Barry Herald

READINGS FOR THE YOUNG. > SOME JOYS OF CRICKET. Ob, cricket's a wonderful game (So tell us the people who play it), Bat for my part, with thanks all the same, I much piefer not to essay i t. On a day wet and chill to a room, Full of draughts, you repair to undress in: Then you wonder that off to your tomb You are hurried a fortnight or less in. Yon stand at the wicket to bat: 'j lie first ball's a regular stinger You yet! someone shouts How is tt at9,, Leg before though it struck on your finger. Or you're just getting set, and you know Ifitit a hundred you're certain of making. Your partner shouts Come !"—off you go; cries Back !"—you're run out sans mistak- ing. You bowl: one short moment of bliss In A ours as the wicket you scatter Mo ball says the umpire-with die- appointment you're mad as a hatter. Easy catches get dropped by the score-- f course, only when you are bowling Byes misplaced by the dozen or more You're average make a big hole in. You field: the sun shines in your face All at once, the world's end must be Hearing, You think, seeing stars in its place, While the ball round your head is careering. And when the best part of the day You have had to spend hunting the leather, You find there can be no more play, Through the whims of the Clerk of tide Weather TRICKS OF SO-CALLED )LARKSMAKSHIP. Undoubtedly most of the wonderful exhibitions of marksmanship given by the famous professional shots of recent times have been genuine in every respect (says a writer in Chums.) But inasmuch as such a performance is generally regarded as a draw," cer- tain unscrupulous entertainment manager?, especially in America, have not hesitated to supply tL place of a really skilful shot by a clever impostor. Let us imagine ourselves at one of these exhibitions. Tanglefoot Pete strides on to the stage (heroes and great Indian fighters, by the way, never walk like ordinary people-they invariable stride), and speaks his little piece with his unmistakable Western dialect more or less. Ladies and gentlc-men,-I shall now p-r-o-c-e-e-d to shoot at that smalll'nll'lO-e,\ e. Every time the bullet strikes a plumb centre a bell will ring." Bang, click, bang, click, bang, click and the small calibre repeater belches forth a shower of sparks, and from the direction of the target comes a sound as of an electric bell gone mad. It seems wonderful, for the gallant Pete scarcely glancos along the blued barrel, and yet invariably hits the tiny bull's-eye. And how is it done ? The trick is too simple to need a long description. fihe bull's- eye itself is white, and is surrounded by a black ring fully eight inches in diameter. The target is of half- inch pine board, and behind the whole arrangement, and extending from the centre to the circumference, is a steel plate. Consequently the ball has only to hit the eight-insh black target and the "bell" will be rung, for the bullet passes; as easily through the thin wood as a pat of butter. Now hitting an eight-inch target 30 feet distance is hardly an impossible task, or one that the average schoolboy would fail at. So much for trick number one. Trick number two, as it is said, has been worked with great success at certain music- halls. In this fraud-for, of course, it is nothing else-the target faces the audience, and has in its centre the usual one-inch bull," surrounded by a generous black border. A funnel of iron, about eight inches in diameter at the mouth, is placed in front of the bull, and painted so cleverly as to be invisible to the audience. All bullets finding their way into this capacious maw are naturally guided to the white bull. Another arrangement born of fertile, but, mis- applied ingenuity is one that may be called the ball trick for want of a better name. A plate of iron is separated from another plate, or from a piece of stout board, by a couple of springs that will give when the iron plate is struck by a bullet, even on the edge. The plate is painted black, and in the centre is a projecting pin, upon which is stuck an extremely fragile ball of glass or composition. This ball Tanglefoot Pete is to shoot at, and is not sup- posed to be smashed unless actually struck by the projectile, but for all that, it is only necessary for the bullet to strike the black plate for the springs to be compressed, and the ball to be burst into fragments by the concussion. Another favourite diversion of professional stage shots is the breaking of glass balls thrown from a trap, or by hand, with a so-called bullet. The truth is that, with a repeating rifle, with a rilling bored out and a charge of fine shot used, the feat is by no means difficult. Finally the Cigar-ash trick is one quite worthy of honourable mention in this connection. When you see one man standing, cigar in mouth, and another pretending to shoot off the ash without cutting the weed or hurting his friend, you should recollect that the cigar in ques- tion is a property affair, containing a wire running through the centre, which when pushed by the tongue of the smoker, causes the ash to drop off, even though the bullet has not passed near it. Quite dif- ferent from the above are feats performed by the real experts, who are just as capable of proving their skill in the open air and under conditions which render such frauds totally impossible. A FAMOUS COMPOSER'S EARLY DAYS. Were you ever in danger of becoming a prodigy ?" said a representative of Vhums to Mr. Frederic H. Cowen, the famous composer. Well," replied my host, laughing, I suppose I must confess to having been considered a sort of prodigy. I began to com- pose when I was six years old, and gave my first concert at the age of eleven. I can remember the first thing I ever wrote. I went up to the piano