Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

OBJECTING TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED. I At Wolverhampton a few days since, James Jones was charged on remand with attempting to steal a purse of 7s. 9d. from the person of Esther Worrall, of 35. Lowe Street. The prisoner pleaded guilty in order to have the ense disposed of, but be entered a complaint ngr.inst three police-officers with regard to their treatment, whilst, they endeavoured to secure his portrait. He alleged that they nearly Btrimsfled him in their endeavour to hold him in a position for his photograph to be taken, and he oon. tended that they bud no right to do this with re- gardcto a prisoner who had simply been remanded. He further cared Lhnt the violence of the officers gave him much pa in about the throat for several dayssj The prisoner wits sentenced to a month's harddabonr. and ho was informed that enquiries would be made with regard to his complaint. +

AN EHRAtfT HUSBAND. Leo Bird is now undergoing aix weeds' bard labour for deserting hia wife and three children, r aged six, four, and two rears respectively. Bird flew away from hip family on l £ May :last, when they were living at St. Ann's hill, WandsVertb;' I The wife applied to the r^lievitfg Oiffcer,1 who ad- mitted the family into tbm; crspb*,Ea uniod WOflDl hoise. Warfant omcer Waller-traced the prisoner to Chmberwell, and, railing' to obtain a/Bmiriiofln by the front door of the hOttte, Be scaled fc- bigh wall and' entered Vlie prerhiiwby tfee &ur. "Rdwalked into'the^onse-wifborif interflptiW);' aid arfeeted priobnei-tiis he was preparing to dinner. He made no attempt to escape, this beingimpossible, but asked to be avowed to have his dinner. The officer granted him this request,, and afterwards took him to the station. The prisoner told the mnGriftvate that his wife was making things un. • II <1 're !!(,1,,(1 H-isve her UK (1 MLIlth in Oidei to leach iitv a lessou.

PONTYPOOL BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The usual foifcnightiy meeting of the above Board was hold at the Worknouse, Griffithstown, oa Thursday last. There were present Mr W. oa Thursday last. There were present Mr W. L. Pratt, J.P. (in the chair), Dr A. Da vies, J.P., the Rev F. Forster, Messrs I. Butler, J.P^ D. Jones, B. Jones, J. Jenkins, Gr. H. Daniel. E. B. Ford, A. M. Williams, J. S. Gaskell, W. Charles, and the clerk. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed. THE ROYAL MARE I AGE. A letter was read from the Local povernmen Board giving the Board power, if they saw fit to do so, to give the inmates of the Workbou treat on the occasion of the Royal marriage.. It was decided that a treat should be given, the particulars to be decided by the jYiaiting Committee. ,:). TENDERS. The following tenders for the supply of groceries, etc., to the Workhouse for the next three months w«re accepted^Bread, Usk dis- trict, at 3d per 4-lb U>af, Mr W. A. Hobbs hair- cutting. £ 4, Mr Edward Moseley, Pontypool; milk 2id per quart, Mr M. Knipe; coal, Partridi, Jones and Company s Llanerch, 9s 6d per too, Mr Wm. Sumner, Griffithstown boots and shoes, Mr Parkhouse,, Pontypool; groceries, J. Daniel and Son. Abeisychan meat, Mr Edward Parker, Griffithstown. MASTER'S REPORT. The Jlaster's report was as follows:—Number of inmates in the Workhouse at the last meeting of the Board, 203; admissions, 14; born, 1 dis- charges, 9 dead, 4 remaining, 205—men, 78 women, 61; children, 66—205. dumber of indoor poor for the corresponding period of last year: 181; increase, 24. Number of vagrants relieved ik the casual wards during the last fortnight:— Men, 41; women, 2; children, 1—44. Number of children in the Cottage Homes :-Boys, 23; girls, 23--46. OUT-DOOR RELIEF. The outdoor relief for the past fortnight was as follows:—Trevethin, £90 lis 6d; Panteg, £ 59 19s Od Usk, £ 22 14s 4d. For corresponding period of last year:—Trevethin, £ 92 Is 2d; Panteg, £ 55 4s 8d Usk, £ 21 14s 4d. This was all the business of public interest.

FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE. CAPT. E. N. BUCHANAN-BOYD AND MISS STAMMERS. A marriage took place at St. Paul's Church, Ciifton, on Wednesday, June 7th, between Captain Edward Noblette Buchanan Boyd, adjutant of the Gold Coast Rifle Volunteer Corps, Acera, and Eva Mabel Theodora Stam- mers, youngest daughter of the late Colonel Stammers (10th Regiment), of Dunsford-place, Bath. The ceremony was performed by the Rev Stanley Boyd, M.A., who was assisted by the Rev T. Vaughan Evans, M.A., brother-in-law of the bride, and the Rev Canon Mather, vicar of St. Paul's. Captain Aplin, of the Gold Ceast Constabulary, was best man." The bride's dress was of pale grey cloth, with silk bodice, and white hat. She carried a choice bouquet, the gift of the bridegroom, and was attended by three bridesmaids—Miss Shield, Miss Abbey (cousins of the bride), and Miss Freer. Their dresses were pale pink crepon, trimmed with cream lace, with hats to match. They carried loose bouquets, and wore brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. After the cere- mony, the bride's mother held a largely-attended reception at her residence. Later in the after- noon, Captain and Mrs Buchanan-Boyd left for a tour in Devonshire. Among the wedding pre- sents were Silver mounted travelling bag from bridegroom to bride; oak and silver mounted tantalus and pair of antique Chinese vases, the Rev S. Boyd clock, Mrs Boyd plate and cheque, Mrs Stammers; overmantel iooking-giass, Mr Stammers silver egg boiler, Rev and Mrs T. Vaughan Evans; cake dish, Rev C. I. E. and Mrs Walkey; silver spoons, Rev W. and Mrs Shield and Miss Walkey afternoon tea set, Rev C. and Mrs Abbey silver sugar basin and spoon, Colonel Walkey, R.A.. and Mrs Walkey silver preserve jar, Miss H. Walkey clock, Mr and Mrs Walkey; silver- mounted biscuit box, Rev J. and Mrs Evans silver-mounted salad bowl, Captain Aplin; silver- mounted lemon-squeezer and stand, Mr A. W. Darwin; glove and handkerchief case, Miss Shield: vases. Miss Abbey dressing bag, Miss Freer; silver spoons, Misses Ashwiu jardiniere, Dr and Mrs Davies crown Derby vases, Dr Lansdowne i china figures, Bloi, Basil, and Esme Evaas Indian table cloth, General and Mrs 1 Carnegie ash tray, Captain and Mrs Bryan gold orooch, Miss Chad wick gold pin, Mr H. II Orawshay; apostle spoons, Mr Bush; silver coffee pot, Mr aud Mrs Smunons; clock, Mrs Taylor; cheque, Mrs Smythies silver sugar basin and tongs, Mrs Anderson; centre vase, Mrs George Dobson standard afternoon tea kettle, Dr and Mrs Freer; photograph frame, Colonel Farwell, R.E., &c.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE IN NORTH WALES. A terrible tragedy is reported from Rhos llanerchrugog, a mining district, near Wrexham. An old soldier named Benjamin Bolton, who resided with his wife at Furnace Bank, made a sudden and desperate attack upon her with an axe. He struck her repeatedly about the head, inflicting several terrible wounds, and also severed some of her fingers, the poor woman trying to save her head by shielding it with her hands. Having completed this butchering out- rage on his wife, Bolton cut his own throat, in- flicting an ugly gash. Both are alive, but in a dyiug condition. Jealousy is said to be the cause, of the outrage.

FATAL FALL AT NEWPORT. — w About twelve o'clock on Tuesday night Eliza- both Grimaldi, aged 51, wife of John Grimaldi. residing at 19, Church-street, Newport, fell downstairs and sustained injuries to her head. Dr M'Ginn was at once called in but his services were of no avail, the unfortunate woman expir- ing between three and four o'clock this morn- ing. Mitfi

Over 400 men have been thrown out of work by a, disastrous fire which burned down part of the pre- mises of the Railway Boiling Stock Company at Ivry Port in Frauce. Mr. Christopher Slater, sanitary sapintendent of the Burnley Corporation, has died from typhoid He was seventy years of age, and had held •be office thirty-seven years. The Duke of Norfolk eontribnted from his private purse one million franca towards 9,000.000 francs presented to the Pope on the occasion of the epis- copal jubilee of his holiness. y It is currently reported that on being elevated to the Peerage, Lord Drumlanrig, lrivate secretary to the Earl of Rosebery, is likely to be made a Lord. in. Waiting, in place of Lord Wolverton. It is computed that the nightly expenses during the season of the Comedie Francaise at Draiy Lane Theatre will amount to a sum of between 9430 and £450, The end of this month will see the departure of both the great Arctic expeditions which have been in course of organisation in Norway and the United States. Puachmetra was once a smiling Mexican town. But it haa now been literally swept away by a cyclone. Thirty persons were killed and 2,000 are homeless. A verdict of Accidental death" was returned at Aldershot, in the case of Rougli-ridinc, Corporal Owens, 4th Dragoon Guards, who d:ed in the Cam. bridge Hospital, from terrible injuries sustained in the riding school. Sir Augustus Harris has engaged Herr Emile Steinbachr of Mayence, to direct the German repre. sentations which are to form part of the Wagner Cycle at Covent Garden daring the present season. Herr Steinbach has had much experience, and is a conductor of considerable repntein Germany" Sir Charles Hall, the City Recorder, has been more severely indisposed than has been generally thought to be the case. It will be some weeks, at any rate, before there is any likelihood of his being able to resume either his Parliamentary or his judicial duties. Mr. Ben Greet produces his open.air plays at both the Universities, and also gives performances of The Tempest and" Twelfth Night" at Bedford, under the patronage of the head master of the sebool, andfof the principals of the Ladies High School and Crescent College. "Wie hay crops in South Lincolnshire will be very light this season, the worst known for many years. Some farmers are stocking their meadows in conse- quence of the lightness of them and the want of keep and others are selling their half-fatted stock to be slaughtered, owing to the great scaroity of grass. o v The town of Waunakee, Wisconsin, haa been raided by a body of armed tramps. AU the busi. ness houses, SOA. many of the private residences were sacked. In. some cases the residents were driven into the streets while the tramps looted their hooaes. Tius inhabitants were so surprised that they offered little resistance. Sir Augustus Harris is the treasurer and Mr. John Coleman the secretary of-a testimonial fund w ich a committee, formed of the leading Loudon managers, is getting up on behalf of Mr. Charles Bernard, who, after long and honourable work in cotinect-lon with many theatres, has been struck j down by paralysis, and is in urgent need of assist* 1 auce.

