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

MR. BALFOUR AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour on Monday night addressed a meeting of his constituents in Manchester. Dealing first with the Voluntary Schools Act 'of last session, he said-the Government had been most care- ful in its construction, and. so far as could be ascer- tained only 40 voluntary schocfis had refused to ava,il ■ themselves of itp .provisions, Thfe measiM33.,was bound in the future to be~.of the greatest adraotage .to the people of England!. He regretted that the Workmen's Compensation Act had been de- scribed in 'tofttë"' quarters las' Socialistic. The Gotrrmnent belfewd that Jt.L ",otild be of great bfenefit to Workmen, while it' was" also fair to employers. He helievtd that ultimately work-1 men and capitalists alike would find0 the Act most beneficial, and that it would prbve to be economically the cheapest arrangement: that could be devised. The time of Parliament in the coming sessi-an would be largely occupied with the proposals of the Government with reference to army reform and to the reconstruction of the gystem, of local government in Ireland. Although they were, of course, as strongly as ever opposed to' anything in the, nature of Home Rule, they desired to place the administration of local affairs in Ireland on as sound a footing as in England and Scotland, but if the subvention of somejE700,000 per annum which they proposed give in aid of Irish local taxation could not, be applied JBO as to secure hVoad, f*ee,fand uncontrolled locargovernment with- out endangering the legitimate, interests of any class the project >i'ould have to be abandoned. Turning to foreign affairs, Mr. Balfour expressed disappointment at the delay iri'the adjustment of the Cretan problem. The European concert had accomplished great ;things, but in regard to this question it had failed. The war on the North-West frontier of India was one of necessary defence, but he took the opportu- nity of acknowledging the indebtedness of the nation Jo the British troops for the valour and endurance they had displayed during the recent campaign. The Imperial and Indian Governments had. no desire to invade the independence of the various tribes so long as they did not interfere with British inte- rests. In China our interests were primarily com- mercial, and we had a right to see that those inte- rests were in no way interfered with, He had no objection to Russian commerce going anywhere so long as British trade could go there also. When our Government asked China to open her waterways the demand was made in the interests of all nations. Their policy in the Far East was anything but narrow or exclusive, and he contended that ..it was a sound policy and had been properly and prudently pursued. A resolution of confidence, in the home an4, foreign policy of the Government was unani- mouslycarried.

THE OLDEST LADY IN KENT. Mrs. Gray, this oldest woman in the County of Kent; and who resides near the railway-station at Chatham, completed the 104th year of her age on Monday. Among the many messages received by the ag$d lady, was si telegram expressing the congratula- tions and good wishes of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Lond.Qn,Mrs. Gray is in good health and spirits, the pleasant excitement of the day having done much to cheer her. Her health fluctuates, but she maintains wonderful vivacity, and is able to get about the house unaided. Her eyesight also is good.

BASUTOLAND TROUBLES. News has been received at Capetown Aliwal North that large numbers of Basutos are assembled at Palmiet Fontein, and that the outlook is serious. The cause of the present disturbances is the refusal of Masupha to deliver up his son Moeketsi to the authorities for assault and gaol-breaking in the Orange Free State.

THIS Dvike of. Iledforcl's collection of deer at Wohurn Abbey is now one of the finest in Europe. He has Wapiti, Sambar, Bison, Sika, Caspian Red Black Buck, Chital, Elk, Reindeer, Deer, and other species; and both he » e ..cheae frequently visit the paddocks and treat interest in toe animals.