and composed a little waltz, being obliged to stand up during the process as I was too small to sit down. I couldn't even write properly at the time. The first thing that brought me prominently before the public, however, was a symphony I composed when I was sixteen, and which was played at a concert of my own at St. James's Hall. This was the starting point of; my career." "I should like to hear about your young days, Mr. Cowen-some funny incidents, you know." I am afraid that as a youngster I was rather fond of joking, and I'll tell you of a lit.tle affair that we planned on one of our tours. We had a tenor with us once who thought himself a great lady-killer and boasted of his triumphs over ladieq., So one day we persuaded a barmaid to write him a' letter saying that, having heard his magnificent voice, she had fallen desperately in love with him, and begging him to meet her at three o'clock the next afternoon on the central platform of the rail-: way station. Being very conceited, the singer took, it all seriously, and ordered a larriage and pair toi take him to the station. In the meanwhile we hurried to the rendezvous to witness the fun, and presently we had the sati3faction of seeing our friend come up wearing new lavender-coloured gloves and a gorgeous spray in his button-hole. In broken English he asked the guard whether that was the central platform, and on being assured that be had made no mistake, he began to prance backwards and: forwards. But no lady fair came to gladden hisi soul; no little band was placed in those beautiful gloves. Poor man, he walked up and down that cold, draughty platform for one hour, and there were we watching him the whole time Then he went sadly away. But he never let out that be knew he had been made the victim of a joke. Another little trick recurs, to me, by the way. Opposite an hotel where we were staying was a little shop, and as Signor Foli and I were passing it one day we happened to look in the window and saw a piece of cardboard on which was inscribed these magical words 'Errand Boy Wanted.' The opportunity was too good to be lost, so we returned to the hotel, and, having hastily! donned our worst clothes, came back. Then we entered the shop, and Foli, representing himself as my father, begged that I might have the situation. We discussed the matter very seriously, and finally, upon my agreeing to clean the windows and run errands, the shopkeeper consented to engage me at nalf-a-crown a week. I was to enter upon my new duties the following day, but by that time we were far away on our journey to a distant town." A CURIOUS ANSWER. Two children were playing in the street before the church where they went every Sunday. One of them, while amusing himself, threw a stone at his friend he missed him, hit the windows of the church and broke a pane. Nobody had seen the accident j but our two little urchins, but the one who had i broken the pane thought of nothing else. The Sunday following tie was at the Sunday-school with his friend, but he listened very little to the lesson; he always expected to hear this question, Who has broken the pane ? At last the master asked him this: Who made the heavens and the earth ?" j The child, who trembled rery much,^replied: Sir, I assure you that it was not I." i The master, much surprised at bearing such j answer, repeated the same question, raising his voice j a little. j The boy this time thought he was found out; fat answered, while weeping: Sir, it is I; but pardon me, I will not do it I again.* I A troublesome explanation was necessary to render { this answer intelligible.—-Jantoris French Grammar, (

LITERARY EXTRACT,?, PRYING OF FLOWEnS AND GHASSKS FOR W:\TKR ÐV.CPltA"'WN -This will be more satisfactory if dmie during August than if left till Inter in the season, when ihe rainfall and beavy dews are more destruc- tive to tuliv-developed flowers. In order to perform tiie "0n of drying in the best possible WilY, "Ii the tiowers should be cut just before they are t'n•1 v expnnded, and whilst they are of the brightest unii freshest appearance. The colour is better preeerwd in the dried specimen if thus secured, which is mi important point to observe; especially is this the cH?e with the Helichrysums and Khodanthes. 'I firft-named constitute, in the varied colours of th- ir flowers, one of the most valuable classes of plants tor supplying everlastings. They are easily grown, flower profusely, and produce their flowers wo stout footst,alks, that stand erect without, any diffi- culty after being dried. When these are cut, it is a good practice to take some of the half-expanded buds also these will be found to afford a better variety, and are generally of even a deeper colour than t (H- ltirger onef. Do not leave any of this family of annuals until the flowers begin to fade with age I, dark disc in the centre of each one then detracts from their beauty very materially. Should the nien. occur that a sacrifice of flowers for the time being is made in cutting them so early, the future should demand the most consideration the due thought of which will be fully exemplified when flowers for decorative uses are scarce. When the flowers are cut, a good length of stem should be secured for convenience in future arrangements. They should be tied up in moderately-sized bunches tightly; so that, when the stems shrink, none of them fall out. Every bunch should then be suspended in such a way as not. to touch each other, but bang free of everything. A dry room, with a free circulation of air and but little probability of dust accumulating upon them, is a good place in which to place them. This suspending of the bunches causes the footstalks of the flowers to dry stiff and straight, thus