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THE FARMING OF THE FUTURE.
THE FARMING OF THE FUTURE. At-the last meeting of the Society of Art?, over which Lord Belhaven and Stenton presided, Professor James Long read a paper on Our Food Supply as affected by the Farming of the Future." Professor Long declared that he had a greater respect for agri- culturists than for any other body of men, and that none deseiWd-more consideration at the hands of their fellow-countrymen, for he who devoted his life te the-HBoil virtually renounced his chances of prosperity, and devoted himself to the pro- duction of food for the use of mankind. Such a man {>rospered when he commanded, as the fruit of his abour, the necessaries and the comforts of life, and his cup would be full if he were in possession of the soil he tilled. Agricultural success throughout the world was very modest in comparison with success achieved in commerce and the, general walks of life. In 25 years we had passed from old world farming to methods which were being inculcated by scientific teaching, and in proportion as those methods were im- proved and adopted the failures of the end of the nine- teenth century would be.converted into the successes of the twentieth. Our farmers had been reared in a severely, practical school, but their training was entirely insufficient, and the farming of to-day was production from hand to mouth, without capital, with a constantly depreciating soil, diminishing stock, and prospective ruin. It was clearly recognised that SO long as it was possible for every additional farmer in Canada and the west to provide bread for 800 people rupon every additional 100 acres of virgin soil which he added to the world's great farm, prices would remain lovr, and our British systems of agricul- ture would be at a disadvantage. There must, however, be some articles of home produce which, on account of their perishable nature or their superior quality, would realise better prices in our markets, and for which the demand would increase with the growth of the population. It was in that direction that agri- culturists, aided and supported by economic methods suggested by science and practice, and by new coridi- tions which it was the function of the State to pro- vide, would gradually feel their way. With the vast corn areas of new countries before us, and the self-denying character of the people who occupied them, we could not hope that grain would continue to be a prominent article of our farm produce, but we could continue to provide live stock for meat and for export, milk for our congested population, butter and cheese of the best quality for the thousands ,tho would continue to pay for it, malting barley for our brewers-wben Parliament had afforded the oppor- tunity by discriminating between barley-malt and eugar-poultry, eggs, fruits, and vegetables for sale at house doo/s, and even hay and straw where maximum crops of these materials were obtainable. Among the conditions under which these articles may be profitably produced in the future were intensive or garden farming, smaller farms, security for improvements and freedom in cropping and sale, extended ownership involving a convenient system of deferred payment, and a greater use of farmyard manure. He did not believe that our imports of food would necessarily increase in proportion to the growth of the population, while our home production stood still, but he was of opinion that we should he equal for a considerable period to the product ion of I increasing quantities of the articles which he had enumerated. He did not anticipate any marked im- provement in agricultural prosperity in the next f¡f\v years, for modern legislation and the exercise of greater skill would probably do no more than enable the farmer to hold his own against the still lower prices which were to be expected. Foreign and Colonial Crops and stock would continue to be poured upon our shores, but when prices had been reached below which the articles could not be offered for sale, the British farmer would be left with a market which, though smitten nigh to death, would sufhee to enable agriculture to exist until the return of more pros- perous conditions.—After a brief discussion lpid taken place, the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to. Professor Long.
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"I T'. i. Ma. Leonard It. Courtney, M.P., has accepted the invitation of the Committee of the Cobden Club to take the chair at the Cobden Club banquet at Greenwich in June. Mr II S. SALT, who has written a study of Shelley as poet and pioneer, is chiefly known as an enthu- siastic advocate of simplicity and humanity, lie is the leading spirit of the Humanitarian League, and gives a large part of his time to its e^-l vice.^ e .s a «all, fine-looking man, and his attire pioCiann.. h nncbnventionalitv. He wears all mooi, even o collar, and he is-a vegetarian. His wife is as n- ^former as himself, and their little flat in CheUea T e "lotre of, an active propaganda. w!l'tQtal fortune of the Rothschild family is, says £ •_ estjuiated by those who ought to know as f^000,000. The branch of tbe family r\ f »'ti something like £ 70,000,000. ti °u r aIno},nt Baron Alphonse, the head of the French branch is credited with £ 40,000,000. If the Rothschild fortune goes on increasing at the rate it has done up to the present time it will double itself every 15 years. CREWE station, one of the largest and busiest rail-, way junctions in the world, but also one of the most confusing for travellers, will soon be greatly im- proved. The station will be left free for psssenger traffic only, whilst the goods traffic will go through tunnels underneath, a goods shed will be erected at Basford Wood. Several hundred men are en- gaged on the works. ^-DtJKiNc; the past vear, the pass at. the entrance of the of Alexandria was cleared to a uniform deptli of 30ft. at dead-low water. A further survey, has, howwefe, to be made. A new quay, 2(1,0 T"de lpng, yra8 completed during I89o. Althougu the stumers no longer call at Alexandria, Prppprtion of the carrying trade is British. lh 1'895,<6bb of 1$9Q steanjers of 2,064,000 tons, 6-1 Britidu
BETTER TIMES FOR PRISONERS.
