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

í'THE GAY GORDONS." Gordon Highlanders pastand present may be par- | doned if they felt proud and elated by the news of the gallant conduct of the 1st Battalion at Dargia. It is a keen pleasure to them (remarks a writer in the Daily Itlegraph) to see how it carries on its own. un- sullied traditions and those of its 2nd Battalion, the celebrated ninety-twas," whose regimental record* are already a blaze of military glory. India has been the scene of many triumphs of the Gordons; their colours bear the names Seringapatam, Delhi, and Lucknow. The 92nd served in Afghanistan under Boberts. where the present Commander-in-Chief in India, then a major in the regiment, aad Colonel Dick Cunyngham, who now commands the 2nd Bat- talion, won the Victoria Cross; and Lord Roberta chose as the heraldic supporters to his coat of arms a Highlander of the 92nd Regiment and a Goorka, proclaiming thus to the world which regiments of his army he considered had served him best. There is a tradition in the North that in the market-place of Aberdeen the beautiful Duchess of Gordon offered each lad who was willing to join the Gordon Regiment then being raised by her bus- band a kiss and a guinea. Her Grace did her country good service, for during the 100 years which have passed since the regiment has been in existence the 9 colours of her family have been carried to the front in every one of Great Britain's most glorious victories; and Napier, the historian of the Penin- aular War, though fertile in such comparisons, could find no parallel for the steadfast courage of the Gordon Highlanders at the Maya save that of the defenders of Thermopylae. The so-called Terri- torial Scheme, which linked in 1881 regiments formerly separated by tradition and custom, joined the 92nd to the 75th. Both regiments buried their old numbers with great pomp, the 92nd in the Transvaal, the 75th in the Ditch" which surrounds the town of Valletta, at Malta and they interred, at the same time, at these quaint funerals every sort of petty strife and inter-regimental I'ealousy, too often a feature of the new system, jike good soldiers, both regiments saw that duty pointed to a strict observance of the orders they re- ceived, and, though each bad something to losé- trifling, perhaps, to a civilian, but serious to the soldier-a happier family than the two battalions, now united for ever under the title of Gordon High- landera, does not exist in her Majesty's Army. This epitaph was written over the grave of Number 75: Here lies the good old 75th; But, under God's protection, They'll rise again, in kilt and hose, A glorious resurrection. And a glorious resurrection it certainly was. The Governor of Malta rode to Valetta, at Malta, one summer's morning in 1882, to see the 75th, which, the day before had paraded in trousers, don for the first ti me the colours of the princely house of Aboyne. Much diverted were the private soldiers at finding themselves without trousers, but not displeased. There was a feeling in the regiment that the new dress would require an effort to be lived up to; how that effort has been made a history of our wars during the last 15 years will show. Under the late Colonel Haaimil the 1st Battalion embarked for Alexandria in 1882, and after a short stay at BaJDleh, where officers and men received their baptism of fire from the big guns at the lines of Damanhour, it was sent to join the rest of the Highland Brigade at Kassassin. The 75th was watched with jealous eyes by the rest of the brigade —the old 42nd, the 79th; and the 74th. Up to 1881 the Highland regiments had been so long and justly celebrated that recruits, though not numerous, were sufficient; the advent of new battalions, however good, meant fewer recruits, and perhaps there were other and not altogether unnatuial reasons why new Highlanders should not be appreciated by old. I think I may say that the conduct of the 1st Gordons at Tel-el-Kebir was such that the brigade was ever afterwards proud of its new comrades, and I am much mistaken if our old friends of Tel-el-Kebir, Cairo, and the Eastern Soudan, the 42nd and the 79th, will not share our delight at the latest achievement of the 75th, and rejoice in the great luck which has given them the chance of so much distinction. At Tel-el-Kebir the Highland Brigade stormed the trenches in the dark, the 1st Gordons between the 79th and 42nd; and although Sir Garnet Wolseley's despatch surprised us by informing the world that tome Irish regiment had preceded us in the assault, t never altered our belief that they did not beat us by much. The 1st Gordons were certainly not 200 yards from the parapet when the enemy opened fire, led by Colonel Hammil and Major Bores, who jumped their horses over the parapet. It took a very short time to traverse the space, and the regiment was partially reformed inside the enemy's former position before day fairly broke. The Camerocs or the Black Watch went in with us. Those who betit us must have indeed been active; but darkness covered at Tel-el-Kebir, as it does elsewhere, a multitude of errors. The 1st Gordons after Tel-el-Kebir marched with Sir Archibald Alison to Tantah and thence to Cairo, where they were camped, with the rest of the brigade, On the present Cairo racecourse, and the Gordons, and Camerons were soon afterwards sent to the Citadel, where they lived together for two years. The cholera broke out in 1883, and the Gordons were left on duty in Caiio. One hot summer day—and it ows how to be hot in Egypt—an officer in the regi- ment was on main guard in Cairo. The guard- room in those days was a little theatre in the Eabikieh quarter, and many a romp has taken place .on its empty stage and over its deserted seats and stalls. The officer had gone to bed, and was vainly attempting to defeat the mosquitoes, when a knock at his door heralded the sergeant of the guard with the information that the black servant of the guard room had suddenly succumbed to an attack of cholera. And what have you done with the body ?" quoth the officer. Weel, sir," replied the sergeant, I just pet him him