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

<' AN I^TERESTINQ ^REPORT, u Tltem are some jwjteworthy paIMogC8 inythe official, report of Consul Trotman, just,sent to Lord Salis- burjn, on the trade "and-commerce of Chungking,, Western China, during the past year. For instance, he says that it can scarcely be qaesfcioned.that the uncontrolled cultivation and sale of ^pi^jgL in West Qhina is an evil responsible fb|: the., dirty and demoralised oonditibn in which the lower„classee of th,e western province* live. In Q{Ham-jpuKlucing districts the drug is retailed as'low a price-as 4|d. ^per oz.* and along (lie" of one particular district "opium saloons 1 are tlycker than public-houses in the East-end of IAmdon. The British subject4 in Western China dqpug 1897 numbered 240, and of thepq282 were njissionaries. It were T*lw ona numbered 240, and of thepq282 were njissionaries. It ■eefns that there are still some people who are not deterred by: the trying (experiences cI: Mr. Savage. Landor from casting inquisitive eyes upon Thibet, for we are .told by the Consul, that two station? on the Thibetan border have been opened by missionaries, who despaired of entering the Forbidden J^nd of the Lamas by way of India." =.

SOUTH KENSINGTON. s> As far as it goes, th" answer given by the.First Commissioner of Works in the House of Commons to Sir S. Montagu, cqneerning the enlargement of the South Kensington Museum, is (the Globe says) acceptable as evidence that the Government oifi- oials are giving real consideration to the way m which the new buildings are to be arranged. The science laboratories are not to be utodar the same .roof as the art collections, so that there will be no possible risk of damage to fragile objects from noxious fumes. But the point -with regard to the allotment of the space available on the site remains open, and it_ is just this point that is most important. As thereris land close by actually ready for the erection of a perfectly adequate science school, to crowd laboratories on to the small piece of ground that is barely large enough for the art museum would be a grave mistake. It cannot be too often repeated that it is the duty of everyone who wishes to see some of the worst of the South Ken- sington scandals finally removed vehemently to oppose a policy based upon so complete a' misappre- hension of the necessities of the position. ,,t'

A WONDERFUL BUDGET. The most remarkable Budget in the world is per- haps that of Prussia, and it contrasts strikingly in some respects with ours. The. national expenditure amongst ourselves has grown so steadily that some- thing like £ 116,000,000 will have to b0 disposed of; but it is interesting to learn that income and outlay in Prussia are estimated at no less than 9100,4",Wo during the same period. When we come to analyse the Prussian figures, however, we discover that the enormous total does not represent with them, as it does with us, mainly the produce of- taxation. The State owns forests, mines, .and railways, which now yield in the gross upwards of £ 70,000,000 per annum. To these sources of revenue may be added thei lotteries, which yield about £ 4,000,000. On the other side of the account there is, of course, the working expenses of the various enterprises; but when these have all been reckoned, a net surplus appears of £ 24,500,000.

THE MUNICIPALITIES SCHEME V FOR LONDON. Mr. J; E. Smith- as hon. secretary of ;the con- ference of delegates appointed by 21 of the vestries of London, representing 2,600,000 persons and £ 20,683,000 rateable value, has, at the request of the chairman of the conference (the Earl of Onslow) and the chairman of the executive committee (Mr. Wheeler, Q.C.) addressed a letter to Mr. Whitmore, M.P., hon. secretary of the Metro- politan Members of the House of Commons, upon the subject of the Bill promised by the Government for creating municipalities for London. Mr. Smith says neither the conference nor the constituencies co-operating recognise for a moment that the County Council election, or its result, has- any bearing in reference to the present question. It was a mere, accident that the movement ripened at the time that the election was imminent. The aspiration dates, at least,, from the introduction of air. Ritchie's bill of 1888. The conference have been from the first, and still are, absolutely uninflu- enced by any party or political considerations; and they are as firmly united as ever they were upon the necessity for the improvement in question. In com-, pliance with the suggestion made by the Lord Pre- sident of the Council, the conference have sub- mitted for the consideration of the Government that certain powers substantially agreed upon at a series of meetings between the representatives of the County Council and of the local authorities, might be deemed u '1 transferable to the new municipalities as recon- stituted by the proposed bill, and suggested certain 911 other details which might be provided for therein. The conference submit that an important and very acceptable stage of the movement old be reached if. the Government are ablet before the present Session is further advanced, to promote a measure for facilitating the creation of Municipal Corpora- tions in the County of London, and for such inci- dental purposes as those lastly referred to. The "metropolitan members are, therefore, invited to urge on the Government the pressing, necessity for the introduction of the promised bill.

