Rhyl Journal

In Holland, when there is any infectious disease in a house, it is the custom to notify in- tending visitors of the fact hy tying a piece of white cloth over the bell-handle. d! One of the most curious mns of communica- tion is tho drum language of a. tribe in the Congo. These people can by this means converse With each other at considerable, distances. Inquiries by a boys' newspaper brought out the lact that of all the 73rilish possessions, most of the boys wanted to see India, next' Now Zealand, and then Australia. South Africa., and the Sourlan. A rubber belt, two-thirds of a milo long. for driving machinery, and weighing nine ion, was recently made for the grain elevator at St. John, New Brunswick. Tlii., i,, ()I, tile I)igge, bands ever made. The wild horses of Arabia will not admit a tame horse amon; them, whilp. the wild horses of South America endeavour to decoy domesti- cated horses from thetr masters, and seem eager to welcome them. The shortest span of lite is that;-of the iriavflr, which, hatches, matvs. lays, and dies within a few hours, the sun set but Hvico and know- ing but one day followed by one durkness from which it never awakens —— Hamburg ha-, .rQ8 chemical manufacturing establishments, employing in all 4,669, persons. iJarax, sulphuric acid, matches, fireworks cam- phor, gelatine, ether, and chloroform, axe a few .8Cth.ÆiQJl. articles turned out.

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PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. THE ORIGINAL WOMAN. BY F. FRANKFORT MOORE, uthor of r* The Jessamy Bride," "The Girls of the House," "A Whirlwind Harvest," &c., &c. [COPYRIGHT.] SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTKitS I A II.—Mrs. La Roaclie and her daoght-er, Claire, drive to Ca.atle Finnbar. Dennis O'Keefe, the driver, refuses to be paid that night. They arrive a.t their destination, and are welcomed by Sallivan. the only old servant left at the Castle, which is tumbling into ruins. From the hnU Claire and her mother are taken by the crazy Sullivaji to a. fine old bedroom, which has not been occupied for at least over half a cen- tury. Everything is in tatters. Moths and bats abound. Rats can be heard scuttling under the waineceticg. The immediate demand of the new- comers is for food. Thev pa.rtake of a miserable cupper, after which the old man produces a pack of C Claire eoon sees tha.t he is a born gamester, and refuses to play with him. He re- firefe muttering vengeance. CHAPTERS III. & IT.—Mother and daughter pass a. i NLry night ensconced in chairs. The mother sleeps, but the daughter sits listening to all the uncanny sounds, and conjuring for herself the imaginary terrors of the night. They are dis- turbed by the arrival of two men on horseback, etranded wayfarers, who believe the Castle to be nninhaJbittd, save by a lunatic. The two men pro- mise the help and assistance of two women, which relieves the situation somewhat. On the morrow Claire intercepts a beautiful little Irishgirlcarrying a. can of milk. This child takes Miss La Roache to the cabin of Mrs. O'l^eary. where the good woman gives her a meal, and she has a wash. She Mcom- panies Claire back to the Castle, where she provides good breakfast. During the course of the morn- mg visitors arnve. CHAPTERS & VI.—The visitors are Lady Innis- fail and Mrs Archie Browne. mother and daughter. With them are the two men they saw in the night. The Roa-ches show their visitors their ruin, and are afterwards taken to Mrs. Archie Browne's hon.e. Snanamara Mother and daughter discus* Mr. TJrqnhart. He is secretary to Mr. Philip Trent, the mll"nna;re. who ic expeted shortly to be a gues. After the- scenery, Mrs. and Miss La h iclie descend tc the hall, where Claire con- verses w n Major Clifton. CHAPTERS VII. A VIII—The author gives the reader an insight into the past history of the Lao Roache family. Claire seats herself in a convex window in the hall, and. while watching the sun Bet. i. ils asleep. She awakens on a loe Iscene which is being enacted between Lord Medway and Lady Evelyn Carnaleigh. The two girls become fast friends. Mr. Philip Trent invitee the Snanar mar. party to his yacht for a, day's cruise. Mr. Marvi-i savarrt and philosopher, discourses to them 8ociologic<11-,v. CHAPTERS IX. A X.—The house-party take a moonlight .valk. Lady Innisfail is anxious to pro- cure tho services of a witch. but. is over-ruled. Mrs. La, Roa-che and Claire again discuss their fellow-guests. Claire finds she has loet her little gold heart, and goes in search of it. She hears voicul in the hall below. Stephen Urquhart has found th gold heart. Lady F.ve.lyn, who ill with him. tells him it belongs to Miss La Roache. He declarpg him'3elf luckier in taxing found the heart of Evelyn. Claire steals back unobserved. In the morning she meets Mr. Urquhart outside the house, and he her hack her gold heart. After a pleasant badinage they go in to breakfast. CHAPTER XI. Claire felt herself quite easily falling: in line, so to spea.k, with the people of whose real lives she had been afforded a glimpse—thft glimpse that passes through, the diaphragm of a camera And leaves its picture on the photographic film 'behind. Her first thought was: How well they all do it!" No one could possibly know even by the closest of observation of Lady Evelyn a-nd Lord Medway that they had played parts in such a scene af had