Barry Herald

QUEEN AS DOCTOR. I_ U; A Queen with a unique distinction is Queen Amelie of Portugal. She is, for all practical pur- poses, a doctor, though it is not true that, as has very often been stated, she has taken the degree of M.D. Queen Amelie, however, though she is not a qualified doctor, has studied medicine, and she was able, some time ago, to dress the wounds of a wood-, cutter who iaoit with an accident in a lonely wood through whi-h she was passing. Not guessing who the doctor was the wood-cutter asked her address that he might send her a basket of eggs Six years ago the Queen founded a dispensary for poor chil- dren, which sae visits regularly, helping in the kit- chen and surgery when necessary.

HOW CAPE DUTCH JOIN THE BOERS. Not two hours by rail from Caps Town (says a writer in the Eigen Hoard of Amsterdam) is the beautiful valley of the Paarl. Opposite the town of Paarl is Fransche Hoek, one of the oldest Huguenot settlements. Both places together have about 8000 inhabitants. Over 400 young men have already vanished from there. They go on business by rail to Worcester, Matjesfoatein, Triangle, or Beau- fort West, and write from there to papa: 1 am going a little farther. Never mind where." The old man" can swear that he does not know where the boys are. Two days later they are with the Boer forces. The Afrikander likes to manage these things in such a way that he does not, in more senses than one, "lose his head." An open rebellion would be more dramatic, but the Boer cares nothing for advertisement. The Republics did not advertise their armaments. The Cape Afrikander does not advertise that he is tired of British oppression when he has a British garrison right near him.

WAGES GOING UP. A memorandum from the Labour Department of the Board of Trade states that during January, 697,650 workpeople received an increase of wages averaging Is. 44 d. weekly per head. There were decreases averaging 2s. 4d. per head in 350 cases. Deducting the latter, a net increase is shown of about Is. 4Jd. per head in the wages of 698,000 persons. The principal increases were among employes in coal mining and the iron, steel, and textile trades. The percentage of unemployed returned during the month by trade unions is lower than that of any similar period since 1890.

THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH. The Dutch Reformed Church of the Transvaal, says the Rochester Post Express, is divided into three denominations—the Dopper Kerke, the Erformde Kerke, and the Gereformeerde Kerke. The govern- ment of all three churches closely resembles the Presbyterians in form. President Kruger belongs to the Dopper Kerke, the adherents of which include many of the oldest and most influential families of the Republic. The characteristic of this sect is its excessive conservatism. The Erformde Kerke is a direct contrast to the Dopper Kerie, and holds by far the most latitudinarian doctrine to be met with in the Transvaal. General Joubert belongs to the Gereformeede Kerke, which has the largest roll of membership. The Rev. W. J. Underwood, who lived for 10 years among the Boers, states that 98 per cent. of the nation belongs to one of these three sections. No Boer can be married unless already enrolled in the Church.

FLIPPANT COCKNEY (to countryman): "Are there many foals in this part of the world, my lad ?" Yokel: Not as I knows on, zur. Why, d'yer feel a bit lonesome like?" CHOLLY: "That mean old uncle of mine has died and left all his money to an imbecile asylum." Tom: I thought he would remember to see you provided lor." .1. rv

