Barry Herald

ONE OF THE SIX HUNDRED. John Browne, one of the few remaining partici- pators in the Balaklava Charge, died at Lichfield on Sunday, in his 84th year. In May, 1836, he enlisted in the 17th Lancers, at Ipswich, and served through- out the Crimean campaign—1854-56. He was present at the battles of Alma, Inkermann and Bala- klava and the siege and fall of Sevastopol. On the memorable October 25, 1854, the day of the charge of the Light Brigade, he was regimental trumpeter, and sounded the charge for the Death or Glory Boys." Browne escaped unhurt, but lost the heel of his boot and spur by a musket-ball, and had his coat-tail cut off by a Cossack lance. He was in India throughout the mutiny, being present at the capture asd execution of the rebel chief Tantia Topee. Browne was the possessor of a Russian war medal with four clasps, the Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Turkish medal, the Indian Mutiny medal, and a good-conduct medal. He was in receipt of a pension of Is. Od. a day, and he has>died forfeiting a pen- sion due on April 1.

LADY HENRY SOMERSET'S INDUSTRIAL FARM COLONY. Lady Henry Somerset has just issued her report for 1897 on the Industrial Farm Colony at Duxhurst, Reigate, in connection with the National British Woman's Temperance Association. She says that two salient features were adopted in starting the colony-first, the village system, and secondly, out- door occupation, such as gardening, fruit-growing, farming work, &c., as the basic principles of our scheme. Both those methods had proved their value. The village system had meant all the difference mentally to the inhabitants of the colony; absence of friction, ease of classification, and, above all, a real sense of home which a conventional institutional life could never bring. She laid great stress on the fact that the cottages were furnished with the appli- ances of good ordinary artisans' dwellings, clean, dainty, and attractive, presenting an object-lesson of what (a home ought to be,—a home that should be within the: possihility of every sober, industrious working man. In that way, women who had perhaps wrecked their households, and lived in dirt and neglect, began to realise with the returning sanity that came from sobriety what the ideal of a home should be and by degrees they formed to themselves a picture of what they might, by-and-bye, attain'. In many instances a laudable ambition was created, which had resulted in their imitating, as closely as| possible, the details of the cottages at Duxhurst inl their own dwellings when they return to them. AJ to employment, the out-door employment at Dux- j hurst had been one of the great factors in the succesif which had shown itself with regard to many of the patients. Two new cottages were about to be erected —one given by the Royal Navy, and the other pro- vided for by the money collected by the Hastings Branch of the British Women's Temperance Associa- tion. Again the applications had been painfully numerous, and it was felt that it was absolutely necessary that the premises should be eltended. Sixty-one patients passed through the home; 42 com- pleted their term of one year, and out of those seven failed, and 33 were at the present moment doing well. One died, and one could not be traced.

A MINIATURE COMMUNITY. The annual visit to the Island of Tristan d'Acunha was made in Novenber, 1897, by her Majesty's ship Widgeon under the command of Lieutenant and Commander A. F. Gurney. The special object of the visit was to convey to the islanders a whaling boat which was supplied by the Admiralty. Commander Gurney reports that the total population is now sixty- four, composed of eighteen adult males, nineteen women, fifteen boys, and twelve girls. The island is capable of affording pasturage for some 500 head of cattle, and as there are now between 800 and 900 cattle on the island, as well as 500 sheep, the inhabi- tants are anxious to dispose of their surplus stock. It is suggested that a ship might be chartered to take the cattle away, and her cargo could be advantage- ously supplemented by loading guano from the neigh- bouring islets. The labour for such a purpose would, it is stated, be readily found by the inhabitants of Tristan d'Acunha. The wants of the islanders are few, but they appear to have run short of vegetable seeds, and a supply, especially of cabbage, broccoli, onions and cauliflower seeds, would be very acceptable. Vegetable seeds can be sent to Tristan d'Acunha by letter post or by parcel post. The postage on letters is 2|d. the half- ounce, and on parcels 8d. per pound up to eleven pounds. The date on which letters and parcels will be despatched from this country will be communicated when fixed, to postmasters and to the Press.

