South Wales Daily News

FAIRY TALES OF SCIENCE. 11. MARVELS OF ANOTHER WORLD. By J. EDMUND CLARK, B.A., B.Sc. In the southern and eastern skies, during the late autumn and early winter evenings, our readers may have noted a star, ruddy and brilliant, out-shining all its neighbours. This was Mars, fourth in order of the eight planets counting from the sun. Mercury is the nearest the sun, and therefore seldom seen. The next, Venus, shines brighter even than her brother when she is visible. We ourselves follow. Mer- cury and Venus are never seen out of twilight, since their orbits bring them twice in each revolution into a line from us towards the sun. But the orbit of Mars carries him beyond our own, so that he traverses the heavens and can be seen even at midnight. Being near us, too, his course can be more precisely observed and calculated, so that Mars occupies a position of peculiar honour among the planets. By observations made upon him the great astro- nomer, Kepler, worked out his famous Three Laws governing the planetary movements. By it, again, a hundred years later, Newton made the yet grander discovery that gravitation was uni- versa], and that the above laws were in this way explained. MARS. I Mars is very rarely so brilliant as be was during the October of 1894. He comes into opposition to the sun, so as to be highest at midnight when the sun is lowest, every two years and two months. Yet few will have noted him in August, J892, or June, 1890. Not since 1877 was he so favourably placed he was three times brighter than in 1884. The explanation is curious. Planets do not revolve round the sun in perfeci circles. Their orbits are of the oval shape, called elhpses, so that at one time they are nearer the sun than at others. Thus, in December, our Earth is three million miles nearer than in June. But the orbit of MARS IS FAR MORE ECCENTRIC, so that he and the Earth approached each other in 1894 more than one-third nearer than they did when the two bodies came to their closest in 1884. In that year the distance was over 60.000.000 miles. Ten years later it was barely 40,000,000. Mars is very small compared to the E.-trth, scarcely half the diameter and not one-sixth the size. Indeed, he is the smallest of the family, except Mercury. And yet he is most like our- selves. Like m, his pole is greatly inclined to his orbit round the sun. Like us, therefore, he has seasons, his northern summer coming in February, when be is furthest from the sun. But as he is nearest us in August, when it is summer at his south pole, we know much more about that, more, indeed, than about our own antarctic regions These facts are learned by the b)g telescopes, which tell us more of our neighbour than we know of any other body except the moon. Venus, to be sure, approaches much nearer us, but she is between us and the sun, and we only see her dark side. Moreover, she seems to be enveloped in thick vapours, whereas Mars has so little atmosphere that his surface is rarely obscured. Indeed, we have excellent maps of Mars, consider. ing the distance at which they are drawn. At his poles are white spots with dark rims. Five-sixths of the rest is bright, of an orange shade, but parts of the southern hemisphere, especially, are darker and greenish. The keenest observers— and good eyes seem more important than very big telescopes-find the bright parts covered with STRANGE SETS OF MARKINGS, forming a network of nearly straight lines, forty or fifty miles wide and sometimes thousands of miles long. Some of those strange lines are at times doubled. Such are the objects seen. But what are they made of? Nit-tirally we think of our own plauet. Surely these white, polar regions mean snow Moreover, they increase and decrease, nay, vanish entirely, according to the seasons, exactly like our own, the snow caps being smallest, not on Midsummer day, but 42 Martian days later. So wiih us, polar explorers find least ice in August, Signs of cloud and vapour further confirm the view that this is snow. That the snow is made from water vapour is not so oertain it may be carbonic acid gas. The dark markings are probably seas and oceans; the lighter shades land. As on the earth there is most Jand on the northern hemisphere, but unlike the earth this far exceeds the seas in area, forming a vast central oontinent, so that one could walk dry-shod almost round the equator. So far it is pretty plain sailing; but three more questions naturally arise. What are these strange lines on the land ? Why is there more land than water ? IS MARS INHABITED! To take the second first. We have good reasons for believing that the various planets were formed, it may be very much at one time, by splitting off as rings of glowing gas from the sun. These have gathered together into balls and cooled down, first turning liquid, then solid, wioh an outer coat of water. Or, at least, some have done so, and the rest are following their example as fast as they can. But naturally big fellows cool down slower than little ones. Therefore, Jupiter, with a size one-thousand fold that of the earth, has not yet advanced much beyond the gas stnge. The moon, on the other hand,only one-fiftieth of our