THE TRIUMPH OF SETH. Seth Blythe was in trouble. He had fallen in love with the same rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed damsel as bis master. True. Seth had been first in the field, and could remember carrying Nancy on his shoulder through the factory yard when she was a tiny golden-haired tot of scarcely half a dozen summers but that did not alter the state of things in the least. Master and man had fixed their affections on the same tantalis- ing wisp of fickle femininity; and the man—as was simply natural in such circumstances—went to the wall. Nancy herself had, in reality, very little voice in the matter. In the summer she lived chiefly out of doors in the farmers' fields listening to the sleepy hum of the mowing machines' with a big hat tied under her bewitching chin to keep the freckles away. The wires were pulled by her mother. Stern neces- sity and an unduly heavy family had convinced Mrs. Henderson that half the sorrows of life are the direct result of love in a cottage." perhaps, too, at odd moments her anxiety to see her daughter married to the rich owner of the mills was tinged by a shrewd appreciation of the advantages to be derived by her- self through such a match. The millowner, Mr. Grant, was young enough and handsome enough, and as far as it went the affair was all right. The only drawback was that it was rather rough on Seth Blythe, who had loved the girl in his lumbering way before she was out of the cradle so to epeak. The man took in the situation slowly. His friends were not backward in pointing out that be hadn't the ghost of a chance with Nancy; but he wanted to hear her say it with her own lips. And to this end he followed her into the fields one evening as the sun was setting, and began putting it to her to see how the ground lay. Nancy, my girl," he said, money isn't, everything in life, nor a grand position either. I've heard things said about you and Mr. Grant which I don't believe, because I think you've got more sense in your pretty little head; and as well as that, dear, somehow or other you seem to belong to me. You've seemed to belong to me for years-" The girl laughed mischievously. Seth's quaint speech contrasted queerly with the smooth, well- rounded sentences of Mr. Grant. What have you heard said about us, Seth?" she asked looking up at him with a shy glance of vanity- sprung curiosity. He gaed down into the upraised face heavily. She had never blushed like that for him. Oh, heaps of things, Nancy. Tom Boulton said you were going to marry the master—he said he had it from Mr. Grant's valet. I nearly knocked Tom head over heels. I said he had hetter not be putting such a lie among the men. as you were my girl, and I meant to hold on to you." He put his arm round Nancy's waist, as if he meant to hold her in reality as well as figuratively. But with a swift movement and a flaring blush she sprang from his embrace and leaned against a stile panting. You mustn't, Mr. Blythe! It's true. He asked tne to marry him, and I said She made the confession half guiltily; for Seth's honest burning eyes rather disconcerted her. He seemed to read through her and see her secret, that she was selling herself for gold. He drew up and stood away. Presently however, he returned. His tanned face looked pale. "You'll rue it, my girl," he said. "But I don't believe it's your own doings. And if ever you want a. true friend in your grand position send for me and I'll come to you." Why should I rue it?" she called after his re- ireatingfigure. Mr. Grant is as good a man as you areaiiyday!" Whether he heard or not she couldn't tell, for he neither lifted his bowed head nor looked back. But as Nancy crept indoors she shivered. Seth's words had chilled her like a prophecy of evil. There was a good bit of dissatisfaction in the mills. Strikes were becoming fashionable in that part of the country; and grievance or no grievance when the fever to strike got into a labour centre the men just struck. In.this case there was a grievance—real or imaginary—of underpaid wages, and the ringleaders of the agitation came to Seth Blythe one evening to enlist sympathies. The man rested a big boot on a bench in the factory frard, and with his elbow on his knee he surveyed the ittle party scornfully. Call yourselves men to go out' for an excuse like that ?" he thundered. Why don't you go openly to the master and tell him what ails you ? You're a pack of sneaking cowards!" The master 1" one of the group sneered. "You ought to croak about the master, Seth Blythe Who saucy little Nancy Henderson from behind your back I should like to know ?" Seth's powerful fist clenched itself over his knee, but his hand fell without striking out. The man who had spoken was a stunted, half-crippled specimen of humanity, and his taunting reference to Nancy was on that account allowed to pass. Yes, Blythe," another of the agitators put in, you owe Mr. Grant something for that business. Haven't you spirit, man Seth laughed. Unconsciously his hand swept slowly across his eyes. What's the use of talking of spirit' with a woman in the question J" he asked dully. As the days went on the strike became more and more imminent. Seth watched the fanning of the flame of discontent with aching eyes. They were going to injure the master and Nancy loved him. Everything that lay within his power to avert the im- pending catastrophe he did, despite the jeers of the pther men. You're a fool for your pains, Blythe," a chum told him one evening. "You might as well swim with the tide as go against it." And