Barry Herald

THE finest human skeletons ever put on the London, Paris, and Berlin markets are the remains of the Dervishes who were slain at Omdurman. iwo hundred of these skeletons have been brought to London. The normal supply of skeletons in tunes of peace comes from pauper wards or gaofs. x>attie- Aeld skeletons, with broken or shattered bones, are told. if at all, at lewer prices. A perfect skeleton is worth in London or Paris from JE8 to 911. CALCUTTA'S supply of tiltered water is conducted through more than 315 miles of p;pes. The average daily consumption of the filtered water is 20^384,393 gallons, the consumption per head in the town proper being 34-01 gallons, and 19 86 gallons in the added area." The daily supply of unfiltered water for a population of 436,3y3 is 4,778,899 gallons.

NEWS NOTES. THE war debate in the Commons on the amendment to the Address in reply to the Queen's Speech produced a good deal of acrimonious controversiality, with little result of material value; and it would have been better in the world's eye had the nation shown such a patriotic and united front as to spare us the scene between Irish representatives which occurred last woek-ond. Surely, whatever has foregone, this is the time for the entire country to lend a hand in doing the country's urgent work; and mere partisan differences might at least be set temporarily aside. VERY much is hoped for from Lord Roberts' organisation work in South Africa, and the rein- forcements which are coming to his hand almost daily. A survey of the situation gives ground for belief that the Boers have almost all their available strength in the field, and are not in a position to add appreciably to their fighting resources in any way. If such be the case the turn of the tide must be very near, for our potentiality grows and grows in all directions. Lords Roberts and Kitchener have been active ever since they landed at Cape Town, and they must have accomplished very much in the direction of working out their future pro- gramme. The task in hand is by no means a lujit one, however, and at the best the British plans will occupy some considerable time to develop. OF course, our Commander-in-Chief will formulate and expand his strategy with all proper secrecy, so we shall have to possess our souls with patience for the outcome of it all. No doubt he will utilise Gatacre and French and the forces under them for pushing up through the Free Stato and keeping the com- munieation lines open: while the operations in Natal may any day take such a turn as to liberate Buller's army for work elsewhere. The Methuen deadlock, too, it must be sur- raised, will cease ere very long: but all will be done, so to speak, concertedly; that is to say, every move having relation to the rest. 0; rxiox gains ground that should the Boers t, in their resistance so long, Roberts can capture Bloemfontein by mid-March, making simultaneous marches in strength towards Pretoria and the outlying points, all his fighting forces being at the Ö same time properly supported from the base. The Orange Free State capital once in our hands a new condition of affairs would arise, and the Trans- vaalers might be wise enough to accept the inevitable without rendering further bloodshed necessary. This depends largely upon the behaviour of Oom Paul and his Executive for we believe the burghers would gladly place themselves and their interests in our hands. They have fought magnificently, but they have had enough of it, and would like to be back at their farming with a prospect of safe tenuro aud sound rule. OF course if Kruger and his misguided col- leagues elect to fight to the bitter end we must go on to Pretoria, and the reduction of that fortified city may take some time and cost many lives; but nothing will stop her Majesty's forces carrying out the behests of Britain in South Africa, that is sure indeed. We should not be surprised to find the head- strong Transvaal President praying to various foreign Powers to take up his trouble, and trying to secure advantage—or rather lessen humiliation—by their aid. But Britain will be in mood to brook interference. She has been forced to' fight against her will, and she will "see the thing through," though all the world should wish to put in its say. THE snowstorm which fell last week-end over a large proportion of the area of the kingdom was of tremendous volume and severity, and wrought a great deal of damage in many parts, besides interrupting traffic of every description in a most serious way. It was the heaviest ex- periencod for years, and reminded some of us of the great blizzard of January 18, 1881. One does not mind seasonable frost or even an occasional snowstorm, but a fall of six mcnes to a foot means always, means now, a great dislocation of the business of our strenuous lives. FOOTBALLJTRS especially dislike snowstorms, and football has become a big concern. There ar hundreds and hundreds of pounds at stake every Saturday in the season in the way of "gate-money," and an unplayable ground when a big fixture has been arranged may mean nothing less than bankruptcy to an important team. This, however, is one of the things that have to be chanced in our British climate, and last Saturday many games under both the Rugby and Association codes had to be aban- doned by reason of the snow. However, the England and Ireland Rugby tussle was decided at Richmond by a big margin in favour of the predominant partner," while Scotland beat Wales at Aberdeen soundly at the Associa- tion game. j ——

| THE GENTLE 130ELL Mr. A,. II. Howard, who was employed by tha j Beehtmn,aland Bad way Company in telegraph con- struction, and who, with his companions, was cap- t.ured by B iers at Ramathlabama, gives some in- teresting details concerning his arrest. He writes: Our (funp consisted of two workmen, two border pot cemen, and myself. On October 13 we were aroused at. dawn by a Boer Commando under Com- mandant Smith. As we appeared outside the tent in i/ur sleeping clothes. the Commandant allowed us to dress, and told ns to get, ready to proceed with the commando. The Boers, from what I could gather, were disappointed at not finding Colonel Baden- l'o'nJl at Bamathlabnma, and proposed to wreck their vengeance on us. The majority of the Boers were in favour of shooting us on the spot, and bad it not been for Commandant Smith I believe we should never have left our camp alive. However, 1 after considerable discussion we were permitted to f get some of our belongings, and were informed that we should have to go with the Boers into laager. I would like to mention here an incident showing the wanton cruelty if our captors. On leaving onr camp I took the precaution of taking my water-bag with lae, and after I had covered somo little distance, a Boer riding at my side offered to carry it on his horsn, and I handed it, to him. Judge of my dismay, on asking him for it later, to find that he and his fellows had completely emptied it. Consequently we had no water or food during the whole distance. Our feet were a iiiass of blisters, and one of the men jjave out about 15 miles from our destination, which necessi- tated our carrying him between us for the remainder of the journey. I would add that this march was made at the tail of a herd of 42 cattle and four horses. The (lies, dust and absence of water made nur condition almost unbearable.