A MAGNIFICENT YACHT. ■ Baron Edmond de Rothschild's magnificent .yacht Atmah has been launched on the Clyde, the dimen- sions of the vessel, which has twin-screws, are: Length, 285ft.; breadth, 34ft.; depth, 21ft. 3in.; tonnage (yacht measurement), 1550 tons. The yacht has a clipper stem and elliptical stern, topgallant forecastle, and raised quarter-deck, which gives her a very handsome appearance, the general effect being enhanced by the fact that she is rigged as" a schooner, with yards on the fore- mast. There are seven watertight bulkheads through- out the ship. On the shade deck provision is made for carrying several quick-firing guns. There will be a commodious smoking-room in the deck-house aft, and the wheelhouse and chart-room forward, with a flying bridge above. The main entrance to the saloon is situated at the forward end of the deck-house on the main deek, and abaft this there is a large stateroom with' dressing-room adjoining the captain's cabin. The after deck-hoiise encloses a large state-room and entrancexo the dining-room, as well as a stair leading to the smoke-room on the shade deck. The galleys are fitted up in the after part of this house. The owner's and guests' accommodation; which includes owner's state- room, five guests' cabins, drawing-room, bath-rooms, and lavatories are situated on the cabin deck, for- ward of the boiler space. The dining-room, with pantry adjoining, is abaft the engine space, with a, passage leading alongside the casings to the owner's raccommodation. Forward of the owner's and guests' apartments on the liame deck accommodation and mess rooms are provided for the servants. The officers' quarters are arranged aft on the maih deck. The crews' quarters are under and entered from the quarter-deck. The petty officers' quarters, with the usual conveniences, are situated under the forecastle. The carpenter's shop, stewards' store-room, ammuni- tion-room, sail-lockers, stabling for bicycles, &c., are arranged at the forwatd end of the store-room deck, at the after end of which there is a refrigerating- chamber for fresh provisions. A system of hot water heating is carried throughout the ship, and a h&t water supply provided to all owners and guests' rooms. A complete installation of electric light, in- eluding a powerful search-light, is also provided.

MRS. WHITE, formerly the champion lady swim- mer, has died in London. At. the height of her popu- larity she earned between £ 70, and £ 80 a week, but died in comparative poverty. After her death her favourite dog Hung himself upon the body of his mistress in great grief, and for nearly an hour, would let no one approach the bed. 4L RESOLUTION has been introduced into the House of Representatives, Washington, empowering the Onited States President to appoint three Commis- sioners to meet, three British, three Russian, three French, three Austro-Hungarian, three Japanese, and three Chinese Commissioners to formulate a plan for the neutralisation and independence of the Sandwich Islands. 81-ft C. HOWARD, VINCENT, M.P., has addressed a letter to the Prime Minister, ite points'out that the me home production of wheat is but half what it was 25 years ago, while the population has increased by eight millions. This decline in arable cultivation of over two million acres has deprived four men oer 100 acres of agricultural emnWment

KOREAN INDEPENDENCE. ? The St Petersburg Official 'XTessevger publishes the I t text of a protocol signed at Tokio on Ajpril 25 last by the Hpresentativeii of Rutaia and Japan, whefeby the twd Empire's pledge themselves to abstain from ill iritrférencè in the internal ^ff&irs of Korea, and in the event of that country inviting tHe advice oi Assistance of eithfer "Empire, not to take anv step in the mktter wiffirfwt1 a preliminary agreement between fbefrfselves. 1 At the same iime, the absolute indepen- dence of Roireg ii recognised by the two contracting" parties, and'Efafoia agreed to place no impediment in the way of Japanese commercial and industrial, int»fpris6 in Korea. The Official Messenger, in pub- lishing the protocol, remarks that the agreement leaves Russia free to direct all her efforts to the accomplishrrient of her historical and essentially peaceful task on the shores of the Pacific.—Reuter.