his chum was right; for even the hand of the master was turned against him now. On one or two occasions when Seth had met Nancy in the field and tried to prepare her a little for the troublo that was dawning at the works, Mr. Grant had happened to meet them together, and he made the mistake of regarding the man's earnest and guarded conversations as a cause for an exhibition of jealousy. That brute is altogether too familiar, Nancy," he said to the girl severely. "YOtpnust never let him talk to you again. The sooner we are married the better, it seems to me Seth ?" Nancy answered in surprise at his looks and tone, Seth—familiar! Why I have known him almost ever since I was born." And Nancy's expression remained thoughtful for the rest of the evening. < Well ?" demanded the master. I am waiting to hear what has brought you to my house at this hour of the night, Mr. Blythe. No doubt you have an important communication to make to me con- nected with the mills. Come along, my good fellow, don't stand fidgeting there all evening while my dinner cools What's the matter? Seth's eyes had fixed themselves on a pile of red brick buildings that were being blotted by the quickly falling twilight; his gaze did not remove itself from the window, but he explained his presence with a briefness that made his companion spring to his feet. There's a strike on foot, Mr. Grant. I believe the men are mad. I heard a rumour just now that they meant to fire the factory: Good heavens !■—look there 1" He had swept aside the curtains of the window, and the two men, standing side by side saw a thin white tongue of smoke lick the long roof of the red building almost from end to end. Seth realised that his warning had come too late. The cowardice of the thing seemed to half stun him. But he was the first to rouse himself. "Come along, sir! We must do something. Perhaps everybody isn't out; we must help," By the time they arrived on the scene an excited crowd already filled the factory yard and huddled in the fields around watching the growing flames with fascinated helplessness. Nobody was doing anything. Seth fought his way into the midst of the throng, dragging the master after him, and in a second or two he was thundering directions and commands at the top of his voice, and what is more, they were being obeyed without protest. Suddenly his powerful shout ceased, foran[instant, save for the roar of the hissing flames above their heads, the night was still. Then there came a shriek, a panic-stricken cry of horror. A little grOUP 01 faces had just appeared at the window of thv, master's private office. Even Seth Blythe was for the moment affected by the general panic then he suddenly turned round to Mr. Grant. You could reach them quicker than anyone else here, sir," he said quietly. You can go through the passages with your patent keys-no one else understands them. I picked them up off your desk as we rushed out, in case they might be wanted Here they are, sir." Reginald Grant's white hand was extended3 nerv- ously. He fidgeted the keys between his Angers without moving; his limbs seemed to have shrunk together and made him look smaller. There isn't a minute, sir. You ought tó go at once——" Suddenly Seth's big hand descended on the master's shoulder. He swung Mr. Grant round, and by the light of the flamesJoJe peered sharply inte his colourless face. "Great heaven !—funky!" he whispered. Why should I risk my life for—for a pack ol beaøtø like that t" Grant stammered. "I wont: You gojrou#»etf." iafcndther atcoftd the man had snatched the ke". back out of the master's hand, and the few people of the crowd near enough to see the big figure diving into the building through the blinding smoke and glare sent forth a faint cheer, that was taken up behind as a sort of outlet to pent-up excitement. Mr. Grant shrank back a little into the throng; he wanted to lose himself. A hand touched his sleeve, and he looked down into the blanched, horri- fied face of Nancy Henderson. "You coward!" the girl hissed. "I saw it all; you let him go to save yourself; you sent him to certain death rather than make an effoit when you might have done so in safety!" My dear child, remember I had you to think of," he shouted back. The roar of the fire was deafening. "You thought of me.' I don't believe you. You thought of yourself-only yourself I Liate you Slowly Seth Blythe came back to life from his ex- haustion and burns. In his ears there seemed to be still ringing that emotion-swept, howling cheer that had greeted him as he appeared at the window of the master's office and began lowering a half-lifeless body down into the crowd with the rope which someone had thrust into his hand as he dived into the building. Two more bodies followed, and then, in the last stage of exhaustion, he had recollection of a panic- stricken silence as he crept over the sill himself and began slowly descending hand over hand down the already fraying rope. Suddenly a blinding blast of flame swept across his face and hands he had a sensation of being scorched from head to foot-then presently something cool and sweet caressed his tanned forehead, his eyes opened in the quiet of Mrs. Henderson's little sitting- room, and he understood that the cool thing he had felt was Nancy's soothing fingers. "Dear," he whispered-then he 'recollected and sighed. But Nancy swept the sigh out of him by bending down and kissing him solemnly, with her eyes wet and shining. If you'll have me, Seth," she said, I'll marry you." And in a month the simple ceremony took place.

