Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

-0 TWELVE NOTABLE LADIES. < It may be of interest at the present time to give ab account of the 12 ladies who attended the bride who has now been 60 years a Queen." It is usual when a Royal Princess marries that her attendant brides- maids are chosen from the daughters of dukes, mar- quises, and earls, and it was so when the Queen mar- ried. Nine of those ladies have now been removed by the hand of death, the grave having only yesterday closed over the remains of one of the two duke's daughters who attended the youthful Queen to the altar. Lady Mary Charlotte Howard, elder daughter of Henry, 13th Duke of Norfolk, by his wife, Lady Charlotte Leveson-Gower, daughter of the Duke of Sutherland. It would have been impossible to have chosen a bridesmaid of higher birth or of greater beauty than Lady Mary Howard, who, nine years after the Queen's mar- riage, espoused Thomas, fourth Lord Foley, and who only a few days ago died in London. Lady Caroline .Lennox, the daughter of the Duke of Richmond, ,married, as his second wife, also nine years after the Queen, John, fifth Lord Bessborough. She died in 1890. Lady Adelaide Paget, daughter of the first Marquis of Anglesey, married, in 1851, Mr. Frederick Cadogan, and died in 1890. Lady Sarah Villiers was the eldest daughter of tgeorge, fifth Lord Jersey, by his wife, Lady Sarah Fane, eldest daughter of John, 10th Lord Westmor- land, who bad married Anne, daughter and sole heir of Mr. Child, the millionaire banker, of Osterley-park. Lady Sarah married, in 1842, Prince Nicholas Ester- hazy, eldest son of the famous Prince Paul Esterhazv. She died in 1853. Lady Fanny Cowper, perhaps the most beautiful of all the bridesmaids, wts the younger daughter of the fifth Lord Cowper and stepdaughter of Lord Palmerston. Lady Fanny married, in 1841, Lord Jocelyn, who died in 1854. She had four chil- dren, who all predeceased her. Lady Jocelyn died in ,1880. Lady Mary Grimaton was the third daughter of the first Earl of Verulam, and married, the same year as the Queen, the fourth Lord Radnor. Lady Radnor died in 1879. Lady Eleanora Paget was the elder daughter of Lord Uxbridge, afterwards second Lord Anglesey. Lady Eleanora married, in 187, Sir Sandford Graham, and died the following year. Lady Elizabeth Howard was the fifth daughter of the sixth Lord Carlisle by his wife, Georgiana, daughter of the fifth Duke of Devon- shire. Lady Elizabeth married, the same year as the Queen, the Rev. the Hon. Francis Grey, rector of Morpeth. Lady Elizabeth died in 1891. Lady Jane Bouverie was the third daughter of the third Lord Radnor. She married, in 1847, Mr. William Ellice. Lady Ida Hay was the eldest daughter of the 17th Lord Erroll, by his wife, Lady Elizabeth Fitz- slarence, daughter of his Majesty William IV., and aunt by marriage of H.R.H. the Duchess of Fife. Lady Ida married in 1841 the second Lord Gains- borough, and died in 1867. The other two brides- maids attained the highest rank in the peerage, Lady Elizabeth West was the eldest daughter of the fifth Lord Delawarr. She married in 1844 Mr. Hastings Russell, afterwards Duke of Bedford. Her Grace has been Mistress of the Robes. Lady Catherine Wilhelmina Stanhope was the only daughter of the fourth Lord Stanhope, and married in 1843 Lord Dalmeny, who died in 1851, and by whom she had with other issue the present Lord Rosebery. Lady Dalmeny married in 1854 Lord Harry Vane, who eventually became fourth and last Duke of Cleveland. The Duchess of Cleveland is the youngest of all duchesses, except in point of age, and is one of the only throe survivors of the Queens' 12 bridesmaids, the other two being the Duchess Dowager of Bedford and I.,idy Jane Ellice.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS, The will, which bears date May 29, 1886, with a codicil of Feb. 29, 1896, of Colonel Charles Harrison Page, of Dulwich House, Llandaff, J.P., who died on March 1 last, aged 70 years, the son of the late Mr. Samuel Page, of Dulwich, has been proved, with personal estate valued at £ 91,371 4s. Id. Colonel Page bequeathed to the Glamorgan and Mon- mouthshire Infirmary at Cardiff 1:1000; to the Hamadryad Hospital Ship at Cardiff, £ 500; to the Cardiff Association for Improving the Social Condition of the Blind, £100; George Muller's Orphanage, Ashleydown, Bristol: the London Orphan Asylum, Watford; the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum, Snaresbrook the British Orphan Asylum, Slough; the Royal Asylum of St. Ann's Society, Bedhill; the Infant Orphan Asylum, Wan- stead the Orphan Working School, Haverstock-hill; the Governesses' Benevolent Institution, the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond-street; King's College Hospital, and the National Lifeboat Institution £ 100 each. He bequeathed also to the Deaf and Dumb Institution, Landaff, EbO; to the Ladies' Charity School, London; the Royal Naval School, New-cross; the Royal Naval Female School, Isleworth; the National Orphan Home, Ham-common; the Roval Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institution, Belvedere, Kent; the Sailors' Orphan Girls' School and Home, Hampstead; the Home I for Little Boys, Farningham; the Homes for Working Boys in London, and the Homes^for j Working Girls in London, £ 