro-Boer party are of very little moment to the general public. During the last fortnight of November I the total mortality in the Orange River Colony camps was 721 out of a total of 44,966 men, women, and children. In the Transvaal it was far lower, i.e., 656 cut of 32,54-5. People who howl at this record would do well to sit down and calculate how mtffiy more would have lost their lives I if the British authorities had not taken I compassion upon the non-combatant and the helpless portions of the inhabitants of I the new Colonies. Many of them, so Lord Milner telis us, have come into the camps ?f their own accord, and will not leave now. while some who went away returned soon after in a starving condition. I'hey would have died in far greater num- bers if left to shift for themselves in a devastated country. The stringency of the new regulations as to efficiency is producing a lamentable state of affairs in many Volunteer Corps, particularly in the Metropolis. A great number of the older men have resigned because jthev find it inconvenient or im- possible to accept the order for compul- sory attendance at camp. The loss thus inflicted is not only in numbers, but in good sucotists. This is a double misfor- tune. Of course, a remedy may be found, and Sir A. K. Rollrt, M.P.. suggests that if the State compels Volunteers to forego wages it should compensate officers and men for the loss sustained. This looks an easy remedy on the face of it, but it means increased national expenditure, and it also means the virtual abandon- ment of the Volunteer principle. Is the country prepared for such a sweeping L-hange ?

Railway Disaster. TEN PERSONS KILLED. Train Wreckage on Fire. New York, Monday.—A telegram from Rock- "old, Illinois. states that yesterday morning in express and a freight train ran into each )thÚ from opposite directions on the Perry- rille and Illinois Central Railroad. Ten peraon3 lost their lives. An oil tank in the freight train exploded, throwing burning oil jver the wreck. and the odiea of the victims were reduced to ashes.—Heuter. Eight Persons Killpd. New York, Monday.—A Great Northern train was wrecked yesterday 3;: Essex, in the Rocky Moartaias. Eight people ^ere killed and many injured.—Central News.

TURKEY AND BULGARIA. Serious Frontier incider^. A serious incident is reported from the Bul- garian border. On the 11th instant three Bul- jarian soldiers, belonging to the frontier post it Chiltepe. lost their way in a thick fog, and crossed the frontier. They were fired upon by Potnaka and Turkish soldiers. One Bul- garian soldier, named Ivanoff. was arrested lnd taken a distance of four kilornetres beyond the frontier Hille, where he was decapi- tated. Hia head waa then sent to the Kaixnakam of ti.e district as the head of a rebel. The two other Bulgarians succeeded in escaping. M. Guechoff, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Agent it Constantinople, has made representation* :o the Porte on the subject. He demands the restoration of the body and head of the nmr- lerwi soldier, reserving to himself the right to ieinand full satisfaction eventually.

LONDON & NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. Important Proposal, The "Globe" cm Saturday published the fol- owing:— Our financial editor telegraphs at aoon as followsr—"It :J stated upon good iuthority that the London an;l North Western Railway Coiriosny is considering ,the advisa- bility of electrifying their entire system, whereby the service fcet*7'±en London and the North wiil iF: C'!1J"¡dera!))v accelerated." I

A COLLIERY ON FiRE. Forty Horses Killed, A Chesterfield correspondent, telegraphing last night, sayj:— A fire is raging in the Ciav Cross Colliery Company's No. 3 Colliery. All the men are out, but 40 horses ba-e been iestroyed. Efforts are being tpade to isolate the outbreak, and flooding the mine hIs been resorted to. The cau3e of the Are is unknown. rwo Goyerument inspectors were down last night.

STRiKE~AT~MAORiDf Anarchist Machinations. Maciridi, annday,— Bares!ana telegrams fle-scribe the situation here as setiou.3. Six- teen thousand men will go rut nn IHYjl;:e to- morrow. This movement is said to be the out- come of Anarchist machination,i.—Keuter.

GREECE AND MAHMUD PASHA Athena, Monday.—Mahmur! Pasha, the Sul- tan's brother-in-law, has a idna.-ed p request to the Greek Government fr<-ni Corfu, asking that the orrler for hid \;xpu1'jion may > ;• with- drawn on accounc of his health. He states he is in a very precarious state, and .hC1t he has not Ion; to live. The VK'oition of the ik^'enic Government in the matter ;a :1., rlitfiru;: one. inasmuch as public opinion favours the fugi- tive.— Reuter.

Charge of Fleecing Army Men. Charies Watkins. 63, described as an analyti- cal chemist, of 12, Trinity-street, Leytonatone. was ch>:rgad at Stratford. Essex, on Saturday. under the Prevention of Crimes Act. for that he. being a convict on ticket-of-leavc, is getting his livslili ;od by d'ahoaeet means. The charges against the prisoner included forging and uttering rsquests for the payment of money to Colonel Thorneycroft in the name of James Clifford, and forging and uttering a request for money to General Byam T,a¡'ca 1- dine. of douLhampton. ir. the name of Captain Ma honey. In reply to th-; charge, the prisoner s".id to the detective v'l-o gave evidence. "I admit I am 3n impostor. I wente the letters, aul htire had the money. I shall give yryu nG trouble.. I am an old service man, and was educated at Oxford. I cannot get employment, and I cannot starve." The Bench ordered a remand.

Kever put. ,>fi milking "p vuui miud iijf!i you fir.d you irfc "Not uy to tije snarS,1' bat tike, without deiay, Gwilym Kvaat' Quinine Bitters; in bottles, Zs, 94. 4.. e3919-1