DARKNESS IN OUR NATIONAL GALLERY. Even the little art gallery at the Guildhall has the electric light, but our National Gallery has still no artificial illuminant. It was very dark on Saturday afternoon, and the public were turned out before the time of closing. It was (writes a Chronicle corre- spondent) certainly curious to walk through the Turner Room in the murk, and observe the effect. In The Shipwreck the only subject that stood out conspicuously was a great yellow sail, but the, white- ness of the raging foam was still observable amidst the prevailing blackness. The Fighting Temeraire" was splendid; the black steamer with the ghostly warship in its wake, the blue, orange, and crimson of the sky, and even the sun's reflection in the water being as grand and impressive as in full daylight. Outside was the drenching rain and the black storm- clouds in which Turner would have revelled, and almost reaching the clouds the figure of Nelson, who fought his last battle the same year that Turner painted his Shipwreck."

————— I CONCERNING SHRAPNEL. Externally the shrapnel is very like the common shell, but the bursting-charge is very small, and lies in the bottom of the shell. The body of the shell (says a writer on Shot, Shell, and Bullets in Blackwood) is filled with bullets numbering some 200 in the ordinary field-gun shrapnel. They rest on a diaphragm which separates them from the bursting- charge. In the older patterns of shrapnel these bullets were not very dissimilar to that of the old Brown-Bess, which weigh 14 to the pound. But the anxiety to obtain more hits has resulted in the reduction of the size of the bullets, which now run 35 per pound-that is to say, they weigh somewhat less than half an ounce, and being round they greatly resemble the pistol-bullet of a hundred years ago. The head of the shell is somewhat loosely riveted on, so that it is readily blown off by the small bursting-charge. At the apex of the head is the combined time and percussion fuse, which com- municates by a tube passing through the bullets to the bursting-charge in the base. The fuse is the most important part of the shrapnel, and, indeed, without good fuses it is impossible to obtain any satisfactory results with modern Field Artillery. And not only must the fuses be good, but they must be properly set. The best fuses will give but poor results when manipulated by unpractised hands. In shrapnel practice a certain number of rounds are deliberately wasted on opening fire in order to ensure the efficiency of the remainder. The initial rounds are fired with the safety-pin locking the time arrangement of the fuse, so that the shell does not burst till it strikes the ground, when it is exploded by the percussion part of the fuse. There is some effect, but not anything like that obtained by a burst in the air. The point of graze of the shell is, however, most carefully observed, the object being to ascer- tain whether it is short of or beyond the target. If short, the elevation of the gun is then increased, if over, it is decreased, and this is continued until it is certain that the shells are striking close to the object. This finding the range, as it is called, sounds easy enough, but really is most difficult, and there are various systems in vogue for carry- ing it out. When the range has been found, it is still necessary to find the proper setting of the fuse, the object being to burst the shell some 50 to 100 yards short of the target. The distance short is judged by the height above ground that the shell bursts. Since the shell is falling as it approaches the target, the higher it bursts the farther it is from the target. Thus at 2000 yards' range a shell bursting 20ft. high is 100 yards short, one 10ft. high is 50 yards start, and so on. If a burst 100 yards short is desired, the fuses are adjusted to that graduation which it is estimated will cause the shells to burst 20ft. above the object. If the shells burst too low or too high, the fuse is altered till the desired result is obtained. But why should the shell be burst 10C yards short, and how is the fuse set ? When a shrapnel! bursts, the body of the shell re- mains entire, the head simply flies off, and the bullets are projected out of the body of the shell and go on towards the target with a slight increase of I velocity, due to the push from the bursting-charge. But they do not hold together like the charge of shot from a choke-bore, for the spin of the shell scatters the outer row of bullets considerably-only those coming from the middle of the shell go straight on. In this way the bullets form a cone, the angle at the apex being from 8deg. to lOdeg. This cone is very similar to the cone of rays coming from the lens of a magic-lantern, which from the extremity of a room 50ft. long throws a picture some 8ft. in diameter on the screen. At 50 yards from the point of burst the bullets would fill a circle some seven to nine yards in diameter, and there would be from five to eight bullets on every square yard within this circle. At 100 yards from the point of burst the diameter of the circle, holding all the bullets would be 14 to 17yards, and there would be only about one bullet on each square yard. In the first case with the shell bursting five yards short, a man standing up would be hit in three or four places; but if it burst 100 yards short, only about two men out of three would be struck by one bullet each. If the target consisted of one row of men stand- ing a yard apart, eight would be hit in the first case and 11 in the second but if the men were lying down, the shorter burst would be the best, as some six men would be hit, against Lhree or four at the greater distance. The best target for shrapnel is naturally a number of ranks of men, say 20 yards apart; the bullets which pass over the heade of those in front will strike those in rear. A group of men offers an excellent target, while on the other hand, a single line of skirmishers or single rank manning a trench affords a very poor target. Where the target is a small one, such as a group of men manning a gun, the shell should be burst fairly close up; but when the enemy are scattered, as in a retreat, the fuse may be set to burst sooner with advantage.