OUR WHEAT SUPPLY IN WARt TIME. The report of the Agricultural Committee on National Wheat Stores has been issued.. It shows that the witnesses examined, with only one or two exceptions, agreed that the. dependence of the nation on seaborne supplies -of breadstuffs demanded serious attention and the adpption of some precautionary, measures. Mr. W. J. Harris estimated that in May, 1895, there was not more than seven weeks' supply of wheat ai^d flour in the United Kingdom, and pro- bably not so much." Mr. Proctor stated that we want 500,000 quarters of foreign wheat to keep us going a week," and added that then, (May, 1897) he aid not suppose we had more than six weeks or two months' supply. Our dependence on foreign impor- tation is shown in the following table: Home-grown Imported Wheat and Flotir. Wheat and PiouT. Qrs. of 48&b. Qrs. of 4801b. 1854-55 17,563,000 2,983,000 1874-75 12,900,000 11,700,000 1895-96 4,800,000 23,300,000 The committee state that they are profoundly im- pressed by the evidence given as to the immense importance of Government wheat stores as an essential item of national defence, and they are unable to conclude that the stores would have any material effect on the interests Of agriculture or of the corn trade. They recommend that the Government should be most strongly urged to obtain the appoint- ment, as soon as possible, of a Royal Commission, to include representatives of agriculture, the corn trade, shipping, the navy, and army, so as to conduct an exhaustive inquiry into the whole subject of the national food supply in case of war.

UNTON JACK AND STARS AND STRIPES. One of the most important results of the wax will, iicCtirding to an interview with a high official at Washington (quoted by the Telegraph's correspon- dent at Washington from the New York Herald this morning), be the forging of closer bonds between the United States and Great Britain. The President is delighted at the action of England in preserving an attitude of strict neutrality, and although there is not likely to be an actual alliance between the two Governments, the United StfPtes will be able by her occupation of the Philippines to materially assist England in kcepingthe door of trade open in China. After reviewing the attitude of the other Great Powers towards the States in their hour of victory, [the interview closes with the following remarkable statement: "England, therefore, is the only real friend of the United States abroad, and her firmness of attitude in favour *of this Government has pre- vented any interference on the part of Continental Europe."

BOMBARDMENT INSURANCE. Bombardment insurance" is the latest feature in the insurance world says the Toronto Economist, and is written on property along the United States coast in danger of bombardment during the war with Spain. One paper in New York puts the bombard- ,ment rate at 15 per cent., at which an insurance com- pany should grow rich with great rapidity. A fancy leaver" is reported. It insures two dwellings and .contents at New Orleans, La., against riot, pillage, (&c., exclusive of bombardment or fire. The amount is 30,000dol;, and the rate two per cent. The assured are two Spanish maiden ladies, who fear that their houses may be robbed by rioters or ruffians in case of war. The Spanish complications are developing the speculative instinct in underwriting circles, and will probably result in many odd policies being issued. Risks on sailing vessels to the West Indies and the east-coast of South America were quoted afcfive per cent., while the rate on steamers for the same ports was one per cent., while one-half of one per cent. was quoted on steamers in the coastwise trade. Insurance was also written on several steamers on the lacific.