KHAKI THE FASHIONABLE COLOUR. This season it is announced, says Madame, that khaki is to be the fashionable colour, and the regula- tion serge, and later on holland, will be patronised by everybody as a delicate compliment to "the gentle- man in khaki ordered South." Unfortunately it is not universally becoming to blondes, though the brunettes can hardly find anything more calculated to setoff their charms, especially if combined with a touch of bright colour. Just now the wholesale cloth merchants are almost ia despair, for the orders for serge for the Yeomanry and Volunteers have almost cleared out their stock, and the renewal of &his takes some little time.

THE Marquis of Salisbury is an expert gardener. It was his great hobby as a boy. He has a rare eye for combinations of colour and designing of floral beds, and the gardeners at Hatfield will bear testimony to his lordship's horticultural knowledge. Some of the prettiest floral ideas at Hatfield have been carried out under the personal supervision of the Marquis. FoR h-s yearv,, Sir Charles Dilke ia probably as an oarsmaa as could be found. One of Sir Cnarles'a favourite recreations is scullieg. When at ihis riverside retreat at Shepperton he is often to be een 1D a pair-oared boat in company with some amou row 109 maa, pulling away with ax much CD8gy as an half his SOMEONE has recommended a' leather autuaah » as a prevention of sore back, among the torse. operating With the troops IR South Africa, and now an officer of experience writes to say that atie-h a de- vice is as bad as a Roman scourging to the ordinary service trooper. On low condition ^horses the leather numnah acts 'most disastrously, whereas he de- clares there is no better protection for the animal's hack than tho OrjlllAry numnah, or felt saddle cfotb.

HOW SOME WOMEN FACE TROUBLE. With the newspapers full of stories of misery and crime, no apology is needed for reprinting a charm- ing story of an English mother's happiness and courage. The East Essex Times, from which it i9 clipped, reports the matter as a simple news item, emanating from its local representative in the pretty village of Stambourne. Here lives a Mrs. Richardson, with her daughter, a rosy girl of eighteen, named Eva. This girl until recently had been ailing severely with anosmia and a common con- sequent ail- ment indi- gestion. Her liver became affected, as was evident by freqnent pains across the shoulders, and she suffered great pain in the back and in the legs. She had no appe- tite, and could hardly creep up and down- stairs, she was 80 weak; neither could she de any work, and she always felt languid. Mrs. Richardson stated: "A few months ago, my neighbours told me they thought Eva was dying. I thought so too. for she was as white as a sheet, and I quite made up my mind that I should have to bury her. I have already buried four," added the mother with simple pathos, but, thank Heaven, she is all right now." Mrs. Richardson continued to explain that the present splendid health and astonishing changes in the girl was due to Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people. Her daughter was attended by a doctor, but without any perceptible benefit. One day, however, a pamphlet was left, at the cottage, containing a case similar to her daughter's which had been cured by Dr. Williams' pink pills. Mrs. Richardson imme- diately procured a box, and after Miss Richardson had taken them for about a week she felt better, and could eat her food in comfort. She continued to take the pills, and before four boxes had been exhausted she had quite regained her health, strength, and appetite. Miss Richardson herself added, with evident pleasure and gratefulness: Yes I can eat and drink anything now, and enjoy it. I feel quite well and strong, and can do my work without difficulty." The young woman proceeded to say that she had re- commended the pills to other sufferers, and she would continue to do so. Mrs. Richardson declared that it was to Dr. Williams' pink pills that she owed her daughter's life, and the thankful parent went on to say that a Mrs. Lapwood, who was almost an invalid, living in the adjoining parish of Birdbrook, had derived great benefit from the pills. Her daughter's recovery had naturally caused great surprise in the village, and the pistor of the Congregational Church had alluded to it with astonishment. Miss Richardson stated that she had not the slightest objection to the foregoing being published, and by this resolve she is rendering a great and public service to those of her sex, who, by reason of weakly constitutions, or exhausting conditions of employment, have been reduced to a sickly, anemic state. Impoverishment and deficiency of blood are responsible for the weary eyes of thousands of matrons and young women, and by building up the blood fresh enery is imparted tD the system through the veins. Dr. Williams' pink pills have become famous among countless grateful women, who are constantly recommending them for anrcmia, pale and sallow complexion, general muscular weakness, loss of appetite, palpitations, pains in the back, nervous headache, and neuralgia, early decay, all forms of female weakness and hysteria, and consumption of the bowels and lungs. Acting on the nerves also, serious a lmenls such as paralysis, locomotor ataxy, rheumatism and sciatica are cured. No pills are genuine except those bearing the full name, Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people, and sold by most chemists, and by Dr. Williams' Medicine Com- pany, Holborn Viaduct, London, at two shillings and ninepence a box. or six boxes for thirteen and nine. Pink pills sold loose or from glass jars are not Dr. Williams' pink pills had Miss Richardson cbllu cQiia sell iaj "UV Qvvcifcu ¡tHU ug a ottuoci- tute in place of the remedy she had in misd, it is probable that she would not now be alive to tell the story.