I INDIA'S TROUBLES. r BONBBWALS' PASSES CAPTUBBD WITHOUT LOW. The Highland Light Infahtry, the Buffs, and the 20th Punjaubis, operating against theBonerwals, have reached King Argali. They found the village deserted and passed a quiet night. The sappers worked during the day on the roadandbivouacked for the night in the pass. It, iis estimated that 2000 Salarzai, Asherzai, and Gadizai opposed the advance. A dispatch from Sangho announces the taking of the Persai Pass by the Rustam force. There were no casualties on the British aide. The Aka Khels have requested leave to send a Jirga to ascertain the terms of the Government. The KatEa. Kbels have deserted the Khyber Pass. The following telegram from the Viceroy was re- ceived on Saturday at the India Office "Malakand: Blood captured Tanga Pass yester- day. As far as is known, only toss is one man of 2nd Battalion Highland light Infantry; wounded; Road near crest of pass impracti- cable for mules, also descent on the other side. It is not certain whether transport can be. got over to-day. Coolies, with men's coats and Blankets, ac- companied troops over pass. The slight loss in taking the pass is attributed to the efficiency of the artillery fire and long-range volleys. The Infantry of the Corps of Guides, 31st Bengal Infantry, one section No. 4 Company Bengal sappers and miners marched from Rustam for Persai Pass four p.m. en Sunday. On Sunday the Viceroy reported: Road over Tanga Pass opened mules and supplies passing over. No. 4409 Private John McMasters, 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, reported WOUIlded, died January 8." MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN CRITICISED. At a special dinner of the London district of tho Institute of Journalists, held on Saturday evening in London, Mr. Maclean, M.P., said that with regard to the Indian frontier war he had remarked, with sur- Eriae and some uneasiness, that the Press of London ad not yet laid all the facts fairly before the public. No doubt the published messages were excel- lent in their way; but it had been left to the Anglo-Indian Press to tell the British public that everything had not been as it ought to be, either in the management of the campaign by the generals or in the conduct of the troops engaged in the war. These were facts that ought to be known, because the war involved enormous expenditure of public money and terrible waste of human life. Every effort should be made by the proprietors of our great news- papers to bring out the facts as to what had happened, and let the public know what were the real causes of the blunders made and of the miserable results which had attended the war. REPORTED OUTBREAK OP DISORDER IS- BALUCHISTAN. It is announced, from Sangho, that the road over the Pass is complete, and that the British troops are assembling at Kihgargali. The political outlook is now more promising. Twenty of theenemy were killed and 60 wounded in the, fighting of Friday in last week. A disturbance is reported to have occurred in the Mekran district, where the local Khan has risen and attacked Jurbat, which is within territory under the Khan of Khelat's influence. Several men were killdd. VICEROY'S TELEGRAMS. The following telegrams from the Viceroy were received at the India Office on Monday; Tirah—Health report for week ending January 7. Wounded progressing favourably, except 2nd Bat- talion Oxfordshire Light Infantry No. 1150 Ser- geant-Major Dempsey; No. 3481, Private E. Smith; 2nd Battalion King's Own Borderers, No. 4544, Pri- vate Cairney." Buner.—General Blood reports January 8, from Sangho that the enemy who opposed crossing Tanga Pass amounted to possibly 2000 men. Enemy's loss is estimated at about 20 killed and 50 or 60 wounded. Colonel Adams. with cavalry, bivouacked night of January 8 at Kingargali. Colonel Merse, com- manding 31st Bengal Infantry, expected to get all infantry baggage over Pirosi Pass to Knai yesterday. Blood crossed Janga Pass to Kingargali yesterday, and found everything working satisfactorily." Tirah.—Following are the names and regimental; numbers' of non-commissioned officers and men killed; numbers- of non-commissioned officers and men killed: and wounded at Krama December 25: 2nd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment, severely woanded, No. 3421 Lance-Sergt. Jonas Sanworth; slightly wounded, No. 4013 Private Albert. Warren..Shargai heights; 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, severely, .wounded, N 0".4418, lance-Corporal William Go < CampChiha.Dazar Valley/December 27: 1st Bat- talion Royal West Surrey Regiment, severely wounded, No. 3798 Lance-Corporal Charles Roberts, No. 3353 Private Harry Benning; slightly wounded, No. 4333 Drummer William Ogden." PLAGUE tÑ BOMBAirl' There had, been 159, cases of plague and 126 deaths in Bombay, a telegram of Mdndav's date reported5 during the last 48 hours. The total mortality during the present outbreak is 406.

THE ROYAL PARKS AND PALACES. The First Commissioner of Works (Mr Akers Douglas) announced last year in Parliament that the Queen had graciously approved of. the Ranger's Lodge adjoining Greenwich Park being let by the Commis- sioners of Woods as part of the Crown. Lamda under their charge, and that her Majesty. had. been pleased to throw into the park; for the use of the public, 15 acres of land hitherto annexed to the lodge. We are now enabled to state that the ,Queen has further decided that the,old palace at Kew shall be opened, during her pleasure, as a public museum under the same management as Kew Gardens; and by her wish the grounds belonging to what is known as the Queen's Cottage will also be utilised in oon- nectron with the Royal Gardens, a very attractive addition being thus made to the gardens, the ameni- ties of which are enjoyed by the public. Furthermore her Majesty, in her desire to gratify the wishes of her people, h", directed that the State Rooms at Ken- sington Palace, in the central part of the building, which have been closed and unoccupied since 1760 together, with Sir Christopher Wren's banqueting- room attached to the palace, shall after careful re- storation be opened to the public during her pleasure* and the Government will forthwith submit to Parlia- ment an estimate of the cost of restoration.