BETTER TIMES FOR PRISONERS. The Prison Commissioners have made their observations on the recommendations made last year by the Departmental Committee on Prisons. In the main the Commissioners pronounce these recommendations good. In some cases a cheerfnl, in others a constrained acquiescence is given, as would naturally be expected from a body who consider their prison administration to Yan been to some extent under criticism. In a few cases, but only in a few, they intimate disapproval of a recommendation. Upon the whole, their observations" are (the Daily News remarks) highly gratifying, as showing a liberal-minded sympathy with the public demand for humaner tieatment of all prisoners. The work of inquiry is not yet completed. A new Departmental Committee is announced, in this report. It is to be appointed to consider the whole question of education in our prisons. The prisons, it seems, still bear emphatic testimony to the con- nection between ignorance and crime. The prisoners, we learn from the Commissioners, are "largely recruited from a class which even now is hardly touched by the Education Acts, and even if an ele- mentary education has been given to them, lapse of time and the hatits of life have effaced all memory of it." The Commissioners realise "the undoubtedly moralising influence which results from instruction." I For these reasons the whole subject of education in prisons is to be inquired into, and the reference to the committee will include the consideration of the proposals made by the Departmental Committee that teachers should not wear uniform, and that more attention should be paid to their position. The recommendation that prisoners should never be associated on reception, or during confinement, except by order of ,a medical officer, is to be carried out as far as possible, but it seems that this will involve the provision of so much more accommoda- tion that an addition to the Estimates of from ESOIOOO to £ 90,00» will be required. That is a flea bite, of course, when compared with some of the items on the increased Navy Estimates. The special treatment of first offenders is conceded; it is proposed wherever possible to establish in local prisons what is known in the convict prisons as a star class, and in' London first offenders will be sent to a selected prison. Habitual prisoners are to kept apart. The question of the treatment of drunkards io reserved till the policy of the Govern- ment on legislative proposals regarding inebriate* is formulated. The responsibility of improving the diet of untried prisoners is thrown on the Home Secretary, who must make a new prison rule for the purpose; but this class of prisoner is to be allowed to retain all rights till looking-up time, so that their reading may not be stopped. As to the communica- tion of the prisoners with one another, even in the Eresence of warders, the Commissioners have ardened their hearts against this suggestion, in the interests of the prisoners themselves" (so they say), and they point out that it is contrary to the Home Secretary's rules of 1872. A portion of a prison in each district is to be set apart for the special use and treatment of juveniles. Once fairly entered on prison life the criminal is to be treated more and more upon reformatory principles, the penal consequences of his conduct are not to be so severe as to keep him a stranger to all kindness and to humanising influences. He is to have a more frequent exchange of books from the prison library he is to have Sunday exercise unless ke is on first-class hard labour he is to have more I frequent opportunities of conversation with Scripture readers; he is to have the ministra- tions of local clergy and others who may make these ministrations more interesting and less mechanical than regular prison chaplains; the prison chapels will not be overcrowded; the prison staffs will be fitted for their work by special training in selected prisons the visiting committees will have larger discretionary powers to allow visits to, and communication with, prisoners-, opportu- nities will be given to prisoners to earn gratuities their work will be more productive, even where the crank and the treadmill is retained the men son- demued to work them will not be discouraged by the knowledge that they are labouring for naught-they will know that they are pumping water or grinding eorn; they will have the power of shortening their .wn imprisonment When in gaol for short periods as well as when they are long-sentence convicts and as short-sentence prisoners they will in this way earn their release absolutely instead of being let out on license with the" obligation of reporting themselves to the police the punishment cell may still exist, but not under that oaioiis name. The Commissioners say the name is the worst thing about it, and that it is now nothing more than an extra strong ordinary cell," the windows only being so far barr" as is necessary to protect them from the mischief that may he c^one by violent prisoners. Punishment may be cancelled and shortened. On the question of allowing well-behaved prisoners the privilege of talking to each other, the Com- missioners are obdurate. The worst criminals, they say, -are vpry often the best conducted prisoners, and the Commissioners "see grave objection to giving facilities for unchecked conversation on the ground of good oonduct." They plead hard that no rule shall be made for their guidance on this subject, but that they should be left to relax the law of silence," if such exists (they say the silent system is not so rigorous as it seems) at their discretion, and by the freer inter- course already referred to with Scripture readers and other selected agents with a good moral influence. Special treatment during the last year of sentence is proposed to facilitate the re-entry of long-sentence men into honest life. lastly, when men come out of prison they are to be helped more than ever by the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, the prison officials co-operating with the help of Government funds. Perhaps the most important passages in the Commissioners' obervations" are those dealing with prison labour. Associated labour .c in workshops, under proper supervision, is to be gradually introduced into lotfal gaols, commencing with London prisons; arid all land within prison walla is to be taken in cultivation where practicable.
A GHASTLY TIMEPIECE.
A GHASTLY TIMEPIECE. A monthly Johannesburg paper, Machinery, instances a gruesome clock, the property of an Indian prince. Near the dial is a large gong hung on poles, while underneath, scattered on the ground, is a pile of artificial bopes, forming 12 human skeletons. When the hands indicate the hour of one, a complete human skeleton comes together with a snap, seizes a mallet, and walking up to the gong strikes one blow, returns to tbe pile, and falls to <pieces. At two o'clock, two skeletons get up and strike, while at the hours of noon and midnight the 1 entire heap springs up in the shape of 12 skeletons, and strikes, each one after the other, a blow on the gong, and then fall to pieces as before.
