Evening Express

HIGH WATER TO-DAY. Morning. K veiling. Height. Swansea 11. 7 11..V7 27, 5 Ca.rdilf 12.0 30.0 Newport. J2.1 29. 5

WEATHER FORECAST; ISSVbb .1101[ KEIKOEOLOAIOIL. OFFICE—3.30 P.K. The forecast of the weather throughout the West of England and South Wales for to-dav (Saturday) is as follows:-W. or S. W. icinds, fresh or strong squally; some rain. YES1'.BRDY'S FORECAST. I Y.STIŒDAY'S WEATHES, S..S.W. gales and strong V..N. W. gales, accom- winds squally some | panied by heavy rain raiu. I showers,

WEEK'S TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. The following ta.be gives the temperature and rainfall at Cwrt-y-Vil. Penarth, for 24 honrs, as read at 9.0 ium., and entered to the preceding day:- TSMFERATUBK DATE. RAINFALL. Max. Mio. Mean 1 Thursday 20 50 41 45"5 "22 Friday 21 47 37 42*0 "40 Saturday 22 42 34 38*0 "00 Sunday 23 40 35 37'5 "00 Mesday 24 50 43 46*5 "GO Tusday. 25 62 33 47.5 *25 Wednesday 26 53 45 49"l) "26

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. HARRIERS. CRICKHOWELL. Tuesday, Jan. 1, Gwernvale Farm 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, Bell Fountain .11 a.m. MRS. PRYSE RICE'S. Tuesday, Jan. 1, Market-place. Llan- dovery 11 &.m. FOXHOUNDS. CARMARTHENSHIRE. Tuesday, Jan. 1, Town-hall, Car- marthen 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, Liandowror .11 a.m. GLAMORGANSHIRE. Monday. De:. 31, Ewenny Bridge .10.45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2. Fourth Milestone, Cowbridge and Llantrisant Road.10.45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, Porthkerry Lodge 10.45 a.m. LORD TREDEGAR'S. Monday. Dec. 31, Ten Oaks 11 a.m.! Thursday, Jan. 3, Michaelstone .11 a.m. LLANGDBBY. Tuesday. Jan. 1. New Barn Wood 10.30 a.m. Friday, Jan 4, Perihaw 10.30 a.m. MONMOUTHSHIRE. Monday, Dec. 31. Red Lion, Campaton..It, a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3. Somerset Arms 11 a.m. MR. CURRE'S. Monday. Dec. 31. Chepstow Park .11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3. Itton Court (break- fast) 10.15 a.m. MR. SEYMOUR ALLEN'S. Tuesday. Jan. 1. Pembroke »..ll a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, Pontshane Mill .11 a.m. PEMBROKESHIRE. Monday, Dec. 31. Hasgua'-d Cross Roads — J1 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, Mountain Water.11 a.m. TIVYSIDE. Tuesday, Jan. 1, Salutation Hotel. Newcaatle-Emlyn 10.45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, Pantyderry Gate 10.45 a.m. YSTRAD. Tuesday, Jan. 1, Ooedvgstris 18.30 am. Friday, Jan. 4, Hillside, Llwynypia. 9 a.m.