r People Talked About. The new Westminster County-court judge, Judge V'oodfail, is a relative of the Lord Chancellor. The veteran artist. Sir J. Noel Paton, R.S.A., The veteran artist. Sir J. Noel Paton, R.S.A., the King's Limner for Scotland, has just entered his eighty -first year. ifr. Woodruff. who is spoken of aa Mr. Choate's successor as United States Ambas- sador, is a very young man and immensely rich. Messrs. F. Low, A. Powell, Gore-Browne. Meek. Moon, Stewart-Smith, and S. Q. Buck- master have applied for appointments as King's Counsel. Mr. St. John Brodrick celebrated his forty- sixth birthday on Saturday. The War Secre- tary is an Irishman by descent and the heir- apparent to an Irish peerage. The Earl and Countess Bathurat have been visiting the Duke and Duchess of Somerset at Maiden Bradley, Somersetshire, and the Earl and Countess of Ports at Hurstbourne Park, Rants. The King is said to like very simple table decoration, and to have a great dislike to an over-dressed table. When he dined at Sir Ernest Cusselto the other evening the only decoration on the table was a mass of valley lilies in a large silver bowl. Mr. T. Milvain, K.C., states that neither nor indirectly was he ever offered the pest of Judge at Westminster C, unty-cIH1rt, All reports connecting his name with the appointn.enr. have been wholly unauthorier-d, and are without foundation. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire go to Chat6worth tbis week for Christmas, and their party will be almost identical with that of last year, Mr. Leo Trevor and Miss Muriel Wilson being among the many amateur actors who will be there to take part in the theatricals arranged for the first week in January. Counters Cadogan is the fourth of the 3econd Lord Craven's five daughters, and Lady Wilton, Lady Coventry, and Lady Emily Van de Weysr are her sisters. She celebrated her silver wedding with Lord Cadogan last year. and ]8 one of the most amiable and graciOU31 of society leaders on either side of St. George's Channel. The had decided not to move into Buckii.-i. in Palace until after next Easter, when the alterations will be complete in every detail. During the Easter recess the private effects of the King and Cleen will be trans- ferred to the Palace, and those of the 1'rhics and Princess to Marlborough Ilouae, Though their actual oecap ion will not, begin until May The late Sir William MacCormac was fully óft. 2in. or 3in. tall; he was broad-shouldered, and at the same time without any of the obesity which comes with middle age; and his face—very long—with a splendid beard and whiskers of ruddy brown colour and a fine, well-shaped 11033 and full beautifully-shaped mouth, made him look always a king among men. The Prince and Princess of Wales aie very full or engagements. They are to pay visit3 to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. LOllI and Lady Amherst of Hackney, Lord and Lady Leicester, and Lord and Lady Iveagh. In the spring, when they lay the foundation stone of the Liverpool Cathedral, they will be the guests of the Mayor, and iben pay a visit to Lord and Lady Derby at Knowsley Park. The Earl of Portsmouth owes his baptismal rams of Newton to the fact that his great- great-grandfather, Viscount Lymington (who died vivo patre), married the niece and co- heiress of the famous Sir Isaac. The preset earl. however, has a turn for polemical theology, and thoroughly understands the philosophy of a motor-ca-, which he drives as expertly as any peer in England. Sir James Laing, the weil-known Sunderland shipbuilder, died on Friday, aged 78. He was the son 01 Mr. Philip Laing, of Deptford House, Sunderland, and waa twice married, first in 1847 to Mary, daughter of Mr. Henry Tanner, of Bishopwearmouth, and secondly, in 1855, to Theresa Talbot, daughter of Mr. T. Peacock. In 1383 he occupied the position of President of the Chamber of Shipping of the United King- dom, and four years ago was knighted. When a man is a lieutenant-general with an exceptionally brilliant retard, is good-looking, still well on the right 2 de of 60, and a bachelor, it is not surprising that h: should be an object of considerable interest to the fair sex, and Lieutenant general Sir Archiba !1 i Hunter. K.C.B., D.S.O.. commanding the forces in SWand. is probably at present the man moat discussed in Edinburgh drawing- rooms. Miss Nina Boucicault, who is to play the r.art of "Harriet" in "Shock-Headed Peter" at the Garrick, is a daughter of the late Dion Bouoicault. She made her debut in South America at the early age of fifteen, playing j with her father, and she hns also toured through Canada and Australia, in which latter country she was especially popular. In private life Miss Boucicault, who is an. exceedingly dainty, rretty little lad; is Mra. Edward iv'tsily, her husband being an actor well known in parts of the- "Júhnny" type, who made a distinct hit as "Adoiphe Spink" in The Dancing Girl." Mr. H. M. Stanley waa once sent for by ths Kuig 01 an irnpoii ;'nt tribe in t ganda-, and seriously aske.l for a statement of the vital truths of the Christian rsligion. Mr. Stanley was a little staggered, but suggested to the dusky majesty that missionaries should the dusky majesty that missionaries should be sent for. Nonsenst," said the dark King on his throne, or I:la native equivalent] to that word, "you are a Christian. You I must tell me all." Whereupon the gallaut j explorer had to sit down in the presence of the entire court, a moS iignified and intelli- I gent assembly, and repeat the A B C of Chris- tianity: and not only that, but to teach the monarch and courtiers the Lord's Prayer, the Creeds, and the Commandments. Ths death of Admiral Sir George Elliot re-calls a very curious alfle-cont b. Sir George Elliot, the coal magnate, had been making a speech about a proposed cwai trust, a combine of some twenty collieries, and a reporter way told ofF to interview him. He vas shown up by a powdered footman, and found an elderly gentleman with an car trumpet, suffering from a severe cold and in his dressing-gown, "What is it you want, sir?" inqnired the invalid. "I've come to interview you, Sir George, in reference to the great coal trust." "Coal dU.,t? I don't understate! What coal dust?" "Coal trust, -ir. You are Sir George Elliot, I believe." "Yes. I'm Sir George Eiliot. Admiral of the Fleet. The fellow you want is some colliery cbap." The reporter had looked U,) the address in the Blue-buok, and had hit on the wrong Sir George. Three or four years ago Dean Hole, who has just entered upon his eighty-third year, crossed from the Continent, and had a long and most- stormy crossing. Lauding, much exhausted, at Dover, be found the tidal service disarranged, and there was an unusual delay at the. station To fill np the time, the dean made a study of the raiiway company's bye- hm3 and rules on the station wall. As he pored over the regulations an inspector came up. "All," said the dean addressing him, "it's one ¡;onsolatioH. after 311Ch a crossing and this tiresome wait, that we go back half-price "I don't understand, sir," was the man's reply; ''there is no apecial reduction." "Oh, yes, there ia," said the Dean. "I've just been reading all your notices, and you state that you take 'returned empties' at a mucli reduced rate." By the death of Lord Sefton, who passed away la3e week as the result of an acddent that befel him over seven years ago, while riding in a steeplechase at Aintree, one of the largest and most valuable estates in England (the Liverpool property alone is worth £ 150,000 a year, they say) passes to a new owner, and the most dis- tre38inc; of recent tragedies among the nobly barnhasbeertbroughtto a bitter consumma- tion. Early in the spring of 1394 young Lord },fo]yne1U, as he was known while et'll his father's heir, fell in love with the Lady Mary Willoughby, the lovely > young daughter of Lord and Lady Ancaster. He was I 25 and she was seventeen, and still in tho schoolroom. The parents 0:1 both sides approved, and the young people became formally engageo A few weeks later the gallant young lover was riding in the ,A,tcar Steeplechase, and at the fourth fence his horse fell. throwing him heavily on his head. He did not appear to be-seriously iiurt. hut he was too much shaken to con- tinue the contest, and another rider mounted i his horse. Scotch Bridge, strange to say. in spite nf the accident to her first rider, won the race. but isay3 "Free Lance") poor Moly- neux never crossed a liorse again.

