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

A PLANTATION DIPLOMAT. There was a warm flush of anger on Robert Curthf face as he ran down the steps of the old Stuart mansion. Every one said of this youn<» man that he possessed in a marked degree the high tempt-r for which liia family was noted. And one looking at him that night would have said that this temper had been roused to the' utmost. This was not the first time Robert Curtis had ridden away from thn Stuarts' in anger. Emily Stuárt was a high-strung girl, independent, and impatient of control, and their disagreements had been many. But they had never gone so far as this one, and they had somehow always blown over. This time the young lover had carried away in his pocket the ring with which they had plighted their troth, and had gone away vowing never to darken those doors again, and Emily had been exasperatingly polite and cool, though her eyes were Hashing as she assured him how little she ever wanted to look upon his face again. It may have been the strain of keeping this self- possession that made her break down so completely as soon as her lover was out of sight. That she did break down is beyond dispute, for when Dely came in with a very much disordered waistband she found her mistress in tears. With the quick sympathy and easy familiarity of a favourite servant she ran to her mistress exclaim- ing,— La, Miss Emly, whut's de mattah r Her Miss Emily waved her away silently, and dry- ing her eyes stood up dramatically. Dely," she said, Mr. Curtis will not come here any more after to-day. Certain things have made it impossible. I know that you and Ike are interested in each other, and I do not want the changed rela- tions between Mr. Curtis and me to make any differ- ence to you and Ike." TAL, Miss Emly," said Dely, surreptitiously straightening her waistband, I don' keer nuffiio 'bout Ike; he ain't nuffin' 'tall to me." Don't fib, Dely," said Emily, impressively. "'Claih to godoness, Miss Em'ly I ain't fibkin*. but even if Ike was anyt'ing to me you know I vraln't nevah 'spectin' to go-ovah to the Cu'tis plantation 'ceptin' wid you, wen vou an' Mae' Bo" That will do. Dely." Emily caught up hei handkerchief and hurried from the room. Po' Miss Em'ly," soliloquised Dely; she des natchully breakin' her heÙ now, but she ain't gwine let on. Ike, indeed. I ain't bothaned 'bout Ike," and then she added, smiling softly, that scamp's des de same ez a b'ah he mighty nigh ruined my ap'on at do wais' Robert Curtis crossed the Footbridge which separated the Curtis and Stuart farther ieldsbefore Ike rode up abreast of him. The bay mare was covered with dust and foam, and a heavy scowl lay darkly on the young man's face. Finding his horse blown by her hard gallop, the white man drew rein, and they rode along, mor( slowly, but in silence. Not a word was spoken until they alighted, and the master tossed the reins to hie servant. "Well," he said bitterly, "when you get to the Stuarts' again, Ike, you'll have to go alone." Then I won't go," said Ike, promptly. Oh, yes, you will; you're fool enough to be hang- ing around a woman's skirts, too; yotell go." Whaih you don' go, I don' go." Well, I don't go to the Stuarts' any more, that's one thing certain.' Robert was very young. Then I don' go," returned Ike, doggedly; don' you reckon I got some fambly feelin's ?" The young man's quick anger was Melting in its own heat, and he laughed in spite of himself as he replied: Neither family feelings nor anything else count for much when there's a woman in the case." "Now, I des wonder." said Ike, as he led the horses away and turned them over to a stable boy, I des wonder how long this hyeah thing's goin on. De las' time they fell out fu' evah hit was fouJ whole days befo' he give in. I reckon this time it might, run to be a week." He might have gone on deluding himself thu&, if he had not suddenly awakened to the fact that more than the week he had set as the limit of the estrangement bad passed and he had not been com- manded to saddle a horse and ride ever to the Stuarts' with the note that invariably brought recon- ciliation and happiness. He felt disturbed in his mind, and his trouble visi- bly increased whom, ton the next day, which was Sun- day, Quin, who was his rival in everything, dcesSed himself with more than ordinary care and took his way toward the Stuarts'. Whut's do mattah wid you, ISo?" asked one of the house boys next day; "you goin'to let Quin cut you out? -He was ovah to Stu'a'ts yistiddv, an'he say he had o ta'in' down time wid Miss Deli- Oh, I don' reckon anybody's goin' to cut me out." Bettah not be so sho," said the boy; bettah look out." This was too much for Ike. He bad been waver- ing now his determination gave way, yet he tried to delude hituself. < Hit's a shame," he said. 1 des knows dat Mas' Bob is bte'kin' his hea't to git back to Miss Em'ly,.an' hit do seem laksomepVoughter to be done t0 gin him a chancet." It needed only the Visit from his master that after- noon to decide him. He was out on the back veranda cleaning shoes, when his master came and stood in front of him, flicking his boots with his riding whip. Ah, lIe, you haven't been