Gommants and Criticisms. -+- BY" CUOHFARF." A few days ago the newspapers regarded the passing of the Amnesty Bill through the French Assembly as being the last that would be heard of the Dreyfus case. I doubted the prophecy in this column, and we have not had long to wait for confirmation of my suspicions, for in a letter addressed to the French Premier Dreyfus demands another inquiry. Then Celonel Picquart,,writes to the same official protesting against the passing of the Amnesty Bill. I shall be glad to com- pare notes with anyone who visited France during the progress of the Dreyfus case, and, although I have every desire to hope that our French neighbours are out of their trouble with Dreyfus, still the i-esult of my observa- tion on the spot when the Dreyfus case was at its most exciting stage are that there is some mysterious undercurrent of evil dis- turbing the conscience of the people of France that will not die out excepting after a long calming process. I was told that Lord Russell of Killowen was at Rennes attending the Dreyfus trial at the time I visited the city, and the late Lord Chief Justice of England had privileges that a modest tourist such as I was could not hope for, and probably he was at the Lycee when I fortunately saw DreyiU3 passing from his trial to his temporary prison. I now see that in. the coming "Life of Lord Russell" his opinion of the Dreyfus trial will be pub- lished. It is possible that it will prove as sensational as his celebrated cross-examina- tion of Piggott, because from the circum- stance of his taking the trouble to visit the trial it could not be prompted by merely idle curiosity. What would be brought forth were it possible for Lord Russell to have a few hours cross-examination of some of the wit- nesses who appeared in the Dreyfus case it is difficult to imagine, although the proce- dure of the Renttes Court would require all Lord Russell's accumen to understand them. The Sully treasure trove gets a good deal of attention from the English press, and it depresses the friends of the Welsh National Museum movement somewhat to find such a treasure literally snatched from their hands. It is hard to have to confess that, practically, the only obstacle to the formation of such a museum is local jealousy, and, as in the fable, whilst we are quarreling about the location of the institution, the British Museum authorities are snatching our treasures again and again. It is some satisfaction to know that loyal land- owners ( like Lord Windsor send on their finds to our local museum, but we should be, at least, as well provided as our Irish friends, who have statutory claim upon all treasure trove found in Ireland, and in a Government-supported building in Dublin all the finds of recent years are to be seen. So interesting are the specimens of Irish art 3tored in the Irish capital, and so well are they provided with funds, that they are in a. position to prepare copies of thei ■ possessions and offer them free of cost to representative provincial museums. A case may be seen in the Cardiff Museum containing such copies, and they are worth careful inspection. I can vouch for their fidelity to the originals. How- ever, let U8 not weary in the pursuit of such a desirable establishment as a Welsh Museum. for, with diligent agitation, success will come some day. I Again listen to the cry of the children. For my purpose it is not necessary to introduce names, but I quote from the report of a Car- diff inquest. The mother said the baby had notibeen ill, but was delicate from birth, and 60 had her other children been, of whom there were four at home, three having died, and on one an inquest was held. On the nlorning in question she took the baby into the kitchen, and it then seemed all right. Afterwards it became ill. The doctor said the mother, when she showed him the baby, asked what was the matter with the child, and on looking at it he found it had been dead an hour or two. It was dirty, and gmelled offensively. It weighed 61b. 12oz., its age being seven weeks. A post- mortem examination showed that all the organs were perfectly healthy, but the stomach and intestines were entirely empty, so that the infant had not had food for a much longer period than one day. Death was natural, but was accelerated by want of proper food and care. The father is away from this country. I make no 'comment upon the mother's case. The authorities are inquiring into the matter, but one shudders at the suffering this little being must have undergone, and especially when we know it is a common occurrence in our midst. Can nurs- ing education be extended to mothers in some way or another, even when it is known that they do not lack ordinary humanity. The cries of these little things are raised to heaven every day, and can anything be done to alleviate their trials? The death of Lord Armstrong reminds me of the enormous prestige his famous gun obtained in the country, and even our pulpits caught up the invention, for there was a constant ringing of the changes upon it as a simile by a certain class of preachers. It was a God-send to the pulpit-thumping section, and the "Armstrong gun" was trotted out upon the slightest pretext. I often failed to see the propriety of the ever-recurring referenC8 to so destructive an engine from the Christian pulpit, but I have since learned that it was due more to poverty of imagination than to per- version of principles, and thus many other inconsistences can be accounted for, I doubt not. I make no apology foT re-producing the fol- lowing versas in this column. They are copied fTom the Christmas number of "The Gael" (New York). I have often commented upon the literary excellence, of this representative of Am-erioan-Irish literature. The? verses are by Nora Hopper, and are entitled "The Lul- laby of Mary" (to our Saviour):— Lullaby, my little son, Dearest and divmsst one Suck, and sleep, and lie full soft While thy mother waketh oft; Will not let the quiet kine Come too near that sleep of thine, With her iftantle and her arm Mother hold thee close and warm. Lullaby, my little child. Winds without are growing wild That a stable shuts their King From their wistful worshipping, Fret not, sweat, the winds to hear, Thou shalt bridle them, my dear; Thou shalt bid the hoilow sea Bear the wandering feet of Thee. Naught of this Thou knowest yet, I am" glad Thou dost forget Angels and their Goodlihead On Thy mother's bosom laid. But a little while 'twill be Thou sha.lt love" no soul but me. Thou must save the world, alas! And the mother love let pass. Did I wake Thee with my cry? Hush Thee, sweet, and luilaby, Lnlla, lalla, lullaby! The re-populatien of rural districts is a question that receives constant attention by many authorities, and the intarest in it is growing apaoe. This matter should not be left to political economists and theoretical ■social reformers. I am so convinced of the need of our generation having a better know- ledge of the methods of profitable rural life that I shall keep it well before my readers whenever I have any new information or encouragement to impart. Much was expected from the Allotments Act, and it seemed to me to be working very favourably, but its useful- ness was crippled by ita authority being too circumscribed, and where land under the control of local authorities is limited the land- lord veto bars the acquisition of additional and or it is equally effectively neutralised by prohibitive prices. It cannot be said there is any want of appreciation of this Act by those whom it was intended to benefit, for there has always been more applicants than there were plots to let. Councillor Brain did much to popularise the Act in Cardiff. Cannot he again give the matter a little attention, now that he has been relieved of his mayoral duties?