The beginnings of i)!r.P3i> must be nipped in the bud, ■UI4 trwiiym Qn;ldne Bitten gatheis up strength in the system to dineftse -of every iind. Bottles, 2?- 34. atd 64. e3919-l

|To-day's London Press. —. VIEWS ON VARIOUS TOPICS. | Bruce-Hamilton's Latest. For such iron determination, staying power, and conspicuous efficiency no recognition can be too warm. Genera! Bruce Hamilton and his colleagues have got their troops to do not merely all that could be expected cf men, bat a little more. This is precisely what is wanted in South Africa, and if all the leaders of columns could emulate the exertions which have been so amply rewarded in the Ermelo district, we should not have long to wait for t\j wiping out of the enemy.—"Daily Tele- grtph." II Prosecution of the War. The spirit of the Mother Country as to the prosecution of the war is splendidly reflected in the great self-governing communities it hr.3 been her giory to found in the remotest regions of the globe. The Government "nave accept-ed the offer of Canada to add two companies to the contingent of Mounted Eittes now being organised for service in South Africa. This organised for service in South Africa. This will bring the new force up to a strength of 9J0 men. New Zealand, the most Radical of all those communities, has always shown the flrmeat determination to support the cause of I; the Empire in what her free citizens perceive to be a just and a necessary war.—"Times." Unpatriotic Persons." Mr. Seddon's reference to the unpatriotic I persons in Great Britain should make these persons ponder, if they are ever capable of a moment's calm thought now. He is a Radical, the most Radical Premier in the British Empire, the Premier of the Colony which has been perhaps the most daring in its advanced Liberalism. But he is a mil..ant and enthu- siastic Imperialist, and he flatly tells some of those in the Mother Country who caB them. selves his fellow-Liberals that their aoiion has coniributed materially to the prolonga- tion of a great and cosily war, and has shown that they do not understand the meaning of patriotism.—"Daily Express." Only One Language. Too much importance can hardly be attached to the English language, which must hence- forLh be the only language officially recog- nised in the Transvaal and the Orange lliver C-olony. That English will be the official lan- guage is a matter of course. It must also be the language of the schools, and no public money must be given tu the support of the Taal in any form, except, perhaps, a3 the medium of teaching English in the infant school to those children whose parents cannot speak English. Of course, there will be an outcry from the Pro-Boers, which the Govern- ment, if it is wise, will ignore. The Taal is not a civilised language, and will not survive the competition of English, provided only that the Governme.nt follows, without swerving, the policy that commends itself to common-sense. —"Morning Post."

A P!GAM!8TS DEVICE. Singular French Story. "So you are not dead, after ail!" was the amazed exclamation of a gentleman as he chanced to meet on one of the boulevards & lady on whom he had not set eyes for yeara. "I am so glad to find that you are still alive," he continued, as he gazed admiringly at her. "Dead!" she replied, with equal astonish- ment. "What do you mean? Do you intend the remark for a joke? Ii so, I think it a very poor one." Then ensned an explanation, which was frequently interrupted by shrill crie3 of "The wretch!" and soon the fascinating creature was on her way to the nearest police commissary, to whom she confided her grievance. It appears (says the Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph") that some time ago she was married to a man of business, but, as the couple could not agree, they soon sepa- rated, by mutual consent. Several years afterwards the husband, during a tour in the provinces, fell in love with a pretty girl, another wedding being the result, lie settled with his new wife at some little distance frOm Paris, and, as the lady to v.l-.om he had originally been married was, on her side, living far away from the gay city, he told all his friends who inquired after her that she was dead. But for the fact that the first wife. during a rare and very brief visit to the capital, had happened to meet a gentleman who knew all about the fresh menage, she might never have discovered the secret of har husband's second venture. He was arrested on Saturday on a charge of bigamy, and an investigation into this queer case is being actively carried on.

AN EDINBURGH GiRL STRANDED. Abandoned in London. A sad story was unfolded in th; Edinburgh Police-court on Saturday. Georgina Temnant, a young girl, was charged with stealing £120 from her employers, who were daiiykeepers. The actusc d became the dupe of a man whose acquaintance she made in Princess-street. This iildivi<.i.llal. it is said. after advances, which were reciprocated, persuaded the girl to steal the depost receipt and run a way i.o Aus- tralia with him. After the theft he cashed the receipt at an Edinburgh bank, »and the pair took the first train to London the following day. They proceeded to a 8teamshi¡.; office, and the man went inside, apparently to book the two pas- sages. The accused waited in "Vain for hi* return, and. 0+1 .inquiry in tbe office, found that the man had gone out by ancther door without having accomplished his eirand. Needless to say, she never saw him again, and the girl wandered about London without a copper in herpocket. The ,Scotland-yard authorities could find no trace of her until a few days ago. when she was arrested from a description issued by the Edinburgh police, and taken back to Edin- burgh. The betrayer ia said to have gone to Australia.

RUINED BY BILLIARDS, Albert Sparshott, 27, traveller, of High- street, Stoke Newington, was charged on Saturday at North London Police-court with embezzling various sums of money receiTed by him for and on account of his employers, the United Kingdom Tea Company (Limited). The prisoner was employed in connection with th3 branch of the company at High- street, Utoke Newington, and Mr. A. E. Albury, the branch manager, said the defalcations amounted to £8 or .£10. The prisoner pieaded Guilty," saying that he was very sorry this had happened, but he had acted on temptation. Mr. Fordham: Had you any trouble that caused you to be in want of liloney? Prisoner: No. Detective-sergeant M'Arthur: He told me that he had spent the money on billiards. The manager said that he heard that the midI was niaying billiards, and that caused him to make inquiries. Mr. Fordham said if the man would give particulars as to his relatives he might be able to take a certain course. The prisoner said he did not wish to bring trouble on his relatives. Mr. Fordha.m: My only alternative, then, is tú send you to gaol. The prisoner then said he would give the information, and he was then remanded.

THE LADY AMD THE DUELLlSTb It was in the Bois de Vincennea on Saturday morning. Two men were standing before each other, rapier in hand, and four more, flanked by a couple of doctors, were looking on. The traditional "Allez, messieurs!" had been uttered by one of the seconds, and the prin- cipals had started on the combat, when a pretty young woman, ghastly pale and trembling, appeared 5 Todeniy and unex- pectedly on the scene, and crying. "Stop! For God's sake, stop!" darted between them, receiving from 011e of the adversaries a thrust, which, fortunately, only pierced the sleeve of her mantle. Th^n, as the two foes took in the strange situation, their rapiers were lowered, and, after some pathetic passages, they were grasping each other's hands affectionately as a prelude to their return to Paris together, and in the company of the lady. It is a touching story (says the Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph"). The two men, who had served together as non,coiJllu16sioned officers in the same regiment, had been fast friends and true comrades, until one day they had quarrelled over some matter. Blows had even been^exchauged, so they had decided on a. duel. They had begun the fight, and there is no knowing how it might not have ended if the wife of one of them, guessing that something was wrong, had not followed her huaband to the Bois de Vincennes and rushed between them, at imminent peril to her own life. Natu- rally, neitLer of the combatants had the heart to reject nar intervention, the old friendly feeling promptly returned, and pr.ace was restored. There is little risk of its being ever broken again.