over to Mr., Stuart's lately." "No.suh; on'se; not; I ain't been OVah." Well, I don't believe I'd do that, Ike. Donlt let my affair keep you away; ydu go on and see her. You don't know she might be sick or something, and want toseeyott. Here's fifty cents take her something nioe." And with the very erroneous idelJo that he had fooled both- Ike. and himself, Robert Curtis went down the steps whistling. What'd I'd tell you ?' said Ike, addressing the shoe which sat upon his hand, and he began to hurry. Dely was sitting on the doorstep 6f bdr rnotber's cabin as Ike came up. She pretended not to see him, but she. was dressed aa if she expeoted his coming. Howdy, Dely, how yon this evenia'?" said Ike. "La, Mistah Ike," said Dely, affecting to be startled, I come mighty nigh not seein' you. Won't you walk in 1", No, I des tek a seaton de do'step hyeah 'longside you." She tossed her head, but made room for him on the step. I ain't seen you fu' seve'al days. You wasn' blin' ner lame." No, but you know," answered Ike rather doggedly. I don' know nuffin' Dely returned. I wasn' 'spected to come alone." Was you skeered ?" Did you want me to come alone ?" Dely did not deign to answer. I wonder how long this is gom on?" pursued Ike; "I'm gittin' mighty tiabd of it." •• "They ain't no tellin' Miss Em'ly slw mighty- high-strung." Well, hit's a shame, fu' them two loves one another, an' they ought to be brought togetbah." "I Co'se they ought; but how anybody goin'to do it ?" "You an' me could try ef you was willin' I'd do anything fu' my Miss Em'ly." An' I'd do anything fu' Maa* Bob. Come an' le's walk down by the big gate an' talk about it." Dely rose, and together they walked down by the big gate, where they stood in long and earnest con- versation. Maybe it was all about their master's and mistress's love affair. It was some such interest which ostensibly prompted Robert Curtis to sit up for lkethat. night. Ike came into the yard whistling. His master was sitting on the porch. Ike, you are happy; you must have had a good time." Instantly Ike's whistle was cut short, apd the late moonlight shone upon a very lugubrious countenanc.. as he answered,— Sometimes people whistles to drown dey sorrers. Why, what sorrows have you got?" Wasn't in a pleasant mood ?" tf in a pleasant mood ?" tf Dely's mighty 'stnrbed 'bout huh Miss Em'ly*' About her Miss Emily!" exclaimed the young master in sudden excitement; what's the matter with Miss Emily ?" • Oh, Dely savs she des seems to .be"a-pinin' "bout somep'n. She don' eat an' she don' sleep." "Poor little began Curtis, then be checked himself. Hum," he said. Well, good-night, Ike." When Ike had gone in, his master went to his room and paced the floor for a long while. Then he went out again and walked up and down the lawn. ilay- be I'm not treating her just riffht." he murmured: "poor little thing, but M and he clenched his list and kept up his walking. Ike was here to-night?" said Miss Emily to Dely as the maid was brushing her hair that night. Yes'm, he was hyeah." Yes, I saw him come up the walk early and I didn't call you because I knew you'd want to talk to him;" she sighed. Yes'm, he wanted to talk mighty bad. He feelin' mighty 'sturbed 'bout his Mas' Bob." The long brown braid was quickly snatched out of her hand as her young mistress whirled swiftly round. What's the matter with his master ?" Oh, Ike say he des seem to pine. He don* seem to eat, an' he don' sleep." Miss Emily had a sudden fit of dreaming from which she awoke to say," That will do, Dely t I won't need you any more to-night." Then she put out her light and leaned out of her window, looking with misty eyes at the stars. And something she saw up there in the bright heavens made her smile and sigh again. It was on the morrow that Dely told her mistress about some wonderful wild flowers that were growing in the west woods in a certain nook, and Daly was so much in earnest about it that her mistress finally consented to follow her thither. Strange to say, that same morning Ike accosted his young master with: "look hyeah, Mas' Bob, de birds is sholy thick ovan vondah in that stretch o' beechwoods. I've polished up the guna fu' you ef you want to tek a shot." Well, I don't mini, Ike. Well go for a while." It was in this way—quite by accident, of course, one looking for strange flowers, and the other for birds—that Bmily and Robert, with their faithful attendants, set out for the same stretch of woods. Miss Fmily was qaite despairing of ever finding the wonderful flowers, and Ike was just protesting that he himself had "seen them birds; when all of a sudden Dely exclairited Well, la 1 Ef thaih ain't Mas' Cu'tis." Miss Emily turned pale and red by turns at Robert, blushing like a girl, approached her, hat in hand. Miss Emily." Mr. Curtis." Then they both turned to look for their attendants. Ike and Dely were walking up a side path together. They both broke into a laugh that would not be checked. It would be a shame to disturb them." Robert went on when he could control himself. Emily, I've been a Oh, Robert!" Let us take the good that the gods provide." And they," said Emily, looking after the blacks, stand for the gods."