OF ARMENIANS IN ASIA MINOR. CONTINUED TURKISH ATROCITIES IN MACEDONIA. The Vienna correspondent of the "Morning Leader" wires:— From all quarters come reports of thedis- turbed state of the Ottoman Empire. The Salonica correspondent of the "Freie Post" describes the area contained within a line drawn round Ipek, Pristina, Veleze, and Scutari as the scene of repeated excesses and outrages. He learns that the Turks surrounded the Greek Church at Bani, a small village near Lake Presoa, and- massacred both priests and congregation. Mailed advices from Constantinople report an extensive rising of Armenians in Asia Minor against their oppressors. The rebellion in the districts between Erzroum, Van, and Bitlis has created a situa- tion so serious that immense military forces have been despatched to restore order. -ó.¡,

THEY SWORE IN FLANDERS. A good story (says "To-Day") is told against a distinguished general, who is now amongst us. which bears upon his weakness for strong language. He might, in fact, have been brought up in the army of Flanders, where, if we are to believe history, they swore. This general was riding out of Pretoria not so long ago to see some sports or races, when ho overtook a gentleman of the press who* was carrying a photographic apparatus. "Here is one of those somethinged camera fiends with his something something Kodak." rpax-ed out the general. "Oh, good morning, sir," retorted the cor- respondent. "If I had known you were coming I would have brought a phonograph."

WARNED HER TO SAY HER PRAYERS Richard William Senior, a, labourer, of 78, First-avenue, Plaistow, was charged at West Ham with assaulting his wife. Mrs, Senior said she was out nursing, and was going to her place when her husband fol- lowed her, threw her to the ground, drew a razor from his pocket, and said, "Pray now if ever you prayed in your life." The razor was open, and as she put up her hands to protect herself her ftnger were cut. A month's hard labour.

SAW FATHER AND BROTHER DROWNED. In Morecambe Bay on Boxing Day an Ulver- ston seaman, named John Ireland, aged 57, and his son Arthur, aged twelve, were drowned whilst on a wild-fowling expedition. Ireland, with three sons, left Ulverston for Chapel Island. On reaching the shore the two elder sons landed and left the father and youngest son in the boat. After half an hour a. shout was heard, and the boat was seen to have capsized. The two sons stripped and rushed into the water, but after very many gallant attempts they had to return to the shore. At the inquest last night a verdict was returned of drowned by acci- dent.

STARVED TO DEATH ON CHRISTMAS EVE. A woman unknown was found in White Lion-street, Spitalfields, on Christmas Eve. She was about 55 years of age, her clothing was very old and dirty, and she had neither boots nor a bonnet. In her possession was the photo of a little boy. The doctor at the infirmary said that the deceased was in a terrible state. The stomach was empty, and she died from bronchitis, accelerated by want and exposure. A jury on Friday returned a verdict of death from natural causes.

DANCING IN SCOTLAND. The "Globe" is really very sorry that the Rev. Jacob Primmer, of Dunfermline, should have been outraged in his moat sacred sus- ceptibilities by the horrible spectacle of infanta being taught to dance in the schools of his ancient and respectable burgh. "Boys," he writes to the President of the Scot- tish Board of Education, "of seven, eight, and nine years took the girls through the dances, with their arms round their waists." It cuts our contempo- rary to the heart that such depravity should be found in Dunfermline, and that there should be no "protection for the children of Christian parents who conscientiously object to dancing on religious and moral grounds."

CHRISTMAS SUPERSTITIONS. The collection of bhristmas superstitions will probably never be complete. A venerable Yorkshireman resident in Liverpool tells how, when he was a little boy, each child in his father's house was sent out as a first duty on Ohristmas Day to fetch in a tiny bit of wood or coal to ceremonially place on the fire. In the same house a log was for twelve successive nights, dating from Christmas Eve, placed on the fire for a short time, and then re-stored in a box, where it was kept for a year. These ceremonies were so awesome that the children never sought their meaning.

A Shadowed Hunt. Mr. Ernest Walford, of Cherrington, while riding with the Warwickshire Hounds on Wed- nesday, near Shipston-on-Stour, was thrown, and on getting up his horse kicked him on the head, killing him instantly. He was 26 years of age. This is the second fatal accident that has occurred with the pack within a fortnight.

"Japs" and Mistletoe. A party of very young Japanese eailoTS, seen holiday-making in Liverpool on Boxing Day, this beiuj for them a first day ashore in England, had their curiosity strongly excited all finding a street vendor selling mistletoe. The nature and purpose of the mistletoe puzzled them much, and probably they will return to the "land of beauty and earth- quakes" with 8trang theories about the plant they saw sold in Liverpool when nearly all the shops were closed.

Popular Stools of Repentance An infraction of the rules at Girard College (remarks the "Philadelphia Record") is punished with twenty minutes on a stool of repentance. When this institution first adopted this scheme of punishment one stool was etaough. As the college expanded the stools multiplied, nd to-day no less that 60 four-legged, painless instruments of discipline are in more or less constant use. There is absolutely nothing to the disciplining except the order to sit on a comfortable stool for twenty minutes, and 'think it over."