size, has passed on into thestaire of death, its waters having utterly disappeared. Since even our waters are ever entering within the crust, what more likely than that little Mars is a stage further, its oceans shrunk and ever shrinking, a token of senility. The strange, straight lines are a great puzzle. Most probably they are channels conveying away the rapidly melting snows since the resulting waters which show as the dark rim to the snow are otherwise landlocked. The strange doubling may be no more than mist, gathering over the central parts of the COLD-FLOWING WATERS, whilst the air near the banks is kept free by the warmer land. But their straightness and their way ot forking at times is very peculiar. It has been even suggested that we have in this a clue to the third query Are they possibly due to intelligent beings, who in this way free the main land-masses from biennial inundations ? Such gigantic artificial works seem almost incredible. Still, analogy makes it possible that the intelligence of the inhabitants of Mars equals or excels our own for have they not had many myriads mora of years in which to develop ? It may be that they are signalling to their brother Earth. Bright patches of light have been seen at times, especially quite recently. These may be merely lotty mountain-tops, clad with snow, but they open out strange possibilities. Why should we not try and respond ? Our situation is even better, for we turn our dark side to them. Were all the electric lights in London to be faced sky-upwards for a few minutes half a dozen times on some clear night such a signal might be recog- nisable, if THE MARTIANS have instruments available as powerful as our best, and if they can see, For let us remember that we must not call its inhabitants men, even if their powers equal or exceed our own. Why should they have senses or limbs like us ? A bicyole structure with what corresponds to our bead and brains in the centre, might be afar handier arrangement. Why should they have flesh, bones, and blood Perhaps they are more likehighly developed trees, or not at all akin to any earthly organic beings. Why, then, should they see? Light is due to just a small selection of waves vibrating through that intangibie something we cail the ether. Somehow the delicate organs of vision have learnt to respond to these waves, whilst remaining utterly indifferent to the rest. Perhaps they have organs affected by an entirely different selection. If so, there is little hope of our ever communicating by sight. The small size of Mars has a peculiar effect upon the weight of bodies. A man who scaled 150 in a spring-balance here would only register 60 on the same balance on Mars. An athlete able to clear six feet at the Inter. University sports would think nothing of a fifteen foot jump on Mars. And yet, though bodies would weigh much less they would have just the same striking effect when moving as upon the earth. Though a man could hold 200 pounds there as easily as 80 here, it would not do to play tricks with them as if they were the same. This would doubtless cause a wrench or sprain, for the 2001b. mass would resist any sudden change of motion as much there as here. Has Mars any moons ? Up to 1877 the verdict was no." Then, however, Professor Asaph Hall, of Washington, using their grand telescope, noted two minute points of light close by the planet. A short while sufficed to show that these were in motion, moving round Mars itself—two satellites indeed attending on THE GOD OF WAR. Hence they were called appropriately Deimos and Phobos, names which mean amazement and taw. curiwa feet that Swift, in his Voyage to Laputa," relates that these worthy I philosophers had made this very discovery 160 years before it occurred. Of all moons thesa are the most remarkable. They are the smallest heavenly bodies which we can see; for the larger one is but 10 miles in diameter. Again, they are marvellously close to Mars. Our moon is distant from us a. quarter of million miles Deimos is only 12,000 miles from Mars, Phobos less than 3,4-00 Were anyone living on the latter, they would see Mars as a prodigious object filling space of 6,400 moons, and reaching from the horizon nearly half-way up the sky. It would look like a huge map against a black wall, spangled with stars. Being so close they have to revolve very fast round Mars, or they would fall into it. Instead of a month, like our satellite, one goes round in 30 hours, the other in less than 8. But Mars, like the earth, takes about 24 hours to rotate, so that Phobos goes three times faster than its primary, a thing absolutely unique in our knowledge of the whole universe. CURIOUS RESULTS follow. Like a properly behaved moon, Deimos rises in the east, stays up a good deal longer than the sun, aud then sets in the west. Not so Phobos. Every eleven hours he rises in the west and sets in the east, the two moons meeting and passing in mid-sky. How the unchanging constellations of the stare—which will be identical with what we see—must be scandahsed as he rushes wildly through them, finishing off each sign of the Zodiac, which lasts our moon for a cuuple of days or more, in a scamped hour To Mars