CITY CORRESPONDENCE. ♦ BAiLON TON DAUER, the Austrian Minister of War, i has been stating his views with regard to duelling. While not altogether approving it on principle be thinks the present state of society does not permit of the abolition of such encounters, as persons would in that case have recourse to rougher means, such as the fist, the stick, or the revolver. THE Government, iij order to afford full informa. tion upon a much-discussed portion of the Em. ployers' Liability Bill, intends to ask the House of Commons to agree to the issue of a memorandum showing the state of the law as to employers' liabil. ity in relation to shipping interests in the United States, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. IT is stated that the German Empress will this year pay a visit to her native place in Schleswig- Solstein. The affair between the family of the Empress and King Christian of Denmark about the inheritance left by Duohess Wilhelmina of Clucksi- burg has now beeg definitely settled. A part cf the treasure has been handed over to the Danish King, while Glacksburg Castle has passed over to the Empress's brother-in-law, Prince Ferdinand of Schleawig-Holstien-Glnckeburg. IT is rep orted in official circles that Sir Anthony Maedonnell will succeed Sir Charles Elliott us Lieutenant.Governor of Bengal, an appointment Sir Charles has held since October, 1890. Sir Anthony Macdonnell has been in the Bengal Civil Service since 1864. For the last three years he has been Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces. In the event of Sir Anthony receiving this appoint. ment, it is expected that Mr. C. J. Lyall will be made Commissioner of the Central Provinces. Mr. Lyall is one of three brothers highly distinguished in the Indian service he is at present Secretary to the Government of India in the Home Department, his brother Sir Alfred being a member of the Indian Council, while his brother Sir James was Lieutenant. Governor of the P unjaib until quite recently. THE Maharajah of Bhannager is persistently anxious to take advantage of every opportunity of showing his loyalty to the reigning house-so persistent, in fact, that one is inolined to half be. lieve he conceives his loyalty to be the object of eternal suspicion. Of course, no suspicion exists; no man could imagine the Maharajah to be a rebel. His frank smile, his geniality, which will obtrude itself notwithstanding his Oriental impassivity, and his easy readiness to make friends are not the elements which foster suspicion. The Maharajah's protestations of loyalty, which take the form of a fervently.uttered admiration for the Queen and the Prince of Wales, are a little embarrassing to his friends. Even when he entertains—and a really charming host he makes—he oppresses his visitors with his flowing periods of Oriental admiration. M. LACRESSONNIERE, the distinguished French actor, whose death is just announced at Paris, struggled for some years before he gained recog- nition. Intended for a oommercial career, he left the desk for the stage, and made a number of uneventful appearances in French provincial towns he became known at the capital. In 1847 his reputation was so far established that he became the favourite actor of Alexandre Dumas and Francois Soulie, who entrusted him with the first roles iii their principal pieces. M. Lacressonniero appeared at the Porte-Saint-Martin, the Theatre Historique, and other theatres in Paris, and for a long period was a first favourite with Parisian playgoers. He was married twice-first to 31dile. Perrier, and seoondly to Mdlle. Abollard, both of whom were talented actresses, and gained much success in the same pieces as M. Lacressennie,-e. GENERAL LORD CHELMSFORD has resolved to at once retire from the army, a decision which was not altogether unexpected by the military author- ities, though Lord Chelmsford had almost another year to run before he reached the age limit, that of sixty-seven. It is no secret that Lord Chelmsford felt that his military career was over when he re- turned from South Africa, which he is said to hare often described as the grave of his reputation. He afterwards held, of course, the lieutenant. governor- ship of the Tower, but he regarded it only ns offet-itig a bridge to a life of seclusion. The terrible disaster of the Zulu War with which his name was associated banishes the memory of his previous good service and yet, in the Crimea and in India he played a gallant part, and. his" great ability and untiring energy during the Abyssinian Wti- were strongly lauded by Lord Napier. He was re- garded, indeed, up to 1879, as one of the most notable figures in the army. 0 THE Vladivostok, published in the Russian Pncifio settlement of that name, gives a terrible account of the treatment of Russian convicts on the Island of Onora. The investigation recently made into the charges of gross and barbarous cruelty preferred against a certain Khanoff, chier labour overseer of the penal island, has resulted in that official's suspension and arrest. This Khanoff, who was himself originally sent out as a deported convict, perpetrated such intolerable tortures upon the unfortunate convicts under Ins charge that twenty of them mutilated themselves in a''dieaclful manner in order to free themselves from the labour yoke of this official miscreant. A much larger number made their escape into the Taiga, where they suffered indescribable misery from bunger and sickness. A recaptured refugee from the Taiga had in his possession some pieces of human flesh, and his confession that the escaped prisoners murdered and ate the physically weaker of their companions has been oonflrmed by subsequent discoveries. Sia SPEHCEB PONSONBY-FANE, who is staying at Balmoral, might, if he chose, write a book which would be more interesting even than the Duc de St. Simon's memoirs, for he has been behind the scenes in Court and politics for over half a century. He has studiously kept silent all the time, and has so completely effaced his own personality in the tran- saction of public business, that he is not even men- tioned by the historians of secret transactions of the Foreign Office, in which he took part between 1840 and 1857. In the latter year he was appointed ComptrolUr of Accounts in Lord Chamberlain's Department, an office which he still holds. In con. sequence he has practically been for thirty-six years the manager of all the Court functions, the ex. aminer of the expenditure of the royal household, the licenser, of plays, and the controller of theatres. In addition to all this work he takes almost as active an interest in cricket as does his brother, Lord Bess borough. No face is better known at Lord's than his, and his influonce with the M.C.C. is great. He used to play himself for Surrey and the Gentlemen." He is sixty-nine years of age and wonderfully active. THE extraordinary desire of young China for employment in the Civil Service, and the trouble it must give the governing authorities triennially when examinations for admission to Government service are held, may be judged from the fact that recently 20,000 candidates presented themselves i at one examination ball in the province of Szechuan. Each candidate's provided with a cell, and, as there were not quite 16,000 cells, only the number for which there was accomodation competed for the vacant posts—one hundred. Candidates for the civil and military service at home are continu- ally complaining of the length of time which elapses before the Cannon Row examiners announce the names of the successful competitors. Evi. dently they do those things better in China, for the result must be published within ten days. There were, in the instance referred to, only a dozen examiners, so that each of them had to get through 130 papers daily. The object of so much speed is to get rid of such a large body of young men, who, while waiting for the result, are apt to become troublesome, if not unmanageable, and allow them to return to their own homes as quickly as may be.