THE LOAD-LINE RULES. The President of the Board of Trade has appointed a committee consisting of the following gentlemen— viz.: Sir Francis H. Jeune, K.C.B., chairman; Mr. Ingram B. Walket and Captain A. J. G. Chalmers, Board of Trade; Mr. John Glover and Mr. S. L Da Costa, Committee of Lloyd's Register; Mr. John Gravell and Mr. Thomas R. Miller, Bureau Veritas Mr. Nathaniel Dunlop and Mr. Archibald Denny, British Corporation for Survey and Registry of Ship- Eing to consider certain representations which have een made to him to the effect that: (1) That the im- munity at present enjoyed by the ports in Chesapeake Bay from the Load-line regulations as to Winter North Atlantic freeboard cannot be justified, inasmuch as vessels sailing to and from those ports follow the same course across the North Atlantic as vessels sail- ing to and from Atlantic ports north of Baltimore (2) that the result of the said immunity acts pre- judicially against the ports north of Baltimore, and in favour of the ports in Chesapeake Bay. And to advise whether, in the interests of life and property, it is expedient that the Load-line rules should be so altered as to make the Winter North Atlantic free- board regulation applicable to all vessels following the same course across the Atlantic as is now fol- lowed by vessels sailing to and from ports north of 37 degrees north latitude. Mr. Reginald Bingham, of the Board of Trade, has been appointed to act as secretary to the committee.

BBABOKNB noufie coal, owing to the tall in Ireignt charges, will go down a shilling a ton. TUB numoor offoreigners now in France ia estimated at 1 ,027,000, a decrease of 74,000 in five years. MR. V. LORBT has discovered in Upper Egypt, near Thebes, the tomb of the great King Uerman Emperor ascribes his good health and vigour to the excellent advice given to him by his favourite doctor, and he has learned by heart the iatter's rule of life," which is as follows Eat fruit for breakfast. Eat fruit for lunch. Avoid pastry Jond hot cakes. Take potatoes only once a day. Do not take tea or coffee. Walk four miles every day, Act or fine. Take a bath every day. Wash the Pace every night in warm water. Sleep eight hours 3very night. BALMORAL VASTLB is a comparatively Bmall ana gloomy-looking residence, but commands fine and ex* tensive views over Deeside. The rooms, with the ex- ception of the ball-room, are somewhat small and very low. The house is upholstered with tartan, the chairs and sofas in the Queen's own drawing-room being covered with silk tartan of a pattern somewhat resembling the Royal Stuart, called the Balmoral tartan, which was invented and designed by the late Prince Consort. The carpet and curtains correspond. There are other genuina Scottish tartans in different Darts of the house. 1'" t ,;(.