they have phases like our moon but Phobos does not allow more than a couple of hours to each quarter." Thus it is full in less than four hours after it was seen as new." Again, instead of being eclipsed twice a year, this may happen thrice a day. Not long ago the famous French astronomer, Leverrier, spent years calculating out the mass of this planet. Had be but lived and waited until 1877, he would have done it far better in ten minutes by the help of these moons. How were they formed ? Those of the other planets doubtless split off from them as they themselves from the sun. But Mars is so small that such an origin seems almost unlikely. Still less likely is it that fragments of so small a size should split off. BETWEEN MARS AND JUPITER lie myriads of minute bodies, the asteroids, some of which are little larger than these two moons. Moreover, the orbit of at least one asteroid comes, where nearest the sun, closer than parts of the orbit of Mars. Are the two, then, captive aster- oids victims to the superior attractions of Mars ? If not, an almost more remarkable event has happened. If formed from Mars, Phobos could not revolve faster than he, unless it had approached far closer than where first formed. That is, Phobos is falling into Mars, and, speaking according to the periods of astronomy, is already on the brink of ruin from the impending collision. What effect will such an event have on Mars itsslf? Doubtless it will be worse for the coo," as Stephenson said, when asked what would bo the effect if that quadruped strayed in front of a locomotive. But, all the same, it will be a bad time for those parts of the planet anywhere near the scene of catastrophe. Thus we have touched lightly upon some of the reasons which make the ruddy war planet an object of such deep interest to modern astrono- mers. To it, thanks to the marvellous genius of Kepler and of Newton, we largely owo our knowledge of the laws which govern celestial movements. In it, more than in any other planet, we behold a reflection of ourselves, albeit in a. mirror distance-dimmed. There, if anywhere, lies hope of future intercourse, shadowy indeed, and very far from probable, with beings of another world, peers of ourselves in intellectual powers. Unlikely as it is, there is a strange fascination in the thought. What undreamt realms of knowledge might thus be revealed to our astonished minds

A CROSSING SWEEPER. "RECOGNISED BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS." Was not poor old Balisarius, the greatest general of Justinian times, reduced in his old age and bhndness to beg for coppers in the streets of Constantinople ? He was and con- sequently Thomas Moiyneux, who labours under the same :if3.ietion as the ancient warrior, and describes himself as recognised by the House of Commons," need not suppose that the troubles which have fallen upon him through the action of a police constable are without parallel in history. Molyneux holds the title which he conferred on himself, of Parliamentary Crossing Sweeper. He has never sought per- sonally 10 enter the august assembly, but he cften proudly rdhcts on the thought that with his broom he lias prepared the way for many gentle- men who are there. He has even carried boxes of documents, legtl and financial, truthful and otherwise, to the door of the House, and it was accordingly with a deep feeling of outraged dignity that he found himself taken up" by an ordinary constabJe-not by Black Rod, or the Sergeaut-at-Arms, or a Yeoman of the Guard but by a mere policeman—and charged with the offence of begging. I have been on the crossing for 18 years," he said to the Westminster magistrate, and have worked for the House of Commons. Mr Peel, the late Speaker, recognised i?ie. I've lost the sight of my eyes, and what am I to The constable stated that Molyneux's pitch was not a real crossing," but he generally went there on wet Sunday afternoons. His work for Parliament consisted of carrying boxes from stationers to the House. When arrested he had 2s in copper on him. Mr De Rutzen admonished him for begging, but considered a night in the cells a sufficienli punishment and allowed him to go. Thus the privileges of the Parliamentary Crossing Sweeper were swept away and another wrench givet to the Constitution.

SCENE AT A FOX HUNT. On Monday the meet of the Quorn pack was at Six Hills, and a very large field assembled to welcome the return of the master, the Earl of Lonsdale, ho has been away at Lowther Castle entertaining guests. A fox was found at Thrus- sington Woods, and after a capital but brief run there was a cheek near the Walton Hills. Here some of the followers over-rode the hounds, and were remonstrated with by the master, A short but sharp altercation ensued, in which a former M.F.H. of the Quorn took a. prominent part. The upshot of the affaIr was that Lord Lonsdale immediately ordered the hounds home to the kennels, and what promised to be a grand day's sport was spoiled, much to the disappointment of the several hundred ladies and gentlemen at the meet. Over-riding bounds is a thing which greatly annoys Lord Lonsdale, and he has on more than one previous occasion had to refer to it.