SERIOUS FIGHTING IN UGANDA. News of serious fighting in Uganda has just been received at Mombasa, according to which both Lieutenant Macdonald and the Rev. Mr. Pilkington the missionary, have been killed. It is also stated that there was a possibility of the Buddu garrisons joining the mutineers. Troops are being hurried to the front.

DEATH OF SIR ROBERT MEADE. | The Hon. Sir Robert Henry Meade, G.C.B., died on Saturday at an hctal in Belfast. He had been suffering for years from suppressed Rout. The late Sir Robert, who was an M.A. of Exeter College, Oxford, passeH an examination into the Foreign Office in 1859 as junior clerk, and was attached in 1860 to Lord Dufferin's special Mission to Syria. He accompanied the Prince of Wales during the tour of his Royal Highness, in East Germany and Italy in 1862, and in the same year went, to Germany with Earl Russell when the latter was in attendance on the Queen. He accom- panied Earl Granville on similar occasions in iggg and 1865, and was appointed Groom of the Bed- chamber to the Prince of Wales in 1862. He was Private Secretary to Lord Granville, when Secretary of State for the Colonies, from1864 to 1866. When Lord Granville went to the Foreign Office he occuoied th« Same position from 1868 to 1870. Next year he was appointed Assistant Under Secretary at the Colonial Office, and retained the post till 1892, when he was made Permanent Under Secretary. He was British Delegate at the West African Conference at Berlin in 1884, and he retired from the ColomalOftlce through ill-health last year.

THE Right Hon. Edmund Thomas Bewley, M A LL.D., judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland, and Judicial Commissioner of the Irish Land Commission, whose retirement from the latter position after eight years service is announced, was called to the Irish Bar as long ago as 1862, took ailk in 1882, was elected a Bencher of the King's Inns four years later, and was Regius Professor of Feudal and English Law in the University of Dublin from 1884 to 1890. He has passed his 00th year, and the knighthood which has been bestowed on him is none too high an honour, in view of the ability and im- partiality which he has brought to bear in the exercise of his judicial functions. He is succeeded by Mr. R. E. Meredith, Q.C., long a practitioner in the same court.