The Leeds Clerks' Union is now an established fact. From Antwerp each year 210,000,000 eggs are seiic to England. In the banks ia Finland there are far more women than men clerks. There are now nearly fifty-five pages of amend- meuts to the Home Bule Bill. An attempt is being made to revive the half-day holiday movement in Leeds. A seat is to be fonnd in the next House of Com. mons for Lord Qharles Beresford. Elizalieth DucTiess ot Wellington has recoverecl from her receut severe illness, and is now out of danger. *« Fireworks" is t he name of a new comedy by Mr. F. C. Philips, in rehearsal for early production at the Vaudeville. The Richmond Guardians hare decided to supply two morning and two evening papers to the men's ward at the workhouse. During last month the officers of the Fishmongers' Company seized at Billingsgate 63 tons 15owt. of fish as unfit for human food. The Governors and Directors of the Bank of England have contributed £600 towards the Lon. don Hospital Fourth Quinquennial Fund. A statue of Arago, the astronomer, was unveiled in the grounds of the Paris Observatory by M Poincare, Minister of Public Instruction. Farmer ai'Loughlin, of Polaohern, was killed by lightning aa he stood ou tside his house. Mr. Bayard, the United States Ambassador, slightly resembles the late Mr. Fawcett in appear. ance. According to the decree of divorce issued by Judge Addison Grant to Mrs. Frank Leslie, she oan marry again if she pleases, but Mr. William Wilde cannot. As a result of the capsizing of a pleasure boat at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, a woman and Frederick Hammoud, engineer oi the steam yacht Norman were drowned.