NATIONAL LIBERAV, FEDERATION.…
NATIONAL LIBERAV, FEDERATION. M: I TING AT HUDDERSFIKLD. The annual tonference of the National Liberal Federation was ipened at Hiiddersfield on March 26, Dr, Spence Wa Ikon, the president, occupying the chair. More t tan usual interest was taken in the gathering, i I view of the expected discussion on the question of central organisation. Out of the 2250 delegates appointed to attend the meet- ings, nearly 1600 were present at the opening. Dr. Watsw., jiferrirg to the result of the general election, said Liberals must not minimise their dvfml., nor must they lose heart over it, because it wea only a transfer of 100,000 votes which had achieved the victory. Dealing with the reeent Radical attacks on the methods of the Federation, the chairman said those attacks had been fierce and bitter, but he con- tended that the whole plan of the Federation and its methods were the best that could be devised to attai. the desired end. The charges which were brought against them (the officials) were based upon entire misconceptions of facts. For the last 10 years at least not a single resolution had ever been inspired, drawn, altered, or manipulated by any Whip or leader whatever, and the Federation had been pre- served from all outside influence. It was also not a fact that the Federation had been merged into the Central Liberal Association, and it was all nonsense to say that the latter body had financed the Federa- tion. The report of the executive was unanimously adopted. Sir James Kitson, in moving the re-election of Dr. Spence Watson as president, and Mr. Alder- man Hart as treasurer, of the Federation, said if there were any who were dissatisfied now with the Federation let them follow the example of Joseph Chamberlain and his brethren and retire and make an association and prepare a field of their own. Sir Edward Grey, M.P., supported the resolution, which was adopted. The rules were amended in certain particulars, and the meeting adjourned. In the evening Lord Rosebery attended a reception at the Town Hall. The National Association of Liberal Secretaries and Agents, and the Society of Certificated Liberal Agents, held several meetings on March 26. It was decided to establish a benevolent fund in connection with the association, and a com- mittee was appointed to prepare a scheme.
RISING IN MATABELELAND.
RISING IN MATABELELAND. MASSACRE OF WHITES. — ARMED FORCES DESPATCHED. The Matabele kive revolted in the Inseza and Filabusi district, sod have massacred a number of whites, including Mr. Bentley, the native commis- sioner. The whites are flocking to Buluwayo and Gweh) for protection. Seventy-five volunteers, with a Maxim gun, have been despatched to the disturbed region. A later telegram says The towns in Matabeleland are being rapidly put in a state of defence, and volun- teers are being enrolled among the outside residents in order to protect the towns. An additional force is proceeding to Inseza and Gambo. The Indunas are under arrest. Mr. Selous came into Buluwayo on March 26 and reported that his farm had been raided and his cattle looted. He expressed the opinion that strong and immediate measures might quell the insurrection. On the afternoon of March 26 a telegram was re- ceived from Sir Hercules Robinson to the following effect: Yesterday received report from Buluwayo stating white men been murdered vicinity of Matopo Hills, aud that fears entertained of a rising of natives. Captain Nicholson, on application of local authori- ties, and on his own responsibility, issued ammunition from magazines. I understand 100 men were fully armed and equipped and despatched last night for the relief of the whites in the disturbed districts." Mr. Bentley was not a Colonial Office official, but was probably in the service of the Chartered Company.
CAPITATION ALLOWANCES TO VOLUNTEERS.
CAPITATION ALLOWANCES TO VOLUNTEERS. Ah army order was issued from the War Office on March 26, referring to the capitation allowances to Volunteer corps, in which it has been decided to make an extra issue of half the grant in addition to the grant ordinarily payable on April 1 next. The half grant will be paid on account of the following items: (a and b) The ordinary efficiency and special proficiency allowances; (c) the special allowance for officers passed in tactics or artillery duties, or for officers and non- commissioned officeis holding signalling certificates, &c.; (d and e) the s pecial allowances for men in pos- eaeeion of a grea t coat, and for miscellaneous expenditure of eng peer corps (f) travelling allow- ances for attendar/ce at the battalion drill and inspection, and to artillery corps for attendance at gun practice. The extra issue will be made on the condition that it shall, in the first instance, be applied in liquidation of any debts upon the public funds of the corps concerned, and to this end the financial position of the various corps will be carefully examined. The follow- ing special grants will be issued with the annual grant about to be paid in anticipation of April 1 (t) A special issue of the allowances laid down in para- graph 571 of the Volunteer Regulations, in aid of the cost of equipment of volunteers added mnce 1890 to the effective strength of companies in existence in that year; (b) a half grant of the allowance for main- tenance of great-coats to corps whose annual allowances are at present under suspension, in repay* ment of previous issues. These grants must also be applied in liquidation of any debts upon the publt funds of the corps concerned.
, LEVEE AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE.
LEVEE AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE. By command of the Queen a levee was held at St. James's Palace, on the afternoon of March 26, by the Duke of Connaught and Strathearne on behalf of her Majesty. His Royal Highness, attended by Colonel A. Egerton, and escorted by a detachment of the Royal Horse Guards, arrived at the garden entrance of the Palace from Buckingham Palace. The Royal circle included Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, attended by Colonel the Hon. C. Eliot; Prince Edward of -Saxe-Weimar, thp Duke of Teck, and Prince Adolphus of Teck. Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms was on duty in the rftate saloons, under the command of Lord Belper, the captain, and in the interior of the palace were the Royal Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, under Lieut.-Colonel II. P. Vance, the lieu- tenant (in the unavoidable absence of the captain, tbe Earl of Limerick). A Guard of Honour of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards was mounted in tbe court of the palace, and another of the Royal Hone Guards, with the band of the regiment, was stationed in the Mall. The diplomatic and general circles were numerously attended.
A DUKE AND AN IRISH M.P.
A DUKE AND AN IRISH M.P. SINGULAR CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. Michael Austin, M.P., has written to the Duke of Devonshire, calling the attention of his Grace to the fact that at a recent meeting in Drogheda, con- nected with the Louth election, Mr. Timothy Har- rington, M.P., pledged his honour to the meeting for a statement that an Irish Nationalist member, elected at the instance of Mr. Davitt as a Labour candi- date, had within the past eleven months "gone begging for the loan of money to the Duke of Devonshire, the greatest enemy of the Heme Rule cause." As the only Labour member in the ,z, Irish party, and having as such been supported by Mr. Davitt, Mr. Austin concluded that tbe reference was to himself, and wrote calling the attention of the duke to this allegation, and asked his grace to say wbether there was the slightest foundation for it, Mr. Austin has received the following reply: "Devon- shire House, March 25.-Dear Sir,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to say in reply that there is no foundation for the statement that you begged tbe loan of money from me.—Yours truly, Devonshire."