50 each. Colonel Page bequeathed to the Free Library at Cardiff 200 volumes of books from his library, and to the Council of University College of Wales and Monmouthshire alooo in Five per Cent. Preference Stock of the Rhymney Railway Company, in trust to apply the income in prizes of books, money, or gold medals, to I¡ be called the Page Prize, for the best essays in examinations on any subject or subjects that the principal may determine. This last-named bequest I was, however, revoked by the codicil, as the testator had mado provision for it in his lifetime. He devised Dulwich House and bequeathed its furniture to his I daughter Mrs. Amy Stuart, and he left- all the residue of his property upon the trusts of her marriage I settlements. By his will, which bears date Jan. 31, 1896, his j Honour Samuel Boteler Bristowe, of Onslow-gardens, and of Beesthorpe Hall, Nottingham, Q.C., Judge of Southwark County Court, who died at 62, Marina, St. Leonards-on-Sea, on March 5 last, aged 74 years, leaving personal estate valued at £ 21,760 5s. 10d., appointed as executors his wife Mrs. Albertine Eugenie Elizabeth Bristowe and his son Frederick Edward Bristowe, engineer, of 84, Onslow gardens. The testator bequeathed to Mrs. Brrstowe £500, his furmturo and household effects, the cash in tfi6 house, and the balance of his cuirent and deposit accounts with his bankers. Judge Bristowe bequeathed the residue of his personal estate upon trusts lit equal shares for his children, excepting such one as shall succeed to the real estate, including Beesthorpe Hall, which he settled by a codicil of April 14, 1896, in favour of his son Charles John and his issue in tail, with remain- der to the testator's said son Frederick and remainder to his daughters. The will, which bears date Nov. 13, 1889, was proved recently of Mr. Agostino Gatti, of 10 Bedford- square, and of the firm of A. and S. Gatti, of the Strand, who died on Jan. 14 last, aged fifty-five years, and whose personal estate has been valued at £ 167,828 lis. The SOIB executor- df the will is the testator's brother" Stefano, whose accounts respecting the testator's property are to be absolutely I accepted by afl perSohaf'' trittfedWd i» the will, A life annuity of JS2000 is to "be paid to Mrs. Giulia Gatti, the testator's widow, and, subject there- to, his property is left in trust for all or such one or more of his children as his said brother shall appoint, or in default of appointment as to £ 8000 j .p each1 for his daughters Maria atfd Caroline, as to £ 6000 each for his daughters Lys& tod Ida, and as to the residue in equal shares for such of his sons as may attain the age of 21 yearr. <

WHEN the present Czar, sypceeded his j father, made a journey through Siberia, he re- ceived many presents of richly-enibtoidered saddles, harness, trappings,, and haflameroloths—some of them worked wifch gold and splendidly bejewelled. 1 This unique collection is now at St, Petersburg, in the Court Stable Museum, one of the most interest- Ing sights of the capital, and especially so at the Eresent time, for it also contains the saddles and arness which are to be used at the coronation cere- mony next June. j A- ORBAT deal has been said, as to the marriage of Lady Anne Savile with Prince Lowenstein being a morganatic one. This is a complete mistake. Prince Louis is in no way a scion of a Royal house, but only a member of an old German family, and any lady he married would be naturally entitled to the appella- tiori of Princess, but it gives her no rank or prece- dence beyond apy other German Princess of non- i Royal, or .grand ducal, rank. Princess Louis will have the same position in thijs oountry as Princess Henry of, ]pipas and PrinceBs Adolphus of Teck, who, h'avlfig inarHed foreigners, hwve, by the courtesy of a certain preoedeiloe granted.to tbem. 'r' '-•> >

SCIENCE NOTES. EVERYTHING has its microbe might well become a new proverb. The latest thing is baldness, as many have surmised. Dr. Sabouraud, a der- matologist, has proved it, which is better. The microbe (as described in the Globe) is punctiform, and found in the oily matter secreted from the skin. Of itself, or through its toxic secretions, it injures the hair, which falls out. Colonies of the microbes establish themselves in the oil or sebaceous glands at the root of the hair. Alopecy (scurf, mange, 01 fox sickness) is caused by the same microbe. Now that the true cause of baldness has been discovered at last we may hope for a good remedy. The sooner the better, if baldness is not to become hereditary in the coming man, as some philosophers have pre- dicted. Perhaps it is because petroleum is noxious to the microbe that it sometimes proves efficacious in preventing baldness. SCIENCE does not find equality in men or in any- thjng else. According to M. Pean, it does not even exisvin- the thickness of our skulls, not to speak of their contents. The left half of the skull is a little thicker than the right, whereas the contrary is the case for the rest of the skeleton. Savages have thicker skulls than civilised people, and men have thicker skulls than women. Age increases the thick- ness of the skull, but not to the extent supposed by many writers. Herodotus remarked that the skulls of the Persians were thinner than those of