SOME MEMORIES OF ST. JAMES'S. Few writers can discourse more pleasantly of that older generation of which they formed a part than Sir Algernon West, who, in the Nineteenth Century, takes his readers for a conversational excursion from thiemban kmeut,pad Vp*opll into St. James's, and up Park-lane to Mountnitre^ As he walked, the streets became peopled with the ghosts of friends and acquaintances who had passed before him. To his mind's kindly eye they-reappear in their old haunts with all the cultured gracss and the witty memories of an honoured past: "The Reform Club, -built on the model of the JVirnese Palace bp Sir Charles Barry, reminds me of Mr. Bright telling me that at the time of the Corn- Law Agitation he,took Mr. Rauston, theWcretary of the League; there, who put his hand onjiis arm and said, John, John, how can we remain honest if we live in such palaces as this?' Here, too, I see Lord Clarendon, and with him Charles Greville arm-in-arm, 'hearing some secrets and inventing more,' and a knot of eager politicians at the Carlton discussing whether the Peelitcs. will join the Tories or the W higs, and a few steps further on a brougham, which was then a novelty, with a, ry tall well-drilled powdered footman at the door, from which emerges a lady beloved by many generations of society and familiarly called Lady A. She posssessed a low deep voice, which was never used to say an urfkind word of or to anybody, large curls on each side of a fine- featured face, and an. appearance of everlasting youth. Walking out of St. James's-place is the Banter poet Rogers, whom Frederick Lockier describes as an ugly little man, a wrinkled little Maecenas in a brown coat; but he was more than that. The older he got the greater his position became. He had been a friend of Fox, of Sheridan, of Moore and Campbell, and Byron and Shelley, with whom he travelled in Italy. He was offered the Poet-Laureatfeship, which then Was an office of honour. When a great- robbery of his bank tosk place he regretted the necessity of having to drive in a brougham—a carriage then almost unknown-but later on he was reconciled by finding it adopted by persons of fashion. Layfayette said that memory is the wit of fools. If it is, I am not ashamed of sharing in its pleasures with Rogers. I paused awhile on what Disraeli called that celebrated eminence at the top of 8t. James's-street, by the refuge opposite the famous bay-window of White's, meditating on the uncertainty of human ambitions and human life; for on the pillar I spelt out the name of its founder, Mr. Pierrepoht, who was in the habit of frequenting White's and the Turf Club, which formerly was in Arlington-street. With advancing years and increasing traffic he became alive to the danger of the crossing, and begged the vestry to erect a place of refuge in the middle of the street; this they declined, but expressed their readiness to meet his views provided he-paid the cost, which he consented to do. One day, when the refuge-was Complete and his name embossed on it, he was proudly showing it off to a friend, and had stepped on one sfde' to admire it the better, when he was knocked down by a passing coach and kftled. He visits the Cosmopolitan Club, and hears once more Tom Taylor tell the story of the 'bus-driver who had said one day as they tibrove in from Clap- ham: ■" Itseems to me, sir, that society's pretty well-nigh at an end in Paris." How so?" said Taylor. Well," he continued, I was reading in the paper last night that they was making barricades of omni- buses, and I thinks to -'myself, when they do that, society's pretty well-nigh at an end. Sir Algernon concludes his walk with Heine's thought: All the world smells of -dead' violets." I-turned homewards into Mount-street, so long called Oliver Mount from the London fortifications built there by Parliament- in 1643. There is that apostle of homoeo- pathy, Quin, the; incorrigible punster, with his asthmatic voice and- wheesy "laugo. His house, ap- proachedf through a long passage, is as much a thing of the past as the parliamentary walls of 1643. My ■dream is rudely, broken by the syren of a motor-cab and I fear that in my reveries I nave been casting too sad lookaobehind' m'e. &nd-pel^ps XiHduly regretting jother times, other manners, and* other -men. The .days thai are no JIYiØreH This i^natural in aimms of the old p but, thardsf (jtod, ii" nvf waking moineVits I still can- contemplate witM intense pleaSrarfe the glorious joys a»d iJeaBednees of youtn; the noble ilmbitions and splendid aspirations of many in this hire of worfcng meriv how day'bj" day so ideal becomes J* reality ;-hpw day by day some scandal is •"lived downy*T»ome grievance isfOM^ssed/and' "not all good thiiigB are in the-past." )

1'im"> ;u J A SHORT STORY. "u ¿ ..{ The trial of an Italian carabiniere, and of his; sweetheart jfa.yDiing^girlX which has just been con- J cluded at the Asgizes of Cattino, has revealed a most romantic case. Vincenzo Riggio, the carabiniere; had: already attained the rank of brigadiere," when he fell in love with a young girl named Carolina Truoco, who belonged to one of the best families in Rocca- monfina. Their friendship having "ripened into too close intimacy, the parents of the girl insisted upon Vincenzo mariying her, which, however, he refused to do. He was thereupon expelled from the Italian police force, and an action was brought against him by Carolina's family. During the hehr- ing of the case the girl suddenly drew out a revolver which she had concealed in" her dreea and fired' at her faithless lover, who fell to the ground severely wounded in the neck and head. Having accom- plished her vendetta, she coolly handed the revolver to the warder, Saying, "Arrest me; I have had Justice 1" The wounded man was carried to the nospital in Naples, while Carolina Trucco was coim- mitted for trial oh a charge of attempted murder. Immediately Vincenzo Riggio had recovered from his wounds he went to the "prison at Cattino, and, having obtained permission, he was married to the firl wno had attempted his life. A jury (says a )aily News correspondent who sends the story) has just absolved' both the ex-carabiniere aifd, his wife Who left the Assiae Court quite happily."