Lunatic Costef's Wealth. With 155 sovereigns in his pockets, a coster- monger entered the lunatic ward of Lambeth Workhoufle. His wife declares the money is hers, but a magistrate's order will be D&ceaa&ry to 1 secure it. A

MOTHERLESS CHILDREN SENT TO PRISON GATES. Mr. William Wheatley, the superintendent of St. Giles's Christian Mission, tells the London "Star" a pitiful story of the Christmas treat- ment awarded to an unfortunate man just released from penal servitude. On coming out of Pentonville Prison, after service at Parkhurst, the man was met at the gates by his two children—two girls of eleven and nine years. And with the girls was a workhouse messenger to tell the man that he must take charge forthwith of his motherless children. The workhouse authorities who were respon- sible for this piece of cruelty under the name of expediency were those of Fulham. SOMEBODY BLUNDERED. The "Star" reporter afterwards called upon Mr. Charles Thomas, a prominent member of the Fulham Board. "It is a piece of blundering on the part of somebody," he said, "and I shall make it my business to probe the matter to the. bottom. The Fulham Guardians have earned a reputa- tion for humaneness, and A am perfectly sure that no one of the eleven members would countenance the taking of children to the prison gates."

DOG CAUSES A FIRE. Serious Collision with a Fire Engine. An exciting scene was witnessed at a fire early yesterday morning at Freeman's Chloro- dyne Factory, Kennington Park-road, London. Fearing that the flames would spread, a mother and her two sons in the next house rushed out through a trap-door in the roof. and after much difficulty succeeded in escaping from their perilous position through the roof of a. neighboxiring house. While some poultry were being prepared for market at the premises of a Newry poulterer, named Spencer, yesterday morning, a dog ran at a turkey, which flew against and overturned an oil lamp. In a few minutes the whole place was ablaze, and a horse and a number of fowls were burnt, Mrs. Spencer and her children having a narrow escape. A fire-engine collided with a milk-van in Mare-street, Hackney, yesterday. One of the horses was killed, both drivers injured, and the vehicles damaged.

SCARLET FEVER AT BRITHDIR. Doctor and Schooimaster at Loggerheads. At the meeting of the Gelligaer School Board yesterday a letter was read from Dr. W. W. Jones, the medlcai officer of the Gelligaer Dis- trict Council, complaining that the school- master at Britlidir continued to allow children from houses infected with scarlet fever to attend school, in spite of the fact that a list of such houses had been supplied to him. The Clerk stated that the headmaster had written him saying that the medical offioer's statements were not accurate. The children from these houses were isolated and sent home directly. The board resolved to ask Dr. Jones upon what authority he made such a statement.

GHOSTS IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. A number of seasonable stories are being circulated in London with reference to Ohristmas ghosts. A few of these stories are new, and several bear a highly circumstantial complexion. A new ghost has, it appears, been discovered in the Tower. The appari- tion, which is understood to have been invi- sible, indicated its presence on Christmas Eve to a member of the Tower garrison, who heard' what be describes as a long-drawn wail from the top of the Constable's Tower, in which Mary Queen of Scots was kept prisoner. During his investigations afterwards he heard behiixd the tapestry in one of the rooms a light footstep, accompanied by gentle sigh- ing, receding down the corridor which lay behind, and, despite the most diligent exami- nation, could not discover any explanation of the incident. The sounds were, it appears, heard for the first time some years ago, when the Constable's Tower was occupied by Cap- tain Jupp, who is now the quartermaster of the Pensioners' Hospital at Chelsea. A spectre has filso been reported from the same insti- tution—described as a middle-aged gentleman, dressed in the manner of the fifteenth century. He appeared to be somewhat dejected, walk- ing with his head sunk between his shoulders. This apparition was seen by two old veterans proceeding to their quarters. They assert that they saw the spectre in the neighbour- hood of the State apartments, which form the residence of the governor of the hospital, but which now, owing to the fact that no governor is at present appointed, are vacant.—"St. James's Gazette." t

ROBERTS AT GIBRALTAR. Gibraltar, Friday.—In reply to an address from the civil community to-day Lord Roberts, after expressing his thanks for the cordial wel- come extended to him-, congratulated Gibraltar on havmg as its Governor Sir George White, whose defence of Ladysmith had been a great event. The field-marshal's departure has been post- poned until to-morrow. The Portuguese Government has instructed its Consular representative here by telegraph to welcome Lord Roberts in the name of Por- tugal.—Reuter.

