The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

Looking at pictures is an easy mode of think- mg. It seems to me that a hen that lays two eggs a day must neglect some of her other duties. Jealous people love themselves more than they do those whom they torture with their jealousy. • The difference between genius and talent is that the former is a perpetual, never-failing spring the latter is merely a cistern that has to hu filled up from time to time. Three shocks ot earthquake nave ueen reit at Somerville. A slight shock has also occurred u. Oharks i on. ,A fall of roof to>k place, the other day at Ship)ev. Cofti^ry, near Ilkeston, fettipg loose a quantity off which .exploded andburet four men who w|?e working near with naked lights. Two of the men were injured ba lly. ( The tiv« prisoners who are in custody charged with shooting a man named Moran, near Newport, have been brought up at Castlebar, and again re- I manded. Aforan is not expected to recover. I It is, understood that Councillor Osier will be nominated for the presidency of the BJriiiillgllLill Liberal Association in succession to Mr. Schnad- horst, and that lie will accept the appointment. I It is said to be in collie to confer the honorary k>eodom of the City of London On Mr. II.. M. Stanley, the explorer. A motion to this effect will be brought forward at the next meeting of the Common Council. Far having damaged a poplar tree, the property of Mr. Alfred Miller, of Mount House, Trenton, Birkenhead, to the extent of i.1, by chopping it with an axe, Henry Ledsham, a la who lives at Oxton, has been fined Is. and s. ,d.*cosLs, aad IUs. for the damage done. A inelanchoiy case has just come before the Spalding Hoard of tiuardians, an aged man, named Craven,, applying for relief. He was formerly, muster of the Spalding Workhouse for ft period- of 30 years, hut upon retiring was hot allowed a pen- sion. He has been compelled to apply for relief, and the Cuardians granted him ."os. per week. At Torquay, a "captain," a "lieutenant," and a of the Salvation Ariny, have been sentenced to a month's imprisonment without, hard labour, in default of paying a di.e of A:-) e-tcla for an infringement of the Torquay District Act by parad- i, ig Oil Sunday with music. It was stated that the defendants had giv ;n a guarantee not to violate the law, but had not fulfilled it. •The ltev. Win. B. D., the Dorset poet and rector of Winterborne Came, near Dorchester, died the other afternoon at. the age of 8U years, lie was the author of numerous works in the Dorset dialect, and, also of a standard book oil '•English Speech- Cra t. Mr. Barnes was an archaeologist and mem- ber of several scientific societies. The other day an alarming riot Droke out between .English and French fishermen at Ramsgate, '100 of of the former and 120 of the latter being, said to have been engaged in the melee. Several of bottt nationalities sustained wounds, and ultimately thtt French fleet put out to sea. The wife of William Burls, at Hoblongs, has gi. veil birth to three living ciiildrati-otie boy and two girls. One of the girls was born a few hours be- fore the other and the boy. Both mother and children are doing well. The new block of buildings for the accommodation of 200 more convicts at the Dover prison is now nearly completed. There is no prospect of an im. mediate commencement of the harbour works being niaite, the labour of the convicts at present being confined to the buildings within the walls. An inquest has been held at Gravesend on the body of James Duncan Miller, aged 57 years, who died at his residence, 149, Parlock- street, from the effects of in uries received on the 2!)th ult. while engaged in unloading a ship at Tilbury Docks, a bait: of goods failing upon him in the hold of the vessel. Verdict, accidental death. An inquest has been held at Willingham by Dr. Mitchiuson, the county coroner, on the body of a wagoner named Tom Smith. Deceased, with two other wagoners, went with a team to Stow Station, and on the way they consumed 11 quarts of beer and three glasses of whisky. In returning one of the teams rtiitwity, and deceased was knocked down and killed. Verdict, accidental death. A telegram has been received from the Com- mander-in-chief on the North American Station re- porting that from authentic information to hand the alleged distress in Labrador was much exagge- rated, that the Dominion Government had., taken action by sending a steamer to the coasts of New- foundland and Labrabor, and that the distress had been relieved. riulip Broen, of no fixed residence, seventeen years of age, and designated as a scaler," although the police allege he is a cornerman, has been found guilty of haw I stolen a quantity