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IT is worth remarking in connection with Xord Kelvin's coming jubilee, that, so far as is known, only two previous Glasgow University professors have held office so long. One of these was Robert Simson, tie restorer of Euclid, who attained his jubilee in I'^l. The other was Dr. James Jeffrav, who was appointed to the Chair of Anatomy in 1790. and held office for over 57 years. Glasgow University and municipality intend to make Lord Kelvin's jubilee an event to be remembered in tbfhistorv of the cit-r. THE system of privately educating the Princes OF the Royal family has been abandoned by the Queen, who is the supreme authority insuch matters. Prince Arthur of Connaught is at a private school near Farnborough the Duke of Albany is at a school near Lyndhurst, where Prineess Beatrice's son, Prince Alexander of Battenberg, is to be sent after the Easter holidays. 0
EPITOME OF KEWS. .
EPITOME OF KEWS. TUB new photography has been engaging tbe attention of the authorities at Scotland Yard. It has been found that the Rontgen rays may be used for the examination of suspected parcels, bombs, and explosives. Tbc result of a series of experiments that have been carried out recently shows distinctly nails. screws, cartridges, and even grains of powder enclosed in cases. Picric acid and black powder are pervious to the rays, while sulphur, chlorate of potash, and fulminate are impervious. In future it will not be necessary to subject suspected articles to a test dan- gerous to the investigator. They will simply be sub- jected to the new photography. Fish Citv, which belongs to the State of Michigan, is a peculiar place, with a watery flavour; has no existence in summer, but is a busy pi; co in winter; is not built on land, and yet has nothing to do with boats. The ice of Saginaw Bay is used as a founda- tion for the city every winter, and the town is occu- pied by men and their families, who catch, clean, and pack whitefish and lake trout for the market. It is built in the same cove every winter, the houses being constructed of rough pine boards. It had a popula- tion of nearly 3000 in the winter of 1893-94, nearly twice that number last winter, and this season the population has taken another jump forward. DR. Ersico Morsklli has recently compiled seme startling statistics, showing the connection between suicide and lunacy and divorce. Out of every mil- lion people in Germany, 61 married women commit suicide: 87 younggirls, 124 widows, and 348 divorcees, or wives separated from their husbands. Among men the numbers are 2"6 married men, 298 bachelors, 984 widowers, and 2 3 i men separated from their wives. The lunacy statistics are not quite so dispropor- tionate. The comparison here is limited to the kingdont of Wurtemberg. Out of a million people the lunatics number—143 married women, 224 girls, 838 widows, 1540 divorcees, 140 husbands, 236 bachelors, 338 widowers, and 1484 men livmg apart from their wires. The moral of this for married people seems to be. Don't rush to Sir Francis Jeune. ArrLETON HALL, which is to be the English resi- dence of the Princess Maud of Wales and Prince Karl of Denmark after their marriage, is situated on the Sandringham Estate. It was formally the last stronghold of the Pastons, and a grand moated Hall had formerly stood there, with chapel and priests' rooms, and all the romantic accessories of an old English Roman Catholic family. This was burned 150 years ago, and a large rambling house roughly built amongst the ruins. When the Prince of Wales bought the estate this was occupied by Mrs. Cresswell, authoress of The Lady Farmer." The Prince ordered the house to be entirely re-built, and this is the mansion which is now being fitted up for a Royal residence. Qlose bv are the ruined church and the ancestral vault, and tbe Pilgrims Well, surrounded by sycamore trees. The mansion overlooks Sandringham Heath and rows of cathedral-like pines. Owing, it is said, to the heavy expenses of the African campaign, the construction of the Italian armoured cruiser Garibaldi, designed to repiace the one sold last year to the Argentine Republic, and of the small cruisers Principe di Napoli and Regina Margherita is suspended. Every two hours a homicide is committed some- where in Italy," is the startling way in which Baron Garofalo puts the fact that there are 4000 homicides a year in his country, ten times as many as in France, and 35 times as many as in Denmark. Six South Africans own X40,000,000 among them. Mr. Barnato's fortune is estimated at £ 10,000,000, which is £ 2,000,000 less than that of Mr. Alfred Beit, and double that of Mr. Cecil Rhodes. CONVICTS in French prisons are paid for their labour, and earn about one shilling and fivepence halfpenny a day. Half of this they are allowed to spend for extra food, postage, etc., and the other half is saved, to give to them when they are discharged. IN London, out of 1889 deaths, 206 are from con- sumption. THE delivery to the House of Commons Post-office amounts, on an average, to between 7000 and 10,000 letters daily. THE Cape Revenue for the past eight months shows an increase of Y-971,988, as compared with the corre- sponding period of last year. WHEN Sir Michael Hicks-Beach comes to set forth the figures of his Budget, it will appear that an appreciable amount of the increased revenues comes from the Wine Duty. Within the past 12 mcnths the consumption of wine has increased in exception- ally large degree. itit. Thomas Richard Feaseb, M.D. (Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Edinburgh), has been appointed Medical Adviser to the Prison Com- missioners, in succession to Sir Douglas M'Lagan, who resigned. OFFICIAL despatches have now been received from St. Kitts in the Leeward Islands. Sir Francis Fleming, the Governor, reports that the serious riots of the people were put down by the bluejackets and marines of H.M.S. Cordelia without any loss to the British, but two of the rioters were killed and a large number made prisoners. They are now being tried for rioting and incendiarism. The inhabitants cf Denby Dale, Yorkshire, are in- tending to celebrate the 50th anniversary on the repeal of the Corn Laws by baking a meat-pie which is to be prepared in an iron dish 10ft. long by 6ft. wide and 1ft. in depth. The celebration is fixed for August 1. THE examiners of the Vinerian Law Scholarship at Oxford University have elected to the scholarship, Mr. F, E. Smith, B.A., of