.31 r t': 2. A GOQDVRIFQ. v His Majesty King Humbert is said to be universally respected in Italy. He is a simple, heroic man, scorn- ing all royal clap-trap, and daring even to rashness. His people have never forgotten how, when the cholera was raging in Naplesv he went fearlessly into the slums (and there ere slums in Naples), and visited all the worst cases. In any disaster he is always the first on the spot. He resembles his father, the famous Victor Emmanuel, in being no scholar; but he has also his father's sincere and loyal heart. Like Victor Emmanuel, Umberto loves an open-air life and exercises that fatigue the body; and his greatest pleasure is to spend whole weeks under canvas 1D the mountains in the valley of Aosta, stalking the chamois, eating the same hard fare as the peasants. Nothing will induce him ever to carry: an umbrella and he is as careless of drenching rain as of the fiercest sun.

i A DICKENS'S INN. To lovers of old Eriglish inns, and of Dickens's inns in particular, the King's Head at Chrgwell, in Epping Forest, should prove a source of real delight.: It is immortalised by the great novelist as The Maypole in "Barnaby Rudge," the opening chapter of wnich, it will be remembered, describes this iden- tical "houseof entertainment." Although the hostelry periodically receives a coat of paint or other' embel- lishment, it still retains its ancient shape. -As1, in the days, to which picltens's description applied, the inn has still more gable ends than a lazy insot would care to count on day,"and the huge zigxae chimneys still »end WD tneir fantastic skeins of smoke above tfi# tro&i of trae sur- rounding forest. The journey from London to this famous old plaea affords » most pleasant bicycle ride; but-infending visitors should becareful that the King's Head is seen, as the writer, believing that DickenslJ inn was sanally-known as the Maypole, was induced to ride bro miles further on to a tavern bearing the latter sign, which turned out to be a building of red brick, the unpicturesque modernness of which quite spoilt a lafit-century dream in which he had been indulgii^f. f

A GBKMAK biologist says that the two sides of a face are never alike; in two cases out of five the eyes are out of fine; one oye k stronger than the other in seven persons oat of ten; a&d the right ear is generally higher than the left IT has been calculated that1 the annual expenditure ih the salaries of football players in the United Kingdom amounts to an aggregate of £ 1,078,272 •torlinc a or nearly twice M much as tha -šottaeatiaJlGYal,