FADS IN FLOWERS. The Covent-garden florists are not a little per- plexed over the whims of society in regard, to flowers. Lately the rage for chrysanthemum blooms has declined, and this once exceedingly popular flower has not sold as it used to do. The claims of the big violet seen distinctly to be in the ascendant. That fine fragrant variety, the Princess of Wales, has carried everything before it, and it looks as if in future seasons the violet is to come out on top. Up to within 10 years ago no_giant violet blooms, such as we get to-day, were obtainable at any price. Now it is hardly an exaggeration to say that the petals of the violet are bidding fair to become almost as large as those of the pansy. The effect of this extraordinary increase in the size of violets is evidenced in the great demand which exists in the markets. The dealers in the flower market at Govent-garden state that they have never known such activity in this line before, and that the orders from country buyers have recently been quite pheno- menal.

THE POPE ON BRITISH GRIT. )r. Riddell, the Bishop of Northampton, was re- ceived the other day by the Pope, who spoke with great interest of the war in South Africa, and said he prayed constantly for the conclusion of hostili- ties. According to the Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail, his Holiness said he deeply regretted the losses on both sides, but he admired the patriotism of the British and the valour of the soldiers. He learned with satisfaction that the Queen's Roman Catholic subjects had displayed the qualities of patriotism and bravery.

A GERMAN OFFICER ON ARTILLERY. Herr von Bloch, of Warsaw, in his comprehensive a work, recently published, dwelt on the fearful effeots produced by modern weapons.. The Deutsche Wartc asked Major Albrecht, commander of the Boer Artillery, whether his experience confirmed Herr von Bioch's assertions (says the Berlin correspondent of the Daily News). In a letter dated Kroonstad, December 17, after the battle of Colenso, Albrecht says the following: What does Bloch say ? A "modern shell throws over a thousand pieces? What rubbish. I wish that Russia would send me some of those shells. What we have here won't even always obey us, but what the English have are bad beyond description. Out of a hundred shells not 10 burst, and even these make more noise than they do damage. The day before yesterday about 2.5,000 English with over 50 guns stood against us43,000 Boers. I cannot give the accurate numbers, for I am to-day already on my way back to the Modder River, from where 1 came on the 12th with half of my artillery. But I can well say that we did not lose more than a hundred men, amongst them about three dozen killed. To about 1000 English shots about 12 men were killed, and 30 or 40 wounded, for the rest was done by rifles. Our Boer artillery was by no means so successful as I bad anticipated before the war. Certainly, our people shoot splendidly j but there is a great difference between a gun and a rifle. The English must have suffered heavy losses but I know that I, with my artillery, had only a alight shared in it, although wenred about 400 shells. I leave it open whether our artillery disabled. in all a hundred men. The riflemen dis- abled in 10 minutes lOtimes more thaii our artil- lery did sometimes in 10 hours. Artillery in defence does not seem destined to play a brilliant part, and as regards the attack, its use consists chiefly' in in,- timidating the enemy, so that the attacking body can advance under its protection. The real decision lies in close fighting, The battles of Magerstoiateig and Colenso were decided within ten minutes. Witbinfive minutes Bnller had lost 11 guns. n: who is least nervous is victorious—of this I am firmly convinced. Of course, in close fighting many more soldiers are now disabled than formerly, but the massacre is thereforo of shorterduratron. No body of troops marches straight on, as on the drill ground, against the enemy, and lets itself be simply shotJ down. Not even the English do this. According to my conviction, war is nowadays not more murderous than formerly."

ADVENTUROUS SCOUT. A Royal Marino of her Majesty's ship Powerful, in the Naval Brigade at Modder. River,.writes to his mother at Rochdale as follows: CXir scouts report that the Boers have got their wives with them, and that they hold prayer meetings every aight. We saw a piece of work the other day by one of the Colonial scouts, which was the most daring thing I've seen yet. The scout rode right along, parallel to the Bioer trenches, at about 800 yards at the gallop, just to draw the Boer tire, and find their position. He swam the river on his horse, and rode right into an ambush of them, but on. drawing his sword they nipped' for their lives. So he kept oh for three hours, the Boers sniping at him all the time. You could see dust flyinr all round his horse, but he lay along his horse's back t n never got a scratch."

