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

THE MURDER OF MR. TERRISS PRISONER AT BOW STREET. At Bow-street Police-court, on Friday of last week, Richard Arthur Prince, 32, actor, of Eaton-court, Buckingham-palace-road, was charged with the murder of Mr. William Terries. Mr. J. H. Graves, who accompanied Mr. Terriss to the Adelphi Theatre on the preceding evening, said Mr. Terriss was in the act of opening the private door of the theatre when the prisoner rushed forward, and struck Mr. Terriss two blows, which were so rapidly given that he could not wee whether the prisoner had anything in his hand. Then Mr. Terriss turned round, and witness saw the prisoner in the act of striking another blow. Mr. Terriss cried out, Oh my God, I am stabbed," and witness seized prisoner by the arm. Someone in the crowd shouted, "Police! Murder!" and a constable came up and took the prisoner in charge. On the way to the station he asked the prisoner what could have induced him to do such a cruel deed, and he replied," Mr. Terriss would not employ me and I was determined to be re- venged." The constable who took the prisoner into custody gave confirmatory evidence, and said the prisoner observed that he "had either got to die in the streets or take his revenge on Mr. Terriss." He several times repeated at the police-station that he was guilty of it." The prisoner here explained that he had not used the word revenge "—he had said that Mr. Terriss had blackmailed him for 10 years. Police Inspector Wood detailed the circum- stances under which the prisoner was charged at the police-station. The prisoner gave up the knife with which he intlicted the stabs. There were marks of blood on the blade. The prisoner was remanded, and was removed from the dock amid groans and hisses from the public in court.

ENGINEERING DISPUTE. PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT. The conference at Westminster sat till nine o'clock on Friday evening, and at the close of the sitting an official report was issued stating that a pro- visional understanding had been arrived at. Its principal conditions are as follows: On the general principle agreed to of freedom of employers in the management of their works, the employers reserve the right to introduce into any federated workshop any conditions of labour under which any members of the trade unions represented at the conference were working at the commencement of the dispute in federated shops; but if a Trade Union desires to raise any question as to such con- ditions a meeting can be arranged, by application to the federation, to discuss the matter; no collective action to be taken until the dispute has been dealt with under the provisions for avoiding disputes. The right to work piecework is to be extended to all federated employers; the prices to be fixed by the employer and workman, the federa- tion agreeing not to countenance any piece work conditions by which a workman of average efficiency could not earn the wage at which he was rated. As to overtime, 40 hours per four weeks are agreed to as the maximum, with certain con- ditions. Employers are to be free to employ workmen at rates of wages mutually satisfactory, but while unions can fix rates the employers decline to enforce a rule of any society. There is to be no limita- tion as to number of apprentices, and in reference to the selection, training, and employment of operatives the employers are to have full discre- tion to employ men they consider suitable. Cases of dispute are to be dealt with in the first instance between employers and workmen, then by local asso- ciations of employers with officials of the trade unions, and, failing a settlement, the question at iseue is to be discussed between the Employers' Federation and the central authority of the trade unions. The men's demand for a 48 hour week was discussed for some time. Suggestions for a reference to arbitration and for a compromise on the basis of a 51 hour week were declined by the employers, who intimated that they could not agree to any reduction of the hours of labour. Owing to the failure to arrive at an agreement on this point the men's representa- tives intimated that they must refer the whole of the matters in dispute to a vote of the men. The Con- ference was adjourned to permit the vote to be taken.

THE GREAT LONDON FIRE. The inquiry as to this fire was resumed on Friday at London Guildhall. Mr. Brown, -6 of Waller and Brown, in further re- City Solicitor, adhered to the of the Ore. Th«v^?/h? ,WM °ot in"ol,c'u 00 "j6, » Manchester a™ tt 4? !ntlre price. His stock-book ■„ fu„ BafB „u*n if „ y a rou8b one, and was aot in the sare wiien it was opened after the fire His firm made a claim against the insurance people two or three days ago for a total o £ £ 7886 9s9d The claim was made up from memory, after consult- ing with some of his employes. The witness said he could produce his banker's pass-book if required, but aid not wish to disclose trade secrets. He would rather not tell the amount of payments his firm had to meet on the Monday after the. fire. Mr. W, Harrison, landlord of the premises tenanted by Waller and Brown in HaneelJ-street, stated that their rent was generally about six months in arrear, and at the time of the fire there was intra than two quarters owing. After discussion, Mr. Brown con- tented to an examination of the affairs of his firm being made by an accountant to determine the ques- tion of their solvency at the time of the fire. After lome further evidence had been given, the inquiry was adiourned till January 4.