FROM PUB TO CHAPEL A public-house in a provincial town has lately been converted into a chapel. It is an unusual transformation. The change is gene- rally the other way. All over the kingdom are churches and chapels which have fallen from grace. The church in Hatton-garden where Edward Irving began his ministry has long been a chemist's warehouse, and the little chapel at Nottingham in which William Carey preached the famous sermon which inaugu- rated modern missions is also a storehouse. A large Wesleyan chapel in North London is now occupied by a firm 6f brewers, and the famous Luther House in Germany is an inn. There have been even cathedrals which have gone astray. St. Giles' Cathedral at Glasgow, consecrated to the memory of Jenny Geddes, has been used at various times at a prison, a post-office, and a business exchange, and Edin- burgh has an old Free Church which is now a co-operative store.

Who is De Wet ? — A correspondent sends the London Echo the following curious letter:—"An acquain- tance of mine told me last evendng that he was a brother of De Wet. My acquaintance is the son of a Wcstphalian Jew, and he and his brother (the De Wet under an alias) went to the Transvaal about twenty years ago. Can any pf your correspondents inform me as to the real ancestry of this great Boer leader ?—" Echo."

Eviction Broke His Heart- or-- After 48 years' occupation of a shop in East- Street, City-road, London, E.G., James Tewkes- bury. shoemaker, aged 76, received notice to quit, owing to the premises being required for improvements. This upset him terribly, and when his sister came to see him, she found him lying un- conscious, with a btotle near him containing ehlorodyne. Taken to the hospital, he died from blood:poisooiof> 1

ABOUT A WONDERFUL OLD LADY OF LIVERPOOL. There resides in Liverpool a wonderful old lady who was bom in the closing years of the eighteenth century. Mrs. Smith, the lady referred to, was born on St. Swithin's Day, 1797, at. Cradley Heath, Staffordshire, and in her youth worked at chair making. She was the eldest girl in a family of twelve children, and has outlived all except her youngest sister, who now lives in Blackheatih. and is 85. Not one of the twelve died under 70. Mrs. Smith, who has been many years a widow, had nine children, only three now sur- viving. She resides with a son-in-law, and for the past five weeks has been confined to her bedroom with rheumatism. On Christmas Day she has hitherto always joined the family downstairs, and this year her grandson carried her down, so as to com- plete the circle of five generations living. She excused herself from joining in the usual carol singing, as was her wont, on the ground that her voice was weakening. Her hearing and sight are still remarkably good, and, with the exception of rheumatism in recent years, she has never had a- real illness all her life. She always enjoys her meals, and says the secret of her long life is the providence of the Almighty. Although her memory now shows signs of failing, she can recall many incidents con- nected with the stirring days of the beginning of the expiring century. Seven ijephews on her husband's side passed through the Peninsular Wars unscathed, and one of ner grandsons is now fighting in South Africa. She recalls how the people bolted their doors and windows to keep the press-gang from taking away the young men to fight Napoleon, and how scared everybody was that the French would invade Britain. Mrs. Smith has visited Canada and the United States.

RETIREMENT OF MR1 JOHN DAWSON. The "Daily Telegraph" is authorised to ennounoe that Mr. John Dawson, of Warren House, Newmarket, is about to retire from the active pursuit of the profession of trainer of racehorses, with which he has been c-on- Hected for more than 50 years. He is the last survivor of the four trainer brothers, e:> eh of whom learnt the difficult art in which they have gained suclÍ celebrity from their father, George Dawson, who was long in the employ- ment of Lord Montgomerie, the father of the racing Earl of Eglinton. It will b3 satisfactory to those who hold the name of Dawson in honour to hear that it will be represented at Newmarket —we trust for many years to come—by George Dawson and John Dawson, junior, two of Mr. John Dawson's sons. The former, George Dawson, has already won great distinction as trainer of the Duke of Portland's two Derby winners, Ayrshire and Donovan, the kttter of whom won in 1889 the biggest sum ever carried off by one horse in a single year. In addition, George Dawson won so many other classic races for his noble employer that his return to Park Stables as trainer at the beginning of next year will be heartily welcomed at Newmarket and wherever the thoroughbred racehorse is held in esteexn. It will be the universal wish that Mr. John Dawson's two sons will be spared to reach the ripe age which he has now attained, and that at the end of their course they will retire with the same regard which now follows him into private life, and, as we hope, into long enjoy- ment of well-earned repose.

DUSTMEN'S QUAINT APPEAL. r- The following appeal is being circulated this week in the Gospel Oak district: — To the worthy inhabitants of North St. Pancras (Ward 1). Ladies and Gentlemen, We, the regular dustmen of this parish, in the employ of Mr. J. Walker, make humble application to you for A Christinas Box, which you are usually so kind as to give. We bring our token, which is, Our Bill." Then follow the signatures of the dustmen, with the note, No connection with the scavengers," and the following caution: As there are persons who go about with intent to defraud us, and impose on you, be so kind as not to give your bounty to any but those that can produce the aforesaid token. Please not to return this bill."