the Egyptians, which were remarkably thick, but as a matter of fact the skulls of modern Egyptians at all events are of varied thickness. According to Zanetti, the Etruscan skulls are very thin. Broca and Pean suppose that the prehistoric races had thicker skulls than we have, but it is at least questionable whether civilisation does make the skull thinner. NANSEN'S most important discovery on his recent voyage was, perhaps, the existence of a very deep sea at the Pole. Some geographers believed that the Polar Sea would not much exceed 150 fathoms; others argued that since there was a continent at the South Pole 10,000ft. to 15,000ft. high, there might be a corresponding depression at the North Pole. As a matter of fact, this was about the depth found by Nansen. Consequently, M. De Lapparent argues that the true figure of the earth is like a pear, not like an orange, as we are taught in the school books-the pointed end of the pear being at the South Pole. ALUMINIUM is employed in making the adjustible splints for broken limbs introduced by Hoppe. The result is that the splint is as light as a wooden one, and it can be adapted to tho injured limb. Another advantage of aluminium is that Rontgen radiographs of the bone can be tatken while the splint is in position, that metal being so transparent to the rays. ACEITLBNE gas has been liquefied, but in this form it is dangerous to employ. It can also be kept under pressure, but this can only be done with special appliances and particular care. Even when used at ordinary pressure itquireB attention to the mani- pulation. MM. Claude and Hesse have found a new way of serving oneself with acetylene which may recommend itself, though it is not altogether free of some risk. They dissolve it in a liquid and deal it from a syphon bottle like Seltzer water. The liquid is acetone, made from the calcination of acetate of lime. At ordinary pressure, it dissolves 25 to 30 times its volume of acetylene. At a pressure of 10 atmospheres it dissolves 250 to 300 times its volume of the gas. It is easy to see bow that, by storing the liquid with gas under pressure in a reservoir and tapping it when required, one can utilise the gas for illumination. PROFESSOR LIVERSIDQE finds that gsld is present in all natural deposits of salt, as well as in the sea. Bock salt contains one, to two grains of gold a ton, while bittern waters and kelp sometimes have 20 grains a ton. All nuggets of gold show a crystalline I'; structure, and usually contain foreign matters. Pro- fessor Liversidge suggests that they have been de- posited from aqueous solutions, and are more or less rolled masses which have been liberated from diaiu tegrated veins. I. A CONTRIBUTOR to the Medical Record recommends that sweet peas should be placed in the sick-room to drive away flies in summer, as these insects have a strong dislike to the odour of the blooms, whereas invalids do not, as a rule, object to it. SUBMARINE rivers, or rather currents, are believed to exist off the Pescadores Point, Peru, and off the Rovuma River of East Africa similar effects have been noticed; and it has been supposed that the cable between Zanzibar and Mozambique was inter- rupted by freshwater currents or springs. Far out in the Gulf of Carpentaria fresh water can be drawn with a bucket. Sea springs .are found off the Vic- torian coast. Admiral Wharton, in discussing the paper, did not agree with the author as to outbreaks of fresh water at the sea bottom being able to cause the breaks found in the cable, while Mr. Charles Bright, F.R.S.E., the eminent telegraph engineer, took a somewhat similar view, and preferred to (ascribe the breaks to submarine volsanic disturbance. THE Parmesan cheese of Italy is green in colour, Dut the tint is not due to bacteria, as was thought. It comes from the copper pails in which the milk is kept till it becomes sour. According to Dr. Mariani, green Parmesan cheese contains from i to Ii grains of copper to the pound. In South Italy a similar cheese is made, but is not green, as the milk stands in tin, not copper, pails. THE whistling tree is so called from the wind in its branohes making a sound like a flute. It is the "tsofar" of South Nubia, and yields the gum of Senaar. Dr. Schweinfurth has shown that the sound is caused by holes bored in the spines of the branches by an insect in order to suck the gum. The spines, in fact, become little flutes. ACCORDING to the American papers, a subaqueous volcano has opened in Great Salt Lake, not far from the Promontory Station of the Central Pacific Rail- way. A small cloud was seen hovering over the water about a mile and a quarter from the shore. It gradually enlarged, and spray shot upward for hundreds of feet, while the water all round seethed and bubbled. Nature is publishing a series of articles on "Famous Scientific Workshops," beginning with the Laboratory of Lord Kelvin in the University of Glasgow. Lord Kelvin seems to have been the first to establish a physical as distinct from a chemical laboratory. The original laboratory was a disused wine-cellar under the class-room of Natural Philosophy in the old College of Glasgow, and after a time the Blackstone examination room was added to it. In this dark, makeshift place, some of his: memorable experiments on electricity