IJEYAN SCHOOLROOM .e PONTNEWYNYDD. MEMORIAL STONE LAYING. An interesting function, serving to illustrate the growth of the principles of Wesleyan Methodism tin the district and the devotion of its adheret.ts, particularly in relation to the work of t h. Sunday School, took place at Pontnewy: ydd oa Thursday afternoon. This was the laying of memorial stones of the new Sunday School which it is proposed to erect at at the rear of the chapel. We may state that the building will occupy the site of the old school, but will be much more extensive, and better adapted to present day requirements. It will be 49-tt. by 2^-ft., and will have windows facing both the Pentrepiod and Plasycoed roads, with an entrance from the Pla3ycoed-road. Mr A. H. Bailey is the contractor. Thursday's cere- mony was well attended, those present including old friends of the cause at Pontnewvnydd, such as Mrs R. Greenway, Pontypool Mrs W. Wal- ters, Keynsham (formerly of Pontnewynydd), and many other friends from all parts of the circuit. The Rev A. R. Humphfie-q, superintend- ent minister, conducted the proceedings,the Revs L. Thomas, Abersychan, and F. Parsons, Blaen- avon, being also, present. It was announced that the Rev J. G. Watts was unfortunately absent through indisposition. The Rev A. R. Humph- ries commenced the proceedings by giving out an appropriate hymn, and this having been sung, the Rev L. Thomas read a portion of Scripture and offered prayer. Another hymn having been sung, the ceremony of laying the memorial stonc-s was proceeded with, the respective stones being declared well and truly laid by the fol- lowing :—Mrs R. Greenway Mrs W. Walters Miss Kosser, Garndiffaith; Miss Bailey, Pont- aewynydd Miss M. Hambleton, Osborne-road Mrfl. Bythway, Pontypool; and Mr S. Bourton, on behalf of the Sunday School. On the propo- sition of the Rev L. Thomas, seconded by the Rev F. Parsons, the ladies and gentlemen who had laid ithe memorial stones were heartily thanked for their presence and practical sym- pathy. 4 Mr. H. Bvthway, in responding to the vote of thanks, said that on behalf of himself and the various ladies who had taken part in the ceremony, he could assure them it had given them great pleasure to be there to participate in that good work. It had been, as had been already hinted at, a very happy and singular combination of young and old in a good work. He was glad to see that, and te see the young coming forward to begin these duties in early life, and to take upon themselves the burdens and responsibilities which had hitherto devolved upon those of older years. He might say on behalf of both Mrs Greenway and Mrs Walters that they had taken part with very peculiar pleasure. There were many happy associations connected with that occasion. To those ladies, that day would bring recollections of those who were* gone, and those who they believed were looking down in approbation of the good work—recollections which would en- hance the pleasure they had in taking part on that occasion. For himself he esteemed it a great honour to have been asked to take part, and especially such a prominent part on that occa- sion and he thought the Wesleyans, as a body of Christians, had set a noble example to the. whole of that neighbourhood. He bad no doubt many of them were aware that it had come to his knowledge, as the clerk to the Trevethin School Board, that that Board had deemed it necessary to erect a new infant school somewhere in that neighbourhood and he was pleased to think that the friends at that place had taken the initiative in enlarging their Sunday school accommodation, for they all knew that the work of the Sunday school stood next to the preaching- of the gospel. In some respects, it might be regarded as oi almost greater importance, for they knew that the impressions made in earliest infancy could never be obliterated, and believed firmly in the command to train up a child in th way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." He was very thankful to hear the remembrance of having spent many a happy I season in the old schoolroom after the preaching I services, and he hoped they would have many more prosperous times in the days to come. He hoped the Sunday school teachers would be faithful to their duties, and would look upon their duties as being of a very onerous and responsible character. Whilst they did not take from the parents their proper and rightful control and responsibility, they all sadly mourned that in neighbourhoods like that, where parents were often overburdened with domestic work. the religious training of the young in the homes was very greatly neglected. Mr S. Bourton also delivered an interesting ad- dress. in the course of which he referred to the unity which had characterised their efforts in con- nection with the Sunday school,.and expressed the hope that that unity would ever continue. The Itev A. R. Humphries, who expressed regret for his inability to attend the meeting in the even- ing, said they were there that day to rejoice in the measure of success which had attended their efforts in coanection wich the Sunday School. They were not there to boast, but to acknowledge the gracious providence of God. He believed the Sunday School to be one of the most influential factors iu the foundation of their national character, and an important bulwark against the advancing tide of Romanism in that country. Whilst they lingered for a moment in the recollec- tions of the past they must not forget the claims of the living present. Their work was a progressive work. Forward was their motto, and Progress must be inscribed upon their banners.—Anymn having been sung, a collection was taken, and realised £ 4 10e 5d.—A public tea was afterwards held, the day's proceedings terminating with a public meeting at the chapel in the evening. The proceeds at the afternoon ceremony amounted to nearly £ .~4, the contributors including:—Mrs R. Greenway, £ 10 10; Mrs W. Walters, A5; Mr H. Bythway, £ 5 5s Miss Bailey, £ 5 5s Miss Rosser, £ 3 :Mii* M. Hambleton, £ 3; Mr D. Da vies, Spring- field Villa, £ 2 2s and from the Sunday School children, £ 8 5s 6d. We understand that there is also a sum of about;9200 in hand for the purpose of renovating the chal)ei.

THB PRODUCTION OF WINE IN GERMANY. rr,I?T.nl an official return just published, showing the area of and under wine cultivation in Germany, and the total production for the last thirteen years, it appears that the former has varied very little, being abont 300,000 acres, bat the quantity of wine made each year has, of conrse, varied very mncb, having lieen as much as 84.000,000 gallons in 1885, while in 1891 it was'trcrre+y a fifth as much. The average production for the thirteen years has been 66,000,000 gallons, of which Bavaria and the Palatine provinces produce rieai-ly A third, while almost as much wine is made in Alsaoe and Lorraine, where the yield per acre is rather larger than it is in the Bavarian provinces. The reai of the wine come6 almost entirely from Hesse, Baden, Wurtemberg, and the Rhenish provinces of Prusaia^ which have each about he-same area of vineyards and about the same average yield of wine