THE SOUTH WALES SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. SUMMERFIELD HALL, MAESYCWMMER The London College of Music and Trinity College examinations, December, 1895, Cardiff Centre. The following students from the above school have been successful in obtaining certifi- cates, viz. :— PIANOFORTE — Advanced Senior — Miss Gwen E. Harrison, Llantmt Vardre Miss Gwen Phillips, Tre- degar. senior—(Trinity College) Miss Ada Llewellyn, Bridgend. Senior—(London College of Music) Miss Edith Probert, Varteg Miss Annie Davies, Newcastle Enilyn. Intermediate—Miss Lizzie M. Thomas, Peny- graig Mis3 Jjly Yendoll, IJanhilleth Miss Kebir Edwards, Cavdiff Miss Minnie Vera Jones. Abercarn Miss RosIe Goldsmith, Ystradmynach. Elementary— Miss Nellie Thomas, Hughosoft'ka, South Russia Miss Maud .Johnson. wallsea Miss Fanny Hurn, Swansea; Miss May Cooke, Blaenavon: Miss Annie Llewelyn, Porth: Miss Edith Thomas, Nantgarw. SINGING.-Senior-:Miss Maggie .Jones, Brixton, London. Intermediate—Miss Bella Phillips, Tredegar. VIOLIN.—Senior—Miss Gladys Evans. Pontypridd. THEORY OF MusIC. — Senior, Trinity College- Miss Lizzie Israel, Pontypridd Miss Etta Collings, Maesycwramer. Senior, London College of Mnsic-Miss Edith Probert. Varteg. Intermediate—Miss Ada Llewelyn, Bridgend Miss Annie Davies, Newcastle Emlyn. Jnnior-Miss Lizzie M. Thomas, Penygraig Miss Bessie Davies, Johannesburg Miss Edith Davies, Pontyclun Miss Janet Evans, Rhydfelen Miss Kebir Edwards, Cardiff. Elementary—Miss Millie Howard, Swansea; Miss Frances Gaines. Nantymoel; Miss Edith Jones, Clydach, Swansea Miss Beatrice Thomas, Dowlais Miss Annie Llewelyn. Porth; Miss Katie Jenkins, Cymmer Miss Matilda Davies, Treharris. 7866

FOOD ADULTERATION AT CARDIFF. A meeting of Cardiff Corporation Health and Port Sanitary Committee was held on Tuesday at the Town Hall, Alderman T. W. Jacobs presiding. Inspector Vaughan (the chief superintendent of nuisances) reported that during the quarter ending the 30th September 129 samples of food had been examined, and five of these were found to be adulterated, while in the quarter ending December 31st 165 samples had been examined and seven of these were found to be adulterated.—Applications were considered for the post of resident medical officer for the Sanatorium, and Dr. Benjamin Broad, of Aber- gavenny, was selected to appear before a special meeting of the committee, to be held on Monday afternoon.—A letter was read from Mr E. W. M. Corbett calling the attention of the committee to the Fever Hospital, near the Hamadryad Hospital Ship, not having been destroyed, and thus preventing building operations proceeding in that neighbourhood. The borough engineer WM instructed to look into the matter, and have the hospital burnt.

LARGEST CARGO-CARRYING SHIP. A Sunderland correspondent says-The largest cargo-carrying vessel yet built in England was launched en Tuesday from the yard of Messrs Doxford, at Sunderland. The ship is named the Algoa, and is 475 feet long, with a carrying capacity of 11,300 tons. The vessel has been built for Liverpool owners, and with the exception of the Georgic, built at Belfast, is the largest afloat.

II THE WRONG BOTTLE," a complete story, by J Johnson Leake, appears in the Cardif Timet and Stuth Wales Weekly Nevus of next Saturday. Aids Miss Braddon's last new story.

NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Newport County Council was held on Tuesday morning, the Deputy Mayor (Alderman Parnall) presiding. SHAll BRIDGE AT NEWPORT. The Public Works Committee recommended the erection of a new steel girder bridge in sub- stitution for the existing bridge over the Great We-tern Railway in Bridge-street, and to borrow £4-,000 for the purpose of carrying out the work. Alderman Moses, in bringing up the report, said it was important for the safety of human life and for the traffic of the west side of the borough that the bridge should be made; but it was a large expenditure, and hitherto the Council had failed to induce the G.W.R. to bear any part of the expenditure although, as the Borough Surveyor said, the G.W.R. would gain 20 feet for additional siding room and would hereafter escape the cost of repair because the bridge would become the property of the town. Alder- man Davis, in the course cf along discussion, said the bridge was erected as an accommodation bridge to land beyond. At that period there was no house on the other side of the bridge, and very few in Bridge-street. The Surveyor said the bridge was suitable for ordinary traffic, but he should not like to send a traction engine across it. Alderman Bear espoused the economical side of the matter, and suggested cantilevers or a new footbridge on each side. Mr Cordey said there was not a more dangerous place in Newport, and that the structure was shaky—perfectly shaky, as he explained. An amendment by Mr Pngsley to refer back the question was carried, and on the motion of Alderman Jones, it was decided to ask the committee to go to the Paddington head- quarters and ask for a contribution of half the cost of the bridge. KLECTRIC LIGHTING. Alderman Moses, replying to Mr Greenland said that at present very few applications for electrical supply bad beeu received from the district of Goldtops, but that the Elec- trical Committee hoped more from new districts than from districts where house* fitted with gas were already in existence. For new houses the electric light was preferred to gas. ("No, no" from Councillor Canning, and laughter.) Consumers were rapidly coming in, and it would not be long before it would be necessary to increase the works and augment the capacity. (Hear, hear.) The committee desired to obtain private consumers because they paid the best owing to the consumption being more continuous. The Deputy Mayor said the Council would be glad to hear that the hon. member (Mr Greenland) was building on land at Goldtops, and be hoped he would have his new house fitted with the electric light.—Mr Greenland Yes, going to have it in. (Hear, hear.)—Mr Mordey comp\ained of the high renb charged for the electric meters, and Alderman Moses promised that the committee would consider the question of purchase cf these by consumers. The report of the committee, which recommended the borrowing of £12,000 additional capital for extension of electrical plant, tfce., making in ali, was afterwards adopted. THE SMALL-POX OUTBREAK. Alderman Jones (chairman of the Sanitary Committee) made a statement with regard to the smallpox cases which had been in. roduced into the town. There had in all been seven cases, which all arose from one house in Ebenezer-terrace, a, family of six being affected, and one other case directly traceable to the same source. These cases had all been dealt with at the Port Sanitary Hospital. It was a tradition on the part of the Sanitary Authority not to do anything in the conduct of its functions to promote or lead to scares. Mr Jones de- nounced in his own felicitous way anyone who attempted to put the public on their guard, and made an offer to vaccinate at the earliest opportunity all and sundry. Mr Canning spoke of the prompt action of the Sanitary Committee, which he learned by making inquiries in the Ebenezer-terrace district, and congratulated them upon it. MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS FOR MAINDKE, The Works and General Purposes Committee recommended for approval (after the other com- mitte had sanctioned them)plansiof theproposed municipal buildings at Maind^e at an estimated cost of £ 4-,000. Alderman Bear said so many necessary things were required that he moved the recommendation be deferred for the present. Mr Williams, the newest represen- tative from Maindee, said his instructions were that a majority of Maindee ratepayers opposed the erection of these buildings at the present time, and seconded the amendment. This declaration aroused a chorus of Oh, ohs," and From whom at Maindee ?" from the rest of the Maindee representatives; and Mr Harris was promptly on his feet to deal several sledge- hammer blows against the amendment. The Council had purchased the land, now paying a large sum annually for rent of inefficient houses for the branch free library, police station, and sanitary depot. The Maindee people had to pay the increased rates and taxes consequent on joining the borough, and ought to have their pound of flesh. (Laughter.) Mr Goldsworthy did not know why tho Maindee representatives championed the matter it was an East Ward one—(hear, bear)-and said it was a standing dis- grace that the piece of land was allowed to remain a wilderness. The Town Clerk, in reply to Mr Greenland, said that j5120 a year was at present being pain for library and police station at Maindee, &c., but that arrangement was regarded as a. makeshift. Mr Cunning was in favour of the principle, but said that the scheme was not ample enough, as it did not provide for a technical institute, and Maindee was a growing suburb.— Ultimately a show of hands was 15 for and 14 against the amendment. This being challenged the names were taken, when there appeared 15 for the amendment, 16 against, and four neutral. The amendment was consequently lost, and the people of Maindee will thus obtain the long- desired improvement after the plans have been before a committee consisting of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the various committees. MISCELLANEOUS. The Parliamentary Committee referred in their report to the East Uk Railway, and Councillor Parry informed the meeting, on the authority of a prominent railway official, that the construction of the rest of the railway would be gone on with in the spring. Councillor G. H. Llewellyn complained of the unsightliness of the large hoardmg at the foot of Stow Hit!, and asked how long it was going to remain.—Alderman Moses agreed as to the unsighthness, and said that no plans for the new premises had yet been sent in.—Alderman Davies said the parties had to build within a specified time, but that the boarding was erected on land which had been given to the Corporation to widen the street at that point, and he inferred that the Corporation possessed power to cause it to be set back. Mr GOLDSWORTHY and Mr WILKINSON com- plained as to the condition of some of the tram- cars, and it was decided to make representations in the proper quarter. Alderman BARR, aliudir.g to the proposal to acquire horses for the fire brigade, said he was afraid there would not be enough work for them, and suggested that the town clerk and the sur- veyor should utilise them occasionally to follow the hounds. Alderman LYNE said he hoped by next meeting that the Waterworks Committee would be in a position to furnish a report as to what should be done re the Wentwood water scheme. Mr Wil- kinson sought to elicit information from the alderman and also from the town clerk, but was not very successful. He elicited, however, from the alderman that it would be unwise to give information respecting claims? for compensation which bad been received and that, in considering their report, the committee did not intend to be governed altogether by the engineer's report.