being afterwards much more useful and effective when arranged in vases this should be practised in the case of all everlasting flowers. The ornamental grasses which are so useful for, and such great additions to, all arrangements, are best dried if arranged very thinly in vases or any receptacles at hand. In these they will thus stand erect, or in a natural manner, which in the case of grasses is better than being suspended, for they will be found to vary but very little in tae process of dry- ing. Grasses, like flowers, in every esse should be cut whilst quite fresh (and green) thus a better colour is retained. If left till they are partially faded by age, they are more liable to fall to pieces later on. The process of cutting should in every case be per- formed whilst the flowers are quite dry, a bright sun- shiny day being the best to choose; each respective kind should be tied up as soon as cut, and the after treatment, as advised, be then seen to as soon as pos- sible, before any become withered.- Cassell's Book oj Household. THE CANTERBURY TALES."—We have reserved to the last the consideration of the Canterbury T»les," probably the latest, and certainly by fur the greatest, and most interesting of Chaucer's works. The general conception of this great work is, in one sense, not altogether original. Writers before Chaucer had done what many have done since, that is. had brought together a number of imaginary per- sonages, more or less naturally grouped, and had placed a series of stories in the mouths of these characters; by this means giving a sort of continuity to what would otherwise be a collection of isolated stories, and thus securing a double interest for the whole work. Boceaccio, shortly before, bad adopted this scheme in his Decameron," in which he introduces a number of youug ladies and gentle- men who have taken refuge in the same villa to escape the pestilence in Florence; and it is not im- probable that the plan of the Canterbury Tales may have been to some extent suggested by the "Decameron"; though it is more likely still that this method of grouping was so familiar to the writers of Chaucer's day, and therefore suggested itself so naturally to his mind, that it could not b. said to have been due to any one particular example. But, however this may be, it is clear that in the judgment with which Chaucer has selected his group of personages and the mode of bringing them together, the unequalled power with which he has given life to the individuals composing it, and the dramatic force with which he has conducted the action of the poem, this graat work is in the highest and best sense original. The poet begins by telling us that one night in spring, the season of pilgrim- ages, he found himself at the hostelry of the Tabard, in Southwark, ready to start on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury. He finds there nine-and-twenty or thirty other persons bound upon the same pilgrimage with himself. The company is a most varied one. The first group we are introduced to consists of a knight, a young squire, his son, and a yeoman, his servant, going to perform the vow made by the knight, as we may gather, during his last foreign expedition. A prioress, Madame Eglantine, a very dignified lady, was also there, and in her train an attendant nun and three priests. Then there was a monk, a great man of his class, delighting in the chase and despising the restraints of monastic rule. The mendicant friar, again, is in an inferior rank a man of the same type, a wanton and a merry." Of very different, but not less strongly-marked types are the sober and prudent merchant, the poor clerk or scholar from Oxford, the serjeant-at-law, and the franklin or country gentleman. Then there are the haberdasher, the carpenter, the webbe or weaver, the dyer, and tapiser or carpet-maker, the cook or keeper of a cookshop, and the shipman or sea-captain. A doctor of physic is also of the party, and a wife of Bath-a well-to-do cloth manufacturer. In strong contrast with some of the preceding characters is the poor parson of a country parish, who is going on pilgrimage accompanied by his brother, a ploughman. The list is completed by a miller, a manciple or steward of some public institution, a reeve or bailiff, a sompner or summoning oflicer of an ecclesiastical court, and a pardoner or seller of papal indulgences. The New Popular Educator. How PARIS STREETS ARE KEPT CLEAN.—A woman in Paris is sure to be neatly shod, no matter to what class she belongs, though an English heart would un- doubtedly sink low at the terrible thinness of the sole. This apparent recklessness has its excuse in the fact of the condition of the streets. To attain their wonderful state of cleanliness 1,855,000 francs are spent on them in three years, but this has only been the case since the imposition of a tax in 1873 on every landlord to cover the expense. Before that, things were in a very bad state, and Maxime Ducamp, the great authority on the subject of Paris, wrote, about that time, deploring the shocking condition of the streets. Now, however, to do this work and to remove the 25,000 cubic metres of rubbish, thereare 149 brigades of sweepers, numbering 3345, in conjunction with 550 rubbish carts, and 1075 horses. From before dawn till long after sunset one sees the street cleaners in their peaked caps and watermen's boots or sabots, bard at their work sweeping, swabbing, or watering. Each hour of the day brings its particular work for them. From 4 to 6.30 a.m. they have to wash and sweep the pavements and streets, and in winter cast gravel on the asphalt (315,470 metres) and wood paving (368,300 metres) of the city. From 6.30 to 8.30 four of them and a woman-sweeper accompany the scavenger's dustcart to clear away from the dustbins the refuse which the cbiffonniers have discarded; from 8.30 to 11 they are again at work sweeping, cleaning, watering, and flush- ing the gutters, till these almost assume the form of little mountain torrents. From 11 till 1 they leave off for dejeuner, and then they are bard at work again cleansing streets and benches, and in winter, from 7 till 9 p.m., it is their duty once more to throw gravel over the wood and asphalt pavements." GOold Words. A JAPANESE IDEA.