TOPICS OF THE WEEK. ♦ IN consequence of the official reports of an arch. aelogist, the authorities at Salerno have sequestered the supposed image of the Madonna at Altivilla, and all the gifts brought by the superstitions population consisting of forty-six pounds weight of copper money, and five large boxes full of corn. The arch, aelogist declared the supposed image of the Madonna to be nothing but a couple of old large nails in. crusted together by being long buried and covered with rust. JENNY rJnm is to have a memorial set up to her name in Westminster Abbey. It is hardly possible for English men of the present generation to appre- ciate fully the art and the virtues whioh were conibined in the Swedish Nightingale, as our fathers called her. But great as she was in sing. ing, she was quite as rotable in later life for the nobility of her character. And though she was not an Englishwoman, England was her home, and it was England that profited most by her unassuming mauificenco. The medtIlion to her memory is to be placed under the statue of Handel. It will be a happy association, the greatest composer and the greatest singer of the ae. THE annual report of the Executive Committee of the Church Lads' Brigade may be regarded as most encouraging. Although the brigade was inangur. ated as recently as November, 1891, 176 companies have been raised. Work has beeu started in all the home dioceses excepting five, in one diocese in Ireland, aiid four in Canada. The balance sheet shows that if £2,000 could be raised, headquarters would be already just paying its way, independent of outside subscriptions. Practically the work is self supporting, through the payment by the lads of one penny each week, and the executive make an earnest appeal for the required capital, which, if not quickly found, will serious hamper the spread of the work. UNDER the Sunday Observance Act of 1780 heavy penalties are imposed on the opening of any place of public entertainment on Sundays if money is taken for admission, and such a place is deolared to be a disorderly house. It has been held that sacred concerts come within the provisions of this enactment, not to speak of the heavy penalties of the Act of 1677. Sir George Sitwell's Bill now before Parliament proposes to legalise Sunday concerts of sacred music," a term which is de- clared to inelude ac all vocal and instrumental music, except dance music and comic or humorous songs or the accompaniments to such songs, and except the singing of songs not written or adapted to worda of sacred or religious meaning." A MISSION to examine and report upon the rules, regulations, and.arrangements of various European Parliaments has been entrusted by the Hungarian Chamber of Deputies to its librarian, Dr. Bela. That gentleman is at present studying the House of Commons. Armed with a pass from the Speaker's secretary, he has spent several evenings in the dis- tinguished strangers's gallery, and a morningin the Grand Committee on Law. He has inspected the accommodation for journalists. One of his strongest impressions so far is that the rules of the House of Commons are particularly hard to understand. His next visit will be to the Belgian Chamber of beputies, after which he goes to those of France and Italy. THE Rochdale Pioneers, the first and the oldest of tho Co-operative Societies, are in a difficulty. They have more money than they know what to do with. They pay a liberal interest on member's share capital, and th;s capital is so large that the interest is a serious drain on the funds. They are now trying to devise a scheme which will lead members to withdraw some portion of their savings. Figures which have been ascertained show that the old trouble still exists. Memhers with the largest investments seem to joia more for the sake of the profitable interest and the advantage of the news. rooms and the libraries than for the co-operative buying and selling which is the root of the system. The average expenditure of members with £10 in the society is 6s. a quarter. As the investment increases the purchases go down. A C50 member spends only t5 6s. and the bueinsss of a £ 100 member drops to 1:4 8s. As there are nearly 2,000 members with £ 100 to their credit, the position is serious for the society. These working men co- operators appear to be pretty well-to-do. AN officer of a local branch of the Charity Organ. isation Society has discovered a family who are known to their neighbourhood as the cleverest beggars in Battersea." The title appears to have been honestly, or rather dishonestly earned. Some two years ago this official's opinion was asked by a medical man regarding w family in that part, who seemed to be in great distress. The home w-is a miserabteone.thechitdrea dirty and untidy, the father appeared to be always out of work, and it was difficult to see how the family managed to keep out of the workhouse. It was found, however, that at one and the satne timo they were in receipt of out-door relief from the Guardians, and were getting help trom the clergyman of the parish-in which they lived, as well as from a large Dissent. ing chapel in the same district. The clever family were also being assisted by the Salvation Army and by members of the Church Army, whose meet- ings the man attended in a parish quite a mile away front his own home. Not long after this they left the district, but very soon news of them was received from another relief committee, to whom the man seems to have represented himself as an infidel lately won over to Christianity." MR. JOSEPH NEWTON, late of the Royal Mint, who I nas a knack of making the subject of coin interest- ing, has written to explain the existence of those cracked soref-o,g,te-giispicions, yet good and ¡' legal coin of the realm-which most people come across once or twice in a lifetime. It is observed that all coins struck at the 111 iot 3.1 e from metal which has been previously rolled down from thick cast bars to thin flimsy ribands. Castings, however, may have air-bubbles wiihin them, Trot visibte to the eye, and these when compressed by rolling become elongated in the ribands. Then the ribnuds have to be punched, or perforated from end to end, in order to extract from them blank coins. These may, to all outward appearance, be perfect, yet some of them perhaps have been cut from the hollow, or cracked parts of the fillets, and in that case the blanks will necessarily also be craoked, hollow, or, in Mint parlance, dumb." In order to detect these defaulters a numlier of sharp-eared and sharp-eyed ringing boys are employed. Ringing hoys, however, are not infallible. We are reminded the Mint is always wilting to exchange such coins for good pieces of money, and is even thankful to those who bring them back for re-melting. IT is often said that scarlet fever is not infectious to any serious degree until desquamation, or peeling of the skin, has begun. The medical officer for Easthourne, htwover, observes that the experience of the past year has shown this to be an .error. The point is the more important in the face of the fact that the past year witnessed the largest epidemic of scarltt fever that has ooctired .1 Lon- don since sanitation was first actually prosecuted. In two instances—both schools—although the first cases, and each succeeding case, were promptly re- moved to the Sanatorium, further eases, this gentleman reports, continued to occur. The secondary cases did not occur specially amongst, the children occupying the same durmitory, but the disease npl eared t) a; tack by preference those wh o were must closoly associate.] in the class l'ooms with the first patient. A. regards the period which must elapse bet ore ihe outbreak can be pronounced to be over, the experience of the past year indicates, in the opinion oi I lie nutliot ity, that the infection may lie dormant for two to three weeks.