and submariiie, f telegraphy were carried out, and some of his eminent « assistants were trained. His physical laboratory in the new college is, of course, a very different establishment. A MONUMENT to Helmholtz is to be erected between the statues of the two Humboldts, in front of the University of Berlin. Lessing, Hertet, and Janensch are the sculptors selected from the applicants for the work, but the final choice has not been made. AN interesting scientific expedition has been pro- jected in America. President Morris K. Jessup, of the American Museum of Natural History, is fitting,1 out a party of anthropologists to spend seven years,, on tour for the study of prehistoric man in all parts of the world, at a cost of 60,000dol. Professor P. W. Putnam, sometime curator of the Peabody Anthropological Museum, Harvard University, will be leader, and Dr. Franz Boas, a student of the North- Western Indian tribes of America, an assistant. The expedition will go to Alaska, Siberia, China, the Indian Ocean, and Egypt. President Jessup has already done much to foster science in connection' with the Peary Arctic Expedition and the forestry collection in the American Museum. THJI British Association, which meets this year in Toronto, will have for the presidents of its sections Professor A. R. Forsyth, Mathematical and Physical Science; Professor W. Ramsay, Chemistry; Dr., Dawson, Geology; Professor L. C. Miall, Zoology; Mr. J. S. Keltie, Geography; Professor E. C. K. Gonner, Economic Science and Statistics; Mr. G. F. Deacon, Mechanical Soience; Professor Sir W. Turner, Anthropology Professor Michael Foster, Physiology Professor H. Marshall Ward, Botany. The evening discourses will be delivered by Pro- fessor Roberts-Austen, C.B., Chemist to the Royal Mint, and Professor John Milne, the authority on •arthquakes.

GREATER BRITAIN. FAMINE prospects in India (according to accounts to hand by the last mail) continues to improve. In Behar the mortality has even been below the normal rates of previous years. The Central Provinces alone show, as hitherto, a heavy death-rate, directly or in- directly attributable to starvation. The worst division of the Central Provinces is Jubbulpore, where during five weeks 2442 deaths fiom famine were recorded, and, of these more than 200J occurred in the City of Jubbulpore itself. Analysis of the figures shows how- ever, that the administration of the Central Provinces is only to a small extent responsible for this. The pajority of the deaths have occurred among worn- out immigrants from outside. At a single dispensary, fpr instance, where 127 deaths were recorded, 90 of these were of jtotients from native'States, 20 from the North-West Provinces, one from Bengal, and only 16 of persons belonging to Jubbulpore. It is not, how- ever, pleasant to read that the high rate of mortality how recorded is due in a large measure to more complete registration," for this is only another way of saying that a number of famine deaths have pre- viously taken place which were not registered as such. If, moreover, three-fourths of the deaths in a Jubbulpore dispensary occur among patients from the adjoining native States, it is terrible to think what the condition of the people in those native States must be. In the North-West Provinces there is less actual starvation, but a much larger number of desti- tute persons are supported by the relief works, and there, more than anywhere else, will difficulty be found in preventing widespread ruin of the peasantry by the sale of their plough cattle. It is satisfactory in this connection to note that in addi- tion to the Central Indian Famine Fund the local fund of the North-West Provinces is being liberally supported, among many liberal subscriptions being one of Rs.25,000 from Bulrampur. To the pentral fund during the week a subscription of £ 6000 (the fourth instalment) was received from Canada and EIOOD from Melbourne, besides the peventh instalment from the Mansion House Fund. Colonel Ottley, the hon. secretary of the Famine Fund, who had worked with the greatest energy for two months and then fallen seriously ill, was removed on medical certificate to the Hills, and his work was taken up by Mr. H. E. M. James, Commissioner in Sind, who had come to Calcutta as a member of the Viceroy's Council. The difficulty of the woik of the Committee has been greatly enhanced by the annual, exodus of the Government of India to Simla, leaving only a few members to carry on the work in Calcutta. Among the other native Princes who have come forward generously to the aid of the sufferers from famine may be noted the Maharaja of Coocb-Behar, who has subscribed Rs. 4000 to the Bengal Fund, and the Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, who has agreed to advance the money required by the various small states of Bundelkhund whose finances have been overstrained by the necessities of famine relief. The official to whom the Government of India owes the greatest debt for the organisation of the admirable system of relief which is now literally saving millions of lives is Sir Edward Buck, who has recently retired from the service after many years' tenure of office as Secretary for Revenue and Agri- culture, and in the Gazette of India by the mail the Government publishes a