in the formaist row o' benches. He'll do line there for the night." Probably so gruaaome an object had seldom been seen in the stalls of any theatre. Colonel Hammil again led his regiment to Trinka- tat, in the Eastern Soudan, where the 1st Gordons formed p^rt of the First Brigade under Sir Red vers Bailer. Concerning their conduct at Teb and Tamai j Sir Gerald Grahams despatches are eloquent enough, j but surely soldiers never saw a. _fiqQr,ight than the Gordons presented when, led by Colonel Hamuiil and Major Boyes,both mounted, they advanced over the rifle pits to storm the battery at Teb. Hammil is dead, but Boyes is still in the army, certainly a type of what a commanding officer should be; his tall iigure, always mouuted on a big horse, was a rallying point to which men were accustomed to look in moments of doubt or confusion. The 1st Gordons, at all events, owe him a deep debt of grati- tude, for it was his example as a commandiug officer which did so much to make the regiment what it is. After the battle of Teb a staff officer told a special correspondent that he (the staff officer) had led the 1st Gordons into the battery. The correspondent duly wired the news to England, and it became history next morning. When the regiment read it they were amused, but not surprised. Someone in authority, however, was not pleased, and demanded an explanation. The staff officer blamed che corres- pondent, who produced shorthand notes of the con- versation on which he had founded his report. Then there was nothing for it but apology, and apologise the staff officer at once did to the regiment in the person of Colonel Hammil, who replied: Don't say another word, my dear fellow. Nobody but your fondest relative would believe that you led my regi- ment anywhere while my officers are paid for the Job. Tamai was the last fighting the 1st Gordons saw in the Soudan they formed part of the Boat Expedi- tion up the Nile in the winter following, but arrived too late for the action at Eirbekan. A detachment from the regiment fought at Abu Klea. an Gubat under Major Payne; but in 1885, on the Nile, as a regiment, it bad all the unpleasant work of campaign- ing without the pleasure of a good fight it expected and hoped for had Gordon been reached in time. When the regiment arrived at Malta in 1885 -a finer body of men could not be imagined. Every private bore a medal and four, if not five, clasps, and they were hardened by exposure and war and trained by the experience of privation and danger into soldiers worthy of the veteran long-service army. From Malta the 1 sailed to Ceylon, and thence, a year or two later, to India; last year it left its mark on the defenders of the Malakand Pass, and now again it is warring witn the highlanders of the Indian Frontier. Thus, since 1882, this battalion has taken part in four campaigns, arsisted in six pitched battles, and is now engaged m a fifth campaign. Not a bad record; and if it has had good luck it may fairly be said to have earned it.

CANADA'S REWARD. The Colonial Golifieldtf Gmzeite comments on the gratifying success which has attended the Dominion Government's new departure in colonial finance. il says thatWhile there were many, even among the most sanguine friends of Canada, who regarded the issue of "a 4:2,000,000 loan at 2l per cent, as a dubious experiment in no way calculated to advance the prestige of our greatest colony, the result has shown that Mr. Fielding, the Canadian Minister of Finance, was-right, and his critics wrong. During the repent Jubilee festivitiei Canada Routed larger in the public eye than any other of the possessions of the Queen. It is no disparagement to the Colonial Premiers ia general to say that the unique personality of. 8ir Wilfred Laurier overshadowed in the estimation of the crowd the representatives of the other colonie?, conspicuous as many of them were for political ability and knowledge of affairs. The announcement that Canada had determined for the future to foster pre- ferential trade relations with the Mother Country formed a fitting prelude to the harmonies of an I in- perial festival. No political coup of recent years has taken the world so completely by storm. The vast significance of Canada's new fiscal policy was quickly appreciated alike within the Empire and without. It was the first step, and a long step, towards the realisation of the proud dream of Imperial Federation, and the loyalty of other colonies I was stimulated to imitate so fair an example. If the con- ferences which took place in London between; Mr. Chamberlain and the Colonial Premiers had for the moment no tangible result, at least they server to emphasise and accentuate the mutual desire fbr a closer relationship between the colonies and the Mother Country. Canada has shown the way in: the splendid rivalry of zeal for the commonweal; but South Africa, too, was there with a gift—the umcondi- tioned offer of a first-class battleship to swelll the naval strength of Great and Greater Britain. It is quite in accordance with the fitness of thingsithat Canada should have reaped the reward of the tvide popularity won by Sir Wilfrid Laurier's statesman- ship in the triumphant success of the first big finan- cial loan which has followed the stirring events of last summer. Whilst the success of the present Canadian loan is primarily a great achievement for Canada, it has its lessons for the other colonies as well. When the Australias are federated intd the Dominion of Australia; when Cape Colony, Natal, Bechuanaland, and Rhodesia are welded into the Dominion of British South Africa, their credit may rank as high as that of British America. Assaiiedly the other colonies may well take a hint from Canada co as regards the conduct of their financial operations in this country. > It would be difficult to conceive a more marked contrast than that between the success of the Dominion Government's 2-, 3 per eent. £ 2,000,000 loan and the failure of the Westralian Government's recent issue of E 1,000,000 of 3 per cent, bonds, and those responsible for that fiasco might do worse than imitate the methods of the Bank of Montreal.