=- MR. A. BOWES, A.M.lnst.C.E., Mem san.x;, wnose articles on road pavements, macadamised roads, asphalt pavements, footways, &a., are well known to our readers, has been, we are pleased to hear, appointed surveyor to the urban district in Newton- in-Makerfield. Mr. Bowes, who was selected from a large number of candidates, enters upon his duties an January S. i,

SUDDEN DEATH OF-SIR F. LOCK WOOD. We regret to state that Sir Frank Lockwood died at his London residence in Lennox-gardens on Sunday afternoon at 2.30. The deceased I.ad bt>en suffering for the last six weeks from the tffecs of an internal disorder. About 10 days earlier he WAS attacked by influenza, and was compelled to remain in his room, but it was not, until Saturday night that serious symptoms developed. It was then found necessary to use artificial means of respira- tion, and throughout the night cylinders of oxygen were employed. On Sunday morning, however, it became evident that life was ebbing, and Dr. Barlow communicated the fact to Lady and Miss Lockwood that the patient could not last long. The immediate cause of death was syncope. The death was so sudden that there was no time for Dr. MoCuskie, the family physician, to reach the house, nor had the relatives been communicated with until Sunday morning. Only on Saturday morning a tele- gram had been sent to Lord ftosebery stating that Sir Frank had passed a good night, and was pro- gressing favourably. The news of the death of Sir Frank Lockwood caused a shock of painful surprise in the social and political clubs, where he was a familiar and favourite figure, his genial bonhomie, keen sense of humour, and broad experience being keenly appreciated in all circles. It was generally felt that the Bar has lost one of its ablest advocates, whose place will not easily be filled, and the House of Commons a member whose powers of debate and grasp of the law rendered his succession to the Lord Chancellorship a pro- calculated certainty. In Sheffield, where Sir Frank Lockwood's brilliant occupancy of the Recordership of the City caused him to be well known and admired, the news, which was entirely unexpected, caused a painful shock. The close of 1897 is claiming its dead largely from professional ranks. After William Terriss, Fraak Lockwood, Q.C., M.P. The two dead men had some- thing in common, for in the early days of his com- paratively humble childhood the late hon. member for York hankered after the stage, and probably would have succeeded thereon hadhe not taken it into his discriminating head that there was more pleasant, if not more profitable business to be found at the Bar. Sir Frank, whose loss will be mourned alike by lawyers and the public, has for some time past been suffering from influenza to an extent as to prevent him from attending those private and public functions which he as a private gentleman, without wig and gowa, so much enjoyed. He recently returned to his London residence, 24, Lennox-gardens, S.W. He was in ill-health when he arrived, bnt his friends did not sorrow as those without hope. It was thought that his strong frame would eventually throw off the remainder of the disease from which hehadsuffered; but syncope inter- vened, and theSolicitor-General under Lord Rosebery's. short-lived Government is now to be reckoned in the obituary of the year. Sir Frank Lockwood was born in 1846. Those who did not know the fact, and onlv judged of him as he appeared in court, and saw the rubicund face redolent of mellow age, with the grey hair closely cropped fringing itself below hiB wig, would have believed him to have been so young a man'. Sir Frank was a Cambridge man. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's-inn in 1872; was made Q C. in 1882; and a bencher in 1886. He was appointed one of the Commissioners to inquire into corrupt practices at Chester, 1880; made Recorder of Sheffield, 1884; and elected Liberal member for York, 1885-in which constituency there is now a vacant seat. After deciding that his forte was forensic rather than his- trionic, young Lockwood pursued his way as a junior barrister. If we mistake not, fortune first smiled upon him at the Leeds Assizes when the notorious Charles Peace was arraigned. The master burglar and murderer had no one to defend him. The Court asked if Mr. Lockwood would undertake the case for the defence. An inquiry of that sort from the Bench is a command, and the young barrister responded dutifully and with alacrity. It was a chance for which many a briefless one would have given their wigs and gowns. Lockwood made a remarkably ingenious speech for the man on trial for his life, who lost it, however, on the gallows. After that suc- cess—for it was something of the success which Sir I Edward Clarke made as a junior in the Penge case- briefs rolled in for the coming man at the bar. The deceased gentleman wae not pushed for taoney in the pursuit of his legal career. In 1874 he married Julia, the daughter of Mr. Salis Schwabe, of Glyn Garth, Anglesey—a gentleman of considerable wealth. So the way of the young barrister was smooth. There io not a cause celebre of past years in which Frank Lockwood has not taken part. At the moment one can only remember a few of them. He was in the Parnell Commission, in the great bac- carat case emanating from Tranby Croft, in the Kempton-park action, involving the celebrated defi- nition of a place," in the Bussell v. Scott ease at the Old Bailey (and e!.ewhere), and in innumerable "great" cases, civil and oriminal, of the past few years. He was a great personality, physically and legally, in any court. Judges liked him if only for those amusing caricatures which he scratched down with his quill when deliberating as to how he should get on with his brief. The writer of an obituary notice in a contemporary once saw an octogenarian judge, still on the Bench, send down a written request for Mr. Lockwood's blotting pad. The picture amused his lordship, who, however, shook his head as much as to say, Ob, you wicked man In discussing Sir Frank Lockwood's position in the legal world, a barrister who knew him put it to a Morning reporter in this way As a junior he cut what may be described as a rather indifferent figure. He was not then a big man, or likely to become a big man. His great success set in when he took silk- became a Q.C. His family connection on his wife's side, and his growing favour with the litigating public, brought him into position at the Bar. As to the political side of the man, not the least interesting phase of his more than energetic career was the genuine affection he felt for the party with which he had always been associated. The many friendships he had formed with high Tories would have induced a man of slighter prin- ciples to have cast in his lot with the wealthy people- as Tories used to be called. But Frank Lockwood, with all his bonhomie and professional prosperity, never allowed himself to be beguiled from the Liberal ranks. As a platform speaker the deceased Q.C. was very effective; as an under Minister of the House of Commons he could not be said to have been a suc- cess, though he was not a failure. He was not in the technical sense a great lawyer, though in th.-tt respect perhaps he underrated himself. It was his affectation to depreciate himself in that respect; for no man was better acquainted with the essential lore of common law, and certainly no man ever bestowed greater labour on cases intrnsted to him than did Str Frank Lockwood. REPRESENTATION OF YORK CITY. The unexpectedly sudden death of Sir Frank Lockwood causes a vacancy in one of the seats for York City. Sir Frank was the junior member, having been elected with 5309 votes. The senior member, Mr. J. G. Butcher (C.), received 5516 votes, while Mr. A. E. Pease, the second Liberal candidate, was defeated with 5214 votes.