—The Japanese are a practical as well as an artistic people, and when they adopt a Western economic notion they seek to adapt it thoroughly to the customs of their people. The Japanese have so far made comparatively little use of the horse, and some of their leading men are con- vinced that it would be of material advantage to the country to extend the use of this animal, the con- comitant of civilisation in other parts of the world. In the war with China, the horse was of very great use to the Japanese. They employed it in their campaigns exactly as Western nations do. A great many of the faithful horses were sacrificed in the war; they suffered and died in the transportation service, in reconnoissances, and in battles. For these services the Japanese feel grateful, and it has occurred to the officers of the army that the nation might express its gratitude, and at the same time en- courage the people in the admiration for the horse in a way which would encourage them to raise such adtnir- able and useful animals. Therefore a monument to the memory of the horses which died in the war is to be erected near the temple of Jasumkumi-Sinje, at Tokio, which has already been consecrated to the soldiers who fell in the same contest. It will stand in the midst of a park, and will conhist. of a pedestal supporting a column on which will stand a fine figure of a war-horse in copper. It will not be ridden by the figure of a soldier, since if it were, the monu- ment might be deemed one of the soldiers rather tbttD of the horse but will be a horse and nothing more If any such movements exist in the Western world where the horse is certainly greatlv esteemed, and has been from the remotest times, they are very rare —if we except the representations of the fabulous winged horses of Venice and the copies of these elsewhere, which can hardly be regarded as serioca attempts to pay a tribute to the horse as we know him — useful, faithful, spirited, brave, and affectionate. -l. I TliW I'oPT.VASTKIt's DAV'fMi'im 'P • • »1 mpn "1 (W'f.AT1tH S At'ell'l H! 'f'rt of the benediction died a«nv minn ,< the arches of the little village church, rousing Tiny Tim from his asp and disturbing Tommy Trafford in his con- templation of the evolutions of the white mouse be had surreptitiously brought to church. Master Tommy hastily consigned the long-suffering rodent to dark and secret recesses, and then glanced hurriedly towards teacher's seat. Had "real teacher" been in command, doubtless Tommy's misdoings would rot have escaped her eagle eye. But teacher was at home with a headache, and Lizzie Price, the postmnster'e, daughter, home for a holiday, had taken her plnce for the afternoon. Tommy breathed afresh. Lluie Price was too much engaged in inducing Tiny Tim, who, overcome with drowsiness, had subt-ided against her arm, to assume an upright petition. OnCA again had Tommy got off scot-free, and the successful importation of the white mouse to church would render him more than ever a hero in thi school. Two minutes or so later, the children WMH clattering down the churchyard path Tommy ar, their head, as monitor for the week, each arm pi eÜ hifjh with the hymn-books to be carried back to i li,, school. As he reached the lych-gate, a man leaning agiinst it suddenly stepped forward. Tommy, deeply engrossed in preserving the equilibrium of the hymn-books, started violently (perhaps in conse- quence of his bad conscience), and ran back, knock- ing down Tiny Tim. Top-heavy, he overbalanced, and fell flat—hymn-books to right of him, hymn- books tc left of him, hymn-books in front of him. Lizzie Price ran forward and picked up Tiny Tim, whimpering from the sudden shock. Coilie, come, you're not hurt she said kindly, adjusting his cap and rubbing the gravel off his palms and his knees. I'm awfully sorry cried a cheery voice, and the origin of the collision stepped forward. Hope the kid's none the worse." Why-Georgo Barnes!" And Lizzie turned upon him with a blush and a smile. Oh, well! I've just walked over to see old friends"; and he approached her rather sheepishly. Tommy Trafford relieved his temporary embarrassment. That young gentleman, after care- fully feeling himself all over, suddenly rent the air with a loud "Boo-boo!" "You've hurt him ex- claimed Lizzie reproachfully. Nothing o* the kind replied George Barnes. He knocked himself down, he did!" Oh! it's his Sunday clothes, of course," Lizzie went on, woman-like. Never you mind, Tommy. It'll all brush off nicel, But still Tommy roared. He was the victim of a secret sorrow he could not name. Whatever ails the boy ?" exclaimed George Barnes, and forthwith proceeded to knead and pummel him in search of supposed injuries. Hullo! what's this ?" To a crescendo of lamentation from Tommy, he ex- humed from a pocket the white mouse, squashed flat. "Oh, Tommy!" said teacher reproachfully. "As thin as a church mouse, ain't it?" laughed Barnes. Here, you young ruffian, here's some coppers to make up for, but not to replace, your loss. Do you understand?" Tommy wiped his eyes with his fists, and was understood to gurgle gratitude. And not to spend on sweets to eat in church-time, remember," added Miss Price, sternly. Then she