TUB German Emperor is conservative in nis literary tastes. He likes Shakespeare best of all authors, and has several editions.of the poet's works in his library, both in English and German. These he has read and re-read and read again until he knows most of the notable passages by heart, from which he constantly quotes: at considerable length, j His favourite play is Hamlet."

A GRAVESIDE PRAYER. An extract from a letter dated Ladrsmitfa, January 7,1900, from a Royal Army Medical Corps officer, runs as follows One of the Boer medical officers rode in to n8 under a Red Cross flag, and asked us to go and bury our dead, which of course we did. But the sight of those poor fellows lying on the hill, some of them dreadfully riddled with bullets, lean never for- get. The Boers were very good; in fact, one would hardly have thought they were enemies. They talked to us quite freely, and helped us to dig the graves and to carry our dead. There was one very touching incident. After our major had read the Burial Service one of the Boers stepped out and said a short prayer, hoping the war would soon end, and while we stood with heads uncovered, they sang a hymn in Dutch. It cut our fellows up very much indeed, and we could hardly speak for some time."

HOW THE GUNS WERE LOST AT COLENSO. Captain Walfcer Norris Congreve, Y.C., Rifle Brigade, in a letter to a friend at Newport (Mon.), dated Chieveley, December 16, gives a graphic de- scription of the battle of Colenso, the loss and subse- quent attempted recovery of the guns, and the acts of bravery for which he and the other officers by whom he was assisted have been decorated. It was (he says) a horrid position to attack the river to cross, a flat slope of two miles our side of it, without a vestige of cover the enemy's position a succession of steep, low hills, covered with bush, every hill en- trenched, and the whole position the shape of a horseshoe, so that we advanced into a converging fire. I don't believe any troops could have taken it. How- ever, we tried yesterday and failed. We left camp at four o'clock, which meant getting up at three. I was galloper to General Clery, who rode all day with Sir Redvers Buller. We bombarded every place that looked like holding Boers for two hours without response, and without a sign of a Boer. To see the shells bursting you would have thought nothing could have been left alive in the vicinity. After this the infantry, which had already got into position, advanced, line after line, and extended widely. Instantly thousands of bullets began pattering about, and the enemy's guns pitched shells all over the place. Where thoy came from no one could see. Till the end I never saw a Boer all day, and I don't think anyone else did. Sir Redvers Buller rode all along the line, and came in for a good deal of atten- tion from bullets and shells. My first experience Was my stick being knocked out of my hand by a bullet. Then a horse beside me was killed by a shell. About 10 o'clock two batteries which had advanced far too close ran short of ammunition. Their waggons were about 800 yards behind, horses and men sheltering in a deep, narrow nullah. General Buller told them to take the waggons up to the battery, but directly they emerged a stream of bullets and shells fell all around, and most of the men got into the nullah again. Generals Buller and Clery stood out in it, and said, "Sómeof you go and help." Schofield, A.D.C., Roberts (Lord Roberts' son), myself, and two or three others went to the waggons, and we three, helped by a corporal and six gunners, got two waggons horsed. I have never seen, even at field firing, the bullets fly thicker. All one could see were little tufts" of dust all over the ground, a. whistling noise', phot," where they hit, and an increasing rattle of Musketry somewhere in front. My first bullet went through my left sleeve, and just made the joint of my elbow bleed next a clod of earth caught me smack on the right arm; then my horse got one, then my right leg one, my horse another and that settled us, for he plunged, and I fell about 100 yards short of the guns we were going to. A little nullah was close by, and into that I hobbled and sat down. It was not much shelter, .however, and I had not been in a minuta before another bullet hit the toe of my boot, went into the welt" travelled up and came out of the toe- cap, 2in. ffom. the end of the toe. It did not even scratch me, but I shifted my quarters pretty quiokly to a better place, where I found Colonels Hunt and Long, R.A., a dozen or so wounded gunners, a' doctor, Colonel Bullock, and about 15 men of hia regiment, all that was left of the escort and two bat-' teries. The bank of the nuHah was not more than 3ft. high, so we had to lie down, bullets whistling over one's head directly it appeared. About eleven o'clock the fire slackened, so I went out to see if I could see anything of the rest of our party. I found poor Roberts badly wounded, and with the doctor .and a gunner subaltern got him into the nullah, and there we lay from eleven to half-past four no water, not a breath of air, no particle of shade, and a sun which I have never felt hotter even in India. A knife could not be held in the bare hand. It was the most beastly day I ever spent, and seemed interminable; what it must have 'been for the badly wounded I hardly like to think. Some of my time was spent in dressing wounds under Baptie's directions. My jacket was taken to shade Roberts's head, and what with blood and dirt I was a pretty object by the time I got out. About half-past four the Boers rode up and, asked us to surrender, or they would shoot us all. Colonel Bul- lock was the senior unwounded omoer, and had per- haps 20 rifles all told. He refused, and the Boers at once began a fuailade from 50 yards' distance, and our people retttrned it. It was unpleasant^ and only a question of minutes before they enfiladed our trench and bagged the lot. Billlock's men knocked over two, and then they put up a; white flag, parleyed, said we might remove our wounded, and the remainder either be taken prisoners or fight it out. However, while we were talking 100 or so crept round us. We found loaded rifles at every man's head, and we were either be taken prisoners or fight it out. However, while we were talking 100 or so crept round us. We found loaded rifles at every man's head, and we were forced to give in. One of our ambulances came up, and we were gradually collected at one spot.

OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. The weather has continued to divide public attention with the war; and, while there has been much in each topic that was striking, there has been not a little that could be called depressing. The severity of the snowstorm which closed the week in London was such as to put tens of thousands to inconvenience, and not a few to actual pain. Up to the present month, the very decided advance in the price of coals had not had all the accustomed hard effect of such a measure, because the winter, taken as a whole, had been in the metropolis fairly mild. But when the snow i» descending, with heavy frosts to follow, the need of artificial warmth begins forcibly to assert itself, and it is then that the price of fuel proves an absorbing item to the careful householder. Not only to him, of course, but in especial to those who have very little margin in their expenditure to cope with an increased cost for necessaries; and the number of such has lately been much swollen because of the struggle in South Africa. That is a consideration which will weigh with all those of generous instincts, for, although very large sums have already been raised to cope with the various phases of distress that may result from this conflict, it is already evident that they will be fully required. It is even more evident, however, that the public will be eager to supply all that is needed when fully satisfied that the funds are well administered. Among the many indirect effects of the war, one that has struck every habitude of Westmin- ster has been the added zest it has given to the proceedings of Parliament, as far as the attendance of strangers is concerned. There have not been such crowded galleries in the House of Commons for years as during the first three weeks of the present Session; and those innocent folk who imagined that they could stroll down to the House at any moment, catch sight of a friendly member, and at once secure a comfortable seat have been wofully disappointed. That is a kind of thing that can be done in dull sessions, but not in one like the present; and it may be of some use to any who are contemplating a visit to Westminster to be told what is the process that has to be undergone at many times. The practice of the Speaker is to issue tickets for the strangers' galleries six days in advance; and, while Jin ordinary circumstances, there will be some left for the very sitting itself, they can all be depended upon to be exhausted in exciting periods within a few hours of the opening of the Speaker's office six days in advance. Those who come to the House of Commons on the night of an important debate, upon the off- chance of getting a seat Are doomed, there- fore, to disappointment, seeing that for such occasions more tickets are always issued in advance than the galleries can quite hold. The caution herein indicated applies almost more emphatically to the case of ladies who wish to hear a debate. Then are many fewer seats in the Ladies' Gallery than in the various galleries for their male friends; and the com- petition for them is always so keen that they are ballotted for by members in advance ft is no uncommon, thing for a member to ballot who has no particular intention of bringing ladies on that particular sitting, even if he succeeds; but, if he does happen to win, he knows there are always other members who much desire the seats, and who will be willing to promise him tickets for a future night which he may require if he will only exchange. This innocent kind of trafficking goes on continu- ally, and ladies, therefore, ought to be some- "vrhat patient if they cannot always get into the gallery as readily as they would wish. They can console themselves, in any case, by the reflection that the river terrace is always oPen. to them, and that tea on the., terrace remains a pleasant occupation on a summer afternoon. These are matters affecting what may be called the outside of the House of Commons, but one has just occurred affecting the inside, the full significance of which not even the accustomed instructors of the public seem able fully to realise. To our own familiar friend, the man in the street, there may appee r nothing of particular significance in the fact that Sir Reginald Palgrave has resigned the position of Clerk of the House, which he had held for fourteen years, and that he has been,, succeeded by Mr. Archibald Milman, who throughout that period had acted as Clerk- Assistant but to those who know,the assembly. thoroughly it will be seen that a change of this kind is of moment. The new Clerk of the House may not prove as distinguished a Parlia- mentary jurist as either of his two immediate predecessors, Sir Erskine May and Sir Reginald Palgrave; but he has, it is confidently stated, assiduously kept a diary for many years, and this should be full of material of piquant inte- rest as well as solid information to the future historian. March 1 should prove an interesting date to all" dairy farmers, because it is then that the Milk and Cream Standards' Committee will commence taking evidence. This body, it is to be explained, has been appointed by the President of the Board of Agriculture for the purpose of inquiring as to what regulations may advantageously be made for determining what deficiency in any of the normal consti- tuents of genuine milk or cream, Or what addi- tion of extraneous matter or proportion of water in any sample of milk, including con- densed milk or cream, shall raise a presump- tion that the milk or cream is not genuine. It will sit in London throughout, as at pre- sent arranged, and it intends to call evidence representative of the views of the various inte- terests concerned, including dairy farmers, milk dealers, and public analysts. The question is an important one all round; and those who sell as well as those who buy are keenly inte- rested in the result of the investigation. One of the most approved modern methods of tostifyine admiration to a great author is to found a society in his honour and, accordingly, to the Shakspere Society, the Shelley Society, and the Browning Society that we know, we are now to have added a Ruskin Union. The study of the grept critic's works will naturally be the first aim of such a body and it gives some promise of success that it does not set out with absolute adulation, but while regarding his books as the outcome of a genius at once profound, sympathetic, and generous, and nobly used for the benefit of mankind, the promoters of the new union declare that they view them without indiscriminate approval. This is the attitude most calculated to attract and impresa the general public, for nothing has done more to render such societies ridiculous than their fulsome eulogy of the author they sought to honour. Ruskin is a name* which of a surety is not likely to lack honour among his countrymen for long to come; and, although his influence can never I be as great again as once it was, it so far makes for good that its fragrance ought to be pre- served. It will be with a natural sense of disappoint- ment, but, presumably, with no great surprise, that cyclists will learn that the railway managers are not prepared to yield to their desires, as intimated in a recent deputation to the Railway Clearing House from the National Cyclists' Union and the Cycle Manufacturers' Association. The railway reply shows that the companies are not prepared to recom- mend either a reduction in their charges or an alteration in their present posi- tion of responsibility, while there is to be no uniform rule in the matter of cloak room accommodation. This attitude of non possumus is not quite preserved in regard to the conveyance of cycles, for it is officially stated that the companies have tried. an<l are trying, experiments for their safer con- veyance, and that some are building vans with patent fittings solely for the purpose; from which it is hoped good results will arise. Every cyclist will share in this hope but we all-know what even in the lighter matters of life is tho Consequence of hope deferred. R.