PLANTS AS EMBLEMS. Some plants are emblematical onaccouitt of cer- tain events or customs—of these are the national em- blems. The rose of England became especially famous during the Wars of the Roses, after which the red and white were united and the rose of both colours is called the York and Lancaster; but when these flowers first became badges of the two houses we cannot discover. The thistle is honoured as the emblem of Scotland, from the circumstance that once upon a time a party of Danes having approached the Scottish camp nnperceived, by night, were on the point of attacking it, when one of the-soldiers trod upon a thistle. wh'ch caused him to cry out, and so aroused the enemy. The Shamrock for Ireland was held by St. Patrick to teach the doctrine of the Trinity, and chosen in remembrance of him it is always worn by the Irish on St. Patrick's day. The leek. in Wales, as a national device, has not been satisfactorily explained, otherwise than as the result, of its having the old Cymric colours, green and white. In France, the fleur-de-lis is so called as a corruption of fleur-de- Louis, and h-ts no connection with the lily, but was an iris, chosen as an emblem by Louis VII. when he went to the Crusades, and afterwards named after him. The olive is deemed an emblem of peace; pro- bably on account of its durability of growth. It was planted both in Italyand Greece to mark the limits of landed possessions.

LADY SMITH PRICES. The War Correspondent of the Natal Witness in Ladysmith writes; The third week of the siege liquors in particular began to be scarce. rriortothat the military authorities had re- quisitioned various liquors, but quantifes for a time after could be found on sale. Whisky at the end of the first month was selling at 12s. 6d. and 15s. 6d. a bottle, thin claret at 5s. 6d., ,CApes wines (wishy-washy) at 6»., and lemon squash at 3s. and 3s. 6d. a bottle. The week following whisky brought 20s. a bottle, and one large bottle of gin 30s. Cape wines now sold at 10s. bottle. Cigarettes were selling at 2s. a box, that is, a box usually sold at 4d. and 6d.

FROM THE STAGE TO SIXTY THOUSAND A YEAR. Lady Meux, who, by the death of her husband, is left i-n the enjoyment of the vast bulk of his fortune, is a woman of no ordinary individuality. Well- known in the theatrical world as Valerie Reece, she was one of the queens in her own station in life, and by the sheer charm of beauty and high spirits capti- vated Mr. Henry Bruce Meux, as he then was, one of the greatest partis of his day. They were married, and started almost immediately on a tour to Egypt, a country in which Lady Meux has ever since exhibited a very ardent interest. Sir Henry Meux, when he came into his kingdom, was generous, and settled E20,000 a year on his wife. He had about the same himself, and when his mother died inherited some £ 15,000 a year more. as well as a house in Paris and some priceless jewellery. He had a deer forest in Scotland which Lady Mem sometimes visited, but Theobalds is essentially her home, and in that she will continue. By his will, Sir Henry has left Lady Meux every shilling he possessed. Thus she becomes one of the wealthiest women in England, and will have some £ 60,000 a year.—M.A.I'.

IT WAS vmry Ypxrzfo." but if he had used one of KEATING'S LOZENGES he would have stopped his cough in a minute and obtained a good night's rest. KEATING'S LOZENGES are simply unrivalled, and the most delicate can take them. Sold by all chemists, a tin for 13^d. THE British soldier has, almost from time imme- morial, been famous for his strength. Indeed, look- ing at history, one cannot but be struck by the em- phasis nearly all chroniclers lay upon the point. Troops of other nations may, at certain periods, been more mobile, more highly trained and organ- ued, but the characteristic of the English soldier would always appear to have been a superior sturdi- ne"* which pulled him through at the critical jjoment. Perhaps the sturdiness of the British soldier has been beat shown by the success with which he lias undergone the hardships and privation* of campaigning, which try an army so severely. How comes it that 0 the British soldier is physically sc much finer and hardier than the men of Continental armies ? Honestly, I firmly belieye that it is largely, entirely, du*j to the fact thai the young Britisher has grown up with a tradition of athletic j excellence of prowess ia sports and njaoly pastimes." I .Srmdow 8 Magazine I