MORE ADVERTISEMENT FRAUDS. Hundreds of complaints were made to the police against Percy Banton, a hotel manager at Hereford, who was yesterday oonvictd of fraud, and sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. He had obtained large quantities of goods by advertising and answering advertisements under various aliases. He thus obtained a bicycle from Henry Baw- cutt, of Hampton-on-Thames, and four pigs from Thomas Noble, of Bedford. When arrested prisoner was in possession of a loaded revolver.

TO ORGANISE OBSTRUCTION. The newest ambition of the United Irish party is to reduce obetraction of Parliamentary busi- ness to an exact science. With this object in view the members have been formed into standing committees on various subjects—foreign affairs, financial rela- tions, Ac. They are to "specialise," in fact, and when they have mastered all the details of their subject, instruct the other members. This is to enable every Irishman, without regard to his capabilities, to get up on his legs when necessary and make a speech. -==

Prodigality of a Pauper. Three months ago a pauper in Yarmouth Workhouse came into a legacy of £147, From this amount the guardians obtained £44 in payment of his maintenance, and the erstwhile pauper left with £103 in his pocket. He has now returned to the work- house penniless, and, although it is stated that he does not drink, he has failed to give any satisfactory account of how he got through his windfall. The Authorities have directed their officers to make inquiry into the matter.

Child Carried Off by Eagles. In a wood near Polnora (says the "Daily Express"), on the edge of the Northern Car- pathians, a woman went to gather sticks, leaving her baby in a secluded spot. Upon her return she saw two great eagles bearing away her child, whom they had dismembered. Upon a hunt being made by the inhabitants, the bones of the baby were found in the eagles' nest on the rocks amid the snow.

Ran Off With the Kaiser's Hare A most amusing case of hero-worship phis theft is reported from Magdeburg. The Kai&er, who was shooting in that district, had just hit a very fine hare. Before the keeper .could bag it, a man was seen to dart from behind a tree, pick up the hare, and make off as fast as his legs could carry him. The offer of JE5 reward led later to the discovery of the hare-lifter, who is a respectable inhabitant of Berlin. He was filled (says a Berlin correspondent) with an ardent desire to possess some genaine trea- sure as » keepsake of his much-adored Empe- ror,

NEW YORK PAPER INSULTS THE PRINCE OF WALES. The "Daily Chronicle" announces that a New York paper which is notoriously eager to create bad feeling between England and the United States has just published the following offensive paragraph: — "The rumour that the Prince of Wales is likely to be invited by President M'Kinley to this country to witness the races for the America Cup needs confirmation, which it is to be hoped may long be lacking. The well- remembered attitudeof the Prince of Wales, as Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, towards a fellow who, during one of the inter- national regattas, deliberately, and in cold blood, insulted both the New York Yacht Club and the American public, renders any invita- tion to him incompatible with our self-respect." =

WATER SUPPLY OF RHYMNEY. What People are Compelled to Drink, The water supply of Rhymney and Pont- lottyn is deplorable. It is in the hands of the Rhymney Iron Company. They utilise springs above Rhymney Bridge Station. From this point to the storage ponds at New- town the water runs in a culvert or open channel through several fields frequently occupied by horses, sheep, pigs, Ac. For years tho late Dr: Dyke, the medical officer for the Gelligaer parish, drew atten- tion to this deplorable state of things, and the local authority appealed to the Rhymney Iron Company to cover over the culverts. But each attempt has been met with a decided air of indifference. At Thursday's meeting of the Gelligaer Council the matter cropped up again, and the Clerk suggested that an injunction should bo obtained against the company to cease supplying water through such a channel, but one of the members pointed out that if such a course were adopted the Rhymney Company may snap their fingers at the ratepayers, cut off the supply entirely, and thus leave both Rhymney and Pontlottyn to their own resources. And there the matter rests. —

DISFIGURED HIS MOTHER'S FACE. At Bow-street Police-court yesterday Charles Sullivan, eighteen. printer, was sent to gaol for 21 days' hard labour for assaulting his mother, who stated that as he had not been home since Christmas, on Thursday when she discovered him in Holies-street she gave him a thrashing. He thereupon turned round and struck her in the face and blackened her eye. When given into custody accused again struck his mother in the face. The woman, who said she charged the youth thinking it v.culd serve him as a caution, left the court crying.

B.P.'S ADVICE TO BOYS. A letter from Baden-Powell to the boys of certain elementary schools in Exeter is now on view at the local "Gazette" office. Any school- master desiring a copy can obtain one post free for a penny from the Central School. "I have just finished writing (says the letter) to some young friends in Ne Zealand who had been asking me about the boys and girls in Mafeking. I told them that both boys and girls did their duty there in their proper line just as their elders did. They did not allow themselves to be frightened by the shells, but patiently endured the terrors of the siege, although some among them were even wounded and killed. "If you imitate them you will do well. And to imitate them thoroughly you must remem- ber to be brave and patient, even when unkind things are done or said to you, and never allow any danger or any extra trouble to keep | you from doing that which your conscience tells you is your duty —Yours very truly. "R. 8. S. BADEN-POWELL. "South African Constabulary, Pretoria. November 11, 1900."