taken place in another room a fortnight before, and apparently no one but herself had the slightest suspicion that Stephen Urquhart ■was on such terms of brotherly friendship with Lady Evelyn as permitted of bis kissing her when parting for the night. Shp ha-d fallen in line with the others. She flattered herself that no one could know that she had become cognisant of the illuminating epi- sodes just referred to. She kept all that she knew to herself. She could not help wondering if it was the English habit to keep as a dead secret such a relationship as existed between Mr. Urquhart and Lady Evelyn. Of course, the two had an understanding between themselves. They were "engaged." She could easily believe that they should try to avoid the liability which attaches to a subjection to the conditions of that odious commonplace. An "engagement" .somehow Bounded horribly middle-class. It was conven- tional. There was nothing emotional: about it— xt was not rhythmical-there was no lyrical charm about it—no melody. An "engagement" in England, is the solicitor's draft of the title- deeds of the estate of matrimony. It has not yet been sealed, but it is eminently satisfactory. It entails a, ring. Hut in the case of Mr. Urquhart and Lady Evelyn there was no visible sign of any engage- anent existing between them; certainly no mem- ber of the party at Snanamara seemed to have the faintest idea that even the most informal contract existed, between them. This being so, Clairo did not need, to take any great trouble to persuade herself that it would be ridiculous for her to do otherwise than fall in line with the rest of the party, and act as if she had not accidentally become possessed of a greater know- ledge on the subject of the relations existing between the two. Lady Evelyn had fcccome her greatest friend. Claire had an jkUa that the fact that she had become aware oe Lady Evelyn's secret constituted a bond of friendship between them. But she would not go far a" to assume that this bond would be ap- pr+X'iabiv strengthened were her friend to know that had overheard that last, "good night" w his period at the foot, of the stairs. And yet, why should that knowledge make any difference to her ? Lady Evelyn had been at the point of telling her the name of the man whom she loved when Claire had stopped her. Why then should hhe object to Claire's acquiring that knowledge for herself? It would be unreasonable for her to object: but Claire had an instinct that Lady Evelyn's friend- ship for her was strengthened in some measure by the promptness which she had shown in pre- venting her from revealing the name of the man. It was under the prompting of a momentary im- pulse that Lady Evelyn had offered to tell her the name of the man: but Claire had a feeling ffchat her friend was glad she had been prevented fro-M doing so. She could not help wondering if Lady Evelyn lwd informed Mr. Urquhart that Lord Medway had told he loved her—asking her love in return. And if she had told him so much of the jstory, 1I..rd she the information that Claire (had accidentally been present when Lord Mod- way had asked his question? Claire thought sfhat sbe had not; and therefore1 Jt: was best for £ her, Ciau-e. to make no sign to Miytrnf. regarding the knowledge which she had accidentally ac- quired. ■"You got your ppndant from Mr. Urquhart?" said her mother after breakfast. "Yes," said Claire. "If is most gratifying, is it not, to have such an ^aifiyje of honesty in the upper ranks of life?" Her mother ignored her pleasantry. "The upper ranks of lífp P Mr. Urquhart is not K* the upper ranks of life," she said. Of course not," sa.id Claire. He is only an honorary ^nember of the upper ranks. He is aD. employe. Di'iat. makes his honesty all the more glaring." "Mr Trent delightful man; he has been talking about yotf/his morning already," said her mother. "He is a delightlut said Claiie. 1 would rather that people about me in the afternoon. Their judgments are than they in the morning. Wasis'fc it Mr. M«-ryjn who was assuring us that people wevo not fully ay ako aintil four hours after they got ont of Md ? Her mother ignored the reierene-e to Mr. Marvin. After a. decent pause—a pause suffici- ently long to iftonvey the idea of one topic being: ended and another begun—she said, with an Affectation of carelessness "Mr. Trent is a delightful man—so apprecia- tive." Shall I put in a good word fw M>\ Urquhart wttlt-him? He would. I am sure, h, pleased to Îlear fIf the honesty of one of his employes?" said OJre. Mrs. La Koache gave an exclamation of ifit- patieaiee. t, could not understand her daugh- ter's flippancy At that moment. Flippancy in conversation with tt. millionaire as a topic she justly considered to sho*r bad taste. The millionaire himsell in no position of prominence during this particular day. His telegrams began to pour in shortly .t.