A. WARNING TO WITNESSES. FAILING TO SURRENDER TO THEIR RECOGNISANCES. On Tuesday at the Quarter Sessions Court for the borough of Cardiff the Recorder (Mr B. Francis Williams, Q.C.) had before him a woman named Emily Evan", who was a material witness in a case in which Peter Burns, a man generally known as Dublin Tom," an ex-pugilist, was charged with robbery from the person at the Borough Sessions twelve months ago. In the absence of the witness the prisoner was discharged. Addressing the woman, the learned Recorder said it appeared she was bound over to appear as a witne*s in a case in that court at the Epiphany Sessions of last year. She did not appear, and her recognisances were estreated. The sheriff seemed to have endeavoured to levy upon her goods, but found she bad none. The woman was therefore taken into custody and put into prison, where she had been since December 3rd lasc. She had been in prison since then for not appearing as a witness when she had been bound over. He was going to discharge her, but he wanted people to know, and hoped the Press would be good enough to notice it, that the mere entering into recognisances was not a farce and empty form. Too many people had got the notion that when they entered into recognisances it means nothing. That woman's case showed that was so. But where they bad goods they would be distrained upon to satisfy the amount of the cognisance, and where there were no goods the delinquents would be put in prison. The woman was released.

DEATH OF A WELL KNOWN WELSH MINISTER. The Rev. Griffith Roberts, Carneddi, Bethesda, one of the best known and most popular preachers in connection with the C-ilvinistic Methodists in Wales, died on Monday, Mr Roberts had a severe attack of influenza about 12 months ago, which completely shattered his constitution. In every county in South Wales the departed divine was always a welcome visitor. At the great Cymanfa Gyffredraol (general assembly) of the denomina- tion, held in Pontypridd 13 months ago, the place of honour at the chief evening service was, it will be remembered, given to Mr Griffith Roberts and the Rev. J. Roberts, Taiben. He was 50 years of age, and was ordained to the ministry in 1875, na having previously acted as tutor at Bala College. In 1876 he removed to Bethesda, and was thus for 20 years pastor of the celebrated Carneddi Church in that populous neighbourhood.

MABON. Maelgwyn, Cadrawd, Dafydd Mor ganwg.Ap Idanfryn.aU write for the Cardift Times end South Wales Weekly Newt, which is a magazine and a newspaper in one. The best and brightest pennyworth of fiction, gossip, news, a.nd special articles dealing with Welsh subjects published. Order a copy to-day and read the opening chapters of Miss Braddon's last new story A complete novelette each .week by a favourite novelist.