SUSPENSION OF DUMBIt:LL'S BANK- ING COMPANY (LIMITED). On Saturday morning, shortly before the hour for opening for business, a notice of suspension was posted on the door of Dumbell's Banking Company (Limited), Douglas. News of the stoppage spread through the town, and within a few minutes a large number of people began to gather near the bank and excitedly discussed the situation. There was no panic, but during the day a severe run was made upon other local banks, which, however, had made arrangements in anticipation of such an occurrence, and wereable tomeetalldemands. The shareholders in Dumbell's Bank received subsequently a circular signed by the chairman of the directors, stating that a provisional agreement had been made with Parr's Bank (Limited) that the latter should take over the assets and liabilities of Dumbell's Bank and continue business and that in order to carry out that arrange- ment it was necessary for Dmnbell's Banking Com- pany to go into voluntary liquidation. A meeting of the shareholders was called for February 12. Messrs. T. II. Parker Mylechreest, of Parks, and J. A. M)1 rea, a director of Dumbell's, are proposed as liquidators. The notice announcing the stoppage also stated that. Dumbell's premises would be opened on Monday by Parr's Bank, and that to avoid inconvenience to customers 10s. in the pound would be paid on de- posits immediately. In consequence, however, of builders and tradesmen generally requiring money to p ty weekly wages bills Parr's opened at half-past one on Saturday and the staff o. cashiers specially brought over was at once busily engaged in paying out cash. Depositors were compelled to assign all moneys standing to their credit to Parr's Bank, with the provision that if Dumbell's assets should realise more than 10s. in the pound the difference will be pa:d over later. Large shipments of specie, sent by ordinary and special boats, are being made to Douglas. Dumbell's Banking Company (Limited) was estab- lished in 1874, and took orer the business of Dumbell, Son, and Howard. From the very first the bank h'ls done a very large business in Douglas and other towns of the Isle of Man. It has not only been regarded as a sound and safe concern, but as an enterprising and thriving institution which has un- doubtedly done much to promote the prosperity of Manx new undertakings. Many of the principal business concerns in the island have their banking business with Dumbell's, and their suspension will lead to some dislocation of business arrangements in Manx quarters. The nominal capital is £ 180,000 in 30,000 shares of F-6 each, and 25,000 shares have been issued on which E2 per share haq been paid up. The last published balance-sheet for July, 1899, puts the reserve fund at £40,000, the deposits, current and other accounts at 91,299,170, and private notes in circulation at £ 29,392. The total liabilities were £ 1,433,621. The assets included cash in hand and at banker's £ 114,353, Government and other securi- ties £ 290,344, bills discounted and advances £ 1,018,330. The balance ^f profit and loss account, including E9353 brought forward, amounted to E15,749, and out of this £ 4500 was paid as a dividend at the rate of 18 per cent. per annum for the half- year, £ 250 was written off bank premises, and £ 9999 was carried forward. The chairman then congratulated the shaieholders on the satisfactory position of the bank. Du in bell's Bank were bankers to the Manx Government and held Manx High Court moneys. The Douglas Corporation, other public bodies, and some influential companies also banked there. The Isle of Man Railway Company banked there till two months ago. In connection with the suspension of Dumbell's Banking Company the opinion is gaining ground that the collapse of the bank will be calamitous for the Isle of Man. Many tradesmen and farmers had overdrafts, some of them to a large amount, while the bank also held securities from several public companies. Many of the shareholders are ladies, and some of these have their all invested in the bank's shares. Each share is liable to a call of F.4, and it is feared contributors will be called upon. Mr. Alexander Bruce, general manager of the bank, was seriously ill on Sunday. On Saturday night a large quantity of gold coin was taken to Douglas for Parr's Bank.

OSMAN DIGNA. HOW HE WAS CAPTURED. News has been received from Suakin to the effect that Osman Digna left that town on the 26th ult. in a C, his Highness' ship Behera. On arrival at Suez he will be sent to Rosetta, and will be interned there with the other dervish prisoners. His capture was brought about in the following manner: The loyal Gemilab Sheikh Mohammed Ali informed Digna was in his country, and that with assistance he could be caught. In consequence of this information, two parties of men mounted on camels, under El Bimbashi Burges and the Mamur Mohammed Ahmed Bey, con- sisting of 12 police and eight Slavery Department, left Souakim on January 8 and 16 respectively, and proceeded in a south-westerly direction, guided by a relative of the Gemilab Sheikh, till they reached the southern spur of the Warriba range, some 40 miles west of Kor Baraka and 90 miles south-west of Souakim. Halting and dismounting at the foot of a hill formed of huge boulders with many natural caves, the party cautiously advanced. Meanwhile Osman Digna, who had been lured from his hiding place to the foot of the hill by another relative of the Sheikh, who had killed a sheep in his eight and had prepared a meal, suddenly caught sight of the party and fled up the hill, closely pursued, but the coloured patches on his jibba betrayed his whereabouts. lie was seen crossing between two boulders high up the hill, and the police, rushing in, secured him without resistance. He had no arms or followers of any sort.

JACK TAR'S UNSELFISHNESS. The commanding officer of the Naval Brigade in South Africa has written, through Admiral Harris, commanding the Cape Squadron, to the Mayor of Portsmouth thanking him for the £100 which Portsmouth people sent to the Brigade aa a Christ- mas-box. The officer adds: It is the unanimous wish of the men that the money should be given to their wounded comrades and the- dependents of those killed.'

INCREASE OF THE ARMY. THREE NEW BATTALIONS TO BE FORMED. It is understood that steps are about to be taken to complete the plan, for which P0j^er3 wer0 obtained two or three years ago, for adding nine battalions to the Regular Infantry of the Army, six of these only having as vet been raised, by giving 3rd Battalions to the' Coldstream and bcots Guards, the Royal Warwickshire, Royal Ftisi- liers and Lancashire Fusiliers, and a FACond to the Cameron Highlanders. The corps remaining to be formed are the 4th Battalions of the Royal War- wickshire, Royal Fusiliers, and Lancashire Fusiliers, and in the case of the Royal Fusilier3 it is under_ stood that men now being brought home from the 3rd Battalion at Gibraltar will be sent to Hounsiow. the regimental depot, to form the nucleus of the new battalion. It is anticipated that at WarwIck and Bury, the depots of the other regiments whose aug- mentation has been authorised, the formation of the additional battalions will shortly be commenced.

NOT DEAD YET. Private Jeffs, of the 66th Royal tield Artillery, writing to his parents at, Broughton, in Buckingham- shire, of the Colenso ba'tle, aILYS: 1 was shot in the head. The doctor said I shall never be nearer death unless I am bvvied, but I am worth 40 dead men yet. I am 100 miles from the lighting now, in the hospital at Maritzburg, but I shall soon be up to the front again when I 8.m better. That won't be long. We lost four ofourgUns but weshall soon have them back, and a few more besides. We had 'to leave them because all our horses were shot. I sever thought a man would get back alive, but there were only tive killed of our battery and about 30 wounded, and 3G taken prisoners, including three officers. It was a big blunder on someone's part," continues Jeffs. We should have been two miles away instead of being so close. My battery fired 1000 shells into the Bows. You ought to see the infantry bayoneting the enemy. The Boer goes down on his knees and shouts, I am an Englishman The answer he gets is a piece of cold steel. They throw down their rifles when the infantry get close to them, to be taken prisoners, but it won't wash. There are half of the Boers that don't want to fight. They told some of our wounded that they were compelled to fight. They went two miles to fetch some water for some of our wounded, so you can tell what sort of men they are/