highly eulogistic resolution on hiscareer. In the Bom bay Presidency Lord Sandhurst is still winning golden opinions by the self sacrificing spirit in which he continues touring in the famine stricken districts of his province; and in Sind and the Western Punjaub it is gratifying to note that the scarcity prevailing in other parts of India has not been seriously felt, as the horse and cattle shows at Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan have been well supported. From the Punjaub famine districts comes an amusing story of the device of the authori- ties at the relief works to enable the women engaged at the relief works to identify their babies. Hitherto there had been the wildest scenes of oonfusion when the mothers returned from work to claim the 700 or 800 babies left together in one place. So now each baby and each mother wears a numbered label round the neck, and the infants are recovered in the same ways as umbrellas at a theatre. It has not yet occurred to any practical joker to change the babies' labels. WITn a regard to remedies for the plague, Dr. Affkine's prophylactic treatment appeared to be ftVapiring confidence, as nearly 4000 persons bad been wloculated, and not one death occurred among them. Dr. Yersin's supply of serum, which has undoubted curative powers, had unfortunately given out, and the pew supply which had been despatched from Paris could not reach Bombay until April 8. A native medical man had made some interesting and apparently successful experiments with the X rays, which are knovn to possess microbioidal powers. All the patients operated noon had done well- lw Bengal a great deal of excitement was kept up BOncerning the Partisan Bill—for the division of family estates—before the Legislative Council. The Government has, however, wisely decided not to hurry the measure into law, and the agitation will with the course of time gradually subside. Ix Calcutta itself, the Bengal Government has Eractically decided, in the interest of the public ealth, to set aside the authority of the Calcutta Corporation and appoint an Executive Committee of 12 members to carry out the work of sanitation. Calcutta claims-to be the second city in the British Empire, but the local misgovernment of the place, in matters of hygiene, by the native elected members of the Corporation has beea a disgrace to the very name of civilisation. GENERAL approval is expressed by the Indian Press < of the proposal that a Tribunal of Arbitration should be appointed to regulate the financial relations between England and India, but it is pointed out that the wide range of matters requiring annual adjustment would provide the Tribunal with abund- ance of difficult and delicate work. A VERY serious matter in view of the good govern- inedt of India is the general feeling of discontent among the rank and Me of the Indian Civil Service. This is expressed in many ways, but in none more clearly than by the reluctance of civilians to continue to serve in India after they have earned their pension. The Indian Civil Service has olten been praised as the finest Service in the world, but this will not always be so, if the bulk of its members retire in the early prime of life. The sum and substance of the grievances of the Indian civilians is that their work has become mere red-tape drudgery, endless writing of reports and returns, and no inde- pendence. In other words, India is not the country it was for an Englishman." AN even more serious falling off in the personnel of the Indian Administration is noticeable in the status of the higher judicial service, and the Bengal Chamber of Commerce has addressed a memorial to Government, setting forth that the Judges of the Calcutta High Court are, briefly, overworked and underpaid. The result is that the Bench is not, as it should be, recruited from the best material, and ) unless its Judges can command the highest respect a country cannot claim to possess a civilised adminis- tration. So many Japanese have lately entered British Columbia that a petition protesting against this serious menace to the prosperity of white settlers has been presented to the Canadian Parliament. THE population of Victoria (Australia) continues to diminish, and the tide of emigration (chiefly to the goldfields) continues so strong that the Colony iu 1896 suffered a net loss of 6863 persons. The number of births exceeded the deaths by 16,408, but the loss by emigration is estimated to have been 23,271. During the last five years the total loss of population which Victoria has sustained is over 78,000. W. are apparently on the eve of a fresh boom in the use of Australian hardwoods for street-paving purposes in this country. Mr. R. W. Richards, J.P., the City Engineer of Sydney, is now in London on a special mission in the interests of the municipality which employs him. As be is a great authority or, Colonial woods, advantage is being taken of his presence here to get fuller and more definite evidence, with a view to a more extended use of the Australian woods in the streets of London and other cities. MR. BASIL THOMPSON, who is engaged upon a new work on Fiji and its people, is the third son of the late Archbishop of York. He is now in his 37th year. His knowledge of the Pacific is greater than most men's—though his experiences have not been.so long and varied as Mr. Louis Becke's. Thirteen ▼ears ago Mr. Thompson was appointed a magistrate in Fiji. Three or four years later he was appointed to British New Guinea, the occasion being the annexation of the country to Great Britain. His next appointment was that of adviser to the King of Tonga. His Tonga life is the basis of his popular aDd clever story, If The Diversions of a Prime Minister." Mr. Thompson does not believe that Christian missions of the theological order do any good. ¿ ,V>ViY> -UW, S ii. i- i.; J < {