The Bp3t Remedy of the Ase, Gwiiym Erans' Quinine Bitt-ers, for Weakne»s, Nirvou-snese, and lndi. ¡;es.t!OR, fOf Sleepleesnes», Chest A1!ectjonB, and Influ- tcia, for Losa of Appetite and ibew Spirit;. Bottles, is 9d. and 401. 60. e391H

"UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY." 'is Neyland People Summoned, AN mm~BURNT. Sequel to the Contracts' Chse. No less than twenty residents of Neylaod appeared before the Haverfordwest magistrates on Saturday on a. charge of "unlawful assembly." It was a sequel to the hostile reception given Mr. Anthony James, the gentleman who was acquitted in the War Office contracts case, on his arrival at Neyland, after the conclusion of the trial in London. Mr. R. Carrow presided over a full bench of magistrates. Mr. W. Davies-George prosecuted on belief of the police, and Air. 11. T. P. Williams defended all nM accused. The charge against the fol- lowing seven, for the 6th of No-emoer, was first dealt with :-John Davies, Frederick- street; James Arthur Harries and Sidney Bo'.i lauds, High-street; William Nicholas, Lawr¿lll1y-terrae,t;; Henry Griffiths, Common Hills; and Albert Morgans and Walter Walters, Mastle Bridge. Mr George stated that on the even- ing of the oth of November a. crowd assembled at the Great Western Rail- way Station, Neyland, to await the arrival of the Corit express, ill which there was a gentleman travelling down from Lou- don who was to IcE; made the subject of some exhibition of dislike. The train, ciue at 11.15, was sn hour and three-quarters late. but the crowd remained, and he would aek the magis- trates to take their persistence into considera- tiül1 wheu dealing with the case. Police-ser- geant Thomas and two constables were pre- sent. and wlJen the gcntJeman rèterred to, Mr. Anthony James, alighted from the train the sergeant hurried him out of the station and up the High-street to his home. The cro. d followed, and their attitude was such that the sergeant felt it necessary to take precautions to prevent what might have iJe311 a breach of the peace. An unlawful assembly had been described by Mr. Justice Charles as aa assem- bly of persons to carry out any common pur- pose, lawful or unlawful, in such a manner as to give other persons reason to fear a dis- turbance of the peace. He had not. therefore, to prove that the assembly was in itself unlaw- ful, but that it took piace in such a way as to give reasonable grounds to fear a breach of the peace. In that connection the time was an important point for consideration. Police-sergeant Thomas said there were between 50 and 60 persons at the station at eleven o'cIvet;, but these dwindled down to 3ù or 40 at 12.30, when the train arrived. During t1Je ]Jrü;;ret:!3 to jlr. James's house the crowd shouted, Traitor." Come out," &c. When near the house the police held the crowd in oheck, but the latter found a way round, and again got close to the house. He heard Har- ries say, "These hj— police are a nuisance. Why don't J'OU go home and go to bed?" (Laughter.) Rowlands also said, "Why the h- don't you go to Honey borough or some- where out of the way?" (Laughter.) Cross-examined,, witness sakl that the remarks he had just quoted were ma.d& jocu- larly, and ho used similar language in reply, saying. Why the h don't you mind your own OUSi¡;éGS? It is my duty to look after the public peace." (Laughter.) He was serious, a8 he waa a little raw over their proceedings. The crov.rd was large enough to have over- whelmed the police, but he thought they were deterred by the presence of the "law" from doing anything wrong. Tuere were no assaults or tin-ea, s. Mr. Anthony James was then sworn. He said his present address was Soathsea. He corro- borated the evidence of the police. He heard the crowd shouting and booing after he got into the house. Their action frightened him on the way from the station. Mr. C. Llewellin, the previous witness's son- in-law, corroborated. After retiring for consideration, the Bench announced their decision to dismiss the case. Loud applallse was at once raised, but was suppressed. Burning an Effigy. Subsequently the charge against the follow- ing thirteen persons in regard to the 7th of November was gone into:—John Jones, Great Honeyborough; Thomas Evans, blacksmith; Thomas John, Neyland Hill; William Jarvis, Cambrian-terrace; George Macken, Cambrian- terrace; William Lewis, Front street; William Lewis, Middle-street; Thomas Mathias, Front-street; James Williams, Riga- place; William Brooks, Church Lakes; Wil- liam Warlow, Neyland Cottage; John Harries, labourer; and William James. Mr. George said this caM arose out of pro- ceedings which took place- the following night, when a large crowd of several hundreds assembled in front of Mr. James's house and burnt an cfiigy in a garden opposite belonging to Mr. Coram. There was one thing which above all else ought to have deterred them, and that was the fact that Mrs. James was lying dangerously ill at the time. Mr. Williams protested that this was only introduced to prejudice the case. Mr. George said evidence would be given that it was brought to the knowledge of the crowd. Superintendent Francis said he told the crowd they had better not turn the effigy near :1r. James's house as Mrs. James was dan- gerously ill. There were nearly 400 people assembled in the roadway. The effigy was lighted at the back of the hopse, but when he gave his men the order to "Quick march" the crowd went down into High-street. Evidence of identification was then given. The Chairman, after consideration, said he hoped the bench had arrived at a fair solu- tion. Their decision was that the five men, Warlow, Harries, Jones. Lewis, and Brooks, should be bound over to keep the peace for twelve months in the sum of £10 each. The other casea would be dismissed. lIe was afraid a very great deal of false sentiment and bad feeling had been introduced that ought not to have been manifested. On the application of Mr. Williams, the bench decided to remit the costs.

FLOODED ToAtT AT^ARDIFF. An Inconvenience to Roath People On several occasions Lowther-road, which connects Richmond-road and Salisbury-road under the Rhymney Railway at Cardiff has been flooded in consequence of the sewer being inadequate. Upon the report of the borough engineer, the public works committee of the Cardiff Corporation recommended that a duplicate sew^r be constructed from the junction of Oordon-road and Richmond-road down West-grove and Fitzalan-place to Filzaian-road at a cost of .21,775. As no provi- sion had been made in the estimate for this expenditure, it waa necessary, under a recent resolution, that the subject should come before the finance committee, who he1d a meeting to- day, under the chairmanship of Alderman S. A Brain.—Mr. Courtis stated that on Thursday last the pit under the railway bridge was flooded. He had to drive through two feet of water, and the communication for foot pas- sengers between the Cat-hays and Park wards at this point was entirely cut off. It was, cer- tainly, necessary to do something to prevent the flooding of Lowthev-road in times of heavy rains.—The finance committee decided to seek powers to borrow the money necessary lor the improvement.