(,1" break- fast, and he was kept; busy with his secretary and' his secretary's secretary. The telegraph messengers had to form a queue at the door of his room. "He has probably made as ttCJ) money to- day already as we shall leave when we die, after years of scraping," said a man with a gun who returned after a day's mixed shooting on the mountain. "As much as we shall leave when we die?" øud another. If be doesn't do a deal better than that there isn't much fun in mil. Ikmaixing/' There wa« ,%ir inquiry lor Archie at lunch. Now and again people staying at a house show a certain amount oj: solicitude for their host—. jtfcways for their hoetess. He is tiie messenger of King Saul, said Philip Trent. If He is gone hunting for a witch Borough-oaf all tie land. He may find one." Tuat-" wile, wit/h! M 1 3t some severity. She had been silently dis- couraging the quest of the witch which had been set on foot by her mother. But Lady Innisfail did not mind silemt discouragement. She had been too long subjected to the non-silent dis- couragement or ner scnemes oy ner daughter to be in any way affected by her reticence. Archie is a good boy; he would do anything lor me," ,?aid Lady Inni-sfail. Besides £ )liis is t>ck>nt,rfvc' research. A witch: there is nothing so scientific as a witch-Mr. Marvin will tell you that—only I hope he won't." There was a general acquiescence in Lady Innisfail's views in this particular; MT. Marvin was not present. But it was late in the afternoon, and the tea- tables were spread with hot cakes and other delicacies before Archie rode up. Everyone ex- pected that he would have a word or so to say respecting the future of the witch as an object of scientific research. But Archie was grinning with considerable breadth and force of charac- ter. Sonv> of his scientific associates in the old days had been known to hold the opinion that Archie's grin could not be properly measured by an ordinary pair of callipers; full justice could be done to it only by the aid of a sextant and an artificial horizon. "You have found her?" oried Lady Innisfail, in tremulous eagerness. Give me some tea," said Archie, and a few hot cakes—as hot as you have them. I've had nothing but a sandwich since breakfast." That's not enough for a huntsman," said Mr. Crquhart. "Don't spare the butter. A what?" asked Archie. "A huntsman. Hunting is the highest form of scientific research," said Urquhart. "Did you bring her back slung across your saddle?" "Scent lying iN-ell?" enquired Lord Medway. "Oh, go hang! Scent! My aunt! Scent!" Baid Archie, enigmatically. Lady Innisfail took her son-in-law under her wing, so to speak. After all, the hunt was of her making. She brought him buttered cakes in a lordly dish, and stood by him while he crammed a few into his mouth. "Poor boy! my poor, starving hoy! I will not have him worried," she cried. "He did it for me. If he should die, his death would be laid at my door," she added with a. tragic solemnity that was the height of comedy. She turned with bitter words on the people who laughed. Archie grinned and put away two or three more mouthful-cakes. Everyone envied him his teeth. But Lady Innisfail stood by him to tho last. He felt for his cigar-case. Lady Innisfail rushed for a light for him. "My aunt! What a day!" he managed to say when his cigar was well alight. hay! my poor boy!" said Lady Innis- fail. "But you found her? You are an English- man! And they say that the days of chivalry are over! You found her?" But the hero of the quest had no idea of coming to the point at once. If heroes of quests had come to the point at once there would have been few epics written, and the lyric drama would have languished. II You see I heard nearly a year ago of this particular witch," said he. "Which o!i(- ?" asked Lady Innid'ail. "This one," replied Archie. "Then you found her? Heaven be praised!" cried Lady Iunisfail in her truest devotional spirit. "I knew you would. And yet they say that the English gentleman of today Is she coming to us, or must we go to her? Does she live at a distance? Tell us all about her." I was gonig through the whole story in good order when you broke in on me," said Archie. I found her at the foot of Slieve, Dhu. She lives in the rummiest cabin ever krown. It is built somehow out from a cove. ["iiinmy! I knew that I remembered hearing about her a year ago from the D.I. He told me that she had been accused by some idiots in the neigh- bourhood—graziers—of spoiling their churning; laying a. spell on it and that sort of thing. They wanted to get a magistrate's order to burn her at a. stake. A couple of years ago they took the law into their own hands not so far from here and did actually burn a witch. A happy sort of country this—steeped to the lips in super- stition. I mett magpie at the end of the drive, and that made me sure that I would have no luck to-day—but I found her. The rume miest——" "We shall make a pic-nic of it," said Lady Innisfail. "We shall boil our kettle on the witch's tripod—just like the scene in '.Niacbeth —not the Lyceum' .Macbeth '-the real one— with the music. We shall have a delightful day. Only—to-morrow is Friday. It's the height of unluckiness to do anything of this sort on Friday, .