WILD BOAR'S FIGHT FOR LIFE. Boar shooting of late in the Tangier district has been better than for many years past. Recently three large boars fell to the guns of Messrs. Green and Muller. Subsequently they bowled over two more. In the end a most exciting boar bunt took place. A veritable old tusker," quite a rarity now, was turned out of his haunts, and gave great trouble to his pursuers. This old "grey back" in his fury killed three dogs and wounded three others before a well-directed shot stretched him out, and he also badly wounded one of the Moorish huntsmen of the young Shereef of Wazzan's.

A NEW order, to be known as the Green Cross, has been formed in Vienna. Its object is to help Alpine climber d excursionists in mountain regions by esablishing huts on high mountains and keeping sup- p ies and relief stores, or boxes containing articles situated points!^ in emer«encies' at conveniently "LINBBJilD COMPOTOD," an anodyne expectorant for Coughs and Colds. 9d.. 13-1d. Of Chemists. 2 2 THERE is a simple thing which is above all human imperfections, and yet shelters the weakest and wickedest al well as the wisest of mankind. It is a hat. LINUM CATHARTICUM PILLS, digestive, corrective, and agreeably aperient. 9 £ d., 13|d. Of all Chemists. 2 TilE last day of February would hardly be thought to resemble "one of Shakespeare s plays, yet it IS winter's tail C, Winter's Tale ). If LIlfSDD COMPOUND" (Trade Mark) for Coughs and Colds, Kd ,d. Sold by Chemists only. -)

A -YEARO- PROGRESS IN MOTOR I VEHICLES. Dealing with this subject in Industries and Iron, the writer states that although some hundreds of specifications have been lodged in the British Parent Omce during the past year, but a very small propor- tion of these inventions have ai yet reached the con- structional stage, or at any rate emerged from the hairy horizon of "experimentisation." Many of these, too, relate to inventions having in view tho improvement of the minor mechanical parts of the complete motor road vehicles, while others delate to various devices for effecting better steering, the mini- mising of vibration in those vehicles driven by im- pulse engines, the compensation of wheel bearings to accommodate the difference in sjpeeds of wheels on sharp turns, and several other more' or less important points. In attempting a survey of the results attained in Great Britain one ifr met with an astonishing fact, equally noticeable it France, in Germany, in Italy, and in the United States. From all that can be learned the spirit motor has in itself apparently reached finality; there has been, in fact, with perhaps a few exceptions, no new spirit motor intro- duced in any of these countries duriqg the past year. Of conree- several patents have been taken out for "improvements," but these "improvements" have not as yet had a commercial existence. In America we learn that the Benz, the Daimler, and the Lutz- mann systems have been adopted, and-in some parts—Americanised; in Great Britain it is practi- cally the same, for these motors have, become the standards in England, with, m course, minor depar- tures from original designs, many of these being adopted from French experimenters. BLBCTKICAL D*Y»l-OrMK»T., During the past year somg amount of attention has been directed to compressed coal gas for the motor road vehicles, but as far as we can learn only one firm is at present utilising this source of motive power. Peculiarly enough, the greatest development during the past year in ordinary road vehicles in England, France, Germany, and the United States has been in regard to those propelled by means of t electricity. In England the vehicles of the Electric Cab Company have done more than any other motor- vehicles to prove to the public that mechanically- propelled vehicles are possible in the London streets, and that they also afford a degree of comfort un- attainable even in the best constructed horse-drawn vehicle. Propulsion of road carriages by steam power has made the next greatest advance during the year, and it must be said that during the past year, some very considerable and satisfactory ad- vance has been made towards arriving at a solution I of the many difficulties- that beset the path of the manufacturer who desires to turn out vehicles con- structed to carry heavy loads. Although France has taken this matter in hand con amare, yet Great Britain has been not one iota behind its neighbour across the Channel; indeed, England'* productions in heavy vehicles propelled by steam power compare very favourably indeed with Con- tinental practice; in heavy vehicles actuated by Stroleum spirit motors England is not so advanced. eavy oil engines have also received some consider- able amount of attention in Great Britain during the past 12 months. When the new industry first became practicable by reason of its being freed from restrictive legislative enactments, it, was re- gretted by more than one interested in the movement that it should, in a great measure, have fallen into the hands of those connected with thfe cycle industry. As a matter of fact, however, but very little harm has been done, and as a result some excellent vehicles partaking more or less of the Aaracter and form of the cycle have been produced. There appear, however, to be many inherent difficulties in the construction of a moto-bicyole, and until quite lately the problem had not been satisfactorily solved. With tricycles, however, greater snccesss was more immediately secured. The main fault found with all these vehicles have been in regard to the electric ignition of the explosive charge. Batteries proved unsatisfactory under the heavy vibration, and the difficulties attending the use of the current experi- enced by those unacquainted with a knowledge of electricity tended to make the vehicles unsatisfac- tory in so far as the general publio was concerned. We understand, however, that tabe ignition is being substituted for the electrical device, and, given that ordinary attention is paid, to the lamp. we think this method of igniting the charge is likely to prove more satisfactory to the ordinary user of self-propelled- cycles.