Wadham College. Proximo accæsit-Mr. W. S. Holdsworth, B.A., of New College. IN St. Petersburg every bicyclist is bound to have affixed to the back of the machine a metal plate, on which the registered number is displayed in figures large enough to be legible from a considerable distance. By order of the Czar, the great fair of Nijni- Novgorod will this year be opened, not on July 21 as usual, but in May, at the same time as the National Russian Exhibition is to be held at that place. The Government have definitely decided to oppose the Water Transfer Bills promoted by the London County Council. Before Munkacsy leaves Paris for his own country he will 'place on exhibition his latest picture. It is entitled Ecce Homo." It shows Pilate on his balcony exhibiting Christ in the mocking garb of purple, with the cruel crown of thorns on his brow. X hooting mob fills the courtyard of the palace. After having been shown for the benefit of the charities of Paris, the picture will be hung in the coming Salon. Horsea Island, it appears, is to become the seat of the future Vernon establishment It Portsmouth, just as Whale Island has become the seat of the Excellent establishment. Taken in connection with the building of a college at Dartmouth to take the place of the Britannia, it may be accepted that this reform denotes the existence at the Admiralty of a determination to gradually remove all the training establishments to the shore. So much the better, so far, at least, as the reform does not interfere with the necessary courses of instruction in seagoing craft. Where it is a question between an old harbour hulk and a barracks, commonsense must plump for the latter. THE temples of India are to be lighted with elec- tricity, the example having been set by the great shrine of Siva. at Koehicaddie. near Mutwal, in Ceylon, and is to be speedily followed by the equally vast and ancient foundation of the Natukotta, in the same island. In no long time others will adopt the same improvement, till all the holy places of the peninsula are so equipped that by pressing a button they can be instantly illuminated, like a modern hotel or theatre. The innovation is enough to make Siva and Vishnu, and even the great Brahma himself, gasp and stare. THE German Government has caught a veritable modern George Fox in the person of the Alsatian soldierThurnev. He is a member of "The League of Evangelical Baptised Believers, a sect which split off some time ago from the old German Mennonites on the question of the lawfulness of war. Tin rnev has been twice punished already for refusing to take his gun, though he has quietly submitted to wearing the military uniform On his first insubordination he was condemned to two months' imprison- ment; then, upon a second refusal he was sent to jail for a whole year. A few days ago, upon the expiration of his long arrest, Thornev was sent to join his troop, and his gun was again offered to him. He persistently declared that his conscience wo',ld nnt allow him to use it, or, as George Fox used to Bay, "to learn tbe postures of war. He is now locked up for the third time, and the authorities are considerably perplexed how to deal with so incorrigible a trooper, who seems to be a man of irreproachably good character, and nc-I m any respect a fit inmate for a prison.
A NEW J5L DOliADO.
A NEW J5L DOliADO. Referring to the gold mining industry of Russia, Machinery says it has been the fashion to look upon Siberia as an enormous area of steppe or forest, unable to maintain an industrial population, and, in fact, only-fit to serve the purpose to which, be it re- membered, this country once devoted Van Diemen's Land and the then known portions of the Australian Continent the detention and punishment of criminals. We might usefully take a lesson from the present prosperity of the great Australian colonies, forecasting to some extent the future of the inhospit- abIeYrE'rm't. ranging from the Ural Mountain* to the Eastern seasi for it was gold that popu- lated Melbourne and Queensland, and it is a reason- able inference that the same powerful magnate may draw its thousands of adventurous emigrants to the auriferous deposits and the alluvial soil, gleaming with golden treasure, which are to be found stuateh- ing hundreds and hundreds of miles away across'a continent. At preseat gold mining in Russia is a State monopolh almost of a prohibitory character. Private enterprise hardly exists; State royalties, in the hands of a few great capitalists, enrich here, aid there a noble house, but do little to; de- velop the wealth of ille country. Of course, the gBS*afc work of pushing railway communica- tion from West to East goes steadily on. Russian diplomacy iB fas-seeing, and here j and Uiere subsidiary lines branch ojf through dense forests of oases of gold-producing districts. But even in these the work of extracting the precious rpetal from the quartz or the alluvial soil is conducted in the most primitive methods, hardly a step advanced from those used for centuries by natives in the auriferous countries of Africa. There are great fields ^f iron and of coal in the European provinces of Russia, and the latter especially are being rapidly developed. But years must elapse before the iron industry of Russia can mfeet the demands that tbe mifer nl resources of the countr/e< £ et of the Ural Mountains are even now making. And if Mashonaland, and the El Dorado of the Transvaal, and the debatable territory of Guiana, and Western Australia with its waterless diggings can offer a fertile field for English machinery, can it be Utopian to look some thousands of miles neaTer home for new and safe markets for our great home industry? I Gold-mining in Siberia is, so to speak, in its infancy. It haS erirtrihed a few noble families, and done tittle more. It is carried on under the strictest police, and mllttdry regulations, and Cossack contingents furnish the convoy of tbe precious metal. More capital, more enterprise, mere workers, more and better machinery might furnish the stimulus to trade between'the two great Empires that has turned the deserts of Australia into smiling homes. It is a ques- tion, asiWe have said, of give and take. If St. Peters- burg and St. James's can make up their minds to swallow their new-fangled-not old-fangled—preju- dices, and obey the law of compromise, each country would enter into heavier recognisances for the preservation of peace, and the world swould be the gainer.