\ou know!' Stephen Urquhart smiled. The end justifies the means—the witch averts the ill-luck that attaches to the day. I believe that her powers are equal even to such a miracle," he said. CHAPTER XII. The visit to the witch of Slieve Dhu made a food enough excuse for a drive through some of the most chilling scenery in the West of Ireland. For twelve miles (Irish) the coach went through mountain pass and along the banks of mountain tarn, up through the still pines and across cata- racts that sent a note of rejoicing through the murky glen-fordidg narrow streams that rippled and wimpled about the horses' hoofs. There was no loneliness in this liand, though only at intervals of long miles a human being was to be seen, and at rarer intervals, a. cabin with a brown turf stack. Competent judges affirmed that the Witch of the Hills—she had taken her degree in necro- mancy and had been given the title of Witch of the Hills by the Irish-speaking people of the neighbourhood—had a thorough knowledge of the art oi choosing a studio. Her cabin had been built on the hill side, enclosing a cave. Above its roof rose the flat wall of the cliff for perhaps thirty feet, and the dark face of the stone was blackened by many years' smoke from the chimney in the most grotesque and even horrible Fpha,pes. They lay like the shadows of some un- earthly creatures projected upon the cliff face, and, seeing the enormous curled aIiod twisted things, the peasants were accustomed to cast a fearful glance into the space opposite to the cabin, as though they expected to see hovering there the dreadful shapes that cast such shadows. The door was open and Archie led his friends into the cabin with the air of responsibility that ne associates with a personal conductor. "How fearfully dim!" cried Lady Innisfail, the moment that she crossed the threshold. Your ladyship will have no need to complain in another minute," came a voice—a thin voice sounding as it seemed from outside the cabin altogether. "The seanoe has already begun," said Philip Trent. The ladf does a little, in the ventrilo- quist line, I perceive." "I cannot see you, Miss Curtis—* should 1 Bay Mrs. ?—but everyone does say that you are quite pxtraordinary," cried Lady Innisfail, /fNow do please tell us where you are." There was no answer; but a. curious thing took place, for gradually whatever light was in the cabin-and there was certainly enough to allow of the members of the party seeing each other's faces—became dim and still dimmer, until the place was left in complete darkness. It was a* tf the daylight had been turned off as though it ivore as amenable as gaslight to such ar operation. I)on't stand at the windows," said Archie "You are shutting out the light. Hang me, hi I can seeasingle thing. Now where's the door ?' iWhat idiot shut the door?" The tiny room was in complete darkness. Of oourse someone was bound to stand before each of the windows—the place was about ten feet square-but the queer thing was that the light was shut out from the windows, and no one could find the door. A thunderstorm at the end of September-" fcaad Lord Medway. "It cam# ?n pretty quickly, didn't it?" said Archje. This is hol-rid; jet us get pat Again as quickly as we can," said Lady Innjsfajl jn a frightened whisper. I'll stay—I mean to get the worth of my money," said Archie, doggedly. "You may go if you can find the door." He had tit-eady been groping for it without success. Lady Evelyn laughed. f' Ie" the queerest thing I ever knew," she fcaid. Wouid it be playing the game to strike a match, I wonder?" Out of the darkness came the voice of Lady Innisfail: For heaven's sake, let me get out. Something touched me on the face—something queer- horrible—" "I felt it; a bat's wing—cold as leather," said Lord Medway. "Are you there?" hallooed Archie, as though he were speajkjng through a telephone. "Hillo! Lucy—Mrs. Curtis—give us a light, please—a .candle end will do." "Why. surely—surely—a light," Capie the thin distant voice. In a, second there was a shiipmer as of a. corpse candle in the distance—rit seemed to £ ady Tunis- fail a.nd the others of the party as if they were looking down a very long gallery—the faint blue quivering light appealing like a planet in a mist. "I say," said Archie, "can anyone tell where we are ? I shall be gla,(T-lo take the advice of an average expert on the subject; In my ignorance I believed that we had come to a. cabin on the hill S/MIe; but by the Lord Harry, it lool-o ittllv sfea if jses Jtad wax. 1 snouia HKe to know it 1 look go blue about tb4 face as all of you." I have seen enough I want to get away," said Lady Tn»M;il. "Is there anyone in th cottage beside ourselves? I am perfectly certair that somen up brushed past me—two pe-ople." I certainly iolt something like that," said Lord M'dway. "What do you say, Mr. Marvin t" i CUll Minn, -out- GètflClOC orve- aua xaiK a the same t Inw." said "II'. Marvin in a voice that sounded unlike his own, being deficient in that effect of finality which marked his pronounce- ment«. "T fancy it must be a inafter of sug- gestion—synthetical with hypnotic su lies* "I want to get away," said Lady Innisfail. Good heavens! are we such fools that we can't find our way to the door? I don't want any more synfhet—whatever yon call it. There it is ag.iin—the thing—I tell you I felt it—clammy— like touching a frog." A little shriek entne from Lady Eve-lyn-a shriek and a laugh that had nothing of a l&agb about it except the gasp. "Snakes!" she said. H A oold touoh like the touch of a. dead snake. There is a queer sroel/l- like nothing I ever knew before—clammyi" My aunt!" cried Archie. "A crypt," said Mr. Marvin. Hypnotic s gestion." Are you there ?" shouted Archie again tel& phonic. It seemed to be in his mind that tht best: way to neutralise the effect of the super- natural would be by resorting to a commonplace scientific formula. He selected the most oom. monpl ce. Lticy-tliis is past a joke—let us have a light for goodness' sake. I say—confound it all! I didn't bargain for this I thought—well, I'm hanged!" "Anything