THERE IS, we regret to learn from the London correspondent of the Scotsman, little prospect of Mr. Gerald Balfour being able to get back to his Parlia- mentary work on this side of Easter. He has made fairly satisfactory progress, but complete rest and absence of worry and excitement are necessary. It is fortunate that there is no urgent Irish business re- quiring his attention at the House, and it will there- fore be easier for him to act on this advice. His ill- ness may be said to be partly due to the great assiduity with which he worked in organising the Board of Agriculture, and attending to other difficult matters of administration. In the closing months of the year he allowed himself to get run down, and so became more likely to be struck down by such an illness as has come to him. AT the Royal Horse Show to be held at Richmond, on June 8 and 9 next, there will be a special class for American-bred horses imported into London from any port in the United States between June 10,1899, and June 8, 1900, to be shown in single harness. THERE has been quite a brisk sale of amulets for the Volunteers under orders for South Africa by a certain wizard," who guarantees that any soldier wearing his specific would pass through the war un- scathed. One, however, says the liegimtmf, was pur- chased and examined by a medical man who is pro- ceeding to the front. It contained a scroll of paper scrawled over with Abracadabra," while the charm I proper was a bit of the backbone of a bloater. Now one may purchase a whole bloater for kM than the ftzpenoe charged by the wizard.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR'S DAUGHTER MARRIED. Miss Lilian Pauncefote, the third daughter of Lord Pauncefote, British Ambassador to the United States of America, and of Lady Pauncefote, was married on Saturday to Mr. Robert Bromley, the eldest son of Sir Henry and Lady Bromley. The ceremony took place at St. John's Church, Washington, in the presence of over 700 people. The decorations consisted of tall palms and white flowers artistically grouped together. Miss Pauncefote's wedding-dress of white satin was trimmed with old lace and orange blossoms. She wore a pearl necklace with diamond clasps, the gift of the bridegroom's mother, and carried a bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. There were four bridesmaids—Miss Sibyl and Miss Audrey Pauncefote, sisters of the bride; Miss Esther Bromley, sister of the bridegroom and Miss Hetty Sargent, of Boston. U.S.A. They were all dressed in pale blue satin with black velvet hats and bouquets of Parma violets. The bridegroom's gifts were diamond pheasant brooches, standing on an enamel ribbon inscribed with Pensez-forte," the motto of the Pauncefote and Bromley families. After the ceremony Lady Pauncefote held a recep- tion at the British Embassy, at which 250 guests were present, those invited including the President and Mrs. McKinley, the Secretary of State, Mrs. and the Misses Hay, all the American Ministers, and several Ambassadors. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bromley received a great many presents. Lord and Lady Pauncefote, gave some beautiful jewellery, and Messrs. Rothschild a pearl and diamond necklace. From the Vanderbilt family came a gold repousse writing-case and orna- ments, a silver urn from Mr. Secretary Long, silver candelabra from Mr. Choate, and a massive silver flagon from Mr. Carnegie. The wedding-cake was from London. For the breakfast the Royal plate and ware, the property of the British Government, was used. The presents (the Laft'aa News Agency says) were more numerous and costiy than any have been since the wedding of Miss Leite/ and Lord Curzon. The most unique and valuable was one from General O. B. Ernst, who presented the bride with the Bromley heirlooms, which an ancestor of his bought a century ago. The newly-married pair (says the Central News) started in the afternoon for Florida, where they pass the honeymoon, before leaving for England. After a season in London, Mr. and Mrs. Bromley will live at Stoke Hall, Newark.

MR. ASQUITH AT OXFORD. Speaking at the. joint dinner of the Eighty anci Russell Clubs at Oxford, on Saturday, Mr. Asquith made an earnest appeal for party unity. The sugges- tion to set up a separate organisation, because of difference, of opinion as to the policy of the war in South Africa, was short-sighted and insensate, and would provoke reprisals. He believed that an ex- amination of the differences of Liberals on the sub- jeci of Imperialism would show these differences to he much more differences of words than of things. At any rate, whatever they were, let them talk them over and thresh them out in friendly conferences.