.11I.',.. THE, 'QUEEN-í AND…
11 I. THE, 'QUEEN-í AND THE EGYPTIAN 1 WAR. No meniber of the Royal House is to take part in the Soudan campaign, but a writer in the Woi/taii at Horde recalls the great anxiety manifested by the Queen in connection with the Egyptian campaign of 1882. bhe receiveR the news of the victory of TeUel- Kebir at Balmoral, and ordered a bonfire to be lighted on Craig Gowan, as had been done at the fall of Sebastopol 21 years before. In the earlier war she regretted she had not a son old enough for service, but npw with the tidings of Tel-el-Kebir came Sir Gamot Wolseley's telegram that her soldier son, the Duke of Connaught, had "behaved admirably, lead- ing his brigade" dto t attack." His young wife, Princess Louise of Prussia, was staying at Balmdral at the time, and'the Queen, with chaiacteristic impulse, hastened with the telegram to her daughter- in-law's room, and,- embracing her, wept together with her for joy that the Duke was safe and so much 'I
!FUNERAL -OF -ARCHDEACON !…
FUNERAL -OF -ARCHDEACON i. DENISON The funeral of Archdeacon Denison took place at East Brent on March 26, and was attended by a very large assemblage of mourners, including nearly 100 clergymen from all parts of the kingdom. A memorial service was also held in St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
DAMAGES AGAINST A SOLICITOR.
DAMAGES AGAINST A SOLICITOR. Mr. Justice Hawkins delivered judgment in the Queen's Bench Division, on March 26, in the action I brought by Miss Maria Harris to recover the sum of JE300 which, it was alleged, was invested on the advice of the principal defendant, Mr. J oeelyn Brandon, of the firm of Brandon and Nicholson, whilst acting as the plaintiff's solicitor. At the bearing of the action the jury could not agree as to some of the questions submitted to them, but they were agreed, if his lordship found that their verdict was in favour of tbeplaintift, chat they would award her R200 damages. His lordship gave judg- ment in favour of the plaintiff for £ 200, ordering a stay of execution for f our days.
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PROFESSOR," said a student in pursuit of know- ledge concerning the habits of animals, Why does a cat, while eating, turn her head first one way and then other P" For the reason," replied the pro- feasor, thgt she cannqt turn it both ways at once." Soon after Lord—elevation to the peerage, he "Wmarked that author^ were ofteif veft^ tjdiculous in the titles they gare.c "That," said a distinguished writer present, c is sn error from tvhich even "sovereign? appear not to be exempt' .1- <! d "1 v
.-THE EARL MARSHAL'S COURT.
THE EARL MARSHAL'S COURT. If the reader will take the trouble to refer to one ef the most valuable books ever published for the historical inquirer, Mr. Scargill Bird's Gu.de to the Public Records," he will find (says the writer of an interesting article in the Morning Post) under the heading "Special and Abolished Jurisdictions" the mention of the records of a number of Courts the existence cf which even, is now, by the majority of people, altogether forgotten. Not the least interesting j ef these extinct Courts is the Earl Marshal's or Court of Chivalry, a jurisdiction so quaint and antiquated in its scope that it is hardly conceivable that it once held sway in this country. For that reason alone we owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. George Grazebrook, F.S.A for reminding us that not only was there such a Court, but that it played a good deal more active part in public affairs-and that down to a much later period—than standard writers, such as Sir WiUiaru Blacjeekone, would have us believe. We hope Mr. Grazebrook will forgive us if wo point out here a weak PfUnt in his work — it should not have been printed for private circula- tion;" it is much too instructive and useful a book to be thus issued, and it really throws an important side light on the social history of England. The Earl Marshal always accompanied the King's court on its travels, and his jurisdiction extended for a radius of 12 miles from the Court, wherever it might be his Court took cognisance of all matters relating to honour, arms, and pedigree, and, at one time, even directed the proclamations of peace and war. We must remember, says Mr. Grazebrook, that at its beginning the Earl Marshal's Court and office related entirely to military and naval affairs, the ordinary law processes appertaining to the Court, and the arranging of ceremonies, the ordering of jousts and tournaments; but, aa time went on, heraldry (originally restricted to a few) became much extended and required some constituted authority for its regulation. Thus it was that, in 1386, the E&tj: Marshal's Court was enlarged into a CpuiV' of Chivalry, in which the Heralds much as barristers do now in the Courts: of Law. This Court of Chivalry was intended to settle and declare the requirements of honour in the fiery disputes so constantly arising when every man wore a sword. It cannot, however, be said that it was meant to stop the duel-indeed, it often decreed trial by combat—but one of the purposes with which it was established was tostop indiscriminate fighting, and to settle and declare who was really the offender in a personal quarrel. Many of the greatest causes that have been hfeard and decided within the walls of the Earl Marshal's Court have been purely heraldic; of these, the dis- pute between Scrope and Grosvenor in 1389 is, :per- haps, the most famous. The worst punishment that the Court could inflict was degradation from the honour of knighthood, and-so far as we are enajbled to judge—this certainly appears to have been decreed with the utmost moderation, only three instances remaining on record. One of them, however, dates so late as the year 1621, the person degraded from the honourable estate being Sir Francis Michell..But then it must be remembered that the records of the Court, as a whole, do not exist-ar-4 lost; so that we can only base "our calculation on such stray notes or accounts of cases that have been preserved. Some of the=o are given by Mr. Grazebi-ook in his interesting little volume now under notice. First, we have the suit brought by Anthony Felton, Esq. for a disgrace of the bastinadoe," offered to him by "Edmund Withr poole, Esq., of the towne of Ipswich." It arose thus: Felten and Witnerpoole were both gentletaerf of Suffolk, but the former, at their frequent meetings; always yielded precedence to the latter as unto a man of greater livelyhood." So far, all well; but the wives of them happened to meet, and, in the presence of "old Lady Grey