I' PRINCESS PHILIP'OF COBURGL Princess Philip of Coburg, daughter of the King of the Belgians and wife of Prince Philip of Coburg, who recently fought a duel with his late adjutant, Lieutenant Matalich, has been conveyed to a private asylum and placed under the care of Professor Obersteiner, of the Vienna University. The Princess had clandestinely passed the last few weeks with Lieutenant Matalich at a castle near Agram, in Croatia. In the meantime (says the Vienna cor- respondent of the Daily Chronicle) her debts grew to millions of florins, and bills bearirg, it is alleged, the forged signature of the Crown Princess Stephanie (her sister) came into circulation. The Coburg family resolved to put an end to the matter and to place Pr incess Philip in an asy.um. As soon as her residence was found out, Prince Philip of Coburg had Lieutenant Matalich arrested, the suspicion prevailing that he had forged the bills without the knowledge of the Princess. The Prin- cess was brought by Countess Fugger, her lady-in- waiting, and Professor Hinterstoisaer, an expert in mental diseases, by special train from Agram tc Vienna. Three apartments have been provided for the use of the Princess in the asylum. Meanwhile divorce proceedings have been instituted at Cobnrg by her husband. The Princess has been placed under guardians. The King of the Belgians is said to be prepared to pay her debts and to arrange for the forged bills.

TOMMY was all excitement because the visiting leo turer was to take dinner at the house, but had promised to be on his best behaviour during the meal. The determination to be polite was so strong upon him that he felt it incumbent to show his good will. Where is Mrs. Lecturer ?" Tommy asked, explo- sively, in pursuance of his conscientious promptings. This was the most embarrassing question that could have been propounded, for the guest and his wife had separated. He pretended not to hear, while the bpst kicked Tommy on the shins. He realised that he had blundered and "elt that he mUllt make amends. "I hope she's not sick," persisted the urchin. We did not agree and We thought it best to live apart," said the visitor, with a view to ending the unpleasantness. "Didn't agree?" exclaimed Tommy excitedly. Thunder 1 Why didn't you fio-ht it out, like paw and maw does ?" This opened the way for a hearty laugh and was the atmosphere cleared. THE methods of Turkish nnance are remarkable. A curious instance is mentioned by ithe Constanti- nople correspondent of the Times, The members of the public services were gladdened the other day by the. announcement that a month's salary would be paid to them on account of arrears. As this meant the disbursement of about 4250;000, many persons wondered where the money was to come from. The mystery was solved, however, when it .was discovered that the Minister had intercepted the first proceeds of the sheep-tax, which is pledged to the Imperial Bank for the loan of 1896 and other pur- poses. The Minister, on remonstrance, has pledged his honour not to resort to the like device in future. KLONDYKE will shortly have an accession to its numbers by the arrival of a party of young and adventurous women. These young folks have banded themselves together for the purpose of bettering their condition. Four of them are trained nurses who have in their care a portable hospital, and with them is a graduate in medicine in charge of a "physic- box." Others are bent upon opening boarding-houses, some stores, and one is opining to open a circulating library. They vary in age, as is becoming. They all claim to have business capacity from, their leader, aged 50, to the bright-eyed girl of 24. They are well on their way, having arrived at Dyea by the steamer Northern Star. We much think that the spirit of matrimony will in all probability mar their commer- cial undertakings.