A CURIOUS COURTSHIP. Willie Barlow flattered himself he had passed the time of indiscriminate susceptibility to the charms of female beauty. It was, of course, rather foolish of him, for he was only 30; but even famous sportsmen have their vein of folly. That's a pretty girl," he had remarked quite casually to Mr. Sampson Tillett ere they were out of eight of New York on board the Narcissus. Mr. Sampson Tillett's eyes had thereupon glittered with what Willie Barlow supposed was paternal pride as he answered, You flatter me, sir. That's my own child, and I've been informed on various occasions that Florida takes after her father. Her poor mother—rest be to her soul!—lies at anchor in Greenwood Cemetery." Willie Barlow hereupon said merely, Oh, indeed, I'd no idea. One ought to be more careful, but—er —the fact is, I've been knocking about with my guns for the last year or more, and conventional cau- tions and that sort of thing have, I suppose, got loose on me." This said, he would have moved to another part of the ship. But Mr. Tillett was civil enough to wish to make friends with him. I beg you will offer no apologies, Barlow," put in Willie, as the pause seemed to require recognition. Mr. Barlow, thank you. I've cousins of that designation somewhere in Britain. Not that I claim the pleasure of relationship, Mr. Barlow. I've come to the time of life when a man perceives that friend- ship is heaven's best gift, and the mere accidents of consanguinity are often not worth a Mr. Barlow, I desire the pleasure of a cocktail with you, or any similar fluid." This speech amused Willie. Also, the pretty girl had turned her face fully in their direction, and he was impressed very remarkably indeed. There was a look in her eyes that appealed to him strangely. He had the strong man's peculiar sympathy with the weak, and, unless he ,was much mistaken, this girl Florida was not happy, in spite of her beauty of face and figure. Delighted, I'm sure," he said, and they withdrew downstairs. Mr. Tillett now seemed to lay himself out to be agreeable, rior was he by any means so objectionable as Willie had at first fancied. Even his old-fashioned warnings were at least well meant. I don't know anything about you," he said, but I hope you'll excuse me if I take the privilege of an oldish man and advise you not to go playing cards with fellows in the smoking-room." I fancy I'm not green enough for that," Willie replied, much as I enjoy a quiet game at 6carte, or a safe game at poker." Ecarte, Mr. Barlow! Well, really now, and that's a curious circumstance," exclaimed the Ameri- can. "Ecarte has been one of my innocent fascina- tions ever since I acquired a knowledge of the game from my aged grandfather. My venerable relation, sir, was more, addicted to ecarte even than to his prayers. He taught me all I know on that subject. At the Magpie Club, of which you may have heard, there has been seen but one man who could rival me (or skill in the game—a passing stranger, one Lord Stancombe, who Willie started and looked at Mr. Tillett with new interest. "That's funny!" he exclaimed. "I've just been having a two-months' shoot in the Selkirks with Stancombe himself. He's gone on to Japan now. And, by George! you're right about it; there's nc licking Stancombe at that pastime." "Bless me I What coincidences the Almighty does arrange for us weak mortals I" exclaimed Mr. Tillett on his part. "Who'd have supposed—but that's the luncheon belL I hope, air, we may enjoy much conversation ere the voyage ends." A moment or two later, Willie Barlow met Florida in the gangway. He could not help blushing slightly as he stood aside. The little bow she gave him was all that the circumstance demanded, but there was a sad little smile as well. He thought of that smile while brushing his hair in his cabin. For the next hour he thought of little else, as he sat with his elbow almost touching Florida herself at table. "Coincidence again, Mr. Barlow," Mr. Tillett had jaid gaily, when it appeared that his daughter was placed between him and Lord Stancombe s friend. This, sir, is my little girl Florida—Florida Tillett. Mr. Barlow, Florida, my dear." There was a full list of passengers. The introduc- tion was effected quietly enough. Miss Florida was by no means so demonstrative as her sire, but every glance of her pathetic grey eyes went deeper and deeper home to Willie Barlow's heart. Her manners seemed perfect. And yet When the meal was over, Willie moved the girl's chair for her, and more than ever conscious of her charm, could not help marvelling how such a daughter could proceed from such a father. I'm going to indulge in a nap, Mr. Barlow," Mr. Tillett said. Florida's got two deck chairs up above, and I beg you