Eighteen coaches attended the opening meet of the Four-in-hnml Club in Hyde Park, There was a large attendance of spectators, aed among those present were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke of York, and Princess Victoria of Wales. The belief prevails iu Yokohama*that the silk- growers of Japan Will lose upwards of £1,000,000 sterling in consequence of the damage to the mul- berry trees caused by the severe frost and snow, storms. The leaves of the trees have been rendered unfit for the food of the silk worm. Un Saturday afternoon the Roobdale Corpora, tion's new fire station, which has cost 4,000.. (including the site) was opened by Mr. J. Duck. worth, the Mayor. The good-servioe pension of 1501. a year for captains, rendered vacant by the retirement of Captain J. E. Stokes, has been conferred on Captain A. C. H. Paget. Mr. T. W. Nussey, J.P., the Liberal candidate for Maidstone at the last election, has been invited to submit his name to the Liberal Association at Pontefract. A gamekeeper, named James Stuart, in the em- ploy of Mr. W. Middletcn Campbel1, of Camis Eskan, Dumbartonshire, has been bitten by a mad dog. He has gone to Paris to see Pasteur. The Emperor William has brou ght Hans Bohrdt's splended large picture of Brandenburg's First Naval Battle," fought in May, 1676. The painting is on show in the Berlin Art Exhibition. The body of William Evans, a stonemason, lodg- ing at Craig-y-don, Llanfairfechan, was found on the railway between Bangor and Aber, having been literally cut in pieces by a train. Mr. N. Vert has just received a cable from Australia, saying that Madame Antoinette Ster* ling has made an enormous succes at Melbourne. At her farewell concert there the receipts wereover 2380 1 Mr. W. J. Brady, of Harry ville, Ballyjnetia, an elder I of the Presbyterian Church,Jwas returning from the j General Assembly in Belfast, when he fell dead in ) General Assembly in Belfast, when he fell dead in the street. He was eighty-three years of qge.

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AMERICAN STORIES. HIGH ART. Several men were sitting In a ebore at Jame. son's tanyard talking of the pictures which they had seen in the "arb" gallery of a country fair. Yes, looked potby well," said one oil fellow, but they ain't what I caU fine paiut.iu'. Boys, you know'd Andy Summers ? "yea." "Wall, Andy was a painter. One day ha painbed a pictur of an overcoab, an' it was so nacbul that bid daddy put it Oil alA, had wore it some time before he found out ib was a pictlll" Yes," rejoined a fellow named Smith, I have heard of that pictur'. Andy was a putty good cub painter, thar nill'b no mistake aboub that; bub when you want to get some righb good work done, yun've got to go bo a fellor who has learned the trade 8ho' 'nuff. Now, Miles Slokea was what I call a No. 1 painter. You all know'd Miles—lived on the old Ash ford place the year after the war. One time Miles painted a picLur' of a tiddle, and I wish I may, if a feller didn't take it to a dance and play on it all night. Never heard such mllsic in all life. Made it fairly talk, the feller did. That was one painting, 8ho' 'iiuif." "Thab was a mighty fjna pictur' said old Pardon Gales", the circus rider. Miles could do subliin' ab paintin' if ho had kept on tryiu', bub he 'peered to lo-e his grip arber Bob Hadley came round. Hadley was a line painter. Of coarse, I ain'b no art critic, nor nobhin of that sorb, and don't pretend to pub any judgment UP any higher than .y<m can teach but some- how be always struck ma as bein' a pow'ful naclinl painter. One night there was a poesid of us over at, old Simmon's limine, an' we got alter Bob to paint 11'1 a 'picLllr'. He said he didn't fool like paintin*, an he kepb makin' excuses, till old Simmon* went oub and fetched in a bucket of paint an' a brush, and told Bob thab lie je^t mudfc paint some doirb of pictur', Willit,lier or iso. WolI, Bob, he took up the brufjll all' begaii t,o sitiii it till the flleb thing we Unow'd he had done painted the pictur" of a ju. It was jest as nachul as any j"8 I ever seed, an' when I took it; up an' sorter shuck it, I heard suthin' slosh. I turned ib up, I did, and bang me if thar wasn't whisky in it. We let in bo drinking it, an' ib wasn't long till WO wits all (iriieik." It'a your time now. Uncle Buck," said a young felluw slapping an old man on the baok. I ain't no littii- to exaggerate, boys," Uncle Buck replied. To me thar ain't) no fan la a impossible lie." t „ V. ••Then what you air going to bell as is the truth, eh Yea, an' I'll beb my hosa agin yourn." Well, waib bill I've heard your sbory." "All ritjhb," Uncle Buck continued. "I was in Bill Rickley's sbore some time ago. Bill, yon know, while he don'b make no pretence, is considerable "of an artist). Wall, jest to amuse me or himself, he paiubed a nigger, an' the nigger went outdoors, chopped some wood, brought it into the house, an' made as good a fire as yon ever saw." Uncle Buck, I'll take the beb." All righb. Yandec's John Higgins; caU him in." When Higgins came in Uncle Buck asked: Higgins, warn'b you ab Rick ley's isbora one day last week 9LIJ, a" ct me thar « Yea." Anybody elee thar II Yes, a nigger." What did Rickley do to him? Snatched up a bresli and painted him., jesb fur fun." t What did the nigger do shortly after- ward ?" Chopped some wood an' made a fire." Gabe," said Uncle Buck, "go fetch that horse round here." u Oh. no; you said he painted a pictur* of a »ko I didn'b. Did I, boys ? No, he said lie painted a nigger," some jne replied, and the boys agreed that those were hia exact words. Then Gabe brought his horse around^ aad Uncle Buck led him away.