;WÖ i RHAL old-fashioned pink (none of ytfur eerieee • nor nasturtium reds) borders the white aad black] gauze ribbons that are being wiappM up at the counter! The old pink goes by the pretty name of candy pin\ and for this'tettAon (the Star thinks) its popularity will be nnditniniihed aatfng echodl- girls. Candy pink looks like the fresh-yet deep rose tint that suggests what fiefi at the heart of a Portu- guese secret, or that curls fn spiral eurves over the sticks and rods of peppermint and wiAfergreen candv. that stand in semea ranks in confectioners' glass jars. TriiiM ia no hard and fast rule (the Sun assures: us) to be Led down for guidance in matters bf the going-awav gowri. One wtnnan' Vill put off hfer boVtailed cotert suit arid bowl off to her honeymoon on a tandem wheel, another drives to the steamer dock in a' creation of velvet and green fleur de Veloufs, and a third' plans to make her escape from rice and old shoes in a captivating yachting drees, when the auspicious day arrives. The perfect average, however, is supposed to be arrived at in ft suit of Flinch broadcloth M summer weight, of billiard cloth green or pretty grey. This is apt to have a flounced skirt, a waist with a slightly pouched satin vest, or, more smartly ,9 yet, a coat lined with a harmonious satin, opening 0ve'r a shirt waist of cream, turquoise blue or cerise and silver silk. Bkirt in this instance is but a figure of speech, though this little under body is a bloufee with a tucked front, having lace epaulettee usually running out on the shoulders, a high stock and a vast lace jabot under the chin, besides being fastened with bright jewelled button& down the front. f) 1 A VBET dainty little ^GOWN, such as we hope tbe weather will soon permit lis to wear (observes a writer in the St. James's Gazette) is of white gauze flowered with blue. All the way up; the skirt is diagonally barred with bands of insertion edged on both sides with narrow ruffles of white chifton. The bodice is similarly trimmed, and the sleeves are of gauze finely pleated all the way down. A frill of lace finishes off the skirt and a full lace cravat the bodice. Bie hat is a small twisted Leghorn turned up m front, with a black ribbon-velvet bow and soft white ptomes. Beneath the brim -behind there is a bunch of cherries. These cherries are the fancy of the hour in Paris just now and are put with every- thing. Bunches of them adorn evening gowns and go any sort of hat. A soft green straw, with a thick wreath of forget-me-nots round it, is' turned up behind with a cluster of cherries. A high bow of black ribbon velvet behind gives the note of black to the hat, i A QUAINT little gown is in soft dull Egyptian blue crepe very simply made. In front there is a tiny tucked vest of white silk, from which turn away two small black satin revels, Orientally embroidered in sequins. There is a shaped waistband of satin simi- i larly embroidered, and a black silk sailor-tie is knotted below the revers. The sleeves are pf -fectly flat on the shoulder and slightly ruffled. This is ?mphatipal!y ar gown for a young girl. S ,all black satin jackets, tailor-made, are verv fashionable in Paris just now. One pretty litue jacket, worn by a French marquise, is trimmed with narrow stitched folds which start from the neck behind, curve. under the arms, and up to the neck in front. The jacket has detached bolero frontswith very large revers of tucked white silk, and an out- standing collar, lined with violet velvet. A dainty little walking-cape is of black glac6, and consists of four overlapping flounoes which slope down in points in front and behind. These are each edged with a Liny ruche of the same stuff. The pointed yoke from which these flounces hang is of finely, pleated glacé, and curves out into a wired collar edged with a, ruche of glacd. o AMONG the new stuffs (remarks a contributor to the Star) is a rather stiff veiling of silk with, a shot effect. It ruffles in crisp style and makes a charming costume trimmed simply by ruffles of the same. A nice gown of this in changeable blue and gold has the ruffles edged by a tiny ruche of pale blue mousseline de soie, the blue in the latter material having a wholly dif- ferent effect from the blue in the veiling. The same material is lovely with rumes (I e(I With guipure lace, and made with a blue silk sash. Some rather odd gowns show- a combination of these thip., silk gauzes with soft Woolfl, such as cashmere. Certainly an original idea is a short cloth jacket worn with a much ruffled skirt of gauze, and yet the effect is pretty. The jacket should be trimmed in some way with the thin stuff, so as to carry out the idea of a complete costume. THE fad for special bodices has taken such hold on the feminine mind that no change of fashion or caprice is likely to displace these charming additions to the wardrobe. This idea may be either exceed- ingly economical or wildly extravagant, according as it is handled. Ohe may have a skirt or two and one or more extra waists and get along very well if pru- dence in expenditure is required; or one may yield to the allurements of short lengths, bargain coun- ters, and special sales, and find on every shop- ping tour a number of pretty fabrics that it is practically impossible to resist purchas- ing. While there are bnt few really new and original ideas in these waists, there are numbers of modifications and fancies in finish and trimming that give variety to the assortment and prevent any- thing like monotony or sameness. Many ladies like all-black waists. These are brightened by arrange- ments of garniture that suggests the old-fashioned device known as a harness." This consists of shoulder straps, a plastron or puffed front with cross straps and lines at the back to keep the trimming in place. The model strikingly suggests the guimpe style. The waist is of plain black India silk. It is tucked in a fashion not very elaborate, but neat and stylish. There is no shoulder trimming, the tops of the sleeves having merely loose puffs that fall over-the arms. The removable trimming consists of the lower half of a blouse-shaped waist with shoulder straps and a frill at the waist line. This waist is made of rich embroidery. The straps are about two inches wide and have frills of embroidery that fur- nish all the shoulder trimming that is required. Across the front the waist is plain, save a narrow edge of embroidered insertion. The frill at the waist is about three inches deep below the belt, which is of velvet matching the silk waist in colour. Another garniture 011 this same plan is made of basket-woven ribbons of harmonious or contrasting colours. In this instance the shoulder frills and the portion below the belt are of lace with loops of ribbon and I amiu i bows set on at intervals in the folds-of these draperies. An arrangement of this sort will be fotind of great, service where one habitually wears dark colours and feels the need of something to brighten up the attire for somewhat in- formal occasions. A very dainty and attractive waist is made of white India silk. It is laid in flat plaits at the collar and belt and the waist is given additional fulness by slightly gathering the plaited material. This is dons in order that the plaits may not spread too much and lose their shape. This, by the way, is an important item in the making up of plaited goods, especially for waists where there is more or less drawing over the bust and shoulders. A WAIST is shown made of plain satin, rather close fitting and trim-looking in its first stages. When the garment is completed a trimming is applied which consists of ribbon about an inch wide gathered or plaited through the middle and set on to form block patterns. These blocks may be two inches or more apart or just the width of the ribbon itself. This is entirely a matter of taste. The one referred to had two-inch blocks, but several are being made with larger and smaller ones. The sleeves and bodice are trimmed to match. There is a collar of elaborate embroidery, consisting of a straight standing collar and a turned-over collar that flares slightly. A notable feature of this waist is the addition of very large bows of velvet ribbon. These bows are set on the front of the waist from collar to belt and are so close together that they nearly touch. There is also a bow on either sleeve.