turned to George. You must be thirsty after such a long walk. You'd better come in and have tea." Again the young man turned sheepish, and twiddled his side-whiskers. I don't much mind if I do." Ko he walked beside her till they reached a corner cottage, adorned with Post Office" over the door, and with Government advertisements about mails to aU sorts of impossible places stuck in the front window. She flattered him a little, and his self-confidence returned. Such a long walk But you don't seem none the worse for it." Done the eight miles in under the two hours; started just after dinner. Not bad." You should have taken the train." Well, I dunno. Trains cost money. And somehow I don't know as I care to be spending money on myself—might want it." Perhaps it was the reflection of the autumn sunset on her pretty cheek. Anyhow, she cast her eyes down as he stole a look at her, and she played with her prayer- book. "Do you often walk over from Thor- leigh ?" Never. Can't get away much, 'specially now the night stokin's begun to keep the mildew out, this damp autumn we're having. But I met your cousin Joe, when I was in Ledbury last week, and I heard all the Cranston news. He mentioned as how you was home and he stole another look at her. Will you come in ?"said Lizzie, opening the post-office door; I 'spect father's back from his rounds, and I'll hurry up tea.' No hurry on my account," Barnes hastened to put' in. I arranged that I have leave off all this evening." "Oh, you did, did you ? What an artful young man!" exclaimed Lizzie to herself, with a happy little smile, as she flew up-stairs to take off her best hat and see if her hair was tidy. It was a very sweet little face that looked at her in the dim twilight, out of the tiny mirror. A face, when she chose, with a merry smile. and a twinkle, but also capable of an exceedingly demure expression, not the less bewitching, and it was fiamed with fair hair uncut by scissors, untortured by tongs, but which, nevertheless, would wave and curl about her temples. Old Mr. Price returned from a trudge to empty a distant posl-box, and, removing his red-edged coat of office, sat down, for ease and comfort, in his shirt-sleeves. His elder daughter came in from the front-room and from the stamping of letters to make the tea, and Lizzie knelt by the fire to make the toast. George Barnes thought that he had never seen such a pretty picture as she made, the firelight playing on her hair.— From the first part oj the new serial, An Honest Lover," in the Quiver. THE TIRELESS CO-OPEEtATOR.-The energy of inde- fatigable co-operators on the occasion of their annual festival is depicted by F. Rlickman in the August number of the Windsor Magazine. They will often travel the preceding night from some remote part of the country, reaching the London terminus—say Paddington or Euston-an hour or so after cock- crow. The first thing to be done on arriving in London is to partake of a good meal to fortify them for the arduous day before them. This refrection can be ordered in advance at some near restaurant, though more often it is brought with them. This important function being over, the serious business of the day begins. The uninitiated might be pardoned for thinking that the general move of the party would then be Crystal-Palace-ward. But this is seldom the case. These vigorous, indefatigable workers, many of them literally I sons of toil,' have what may be termed a concentrated, all-embracing method of taking a day's pleasure. Probably Covent Garden Market will be the first place visited; they will then make their way to Westminster Abbey, arriving there at 8.30 a.m., and waiting patiently for the doors to be opened at nine o'clock. Of course, the Houses of Parliament, the British Museum, Trafal- gar-square, and the Tower have each plenty of visitors. They will eventually arrive at the Crystal Palace some time between 10 o'clock and 11.30, and feast their eyes on the appetising programmes which have never failed to satisfy the most exacting of the 300.000 people who have assembled at these co-operative festivals. I Jaded' you think the travellers must be bv now ? Nothins of the sort. They are as fresh as larks, they will tell you. And by the time the afternoon concert commences 7.000 of them will be ready to out-sing to any extent those very industrious birds. But the concert is not till three o'clock, and there is much to be seen and much to be done before that hour. Somewhere about 11.30 p.m., with a still joyous, though possibly somewhat fatigued, spirit, he hies him to the station, where he meets others- tens of thousands—equally desirous with himself of finding a few square inches of space in any railway carriage that chances to be going in the direction of London. Once more he will start on a long night journey into the provinces, and were it not that the first great day of the festival is always on a Saturday, and Sunday is—fortunately for us—observed as a day of rest in this favoured land, he would appear at his work next day, apparently none the worse for hie tremendous experiences of the past 36 hours. Ask him what sort of a day he has had, and you will find he went through his programme in no per- functory manner. He can give you an outline of the principal exhibits, can tell you the result of the choir contests, and how sang the seven thousand. He will describe the beauty of the fountains nd the gardens generally, and state an expert opinion un the respec- tive merits of half-a-dozen military bands. His will be the exhilarating knowledge of the seductive switch- back, and, if asked, he can probably give all the ath- letic items in proper sequence. He will have carried away with him a correct impression of the different public meetings, and an intimate knowledge of the gist of the principal speakers' remarks. His only sorrow will be the knowledge that he must wait 12 long months before a festival day comes round again." A MYSTERY IN CAMP.