EGYPTIAN ARMY. OFFICERS CASHIERED. An Army Order is published at Omdurman (says Renter) stating that the Court of Inquiry convened to report on the recent cases of insubordination in the Egyptian Army has completed the first part of its deliberations, and that the decisions of the Court, which have been ratified by the Khedive's Govern- ment, are to be promulgated to the army and read out at three successive parades. The judgment of the Court is HS follows: A captain in the 1,4th Bat- talion of Soudanese is cashiered, and a lieutenant is placed on half-pay: n captain of the 11th Battalion is cashiered, and » corporal dismissed from the army with ignominy a lieutenant of the 8th Battalion is cashiered, and a lieutenant placed on half-pay. The cashiered officers have been seut to Cairo under arrest. Everything is quiet in the g&rrison at Omdurman.

AN ASSASSIN'S CUNNING. According to a telegram to Vienna from Geneva, the assassin of the Empress Elizabeth-Luigini-has attempted to murder the Governor of the prison, named Perrin. While, owing to the escape of two prisoners, measures of precaution were being taken against Luigini, the latter demanded an interview with the Governor, to whom he complained of the increased severity of the rules. Then, swift as lightning, he threw a sharp instrument at Perrin's head. The Governor saw something bright and turned aside and escaped the blow. The noise made in the cunning attempt and in struggling for the in- strtirn-nt brought in the warders, who quickly over- came the prisoner. The instrument proved to be the key of a tin meat case, with a sharpened point. Luigini will be again brought before the- Geneva Court for attempted murder, and will probably undergo a long period of solitary confinement. He is new in an underground cell.

— WRECK OFF LUNDY ISLAND. A telegram from Lloyd's signal s'ation at Lundy Island, dated Saturday, 8.40 a.m., stated as .follows During a dense fog at midnight the steamer Bath City, from New York for Bristol, with grain and general goods, struck the north end of Lundy Island, and, on- backing off in deep water, sank, and became a total loss. One lifeboat, with the master, first and second mates, and third engineer and 10 of the crew was picked up in Lundy Roads. The other lifeboat, with the remainder of the drew, ex- cepting one A.B., has not turned up, but is believed to bo safe. Part of crew found in Lunday Roads are at present on board tug Flying Serpent. The Bath City was a steel screw steamer of 2431 tons gross, built at, Sunderland in 1899, and owned by Messrs. C. Hill and Sons, Bristol. A telegram from Swansea states that 13 of the crew of the Bath City, ss., have been landed there by the steamer Kingsley, and that the remainder of the crew, with exception of one man, have been picked up by another steamer.

I INTERESTING PAINTINGS. In addition to the munificent banquet of the late Mr. Henry Vaughan, which includes two fine pictures by Constable, several drawings by Turner, and other objects, the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, has (says the Daily News) recently acquired a collection of 27 paintings, chiefly in water-colours, presented by Mr. James Orrock, R.I., comprising works by George Chambers, W. J. Muller, George Dodgson, Frederick Taylor, H. G. Hine, Charles Green, Sir James Linton, John Fulley- love, and others: aJso two oil paintings, The Wayfarers," by T. Graham, and The Thames- Evening," by John R. Reid, and two smaller ones by John Fulleylove. These gifts are sup- plemental to the following works, which have been already presented by Mr. Orrock an oil-painting by George Barret, jun. another by De Louthetbowrg, and a third by Henry Dawson, besides some draw- ings by David Cox and Samuel Prout. Further presents to the museum include a water-colour drawing by the late T. B. Hardy, given by Mr. Alexander T. Hollingsworth, and a collection con- sisting of 18th century furniture, costumes, lace, Enlfish cut-glass, nine miniature portraits, several being of members of the St. Aubyn family, and other objects, given by the late Mr. Henry Barrett Lennard.

A MISSING LAPY. The Nightingale v. Atkinson action Was con* eluded on Saturday, at Newcastle Assizes. Mr. Scott-Fox, counsel for the plaintiff, said he j had wished to ask a question of his client, but Mr. Nightingale had had a paralytic stroke, and j was only partly conscious and could not appear in court. Counsel having addressed the jury. Mr. Justice Day summed up. He said. as one who believed in the Power of God to forgive sin- and a good deal had been said about the possibility of a iliaD reforming his character-he was still cer- tain that if the case resulted in a verdict against the plaintiff it would be impossible for a Christian Church to employ him again. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant, and judgment was entered accordingly. P^In a second action by Mr. Nightingale against y illiam Brown, father of the missing girl, ajso for libel and slander, judgment was given by consent for the defendant.