SWANSEA THEATRICAL MAN Turns licensed Victualler. Mr. W. Jones, well known in Swansea through his connection with the old Star Theatre, where in his younger days he occu- pied a prominent position, appeared before the Cardiff magistrates to-day, and was granted the licence of the Cardigan Arm- Bute-3treet, transferred to him from David Gormon. the late landlord.

LOS r IN THE SNOW, Two Radnorshire Gamekeepers Missing. The Central News Knighton correspondent telegraphs that two gamekeepers are missing from their homes at LIvingv.illo. It is supposed they have been lost in the snow on the Radnor- shire Beacons, but no traces of them have yet. been found. They have been missing since Thursday. A dog which accompanied them returned home on Friday. A third man has been found dead in a snowdrift in the same neighbourhood. 'I.

COAL-TRTMMING CHARGES. Expected Satisfactory Arrangement. The adjourned meeting of the CardifF Ship- owners' A8soci:J.tion Committee and the repre- sentatives of the CoaHrimmers' Union was held at the Exchange thia morning, Mr. Humphrey Wallis. chairman of the Ship- owners' Association, presiding. It is grated the meeting was very amicable in character, and that considerable progress was made towards a settlement of the points at issue. The proceedings were ultimately adjourned until to-morrow, when it is expected that a satisfactory arrangement will be arrived at without much difficulty.

COAL. COAL. COAL! Get your Coals direct from ihe collieries. Send fer price Hat to Morris IP'd Leed- ader, Ctiiixry Proprietors and Agents, 2a, Fitzalan- road, Cardiff. Nat. Tel.—Cardiff, 1,026; Newport, 277. 254. 2548, 1,523: Post-effic«, Nswpert, 561,

r Drift. Golf has caught on in France. Of late suicides from London's bridges have been remarkably frequent. There will be no exhibition at the Burlington Fine Arts Club this sea-son. To judge by the crowds at the ping-pong tournament, the game is becoming a national "spoi-t." The proposed telephonic connection between Berlin and London will not be carried through. At the Dublin Law Courts a fire destroved robes, books, and furniture belonging to Lord Justice Holmes. One hundred schemes for old age pensions have (says the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies) been put forward. At the Gimcrack Club Mr. Wilson Todd, M.P., stated that American jockeys had bene- fited English race-riding. Professor Behring's experiments demonstrate the possibility of rendering cattle immune to tuberculosis by inoculation. In Berlin, when a poor person dies and leaves no heir, the bed is taken by the Town Council, and lent to the very poor. Northwich licensed victuallers will increase the price of beer from 2Jd. to 3d. per pint in consequence of the Child Messenger Bill. The Society of Architects has resolved that the gold medal of the society shall be -pre- sented to Mr. Walter Emden, the past presi- dent. The Stanford University, in California, has now received a total benefaction of six mil- [ lions, from the late Senator Stanford and his widow. An assistant hangman has been appointed in the person of Mr. John Ellis, a braid draper, of Rochdale. He is proud of his appointment. Mr. Acla.:1i. of Nantyglo, has been appointed secretary and manager of the Llanelly Gas- wor.M. He will enter upon his duties at the en I of the present- year. The gold yield of the State of Victoria for the eleven months of the present year amounts to 684,175 ounces. The yield during November amounted to 53,426 ounces. On the golf-links. "A possibility. Erratic Striker: "Deuce take it! I wonder if I shall ever hit anything." Caddie: "You may—some day you may fall out of a balloon." Extraordinary, indeed, are the freaks of memory. A musician was known to call his flute a tufle. thus using all the letters of the right word, which it was impossible for him to speak. An extraordinary occurrence is reported from Limerick. Two persons were committed to a local lunatic asylum, and were in the institution eome days before it was discovered that they were sane. Princess Henry of Battenburg has consented La unveil the window in Hereforrl Cathedral which is being erected as a memorial to the late Queen. The ceremony will take place next April. The Marquess of Bute has given a Christ- mas donation of JE10 to the Cardiff branch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul—a Roman Catholic confraternity that works among the poor and assists deserving cases. Obstinate people who in argument rely more on muscularity than on intellectual power, rest the feet flatly and firmly on the ground, walk heavily and slowly, and stand with the legs firmly planted and far apart. Missie CLIII., a five-year-old shorthorn cow, has been sold by Mr. Marr, of Tarves. Aber- deenshire, to Mr. Edwards, a Canadian breeder, for 1.200 guineas. This is the highest sum ever paid for a female of the shorthorn class. A tablet in memory of Private John Ball, son of Coloar-sergeant James Ball. has been placed in St. John's Church. Troedyrhiw. Private Eall volunteered for active service in South Africa with the First Volunteer Com- pany, but died from disease. The English of board school children has been much canvassed lately, but none of the instances of unconscious humour quite reach that extract from an essay on country subjects published in the first book written on the subject: "The cows had legs at the four comers, as usual." The four hundred odd Scottish Selling boats which have been engaged in Yarmouth during tha herring season have just returned to Scot- land after a very successful time. It is esti- mated that the fleet have earned the extra- ordinarily large sum of £100,000 during their short absence from Scotland. It is regarded as probable that there will be 110 Rectorial contest in Glasgow when Lord Rosebery's term of office expires next autumn, as the proposal to elect Lord Kelvin by the unanimous vote of the students is daily gain- ing in favour among Liberals and Conserva- tives alike. The Crown Prince of Siarn will visit Man- chester to-morrow and Wednesday. He will bo the guest of Earl Egerton of Tatton. The Prince will be accompanied by the Siamese Minister, and by his aide-de-camp. Colonel R-ajaviillah. Mr. Frederick Verney, Coun- cillor of the Siamese Legation, will also be with the Prince. The Local Government Board has come down severely upon the boards of guardians that have adopted the latest device for scaring tramps away from their casual wards. It has sent out a memorandum pointing out that boards of guardians "cannot make it a condition of admission to the vagrant wards that all vagrants should be vaccinated." President Roosevelt is showing that he means business in his attempt to secure purity of administration. He has taken the unusual step of removing from office the Governor of Oklahoma Territory on the ground of improper connection with the contract betwen that territory and a sanitarium company. The President roundly declares that the Governor has shown "such an entire lack of appreciation of the high fiduciary nature of the duties of his office as to unfit him for their further discharge." The toad is a very useful animal about the house. There isn't a better fly-catcher. I trained a toad once, and kept it in my room. Its place was on the window-bench, and it was my diversion to see it catch flies. If riflemen could aim as it does with its tongue, they would be invincible. Its aim is as unerring as its glance. Its tongue is made so that it can b9 run out nearly two inches. It is 110 sharp that it spears a fly as upon the point of a needle, and it is done as quick as a man can wink. It requires very great attention to see the operations. "Free Lance" declares it knows a man who had suffered from rheumatism for years. He went to pretty little Portishead and pitched his tent there. He arrived perfectly helpless, and waig obliged to be carried into the house. lIe went out afterwards on two crutches, which he used for a week. On the second week he discovered that one crutch and one stick were sufficient. In a week more, or ten day's at the outside, two sticks consoled him. Then one stick was all he wanted. Finally, after six weeks, he walked easily about the Como grounds and the Portishead woods. Moral: Go to Portishead for your "pick-me-up." It was a famous American, Henry Ward Beecher, who saw in England the greatest power on earth. "England," said Mr. Beecher, "has been destroyed, every ten or fifteen years —from the time of the Armada to the present day-in the prophecies of men. Every few years she has been about to be overthrown by sea; she has been about to be ploughed up by the land; she has been about to be stripped of her resources in India and in other parts of the globe. Nations have fornied alliances against her; the armies and fleets of the civi- lised world have gone about her; her interests, political and pecuniary, have been repeatedly and violently assailed; and yet she stood, as she now stands, mistress of the eeas, and the strongest Power on earth."