will make use of the spare one. She's accustomed to cigar smoke." It took Willie Barlow several minutes to act on this suggestion, and when he did so he did it rather timidly. "Your father, Miss Tillett," he murmured, seemed to wish me to air this chair for him." Oh, please," said she, if you feel like it." This was the beginning of a most irritating yet delightful afternoon. The girl's face—especially her eyes—bewitched him. but he could get nothing approaching to intimate conversation from her. When at length Mr. Tillett appeared, with a rubicund pair of cheeks and a cordial Well, sir, I don't want to trespass, I'm sure, if you feel pretty comfortable," Willie Barlow rose a disturbed and love-stricken man. He was particularly disturbed by the remembrance of the look which Miss Florida had cast at her parent when this gentleman approached them. It was not a filial look at least, not a fond filial look. And yet, even this, when he reflected about it, did but tend to increase his interest in her. Mr. Tillett was not one of the common herd of travellers on the herring pond." He did not mix with the crowd. A bad lot, sir," he termed the rest of their male fellow-passengers, speaking, of course, generally. The purser and Willie Barlow were, indeed, the only persons besides his daughter with whom he cared to associate. On the second day of the voyage it rained, and Mr. Tillett mentioned ecarte at breakfast. It's just as you like, Mr. Barlow," he said, but if you happen to feel middling bored, I'll be charmed to show you that I could stir even Lord Stancombe's faculties as an ecarte-player. Mr. Rogerson (the purser) places his cabin at my disposal. At cards one can't be too quiet." Oh, all right," replied Willie Barlow. He would rather have sat a little with Miss Florida, even though she didn't say much of importance. Florida will join us, sir," added Mr. Tillett, as if be divined his thoughts. Mr. Rogerson brings his wife with him now and again, and his apartment is well suited for a lady." They played ecarte till nearly lunch-time, for mode- rate stakes, while Florida read a novel. Periodically the girl looked up and smiled at Willie Barlow, who was not so engrossed in the game that he failed to notice she did not turn a page for about half an hour. "Now then, you two, get some fresh air," said Mr. Tillett amiably, about half an hour before the bell hour. H It's queer to me," Willie Barlow remarked to Miss Florida on deck, "to submit to any man's orders, but your father's I don't mind, under the circumstances." No ?" said she, with an anxious little peep up at him. Did you lose much just now?" Ton my word, I don't know," he laughed. The afternoon was devoted by Mr. Tillett to slumier as before, Sand by Willie to a confirmation of his belief that he might, if he would, fall fast in love once more. And yet the girl did not help him much with her tongue. Quite the contrary, indeed. Mr. Barlow," she said on deck after dinner, when he had asked her to take his arm for a prome- nade, "I'd rather not, though I thank you from my heart." "Good gracious, Miss Tillett, what does that mean he asked. Only that-as you perhaps know by this time— IookB are deceptive. I am not worthy to take your arm, Mr. Barlow, and that's the truth/ They were at the rails, apart from, the rest, when ahe said this. Do you believe me," she added j when' he could do nothing but stare for reply. Not I," he answered promptly. "Thankyou," said she, "and good-night." The third and fourth days of the voyage did not explain this enigma to Willie Barlow. Never did girl 1eø& encourage a man;" he told himself, and yet surely no man could read more flattering thoughts in a girl's eyes. He and Mr. Tillett played ecarto regularly now in the mornings. Willie Barlow was quite aware that the stakes were as high as was prudent, but really he • didn't care if he did lose to the obliging parent of so enchanting a girl. It was pure luck the old chap' turning up king so often. "Come, now, Mr. Barlow," said Mr: Tillett the fifth and last available morning for cards, "you're a bit to the bad I expect. Wéll play five hundred the game if you like." Willie Barlow made a face. He noticed that Mr. Tillett's own face was very red, considering the earlJl hour, and that hi. 8J8 were bloodshot. Feather- 'J more. he smelt liquor. He had even presumed to think of addressing Florida's parent on the subject, —of course, in the jocular strain: Is it worth while injuring one's liver, &c?" But his thoughts and actions often disagreed. As you please," he said, though I'd better look in my purse first," he added. Stop, Mr. Barlow," of a sudden exclaimed Miss Florida. I cannot bear it any longer, That man is a cheat. He has fleeced you all along