CELEBRATED BOY ATHLETES. It would be difficult to* name any athlete in the three kingdoms who knows more about our great national pastimes than Mr. C. W. Alcock, the genial and popular secretary of the famous Surrey County iCricket Club. Besides being a voluminous writer on football topics it has fallen to Mr. Alcock's lot to bring to the front quite an army of youngsters who, fulfilling the promise of their early years, have ulti- mately developed into famous champions on the field of sport. Air. Alcock has done so much in the way of nursing young talent and encouraging boys to stick to their favourite games that it occurred to me (writes a Chums representative) to request the favour of an interview with him. Let us start Ti ua few details about prodigies, Mr. c • *ou must bave come across many youngsters who were really first-rate footballers and Cricketers even when they were at school. Now, would you say that the youngsters of to-day are as fine a lot of athletes as were their predecessors of 10 and 15 years ago ?" I've seen a number of youth- ful prodigies in my time," Mr. Alcock replied, but the difficulty is to compare them with the boys who are now making their way. QjS&u see, the conditions under which Association foo^lti} was played a few years ago were totally dissijWlar to those which now obtain. In the old days there wasn't anything like as much county football as there is now; besides which the game itself was con- ducted on different lines. Formerly there was less combination and more individual play, and a great deal more self-glory than there is to-day, when i a man is practically lost in his side. Latter-day foot- ball may be more mechanical as compared with the football of 20 years ago, but as a game it is infi- nitely superior to the old style. However, judging from what I can see, there are as many promising athletes as ever there were, and our boys are just as keen and quite as plucky as of old. There is a tendency generally in schools to encourage games, and I am sure every advantage is taken of this." Who was the greatest boy-player you ever knew ?" I should say that of forwards W. N. Cobbold was the finest Association player I ever saw. Even at school be was a most brilliant forward. Then of other excellent youngsters there were R. S. Vidal, of Westminster, E. C. Bambridge, and of a later day, G. O. Smith, of Charterhouse. The first three of these were at their best between 17 and 24, and even an mere boys I do not doubt that had county foot- ball been as prominent then as it is now they would have been selected to play. But, of course, it is only possible to remember those of quite exceptional ability off-hand. Among backs, A. H. Stratford played for the Wanderers while he was at Malvem College, and N. C, Bailey was quite first-class when at Westminster School. As far as I can remember, C. J. Ottoway was the first of the Admirable Crich- tons. I fancy he holds the record number of Blues. He played for the Gentlemen at cricket, and was also captain of the English International Associa- tion team in addition to which he was a most expert racket player. At Eton, when he was 16, he was a magnificent all-round athlete. Of late years, of course, C. B. Fry is the most con- spicuous instance of an all-round athlete. If he had not been prevented by an accident from playing in the Oxford and Cambridge Rugby match, he would have got four blues. To have been selected to play for his University in both Rugby and Association is an extraordinarily unusual thing." "Now,asregards boys who have actually played for their counties, Mr. Alcock." Well, there was A. P. Lucas. He was 17 when he played for Surrey, and he was a boy at Up- pingham at the time. W. H. Game, again, played for us when he was at Sherborne. A. C. McLaren was another prodigy. He played for Lancashire im- mediately on leaving Harrow, and scored a hundred runs in his first match. The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton was a prodigy at cricket, football, rackets, and tennis."

Kurn LADY Ah, if you had only done what your mother told you, you might not be in this situation." Convict: I don't know. She told me to go out into the world and make money." SHE: I wonder why love laughs at locksmiths ?" He: Well, you know that a man who is truly in love never has any use for a latch key." WHAT was the most beautiful thing you ever saw, Dubby ?" A royal flush when I had all my money in the centre of the table." 11 WHY, Alice, you don't mean to tell me that you accepted when he proposed on the 13th ?" did. I knew it would be bad luck to re*a80"v. J. I WONDER why Slimson had so nroj,ably cheese at his Welsh rarebit party ? „He p believes that in union there is etreegM.