TIIB hon. secretaries of the Birmingham Daily Mail Reservists' Fund have receiving the following letter from Sir Arthur Bigge, Private Secretary to her Majesty: "Osborne, February 2, 1900. Gentlemen —I have brought to the Queen's notice the fact an- I nounced in your columns of January 31, that the Birmingham Daily Mail Reservists' Fund now amount. to over £ 20,000. Her Majesty is much gratified to hear of this substantial proof of the i patriotism and sympathy of the citizens of Birmihg- hatp.—I am, gentleirten, your obedient serran% Arthur Bigge,"

MURDEROUS BURGLAR GANG. CAPTURE BY TUB POLICE. The inhabitants of those select South London suburban districts where householders of means reside may be congratulated on the capture bj the police of three desperadoes of the burglar class, who are responsible for the excitement that at present prevails at West Dulwich. Whether the gang numbered more than the three in custody—Gustave Franci, Ernest Reuter, and Frederic Braun—is not known at present, but it is alarmingly certain that the trio in custody intended to stop short at nothing—not even murder —if pursued and hardly pressed. The only mitigat- ing feature of the affair appears to be that the three prisoners are mere lads, the oldest being but 20 and the youngeat 19, and they are all foreigners, Germans, it is said. As recent police-court records attest, the number of robber ruffians amongst us of foreign origin has much increased of late. 0 It appears to be not the first time that daring housebreakers have exploited at Dulwich. Not more than a fortnight since the residence of Mr. Lawson Johnston, of Kingswood, was burglariously entered, and plate of the value of £ 150 stolen. When arrested one of the prisoners was found to be wear- ing a coat belonging to Mr. Johnston, which was missed when the plate was stolen, and another of them had on a coat the property of Mr. Johnston's footman. Brought before Mr. Francis, at Lam- beth Police-court, on Saturday, Braun described himself as a ship's coal trimmer. Reuter as a ship's steward, and Franci as of no occupation, and neither laid claim to a fixed abode. They were charged with committing burglaries in the neigh- bourhood of Dulwich, and further with shooting at and wounding Acting-sergeant Harrington, and with shooting at Police-constable Parker. The three desperate burglars presented but a boyish appearance as they stood in the dock, and it was evident from the surgical bandages which enve- loped it that Franci's head had sustained consider- able damage during the encounter. The (ther two prisoners appeared all the more diminutive from being in their shirt sleeves. Constable Parker, 160 P, stated that in conse- quence of information received he proceeded that morning, about five o'clock, to Alleyn-park, in com- pany with Acting-sergeant Harrington and other officers. It had been snowing heavily during tho night, and it was easy to trace footprints at the back of several houses. He and Sergeant Harrington I followed the traces through several gardens, and eventually came on the three prisoners in the grounds of Kingswood. They ran off, and were pursued by Harrington and witness. Thsy were being rapidly overtaken, but when a distance of not more than 15 yards separated them from their pursuers, all three turned about, and each discharged at the officers a re- volver he was armed with. Reutei- and Braun continued to run, but Franci stood his ground, and shot three times at Sergeant Har- rington, who cried out to his comrade, "Look out! I am shot, in the leg." Franci then ran away, but he (Constable Parker) followed him, and Franci fired two more shots. The first shot, in consequence of the officer bowing his head, missed him, but the next bullet struck the front, of his helmet, and knocked it to the back of his head. l'arker then strnck Franci on the head with h;s truncheon, knocking him down. He then disarmed him of the revolver, and other constables coming up he was secured and taken to Kingswood, where the footman (Mr. Gardiner) iden- tified the coat Franci was wearing as the one he missed when the premises were broken into a fort- night previous. Sergeant. Harrington was faint from loss of blood from the shot wound in his leg. The other two prisoners-Retiter and 13rann-were after- wards discovered concealed in a shrubbery. Detective-inspector Fox stated that property had been found on all three prisoners concerning thorn with several ca-;es of burglary that had occurred in the neighbourhood. It was mentioned that Sergeant Harrington was not seriously wounded, but the damaged helmet worn by Constable Parker, which was produced in court, was evidence in itself of the narrow escape its wearer had. The metal plate at the top had been smashed in by the bullet. Mr. Francis ordered prisoners to b remanded for L week.

ACCIDENT IN A MENAGERIE. During a fight, in a munagerie at Madrid the other day, between a bull, a lioness, a panther, and a bear, the proprietor of the entertainment, who carried a gun loaded with siiiall shot, let the weapon go off accidentally, and some 20 of the spectators were struck by thA charge. A German received a number of shot in his eyes, and will lose his sight.

MAT SALLEH KILLED. The commander of the expedition sent into the interior of Borneo to operate against the rebels tele- graphs (according to a Labuan message) that their leader Mat Salleh has been killed, and that his fol- lowers have dispersed.

BADEN-POWELL'S OLD SCHOOL. Colonel Baden-Powell's association with Charter- house School, in London, where he was popularly known under the sobriquet of Old Bathing Towel," is one of the most cherished traditions of old and young Carthusians, who, to show their appreciation of his gallant stand, have opened a Mafeking Relief Fund. In response to art appeal by Canon Haig- Brown, Master of the Ohio terliouse, Dr. Kendall, headmaster, and other masters, useful articles of clothing, foodstuffs, tobacco, cigars, wines, spirits, and money are being sent for despatch in the second week in February to South Africa ready for the colonel and his gallant band when the siege of Mafe- king has been raised.