COLLIERY WARNING. The attention of miners is again directed to a violent perturbation of the atmosphere. Yesterday the centre of a. very deep cyclonic ■ system passed across the North of England, and all our coalfields were brought under its influence. Pressure has since been recovering, and the air has become much drier and cooler, so that it is incumbent on allpersons employed underground to be on their guard against. danger lurking in gas or dust.

DEAF, DUMB, AND UNKNOWN. The Blackburn police have circulated the description of a man, a deaf mute, who is unable to satisfy them as to his identity. He was found by a police-constable at midnight bleed- ing from a wound on the forehead and taken to the infirmary. After his injury had been attended to it was discovered that he was un- acquainted; with the deaf and dumb alphabet. Then a police-constable went round the town with him to see if the stranger could indicate the house in which he had been staying, but. the mission was unsuccessful. In the meantime tho unfortunate stranger will remain at the workhouse.

QUEEN AND IRISH PEASANTRY. Her- Majesty the Queen has purchased this Christmas several handsome pieces of Garry work from the depot in Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, it being the handwork of the Irish peasants whom Viscountess Dun- cannon banded into an industry" in 1884, and has so successfully carried on ever since. Her Majesty ha3 on several occasions thus encouraged the Irish workers.

WHEN BREAD WAS DEAR. The Chester Chronicle was started in 1775, Pnblishes to-day some interesting extracts from its pagea in 1800. Quoting its market report, it saya the quartern leaf was ls. 9d.. the greatest, destitution prevailed, and the county gentry, the Egertons, Wilbrohams, Cholmon- ueleys, Warburtons, Leicesters, and Shacker- leyg, summoned a meeting, and passed the following resolution:That we will, in short, as much as in us lies, diminish the consump- tion of bread and of everything that consti- tutes the food of man, being persuaded that nothing will ten mote effectually to alleviate the present difficulties and to provide for the wants of the year than an extensive practice of such a system of frugality. We, therefore, pledge ourselves to the observance of it within this county till the necessary articles of provision can be purchased at a reasonable price by the lower classes of society."

Foretold Her Own Death. A curious case of forewarning of death has just occurred at New Romney, Kent. On Boxing Day a Mrs. Cook told her friends on leaving them that she would die the next day. Going to her residence on Thursday after- noon, they found her lying dead in bed, having passed away in her sleep.

Honeymoon on a Ranch. The marriage of Mr. Anson, brother of Lord Lichfield, to Lady Clodagh Beresford, is to take place in February, and the honeymoon will be decidedly original, as it is to be spent on a ranch in Texas.

Telegrams to Tommy," The charge for telegrams addressed to soldiers at the front on and from the 1st proximo will be reduced from 2s. to 1.. 9d. per word. Telegrams cannot, however, yet be accepted for the Orange River Colony