-A New Brunswick cont- tributor to Forest and Stream relates an odd ex- perience that befell a Mr. Hunterwhile on a hunting trip. He was at Forty-nine Mile Camp, nnd went out to look after his horses, leaving a Candle burning on the table. In a few minutes he returned, to find the room dark. The candle had gone out, it appeared but when he went to relight it he found that it was missing. Mr. Hunter was startled, not to say frightened. Perhaps he remembered some of the legendsffGich attach to those wild forests. However, be lighted another candle, and by and by had occasion to go out again to look after bis team. When he came back the room was dark again and the candle gone. This time, having a lighted candle, he made a search of the premises. Nothing Wae to be seen. He put the candle on the table again, set his axe where it would be bandy, and stepped into a corner. Iti a few minutes a flying squirrel came through the door, mounted the table, knocked over the candle, which went out as it fell, seized it in his mouth and started with it for the door. ¡

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EPITOME OF NEWS. IT is rumoured that numerous arresUof Anarchists are imminent in Paris. THE average rent of houses in England is £ 21 per annum. COUNT YCN HATZFELDT, the German London, is about, to resign his post owing to his un- paired state of health. THE rumour that. Mr. Everslied, for Biirt<>?J intended retirement, is contradicted by his son. TIIK Quem,) has appointed Colonel Herbert sVntt Gould Miles, Ar-sistant-Adjutant-Geneinl nt ^i'l.-r- shot, t,i be a Memher of the Fourth Ciiits tit I be Royal Victorinn Order. THE reported recall of Baron Mohrenbeim, the Russian AmbHEsndor at Piris, is declared at I he Embassv to be urifuuddtd. KING ALEXANOR. proposes to make his long- intended visit to the English Court in the course of this year. I'r is no unusual thing for a vessel plying betne-n Japan and London to carry 1 ,()00,UU0 tans or all kinds as a single item of its cargo. Titf.KR are now on the rolls of the legal profusion about li5,-3()0 solicitors (or attorney s-a' law, as tney were called prior to 1873), as compared Wid) sOme 10,000 or 11.00U twenty years ago. THE gold contained in the medals, vessels, chains, and other objects preserved in the Vatican would make more gold coin than the whole of the present EuropeaR circulation. AN official certificate has been signed hv the Board of Trade and Board of Agriculture authorising tllP proposed light railway from Kelvedon to Ttprrt-e and Tollesbury, in Essex. THE Paris Figaro states that the French rights in the New Hebrides are valid, but Englishmen in the Archipelago oppose the claims of other Powers. Tjimitp. were only 500 miles of underground wire in London in 1869; there are now 13,000 miles. In 1869 there were bb miles of pneumatic tubes, com- 2 pared with 40 miles now. THE unfortunate philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is to be removed from Naumburg, where he was for nearly 10 years under the loving care of his mother, who died a few months ago. His future home will be at Weimar, under the charge of his widowed sister, who has also been his biographer. PLIGHT arrests have now been made in connection with the sale in Paris of bogus decorations. "rt)(1 number of persons victimised is much larger t han was at first supposed. PROFESSOR HENRY SIUGWICIC has been appoint^ by the Council of the British Association to the (lfii..e of chairman of the Committee on State Monopolies in other countries. AFTER a tie with the Hist, the 18th Middlesex won the shield and first prize, in the •vnnpetiriori amongst, the teams of the various corps forming; the North London Brigade, which was decided on tin- War Office ranges at. Pirbr ght. Q.UAUTEii.WASTKK I. LIMKHICK (Rovnl Gloucester-111re Hussars) joined that regiment, oil February 7, 164S and has, therefore, served close on AO years. He has never missed a squad drill or permanent duty, and has had but one day's leave, and that, was ill the year 1852. SOME of the oldest trees in the world are to be found in Great Britain. The tree called WiHiam the Conqueror's Oak, in Windsor-park, is supposed to be 1200 years old. The famous Eentlev and Win- farthing Oaks are at least two centuries older. IT has been decided that battalions ot the Foot Guards going to Gibraltar shall take with them their own medical officers but these, in addition to their battalion duties, will take a share of other garrison duties performed by officers of the Army Medical Department. '-L"lv. otlicial returns ot tbe Krench < oTDn)" T de- partment show that the imports into France duruig the first seven months of the present year amounted in value to 2,295,208,000f., as compared with 2,313,315,000f. in the corresponding period of ].8:)ti. The value of the exports was 2,125,397,000f., against 1,947,760,OOOf. last year. JOHN SrootfEit, a Chicago sailor, aged 70, has made his will, leaving his dog 1700dols. The money has been deposited with a trust company, which has undertaken to execute the peculiar provisions of the will. Spooner stipulates that if the dog dies before be does, the money on his death will go to his sister, who is in England but if be dies first, the money i to be used for the support of the dog. The man gives as his reason for making this will that, while passing through Chicago, he became ill, and his dog proved his most faithful nurse. PETROLEUM is now a well-established Japanese pro- duct, although the industry has only been