and-" Miss Tillett!" cried "Willie Barlow, rising. You little liar cried Mr. Tillett himself, with his eyes, as it seemed, balanced on their lower lids. What the—who the The poor gentleman could say no more. He stag- gered with his flame-red face to the door of the cabin, and along the corridor. Mr. Barlow, come with me for a moment or two, please," said Miss Florida. On deck she told her tale. I am his niece," she said, and he has twice already traded on my poverty and helplessness, for I have no other relations. I know it now, for I saw him use cards that were not on the table. He has made a decoy of me—oh, the vileness of it! But at least''—(she paused)—"—at least I have intervened in time in your case." Miss Florida gasped Willie Barlow, more in love than ever, for her face still spoke more than her tongue. Good-bye," she whipered, and glided away, with rosy cheeks. The next item of news was for the cabin passengers as a whole. Mr. Tillett had been seized with an apo- pletic stroke, from which he seemed to have no chance of recovery. In fact, he died after dinner. That evening Willie Barlow smoked several cigars in hot succession as he paced the deck. He paced the deck off and on until midnight; nor did he retire then until he had sent his card with a line on it to Miss Florida. In the morning they were off the Welsh coast. Willie Barlow had slept little that night, and he was now determined to see Mr. Tillett's niece. To his surprise, she assented, but when he held her hand, she tried to withdraw it. Don't make it harder for me, Mr. Barlow," she said almost pleadingly. No," said he, I'll not. But also, I'll not let you go till you give me the right to take all this trouble off your hands. My dear, I want you, and you mustn't mind if I'm rough on the conventions in say- ing so at such a time. I know quite well that you love me. and I'll stand all risks." All ?" said she. All," he repeated. She tried once more to escape, then stooped and kissed the hand that held her. Five minutes later Willie Barlow approached the captain. About Ir. Tillett's body he began, and he explained to Captain Summers that he was in a posi tion to discuss the matter.

NEW SHIPS FOR THE NAVY. Contracts for four new first-class cruisers of the Cressy type have been placed by the Admiralty with the Clydebank Shipbuilding Company, and Messrs. Scott and Co.. Greenock, the Fairfield Company, Glasgow, and Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, Barrow. These vessels are of an entirely new type. They are the first armoured cruisers to be built since the Australia class was ordered 10 years ago. but they will resemble in many characteristics the Powerful and Diadem classes. They will embody the best features of each, with the addition of an armour belt of considerable area. In dimensions they will be more like the Diadem, being 440ft. long between perpendiculars, 69ft. 6in. beam, as com- pared with 500ft. by 71ft. in the case of the Powerful and 435ft.. and 69ft. in the case of the Diadem. The draught will be 26ft. 3in., and the displacement 12,000 tons. The broadside armour is to consist of a 6in. belt lift. 6in. deep, to extend oft. below the water-line, 6ft. 6in. above it, and for a length of 230ft., terminating 120ft. from the bow and 90ft. from the stern, in thwartship bulkheads which are 5in. thick. The main armament will resemble that of the Powerful rather than the Diadem. The latter has two 6in. 7-ton guns on the forecastle, with shields, and two of the same calibre on the upper deck firing aft, but, like the Powerful, the Cressy class will have instead a 9'2in. 22-ton gun firing ahead, and one firing astern but with this important difference, that in the Cressy the weapons will be mounted in barbettes with 6in. armour, the guns, as formerly, being protected by shields. Again, four 6in. guns, firing 1001b. shot, are arranged in casemates to fire ahead, in line with the keel, and four to fire astern, and these also can Breon the broadside at almost any angle. There are also four guns amidships on the main deck, two on either side. while, in addition, 12 12-pounders and a large number of machine guns are to be carried. In the arrangement of boilers the Cressy cruisers resemble the Diadem rather than the Powerful. This is the result of the smaller dimensions. In the Cressy class the four boiler compartments take up 130ft. of the length of the ship, as against 132ft. in the Diadem and 186ft. in the Powerful; but there is not much difference in the size of the engine-room. The coal bunkers are arranged on either side of the boiler-rooms, under and over the protective deck, and, as in all ships now built, an ammuni- tion passage is arranged immediately under the protective