SPIES. An old Colonist. writ in,, to the Cape Argm. points r,iit that it, lifis not been realised who the spies are. "We hear," he says, "of while mon arrested upon suspicion, and we almost entirely overlook the most dangerous class—namely, coloured boys and natives. Is it likely that any Boer will risk his neck when for a pound of tobacco or a hot lie of liquor he can get the job so much better done, without any risk what- ever? If there was anything wanting to prove that information is constantly curried to the enemy by coloured boys or natives, it, is to be found in the fact of what happened on two successive nights, when the whole Boer force tire for hours upon an imaginary foe. Some movements of troops had doubtless deceived the coloured gentry, who warned the, enemy that a night attack was intended/'

THE ORIGINAL "TOMMY ATKINS." Upon no point, of Army nomenclature do the doctors of military history split. more fiercely than upon the origin of the sobriquet by which the British soldier is known to every English-speaking man in the world. 11 One school of theorists is positive that the whole business is merely the outcome of pure chance; another triumphantly points to the fact that, when eome years since it was decided to afford the British j aoldier practical instruction in bookkeeping, the first account, in tho officially issued specimen ledger was made out to one. "Thomas Atkina"; while at least a dozen other theorists have an equal number of equally feasible explanations. There is, however, reason to believe that the original "Tommy" died so long ago as 1857- The manner of his passing was as follows Upon the out- break of the Sepoy Mutiny at Lucknow a number of Europeans hastily quitted their houses and rushed to the Residency for protection. OR their way they passed a solitary sentinel of the 32nd Foot, to whom they represented the danger he ran in not retiring with them. He, however, replied that he could not honourably quit his post unless duly relieved. A few momenta later he fell beneath the irresist ible rush of the muti- neers. The fame of his exploit spread abroad, and I among his companions it soon became customary to ipeak of any other brave fellow as a regular "Tommy Atkins," which was the unfortunate gentry's I name.

THERE has just been placed in the Soilth Choir Aisle of York Minster a mural tablet to the memory of the late Duke of Clarence, who for a long period was a familiar figure at the Minster services. The tablet is of white Carrara marble, upon a slab of f Belgian red marble, and has been designed by the Dean of York. It represents a chaplet of bay leaves suspended from a coronet, beneath a cross. The circlet of the coronet was worn by the noble Knights round their helmets in mediajval times, and is so depicted on the recumbent effigies on many monuments throughout England. The idea of the present memorial is simply the coronet of the soldier Prince, bound to sprays of bay and the cross hung up on the wall of the Cathedral Church, where he so frequently attended during his sojourn in York. Within the wreath of bays is the following I inscription in gold To the honoured memory of H.R.H. Albert Victor Christian Edward, K.G., Duke of Clarence and Avondale, Major 10th Hussars, and stationed in this City 1887 to 1891 a loyal i Churchman, a gracious Prince, a constant friend. I This tablet ia placed in the Cathedral Church of York by tl»e Dean, January 14, 1900. The whole monument is of chaste design, and the werk has been Mecuted by Mr. Milburn, sculptor, of York.

TO AVOID CONSCRIPTION. The German military authorities at Solingen havt recently unearthed a system of fraud widely prac- tised by the sons of well-to-do manufacturers and merchants for the purpose of escaping from their liability to compulsory military service. The sus- piciona of the medical officers entrusted with the task of testing the physical fitness of recruits appear to have been aroused by the prevalence of cardiac affections among those young men of the better classes who, having failedto pass the school examina- tion entitling them to the privilege of serving as "einialirige Freiwiilige," i.e., volunteers for one year, found themselves subjected to the irksome necessity of serving in the ranks for the usual term of two years. It is now established that these cardiac affec- tions, which the medical officers naturally regarded as unfitting tho sufferers for military service, aro in reality passing disturbances of the heart's action obtained by swallowing certain pills a short time bsforo the time fixed for the medical inspection,

THE LANGUAGE OF FISHES. I A few months ago Mr. Matthias Dunn, a Cornisu fishing expert, contributed to the Contemporary llcviev: an article on The Seven Senses in Fishes,' which contained a few stories and theories that wer< generally received with notes of interrogation, Among these was an opinion that fishes emit sound: which are understood by their fellows. This surpris- ing theory has now been confirmed by Professor Ivollicker, of the Naples Aquarium, who has wrapped himself in a divine; suit and has been let down to the bottom of tho Mediterranean in an iron cage lit up by electricity. With the aid of a powerful receiver and a specially-constructed phonograph he has registered the expressions of surprise with which the fish welcomed his appearance. He notes that the sound made by one fish differs greatly from that of another, and has summed up the results of his experi- ment in the conviction that the sounds produced by fishes will yet be recognised as a language.

VICTIMS OF THE GREAT ST. BERNARD. r irt, .In the Temple Magazine for February is an illus- trated descriptive article of a visit to the hospice on the Great St. Bernard. Close to it is the morgue. gays the writer: "Over snow some eight feet deep we picked our way to this humble erection, where are placed from time to time the dead who perish in their attempted passage of the mountain. One end of the morgue, to a considerable depth, is filled with the bones and skulls of those whose bodies have decayed in this resting-place of the dead. The opposite end, and larger space, affords a pathetic sight. Around the walls ara placed the bodies, some erect, some prostrate, of the dead as they were found, j Here they remain to be, if possible, recognised by their friends, if such shall search for them, or at last to strew this door with their dust and to mingle their bones with the heap hard by."