that the gentlemen and ladies wish," said the voice. In a second the corpse candle in the utter dis- tance was extinguished, the outline of the win- dowq appeared in their proper places, and there was light in the space of the open door. The room became as light as it had been at the en- trance of the visitors. These visitors looked into each other's faces. In front of them at the entrance of •frhat seemed a cave six or seven feet deep, stood a small woman clad in a peasant's shawl and with her hair tied up in the usual lumpy knot. It was perfectly black hair, and her eyes were oi a bead-like black. Her face was the brown face of a very old woman, seamed and pencilled with line,. The yellow bits of her face were puckered up in a smile as she stood curtseying to the group who had become huddled—positively huddled—together, near the door. At the sight of the curtsey the group drew a long breath and became more artistically grouped. They per- ceived that she was not a hag. "The pretty ladies," said she. "And they want their fortunes told. That is why they come to old Lucy. They have heard that she is a witch, and that she can make the butter come nr.'l do other queer things entirely, to say noth- ing of a cure for warts and the green fly on rose bushes and other miracles, and she doesn't want her hand crossed with silver, for that would bring her under the law. Such pretty ladies! Especially the one that loves the man that she says v 'i o; though there's a good f a i-oii r a bo-tit the one whose husband is on a fat journey. Gentlemen, too—well-favoured gentlemen—not forgetting the one that told the pretty young English colleen that she was like her mother of fifty thousand years ago, and wanted to kiss her on the strength of it as they were walking through a shrubbery. It was on the left cheek that she slapped him, calling him an old fool; but that was where she was wrong—for he isn't a though he is paying a. visit to a witch. woman this blessed day." There was a loud laugh, and all eyes were turned upon Mr. Marvin. The men muttered that, they didn't think lie had it in him. But the women only smiled; they knew better; even Lady Evelyn, who was only twenty-three. Mr. Marvin had a look of foolishness, but there was a reminiscence in his expression. He was unconsciously stroking his left cheek. It was a case of synthetic hypnotism," said Lady Innisfail. But I wonder who the girl was." Would the gentleman who has ever thought more of millions than of maids like me to tell him what his future will be?" said the old woman looking into the face of Lady Evelyn. No, said Philip Trent. I know what will be the future of any man who loves millions rather than maids." But isn't there a dark colleen coming over the water to him?" said Lord Medway. JNO, she has come—she has come, and h< does not know it," said the woman. "She hai come, and one day he will want to leave her, because he does not know that she loves him." "And does she not know it?" said Lady Innis- fail, who had the name of being a great match- maker. "She does not know it: but she will know it before the day when a mountain melts with fire," replied the witch. My aunt!" said Archie. Is it worth setting a wholp mountain on fire in order that a girl may see her way to be on friendly terms with Philip Trent? Look here, my good woman, do you mean that someone will put a match to the heather 011 Slieve Gorm ? If anyone does I'll pi-osmiit-o liiiii within an inch of his life." "The heavens wouldn't: be on fire if Slievi Gorm was in a blaze," said the woman. "The li,-avens-oli, that's a roundabout way oi saving that the Judgment Day will come first," said Lady Innisfail. "Isn't that so, my good woman ?" I only say what I see, your ladyship," said the woman. "And what I say is the truth But it would be an unhappy thing to be married to a maid and then to be separated from her till the biggest fire that ever was on the earth blazes itself out." Yes, I admit that would be hard on a chap," said Ir. Trent. "Yes, and on the girl," said Lady Innisfail "Don't you think that we have had the worth of your money, Archie?" "Don't say my money; it isn't me that's running the show," cried Archie. Is there anything else that you would like to ask?" inquired Lady Innisfail. "Of course there may be some private affairs—but I think that we have done very well so far as matters of general interest are concerned. What dc you say, Evey?" I have nothing to enquire about," said Ladj Evelyn. "And if I had, I shouldn't enquire," she added. "Does the pretty lady doubt the poor old witch's word?" asked the woman, with a curious gleam of the eyes. Lady Evelyn felt that her inmost thoughts were being Kiintgened; the creature's eyes were piercing her. She felt her own eyes closing. Yes, we have had enough for our money," said Lord Medway, who was looking at her, anc took a careless step between the woman and th( girl. I am going to clear off, anyway. Come along, Evey." The old woman gave. a chuckling laugh, which was very nasty. You are the man that will take care of her— you—you—from witches and warlocks and- worse," she muttered. Come along, we can see our way to the door just now, but goodness knows how much longer we may be able to see it," said Lord Medway. The witch laughed quite pleasantjy-for a ivitch, and the last of her visitors tripped away, with another Good-bye." (To be Continued.)