A BIT OF LOOKING-GLASS. A private in the- 2nd Coldstream Guards, writing on January 11 from Wynberg Hospital to his home in Lincolnshire, gives graphic personal details of the Modder River battle. He says: "I happened to find a bit of looking-glass. It made a rare bit of fun. As it was passed from com- rade to comrade they said, Have a last look at your- self, my boy, and bid yourself good-bye.' The laugh went round.. Then Advance and we went at it again.

CLASSIFICATION OF WOUNDED, The casualty lists issued by the War Office usually contain indications of the severity of the wounds received. As the system of classification followed is, probable not generally understood, it may be of inte- rest to explain it. Wounded," says the British .Medical Jownal, is used as ah inclusive term, and it, gives no indication of the severity of the injury. It is used only in preliminary statements forwarded home before the medical officers have had time to examine all the wounded and make a classified term. Three classes of wounded are recognised: "Dan- gerous," severe," "slight"; but if a man is dan- gerously wounded and hkely to die it is usual to state that his wound is probably mortal." The actual classification is, of course, made by the medical officer on the spot. It is impossible to at- tempt to specify the nature of the wounds which would fall into these several classes, but it may be said that a simple flesh wound would be entered as slight, a wound implicating bone or joint would be; entered severe, and adwbund peaetr»ting the abdomen, oldest, and brain would be entered as dangerous.

A DIVIDED HOUSE. In one Devonshire home, at least, the progress of the campaign must naturally be watched with some- what divided feelings. The head of household, a hale old farmer, has four Ions engaged with the arrbies-two on the side of the British, and two on the side of the Boers. The farmer himself prays for the success of our arms. There is many a house, it is to be feared, in South Africa which is divided against itself in similar fashion.

BOER STREETS ON THE CONTINENT. A singular fact arising out of thewariathatthe names of President Kruger and certain of his col- leagues are being freely applied in Continental cities to new streets. In Paris one wealthy house specu- lator has used up the names of nearly every distin- guished Boer in order to describe a new district he is opening out. The same thing is occurring on a more moderate scale in Brussels and the policy is even being followed in Russia. At Kharkoff, a local landed proprietor, who owns three long strings of houses, has petitioned the local Town Council to be allowed to re-name the streets "Tranttvaalskaya," Krugerovakaya," and Jcubertovskaya." As llr. Leyds meditates a visit; to Kharkoff, it may be taken from this that he is assured of a warm welcome.