DRESS AT BULAWAYO. In the matter of dress (the Argift continues) the Bnlawayans are like their prototypeW of the Rami in the early days. That is to say they affect only a shirt and a pair of unmentionables as every-day wear. A. visitor was invited to lunch with some of the younger blue bloods of the community and was re- ceived with the startling intimation, Mr. So-and- So, we always lunoh in our shirts." He rapidly doffed coat and waistcoat and discovered how pleasant a thing it is to lunch in this free and easy fashion. In regard to this fashion a good thing is going the rounds. A visitor and an official resident were walking in the town, when the former innocently remarked, I am told some of these men who walk about in their shirt-sleeves are quite re- spectable i" He was informed that among the pas- sers-by was a young English baronet, and anuiuber of men drawn from the best English families. At the At Home given by Mrs. Lawley at Govern- ment House even regular4 morning dress was the exception rather than the rule. The men generally were in tweeds, some even in flannels. Top hats were the exception. Not that Bulawayo cannot dress upon occasion. Every man," it is proudly recorded, has his dress suit for evening wear."

OFFICERS FOR SPY PURPOSES. From quarters closely connected with the Dreyfus family, a branch of which, as is known, possesses large weaving milln in Alsace, a Berlin nowepspcr has received some statements about the reasons which are said to have led to the sentence passed on the traitor." The French General Staff appoints every year threeoilicers for spy service in Germany. These officers give up their commissions in the army, so that in case they are caught they cannot be con- demned as. officers on the active list, and they enter the army again later on. Dreyfus was chosen for this service, but at the last moment for some reason he was rejected. Being very ambitious he was highly excited, and gave expression to his displeasure in several letters. Two of these letters (adds the Daily News correspondent) got into the hands of the French I Government. In them unimportant facts of espion- age are mentioned, and the names of the three chosen officers are given. These two letters, it is now said, form with the "bordereau" the principal charge against him.

"LISSBED COMPOUND" (Trade Mark) for Coughi and Colds, 9., 13!6d. Sold by Chemists only. 2 Wiiv is a man searching for tbe pililosopher's stone like Neptune ?-Becauz.e he is a seeking (sea- king) what never existed. KLIITX.—New white inorganic Cement for Pottery l'orctf.ain, &.O., 6d. and la.; postage, Id. Of Chemists. WHEN a man attempts to jump a ditch and falls, be is likely to miss the beauties of summer. Because the fall follows right after the spring, unless he makes a summer set between them. CoAQULiwa.—Cement for broken articles 6d. and Is.; postage Id. Sold everywhere. Home and abroad. DKIVINO a street car is not a very high calling, but it can scarcely be classed as among the lower walks of life. "LINSEED COMPOU"" (Trade Mark) gires Expec- toration without straifl. 9^d., 13Jd. Sold by Chemists. A FIVE-DOLLAR note is more valuable than five gold dollars, because when you put it in your pocket you double it, and when you take it out again you see it increases. LINSESD COMPOUND" for Coughs, Cold, Asthma, and Bronchitis. Of Chemists only. MANY people in China must be obliged to travel on foot because there is but one Cochin-Chitis (coach in China).. THE Queen of Portugal kills tedium and wins popularity by persevering in her medical vocation. She goes regularly to the dispensary for children that she has founded, and on arriving dons a nurse's uniform and proceeds to serious work. AN electrically-lighted pen is one of the most recent of inventions. A pocket battery serves a tiny incandescent lamp, which is attached to the writing instrument near the paperward end and shaded from the writer's eyes by a reflector that throws the light down upon the paper and illuminates a few square inches only. Connection between lamp and battery is through"* flexible wire. l'"