Draiira tho Queen's reign there has been a diminu- tion m the maniagf-v^. The rapid increase in the population has been brought about by the decline ia Ikt £ (

M.B.S. -,PIRILBRICYT STORY.: AN AMERICAN CHARACTER SKETCH. It's queer," remarked Mrs. Philbrick, m'.singly, as she ran her hand into a worsted sock of ample proportions, but I never go to darn a stocking in the world, scarcely, that'I don't think of something that happened nearly thirty years ago; and I feel most ae mortified an 'shamed as I did then, too." "How so, Etaeline?" asked Mr. Philbrick from his seat on the steps of the piazza, his eyes and thoughts evidently more intent on the columns of figures he was jotting down in a note-book than in anything his wife might be faying. He had learned from a long and varied experience to ask q* sessions and to make replies almost mechanically. "Why, Mrs. Philbrick," said the young danghter of the summer boarder who was swinging in a hammock at the end of the porch, "did you ever do anything that 3 ou were ashamed of?" It wasn't so much what I did as what I didn't;, do," said Mrs. Philbrick, dryly. The rumster boarder dropped her book into her lap and looked up expectantly. Oh, do tell us what it was about, Mrs. Philbrick, there's a dear f waid the girl, coaxingly. Was it when you were a girl P" Tbs summer boarder laughed. If it happened nearly thirty years ago, Edith, she couldn't have been a very aged woman." ",Why, no, of course not; but it doesn't seem as though you were ever girls and did silly things you are all so dignified now." "But I was; and just such another careless, highty-tighty-for-a-good-time girl as I could see this minute if I were a mind to look," said the mistress of the house. "Did you hear that, mamma?" laughed Edith. You see there is hope for me yet. But do iell us, dear Mrs. Philbrick, of what the hole in Mr, Phil- brick's sock reminded you; it must be something odd, and I am dying to know." It isn't a thrilling tale, as the story paper sav," said Mrs. Philbrick, deprecatingly, though it catised me a good deal of worry and taught me a leeson; beside, it was on a very important occasion. It was the first time I ever saw—never mind." She laughed in the noiseless, shaky way that arouees the risibles more than can a vocal guffaw. My folks lived on a farm near the ocean, as we do. It is about twenty miles north of us. My youngest brother carries, on the home place now. There were seven children of ns, fhe boys and two girls, my sister Caroline and I. She was three years older than I and as different as though- we were no relation. She was quiet and ladylike and enjoyed housework and sewing; I was a fly-away, and would rather go out in the fields and work with my brothers than to stay ip. doors. But there was always so much to do inside that I had little time.to roropt The summer I was seventeen we had lively times. There was a party of young folks from the city who boarded at a place next to ours. They were a wide awake crew, and as girls were rather scarce in our neighbourhood my sister and I were invited to every. thing, and received attention enough-more than we could accept. There was one drawback, both of us could not leave home at the same time. We could not leave mother to do the work alone, so Caroline and I took turns in going. One day a sail up the bay was planned. There was to be a picnic lunch on an island and a moonlight sail home in the evening. Of course I wanted to go, or, as you, Edith, would say, I was just dying to go,' but I must stay at home and chum and cook and iron and do a thousand and one other things, for it was my sister's turn to have an outing. I helped her to get ready, which was no easy task, for she was the most particular person I think I ever knew. She was always trim and neat, but when she went out she looked, as brother Nathan used to say, as though she bad been lapped." What did be mean ?" asked Edith. Oh, slick and smooth, as kittens do after the old cat has made their toilets. Well, Caroline was all ready to start; her lunch basket was packed with everything as nice as possible, and she was very pretty in her pink muslin and pink ribbons. Girls nowadays don't dress in muslins for a picnic, but we were not so sensible then." Bravo!" exclaimed Edith. You are the first person, Mrs. Philbrick, that I ever heard acknow- ledge that people were more sensible now than when they were young themselves." » This was said with a sly glance in the direction of the summer boarder. I" Oh, we followed the fashions just as you do. The fashions were not so sensible, that's all." I thought you wouldn't let it go that way," said Edith, laughingly. Please do not interrupt, Edith," said her mother, gently. We are. interested in Mrs. Philbrick'a story." "As I said before, Caroline Was all ready and waiting for the party to call for her which they were to do in half an honr, and she went into the garden to gather a bunch of sweet peas for her belt. In a minute she came into the house holding on to her nose and crying with pain; a bee had stung her right on the end of her nose. In a moment it had swollen to the size of two noses. I had all I could do to keep from laughing, she looked so funny, but I knew how sensitive she was, and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. In a shorb time the pain grew less and she went to the mirror. I shall never forget the wait of mortification that she gave on beholding her face. Both eyes were puffed up, and she didn't look like the same girl. "1 You may get ready and go to the pionic, Em,' she said. I wouldn't be seen out of doors with this face.' I did not need much urging, I can assure you. I flew upstairs to dress. I had done my hair and was dressing in a rush when I made the discovery that there wasn't a whole pair of stockings in my bag. I turned it inside out and found that I had indeed come to the bottom. I always hated to mend more than anything I had to do. I had got in the way of changing work with Caroline and getting her to do it for me. But mother had put a stop to this. She saw that I was shirking that work and had forbidden her to do it for me any more. I found a pair that had one whole one and the other with a hole in the toe as large as a quarter of a dollar. I could sew that up m a jiffy, I thought. Then I began hunting for a needle. In the cushion, in the curtains, where I sometimes stuck them, on the wall; not a needle anywhere. A wild idea of asking the loan of a pair o(CaroliPeesfi,eking-,i flashed into my head. No, that wouldn't do. She didn't didn't like to lend her things, and besides. I was ashamed to let her know about it. What should I do ? I opened the door to ask someone to fetch me a needle, when! heard the voices of the young folk below. Someone called to me to hurry, and I pulled on the holey stocking with a guilty feeling that I recollect to this hour. There were a number of new corners aVnor-r the pirty, and one of the young men was in ttiy, a!l day. Usually I was one of the liveliest ones in the crowd, but that day I was afraid to do anything. 