THE NILE CAMPAIGN. MASSING OP DERVISH TOUCRO BBLOW BBKBKK. The 1st Battalion of the Warwickshire Regiment left Alexandria on Sunday morning, and arrived at Cairo in the afternoon, afterwards leaving for Luxor, where it will embark for Wady Haifa. The let Battalion Cameron Highlanders will start for Wady Haifa immediately. The 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers antl the 21st Lancers will leave Cairo for the same destination later. The Lancers will probably be replaced by another cavalry regiment. The dervishes continue to mass their forces at Metammeh and Shendy. Supplies are arriving at those places from Omdurmon, where great activity prevails. Sir Herbert Kitchener is still at Wady Haifa. The railway to Assuan will be com- pleted in a few days, The transport Nubia has arrived at Limasol from Malta with the 1st Battalion of the Seaforth High- landers on board on their way to Egypt. She will disembark one company of the Bord.er Regiment, under Captain J. E. S. Probyn, and will embark one company of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders, under Captain Egerton, to proceed to Cairo. KORE TROOPS FOB EGYPT. The official order issued on Saturday by the Duke of Connaught, with reference to the departure of detachments for Egypt, states that those going out immediately include Lieutenant F. P. Taylor, Staff- Sergeant Major T. Johnson, and 57 non-commis- sioned officers and men of the Army Service Corps, Surgeon-Major W. G. Robinson, Lieutenant 1,Ild Quartermaster Tandy, one warrant officer, and 76 non-commissioned officers and men of the Medical Staff Corps, Conductor Robertson, and 14 non-com- «iission*d officers and men of the Army Ordnance Corps. MARCHAND'S PORn: BLOCKED BY A BRITISH EXPEDITION. Letters received in Vienna from travellers of dis- tinction in Somaliland and Arabia contain sugges- tive observations upon the Major Macdonald expedition, of which the scope and aims have hitherto been so vague and obscure to. the general public. Ac- cording to these letters the expedition marks another important departure in the absorption of Africa at the same time that it virtually checkmates the Marchand expedition, by erecting the impassable barrier of effective British occupation between that expedition and the Somali coast, which could alone give to the French a practicable base upon that part of the Nile. Incidentally, also, Major Mac- donald's instructions, which are represented as being steadily pushed to their consummation, will give a rude shock to the Orleans-Leontieff day dream of a French Abyssinian province wedged in between the Eastern Nile and Uganda, designed to block the British communication between the Cape and Cairo on the East bank, aa Marchand's irruption is intended to block it on the western bank. It is the firm conviction of the authors of these letters that if ever Prince Henri or Count Leonteiff set eyes on their Abyssinian province on the one side, or if Marchand and Leotard ever got to Fashoda on the other, they will all equally find their labours sterilised by the spectacle of the Union Jack flying from the western side of Lake Rudolph, which it was hoped to turn into a French preserve. These Austrian travellers represent the Macdonald expedition as one of the strongest and most com- pletely equipped that was ever despatched into the interior of Africa, and that its objects are to establish a well protecting trading station on Lake Rudolph, striking—in the picturesque language of the original letters, deep, and per- manent roots, in striking contrast to the ridiculous irruption of the French, who have advanced a claim to dominate the Higher Nile without possessing the means for :solidly establishing themselves anywhere." There is even alleged to be reason for believing that once the 27th Bombay Infantry (now protecting the completion of the Mombasa Uganda Railway) can be spared from that duty, they will furnish a garrison for the western bank of Lake Rudolph. BOYCOTT OP WAR CORRESPONDENTS. The refusal to allow correspondents to accompany the troops in the operations expected to take "place shortly in the Soudan has, the Daily Telegraph sets forth, evoked a very strong feeling; and, as will, be seen, condemnation of the high-handed action is earnest and general. In selecting the repre- sentative of one agency alone and refusing to permit any other, testimony to be given of events which interest the whole nation, the authorities have not only incurred a grave responsi- bility, but have taken a Step which will grievously disappoint the public, who follow the movements of our troops with the closest attention." It is tinder- stood that the War Office in London is nof*iri any way responsible for this extraordinary step upon the. part of the. General charged with the conduct of the campaign in Egypt, and that its odium has' to be shared by the Foreign- Office and the offi- cials in Egypt. It js difficult to understand, and impossible to defend, the position which they have taken up, when it is remembered that every war correspondent, before being allowed to epter upon his duties, ie obliged to- subscribe to the strictest conditions, and that despatches are sub- jected to the most vigilant censorship. Not only so, but he cannot proceed to the scene of action without passports carefully vis6d by special officers. There is- no suggestion of Tmprudertce upon the part of the gentlemen selected for the onerous tasK, and no hint that news has ever been telegraphed which would be likely to dis- close to the enemy any knowledge of the inten- tions of the General commanding. The latter has only to express-the wish in, order to prevent telegrams passing for any period, long or short. He may. at his discretion direct, that letters should t&ke the place of messages by wire. With all thf se restrictions and. precautions, the prohibition seems entirely unnecessary and indefensible.WhoeTer, is answerable for the unprecedented act, the public vfill expect (argues the Daily Telegraph) tfie War Offibe, by whom the General in Egypt is controlled, to deal promptly with this- unwise and un-English regula- tion. The Commander-in-Chief has an obvious duty, and the country, will look- to him to exercise his authority, and at onoe give instructions cancelling the absurd order.. ,>

LARKS OR SPARROWS! Larks are now often in the mlnu. They make, in truth, a delicate meat, but, asks Nature Notes, is, it agreeable with Selbornian feeling to ea.fthem? They are being consumed by tens of thousands, and are rapidly diminishing in numbers. That alone should be sufficient to give pause in the destruction of any bird, even one of unmusical note and dull, low taslies, But a skylark The blithe spirit which is surrounde-dv as it were, with a luminous halo of poetry, half reli- gious. Can it be imagined that Wordsworth, after- finishing his ode with— Type of the wise who soar, but pever, roam :.t. True to the kindred points of heaven and home" could sit down to a dish of larJte ? Or Shellv; Would the author of "Teach me half the gladness That thy brain must know, Such harmonious madness., From my lips would flow, The world should listen then, as I am listen- ing nowl" H call for lark pudding. f 1, A very important point is the small size of the sky- lark. You kill-this life for what ? For literally ttvo mouthfuls-stuffing, or other foreign accessory, being excluded. If a lark were as big as #'duck the case would be different. They say that poulterers and cooks can between them turn sparrows into larks. And sparrows—well, there is perhaps an embarras- sing wealth of sparrows. Would it be impossible to persuade inveterate larkeaters to order sparrows and see that they get them? •