and others of like quality," Mistress Withipoole offered to take pre- cedence of Mistress Felton, and for such oresumpf tion was thrust back by Lady Grey, who was Mrs. Felton's grandmother. Mr. Withiplooe was not well pleased, and happening to meet Mr. Feltoh in company with Lady Grey and others riding throbgh Ipswich, called him aside and told him he should heare and feele" the wrong done to his wife, and thereupon "struck him with a bastinadoe." On this Felton drew his sword and offered then and there to avenge the indignity, but was restrained by those around him. This was the story, and it received, in the Earl Marshal's Court, two solemna hearings" from a tribunal which included Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Robert Sidney as assessors. It was decided that bloth "gentlewomen" were "descended honourably," but that their two birthes" was not then questionable, for that "fceinina sequitur conditioni viri." Nèxt, the Earl Marshal announced his decided opinion that both the husbands were gentlemen," and held that under the degree of hobilitie, whereof knighthood is the low est," no precedence belonged to one.gentle- man more than to another, but only in regard to suche place or-office wherein they do serve." This got over the difficulty Mr. Witherpoole was a J.P. and Mr. Felton was not, and Mr. Witherpoole was captain of one hundred foot, Mr. Felton of fifty horse. Sir Francis Yeere, who also sat, with the Earl Marshal, said that "He so that leadeth horse is above anye that commandeth over foote companiesso, taking one thing with another, the two, as nearly as they could be, were of equal status. Therefore the Court had no longer to consider who was the "greater" man of the two, which was the real difficulty it had only to settle which was to blame for the assault. There could hardly be two minds as to that. Witherpoole was -bld 11 to confesse to the sayd Felton that he knew tim to be a gentleman unfit to be stroken, or have iny such disgrace offered him," and the sting of the bastinadoe" was wiped out by a unanimous judgment of the Court that Felton drew hissworde. and as a gentleman offered to defend his reputation" at the time of the assault. In some of the cases mentioned by Mr. Graze- brook we get no judgments, but from the point of view of social history they are only a little less inte- resting on that account. One of these cases is that which came before the Court in 1623, and in which was called in question the rank and standing of Sir Thomas Harris of Condover, upon whom the degree of Baronet had been conferred. It was alleged by Sir Francis Kynaston and Captain Leeke that Harris was a man incapable of that degree, because not answeringe to the conditions which are required in the Books of Baronets, as of estate, life, but especially of gentrie." Who were the two public spirited gentlemen that took the matter up, or what was their spite against their neighboui does not appear; perhaps they were jeialous that the new dignity—so laughed at by the older orders of nobility when it was established— had not been conferred on them However it was, the case came on in tho Earl Marshal's Court which sat, in great state in the painted chamber by the Parliament Chamber." First was read the King's Commission appointing the Court then the Earl Marshal ¡¡:i\d" a long speech. He spoke, says Mr. Graièbraob; of the long discontinuance of his. office, of his intent" to revive that which had been long in the dust," and of the pains he had been at the better to perform his duty in making researches "into the precedents of auncyent times'' to the end that he might not en- croach upon other Courts. That being so, he hoped other Courts would not enroach upon his.' No doubt, as Mr. Grazebrook points out, this long prologue was really occasioned by the fact that the sitting of the Earl Marshal's Court was the revival of a "Jong disused function." Of the trial rtself we have the following particulars. liarris handed in two protests; the first against the prosecutor, the second against the jurisdiction of the Court, and took his stand upon his patent of-creation; apparently these objections were over-ruled, and Harris was held liable to make answer to the complaints that had been made against him, he having assigned to him till the 1st of the following December to make his reply. There the matter ended, so far as record of it is concerned. The same thing may be said of certain other cases that Mr. Grazebrook cites. We have the record of the ftiitial step in the suit, but no more. Was it that public feeling was growing to regard the Court, nr.d all that it did and said, more or less as a farce, and so litigants determined to let drop the suits com- menced within its walls? If this was so, those who conducted the cases—the Heralds had probably themselves to blame; they certainly appear to have proceeded on lines very distant from dignified. One of the latest cases that came before the Court was that of Blount v. Blount," which was under con- sideration in 1737, and had been commenced so far back as 1720! "The whole business," says Mr. Grazebrook, was imprudently entered upon and unskilfully conducted. Indeed, from the interesting notes brought together by Mr. Grazebrook, imprudence and want of discretion and skill seem to have characterised the policy of the Heralds College during the-last and the Ciout century. Derby House, in the street ing from the south door of St. Paul's Cathedral to Paul's Wharf, once part of the possessions of the Earls of Derby, had been given by the Crown in 1555 as a home for the Heralds, to the intent they might reside together, and consult and agree among them- selves for the good of their faculty, and for the depositing and secure preservation of their records. It turned out to be neither one nor the other. Incompetent men held office, and they wrangled one with the other over their fees, and over the procedure of their Court. The college was in a perpetual state of ferment. The head officers were at open war, and the Heralds and pursuivants formed themselves into factions. What wonder, therefore, that business-we beg pardon, professional duty—was neglected, and that the college recordsjwere lost! But we are not left without hope; the Heralds have now for some time been men of a very different stamp to those who brought discredit on their college so that we need view with no apprehension the fact that Mr. Grazebrook sees in the present bent of public taste a growing desire for the revival of a tribunal which will'authoritatively decide whether or oot we behave ourselves like gentlemen.
ROYAL WHEELERS.