By the Way. Although it is some ten years since the city of East Saginaw ceased to exist the United States Government has persisted in calling the customs station there the "port of East Sagi- na Y," the protests of the people of the United Sagiixaws notwithstanding. At last, however, an official order has been issued changing the name of the port to correspond with that of the city. This is like the G.P.O. Notwithstanding a report to the contrary, the Laplanders who are returning to their native land from Alaska, where they have been en- gaged in the care of reindeer, state that the experiment of transplanting the deer has failed and that the climate of Alaska is not healthful for Laplanders. The failure of the plan of propagating the deer is due to differences in food conditions. A bill is to be introduced in the coming New York Legislature provid'ing that citizens who fail to register and vote shall be drawn for jUTY duty before those who exercise the right of suffrage. Many rich residents of the eastern metropolis have been escaping jury duty by refusing to register, and the measure is in- tended to reach such delinquents. An interesting collection of relics of Count Boruwlaski the famous Polish dwarf, whose reception at pevonshire House and presenta- tion to King George ill. and.the court wag one of the great fashionable functions in the oarly years of the present century, is about to be dispersed in Londoijp This famous charac- ter was less than three feet in height, was an able linguist, and a witty conversationalist, and died in the year 1837 at the great age of 93. Cretan autonomy will be made manifest fix New Year's Day by the issue of a Cretan coinage stamped with a portrait of Prince George. The basis of the currency is the gold drachma, being one franc. The gold coina will be of the value of ten and twenty drachmai or francs, the silver five, two, one, and half a franc; the copper coins one Pnd two centimes; nickel coins twenty, ten, ana five. At present the Cretan circulation is a mixture of Greek, Italian, and French money. Lord Walsingham is attempting to restore the great bustard to its ancient English home in Norfolk and Suffolk. At present the bus- tard is only a winter wanderer to Britain, but there was a time when it haunted eleven Eng- lish shires, and was known also in the Merse of Berwickshire and the open area, of the Lothians. In Norfolk, where the bird appears to have lingered longest, the last two examples were killed in 1838, but 1832 saw the last of it in Suffolk. Sixteen birds have now been put down on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, and there is no particular reason why they should not multiply and flourish just as the capercailzie has in Scotland. Riviere, in his "Musical Life and Recollec- tions," tells a singular story about M. Jullien, the famous conductor. Jullien'was a man of monumental vanity, and continually in searca of extravagant musical novelties. Towards the end of his career, after he had written "A Hymn of Universal told Riviere that he had made up his mind to set the Lord's Prayer to music. Riviere, as delicately as he could, hinted that the public would not accept a sacred work from a composer of dance music. Jullien replied that a composition bearing on its title-page two of the greatest names in history could not fail to be a success. Jullien 1aon after returned to Paris, where he died in r, madhouse. Few men are better liked or fro" m tl.e Army than Major-general Sir George Leck. at present commanding in Bengal, whose promotion at the end of the year hae been announced. He fought with great distinction in the Afghan campaign of 187;1- 80, and in a charge against a considerable force of hillmen he nearly" lost his life. A big Pathan, who singled him out for attack. broke down his guard, and he would have Jast his life but for the fact that his wife had sewn on his shoulders in the lining of his tunic a couple of steel curb chains, one of which broke the force of the slash. Before the Pathan could recover himself Luck (who was not sp named in vain) had run hint through. It has been remarked in connection with Lord Armstrong as not a little singular that, while he was the founder of Elswick, the Arsenal of the North. a member of another branch of the same family was the founder of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. This was John, a scion of the Liddesdale Armstrongs, who became a very celebrated military officer and engineer, serving with the highest repu- tation under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, but especially at the siege of Bouchain. In 1716 he established the Royal Arsenal, and for several years personally superintended the work there, dying on thp 15th of April, 1742, at which time he was Surveyor-General and Master-General of the Ordnance. It was a costly century of war that English- men had to look back upon a hundred years ago. The fighting record began in 1702 with the War of the Spanish Succession, which cost 62! millions. The Spanish War of 1739 absorbed 54 millions before it was settled at Aix-Ia-Chapelle nine years- later. The Seven Years' War cost 112 millions, and the American War 135 millions. Most expensive of all was the French Revolutionary War, begun in 1793, which cost this country 464 millions. If we extend the retrospect back to 1688 and up to 1815, we find there were in that period 62 years of peace, and that the 65 years of war cost us 2,023 millions. The largest item in this vast total was, of course, the campaign against Bonaparte, which in twelve years cost us 1,159 millions. The late M. Jules Riviere nearly missea nis golden opportunity with the part song "Spring, beautiful Spring," given by boys in the spectacle "Babil and Bijou" at Covent Garden in the autumn of 1872. The piece at once took a firm hold of the public. M. Riviere, then in partnership with Mr. Hawkes, was visited by a well-known music publisher, who offered him JE20 for the copyright. The composer, thinn- ing this a fair offer, was about to accept it when he caught the eye of Hawkes. Decision respecting the sale was postponed, whereupon Hawkes said, "If the song is worth £20 to one firm, it's worth it to another. Why not pub- lish it ourselves?" They did so. and the result was a fortune, Riviere admitting in his book, "My Musical Life and Recollections," issued in 1893, that he soon cleared over £2,000 by hit simple melody of thirty-two bars. In "Blackwood's Magazine" for January there is an interesting passage on the coming decay of the locomotive. It is observed tnao in the United Kingdom there are, roughly, 20,000 locomatives, each provided with an Iso- lated and comparatively puny source of heat. Each little separate flame has constantly to be extinguished and rekindled, so that mucu of its transient life is spent in heating a. cold engine or lying out on the ground so that a. warm engine may cool. Even when steam xa up, it is wastefully harnessed, for every second that an engine stands idle, whether at a plat- form, signal, or siding, its pent-up power .a being dissipated. It is only by the most skilful manipulation that the best can be got out of the coal. The engine is burdened with the weight of its own fuel, which falls, not on the driving-wheels, where it might prevent skid- ding, but upon the wheels of the tender. It is exactly as if the engine had to drag an extra. carriage or two. On the other hand, an eleo- tric locomotive carries no coal and no water, nor has it to maintain a furnace. There is no "getting up steam" to add to the cost of fuel as well as to wages. There is no ruthless scat-, tering of white-hot embers at the close of the day. When energy is required the lbcomotiva gathers it in its iron hand from a third rail at its side. When the machine is stationary. or running at half-speed or down-hill, ther* is no waste of power, for the current, fo) which there is no nse at the moment, ftowt on and helps a locomotive som«jgrUer« eA