1 didn't take a moment's comfort because of that hor- rible hole in my stocking. I didn't swing—-I was afraid that I might fall—and I didn't go rowing for fear I might get upset. I was never afraid of any- thing, and I suffered all day fearing that something would happen to me. I vowed a dozen times that never, never, never would I be so careless again. I thought that I would stay at home another time rather than Wear a ragged garment. It, was go slovenly, so sort of disgraceful! What woald Caroline !L have said? I could imagiBe her disgust, and it did not make me feel any easier, for I had great regard for my sister's opinion. "I recollect that I wore a pretty new gown that day. A number of the young people spoke ef it as becoming. I could feel my cheeks burn every time it was noticed. If they knew how it corresponds with the rest,' I would think, and had all I could do to keep frcm bursting out crying. 'If I ever live to get home again, I thought;, I will darn and mend everythmg in the houee that needs it just to punish myself for my slackness.' And I re- solved that I would do it every week, too, like civi- lised people. Oh, I made a. thousand good resolu- tions that day. It was the longest, most miserable one that I had ever known, and I was thankful when the time came for returning. My spirits rose when I found myself in the boat headed for home. There would be little danger now. The moon was full, and in the singing and talk and laughter I almost forgot the cause of my misery when we landed on the little rotten, wooden wharf near our house. My new acquaintance was by my side as we stepped on the ricketty planks. We had not taken half a dozen steps when I stepped on a rotten place between two planks and down I went. I sprained my ankle and cried out with the pain and fright. It almost took my breath every time I tried to pull my foot out of the hole. My companion holped me all ke could, but that was very little. The others clustered around and suggested things as folks Will. They wanted to prrte rip tbi) -floor,ibut it was evening, and there was no one about and no tools to work with. They lita pocket lantern aud my escort suggested that he unlace the hoot and I might draw out the foot without aay trolible. This I vehe- mently objected to. The odd thing about it was that I could not for the life ef remember which foot it was that wore the holey stocking. I was sure that I should die of mortification if it should happen to be the ragged one. "They took their knives and attempted to dig away the rotten plankt but the ankle was paining me so severely that 1, almost fainted. It's no use to try that,' said the young man. 11 will take off her boot and not hurt her a bit. There was nothing else to do, but submit; I thought I should as soon die then as .wait until I got to be old, He unfastened the boot and I could draw out my foot easily. I had to be carried home and didn't step on the foot- for more than a week. It Wasn't much, but I put a lot of suffering into a short time. It was a good lesson to me, too. I was ner caught that way again. It's queer bow many people will take things to heart, Mrs. Fleming, that older ones "But you haven't told us yet, Mrs. PhilUiclr, whether it was the holey stocking or not that was on the foot you hurt," exclaimed Edith, eagerly. Mr. Philbrick was listening with a quizzical ex- pression on his good-humoured face. '• No, Emeline, you left that out," said he. "Warren Philbrick," said his wife, "do you suppose tbatl could ever have looked you in the face again if it had been the stocking with[ a hole in it that you pulled that boob off of ?" Well, well!" said Mr. Philbrick. That's what I call a downright swindle. I can recollect thinking at the time that that was tho neatest little— "Don't be silly, Warren, for pity's sake, and right-before folks, too!" said Mrs. Philbrick with some energy.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD. Tbo report of t be medical officer of the Local Go- vernment Board ksir Richard Thorne Thorne) for 1895-96 is published as a Parliamentary paper. In setting forth the administrative relations of the medical department, Sir R. Thorne Thorno gives sosno statistics of vaccination and public vaccination, and mentions that the marked and almost continuous in- crease in the amount of default as regards vaccina- tion, which had been in progress during the past seven years, received a slight check in the metropolis in respect of 1893, but in the provinces it underwent still further augmentation. The report gives infor- mation with regard to the inspection of public vaccination and the working ot the national vaccine establishment. During the year reported on > 6802 persons were primarily vaccinated at the animal vaccine station, and of these 6736 returned for inspection., In 17 cases vaccination proved un- successful on the first trial; but in no mstancc, it is stated, is a second trial known to have failed. As regards other administrative business, the current work of the medical department took account of a variety of subjects, and included numerous con- ferences on matters relating to the adoption of byo- laws and to the preparation of plans for isolation hospitals by one and another local health authority. Sanitary authorities, it is noted, are coming more and more to see advantage from a preliminary discussion of the debateable points arising out of propositI" in which loans are involved,,or in which the adapta- bility of the Board's model bye-laws to the needs of particular localities raises questions of divergence from customary lines. Daring the course of 1805 31 vessels infected with-cholera in the sense of the Board's cholera regulations reached three English ports. In each case the usnal measures of preven- tion were adopted, and once more the J ear passed without the spread of cholera to anyone living in this country.