STORY OF THE BOER BARBED WIRE. A side-light which incidentally reveals the pre- paredness and extent of the Boer oligarchy for the present struggle, even to the most minute details, is the story of that barbed wire which is now being so freely used by the enemy against our forces in the field. It will be remembered that early last year the Transvaal Government called for tenders for 950 miles of seven-strand barbed and plain wire with which to enclose the entire system of the Netherlands Railway. This sudden and hurried desire to fence the railway struck the British and South African Export Gazette at the time as being significant, because, in common with others equally well-informed, our contemporary knew the u finances of the State were not so flourishing as to permit of the immediate expenditure of so large a sum as £ 50,000 upon an undertaking not vitally necessited by the circumstances. Messrs. Poynton Bros., of Pretoria, were the successful tenderers. Mr. X. 0. Poynton, one of the partners, arrived in England in May last, and, as one of the conditions of The contract was immediate delivery, by dint of great exertion he was able within a week of his arrival in this country to forward* first shipment, and by the end of May the whole of the wire was on the water.

One of the wonders of the New York Zoological Park, recently opened to the public, is a great cage for birds. It represents an attempt to do for certain large and showy water birds precisely what has been done in the Park for the hoofed animals—the buffalo, the otter, and other species-tq give them all a sec- tion of Nature's own domains; and when the birds are finally put into the cage they will fly in real free- dom, for it encloses three forest trees of considerable size. The structure is 152ft. long, 72ft. wide, 55ft. high, and consists of a series of steel pipe arches and purlins over which Irenetting has been tightly stretched chain netting is used, 80 as to afford the least possible obstruction to the eye. It contains a pool of water lUUit. long, and an abundance of shrubbery. Another important building is the reptile house, which is one of the finest structures ever erected in a zoological garden. It is 146ft. long, and its greatest width 18 ovtr lODtfc.; it cost aiboat 45,000dol.

THE DUTCH CHURCH AND THE I' WAR. The are (says a writer in the Globe) no greater jenemies oi British rule in South Africa than the clergy of the Dutch Reformed Church, alike in the Doer Republics and in. Cape Colony. Many proofs (of their hostility, have been given since the war broke out, and for many years past they have taken an active part (with some exceptions, no doubt) in foment- ing the anti-British feeling of their flocks. The pre- dikant," as the pastor is called, is naturally a person of considerable influence among a people of such strong religiouti feeling as prevails among the Boers, and as he is usually well educated, while his congre- gation cn do little more than read the Dutch Bible —very many cannot even do that-the power which he wields is hardly lefes than that of a Roman Catholic priest inraral lrel&nd. The National Church of the Transvaal is of course Presbyterian, like the mother Church in Holland. The Dopper sect, to which President Kruger belongs, is Presbyterian too, cnly more so-bearing some analogy to the sects which have split off from time to time from the Established Church of Scotland. An article in the Fortnightiy Review for February by the Rev. W. Gres- well, gives some remarkable illustrations of the anti- j British temper of the predikants, and suggests some of the causes which have operated to produce To those who have watched South African history during the last twenty years it must be clear, as Mr. Greswell writes that the predikant, both in the Boer States and in Cape Colony, has been a political propagandist.. The most prominent clergyman in I' the Reformed Church, Professor Lion Cachet, Was In one of the speakers at a meeting of the Afrlkandei Bond last summer, and took the opportunity to fan the rising flame of hatred to England by an exciting addrsss. "Let the storm burst," said this clericeJ agitator; "If we cannot be> famous, let us be in- famous." The Rev. Louis Petries Vorster, pastor of Burghersdorp, who followed, said he did not believe that England dared to make "war, for she had not men enough to conquer the country. The two Boer States, he declared, could raise 80,000 men, and England would need 150,000 men to beat them. She could not find-ships to convey them to the country, nor horses or provisions when they arrived. As for the Colony, he -added, even if it remained neutral, the people would not sell their horses or forage to the English, and so help the war against their brethren. Mr. du Plessis, of the Reformed Theolo- gical Seminary, followed, in a similar strain, and his speech throws a flood of light on the training received by the candidates for the Ministry in that institu- tion. The college was closed when the war began, and most of the øtudentll went northwards to fight for the Boer cause. It is worthy of remark that the founder of the Afrikander Bond was the Rev. S. J. du Toit, a Dutch, or one should rather say an Afrikander clergyman, for his name bespeaks his Huguenot descent. This gentleman inserted in the draft of the Bond's constitution the demand for A United South Africa, under its own flag." He is no longer a member of the Bond, but he was a conspicti- ous leader of those who helped to-give an impetus to the movement which has culminated in the present conflict. Mr. Greswell indicates as one reason for the asiti- English prejudice of the Reformed pastors the fact that they are no longer a privileged body. In the old days of the Dutch Dominion at the Cape they were the ministers of a State Church. Now they are dependent upon their flocks, as is the case with Anglican and Roman ^clergy and the ministers of the various Protestant denominations. lor some time after the Colony came under British rule English and Butch clergy. alike received State subventions. These were abolished as recently as 1875, -ind it may be plausibly ajrgupd (hat the abolition was unwise. A discontented clergy, in an uneducated community, is apt to be a danger to the Government. But if the predikants in South Africa are inclined to resent their disestablishment, it is probable that a much mtore potent cause may be assigned for their Anglo, phobia. ike theiF. people, they have not forgiven the emancipation of the elawea, and ps I a, they share the general prejudice of their countrymen against the English policy of justice to the native population. As Mr. Greswell puts it, the Dutch distrust of the coloured people is inveterate. There ia no place for, them in Church or State according to the fundamental Grondwet of the BoerStates, nor are. they welcomed as freeholders. The. Dutch Church, with its tre- meridous and exclusive influence on the minds of the Boers, must be held responsible for this extreme position, which is incompatible with the position of eur philanthropists, and destructive of the work of our Clarksons, Wilberforces, and, indeed, our LiVingstones." It is regrettable that it should be so, but there can be no sort of doubt that the ministers of the Dutch Church in South Africa, so far from Opposing the bigotry of their people, and denouncing their cruelty to the natives, have rather encouraged them in both these characteristic vices of the race. There is now a close alliance between the Church and the Bond, and there can be no doubt that, as Mr. Gteswell states, it is "a political alliance in the main, not entered into by either party for the further- anCe of laudable reforms or social improvements, but for politics pure and simple."