deck. There is to be a thwartship bunker right forward. There will be 30 boilers of the Belleville type fitted with economisers, as in all later ships—an arrangement which afforded a great saving of fuel in the Diadem. In the forward boiler-room there will be six generators, and in the three other boiler-rooms eight apiece. The boilers have been designed with the same liberal steam-making surfaces as in the Diadem class, so that no difficulty will be experienced in obtaining the full power—and even a little more, should it be of any utility—and, at the same time, a higher power is obtained per ton ,of machinery than could have been realised with the ordinary boilers. The working pressure will be 3001b. per square inch, reduced to 2501b. at the engines. rhe latter have been arranged to give 21,000 indicated horse power, and the cylinders will be of' :he following diameters One high-pressure of 36in., An intermediate of 59in., and two low-pressures, each of 68in.; while the stroke will be 48in. At full power the engines will make 120 revolutions, so that, except that they are a little larger, they resemble closely those of the Diadem and Ariadne classes, which were designed to develop 18,000 indicated horse-power. The speed of the new cruisers is to be 21 knots, which should easily be realised. Th. vessels will have four funnels and two masts, with a top on each for carrying search-lights (but no guns), and with the usual semaphores. There will be the same arrangement of decks in all three classes. The engining of the three battleships of the For- midable class now building has been undertaken by Earle's Shipbuilding Company, Hull, the Fairfield Company, Govan, and Messrs. Maudslay, Sons, and Field, London. Theengines will be of the triple expan- sion type, with only three cylinders, as in the case of all recent British battleships, although cruisers are usually provided with four. The cylin- ders will be 31jin. in the case of the high-pressure, in the intermediate, and 84in. in the case of the low-pressure, and in. each the stroke will be 51in. There will be the usual two sets, each driving its separate screw, andl the collective power will be 15,000 indicated horse: power/with the engines making 108 revolutions, which is equal to a piston speed of 918ft. per minute, the same as in the Canopus class, where, however,; the power is less, 13,500 indicated horse power steam is to be supplied from 20 Belleville boilers with economisers. The speed realised-on trial with 15,000 indicated horse power is expected to be about 18 knots. The ships have a displacement of 15,000 tons, of which 9980 tons is due to the hull,; including the extensive broadside armour of 6in. thickness. This is of specially-hardened nickel steel. The Formidable class is rather larger than any pre- vious type of British battleship, the length being 400ft., the beam 15ft., and the draught 26ft. 9in.. The Formidable has just been laid down at Ports- mouth. The Irresistible will be commenced on the berth just vacated by the Goliath, at Chatham, and the Implacable is being prepared to be laid down on the berth which the Ocean will vacate in a few weeks, at Devonport. This is the reason why £65,000 less has been voted for her than the other two.

AT the present moment there aro 158 distilleries at work in Scotland, many of which are, it is said, scarcely able to keep pace with the orders of their customers. Two years ago the number was 132, and these manufactured 22,250,000 gallons of spirits in the 12 months. Last year the output of the whole of the Scottish distilleries was 28,500,000 gallons, or close on 30 per cent. increase; while in England the increase was- 10 per cent., and in Ireland 13 per cent. THERE is a woman living in the State of Georgia, in America, who has 235 living children, grand- children, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grand- children. In addition to these, 75 of her descen- dants are dead, bringing up the grand total to 310. The old lady's name is Sallie Shiver. She is 00 years old, and makes a point of visiting all her descendants- in regular- order. She seldom stays very long with any one family, and it takes her about two years Uncom- plete the round. The 235th living descendant made its appearance a few weeks ago, and Mrs. Shiver complains that if many more are coming she will not be able to continue hu bieaoial vittUu. c Y