= WILLS AND BEQUESTS. By his will, which bears date December 7, 1£93, with a codicil of August 16,1895, Mr. James Ander- son, of Frognal-park, Hampstead, formerly of the firm of Anderson, Anderson,, and Co., ship and in- surance brokers, Ferichurch-avenue, who died on September. 1 last, aged 86 years, leaving personal estate of the value of £ 133,383 16s. lid., appointed as executors his sons, Hugh Kerr Anderson and Kenneth Skelton Anderson, his son-in-law, THOMAS Cecil Curwen, of Cornhill, stockbroker, and Hugh Mackay Matheson, to the two last-named of whom he bequeathed 91115 each; to his former clork, George Slader, ElIlZil to his nephew, Dr. J. I E. Anderson, £ 50 to, his nurse, Mary Elizabeth Frost, a life annuity of £ 25; to his Lon Hugh the portrait of the testator by Pettie; to his unmarried daughters furniture to the value of £1000; in trust for his daughters, Mary Jane Anderson, Jemima Skelton Anderson, Ruth. Anderson, and Margaret Skelton Curwen, E12,000.eaob in trust for his daughter Berths Warden Milligan (to whom he has given £1500), 4:10,500; and in trust for the two sons of his daughter, and the late Emily Haldane, £8000. Mr. Anderson confirmed a deed of trust disposition and settlement of his estate in Scotland, made in Scottish form, and the legacies in trust for his daughters under the English will are to be inclusive of and not in addition to the provision made for them by the Scottish deed. The trustees are not to invest in the security of landed estate in Ireland. The testator's property in Vancouver's Land is left, together with all the residue of his estate, in equal shares to his sons Hugh and Kenneth, but if the share of the latter, should not be as much as the sum of £ 30,000 advanced to him by the testator as I capital in. his business, repayment of any excess may j be ppread over seven years. P rebate of the will, which bears date Aug.' 3, 1894, j of Mr. Joseph Birkbeck, of Langcliffe, Madeira-road, I Bournemouth, formerly of.tbe firm of Alcocks, Piz-k- beck, and Co., of the Craven Bank, Settle, Yorkshire, i who died on June 16 last, aged 67 years, leaving per- sonal estate valued at £ 19,820 38. 3d., has been granted to his widow, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth liiikbeek, ) and his son, Major Vincent Mackesy Birkbeck, of the í Royal Scottish Regiment, and of the Caledonian j United Service Club, Edinburgh. The testator be- queathed to Mrs. Birkbeck £ 500 and his household effects, and he bequeathed to his son William Henry • one-half of his shares in the Craven Bank (Limited" charged with the payment of-a life annuity ov £ 200 to Mrs. Birkbeck, and with the payment also of any debt due to the Craven Bank (Limited) by the testator as a partner in Alcocks, Birkbeck, and Co. He left the residue of his property to bis son Major Birkbeck, but charged with the payment of his telia- mentary expenses and other debts and a life annuity of £ 400 to Mrs. Birkbeck. pnder the will, made in 1844, of his father, Mr. John Birkbeck, of Giggles- wick, the late Mr. Joseph Birkbeck had a life interest, in, with power of appointment of certain settled estate in Essex and Middlesex and certain trust i funds, and having appointed part thereof tp big ] daughter,. Edith Margaret, he appointed by his will thb remainder of the trust estate in trust for his son Major Birkbeck for life and his issue by his wife, Winifred Agnes, or on failure of issue for the tes- tator's on William Henry.

HUMAN VIVISECTION. Dr. Edward Berdoe, writing in the Star, calls atten- tion to certain experiments carried out by Professor Banarelli at the Island of Flores, near Monte Video, i and reported by the Boston Evening Transcript. In these experiments, according to Sanarelli's own words, he took five individuals and and inoculated them with germs of yellow fever, taking careful note of the 1 various horrible stages of the disease through which they passed, to perish miserably in "final1 collapse."