WHAT TO DO WITH THE I PRISONERS. The Exchange's Cape Town correspondent says one of the problems of the war is what is to be done with I regsrd to prisoners of war. who are accumulating on t both sides, though to a vastly superior extent on the part of the eneiriy. There is no manner of doubt that the 2000 prisoners at Pretoria are a serious source of embarrassment, to the authorities there, seeing that they have to be fed from the by no means too fully stocked stores of the Transvaal capital. Later on they are likely to prove a serious embarrass- ment to the British forces, for, in the inevitable result of the siege of Pretoria, it is more than likely that the prisoners would fall victims to our own shells. Notwithstanding the custom in civilised war- fare of removing non-combatants, includingprisoners, to a place of safety, President Kruger, or his military advisers, are- not likely to lose so golden an oppor- tunity of embarrassing the British forces. Theautho- rities at Cape Town are also embarrassed with their prisoners. For various reasons, one of which, it is believed, was th", desire on the part of the prisoners themselves, they wen removed from the Penelope, in Simon s Lay, to the maii.Ur^ where, however, a legal difficulty cropped up. Town and the immediate surrounding district, are not under mar- j tial law, whereas the sole charge of these vriaoners j so far as they belong to one of the neighL-«ur;nJ States, is a military one. There i3 nothing in Common or Statute Law of the colony under which they can be charged, and in a test case which was brought before the Supreme Court of the colony lately it Was shown pretty clearly that the continued confinement of the prisoners on shore was contrary r\f eupromoOourt has not actually come to a decision on the point, but it will probably speedily do so. Meanwhile, it has been deemed advisable to again send these gentry out to sea, and they now lie in one of the transpoits far out in Simon's Bay.

RATING OF CARISBROOK CASTLE. Having regard to the fact that tho "admission" fees chirged to the thousands of viaitors who flork to Carisbrook Castle represent, according to calct,M" tions based on an official estimate, an annual :-<como of about £8\H), the rating authorities of .0 Isle of Wight have been anxious to get a cont>ouf''<>n fr0111 this valuable property in lieu of r"ces. as is usual with Government property. T)., Treasury authori- ties have, however, blighted their hopes in this direction, as a letter just to hand states that the Exchequer obtained pJ receipts from the castle, which was maintained out of public funds at an annual cost of abollt £ 150, and that no part of the castle was occupied for public service. It was ex- plained that everything was rated except the castle ruins, the large" income from which went to the deputy-governor of the island and custodian of the deputy-governor of the island and custodian of the cast le (,Nfr. T. B. II. Cochrane, J.P.), and that the ruins could not be rated.

A SECRET MUSFCUM DIARY. From time to time, Bays the Daily Chronicle, one hears of a certain secret MS. book taid to be kept, by the officers of the British Museum Reading-room—a diary of the ways and manners of that strange human product., the British Museum reader. Tha I volume can never be published. Still a tale or two now and then gets abroad, and one gathers that the passion of hate certainly runs high in the vitiated atmosphere. A curious instance occurred rot long ago. All day long a man had sat quietly working at his desk; next him was alady similarly employed. As dusk was coming on and the air grew more ] poisonous he was seen to glance nervously about him and then dash, hatless, from the building. He hurried to the nearest post-office and telegraphed to I the lady at the next seat to his that he should at- tempt her life without delay. He returned with an air of relief to collect his books, and was in due time j himself collected by the police. I "— = i

TIIE deinard in Russia for all kinds of machtne t and hand tools is described as being very brisk at j the present time and it is also reported that a large | amount of capital is being invested in iron-ore and cjpper-ore mining in the Caucasus, where many new mining concessions have been recently granted. notably to a new French company which has been formed under the title of the Societe Industrielle du-Caticase. In 1898 the exports of manganese iron ore from the Caucasus amounted to about 321,000 tons. ENGLISH and American showmen are generally looked upon as enterprising in the matter of pro- viding the public with sensational spectacles. A boxing kangaroo appeared in London some years ago, and when elephant meets elephant in a well- conducted circus then comes the tug of war. But they do these things better in France. According to the Velo a "fight of a sensational character" is shortly to be brought off in Marseilles, when a box- ing kangaroo will meet a wrestling camel in mortal combat. It sounds rather like a fight between a shark and the White Knight's Horse. AN incident, amusing for all but the principal person concerned, has just been enacted in Victoria. The salary of the Speaker, Mr. Mason, in that cdlony is a modest f.1000 a year; and the Victorian Parlia- ment was asked to give him a rise of £5 a week. Taking it for granted that the demand would not be refused, the powers who drew Mr. Mason's cheque had been paying his salary at the increased rate for some months. The application, however, ,vas defeated, and Mr. Mason had the unpleasant task of refunding something like £ 80 overdrawn. AsrtnuRNE HOUSE, in Victoria-park, Manchestei the now hall of residence for women students of Owens College, has room for 16 students, and it opens with 13. The house is a gift to the college by Mr. R. D. Darbishire, one of tha Whitworth legatees. Under th« headship of Miss Stephen, the accom- plished daughter of the late Sir James Stephen. Ath- burne House—the younger sister of Newnham," as Mrs. Sidgwick called m—makes a beginning with tha happiest auguries. ° &

UNION LINE forthe SOUTH AFRICAN GGLB FIELDS. Suitings from Southampton every S&turfttfL C.1I3 mad i at Lisbon, Madeira, and Tenerifle. Apply to <2 UNION STKAJI SHIP CO., Ltil., Canute Rd., Southampton,A^H South African House, 91-98, Bishorsgate St. Within, Londa^i ILLIARD AND BAGAT £ LIJ TABLES. A LARfiE STOCK OK NEW AND SECOdBB HAN0 TAIil.KS always on hand. WRITE FOE I'RICE LlSOt -G. KUWALLDS. 134, KIMISLAND ROAD, LONDON, N.E. W&^Ts fix (llEMISTS P-.7 IR FOR THE SKIN SOAP (for the Complexion), CREAM (itching, Face Spots, Burning, &c.), lfl £ POWDE-P, (Redness, Roughness, Sweating, &c.), If.