11 ■» I LITTLE more than a century ago the city of Exetfer was the centre of the woollen trade of Great Britain. At the present day not a single manufacturer of the material exists in the city. Other once flourishing businesses have also become extinct in the venerable capital of Devon. __THE Rev. J. F. Hastings, rector of Shelsley Wash, Worcester, has made the important discovery that by certain Acts of Parliament passed between 1806 and 1822, all small livings and charities under £ 150 a year" were, on application, exonerated from liability to land-tax for ever. Hie own living was found to be one of these, and be has been relieved from payment of the tax, after being told on the demand-note that no proof of exemption wouldpe accepted except a certificate • of redemption. important point to notice is that redemption has nothing to do with exoneratfon under the Acta mentioned, which we« api^d to 2140 lmngs and dtaritiM. !ft«re rery mnrof ttew are iIk#aB* asseeeed to tbe Land Tax.

EPITOME OF NEWS. TO-DAY it costs 9187,500,000 per annum to main- tain the peace of Europe. IN very clear water sunlight penetrates the sea to the depth of 1680ft. THE British Post Office makes 94000 a year by unclaimed money-orders. UPON an average there are 10,000 pineapple* imported into London every week throughout the Tear. IT is "understood that the millowners and fishery proprietors of the Surrey Wandle will wait upon the Minister for Agriculture when Parliament meets andl protest against the action of the Croydon Corporation m tapping the springs of that river at Waddon. Tms/.Queen's new yacht, which Sir William White it is said is busy with just now, is expected to do her twenty knots an hour. She is to be a yacht pure and simple, says the Yachtsman, with no pretensions whatr ever to be a cruiser. PRESIDENT FAURE has signed a decree granting a free pardon to the man Cyvoct, who was sentenced to death in 1883 for being concerned in the explosion at the Bellecour Theatre, the capital penalty being afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life. LADY ROSE MOLYNEBX has entertainecr more than one shooting-party lately at Abbeystead, the property left her by her father, Lord Sefton, who built the house on the property, which he developed as a shoot- ing domain. The house is a very fine one, and the surroundings possess a certain scenic grandeur. Its situation is, however, somewhat secluded and neigh- bourlese, so that the amenities are almost entirely of a sporting kind. AN irade is stated to have been issued by the Sultan, directing that the guns for Turkish war-vessels, which were originally to have been supplied by Messrs Armstrong and Co., shall be ordered of Messrs Krupp. On the other hand, the contracts for the projected new ships, which, it is said, will be four ironclads, are to be given to Messrs. Armstrong. COLONEL TOWNLEY W. DOWLING, R.M.L.I., who has been appointed recruiting officer for the Royal Marines, in succession to Colonel Campbell, R.M.A., is to be paid a salary (£800 a year), instead of being paid by bonus on each recruit raised, as has been the custom up to the present. Colonel Dowling is the officer who commanded the Royal Marines landed from her Majesty's ship Active during the Zulu War. JAPANESE auctions are conducted on a plan which gives rise to none of the noise and confusion which attend such sales in Britain. Each bidder writes his name and bid upon a slip of paper, which he places in a box. When the bidding is over, the box is opened by the auctioneer, and the goods declared the property of the highest bidder. To Miss Alice Cooke, M.A., belongs the honour of being the only lady who has ever been appointed a member of a University Court. She has just been appointed a representative of Convocation in the Court of Governors, Victoria University. Miss Cooke is one of the tutors in the Women's Depart- ment of Owens College. She is a Fellow of her College, and has for two years been a member of the Committee of Convocation. MANY people who have known Countess Telfener during her not-infrequent visits to England will sym- pathise with her in her sad and sudden bereavement. Countess Telfener is young, and brilliantly clever; she has a very fascinating manner, and is quite devoted to her five young children. Fortunately her mother (herself so lately widowed) wafc with her at the time of her husband's death; and her sister, Mrs. Mackay, is also in Rome. ADMIRERS of Mozart will be interested to hear that a sketch book of his, which was not known to exist, has lately come to light in Berlin. The book comes, as the inscription by Mozart's father says, from London, and dates from the year 1764. It is a small -volume, the 42 pages of which are completely filled with compositions by the hand of the then eight-year- old boy. WE read that out of the peerages at present existing, 284 were