FUN AND FANCY. THERE had been an addition to the family, and little Freddy was taken by his father to see the little stranger. Why, he's got no teeth," he exclaimed in astonishment, "nor no hair, either." After a moment's silence, he said, You've been taken in this time, dad he's an old un." A YOUNG man on becoming affianced was desirous of presenting his intended with a ring appropriately inscribed but being at a loss what to have engraved upon it, he asked his father's advice. Well," said the old gentleman, put on, When this you see remember me.' The young lady was surprised, upon the receipt of the ring a few days later, to read this inscription, When this you see remember father." THE sort of sentiment which the French system of marriages de convcnance, or, in plain English, of marriage for money, produces is well illustrated by a story which a French paper tells. Marie, a young lady, announces to her parents that she has accepted the hand of Monsieur X. Child, you are crazy exclaims Marie's mother. "But why, mamma?" Young X. will have no money for many years, be- cause it belongs to his grandfather, and after that comes his father, and you will be old before you get property." "But, mamma No buts about it —you are a bad and undutiful child "But, mamma, it is the grandfather whom I've accepted 1" The grandfather! Oh, you little angel!" PASSENGER (in second-class): I think I've got into the wrong carriage." Ticket Inspector (sternly): The difference must be paid Passenger (trium- phantly) Oh, just so Then I'll trouble you for three shillings—I've a first-class ticket!" AT a certain old-fashioned country church the clergyman was in the habit of thumping the pulpit to emphasise his words. One morning he bad taken for his text the words, Behold, I come quickly." During the sermon he repeated the text two or three times, bringing his fist (each time) down, not very gently, on the woodwork. Suddenly the pulpit and minister fell, burying in the ruins an old woman who had been sitting in a pew directly underneath listening very intently. Help was near at hand, and the old woman and the clergyman were quickly rescued. When she had recovered her breath a little, she looked up into the minister's face and remarked, quietly: Oh, lor! I didn't think thee meant to come quite so quick." IT is a wise child that keeps its face straight while watching its father trying to learn to ride a bicycle. 11 Doxs your poetry pay ?" Well, it just keeps the wolf from the door." I suppose you read it to him ?" "GUSSIE is very generous," said Iolanthe. "In- deed ?" said Ida. Yes; he is always giving himself away." LOOK here, sir," said the irate customer to the shop assistant, "you sold me this piece of goods warranted a fast colour. It was green when I bought it, and now it has turned to sickly blue in less than two weeks." "Well, madam," expostulated the assistant, you could hardly expect a colour to go faster than that." You never know a woman until your children have quarrelled with hers, or a man until you have owed him money. "AND what do you tegard as the greatest triumph of modern surgery ?" Collecting the bills," promptly responded the great practitioner. IN beginning," remarked the lecturer, "I might say I have come to the conclusion The burst of enthusiasm which the audience let loose at this juncture struck the lecturer 803 constituting rather a doubtful compliment. PitrEST Pat ther'es a hole in the roof of the church, and I am trying to collect money enough to repair it. Come, now, what will you contribute ?" Pat: Me services, sor." Priest: What do you mean, Pat ? You are no carpenter?" Pat: "No; but if it rains next Sunday Oi'll sit over the hole." A MISTRESS told her maid that she must not always do things on her own responsibility, but first ask permission. The next day Betty walked into the parlour, and said, politely Ma'am, the cat is busy eating up the duck in the pantry; may I send her away or not ?" BRIDGET O'HOOLIHAX, an elderly Irish cook, had been induced to go to a quiet little suburban town to live in a wealthy gentleman's family. Two weeks after her arrival she declared her intention of return- ing to the city. "Why do you wish to leave 118, Bridget?" asked her mistress in a grieved tone. We pay you the very highest wages." Ye do, ma'am, an'yer a perfect leddy, Oi'm not laving' troo anny fault av de fem'ly, but this place is such a dead old place, wid no chance to doannything loively in it that, begorry, Oi have to mek up a pack of lies iv'ry time Oi go to confession, or Oi'd have nothing to confesh How do you find it possible to act the r6le of the persecuted wife so naturally ?" asked the reporter. It isn't very difficult," replied the great actress. The villain is my real husband." JOHN BULL: Got a new idea, have you ?" Naval Constructor Yes, sir; I can make you a war vessel now that will suit every requirement; it is modelled after a duck." Can it fly ?" Well, no but it can sail like a duck." Suppose a foreign man-of- war sees it and fires at it ?" It will dive just like a duck." "Dive out of sight?" "Right to the bottom." Well, I don't know. Seems very like those we have now." WHAT a sad, sweet face Miss Psyche has," said Mr. De Rich. She never smiles. She must have met with some great loss." Yes; she was in a rail- way accident a few weeks ago, and she lost a front tooth," replied Miss De Smart. DARLING, you have no idea how anxious I was while you were coming down the rope ladder. I w so afraid you had not fastened it securely above,' said Artie. You needn't have been alarmed, dear. Papa tied the knot for me," Susie answered. HARRY is such good company Harriet remarked. He can talk upon any subject." H'm Thinkl should enjoy his company better if he could keep still on any subject," said the old gentleman. WHEN were you born?" shouted the lawyer, after he had badgered her for an hour. You've told me a dozen times that I must not testify on mere hear- say," she snapped back. "DIDN'T the grocer send the macaroni?" inquired the mistress, arranging for the dinner. "Yis, mum, replied the cook but Oi sent it back. Every wan of them stims wuz empty." MAC, I hear ye have fallen in love wi bonnie Katie Slovens." "Weel, Sandy, I was near-verra near-daein' it but I found the lassie had nae siller, 80 I said to mysel', Mac, be a mon.' And I was mon, and noo I pass her by wi' silent contempt. JAMESON How did you happen to miss the train ?" Gammon I took the wroug 'bus to the station." Jameson I see sort of blunderbuss. I IIATB to bother you, Pop but, really, I d like to know Well, what ?" How it happens that baby fish don't get drowned before they ve learned to swim." 14 AWFULLY sorry I'M BO latef dear. Been detained on business with Teddy Newcombe all the evening," said the husband. Yes, darling, Mr. Newcombe has been waiting here for you since nine o'clock," replied his wife. DID you complete the story you were at work on ?"' Yes," replied the litterateur. You were in doubt as to its conclusion. Did it have a happy or unhappy ending?" "Unhappy. The editor refused to print it." AMELIA: "Swear not by the moon, the inconsistent moon." Augustus:" Then what shall I swear by? Amelia Swear by that which you hold invaluable, something that you cannot live without." Augustus: "Then, Amelia, I love you! I swear it by my bicvcle." in 1 SAY, Jimmie, d yer ma beat yerwben yer go last night ?" No; you bet she didn't. My, y got off easy." Yes yon see, she was fraid i y so loud I'd wake the baby." vou THEY say all sorts of unkind things^^ ;ej Such as what?" "Well, they said tha y for money." But you didn t be ie^^ that there Not until I saw your husband- dear frjendg> came an estrangement between th old father FIRST ACTOR Many a ^macfcory»PSeCOnd Actor: implored me not to become » "Don't worry, old "^j^t-seeing the ballet for MRS. HARDACR ( jj That beats met" Mr. /rat /Cfully): ;?You bet it does." Hardacre (g « Were you knocked speechless collided with that stone ?" Bloomer: No; butemy wheel was knocked spokeless." WILLIAMS Why, that isn't the same coat you bad on yesterday, is it?" Roberts:" No. My sister has gone out with that in mistake-pipe, tobacco-pouch, and all; this is hers." YES, I refused him," said the weeping girl to her mother. "Then what are you crying for r "Why, the silly fellow jumped for his hat and rushed out of the house. He thought I meant it."