CARDIFF QUARTER SES&IOJM& CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY. The Epiphany Quarter Sessions for the borough of Cardiff were opened at the Town Hall, Cardiff, on Tuesday before the Recorder, Mr B. Francis Williams, Q.C. THE GRAD JURY. The following gentlemen were sworn on the grand jury:—Alderman David Jones (foreman), Messrs A. P. Bassett, R. V. Batcbelor, R. Benjamin, M J. Beer, C. M. Berkeley, J. F. Common, E. Dawson, R. England, L. Gott. waltz, G. E. Halliday, W. J. Jenkins, W. M. Lewis, J. Milner, and W. W. Nell. TEE CHARGE. In deliveriug his charge to the grand jury the learned Recorder said there were in the calendar the names of M persons, and he saw in analysing the cases there were were 14 cases ot larceny, one case of assault, two cases of unlawful wounding. one case of attempting to break and enter, one ot conspiracy, and five of false pretences. With regard to the majority of the cases they were of the ordinary type that one had to deal with at those Sessions, and he did not think any of them would give them any trouble in deciding whether they should find a true bill. There was a case-one of the most serious of those Sessions—where two men who were employed as officers of the public service, i.e., officers of the Inland Revenue, were charged with stealing stamps. It was a serious case; the persons were in a position of trust, and they were alleged to have appropriated the stamps, which had a value a good deal more than their intrinsic value. There were a good many people who were interested m making collections of rare stamps, and if a stamp was very rare it acquired a great dea. more than its intrinsic value. The gr?at value attached to the stamps with which the men were charged with having stolen was that they were not to be bought in the ordinary way. and therefore to collectors of stamps or anything else. the more difficult it was to get the thing the greater vaiue it became. Appa- rently the men, finding that there was more to be made out of the stamps than the ordinary value, took them and sold them He did not think they would have any difficulty in returning a true bill. There was another case against a man named Halford, who carried on business in this town as an auctioneer and public-house broker, and a. man named Povey, who lived in the Forest of Dean. The charge was that they entered into a conspiracy in this way. Halfora advertised in the papers that be had a public-house to let, and when per- sons who were anxious to go into the trade came to him false representations were made as to the conditions, and, by means of the false pretences, a deposit was obtained. An excuse was then made for breaking off the negotiations, and when the people found they could not have the public-houses they asked to have the money refunded. The money was not forthcoming, and it was alleged that they conspired and agreed to defraud people in that way. There were also separate charges against Haiford apart from Povey. In regard to the other cases, he in the same way put attractive advertisements in the papers that he had public-houses to let to people, with a very small ingoing. He thus induced people to part with various sums of money by way of deposit, but in point of fact he was not in a position to let them the public-houses. The whole thing was a fraud, and by means of that fraud he got pos- session of the deposit money and either kept the whole of it or parted with a share to a person who was a party to the transac- tion. Those were the only crises he thought it necessary to call to their attention. TRIALS OF PRISONERS. A BAD BEGINNING. William James Baker (16), a labourer, pleaded guilty to stealing a 4%-gaflon cask of beer belong- ing to Hancock and Co., Limited, on November 22nd. The youth also admitted two previous convictions. The Recorder, in sentencing prisoner to three months' imprisonment, said if he con- tinued in his present way ho would be sent to penal servitude. AN OLD HAND. A stonemason of 67 years of age, named Thomas Macarthy, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing an umbrella belonging to Penfound Bros. at Cardiff on October 26th. Prisoner admitted a long list of previous convictions. Commencing in 1861 prisoner has undergone terms of ten and seven years' penal servitude and seven years' police supervision, as well as shorter terms of imprisonment. Prisoner said he did not know what he was doing. The Recorder sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. Mr E. Griffiths was the prosecuting counsel. STEALING A CLOAK. Wm. John (40), a fireman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a cloak bel -nrrihg to Mary Murphy at Cardiff on October 29th. Mr Law. renceappeared for the prosecution. Prisoner, who was arrested by P.C. Green with the cloak, in his possession, made the excuse that the cloak had been given him to pawn by a woman. Tb jury returned a verdict of Guilty," and a sen- tence of two months' imprisonment was passed. Detective Stephens read a very long list of convictions, and said prisoner was in trouble after every voyage. A SAILOR ASHORE. William Harrison (33), 1 fireman, was indicted ou a charge cf stealing J31 10s, a razor, and certain papers from Thomas McGuiness at Cardiff on December 10th. Prosecutor, it seems, had been paid off on that day, and in the Loudoun Hotel he met the prisoner and a man named McGreery. to both of whom he stood drinks. Prosecutor's re- collection of what followed was somewhat clouded. He went to a lodging-house, had more drink, and at 3 o'clock in the morning found he bad been robbed. Prisoner admitted taking half a sovereign. McGreery, whom prisoner described as the worst character in Liverpool, said he saw Harrison with his hands in prosecutor's pockets. Witness admitted serving 18 months for assault and robbery, five years on a training ship, as well as being in a few times for other offences.