RIPPAX:, "You seem very much affected at the tragic fate of Juliet, Miss Sniffen; I thought I saw tears in your eyes." Miss Sniffen: "Yes, Mr. Kippax, it does seem so sad to think that the lady who played Juliet is not really dead I' WHEN this town was orgamsed, said the early settler of the little western town, "I was elected mayor by a majority of only one vote." "Pretty close shave," said the newcomer. Oh, tollable. But there was onlv five Totes in the town then."

THE FIRST TWH — W Road 5 .1." ¡ Records of the Year have fallen to Riders of At dg EVERY RIDER OF A LIGHT MACHINE SHOULD STIPULATE ON THEM BEING FITTED to his Machine, and not be persuaded by Tied Firms to have any inferior, old-fashioned Tyres or imitation substitutes. (KhtltT Stgljt (iitarantotr 11 AND CAN BE RIDDEN W'ITHOUT FEAR OF PUNCTURES AND BREAKDOWNS. THE PATH RAOING Are Faster and Lighter than all other Tyres, and are guaranteed I THE ROAD RAOING Are more Durable than the Full Roadster of usual make, and can be safely used in place of Ordinary Heavy Roadster Tyres of other makes. THE LIGHT ROADSTER Is recommended for Heavy Riders and Bad Roads. We have Hundreds of Testimonials from Riders who have ridden them Thousands of Miles on the road, and they are as good as new I THE FULL ROADSTER Will carry the Rider where all others fail, and are proved Stronger than Ordinary Make Tandem Tyres. Write for FREE SECTION of either above patterns, and particulars. The Amalgamated Pneumatic Tyre Cos., Umited, Clerkenwell Road, LONDON, E.C.