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THE "DUMPING PROCESS" (from the British Workman's point of view). I

Cycling and Motoring News. -:0:- The last appearance of the season of Major Taylor was at the Buffalo Velodrome, Paris, in a 1,000 metres race, when he had to face such well- known riders as Ellegaard (the world's sprial champion), Meyers (the Grand Prize winner), Jacquelin, Jue and Kimble. Every one expected the "Major" to win, although Ellegaard was looked upon as a dangerous rival by some, but judge the surprise of the spectators when Kimble' the American, led the Major" home with Ellegaard at his back wheel. No doubt Taylor much regrets meeting with a reverse in the closing race of his season, more so as it is rumoured that he is giving up racing and intends settling down in business. But he has had a remarkably good year and can afford one or two defeats without injuring his reputation. So much depends on the tyres—probably the most vulnerable part of a motor cycle-in such a trying test of the reliability of a motor bicycle as the recent 1,000 miles motor trials, held under the auspices of the Auto Cycle Club, which was mar- red by bad weather and heavy roada, that further evidence of the reliable and durable qualities of the Dunlop tyre is adduced by many of the suc- cessful competitors, who gained the highest awards in the trials and who had Dunlop's fitted to their machines, emerging from the hard test with little or no tyre troubles. Chas. Francois, who passed as the Bon of Prince Charles de Nevers of Paris, was charged with obtaining a motor-car, value JE180, by means of a valueless cheque. The prisoner called at a motor establishment, and agreed to purchase a 9 h.p. car, subject to a trial, after which he expressed his unfeigned satisfaction. A cheque was forth- with handed to the vendor drawn on an Irish bank, at the same time the prince informed prosecutor that he had a large engineering estab- lishment at Oxford Street. The cheque was accepted on the strength of these statements, and the car was delivered. The cheque was, however, returned marked No account." Prisoner ad- mitted making false statements. Inquiries had been made and it was found that the title "Prince de Nevers" had been extinct for nearly three cen- turies. Prisoner was remanded in custody. Putting on one side the question as to the right or wrong of automobilists travelling at a speed in excess of the legal limit, the methods displayed by the police to secure charges of this nature are altogether revolting and foreign to the British principle of Justice. When a motorist drives through a town or village at a speed to endanger the public, then the police should act, but to lie in wait on fast travelling and open country roads sparsely populated, is quite another thing. Instead of improving, the methods of the police are getting worse and worse they disguise them- selves as yokels and farmers, and in a case recently on the Soutlisea road, one of their members had garbed himself in a leather motor suit, and lounging about, signal to one of his mates further along the road when a motorist passed him. Then the motorist was stopped, his name and address taken, and the time occupied over the measured course duly put down for future evidence. Most of the principal long distance amateur events of the season have now been decided, and one is able to glance over the names of prominent riders and select that one which holds the finest record for 1903. There is little difficulty in this, for Leon Meredith stands out prominently with the finest list of successes. Amongst other events, Meredith has accounted for the 100 miles race for the Carwardine Cup, the six hours' race of the Southern C.C., the twenty-five miles National Cyclists' Union Championship at Wakefield, and the fifty miles unpaced Southern road record. His more recent successes are the six hours' race for the Dibble Shield, and the fifty miles championship of the Southern Cycling Union, in both of which events he was riding a cycle fitted with Dunlop tyres. The fifth annual motor car trials, organised by the Automobile Club, are being held. The trials will be for reliability and not speed. Over 130 cars, each of which will be under the continuous observation of an official club observer, will cover 1,000 miles at slow touring speed. Such a test should go far to prove to the public that designs which have been suggested and proved by recent races have been put into practical shape for ordinary touring purposes. The routes will extend from the Crystal Palace to various sea-side places and back on the same day, so that a large number of people will have an opportunity of witnessing the performance of the cars during the trials. The places to be visited include Margate, Folkestone, Eastbourne, Bexhill, Brighton, Worthing, Southsea and Winchester. The very latest Royal personage to take up the pastime of cycling is little Princess Victoria of Wales. Her Royal Grandfather has presented her with a bicycle which only weighs a matter of 15 lbs. and on which she is most expert. It is said that she is the youngest cyclist in Great Britain. Many motorists are often in doubt as to the borse-power they should provide