—-A verdict of" Not guilty being returned prisoner was discharged. THE USE OF THE KKIFE. Francis Nicolliff (26), fireman, of Mai test nationality, was charged with maliciously wound- ing Frank Perry at Cardiff on November 12tb, Mr E. Bowen Rowlands prosecuted, and Mr IYOI Bowen defended. The prisoner, it was stated, came to Cardiff from Barry, where he follows the occupation of a carpenter, and picked up with a woman in a public-house. An adjournment was made to 16, Angelina- street, where there was a carousal. Prosecutor went to sleep on a sofa, and he was awakened by prisoner dealing him a severe blow. He also received a cut behind the ear. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty," and in sentencing prisoner to six calendar months' imprisonment the Recorder said the use of the knife must be put down. POCKET PICKIN3. John Morgan (60). a printer by occupation, was charged with stealing a pocketbook anc papers from the person of Mary Schleipen at Cardiff on November 1st. Mr Sankey conducted the case for the prosecution. A verdict of guilty was returned, and prisoner was sentenced to 12 calendar months' imprisonment. AN UNSUSTAIKlrD CHARGE. Henry John Schipen (29), a Railor, of Dntol nationality, was indicted for maliciously wound. ing Robert Tame at Cardiff on November 19tb, Mr Doug1 Lewis prosecuted, and Mr St. Joint Francis 'Williams defended. A verdict of not guilty was returned, and prisoner was discharged. liO PROSECUTOR. William Condon (30), labourer, was charged with stealing three sovereigns belonging to William Reynolds, at Cardiff, on November 17th. The prosecutor, it transpired, had gone to sea, and at the direction of the Recorder the jury returned a verdict of "Not guilty," and prisoner was discharged, FALSE PRETENCES. Mary Jane Healey, a young woman of 20. wai charged with obtaining four pairs of boots, the property of George Oliver, by false pretences, all Cardiff, ou October 31st. She pleaded fruilty. The woman was sentenced to four calendar months' imprisonment. Mr C. Downes prose- cuted. ATTEMPTING TO PICK POCKETS. George McMabon (61), a dealer, was indicted for attempting to steal a purse containing money from Miss Alice Hillman by picking her pocket at Cardiff on November 23rd. Mr Bertram prosecuted and Mr Ivor Bowen defended. Tbf jury returned a verdict of guilty, and prisoner was committed to six calendar months' imprison* raent. SENTENCES. Janet Jones (25). a hawker, who pleaded guilty to stealing seven shirts belonging to Wm. Boyle, at Cardiff, on November 26, and 41 bs of cheese, the property of Thomas Russell, on the same date, was sentenced to six calendar months' imprison- ment on each indictment, the sentences to ran concurrently. Prisoner pleaded guilty. John Sweeney (71), a dealer, who pleaded guilty to stealing from the person of Mary Clare, at Cardiff, a purse containing 35s on December 31st, was sentenced to 12 calendar months' imprison, ment. There were numerous previous conviction* from all parts of the country. George Hockfield (23), a painter by trade, also pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with stealing a quantity of timber belonging tc Thomas Wake, formerly an officer of the City Police Force, and was sentenced to three calendar mon thga imprisonment. James Roberts (33), a ship's cook, who pleaded guilty to attempting to break and enter a ware- house with intAnl: to commit a felony at CardiC on November 27th, was sentenced to 12 calendar months' imprisonment. He had been out of gaol for a fortnight only. John Jones, a labourer, aged 76 years, pleaded guilty to stealing from the person of Clara Rees, a purse containing money at Cardiff on Dec. Tth. Prisoner was sentenced to 12 calendar months. Mr Hugh Jones was the prosecuting counsel. Bridget Milward, a woman aged 29, of n& occupation, was sentenced to four calendar onb imprisonment for stealing a watch and lis from John Cunningham at Cardiff oa Christmas Eve. The Court adjourned until 10.30 this morning.

AN IMPUDENT FRAUD has been perpebrtaed upon a well-known Member of Parliament TBifc jsent-leman recent-ly entered a small chemist's estah. Ifehment in Northampton and asked for a. box ot Holloway's fills. A packet was given to him, fot which he paid and then left the shop. Having to leave for London that evening, it was not until he wa* in the tain. many miles away from Northampton, that he discovered he had been swindled. Instead of Holloway's Pills he found that a pernicious and worthless imitation had been foisted upon him. Of course the rubbish was thrown away, and "the M.P. had to wait until be arrived in(London before he coul<? get the genuine article.