PRBSIOEKT MCKINLEY receives an average of CO begging letters a day. People in all parts of the I country write soliciting hia aid to get tleiii I' temporarily out of trouble. The other day the total amount requested was 25,000 dollars. THE Queen of Italy possesses a unique and inte- resting collection of shoes and gloves worn by famous empresses and queens, in which are to be seen th. te worn by Queen Elizabeth of England, Queen }/¡\i'¡¡> Antoinette cf France, the Czarina Catherine JI., tiLcI Queen Christina of Sweden. TIIE height of luxurious travelling has been reached by the Czar and Czarina. The Empress's private car is upholstered in pale blue satin. The electric lamps are all in the form of lilies, and it contains writing Md tea-tables made of mother-of-pearl. The nursery is the next apartment, and is as comfortable and handsome as the same rooms in any of the Czar's palaces. There are dining-rooms and drawing-rooms and several sleeping apartments in fact, this train is i h miniature palace. The wheels are covered with indiarubber tyres. • • I

FARMING NOTES. t (From" The Rural World.") PorLTRY-KEZPING ON A SMALL BeAU). Undoubtedly the number of poultry keepers ha. considerably increased of late years, but fhetn are still thousands who might profitably keep fowls who fail to do to. A very mistaken notion is prevalent that poultry can only be kept successfully when there is a large grass run, and many people who ha-e ample space, and who enjoy looking after the birds, as well as the luxury of eating the eggs laid by their own birds, can often with difficuly be persuaded t hat hens confined in a small yard, but well cared fo TJ will lay much more freely than those that can roam at will. A dozen bens well-housed and cared for will furnish a much larger number of eggs than a similar number of the same breed uncared for. An inexpensive house surrounded by a wire run may be erected in a corner of the back yard or garden, and if a little common sense is exhibited in feeding and management, a few hens will prove a lucrative investment. A wooden house can be constructed at a trifling cost. This house should, if possible, have a southern aspect, ab this ensures a greater amount of warmth througiv out the winter; but if this cannot possibly be obtained, then the piercing east or north winds may be, to some extent, shut out by. judiciously planting a few shrubs or trees to break the wind, and this would always form a good shelter from rain or heat, to which-tie fowls may run at all times. A wooden lean-to built against a wall about 7ft. high at the back, and five feet in front, with lapped boards, and edges projecting over the sides of the house to throw off the rain, will be sufficient. Its essentials are: (1) It should be water-tight; (2) it should be well ventilated; and (3) it should be free from draughts. If a poultry keeper takes to a building ready-made to his hand, where defective ventilation already exists, the difficulty may be overcome by cover- ing the holes or windows with perforated zinc or wire gauze. A close, confined atmosphere is as injurious to poultry as to human beings, as disease i* thereby occasioned, and success under such a con- dition is absolutely impossible. Extreme cleanliness and efficient superintendence are necessary. Fresh drinking-water should always be provided, as well as a plentiful supply of grit. The house should be fre- quently lime-washed, and lime should, at all times, be within reach. If the conditions enumerated above are carried out, I feel sure no one will ever regret having commenced poultry keeping, and those who now complain at having to pay three halfpence or twopence each for eggs generally termed new laid," bat which have, in many cases, been kept in stock for a considerable time, will be enabled to produce eggs on their own premises at less than half that price. FEEDING MAnic AND COLT. An experiment tried by the writer was in this way: Three mares were fed heavily, and the colts fed nothing but grass. The mares got three times each day a plentiful ration of oats, bran, cut hay, and sometimes roots moistened and fed warm two out of three times per diem. Three other mares got nothing at all but the grass they picked, but their colts were fed as described in the preceding paragraph. Four of the best mares were fed about half as much as the first three, and their colts were given just the same feed as those in the second ,lot; and two mares and their colts were run together in a field by themselves, getting no other food of any kind. All drank from the same pure spring water supply. When it came time to-compare re- sults in the fall the two colts which got no feed them- selves, and whose dams got no feed, were the poorest in point of growth and condition. The four that were fed, and whose dams were fed, were quite a bit the best, and the colts that were fed, but whose mothers were not, were better than the colts that were not fed, but whose dams were given grain three times per day. That teaches that it is beat to feed both the mares and the colts something extra in summer. The extra feed given the mare makes the milk more nutritious and plentiful. WINTER BARLEY is not sown so much in England as it used to be, but it is questionable if it might not be cultivated* more widely to advantage. We- are often defeated in Retting spring-sown kinds to harvest early enough. The earliest crops almost invariably are the best. Besides, later on in autumn, weather often turns un- settled, as it did both last year and this reason then it is hopeless to expect to get prime samples, such as are unstained and fit for malting. Winter barley comes e irly to harvest; therefore, has a great ad vantage in this respect. It may follow p as early white turnips which have already been disposed of, seeds, or even wheat. it land, is in good heart. The ground ought not to need manuring. It should be ploughed a pretty good depth, scarified, and harrowed to clean out weeds and provide a fine tilth, the seed be drilled as soon as practicable, rather shallowly, and at the. rate of from three bushels to three and hrhalf bushels per acre, according to the staple of the soil. Only lightish soil is suited to grow the crop; the lighter it is, the less seed required, A light harrow- ing to cover the seed is all Oe further labour required, unless the surface of the ground be very dry, when a light rolling