WINTER IN A COUNTRY GARDEN. Nature Notes, the journal of the Selborne Society, whioh always contains some interesting remit ee otoountry life or some enthusiastic appre- ciation of nature's beauties, includes this month an attractive article by A. L. Stevenson on A Country Garden in Winter." To people who live in towns, "lays the writer, a country garden in winter is sug- gestive of unutterable dreariness but adds that he who cannot enjoy a garden in winter never really appreciated it in summer. He is content to loll in an easy chair on the lawn, orstroll aimlessly down the paths, smritkittg his pipe Or picking a fiower here and there. He never eiplored the hidden beauties of the garden, never noted the gradual expansion of the tails, or learried to distinguish between 'the notes of different birds and the marking of various flowers. He did not-take off his coat and work with spade and hoe—did not experience the pleasure of cleariog away unsightly weeds, tying up drooping stems, or cutting Off dead blossoms. He never rose early and saw the garden in its dawning beauty, when the roses were bathed in dew and the cobwebs were transformed into diamond traceries—no, he preferred staying in bed and reading the latest novel. In a word, he took 80 trouble about the garden, and therefore never got to love it. It was a pretty pioture to him-notbing more; not a beautiful living, joyous, reality. This is what the writer sees in winter's garden: To begin with, the deciduous trees, being bare of leaves, show the structure of their branches down to the tiniest twig, and the beauty here displayed is re- markable, especially in the case of the delicate tracery of the birch. The tninks themselves also command our notice. These are extremely pic- turesque, whether ribbed and knotted, aad coated here and there with feathery grey-green lichen, or hidden with luxuriant wreaths of glossy ivy. But the evergreen trees are our special admiration. In the summer, amid all the luxuriant vegetation, we hardly noticed them, but now they reign without a rival, and remind us that they are faithful, friends, who wear the same face in winter as in summer. 0 Tannebaum, 0 Tannebaum; wie treu sind deine blatter 1" There is the holly, with its dark glossy leaves and crimson fruit-a very king in dignity and strength the noble Scotoh fir, the spruce, the massive yew, and the cypress. Then there are the laurels- somewhat formal perhaps, but bright in appearance, and forming a compact screen to break the force of eold winds and hide bare patches of ground; the rhododendrons, showing clearly the promise of spring bloom; the arbutus, with its lovely red berries, and other shrubs and trees of infinite variety. Then as to flowers. There is hardly a period through the winter (except in the case of hard frost or deep snow) when these are entirely lacking. In mild seasons tea-roses bloom all through November, and we have often picked some good specimens (rather frozen perhaps) at Christmas; Then among purely winter lowers there are anemones—beautiful brilliant bits of colour, r. minding one of the sunny Riviera—Czar violets, that a few sunny days will tempt into bloom, Christmas roses, and winter cherries. By the end of January the snowdrop, the winter aconite, and the loveW Scilla Sabirica make their appearance prim- wosea and forget-me-nots soon follow, and behold it is winter no longer t AND WHEN THB SNOW FALLS. But," someone will say, suppose there is a fall of snow ?" Be it so," we reply," that is just what we delight in 1" The flowers are hidden for the time, but the whole garden presents a scene of the greatest beauty. The trees-especially those that are not deciduous—are clad in robes of diamond-strewn ermine, the lawn is a spotless velvet carpet, the bare Wires of the garden arches are converted into ex- quisite carved trellis-work. It is a lovely transforma- tion scene, evoked by, the potent wand of the Ice King, who reserves his chief marvels for the eye of the countryman alone. Not many birds fre- quent the garden in winter, but those there are can be observed to great advantage. In cold weather we always throw them out crumbs from the window. This seems like feeding our enemies, for they are terribly unprincipled as regards the fruit in summer, but we do it all the same, and consider ourselves amply repaid by the pleasure of watching their beau- tiful plumage and graceful movements. Scores of marrows, tits, chaffinohes, and robins come and feed unconcernedly under our very eyes. The robin is perhaps the favourite there is a fearlessness, a saucy ionfidence about him that is truly fascinating. For the special benefit of the tits we saw cocoa-nuts in half and hang them up on the branches of trees, or an a nail close to our window-sill. The tits come and .banquet op them in a manner that makes one tremble forxheir digestittttf. Generally speaking, our winter birds are apparently confined to a few Varieties. In very severe weather unwonted, visitors,, such as rookV, <&tte to the^gardetf'in qdttst 'Af ^focfcl, and ono wftiter, when there was deep snow, a flock of' field- fares suddenly made their appearance, and remained With ns till the/had stripped every berry ffbm the hollies, when they as suddenly flefv away again. "w ¡. 1\.

CHRISTMAS AT COURT. The spending of Christmas Day to the Queen bag been sadly changed since the death of the Prince I Consort. The German celebration of that day was introduced by him into his English home. Christ- mas greetings and presents were numerously ex- changed, and a great Christmas tree was the' feature of the evening. The death of the Prince Consort on December 14, so close to the former festive season, for a,long time precluded any Chriat- Bias festivities, but as time went on and the deep' wound was healed, the Queen returned to her old life and ways. Christmas, though shorn of many of Its former glories, still reigns supreme at Osborne, where the Queen now spends her Christmas, pro- ceeding there after the service held on the annivez •ary of the Prince Consort's death in the Mausoleum I at Windsor. The Queen always attends church on Christmas Day, and receives the Holy Communion with those of her family who are with her. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Princess Louise, and the Marquia. of Lome, Princess Henry of Battenberg, and.of course her children, spend Christmas with the Queen. Very probably the Duchess of Albany and her children will be at Osborne this year, and Prin- cess Christian and her daughter and son generally follow directly afterwards when they have dispenged their own Christmas festivities. To such of her children as are with her the Queen always makes her gift personally, and for her littlo grandchildren she has a huge Christmas tree, and also fills each stocking with good things. To those children who are away the gift is sent with a letter, generally by messenger, sometimes by post, but tc those who live abroad a Queen's messenger takes tbo gift and the Queen's letter which accompanies it To the members of the household the gift is either sent 1, or given with a gracious message or some words of kind, affectionate greeting. To any crowned head- who may be the recipient of a Royal Christmas gift the Queen would certainly write, an autograph letter, but to those of her immediate entourage a message or a letter written at her desire would accompany her gi ft. To her German relations the Queen's letter would be in German; to any other Royal personage it would be in French, but to all her children she writes in English. Her Majesty sends many useful presents to old homely folk in Scotland and elsewhere, personally known to her, and from many virtually receives gifts, loving attentions she values immensely at their true worth. Much of her spare time on Christmas Day is spent looking with fond eyes upon the presents her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have made for her. The Queen encourages "made" gifts. She i receives in addition to scores of mats, spectacles, polishers, pen-wipers, and knitted comforts, thou- sands of Christmas cards, and telegrams by the hun- dred. From her distant children the electric spark flashes its message of love all day. It is difBcult to realise how busy Christmas is, with receiving and answering loving greetings by telegraph, for the Royal family uses that mode of communication more than any other.