started within the last few years. The total output in 1893 was 3,320,707 gallons, which was an increase of more than 50 per cent. in four years. The wells are in general less than 600ft. deep, two of them only reaching 1600ft. With the introduction of American methods and borings to lower levels, the supply is expected to be far more abundant. IT is to be hoped that the plan which is being tried by the Great Northern Railway Company, for mitigating the danger of level-crossings will be found effectual; the experiments hitherto made are said to have given promising results. The pressure of an approaching train upon a cunningly-devised piece of mechanism rings a bell, which is not silenced until the train has passed the crossing. If tho working of this appliance can be depended upon, it will be the means of saving many lives. iTcppears that Lord Ludlow (Lord Justice Lopes) is the only peer, not an ordinary member of the Court, who has sat in the Court of Appeal since it has been constituted in its present shape. It is quite true that the Lord Chancellor, the late Lord Cole- ridge, Lord Russell, and Lord Herschell have sat in that Court, but that has been rarely, only when they have been specially called in, just as Sir Francis- Jeune has been, that is to say, as an ex-oflicio mem- ber of the Court A WOMAN was pursuing her runaway cow down a country lane. Man," she called out to someone in front of her, turn my cow The man, however, took no notice, allowing tbe cow to pass. When the woman came up to him she said, Man, why did you not turn my cow ?" He replied. W'oman. I am not a man-I am a magistrate 1 THE Austro-Bulgarian incident has been satisfac- torily closed by an explanation on behalf of Dr. Stoiloff that the account of his views in a German paper was distorted, and that he had nc intention of giving offence to Austria-Hungary. A TRAIN left the line near Rouen on Sunday, two of the carriages being smashed. A French notary wail killed, and a number of passengers, including a Londoner named Mr. Livingstone, were injured. THE most mixed population in urope, trom a racial point of view is, according to Professor Ripley, D.Sc., of the Massachusetts University, the French. It includes all the great ethnic types of the Con- tinent, as well as representatives of a prehistoric race extinct in every other country. Professor Ripley describes the French as being a blend of the long- headed blonde types of the North, the long-headed brunette types of the South, and the broad-headed mental types of middle Europe. The long heads of North and South are settled in the plains of France, and the broad heads in Brittany, Auvergne, and Savoy. THE late Sir Harry Parkes was the son of a small farmer in Warwickshire. The family moved first to South Wales, and afterwards to Birmingham and young Parkes was sent to work when he was only eight years old. First he was employed on a brick- field, and afterwards as a turner; but, having married, he at last decided to better his condition by emigrating and landed in Sydney in 1839 with a wife, a baby, and three shillings. Fifteen years later he entered the New South Wales Parliament, and at last became Premier of the Colony. As a boy he was passionately fond of reading. ¡

TO HIS BIUIJE. Stnrided with hundreds of diamonds, great and sm.Ji, iies in a glass ease in the Boston Museum of J-uie Arts the wedding giff- of G -orge III. to his bride. Queen Charlotte. r err r.x.t>lIt Iv (says the I'foh/) this .Miperb addition to the treasures of the museum has been procured through the death 111 a lady in whose life possession it is invested. This mafc'nitieeiit and historically inteie>t- ing relic is a chatelaine watc. li, with belt, clasp, bunl, and pendants, all of the finest gold and thi'-kiv incrtisted %i"h jewels. It was presented by K". George to his Queen at their marriage in 1761, and ov her wks worn, no doubt, at many a say and social function or State ceremonial. The ornamentation of t hI" watch and its attachments are in the highest degri-e elaborate. The clasp, which is generous in size, bears in its centre, wit.hin an oval of "lapis lazuli," the Queen consort's crown, resting upon a cushion, the whole wrought in diamonds. On the band below the clasp, on a similar background, are daintily in- wrought, also in dian.onda. the Royal sceptre, sur- mounted by its cross, and the rod of equity, tipped with the dove. The two rods are crossed and are united at the point of juncture by a delicate ribbon of diamonds. Upon the watch itself, again, appears upon a background of blue, the monogram C. R. surmounted by a crown, also wrought, in precious stones. Upon either side of the watch are suspended from the band two pendants-a key, a seal, with the Royal monogram finely cut in cornelian and two per- fume holders. These designs described, it must be understood, are merely the central ornaments in their respective places. They are surmounted by the most. elaborate scroll work and other orna- mentation all in diamonds, so thickly crowded together that the gold groundwork in which they are set can with difficulty be discerned. The whole forms one of the most feeautiful as well as one of the most interesting of the museum's possessions. The relic has an interesting history. It was pur- chased by Mr. Charles Amory at a public sale of effects of the King in London in 1849. Mr. Amory presented it to Miss Sarah Greene, who gave it in turn to her namesake, Miss Sarah Timmins, a niece of the late Martin Brimmer. By Miss Timmins the watch was given to her sister, Mrs. Chapman, with the understanding that at her death it should become the property of the Art Museum. The event recently occurred, and now the relic has reached its final rest- ing place.