OADBURrS COCOA is a pure, rffinsd beverage, nutritious, stimulating, and diges- tible. The "Lancet" says it "represents the standard of highest purity." Entirely free from admixtures, such as kola, malt, hops, alkali, Ac. Insist upon having CADBTJR,Y'S, as other Cocoas are sometimes substituted for e<tr& profit. In Packets and Tina only «*•

Lady Swimmers. SHOULD THEY RACE l»i THE PRESENCE OF MEN P Last summer, it will be remembered, the question whether >r?Ties should swim races in the presence of men was exhaustively dis- cussed, with the result that in September, for the first time in the h i5tory of swimming, ladies competed in public for a recognised championship race, when Miss E. Styn, of Brighton, won the 100 yards championship of the Southern Counties' Swimming Association. There were some, however, who disagreed with this decision, and on Saturday the vexed question was again raised at the annual council mecli»'t~ of the Southern Counties' Association, w;i a proposal was made that in future the Ladies' Swimming Championship of England should be decided in the presence of none but ladies. When put to the vote the proposal was lost, thirty-nine favouring the presence of men, and only eighteen voting for an audience of ladies only.

Man of the Moment, TO-MORROW THE MILLENNIUM Mr. G. R. Sims is sarcastic. He "under- stands" that in his speech to-night oLrd Rose- bery "will ,1llnounce the terms of peace he is prepared to accept in order to stop the war. Any doubt as to Lord Rosebery having the power to represent Great Britain in the matter is sat at rest by the statement that when he has spoken on Monday the Government will have no choice but to resign and make way for a Liberal Administration w itll Lord Rose- bery as Prime Minister." And he goes on to say: "It Ma wonderful power for one man to hold, of settling a great war, reviving trace, clearing off the nation's financial liabilities, and restoring Britannia- the Hagar of the nations—once more to the lore and confidence of the Great Powers. And all in a single speech. The terrible thought that will occur to moat of us not privileged to grasp these things quite so quickly as some of oaf halfpenny guiùes.!1hilosophers, and friends do is thin: Why has Lord Rosebery, the man who holds the destiny of the British Empire on the tip of hia tongue, refrained from using his magic power so long? Think of the millions of money that we should have saved; think-of the Cojiti-j nental crusades of hatred that would never havc been started against us; think of the: prosperous, peaceful, pious people we should now be if only Lord Rosebery lmd spoken his mind a year ago. However, better late than never. "re have only to-day to get through. Only a few more hours' wallow in the Slough of Salisbury; only a few more hours of the Jingoism of Joseph, the hatnality of Balfour, and the blundering of Brodrick. On Monday night the righteous roar of Rose- bery will ring through the realm. After Monday, the Millennium!"

FAMINE iN CHINA, 2,500,000 Deaths. The commissioner of the "Christian Herald," who is investigating the condition of the famine-stricken region in China (say^ a Peking telegram), writes from Slanfu that the autumn crop will furnish a few months' food. but being the first successful crop for five years i* will not be sufficient to last until another can I be harvested. He predicts a repetition of the famine in the coming spring. The deaths from famine in Shensi he places at two and a half millions, equal to 30 per cent. of the popula- tion. The commissioner rode for four days through villages to the north of the Weiho River, seeing hardly 200 people. The whole region is abandoned and desolate.

PAN-AMEHJGAN CONGRESS. A Complete Failure. Trie Pan-American Congress is a failure. Ottldal advices announce the intention of the Argentine delegates to inform the Congress at "the session to-day that they withdraw. Their example will be followed by the delegales of Perno Bolivia, Uruguay, ancl Venezuela. This action has been taken as the result of the stand made by the United States against com- pulsory arbitration, which is desired by Argentina, because it would lead to a settle- 1 ment of irritating boundary disputes, and would probably result in the return of Tacna Arica to Peru, with a consequent lessening of Chili's resources and importance in South America. The United States Administration proposes to urge the Congress at least to recommend the Governments to accept the other features of the programme than arbitration, but (says the Washington correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph") in view of the prospective with- drawal of the delegates it is not believed in Pan-American diplomatic circles that any- thing can be accomplished.

EASTBOURNE TRAGEDY. At Eastbourne on Saturday an inquest was held on the body of Laurence Osborne, aged nineteen, a painter, of 57, Askew-crescent, Shepherd's Bush, who is alleged to have wounded a young woman, named Alice Fun- nell, and to have afterwards shot himself, on Thursday evening. A letter written by the deceased on the night before the tragedy stated that he was married, or on the point of being married. Henry Lewis Coup gave evidence showing that Osborne was very fond of Miss Funnell, who is the daughter of a tobacconist at Hail- sham. One night, said witness, Osborne called at her house after midnight, and the young lady's father directed him to go away. Deceased had a revolver, and handed it over to Miss Funnell ^on Thursday week. Oscar Funnell, father of Miss Funnell, said his daughter told him that deceased informed her that his own father had died and left him £2,000. Witness's wife found some oxalic acid and cartridges in their daughter's pocket. He (Mr. Funnell) spoke very strongly to the girl, who said she took them from Osborne, The landlady of the house in Ceylon-place next gave evidence, and stated that the young couple arrived at her residence on Wednes- day evening, and occupied the same room. Police-constable Richard King said he found the girl moaning. The revolver was within two inches of the hand of the deceased. It was stated by the coroner that the girl was unlikely to be able to attend the court for some weeks, if she recovered. The inquiry was adjourned for a week.

ENGLISH CLAIM S O tTf U R K E Y. Although the strenuous efforts of the British Embassy in Constantinople have secured from the Porte an arrangement for the setlement of the claims of Messrs. Armstrong, and the British subjects who suffered loss in 1896, the Ottoman Bank has obliged the Government here to postpone payment by dividing the advance of £ T6CO,0OO into instalments only suffi- cient to pay official salaries, and thus prevent- ing the Sultan fulfilling his promise to the British Ambassador to pay the claims in ques- tion out of the proceeds of the advance. Turkish officials and Englishmen (says the "Daily Telegraph's correspondent) express the greatest indignation at the action of the bank. The opinion of the bank's managers is that Turkey cannot afford a cruiser, and that the claims are unjust, and they consider the British Government ought not to push the matter to extremes.