"A GREAT COMFORT."—Yes, it is often misery for a person to cough and cough until it distress both himself and friends almost beyond endurance, put ) KEATING'S COUGH LOZENGES would stop: nIl that; they are simply unrivalled one alone affords relief. Soldovervwhere in tins. 13^d. each. DIFFICULTIES attending the transport of a heavy easting, which had recently to be removed from Cradley-heath to Brierley-hill, a distance of about two inike, necessitated such a roundabout road and so many delays that the transference occupied threamouths. The casting was a steam hamtper block weighing 50 tofts, and during one part of the journey a rail broke under the pressure of this load molinted on a'machine carriage weighing another I TO tons. An hour and three-quarters was occupied r la traversing 7i miles along one railroad over which the mass had to be drawn. r- 'r' '!i õ. ,A.: J

ERUTAL BULL-FIGHT. A corrf^ppndent of the Cape Times "iamishei • description of a "grandioso tornero touromachieop given the other day at Delagoa Bay in honour of the Portuguese Boyal Commissioner, Mouslnho Albu- querque. The afternoon's sport commenced (sayi the Correspondent) with the appearance of Senhof Fortunado Cagl, who pranced in on a oharger from the rasin entrance, He was beautifully decked out in black satin bodice and side cape, slashed with white satin trimmed with white lace, and a three-coraered hat to match, graced with black and white ostrich feathers, brown top boots. His horse was decorated with ribbons and ostrich feathers, the whole tltyle being splendid-an interpretation of the time of Charles 1. As master of ceremonies he advanced to the front of the Royal box, there bowing profusely for some moments amid cheers of audience, and afterward, in the most polished way, rode around arena, bowing again and again amid a perfect ova- IA on. "Next eater about 30 footmen, beautifully dressed in true toreador fashion—short Eton jackets at different coloured plush and velvet, light knee- breeches, white stockings, white starched shirts, bright red neckties, low shoes with silver buckles, ana Spanish broad-brimmed round hats peculiar to Madrid and Lisbon. The bull-fighters carry red togas or theatrical kind of cloaks on one arm, used to entice the bull to charge. A PEACEFUL ANIMAL. There are 12 or, 14 of these gentlemen. There are some eight or 10 dressed in yellow velvet jackets and crimson breeches who remove the bull when fighting is finished, and last are the attendants with long sticks, whose duty is to attend at the gates on the bull's entrance to the arena. The order is given to open the stable-gate. Everybody is on the tiptoe of expectation and breathless, as we pioture in our imagination a wild bull rushing out bellowing and charging one and all. Here we meet with our first and great disappointment. The lbull has to be progged along and literally pushed hito the arena. All the surroundings are perfect, but the bull refuses to charge. There is no getting over the fact, he is a trek-bull from Swaziland, black and white, with a hide well marked with the black and white, with a hide well marked with the unmistakable cuts of the waggon-whip. He stands there ready to receive the peaceful yoke on his neck rather than to fulfil the expected mission of tossing horses and men and scattering things generally. All is done that ingenuity can devise to tease the bull into a bad temper; but it is evident that all spirit has been knocked out of the 1 east long ago in those long wearisome treks across the endless sandy flats between Swaziland and Delagoa. At length the horseman plants his lance or dart in the bull's hump. This acts like an electric shock, and makes the animal rear and lash the air with his fore-feet, and shake his head angrily. The lance, owing to its barbed point, sticks in and hangs down, and tiow Mr. Bull begins to realise his sudden promotion from the sleepy waggon to the centre of attraction of an excited, howling, and applauding audience, and commences to turn the tables in his Afrikander sort of way. But, after all, there is not much danger, as top of each horn is fixed a big brass knob about the size of a man's fist. The horseman is now handed another lance, and watches his opportunity to get in another stab in the neck. It seems the duty of the horseman to leave the dart or lance in the animal. Borne English ladies sitting close to the writer were dreadfully shocked at first, and remonstrated, saying they could not stand the sight, but soon afterwards laughed as heartily as the rest. The horseman got in two more lances, and then at a signal stopped, receiving an ovation of applause as he advanced to the Royal box to bow acknowledgments of his dexterity. '• IT IS GREAT FUN." The toreadors are provided with two darts and stand opposite the bull, holding darts, extended at arm's length in the direction of the bull, expecting ,tne charge. If the bull charges the darts are neatly planted in the animal's neck or hump, the operator artly jumping on one side to avoid the rush. There J ,a is something very exciting about this, as all the Por- kugueae engaged were amateurs. It is great fun to ■ee varying grades of valour in different individuals. j Dne man will; shape up to receive the charge of the bull very much in earnest, but at the last second, when be could plant his two darts successfully into the animal's neck, he falters and turns tail, jumping out of the arena, scrambling over the balustrade head Arst in the most ignotniuious way possible. When about a quarter of an hour of this business has been gone on, the bull either begins to be really vicious, or is entirely cowed, and in either case the best part of the pantomime business commences. At a sign the 10 yellow-jacketed footmen with crimson breeches come forward empty-handed to catch and hold the bull. The most active of these allows the bull to charge .him at close quarters, the man throwing him- self between the animal's horns and catching hold any way he can, his comrades asaiiting, each catching hold of some part and, literally, jumping on top of the bull, bring the distracted animal to the ground. Then the presentations took place. First the horse- man is congratulated by all his admirers and em- braced, while some ribbon or floral decoration is handed down from the Royal box or principal com- mittee, amid a shower of cigarettes, sweetmeats, and small boxes of crystallieed fruits and bon-bons. Yext come the footmen who have successfully stabbed be bull, and lastly the man who threw himself upon the worn-out bull's horns, each one bowing to the occupant of the Royal box many times, and then parading around the arena to receive a torrent of hats, which are individually returned by the man in the arena in due acknowledgment.