ROYAL WHEELERS. It is curious to note, says a writer in the Lady, what a hold bicycling has at present on the public, an exercise that in former years was considered the special property of the lower middle-class. Now, however, everything is changed. The Queen of Italy is devoted to this amusement, and had her first lessons last year, when staying at Monza. Her Majesty completely mastered the art of riding in 12 lessons, but for a long time only rode in her private grounds. However, one fine day she ventured out, attended by one gentleman, and enjoyed the novel experience extremely; but on wishing to return by different entrance to the Royal park she was refused admission by the custodian, and it was only after some little discussion that he was persuaded of the Queen's identity, and she was allowed to enter her own domains. The Crown Princess Stephanie of Austria is also a victim to the bicycle craze, and is a very skilful rider. She is at present at Abbazia, where she can enjoy her new amusement to her heart's content. Tho Princess Friedrich-August of Saxony, the wife of the Heir- Presumptive to the kingdom, is extremely fond of bicycling, but she does not ride much in Saxony, and does most of her wheeling when staying with her parents in Austria. The Grand Duchess Anastasie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin is an enthusiastic bicyclist, and has lately presented each of the members of her suite, 30 in number, with a bicycle, in order that they may all enjoy the sport. The Princess Charlotte Reuss, nie Duchess of Mecklenburg, took up bicycling about a year ago, and is now very proficient. The Princess had a bad acci- dent last year in Bavaria, when she fell, and sprained her ankle very severely. The Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia, the sister of Czar Nicholas II., learnt bicycling in Denmark from her cousins. The Princess Marie of Greece, like all her family, is a very clever bicyclist. The Countess Torby, the wife of the Grand Dube Michael-Michaelovitch of Russia, who is of Royal birth on her father's side, is a most graceful rider, and generally, whttt Cannes, rides to the La Napoule Golf Links on her bicycle. This season, on account of her health, she has been unable to enjoy her usual amusements. It is expected that the German Empress will soon take up bicycling, as her husband and sons are most enthusiastic riders. Among Kings and Princes those who do not ride are the exception. In our own Royal family, the Princess of Wales and her daughters all wheel, as well as Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, and Princess Beatrice. Last, but not least, the Queen also has signified her approval of bicycling for ladies.
UNDESERVED DETENTION.
UNDESERVED DETENTION. Joseph Rhinestrom and Emma Rhinestrom, of New York, were again brought up at Bow-street Police- I court in London on March 26 for extradition upon a charge of larceny within the jurisdiction of the Dominion of Canada. The accused had protested their innocence, and the police now stated that the prosecutor had arrived from Montreal and declared that the accused were not the culprits. He had never seen them before. Sir John Bridge said he re- gretted the undeserved detention which Mr. and Mrs Rhinestrom had undergone, but it was quite clear that it was not due to any avoidable error or mistake on the part of the English police. The parties then left the court with several friends.
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A NOTORIOUS SWINDLER. A notorious swindler, named Alfred George Cargill Gentry, 35, a public reciter, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Maich 26 to a number of chargee of having obtained money under false pre- tences. It was stated that the prosecution had been able to trace sums amounting to £ 2204 as the proceeds of the prisoner's frauds, he having started Methodist newspapers and auction offices, through which he had obtained various sums as "cash security" from persons to whom he had promised employment. The prisoner had lived in elegant style at Clapton-common and at Croydon, his places being furnished on the hire system. A sentence of 12 months' hard lAbour was imposed.
THE COMING CORONATION.
THE COMING CORONATION. When Nicholas II. is crowned Emperor of All the Russias in May there will be a vast quantity of royal trappings and insignia sent from St. Peters- burg to Moscow in order to make the ceremony the most magnificent in its splendour that this century has seen. The crown itself, which will be placed upon the young man's head, is, of course, the prin- cipal of the incalculably costly objects—the props" an actor would call them—of the gorgeous show. It is made after a Byzantine model, and its value is estimated at more than a million dollars. It is composed of two parts, symbolising the empire ol the Orient and that of the Occident. In the centre is set a splendid ruby, pear-shaped, to which are affixed five diamonds, forming a cross. This marvellous piece of jeweller's art was made originally for. the Empress Catherine IT., for her coronation. It was the masterpiece of a fsviss jeweller from Geneva, named Pauzzic. Nothing more is known of this maker of crowns but his name The sceptre which the young Czar will hold is that which his predecessor, Paul, first grasped when he ascended the throne in 1707, and it is even more remarkable than the crown itself, for in it sparkles and blazes one of the largest diamonds in the world, called by the Russians the Lazaref," cut commonly known as the Orloff" diamond. It weighs one hundred ard ninery-nine and three-quarter carats, eight carats more than the Koh-i-noor, and was bought at Amsterdam by Count Alexis Orloff for ;Eso,ooo. The good people of Moscow are going to "make I hay while the sun shines." The sun is the coronation of the Czar, and the hay the rent they will get for their houses and apartments. Five thousand roubles for 20 days' occupation is a fair sample of the prices. The Daily Nrus correspondent says that 11 chamhret garnies are letting for 300 roubles a room for 14 days, and, where situated on the route of the Imperial procession, 100 roubles extra for each window on the day of the coronation. The prices ol apartments generally, ranging from one room to 20 rooms, vary from 250 to 25,000 roubles. The British Embassy has been particularly fortunate in securing very commodious accommodation at the economic figure of 15,000 roubles. The French Embassy is paying an enormous price for the premises of the Sportsmen's Club, and, in addition to this, an extra sum of 18,000 roubles for one night's occupation of a supplementary suite of apartments on the eve of the coronation. An agent says that he had been asked 10,000 roubles for three days' occupation of a house urnishing sleeping room for 45 peisons.
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THE road to ruin is always kept in good repair, and ihe travellers oav the expense of it