COLO WAVEHFTlvitRICA. A New York telegram states that an intensely cold wavs is advancing eastward from the west. The front of the wave ex- tended on Saturday morning from Northern Illinois south-westward to Arkansas, and the temperature in the district affected fell from 40 to 50 degrees in 24 hours. In many places the mercury was much below zero and some deaths from the extreme cold are reported. According to the Weather Bureau the cold at Chicago was the severest experienced for 25 years. Snow had fallen in some places, delay- ing traffic.

Mr. Carnegie s Offer of Two Million Pounds Refused. President Rooseveldt has definitely decided not to accept Mr. Carnegie's offer of 10,000,000 dollars in Steel Trust bonds for public educa- tional purposes. The provision attached to the offer to the effect that the United States Government should hold the bonds for a term of years is regarded as being especially objec- tionable.

Call to a Blaina Minister. The Rev. D. R. Morgan, Blaina. has reoeived a, hearty and unanimous invitation from the Congregational Church at Stockton. This is the second pastorate the rev. gentle- man has been offered this year. Last January he visited America, and in response to a pressing invitation from the Congrega- tional Church at Waterville consented to accept the pastorate. His short stay at Water- ville proved a great blessing, and he returned in August with the intention of inducing his family to accompany him to his new sphere of labour, but owing to Mrs. Horgan's indif- frent health the intention had to be aban- doned. Circumstances have favoured Stockton. -r-

Pictorial Christmas Numbers. "Scraps," "Sna.p-Shots," "Nuggets," and "Boys' Champion Story Paper" Christmas numbers are full of illustrations, jokes, and tales haying a bearing upon Christmastide.

A Wordy Warfare. THE L BlRAL LEADEK AND LORD GEORGt HAMILTON, Charge an i Counter Charge. The Press Association understands that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman has forwarded the following communication to the Secretary of State for India:- Belmont Castle, Meigle, December 14. Dear Lord George Hamilton,—I have read in to-day's newspapers a report of your speedl at Chiswick on Thursday, in which you are repre- sented to have said that you repeated what you had said on a former occasion, and what you had been challenged to prove, that Sir Henry Caiupbell-Bannerman's public speeches had served as a loundation lor the calumny and vilification of our troops in South Africa, and that not only did you repeat the state- ment that night, but you would be prepared to do so from your piace in Parliament should Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman challenge you to do so. If you mean this ae an answer to my invitation to "make good your words" regarding me, will YOll allow me to point out that what I asked you to do was, not that you should repeat your charge, but that you should prove it? Re-assertion is not proof. It ie merely a renewal of tile original offence, and the charge you brought against me at Duudee was not that which you now state. ,It wos not that my speeches "served as a foundation for other people's calumny." It was that I was myself a direct calumniator. I You accused me of "the defamation of the condud of our troops and the vilification of their conduct iP. the field." This is am abso- lutely unfounded charge, conveyed in definite and explicit words. These are the words which I have challenged you to justify by proof.— Yours very truly (Signed), H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED Daring Attempt A Burglary. The Central Xewa says a daring attempt at burglary took piace early this morning at the well-known Vinnese restaurant in New Oxford- street. London. The police ascertained that an attempt had been arranged, and laid their plans accordingly. About half-past two o'clock two men. said to be Germans, stopped opposite the windows of the cafe, and one, mounting on the other's back, crawled through a. ventilator into the shop. Here, however, two defectives were waiting for him, and he was promptly captured. Meanwhile two other detectives attacked the man outside. As they stepped up to him, however, he swung round. dealt, one detective a blow in the face, and bolted. He managed to get clear away.

BULLER DEMONSTRATION. 10,000 Persons Assemble on Clapham Common. Some ten thousand people were present yes- terday afternoon on Clapham Common in con- nection with a demonstration of sympathy with General Buller. arranged by Pastor Richard Copp and a local committee. The demonstration was preceded hy proces- sions from Kensington, Clapham, and Bat- tersea, aofcompanied by bands, which after- wards played llatriotic selections between the speeches. At the close of the demonstration a long resolution was put and carried amid cheers. This expressed great admiration for. and un- bounded confidence in. Sir Redvers Buller, severe condemnation of the manner in which he had been treated by those in superior mili- tary authority, and an opinion that nothing could atone for the cruel wrong inflicted upon him. save prompt and complete restoration to the position from which he had been so un. justly removed.

CAUSE AND EFFECT. Henry Harris, 35, engineer, was charged at Soutliwark Police-court, London, on Saturday (before Mr. Paul Taylor), with being drunk and di&orderly, Mr. Coates, the clerk of the court, informed the magistrate that the prisoner's conduct in the cells had necessitated the calling of the divisional surgeon to examine him. His behaviour was so strange that a remand was suggested for further inquiry into the state of his mind. The Prisoner: I pay the taxes, and I buy the drink, Tyhich the State puts in my way, and then thdy punish me for taking it. Why should they do that? The Magistrate: I don't understand you. Do you say the State is responsible for your getting drunk? The Prisoner: I am a working man. and I pay a great amount of taxes because I drink spirits, and then they punish 111c for taking it. The Magistrate: That is because you take too much. The Prisoner: They have no right to do it. The Magistrate: You will be remanded for seven days. and the prisoii doctor's attention will be called to your state of mind. The Prisoner: Then I am ruined.

UNHAPPY CHEPSTOW I MARRIAGE. Lord Low, in the Court of Session. Edin- burgh, on Saturday, heard evidence, and sub- sequently granted a divorce, in an. action raised by Harriet Murdoch, now residing at Withycoml^p, Devonshire, against her husband, David Murdoch, a farm servant, of Mayboie, Ayrshire. The parties were married in 1879. at Chepstow, where the defendant carried on business as a draper. She had to leave her husband several times on account of his conduct. Just before her third child was born. when she asked him to go for the nurse, he told her that she could lie and die like a dog. Subsequently, in Bristol, he sold the furniture and left her, so that she had to obtain parish relief. She next heard about him having gone to live with his own people at Mayboie. She went from her father's house to there, and he promised to provide a home for her. but his behaviour was a" bad as before, and again she had to leavehhn. Since 18S2 she had not lived with him, and ha had given her no support.

SCENE IN A SPALDING CHURCH The Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., Baptist minister, of Spalding, had a seizure in the pulpit just as he was a.bout to announce his text last night, and fell to the ground. The service was at once closed. Mr. Jones's illness caused much alarm among the congregation.