may be given to advantage. Some kinds of barley may be sown either in autumn or spring, but it is better to sow the real winter variety lest frost cuts dowa the plants. DAIRY HINTS TO BE REMEMBERED. I think one -(says E. G. C.") of the greatest faults of our dairy farmers at the present time is the way their produce is put on the market. I know he hatea petty details, and thinks them a lot of fuss and bother. There always is a lot of little details in a dairying business if it is to be successful, and but for the lack of attention to them dairying would often be more profitable than it now is. If a farmer sends his milk to town, he thinks to produce, milk it, and send it off are all that are required; whereas, perhaps, the cowsheds are filthy, and the milk is left standing in them, and gets tainted before being sent off, and then does not keep well: or the cooling may be left to careless hands, who run' it over the refrigerator as1 fast as they can, never troubling to see by aid of tbermometer it it is lowered to proper temperature. The resulb is, it arrives at its destination sour, or on the point of turning, and then the farmer gets the milk returned to him, use- less except for pigs, and minus the carriage. The mischief does not end here, for when the time for new contracts comes at Michaelmas or Lady Day (Lady Day especially, for then milk is plentiful), he finds the wholesale dealer does not require his, or else offers him only a very low price, for they soon know whose milk is good or bad keeping, for good keeping milk is of the greatest advantage to them, and they are always anxious to again secure such farmers' contracts; whereas those whose milk keeps badly they never care about having, unless milk is very short supplies. Thus it often happens that two farmers living near each other both have same advantages and disadvantages, yet one of tblbm guts ld. or 2d.- per barn more for his milk than the other, and'no loss by returned sours either, and this make-- a vast difference in 12 months, and all by a little more attention to cleanliness or proper cooling of milk. Then, again, with butter. Better butter can, and ought to be, made in a private dairy than a factory, yet the grocers and dairymen prefer to buy it of the latter, not only because it is always of uniform quality, but because it is sent in nicely and neatly packed, and there is not the bother of a nondescript collection of return empties all unlabeUed, and Mrs. A.'s cloths being sent to Mrs. B., and Mrs. C.'s being lost, and, oh, dear-! the bother and fuss over two- pennyworth of muslin! whereas, if the farmers' wives and daughters would only weigh the butter in pounds and half-pounds, print them neatly, and wrap each in grease-proof paper, and pack carefully in hampers or boxes lined with paper or non-return- able muslin, it would then be just ready for sale and appreciated by shopkeepers, and the boxes or ham- pers should have name written on to whom to be returned, and then they would be pleased to take it and often give increased price, instead of as often now taking it as a favour because you deal with them. OVER-REACHING. An over-reaching horse, one whose hmd feet is frequently bitting the forward shoes, Bhould wear heavy shoes forward and light ones behind. The theory is that the heavier hoof will be thrown a little farther ahead than the lighter one. SENSITIVE JAWS. Some horses are more sensitive than others in the upper jaw, and will not go up on the steel bar or snaffle upper-jaw bit. In such cases have a bit made of plain round leather, the usual size of the upper- jaw bit. SPRAINS AND BRVISBS IN HORSIS. Dissolve loz. of camphor in 8oz. of spirits of wine; then add loz. of spirits of turpentine, loz. of spirits of 881 ammonia, oz. of oil of organum, and a table- .¡ spoonful of laudanum. Rub in a quarter of an bonr with the hand, four times a day. MEDING BRAN WITH MHAL. For winter feeding, where cattle are kept in ttalle and heavily fed, there is no better divisor for maize meal than wheat bran. It is also cheap, and f urnishsa what the maize meal laeks. When cattle are fed on maize meal as the principal food for fattening, it is apt to clog if fed in too large quantities. RINGS ON cows' HORNS. The first ring appears when the bovine- in two yean of age, and sometimes before. The ring gradually increases during the third year, and is fully formed at'three years the second ring appears during the fourth year, and is complete at the end of the fifth year; after that one additional ring is formed eaob year. A cow with three rings is six years old; with four, seen years old. After nine or ten years the rings are no indication of the age.

GARDENING GOSSIP. I; PARSLEY FOR WINTER. However plentiful parsley may be in summer and autumn, t here is generally a great scarcity in winter and early spring, particularly if the winter proves more than averagely severe. The plant is a biennial; therefore the best plan to ensure successional cuainp is to sow little and comparatively often, say three OB four times in the y-ear. The seed lies in the grj>und longer than any other kind, therefore plenty of time has to be, allowed for embryo growth. Sowings made in February, June, and latter end of August enstOtt a pretty good outdoor supply in the temperate ,months of the year, but when frosts set in witli severity every unprotected plant is cut, down to the surface of the earth as with a scythe. The rows pro- bably spurt up again upon the approach of genial weather in soring, but they give no supply during the three or four months of winter. Autumn sowings on.warm borders may (observes the Sural ltrrid). be made now, and will prove productive towards March or April if a place is chosen where protection can be given. A cold glass frame or thin matting nicely arranged to give protection in time of frost offasa answers in the southern counties of England, but farther north the best plan is to sow, in boxes that ean be carried indoors when frost threatens. Parslej is by no means a dainty herb if guarded from frostS It flourishes all the better for their being some con- siderable staple in the earth therefore the boxes should be fitted with mixed sandy and clayey soil, to which is added a liberal dressing of well-rotted yard dung. The Beed must be deposited rathec deeply-at least, deeply for such small grains; Then in time stout carrot-like roots formg