themselves with in car or bicycle. A motor bicycle with a 3 or 4 borse-power engine is a unilateral montrosity, so also is a light car with 12 or 16 horse-power. A 3 horse-power bicycle weighing approximately 200 lbs. is a ponderous and unwieldly mount. It is difficult to handle, and difficult to mount, and the noviee will be well advised to give it a wide berth. For a convenient and handy motor bi- cycle, the weight should not exceed 100 or 110 lbs. and the engine will be quite powerful enough if it be not more than 2 h.p. With such a machine much pleasure is obtained. It is easy to handle. to push in traffic, or to lift in and out of the house. A little enjoyable pedalling tells wonderfully on a steep slope or climbing a long gradient. No rider, except those of powerful physique, or those who wish to go tearing along the roads at a fast speed, and who can retain their equanimity under sudden unforseen circumstances, should get astride a machine of high power. It is marvellous how it swallows up the mileage in a day's run.

-:0:- By the ruling of the National Cyclists' Unio* if a rider is disqualified in any particular race, that disqualification only applies to the race, and not to any subsequent event which might be decided at the same meeting, The trade and pastime of cycling in Australia has received a great fillip this season by the visit of "Major" Taylor, the Negro Sprinter, Robl. Dickentmann, and other Continental riders, and arrangements are now being made to hold a large cycle show at Sydney, New South Wales, on the same lines as the Stanley or National Show in this country. By the way, we understand that the profits made by the Melbourne Cycling Club over their last Anstra: lalbeelliace meeting amounted to £(¡BJ 14s. lid. but this falling off is accountable to the double postponement of the meeting which took place, and the extra expense thereby thrown on the management. The assets of the Melbourne Cycling Club now stand at £ 10,541, a sum which no other institution of the kind can boast of. There is no doubt that many cyclists fail to give sufficient attention to their jchains, especially during the summer months, and if the chain is unprotected by a gear case it should be well dusted at least opce a week, and each individual link lubricated. The small particles of dust, or really the minute flints, are very detrimental to chains, as, being extremely iiard they act on the metal as emery, wearing the chaiii unlesa properly lubricated, A splendid new poster ia colours, and one whicb » — imaandr motor depot, has just been issued by the Dunlop Tyre Co. It is entirely unique in design and character, and is a typical representation of a motor-car race on the road. On application to any of the Dunlop branches, one of these splendid examples of lithographic art will be forwarded to any trader on receipt of name and address. King Carnival is having a right good time, and reigns supreme at present. From all parts of the country reports have come in of cycle parades and carnivals held on behalf of local charities, and from all accounts the collections have been extremely successful. The collection at the Woodford Meet realised about 9400, and the Edinburgh Cyclists' Parade realised 9240, the Cyclists' Procession at Newcastle-on-Tyne A:250, whilst many other parades were equally successful. A new motor bicycle record has been established by J. Silver, who rode from the extreme north of Scotland to the southernmost end of England, in 54 hrs. 29 min. The ride is generally known as the Land's End to John O'Groat's journey, only in this latest record the journey was reversed. The distance is 880 miles, and it was Silver's third attempt. The ride is a most meritorious one, as for more than half the distance heavy rains were experienced, and the roads were in an execrable state. The 1,000 miles trial of motor vehicles for reliability will be held from September 4th to 12th, starting from and completing every day's run at the Crystal Palace. On Friday, September 4th, the route is to Folkestone and back; Saturday, Eastbourne and back; Monday, Worthing and back; Wednesday, Southsea and back Thursday, Bexhill and back Friday, Margate and back Saturday, Brighton and back. There are many stiff hills to be negotiated during each run, whioJa will try the motors very highly. In the case of a motor tyre puncture to repair on the road side, if you do not happen to be fitted up with a portable stand or convertible luggage carrier, a good strong piece of cord put around a gate-post, and the machine suspended to it is a handy way of getting to the air tube. Be careful how you handle the air tube when out of the cover, if a back rim brake is fitted, as a turn of the wheel may tear it. This is the worst thing about back wheel brakes. A good motor tyre repairing outfit is indispensable. One that follows the lines of the famous Midget is the Dunlop. It is, of course, made on a larger scale, and the materials are much more substantial. The materials are packed neatly into a flat box, suitable for carrying in the pocket. The price is 2s,, and it is really.spiendid value. A motorist's wife in T.P.'s Weekly," says: When a motor bicycle comes in at the back door peace flies out at