THE ladies of Berlin have just awoke to the charms of club life, and have embraced the cause with great enthusiasm. This is all the more interesting, for the German is a creature that does not find the club con- genial. The ladies, however, have already within the year, founded two clubs, with a membership of over 600 each. The Berliner Frauen Club is aristo- cratic in its tendencies, and the main feature of its attractiveness is the social gathering which taken place at least one night a week, and which is ex- clusively feminine. The second club, the Frauen Club Von 1900," is intended to supply a refuge to impecunious and friendless girls, where they may meet, eat, and read, far from the madding crowd of men. In London the ladies' club movement grows I apace, and the Metropolis has now 20 clubs for ladies j «nly, and six for ladies aad gentlemen both. i A."

GREATER BRITAIN. AN application in a modified form of the passport system to native Indian visitors to this country is conten.plated by the Indian authorities. The idea is that all natives visiting England prior to leaving should obtain certificates of identity from official sources. These, it is thought, would be very useful in many ways, but more particularly in ensuring for l young men of good family social attentions which they would not perhaps otherwise obtain. CALCUTTA, like London (sayo the Calcutta corre- spondent of the Morning Post) is chiefly occupied with the war; even here the famine is overshadowed, terrible though the visitation is. The Indian Press with few exceptions approves the Viceroy's letter enjoining on Local Governments care lest the too ready grant of relief should lead to the pauperisa- tion of the people, and it considers that such a warning was imperatively called for in the interests of the taxpayers and of the recipients cf relief. p y SUCH vernacular papers as expressed fears lest the circular should lead to the rejection of persons really in need of help have. since the Viceroy's speech of January 20, admitted thnt the policy an- nounced is humane as well as wise. The Indian Mirror alone of local organs reserves its judgment till the effects of recent orders become apparent. The Calcutta Statesman doubts if auv Indian labourer in his senses will long trouble" the relief works as long as he can obtain any other employ- ment which will enable him to live but in fact men cannot be found just now to work on the Bengal Nagpur Railway, and there are ominous whispers that famine relief has acquired the name of Sarkari naukari," which is being interpreted Government service." That such a complete change in the atti- tude of the people should occur has a startling signi- ficance, and it must be ascribed to the rapid recur- rence of serious famines, which have sapped the strong foundations of self-respect inherent in the agricultural classes. MEANWHILE the Viceroy's circular has certainly not led to wholesale rejections of candidates for re- lief, for the numbers have steadily risen, and now amount, as nearly as may be, to 3,500,000. There is no prospect of a decrease, but rather a certainty of an increase for the next four months, and the news that the Lord Mayor will open a relief fund has been hailed with satisfaction, as a signal proof that Great Britain at no time forgets India's troubles in her own. From a telegram recently despatched you will have learnt that in praying for the speedy success of our arms in the Transvaal the vernacular papers have more than once expressed the pro- found gratitude which the people feel for the generous help they received in 1897. They will be still more impressed with assistance rendered at the time when the storm and stress of war press heavily on the British Empire. Apprehensions are now expressed that a great part of the Madras Presidency may also come within the famine-stricken area. ex TELEGRAMS have no doubt reached the Morning Post concerning the formation of the corps of Mounted Infantry known as Lumsden's Horse. A ball was given on January 30 to assist Colonel Lumsden in raising subscriptions for completing the equipment of his corps. The Viceroy and Lady Curzon were present and exchanged a few words with all the members of the large committee appointed to aid Colonel Lumsden in equipping and despatching the regiment. The transport should be ready about the time this reaches London, and as Indian planters are good riders and good shots they should find themselves at home on the plains and among the kopjes of South Africa. THE attitude of the native Press is admirable. In the presence of trouble affecting the whole British Empire little domestic differences of opinion in the Indian Empire disappear. The note struck is, in fact: What would become of us if Great Britain were last to us, or we to Great Britain ?" It is amazing to hear of public prayers offered up by Hindu high priests for the speedy success of the British arms. At least, it would be amazing if it were not so evidently sincere. From the Queen and the Viceroy downwards everyone knows of the loyal offers made by her native Princes, but it is less well known than it should be that a similar spirit animates the Bengali Baboo, the Madrassee, the Upper Indian, &nd, in fact, all classes of all parts of India. NOTHING cen be more satisfactory thab the tone of the Press, which corresponds exactly with that of the speeches delivered by the Maharaja of Dhar- banga and other noblemen at the public meeting held on January 27 in aid of the