which stand a good deal of hardship. Indeed, it is not, as before intimated, the roots, but the tops oi the plants that are most liable to perish fiom severe weather. So long as out-door supplies hold out, the boxes may be kept in a cool place where light and air are present, but upon the out-door rowstgivwog out indoor plants should be brought to higher tem- perature, and then a ueeful supply may soon be pro- vided. Another plan is to transplant some healthy; young, but well-developed plants about the beginning of December from the garden to warmer quarters. In taking up the roots a little earth should be left on them to prevent flagging of leaves. A cool green- house, a cool frame, or even a sunny window consti- tutes a sufficiently favourable position. Judicious watering should be given, and then, if the best curled- leafed variety has been selected, really handsome. leaves may be cut in winter for garnishing and other purposes. FRUIT GARDEN. Those who like to train their own fruit-trees might buy a few maidens annually, and amuse themselves by training them in any shape they please. The shape termed the Palmette Verrier is nearly inter- mediate between the three-branched cordon and ths horizontal, and is well adapted for nearly every kind which is commonly trained on walls or espaliers. We start with a young horizontally-trained tree, and train the bottom pair of branches 3ft,, and then take them vertically till the top of the wall is reached. The second pair of branches is taken out 2ft. before the vertical direction is given, and the third pair of branches assumes the vertical position 1ft. from the main central stem. The advantage of this system of training is that the whole wall is covered in less time than by any other method of training, and the check l torrowth is generally sufficient to throw the tree quickly into bearing. I have seen Peaches and Morello Cherries trained in this way, only the main branches were 18in. apart instead of 1ft., to give room to lay in the side-shoots. The fan system of training is used S good deal for stone-fruits, because it offers facili- ties for filling vacancies, but the inexperienced trainee invariably lays in too many shoots, and thebranchet are killed by overcrowding. The bearing branches of Peaches should not be trained nearer than 6in. if there is to be proper space'left for the young wood. Plums should be trained wider than Peacbee, aa the Plum bears chiefiv on spurs, though there is an advantage in having spaces to lay in some young shoots annually. It puts new life into the treee. Pears, whether trained horizontally or in any other way, should not have the main branchee nearer than ,i 1ft. There would be more fruit if the branches were more thinly trained, as the blosfoms would be stronger and would bear more hardship. This refers to all fruit-trees if the branches are too crowded. VEGETABLE GARDEN. We shall soon have frost that will injure Cauli- flowers, Lettuces. &c., and provision should be made for meeting it. The earthing of Celery should be com- c pleted, except it may be the very latest crop which is grown more for flavouring, and need not be earthed up so early or so much. When grown more naturally, Celery is a hardy plant. It is the rich feeding and [, high earthing that make it more liable to decay from wet and frost. Globe Artichokes should have ■ i little long litter placed over the crowns. They are safe enough yet. Xate Broccoli have been making rapid growth, and, to make sure of keeping them through the winter, lay them down with heads to the north. It is done easily enough. A little earth is taken out of the north side of the plant. The spade is then inserted on the south side and I; the plant falls naturally over into the hole pre* Ipared.for it. The soil from the north side of the next plant is placed over the stem and trodden down, giving the plant a strong inclination to the north, which it retains. Those who have a warm i house with a night temperature of 65deg. may grow winter Cucumbers and Tomatoes. This is a good season to plant winter Cucumbers. The plants must have root warmth, or bottom heat as it is termed. I have seen very good winter Cucumbers grown on broad shelves fixed over hot-water pipes, a little manure being placed on the shelves, and on this small heaps of good compost, one yard apart, to plant the Cucumbers in, top-dressing being given at frequent intervals. GREENHOUSE. Some plants do not require so much water in winter as Others, and these should, if possible, be grouped together. What are termed succulents, such as Cacti, Aloes, and MesembryanthtHhams will almost do without water in winter, or at least until the turn of the days comes. Zonal and ether Pelargoniums most not have too much water, or the disease known as the spot will attack the leaves. It uf impossible to saw how often a plant should be watered, as so ntneb depends upon the condition of the weather outside. Try to do the watering in the morning, and the damp will soon dry up. Give plenty of ventilation or the plants will make too much growth that will draw up weakly. Pelargoniums should now be plaoed in theis flowering-pots. Nice little plants may be had in 6-inch pots, and specimens in 8-inch or 9-ineh pots. Pot very flriiily. The Pelargonium family thrive best ip a flight temperature of 50deg., and ^hould be neas the glass and nave free ventilation. Pelargoniums are very subject to green-fly, especially if the ventila- tion is not properly attended to. We have given up the fumigator for the vaporiser, and find it better in ikyery respect. PITS AND PRAMM. Put Calceolaria and Pentstemon cuttings in and loam. Thdse plants are as near hardy as possible. A dingle mat, to keep off the sunshine and prevent alternate freezing and thawing, is generally sufficient to keep them safe. If any attempt is made to keep. tender plants in pits or frames, provision should be made for covering. Straw covers are very suitable, and a waterproof covering to place over all is very useful.

M. ZOLA, the great French novelist, is embarrassed in the trivial details of his daily life by a host of superstitious fears and a belief in good and evil omens. The number 17, for instance, suggests to the disciple of fealiam all sorts of evil. While most people regard 13 as unlucky, to M. Zola 17, or any combination of figures that foots up to that amount, is filled with dire portent. j