the front. Why a man should hold his wife responsible because the sparking plug won't spark, is beyond the comprehension of a mere woman. About an hour before my husband starts for a ride he mounts the wretched thing in the back kitchen, and works it furionsiv, leaving a long trail of lubricating oil over the floor, and filling the house with vile smells. Even the best china jug is not exempt from petrol, because of its convenient iip. All this is simply to prove the condition of the motor for the road. But the behaviour of the motor in the back kitchen and upon the road is very different, as my husband explains volubly, during what was once the happiest time of day—the evening. Now, after hearing for the tenth time, how the engine misfired and the mixture retti-,ed to mix. I gently try to turn the conversation into other levels, I am greeted with a inaudible grunt, ,iid- You'd be surprised what a difference the exhaust valve lifter makes I am quite sure motor- cycles make husbands dreadfully selfish if thev havn't a trailer." The wiring up of a motor cycle, or rephiciiu; the wires of an electric ignition from an accumulator and though the coil is a job that can easily be wrongly done, and the result will be that you will lose an accumulator full of energy in a very small period of time, and wonder what has gone wrong with your machine. The frame of the cycle is used for be return circuit, and this is done to save a lot of wiring. Beginning at the positive pole of the battery, you carry the low tension wire to the positive pole of the coil. Then from the other terminal of the coil you take a wire to the tumbler of contact screw. Thence the current is conveyed through tbe frame to the plug and handle switch and further by another wire to the negative pole of the accumulator. The third wiring from the coil is to the frame, generally called an earth wire. Now for the high tension wire, over which no mistake is likely to be made, because it is generally recognised by its thickness. This goes direct from the coil to the plug in the engine. Fels-Naptha Soap differences: no other labour-saving soap; no other clothes-saving soap; no other money-saving soap no other moneyback soap. Fels-Naptha 39 Wilson street London E C The beginning of winter or summer in China depends on the whim of the Emperor. On a cer- tain day announced by him all his subjects ha-ve to put on tiieir winter clo1 hn, though in some regions summer hoat may still prevail, V By different nations every day in the week is set apart for public worship—Sunday by the Christians. Monday by the Greeks, Tuesday by the Persians. Wednesday hy the Assyrians, Thursday by the Egyptians, Friday by the Turks, and Saturday by the The island of Malta is the only known spot where the remains of dwarf elephants are to be found. One of these, whose teeth and bones showed that they lxdongcd to a full-grown speci- men, was less than 2tt. 6in. in height, and could not have weighed over 601b. when in the flesh. Dipsomaniacs in Sweden, when put under re- straint, a.re fed almost, entirely on bread steeped in wine. In less than a fortnight they loathe the very look and smell of liquor, and whpn liberated generally become total abstainers. In Russia a similar treatment is followed with good fesults- Birmiugham is the only place in which manu- facturing is an industry that mar be said to flour-ish. The trade is principally with Africa, where the numerous kings have com? to regard a Birmingham crown as a far moir elegant emblem of royalty than the old silk hat which they formerly affected. A serviceable crown, gaudily decorated wjth iniitauon pivcions stones' may be purchased for quite a small sum. —— The Ainus, the original inhabitants of Japan, live in tine Island of Yezao. The race has become so reduced that there are now not more than sixteen or seventeen thousand of them left iu the country. The most noticeable peouliantv about. Ainu women is that they have tattooed upon, their uppeir and lower lips whai, resembles a moustache. The women, are, not considered attractive, and their matrimonial prospects are gmte injured without this curious decoration, ♦ The Frenchman can hardly walk through a door or look through a window without bein°- remind*id taxes, for both doors and win" dows help to keep France going. Their joint contribution to the Exchequer is over two mil- lions. Every poster on a hoarding yields its Quota, to the Exchequer., of FranoP, aud the I ;ing. tt. the country staftd fon qawJjfct!*

IN view of the condition of the crops this season, a knotty point requiring careful and honest consideration will be in economy. The method giving the best results with reasonable outlay will be the method adopted. It is conclusively proved that the Alfa-Laval system of separating milk is the most economical. The saving it effects quickly repays first outlay, to say nothing of better butter, warm and sweet milk for calves, etc. Thousands of actual users bear this out. The Alfa-Laval Separators are easy to turn, lasting in wear, cheap to repair, and produce as cream and butter what other separators leave in the skim milk. Full particualars and advice free from the sole agents—Dairy Supply Co., Ltd Museum Street, London, W.C.