KEW BRIDGE. In referring the bill which if being promoted to empower the County Councils of Middlesex and Surrey, or either of them with consent of the other, to demolish and sell or utilise, the materials of Kew-bridge and rebuild it, the Builder explains that it is proposed to raise and widen the ap- proaches on both sides of the river, and to erect a temporary bridge, with approaches, a short dis- tance up stream. The new structure is to become a county bridge, and will be maintained and repaired accordingly. The first bridge at this tpot was built, in terms of an Act of 31 Geo. II., by R. Tunstall, proprietor of the ferry; it had seven wooden arches, and four of stone and brick. In 1782 afl Act was passed for replacing Tunstall's with the existing bridge, designed by James Payne (who "asthe architect also of the bridges at Richmond, Walton, and Chertsey), and opened in September, 1789. In 1873 a joint committee of the Corporation of London and the late Metropolitan Board of Works freed it from toll at a cost of -957,800.

THIS VELOCITY OF WIND. During tha course of his lecture on "The Weather Office and Itfil. Work at the London Institution the other night, Mr. Charles Harding remarked that in England wind bad been known to blow at the rate of 200 miles per minute, while during heavy storms the velocity bad been 100 miles a minute for several hours together. The rules governing cyclonic dis- turbapfefl enabled the office to make fairly accurate predictions, but. those in connection with the storm signals were more successful t ban the weather charts. Sunshine, rain, and snow were all carefully recorded, and photographs of (làkes of the latter showed cnriQUS and beautiful formations. Lightning was also photo- graphed now with eage ancl.-accuracy, and ihe results showed how erratic lightning frequently was, tyihg itself in knots, and darting first downwards and thea upwards., 9mm

How can you get a set of teeth inserted gratis ?— Kick a dog. GIVE the positive, comparative, and superlative of getting on in the world ?-Qet on; get honour; got honest SIR MicflAEt HICKS-BEACH is never, unhke Mr. Chamberlain, seen in the smoking-room of the fiouze of Commons. His favourite place in the precmts of the House outside his own room is the members tea-room, where he assiduously reads the leading daily and weekly papers. Mr. Chamberlain is also a great newsaaper reader, and the paper he likes best, he always eays, happens to be one which does not put forward the political views which he himself upholds

-4 TTNION LINE for the SOUTH AFRICAN" GOLD FIBI'DS. Sailings from Southampton every Saturday. Calls made at Madeira and Tenerifa. AppJ)" to the Uwios STKAM SHIP Co., Ltd., Canute Kd., Southampton, and South African House,9^to 98,Bi8hop3gate St. Within,Londo». IRON BUILDINGS AND RODFINI, V Charohcs, Chapela, IflMion and School Booa% ■ Lswn Tennis, Golf, «nd Crlokat PkTiUoaa. Cofc> 1 tjges, Stable*. Farm Building*. »y««| trny A Docoripttoa ot lroa Building*. M South BERMOND8EY 8TATUML W. HARROWS' WORKS, LONDON, BILLIAitD AND B Air ATiii uL rf TABLES. A LARGE STOCK OK NKW AND SECOND- HAND TABLES alwavs on liami. WHITE KOit flitICE LISTS. -0. KDWAUD8. 134, KI1\HSLA?iD ROAD. LOKDON, N.E. I'lie best in th-is world- LANTERN SLIDES. h G. W. WILSOV & CO.. T-IM'TKO. At>rrd-»n. ínn: NEW raEKOR SLXIA39DWI TUCPADinil This successful and highly popntar I nLIiAi IUn. remedy, as employed in the Continental Hospitals, by Kicord, Eostiuj, Jobert, Velpeau, and others, combines ail the desiderata to be sought in a medicine ot the kind, and surpasses everything hitherto employed for im- purity of the blood, spots, blotches, pains and swellings of the joints, kidney and liver diseases, gravel, pains in the back, nervousness, sleeplessness, tc. Therapion is prepared in three different forms, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, according to diseases JOT whioh intended. Full p&rtical&rs send (tamped addressed envelope for pamphlet to Ma. B. JOHNSON, 43, HOLFORD SODAKB. LONDON. W.O. Name thU Puper. I I L t f U AVE YOU SEEN OUR CAT -alogue of Greenhouses, Conser- vatories, Summer and Poultry Houses. Cucumber Frame*, Heating Apparatus, Iron Building •, Horticultural Timber, Iron, Glass, and Sundries, containing 364 Pasres. about 1,200 Illustrations F I Bound in cloth. Post free to all Applicants. "W. COOPER, LTD., Horticultural Provider, 7H5, Old Kent JTOa/t, r," v ■ n vg > \Vorksforer5 Acrl's, Inspection invited. CITY OF LONDON TEA COMPANY. Delicious Teas In Chests or Packets. Pnce List on application to Manager, 8-5 3, Beer Lane. Great Tower Street, London, B.C. "M" O PART OF THE WOULD INVITING _L\ Settlers otters briguior p.»-pects to the Agriculturist than ONTARIO. Illustrated Hand took, with Maps, sent free on application to the ONTARIO GOVERNMENT Aozzicr. 9, Jamra S^re>;t,, Liverpool. FOR THE VINOLIAH P R R SOAP (for the Complexion), y a TahArt. CREAM (Itching, Burning Face Spots), 1/1t. POWDER (Redness, Roughness, Sweating, &c.)t 1/-