ART AND LITERATURE. SINCE the opening of the Royal Academy there has 'been an unusual amount of grumbling among artists and art lovers of all kinds concerning the manner in which the hanging committee has done its work. It is, of course, impossible for this much-abused and long-suffering body to satisfy everyone, and, therefore, a certain amount of dissatisfaction is only to be expected but certainly (remarks the Ulolw) there seems this year to be some justification 'for complaint. That a fine example of James Miu .s should have been placed in a corner and well above the line says little for the judgment of the hangers, and that the most impor- tant works of such well-known artists as Mr. R. W. Allan and Mr. T. Austen-Brown should be elevated to the top row in the back rooms is a matter that calls for a good deal of comment. These are, moreover, by no means isolated cases, for many other j men whose pictures are usually features of the annual exhibitions have been treated in the same way. 'There would be less cause for remark on this point i if every piece of work in a good position could be fairly said to hold its place there by virtue of 'commanding merit. But even if the canvases of those possessors of privilege who have ceased to maintain their earlier reputations are excluded; the fact still remains that many of the pictures on the i line compare unfavourably with those that are to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of the ceiling, and in no case is this so obvious as in that of some of the foreign artists who have contributed. There is distinctly no extraordinary quality in the two full-lengths by M. Carohis-Dtiran to justify their being treated as exceptions to that Academy rule which excludes full-lengths from the line; and the picture by M. Constant is a poor enough example of an artist who was once a master of brushwork. Yet 'they are starred as if they were masterpieces. What the Academy has to find is a middle course bet ween the thoughtLssness which led to the rejection last year of a fine landscape by M. Harpignies and the reckless liberality of the present season. IN the current number of the Magazine of Art the ground covered by the contents is unusually 'wide. Among the chief articles are a further instalment of Mr. P. S. Robinson's account of "The Queen's Treasures of Art"; and contributions by Mr. Gleeson White dealing with "The Work of John Da Costa," ,M. Henri Frantz on "Oscar Roty," Mr. -Aymer Vallance on The Invention of Aubrey Beardsley," and Mr. Arthur Fish on The Battersea Polytech- nic." "Art in Australia," and The Press Ballet at the Empire Theatre," are also discussed at some length. A very excellent reproduction of a drawing in red chalk by Mr. Da Costa appears as frontispiece, and a photogravure of Meissonier's picture' "A Reconnaissance," and a representation in colours, of a Worcestershire vase are given.. „ AFTEH the completion of the present issue o Dictionary of National Biography, ^V0.1s.ufP tary volumes are to be published whic wi i } devoted to the lives of those who have died during the progress of publication, but a few names ^bic baveP been overlooked in the preceding volumes will beTuEUannual exhibition of modern pictures and drawings which has just opened in itheJft galleg f the Crystal Palace is one of the best (the Or lobe argues) that has been held there for some years. A great many artists of note are represented, and in many instances by pictures of importance. A pro- minent contribution, for example, is Mr. J. W. Waterbouse's Mariamne and there are besides Mr. Yeend King's Sleeping Waters," Mr. Ernest Nbrmand's "Mordecai Refusing to do Reverence to Hainan," Mr. T. Blake Wirgman's Elsa and the Wild Swans," Mr. Harold Speed's Medusa's Head," Mrs. Jopling's "Charlotte Corday," Mr. H. A. Olivier's Countess Eve," Mr. Charles Vigor's "Innocence and Guilt," Mr. P. R. Craft's A Good Haul, and other notable canvases by Mr. G. P. Jacomb-Hood, Mr. Clayton Adams, Mr. A, M. Rossi, Mr. Tom Hemy, Mr. T. Davidson, and Miss L. Blatherwick. A large number of these pictures were entered in competition for the gold, silver, and bronze medals offered by the Crystal Palace Company, and the task of judging them was undertaken last week by Mr. Ernest Crofts, Mr. MacWhirter, and Mr. Wimperis. The f°^w,^S were the chief awards made: Gold medals to ^r* • B. Wirgman for his Elsa and the Wild Swans, Mr. Yeend King for his "BleeDing Waters, Sir Wyke JtJayliss for a drawing of "Amiens Cathedral," ana to two foreign artist, MM. A. Laupheimer, and Erwin Gunter and silver medals to Messrs. Harold Speed, Jacomb-Hood, H. R. Steer, Sherwood Hunter, Charles Vigor, Clayton Adams, R. Meyerheim, C. H, Poingdestre, Frank Walton, A. Kingsley, L. B. Hurt, and Miss F. Moody; and to several foreigners. MARTIN WEST tells in the Church Gazette, some- thing of his experience fis reader of plays f(-r a London theatre. A proportion of plays (he says) which then came under my hands were from persons who had the courage to give their own names. The plays were fit for representation before the most proper seminary for young ladies they were manly, but dull." TIIE first number of a new illustrated magazine admirably "got up," entitled Men and Women oj bote, has made its appearance. It is of more en- during value than what one is wont to term a maga- zine, for it consists entirely of biographical sketches of celebrities of many classes, embellished with artistic and interesting pictures. Thus as a com- mencement there comes in for treatment Lord Charles Beresford, the Bishop of London, Sir Geo. D. Taubman-Goldie, Sir Edwin Arnold, Miss Julia Neilson, Mr. W. S. Gilbert, Mr. Arthur Balfour, the Lord Mayor of London (Col. Davies), Mr. J. K. Starley, and Mr. S. J. Waring. A point is that all the distinguished persons written about edit their own biographies, and so render them undeniably authentic. TIIEUE is an interesting story, told in the Scotsman, of how Sir Charles Tennant came to give up to the nation the Millais portrait of Mr. Gladstone. Sir Charles was one of three guests, not R.A.'s or Asso- ciates, present at Mr. Henry Tate's Academy dinner. In the course of the evening, conversation arose about portraits of Mr. Gladstone. The various pic- tures in existence were discussed, and it was agreed that Sir Charles Tennant could not do less than bequeath to the nation his portrait of Mr. Gladstone. The idea was jocosely taken up and pressed upon Sir Charles, who stubbornly shook his head, but the seed fell on fruitful ground. Mr. Tate's dinner took place on Wednesday, the 27th ult. On the following Satur- day, at the Academy banquet, Sir Edward Poynter was able to announce that Sir Charles would hand over his treasure to the nation. ROYAL ACADEMY PICTUHES, 1898 (Cassell and Com- pany) contain reproductions of pictures by the follow- ing eminent artists which will not appear in any other publication: The President of the Royal Academy (Sir E. J. Poynter), Messrs. H. Her- komer, R.A., T. S. Cooper, R.A., B. W. Leader, RA. J. MacWhirter, R.A., V. C. Prinsep, R.A., W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A., W. Dendy Sadler, and T. C. Gotch. Amongst other remarkable pictures of the year reproduced exclusively in Royal Academy pictures may be mentioned "Val d'Aosta and "A Winter Fairy," by J. MacWhirter RA ■^ Student of Necromancy » and A Dutch Girl" by YALC.PRMSEPR.A;" Entrance to Barry Docks? xf p 'a'mi Little Mortgage," by ?ASafr; P The Awakening," by T. C? Gotch; The Duchess of Somerset as Lady Jane Seymour P^ A* n° costume)> by Sir Edward J. Poynter, ORIENTAL discovery has firmly established two tacts, says Professor Sayce. One of these is the literary character of the civilisation of the ancient East. Another is what may be called the solidarity of ancient Oriental history. At a very remote period the rulers of Babylonia carried their arms to the shores of the Mediterranean and the frontiers of Egypt, bringing with them the culture and wrir»»g of Chaldea, while recent discoveries tend to show that the civilisation of Egypt itself had originally come from the Persian Gulf. A HEROINE with a dual personality figures in ^he new serial, entitled At Peril of her Life, which com- mences in the current number of Cassells Saturday Journal. The story is by Huan Mee—the pen-name of two brothers who write in collaboration.

FOREIGNERS are now forbidden to attend the machinery and engineering department of the Berlin High School. This apparently illiberal and backward policy is approved in Prussia, and the corresponding schools of Munich, Dresden, Stuttgart, Carlsruhe, Darmstadt, and Brunswick, now open to foreigners, are condemned as teaching other nations to use German science to the detriment of German indus- tries." The hope is expressed that henceforth the non-Prussian school will also exclude foreigners.