South African War Fund. The Indian Princes have responded with enthusiasm to the note struck by Lord Curzon in his Grwalior speech. The worse the news, the more fervent and warm the protestations of loyalty and sympathy from every side. Inter arma silent leges," but only the echo of the clash of arms reaches this lowland by the Hoogly, and the Indian Legislature proceeds with a programme including smigration to the Tea Estates of Assam, the regula- tion of mines, and the copyright in foreign telegrams. The last mentioned subject is now before the Imperial Parliament; so, too, is that of unconscionable bar- gains, with which the Indian Legislature dealt last winter. IN fact, Great Britain and India seem nearer to one Lnother in these times of trouble than in fair weather 3ays, and it is without surprise that we pick up Vanity Fair in the club, and see the familiar features :)f the Maharaja of Patiala in the weekly cartoon between Arthur Yates and Paderewski. Already it waxes hot in the low country, and though the Euro- peans run no danger of lacking food in famine time, is some vainly think in England, the increasing heat, the drought and dust around, and the fact that January this year was hotter than March in 1899, warn us all that till the blessed rain falls in June a cime of unusual heat, trial, and afcxiety lies before do. As anticipated Sir John Winter's Ministry has re-enacted the modus rivendi, and the hurried session of the Newfoundland Parliament has come to an snd. It is understood that before the week is out Sir John will tender his resignation, which will be iccepted, and the task of forming a Ministry will then be entrusted to Mr. Bond. Whether this states- man will succeed in getting together a Cabinet seems doubtful, but whether he does or not it may be assumed that the new Government will not be long in office before an attempt is made to npset it. Newfoundland is essentially a political solony. Party politics run high at times, and eonsistency is not a possession which is found on either side. The way the cat jumps is the way of most Newfoundland politicians, and the greater part of their political life is spent in skirmishing. Legislation apparently is not so much a matter of consideration as the "fencing" which precedes the placing of any Act on the statute-book. It certainly appears singular that the modus vivendi should be re- enacted and not a word said about any permanent measure. Nor does the matter seem to attract any attention at Downing-street, and yet Lord Salisbury promised M. Waddington, many years ago, that permanent legislation should quickly follow the with- drawal of Lord Knutsford's bill. Mr. Bond, if I am not mistaken (says a colonial writer in the Morning Post), was one of the delegates on that occasion, and he promised the Imperial Government that a perma- nent measure should be introduced without delay in the local Legislature. Somehow or other when he reached St. John's he seems to have changed his mind, for be not only opposed but succeeded ia defeating Sir William Whiteway's Bill. Since that date the iTwdtts vivendi has been periodically renewed, but as yet there are no signs of any permanent legis- lation. The Newfoundlanders always seek to make the matter a party question at Westminster, and Lord Kimberley did not, I think, quite agree with Lord Salisbury; but continuity of policy is a golden rule in our relations with foreign Powers, and there* fore Lord Kimberley could scarcely oppose the con- tract entered into by the present Premier. The matter has, however, to be settled, and it would be all the better if that settlement could be effected as goon as possible. REUTER'S AGENCY has now received full and cir- cumstantial details of the terrible outrages and renewed reign of terror on the Upper Congo, in a brief report to which Mr. Chamberlain's attention was directed a few days since. The following are verbatim extracts from an official report recently received in London,signed by the head of the mission: Reports reached us of the usual murders, plunder- ings, burning of villages, capture of slaves, &c. We decided to send ODe of our missionaries to investigate the whole affair, to see whether the Zappo Zaps were acting with or without authority from the Government officer at Luluohourg. He went, he has returned, and now reports having witnessed the most terrible eutrages. Six villages burned, over a dozen others pillaged and deserted. He reached the camp of the Zappo Zaps, and found about 500 of them. They had made a large stockade, and into this had in- vited, evidently for a friendly conference, the chiefs, sub-chiefs, and prominent men of the neighbouring village, with their women. When well inside the stockade the gates were closed, a big tribute of slaves, ivory, rubber, &c., was demanded. When the people could not pay they were fired upon by the Zappo Zaps, and were shot down like dogs inside the stockade, only a few escaping to tell the story. He saw the blood inside the stockade, and the smell was terrible. He saw and counted between 40 and 50 dead bodies. Three bodies had the flesh carved off and eaten by the Zappo Zaps. Other bodies were mutilated. He saw 81 right hands, which had been cut off to be taken back to the State officer at Luluobourg, as a token that the work had been well done. Sixty women had been captured, and were held as slaves. Sixteen men had been sent to the State officer. He also saw a large State flag on a large pole inside the stockade