THE GREAT GALE. TRAINING BRIG SMASHES A PIER. For the third successive day the great storm raget round our coasts on Saturday, causing infinite damage at many points, and imperilling huiMrecls 01 lives. The rocket apparatus and the lifeboats effected brave service to the distressed mariners whose vessels were driven on to rocks or were wrecked in sight of land. An exciting scene was witnessed at the entrance to Lowes- toft harbour on Sunday afternoon shortly after one o'clock. The Belgian training ship Ville de Anvers, a frequent visitor to Lowestoft, was seen steaming towards the port. The weather the time was of the dirtiest possible descrip- tion. There was a stiff breeze and a nasty sea was running. The vessel had just got abreast oi South Pier when a huge wave caught her and hashed her alongside. Then she rebounded and crashed stem first into the p;er head, splintering massive plies and timber work like matchwood. The bows remained firmly wedged in tlie huge gap, and it was feared that she would be driven ashore. How- ever, she gradually drew astern, nnd shortly niter- wards steamed slowly into harbour. Beyond bein" somewhat battered on the bows the vessel is not damaged. DISASTERS ON THE NORFOLK COAST. The Norfolk coast was in the early hours of Sun- o day morning the scene of three shipping disasters is consequence of the continued gale. The vessels were all Norwegian sailing ships, and formed part of tho Fredrickstad spring fleet. The brig Hilda which was bound for Portsmouth with wood, was driver ashore at Palling, and the vessel has sinct become a total wreck, the crew remaining on board until low water and then wading ashore The barque Sored-teren bound to Harwich from Fredrikstad with a cargo of boards struck on th beach at Mundesley and becoming a wreck, the crew were rescued and oonveyed to an hotel. The Nor- wegian barque Ebenezer bound to Liverpool went ashore at Bacton, and the crew saved themselves Reports are also anxiously awaited from the traw] fleet of 200 sail, which are exposed to the full forct of the gale on the Dogger Bank, North Sea. SCENES AT BRIDLINGTON. Exciting scenes have been witnessed at Bridlington Shortly after four o'clock on Saturday the yaw? Alpha was seen making for harbour. The captain managed to get the head into the mouth of thr harbour, and then the vessel was taken in tow by a cobble. When it was clear that the vessel and crew had been saved, the thousands of onlookers cheered heartily. The large Glasgow ship Thistlebank was driven ashore between Easington and Spurn. Assistance was ren- dered, and she was dislodged and got into the Humber. Along the South llolderness coast a large amount of wreckage went ashore. On Saturday night the brigantine Lucinda, 50 tons. in ballast, bound from Littlehampton to Sunderland, went ashore opposite the New Spa. The Volunteer life- boat company commenced the work of rescue, and by means of the rocket apparatus the crew of seven, including Captain Wilinks, were landed.

LIVING ANIMALS IN THE POST. We know from the Postmaster-General's annual reports that living animals are frequently sent by post. Among these have been specified snakes, rats, frogs, and a kitten provided with a feeding bottle with tube attached. Now the suffering which trans- mission through the Parcels Post entails upon the poor creatures committed to the Post Office can scarcely be appreciated by those who are ignorant of the exact workings of that great department of the State. Let us (says a writer in Mature Xutcs) draw aside for a moment the veil which divides the official from the unofficial world. We will suppose that a parcel of frogs is handed jn at a post-cmce, say in tho vicinity of Great Andrew-street. The parcel is neatly packed in a small box, with no indi- cation upon it as to the name of the sender, or as to the nature of its contents. It is placed among other parcels, with no regard, necessarily, to which side is uppermost, so that the frogs may be just as likoiy upon their backs as upon their legs, and probably packed in such a. way that it is impossible for them to right themselves; there they await the collecting van as it goes its round to the various offices in the district. The parcel, unless it be marked fragile,' is counted with others into a bag or sack, and it may be placed in any conceivable position or place in the sack. The sackful finds its way into the van, either by being lifted carefully thereinto, or by being swung upwards with a one, two, three," like a carcase oi butcher's meat. The parcels marked fragile are carefully eliminated in the counting process, and if the frogs-be-so marked they-escape the trial of the sack, and the sole discomfort they would then have to sustain is a series of minute jars in the handling, since they would be packed separately and not inside the sack. Thus their first stage of transport is com- i pleted, and they arrive at one of the parcel depots Here they are de-carted, in much the same way as they were carted, and if "fragile" are carefully stacked, heads or tails uppermost, and if unmarked 1n any