READINGS FOR THE YOUNG: (From "Little Foiks ""f > FROM THE NORTH POLE. Perhaps you don't happen to know that just lately a bottle was picked up floating in the North Atlantic which contained an interesting and instructive series of extracts from the diary from the true king of the Poles. It was written, of course, in Polish, but the following is a fairly accurate rendering of the manu- script into English. The Palace, South Pole, Winding-up Day. This being the day for winding-up the machinery, I started soon after breakfast for the centre of the earth. I had climbed but a short distance up the pole when I met with a surprising adventure, which might have had a very serious ending. By a slight vibration of the pole I knew that something was coming down it, but had scarcely time to imagine what, when I was knocked on the head, and driven back again to the bottom quicker than I came, while two somethings rolled over me. One of them proved to be Boreas Bruin, my head bear-servant, who picked himself up with many apologies, and laid at my feet the other something-a boy, a human bQy-the first of its kind I have ever seen. I have tied a -couple of knots in my pockethandkerchief the first that I may remember to have something done to the pole to prevent such another accident, and the second to remind me to make inquiry as to this human boy, and consider the curiosity. The remainder of the day devoted to winding-up the machinery and oiling the works. It does not do to scamp the job-it must be done properly and thoroughly a little rust, for instance, might hinder the earth in turning round, thus giving it a longer or shorter winter. Accidents like this will sometimes happen, however careful one may be, and then there is no end of grumbling by the earth-people, I am told. South Pole, Off-day. This being an off-day, I hue had leisure to consider the last curiosity —the human boy. His face is round, his cheeks are smooth and red, his eyes are very blue. He has no whiskers, no moustache. He is dressed in velvet, with a belt round his waist; his feet, instead of being bare, are wrapped in thick leather, so that the cold or ice may not hurt his soft skin his arms and hands are covered up for the same reason, and his head is protected by a velvet hood. The cold wind makes him shiver, he spreads some- thing on the ice before he sits down he seems, there- fore, to be very tender. He talks pretty much as I talk, and is always asking questions. I have no peace. Never still, the personification of perpetual motion. He is great friends with the bears —indeed, I rather like him myself. Before I forget all about it I will set down the manner of his finding. Boreas Bruin was at the north pole, and had gone a good many miles away to fish. The ice was so thick that be had to go farther than he intendeJ, and still there was no water. Suddenly over a great ice hummock, he saw the masts of a vessel—something different from what even I myself have very occasionally seen-a ship with three mastsjull-rigged. How a full-rigged ship came to be lying there in my iee-grounds, Boreas Bruin could not tell me, but there it was so he went nearer to warn the strangers off my property. Then Boreas saw three men-folk armed with guns watching someth;ng on the other side of the hummock—it was the boy, the homan boy. Boreas could not make him out, but went up to him, sniffed at him, turned him over with his nose, and, still puzzled, took him up by his velvet clothes and trotted off northward to show me the curiosity, and in doing so, narrowly missed being shot by the men. The bear reached the north pole, and finding I was not there, at once climbed quickly down the pole, and met me coming up, as I described. And now there will be no peace uatil I have shown the human boy everything—yes, everything. To-day I have told him how 40 weeks made up a year, and how nine days make up a week, corresponding, of course, to the nine letters in north pole and south pole, about which he was ignorant. I told him the names of the week-days—Winding-up day, Off-day, Hunting day, South pole day, Off-day two, Hunting day two, North pole day, Aurora day, Hunting day three. I wonder how much of it he will remember?