A PENNY A DAY TO FEED HIS WIFE. It was said of a costermonger charged at West London on Saturday that he struck his wife—a pale-faced young woman—a violent blow on the jaw because he could not sell his wares. The Prisoner: Business has been bad. I could hardly find a loaf of bread. Mr. Rose: Why knock your wife about because you can't get work?—She was always grumbling. The Wife: He gave a penny a day to feed me and my child. If it bad not been for the people in the house I should have starved. He had an offer of 14e. a week, but he refused to take it. The prisoner was bound over to keep the peace.

Wales and the Mormons. The Latter Day Saints held meetings at Pentre yesterday, when Apostle Francis M. Lyman, of Salt Lake City, delivered an address .qp "Mormonism."—Several elders having epoken, Mr. Lyman, in the course of his speech, observed that they wanted Welshmen to join them and help to colonise a part of Canada, which, he said. was the finest country in the world. In the United States the public gave better ear to the doctrines of Mormonism than they did in Wales. So far very few Welshmen had joined the Latter Day Saints and had been baptised.

New Course of Musketry Instruction Particulars of the new provisional course of musketry instruction are issued to day. The course for trained men includes shooting from cover at a target representing a man's head and shoulders, three seconds only being allowed for the firer to leave cover, lire, and return to cover. Shots are also to be fired at I vanishing and running targets. In the whole course 200 rounds will be expended, and general officers can, in addition, draw 4,000 rounds per battalion.

Gochfarf's" Comments. 4- If we are to be guided by our contem- porary, "Hcalth," riding in tram-cars is accompanied by a danger to the eyes. Gazing out of the window, possibly reading the signs of the business houses jast to kill time, the passenger glances ahead of the car, and, as the car passes by, his eyes turn back. Then they shoot ahead again. In half an hour's ride his eyes will have twitched back and forth with a continuity that brings on fatigue, and at night the passenger wonders why his eyes are weak and tired. I would suggest that the writel of such a note should first of all test hif theories before he turns them on to his readers. Such gazing as he describes wit be accompanied by something like an in- voluntary pivot action of the head, whilst the eyes would scarcely move in their sockets, and it is news to the average reader to know that the eyes should not be tired in the evening. To me it is an indication that there is a prospect of bene- fiting by "Tired Nature's sweet restorer- balmy sleep." Pencoed is paying tne penalty of disrc2 garding the timely warning of the medical officer of health of the Glamorgan County Council in a report prepared by him a few years ago, when he called special atten- tion to the faulty drainage of the town His well-meant interference only sua ceeded in routing the keenest resentmen: of the inhabitants, and a blank refusal t. be guided by his advice. Ptncoed is a cleanly and bright spot if the most elemen, tary sanitary rules were carried out; bu: where there is what is nothing less than at open drain running alongside the main street, excepting where it is necessarj to have footways to get into the dwellings. there can be no surprise that diphtheria i: so prevalent in the place that a request is made to close the places of worship ano Sunday schools so as to in some degret abate this terrible scourge. And, as to the water supply, the inhabi- tants seem to overlook the danger of a large increase of population near the water source of the village. Many springs have a traditional reputation for the purity of their water, which might have been well-founded when the district was only thinly populated, but when houses are increased sewage j ?reo- lation is as certain to follow as night is to follow day. Still, a blind faith is tain- tained in the innocuousness of the supply that did service to the fathers and grand- fathers of the present users, until epidemics such as have been reported from more than one district of Glamorganshire lately have terrorised the responsible authorities into devising a better state of things. Now that the closing of places of worship is ordered on account of the result of bad sanitation, perhaps, ministers and the clergy may think of constituting the first re-opening day a "Health Sunday," and preach upon and recommend the read- ing of the Hebrew laws' of health from the Book of Leviticus and some other Books of the Old Testament. From grave to gay. The annual dinner of the Penarth Gold Club reminds me of a deprivation of friends that amounts some- times to a serious depression of spirits. There was a time when I could count upon finding a number of friends at home on a Saturday afternoon who were prepared tf discuss any question from matrimony tc mathematics, but an entire change hail come over the week-end habits of almost everyone of them. I remember the glee with which schoolboys parted at holiday time, but it is entirely surpassed by the joy of grave and reverend seigniors when Saturday afternoon arrives, for this half- day has become sacred to golf. Now, I have not taken to golf. No doubt, a few visits to a golf links would inoculate the most conservative of athletes, but, unfortunately, I have had to listen to so many golf stories, and some of them of such a flattering character con- cerning the prowess on the links of per. sons whose friendship I value so highly, that nothing will induce me to do any- thing that may cause me to alter my, opinion of their general truthfulness. Once upon a time 1 took a fishing friend at his word, and accepted an invitation to accompany him on an angling expedi- tion. I only know that the fish did not catch on that day. I readily made allowance for trout having its fits of lazi- ness like other mortals, and I dismissed the occurrence from my mind. I soon realised, however, that my friend told me no more fish stories. More than that, I found that he looked another way when I met him in the street. I am now old enough to benefit by experience, and, as good friends are scarce, I will keep away from the golf links. R. J. Derfel is a Welsh poet who writes for the pleasure it gives him to do so. His "Munudau Segur" ("Idle Moments") is known to every lover of Welsh poetry, and many of his verses have been wedded to music which is known in every household that takes an interest in native music. Who among our Eisteddfodwyr has not heard "Yr Alarch" ("The Swan") sung in glee competitions, yet how few know that Derfel wrote these charming lines! He has been in business in Manchester for many years, and has undergone many trials uncomplainingly, the last being a heavy loss b$r nre and here a poet's charac- teristic is disclosed, for he had neglected to cover his risks by insurance. He has entertained his countrymen with his smart songs for over half a century, and Dr. Emrys Jones, J.P., 10, St. John's-street, Manchester; and Mr. R.' Kyffin, 299, Lower Broughton-road, Manchester, will accept any offering of appreciation that his many friends care to send them.

FRANUE AND TURKEY. Another Diplomatic Disagreement. Pans. Monday.-The "Echo de Paris" pub- lishes the following telegram from Vienna In- formation has been received here from Con- stantinople that M. Consians, French Ambas- sador, has threatened a second time to break off diplomatic relations with Turkey. Suspi- cious movements of Turkish troops in Tripoli, near the frontier of Tunis, are said to be the reason for this step. It is stated there was some discussion whether Delma is in Tunisian or Turkish territory.—Reuter.

Underground Watering. Mr. John Grant, of Lee, Kent, has published a brochure at Is. (Ward, Lock, and Co.), in which he advocates the underground watering of plants and gardens, contending that the "surface watering of gardens is a great mistake, causing enormous waste of water by evaporation, in hot, dry weather, t-ending to water famine among the poorer population of towns and cities." Mr. Grant adds instruc- tions for the culture and sro^agation of rgaa ueea.