A WELL-KNOWN artist received a circular from a whisky firm, inviting him to join in a competition for a poster. Only one prize was to be given, and the unsuccessful drawings were to beccme the pro- perty of the firm. Ke replied as follows: "Gentle- men,—I ara offering a prize of two shillings for the best specimen of whieky, and should be glad to have you take part in the competition. Twelve doz.en bottles d each kind should be sent for examination, and all whisky that is not adjudged worthy of the prize will remain the property of the undersigned. It is also required that the carriage bv paid by the sender." This letter ended the correspondence. THE New South Wales House of Assembly has passed a Bill abolishing the payment of school fees. CHIEF JUSTICE KOTZE, of the Transvaal, says that the present civilisation owes more to the Jewish nation than any other people. TiiE revenue of South Australia for the coming year is estimated at E2,628,044, and the expenditure at £ 2,026,236. PRINCESS CAROLINE of Bourbon and her husband, Count Andreas Zamoyski, have arrived in Paris from Vienna, and are staying with the mother of the Princess, the Countess of Trapan:, in the Rue Pierre- Qharron. SERIOUS rioting has taken place at Yucatan, where voting for the election of Governor is in progress. Many were killed and a large number wounded in the fighting. THE Transvaal Volksraad has referred the report of the Industrial Commission to a Committee of the Rand, to revise it in conjunction with the executive. AMONG the Princess of Wales's treasures is a beautiful pair of opera glasses of platinum, set with rubies, sapphires and turquoises, valued at E2,000. AT the Peace Congress at Hamburg a resolution was adopted congratulating certain German peace societies which were carrying on a vigorous agitation against duelling. THE present which the Sultan made to the Em- peror William some months ago has at last arrived in Berlin. It consists of six fine German guns of the 15th and 16th centuries, captured long ago by the Turks. PASSENGERS from Umtali state that there is great unrest among the natives of the territory ceded to Portugal in East Africa bv the arbitrator, and that the Portu guese have undoubtedly suffered severe reverses. THE German Empress has sent the Patriotic Women's Union of Silesia a second contribution of a thousand marks for the sufferers from the recent floods, accompanying the gift with a letter of warm sympathy. DR. KANDT, a German explorer, has started from German East Africa to trace the head waters of the Nile. Prom Ruanda he will ascertain the size of Lake Akenjarn and the volumes of the rivers Kagera, Ruvuru, Nyakirongcv, and Akenaruj, then follow tbe to its source. A LIVELY exchange of diplomatic notes is proceed- ing between Berlin and Brussels with the object of securing the joint and harmonious action of the Belgian and German Governments in negotiating new treaties of commerce with England. STATISTICS show that longevity is increasing in Canada, and the reason probably is that the con- ditions of life are growing better and it is easier now to obtain good medical advice than in the middle or the first half of the century. The fact is worthy of note, because there are many persons who do not attach sufficient importance to measures of hygiene. ANOTHER of a series of robberies that have made householders in Pretoria feel uncomfortable, took place there the other night. A house was entered and the bedrooms ransacked while the occupants were asleep, the only traces of the thief being a trail of candle grease from one room to the other and topsy-turvy chests of drawers. Clothes and small change were taken. In all these cases it was very plain that the occupants were drugged. THE German Emperor's wa:drobe is valued at £ 100,000, every uniform bearing precious decorations. He has twelve valets who devote their entire atten- tion to its care. AIR. BROCK, R.A., and Mr. Jackson, R.A., are making satisfactory progress with the Benson memorial for Canterbury Cathedral. It takes the shape of a mausoleum, with a recumbent effigy of the deceased primate, and a canopy and Mr. Brock is doing the figure and his brother Acade- mician the main structure. MR. CHARLES DYSON, of Rylstone House, Rylstone- in-Craven, Yorkshire, is the new owner of Augill Castle, Westmorland, the haunted house of which we have lately heard a good deal. Mr. Dyson intends to put the place into thorough repair-although it is not in bad condition, seeing that it had been un- occupied for 15 years-and to live there. The en- trance hall, dining-room, and State bedroom contain some fine old black oak, with 16tb-century carving. The marble piece in the drawing-room cost E250 before it left Italy. THERE is in the Egyptian department of the British Museum a very fine little bronze figure of the Cyno- tephalus ape, which was supposed to represent one of the four cardinal points. This little figure, which is recent addition to the collection, is richly inlaid with ,old, and is about two inches in height. In most of the papyri we find four apes sitting at the back of the boat of the sun-god Ra. These animals which sre the same as the protecting genii of the dead, are called Mestha, Hapi, Taumut-f, and Khebeenuf, and iredresent the four points of the compass.

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