created during the Queen's reign. Of these Lord Melbourne was responsible for 26, Sir Robert Peel for 5, Earl Russell for 21, Lord Palmerston for 22, Lord Derby for 15, Mr. Disraeli for 31, Mr. Gladstone for 74, Lord Rosebery for 9, and Lord Salisbury for 80; and for those 9 peerages of his Lord Rosebery was more abused and vilified than Mr. Gladstone for his 74 or Lord Salisbury for his 80. THE printers and billposters of Boston U.S.A., do not seem to have much confidence in the financial stability of political aspirants, particularly candidates for the council. At one printer's, who does a lot of political work, were exhibited a number of signs reading, Political Printing Cash." A well-known billposter claims the winners are all right," but to collect from the defeated ones is like drawing teeth." THE Toronto Mail comments on the proposed United States military relief expedition for Klondike. The Mail questions the wisdom of allowing the United States to send such an expedition into the Klondike, and adds that Mr. Sefton had no right to give his consent to the proposal. A civilian party would have done as well. ACCORDING to the Westminster Grcueette, the number -of Jewish soldiers in the Imperial forces has shown a marked increase in the last few years. It is inter- resting to note that there are 26 Jewish officers on the active list of her Majesty's Army, when the pro- portion to population should be a shade under 20 and in the auxiliary forces there are 52 Jewish officers instead of the proportionate quota of 31. ELECTRICAL cabs weigh about 30cwt., including the apparatus, which weighs about 9cwt. Each cab carries 40 accumulators and two motors, with a capacity of eight horse-power if needed. The current requires to be increased on rough roads and up hill. The cost of the energy works out at about three farthings a mile. The battery costs about £80, and 20 per cent, on the prime cost may be reckoned for mainte- nance. ONE of Mr. Gladstone's peculiar ideas, which he has followed for 15 years, is to go to bed the instant he finds that he. has caught a cold, and stay there until the indisposition has passed. In this way he believes he has frequently cut short what might have been a serious illness. He sometimes reads and writes in bed just as usual. VERY little is known of the ruins underneath the City of Constantinople. A Turkish superstition says, however, that a strange cistern shows an expanse of inky water in which stand an array of columns, the limits of which have never been reached. A Christian once started to row in a boat to its farthest limit, and he has not got back yet. AMONG the many queer fads of Royalty is one possessed, by .both, the late Czw and his brother-in- W the JQufce of Sapce-Coburg-Gotha—namely, a craze for collecting models of ships, especially cruisers. Those of the late Czar, while merely of wood and hi^ss,* made ivp in perfection of finish and detail what they lacked'fii their intrinsic value, and one of the Mstradditions tothe collection was a model over lift, long of the Cunard steamer Lucania, constructed at a cost of over £2000. DURING a confirmation tour in the diocese of Peter- borough, Dr. Creighton, the present Bishopof London, put ap one evening in an old manor-house, and slept m a room supposed to be haunted. Next morning, at breakfast, the Bishop was asked whether he had seen the ghost. Yes," he replied, but I have laid the I spirit. It will never trouble you again." On being further asked as to what he had done, he said, The ghost instantly vanished when I asked a subscription for the restoration of Peterborough Cathedral." A PECULIAR type of measles is raging at Llanelly at present, hundreds of case being under under ea ment, and so general has the epidemic 'Jfcome, several of the largest Board Schools have been c The doctors describe the outbreak a-q one of German measles, the symptoms of which differ from those present in ordinary cases of measles. ,7 *7 house in the town where there are yo g one or more cases. DURING the past year there has been quite an epidemic in Fnmce for erectmgstotues And there is every indication that the malady will be intensified in 1898. This year's programme opens with a monu- ment to the painter, Louis Francais. Parisians are in the humour for subscribing funds. A statue has only to be suggested, and purses immediately open. Hence the assurance of the committee charged to put up the Francais monument that its work will be finished by the spring. AN English traveller relates that at a "Bride Show in Russia he saw a girl with an extraordinary set of ornaments. Her mother being unable to think of any fresh charm for her daughter, made her a necklace of six dozen silver-gilt spoons, a girdle of an equal number of tablespoons, and fastened a couple of silver ladles behind in the form of a wom The effect was much admired.