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. If the story which is related in the Paris journals is not an exaggeration of the truth, Narbonne poa- lesses a most remarkable phenomenon in the person of a young woman who can not only read through opaque substances which the X-ray a fail to penetrate, but also does so from a long distance. The young lady is described as having made two mistakes when her powers were tested; she read le soir instead DI "ce soir," and she omitted the word trop," and the was puzzled by some Greek, Russian, and German haracters.

I =================== THE QUEEN'S NEXT HOLIDAY. A Nice correspondent says, with respect to the ap- proaching Tisit of the Queen, that everything bas been satisfactorily settled as regards the sunitary arrangements at the Regina Palace. A serious stumbling-block existed, which might have interfered with her Majesty's journey, but Sir James Harris went to the Mayor of Nice, who promised to have any necessary expenses defrayed by the municipality.

"WHAT is the worst thing about riches?" asked a school teacher of a boy. "Their scarcity," he replied, and was immediately rewarded with a prize. MINISTER "I once performed three wedding cere- monies in twelve minutes." Miss Saylor: That was at the rate of fifteen knots an hour." T

CARTER'S LITTLE M LIVER PILLS. jMBvfrmq smtS" gmsjlVERj *rlc«. »» TOft^ln ft PtLrely Vegetable. Can Torpid liver, Mlo, fellow Complexton, and Hick d&chea promptly: uid •are cheiu so attpKAT car*4. <h«Tnittti. IM- IM BEAUTIFUL TEETH for.11 who DM dally on th. tvMk brush « tow dropj ot SOZODONT the plMiaateit diatlXrU* bi till world. Cleanses the teeth and spaces between them as nothing eliis will. Sotmd and pearly whttt teeth, rosy lips, and fragrant breath ensured. Ask lor BOZODONT. 2a. 6X

TUB Cuban trouble may prove Australia's oppor- tunity, so far as tobacco production is concerned, if the colonists are prepared to utilise the many advantages at their command, for there can be no question that in not a few districts, especially in New South Wales, both soil and climate are admirably adapted for tobacco cultivation. Indeed, the culture of the tobacco plant has long been practised in the colony mentioned, and so far back as 1864 over 500 acres were under crop, producing 4851owt. of tobacco Aeaf. But the tobacco-growing industry then, as now, was principally in the hands of Chinese, few Austra- lian or European farmers apparently possessing the knowledge necessary for the proper cultivation and preparation of the leaf. t

FTgB.BftMraMa—aasaSH—EMM WiWMBMMWBBBMffl A RECORDI 200 GOLD MEDALS AND DIPLOMAS. Without a doubt the most popular drink of the day is COCCA. and in the selection of a good cocoa the opinion of exper:s is not to ba demised. The bi:eut testimony of two hundred Gold Me.'a s and Diploma? awarded- in competition by experts in all parts of the world in favour of :■ Jlihs, FRY'S PURE CONCENTRATED mMilM GOGOA speakc volumes in favour of its merits, and is, wo think, J'jjj'8 record that no other coco3 can show. Dr. ANDBBW 'I WILSON-, F.R.8E., ooooa, sa^ys^that I | ■ea>i'B3f jprOducins; 1 constituents, and adds, "There is nb-tett#rTdo<l.

Itt WILLIAM TURNER shows that among civilised races men have t,he advantage over women in internal capacity of the- cranium, and ^n weight of the brain itself. While the fcTerage brain weight of the Euro- pean male is from 49oz. to 50ozv in the female it is only from 44oz. to 45oz. «The differehde in'eize and weight begins at birth.. Nor is the inequality con- fined to European races. It is observable among savages, though in a lesser degree. Man is not only the larger and stronger animal, but is fitted with a larger and more powerful supply of brains. FIHIEIIMEN in many parts complain that the mackerel of to-day are not to be taken by any methods that proved successful with their ancestotlf. The first result of the constant pursuit of which these fish were the objects was almost to exterminate them. Only the most knowing mackerel survived, and their pro- geny. though now very numerous again, manifest afl adroitness in escaping from nets and books that is immensely pleasing to people eeeking confirmation for the theory of natural selection, but most exasperat- > we to men with a livine to earn

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