Sturgeons, for their size, are the weakest of all Ash They are found in some parts weighing over a ton,. bat are perfeotly helpless whea attacked by a. sword fish the size of a herring, In order to avoid paralysis, Mr. B. J. Abdy, gentleman of independent means, res iding at 16 CharleB Street, Hajwarket, has shot hionjelf fatally with a revolver, y

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC J. G. NICHOLS, BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURER AND LEATHER SELLER, Jubilee Buildings, Crane Street, Pontypool (FOR 24 YEARS WITH MR. W. PARKHOUSE), Begs to, retura his sincere thanks to the Public for the gratifying amount of patronage which has been accorded him since he commenced Business at the above Address. J. G. N. bas just Purchased a LARGE STOCK of BOOTS and SHOES, of Best Quality, for Summer wear, which he will dispose of at the LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES. AN INSPECTION OF GOODS & TRIAL ORDER SOLICITED. NOTE THE ADDBESS Jubilee Buildings, Crane Street, Pontypool. P. S. Jenkins, BOOTMAKER, Abersychan. REPAIRS WHILE YOU WAIT" [ORIGINAL ACROSTIC]. R emember Friends P. Jenkins' Shop when you want Boots repaired; E xceeding good P. Jenkins' work I always hear declared. p lease bear in mind P. J's repairs 8X6 always streng and good, A nd this is what P. Jenkins wants most clearly understood- I n all his cheap repairing work he never stints the stuff. Remember too that his repairs though cheap, are never rough., Soon this point P. Jenkins thinks that he has said enough. W hen people want some first-class Boots to fit them trim and nice, H ere they can have at p Jenkins' a pair at lowest Price. I n every Shape, in every Style, be certamly will suit; L o! all will find that p JenkillS has now a grand repute. "jn nquire than at p Jenkins' Shop and choose your style of boot. y ou uee&'t think that Jenkins' Boots are cheap and shoddy too, oil no account would P. Jenkins supply such stuft to you; Ti pon his place the Best of Stock iP; whathehas 035 -vinw. YYR ALKING BOOTS, to measure made, BANDSEWN t aad up TO DILTE A nd LADIES SHOES &Children"s Boots, all warranted"b't-rate, I napect his Stock of Slippers good, which nev be beat, T hen you will say P. Jenkins' Shop is giving.JIOO a treat..

A young man named Edwin Pattison, of 307, Edge Laite, Liverpool, described as a produce broker, committed saioide in Kewsham Park, a few days ago hy swallowing carbolic acid. Mr. Burne Jones, A.R.A., whose exhibits at the Champs de Mars Salon excited so much attention has been elected a member of the French National Society of Fine Arts. The Saltan conferred tha Order of the Medjidie on Professor Max Muller at an inter view which the eminent Oxford Professor of Philology had witb hilt Majesty at Constantinople a day or two since. A movement has begun in France for the introduction of English legislation in relation to illegitimate children. In France the father cannot at present be charge d with maintenance. Considerable excitement is said to prevail at Bagilla owing to the death a man, named John Evan from symptoos resembling those of eholera. Dr. J. W. Parry aaoribea the death to English cholera At a town's meeting, held in Sheffield it Was de.. cided to promote a public testimonal to Mr. M un- deU,p" in recognition of the services he has rendered to the trade and commerce of the city during the last twenty-flre Years. Lord'Brassey presided at the anniversary meeting of Dr. Bernardo's Homes, held at the Royal Albeit Hall, and stated that the number of children in residence waa 5,001 the income for th e tear having been 133.0001. Commander Jl. Napier has been appointed to the Australia. The French Chamber have passed the Employerie Liability Bill "with only four dissentients. Lord :Rothschild has forwarded 300 guineas to the Royal Hospital for Diseases of the Chest. The Marqujg of Lome has written, for the Youth's Co-mpanwll, au ode on the Chicago Exposition. Piesid cut Camot is again indisposed. 'Four physic ians have seen him. Antitnonial gases gathered in the Juncio Mine near Caltanissetta. Five men were suffocated. Croydon will celebrate the royal wedding as a general holiday. The Mayor gives a display 0(1 fireworks in Wandle Park in the evening. Writs in the libel actions against newspapers brought by Mr. Havelook Wilson have been served. The Cntlers' Company at their last Court voted a sum of f,215 5s for distribution amongboitpitals and charitable institutions. Sir Hugh Low, G.C.M.G., haa just accepted the co-treasurers hip with Mr. Edward Clifford of the funds of the Church Army. Living now in comparative seclusion Sir Samuel White Baker, the noted traveller, has just reached hiq eeventy.Becond year. Smallpox continues to rage with great virulence in Gothenburg, Fifty-eight persons have. died of the terrible disease within the past week. } POMTTPOOIH—Printed by the Proprietor, HENKY EUOHES, of Osborne Road, in ^KE Pariah of TRT* .<>y-