ArTK): a prolonged wait, the Zoological Society of London has succeeded in filling an important gap in the menagerie in Hegent's-park by the importation of a pair of great ant-eaters (Mi/rmat-jthaga jiibata) from the forest regions of South America, where they arc by no means plentiful, though distributed over a wide trfict of countiy. They are strange-looking 1' creatures, with a tlii-ck mane and long tai!, on which the hair is much longer Ihin it is on the body. There is Wallace's authority for the statement that these animals use the tail as a natural umbrella and that during rain they stand still. with the long-hair- fringed tail spread over the back. The liead is long and narrow, and prolonged into an arched cylindrical snout the mouth is toothless, and the tongue is the sole means by which food can be obtained. They siftsisf on termites, or white ants, and with their powerful claws tear open the dwellings of the ter-. mites, which are composed chiefly of earth and rotten wood. The insects, thus rudely disturbed, seek to escape, but are swept up by the long, flexible tongue ..f the ant-eaters, which is thickly coated with a sticky seciaion from t]ie salivary glands. In fact, these south American, mammals obtain their foods in pre* ciee y ha game way U»at'the woodpecker supports wfth'^tural staTe-ant-eateri are harmless and inoffensive unless first attacked, but when interfered v^h they have often proved them* when interfered vith they have often proved them- selves to be formidable antagonists. The fore limbs are exceedingly powerful, and, once the long curved claws are buried in the flesh of man and beast, it i« I almost inipossibIe to compel these creatures to relax their rrrn"{" Dogs are often killed on the spot, and the r *~iVe Indians assured Wallac e that the ant-eate* j,„uetimes killed the jaguar, ombracing it, and forcing in its enormous claws, which inflicted fatal wound*, and were not relaxed even in death. But these animals do well in captivity, where they become fairly tame, and live on as good terms with their keepers as one could expect from their low intelli- gence. which is plainly indicated by the small bead- In 1896 a young ant-eater was born in the Zcological Gardens at Stuttgart—the first recoruid instance of these animals breeding in confinement. The parents had lived in the Gardens for over three years. It Í8 to be hoped that the Zoological Society will hi as fortunate with their newly-acquired pair.

COCOA-The National Drink. 1\J KR in the history of the world has Cofoa been so much hold in favour as a national drink as it is :it the yresc-nt day. Yet there are Cocoas a nd Cocoas. MK-SRS. FRY have gained no fewer than 275 GOLD MEMiJjS und DIPLOMAS, and their Pure Concen- tre < "it o-i it f hf i'( suit of au accumulated experience v.-hirh places this well known Firm i ut an advantage faraboveall t he rivalry existing, amongst of letter-day growth. here is 110 better beueragt thmi Swg t Fiiy 6 PURE COHCEtHRATED fe*" „ r Of which Dr. Andrew Ft V J Wilson, F.R.S.K., .*g> etc., says, "It is my ■ l o an h iii. ideal of perfection." I JUS r IHIiEE WOR DS are necessary in order to apt the | right IIZ. ptfK* -;T it ATED- E— r^1——rrrin-fiiia ii ■mull—

JoiiN L. SUI.I,IVA!i, tke once famous boxer and ex- luutipion, has had an extraordinary career. It is not so very long since he was reported dead, and h s obituary notice was published in some of the itfurnals which follow the fancy." Shortly after- lie turned up in (Mi cago, and boxed in an ex- hibit ion there. Now he is ii; New York-not as p,, boxing man, but in the humbler (as some think it) capacity of manager of a restaurant. In all proba- brlty excellent order is secured in his saloon with- out the terrorising influence of a professional door- ^TnK"rector of St. Mary's Church, Halifax, at one rune regularly published an analysis of the coins' given at ordinary collections at his church. The iivvrnge amount received at Sunday morning services during a year was £ 2 15s. Id. per service, and in the tvenings £ 3 10s. 10d. A sum of £ 3-35 lis. 4d. re- ceived ill collections was made up of five sotlereigns, 18 half-sovereigns, one double florin, 100 half- rriHvnJ, 117 florins, 8'?G shillings, 2621 sixpences, ¡:!H1 threepences, 17,718 pence, and 10,952 halfpence;, total number of coins. 3i:>.684. ''Is.

WHEN FEEUNG LIVERISH REMEMBER t.at CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS "Touch"* the L'.v(:r. They absolutely cure Sick Headache, Bilious. iorpid Liver, Indigestion, Constipation, Sallow Skin. Divines-, Furred Tongue. Small pill, small price, small done, purely vegetable, forty in a phial. Dose One U "'g'he. Is. lid. of all Chemists. Be sure they are CARTER S. REAUTiFUL TEETH FGR ALLWHOUSE ° tiuiiy on the tooth brush a few drops of SOZODONT, the plebr.antest dentifrice in the world. Cleanses the teeth M I spaces between them as nothing else will. Sound and pearly white teeth, rosy lips, and fragrant breath ensured. Ask for SOZODONT. 2s. «d. 11 ..J .¡. METAL walls and ceilings instead of plaster have been, it is reported by her Majesty's Consul at Philadelphia, "strongly suggested" for export to Great Britain. The plated ceilings, besides being extremely decorative, are a. very C, great, protection against tire. t may be hopad," the Consul adds, that before these American walls and ceilings can be placed on the market in Great Erifain, some enterprising British firm may be equal to supplying the requirements of the British public." JYPVV i? BLACK lA.Hi I a/LEAD