way, are probably emptied out upon the flooi to undergo the process of sorting. After a series of gyrations they finally come to rest, and when sorted again packed in a locked hamper destined for thf "Jad office of the district in which the consignee resides. If for Oxford and a few other places the frogs would have the benefit of a journey by coach. if for a town not served by coach, they would have a more merciful journey by rail. The frogs would probably require a few days' rest in which to recover their normal spirits. All this, of course, only supposing the parcel in which they are packed does not come to pieces en route. Sometimes, however, the packing falls to pieces, and then, of course, the surreptitiously- packed creatures are exposed to view. The despatch of living creatures by this means is wrong and is utterly indefensible. Many an exciting chase has taken place in a post-office for some innocent un- offending frog or lizard. At other times more deadly animals have been discovered, and have had to be disposed of scorpions from the scorching Slains of Egypt have at times been met with. A ox containing pigeons was once returned to the sender, after some delay in obtaining his address. Mice are not at all unusual pas- sengers by her Majesty's mails, but for the sake of the safety of her Majesty's humble and dutiful Post Office officials, it is practically pleasing to learn that only one consignment of 500 leeches has, at present, been discovered on its journey through the Parcels Post. When a consignment of living animals is discovered en route, the delay in obtaining the address of the consigners and in returning it to them, adds still more to the cruelty of the practice, and only when the animals happen to pass through the hands of a more tender-hearted official than usual is it likely that they will obtain any kind of nourish- ment beyond sawdust and carbolic acid. It may be within the recollection of some that a lizard was discovered in the process of passing through the Post Office at the Guildhall, on the occasion of the Jubilee festivities 10 years ago. The ridiculous action of the sender was, however, surpassed by that of presumably one of the sorters, who, being under the impression that water was its native element, placed the poor creature in a jar of water in full view of the public. But what is the regulation of the Post Office on the matter ? No living creature, nor anything likely to injure any officer of the Post Office, may be sent by post at all. If it bo tendered at a post-office it is refused, or if detected in transit it is detained. The contents are liable to be dealt with in such manner as the Postmaster-General may direct, and the sender is liable to prosecution by the depart- ment. If it be distinctly understood that the Benders are liable to prosecution, and if the regula- tion be enforced with due severity, the cruel prac- tice of sending living creatures by post will perhapi be stopped.

YARMOUTH HERRINGS FOR VENICE. In the Consular report from Venice which is issued by the Foreign Office it appears that Yarmouth does a steady trade with Venice in herrings—apparently in what is known as the fresh variety, since Mr. Zuccato, the British representative, takes pains to make clear that smoked haddocks and herrings are unknown in these provinces." The fresh herrings are sent from Yarmouth to Venice in barrels of about 72 kilos. (weight about 1601b.). The average total importation is about 12,000 barrels a year, and it commences in October and ends in February. The price at the end of 1897 was about 33 lire (£1 6s. 8d.) per barrel, including duty, but prices fluctuate. The duty is 5f. gold per 100 kilos, gross weight. The Consul says that no accommodation is available in this port for oold storage of such goods until they are disposed of, and, consequently, if they remain unsold when the season is over the merchants suffer a heavy loss." If Venice were enterprising and provided those facilities for cold storage which are now wanting, it is probable that merchants would take larger con- aignments, and the trade expand.

THE puppet show is such an ancient institution ind has been popular in so many countries that its Drigiu is obscured by the mists of antiquity. Some intiquaries, however, discern a connection between "he puppet show and religious observances. They, have established the fact that dolls and marionettes- are closely related, and even advance the theory that the shadow puppets used in many lands, denote a time when all the people saw of religious ceremonies were the shadows of the officiating oyiestf cast upotv the walls of the atend tent* J I r ;c m i -c. -i> • I' "I'

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