To attend to her Majesty's wardrobe and toilette there are five maids, viz., three dressers and two wardrobe women. The senior dresser, who has. been many years with her Majesty, is specially charged with the task of conveying orders to different trades- people—jewellers, drapers dressmakers, &c.; one dresser and one wardrobe woman are in constant attendance on the Queen, taking alternate days. 'When the Court is at Windsor the members of the household in attendance are one lady-in-waiting, two maids-of-honour, a lord-in waiting and two equerries, one groom-in-waiting, also the keeper o the privy purse, the private secretary, assistants in both departments, and the master of the house- hold.

AN ALARMING "ALARM." A fire alarm recently invented, days Scienet Siftings, is a combination of the graphophone and telephone. In the use of the talking alarm one of the graphophone machines is placed on each floor of a building* and connected with the telephone fire- alarm system. For each machine a record is pre- pared. For inatance, the graphophone on the second floor of a building would contain the record, There is a fire on the second floor," &e. Thisrecord is then adjusted so that these words are repeated into the telephone by the expanding ef a thermostat whenever a fire occurs. In this way the origin of a fire is located immediately and automatically. The alarm also lights the electric lights in the building, sets a red light blazing in front of the building to guide the firemen, and sounds the alarm into the street through a giant megaphone-so we are told.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLINKING. The Optician reproduces the views of Dr. Kofc*. k Russian physician, on fatigue of the eye. Whether muscular or retinal, fatigue of the eye, says Dr. Kotz, may be approximately measured by the number of eye-lid movements, or involuntary blinks in a specified period. By this system, more than three movements per minute indicate a thoroughly unsuitable illumination. The e mental results obtained by this somewhat crude method are given as—candlelight, 6*8 movements' per minute; gas, 2*8 sunlight, 2*2; and electric light, 1*8.

BOER DESECRATION OF BRITISH GRAVES. The' Cape Colony correspondent of tbe^ Boston Transcript, in his last letter, writes thns "a*e verified a report that I hoped to prove .a canardt and after careful inquiry I feel justified ID making the charae public. When Joubert's main column passed Laing's Nek (October 12), the forces camped on the scene of their leader's previous triumph over the British. It was deemed fitting for t e commandos to invoke the aid of the god °fbattles on the his- torical spot. Joubert's lambs were• hardly released from solemn service when a number of them vented their inherent bestiality by desecrating and horribly defiling the graves of British solders killed in the disastrous war of occurrence be- came a standing ioke oftheBoer campfire, and from all we know of the Transvaaler such action is typical."

prwn asserted to be a safeguard agn• many of prevalent epideraic diseases. It. î. q been found ;rt America that wherever unhealthy (i gricts have been planted with pine plantation* Ion fever has left them, and when cholera was r«i! • those districts which were largely planted wit conifers were perfectly free from tne epidt»;n>>" lphey are, if possible, more valuable agents agnW> fever and lung complaints than even the oucalyp, I!. > uid have the great advantage of growing admirulil m our climate.