of men's wearing apparel from o i board the steamship Baltimore, in the Alexandra Dock, on the 28tti nil., and as lie had been several times convicted, he was,seut to prisou for two months. A verdict of manslaughter has been returned by a coroner's jury at Beachampton, near Buckingham, in the case of Charles lieynolds, who was killed, by being thrown out of a cart. It appeared a bet had been made between a chimney-sweep and a man named Thomas Smith, on a pony and cart race. Smith gave Reynold's a ride in his cart, whicii was overturned in the race, and Reynolds was killed. The tru-Ue^s of the Aberdare Friendly Societies who had extensive deposits in the Cardiff Savings Bank have met at Aherdare, and after discussion it was resolved to take throe test cases before the Registrar uf Friendly Societies, with the view of recovering the whole of the deposits, the offer of 17*8. (id. in the pound being considered unfair. Mr. Clarke Aspiuall, the Liverpool city coroner, liel(I itil inquest on the body of Cathefine Connor, aged two years, whose parents reside at 2, Back Bond-street. The child got scalded with sotne broth which was on the table, the child having pulled over the vassel containing the broth, and it died from the effects of the scald. The jury returned a ver. diet of Accidental death." ,A Bradford correspondent telegraphs that Hetty Robinson, aged sixty-six years, and Edith Aun Hirst, aged twenty-one years, mother and daughter, have been found drowned in the canal at Windhill, near Bradford. The younger woman, who was'. married only three weeks ago, left a note for her husband stating that as she was unable to make him happy she and her mother had resolved on suicide. The other morning the steamer Tolka, laden with coals, ran into the schooner Robert Brown, of Newry, at anchor in Belfast Laugh. The force of the collision was so great that the schooner was cut in two, and sank in mid-channel in the way of in- coming vessels. The crew had a narrow escape- all but the man on watch being in bed at the mo- ment of the collision. All, however, were rescued by the Tolka but the captain was slightly injured by a oplintee. At the Mars Hotel, Chester, the other day, Mr. J. Tatlock held an inquest on the body of Ann Sweeney, seventy-three years of age WHO had re- Bided at Steam Mill-street. It was deposed that deceased had had "some words" with a neighbour named Mary Keely. On- her htwband going intc the house shortly afterwards he found deceased lying on the floor. She died in a few seconds after- wards. The jury fouud a verdict of "Death from natural causes." natural causes." .I At the Bristol Police-court, three colliers, named Samuel and William Garland and George Sampson,, have been charged with assaulting John YVoffenden. Complainant was a witness at the inquest on the .men killed in the Dean-laiie Colliery explosion, and although his evidence was borne out by the scienti- fie witnesses examined, it appeared to give llis- satisfaction to some of the men employed at the I colliery. He had been threatened, and subse- quently he was violently assaulted at a public-house. Sampson admitted the offence and was fined £ 2 and I Cosis, or a month's hard labour. The two Garlands Were discharged. It has been reported to the magistrate at the Worship-street J'olice-coUrt thftt a lad named Thomas Kyan, who had been charged with having stolen a watch, and had been remanded to the Shoreditch Workhouse, had escaped from that place during the week. The robbery seemed to have during the week. The robbery seemed to have been a very daring one, although the boy was said to be only 14 years of age. His escape from the work- house was also of a daring character, as it was stated that he had scaled a high wall in the daytime, abutting upon it Ailtiell. frequeti ted thoroughfare. Mr. Hosack thought that the matter required ex- planation from the workhouse authorities, but the only tilillg to be done was for the police to en- deavour to re-a jipre lie nd.the boy. Mr. Richard Benyon, of linglofleld House, near Reading, who represented Berktshire in Parliament for many years in the Conservative interest, and who is a large landowner in Berks and the adjoining couuiyt of linuts, flis generous y granted his tenants an abatement of 00 per cent, on 'their rentals for the past year. At the Manchester County Police-court a rough- looking Scotchman, named Howie, has been charged with a violent assault on a man trained (lines. Both men weW afrested ou'a charge pf drunkenness, and were locked up In the* saine cell Thero they quarrelled and fought. The Bruggle ended with Howie knocking Hines down. rle then fell upon him and, attacking him with Ins teeth, bit off the greater portion of his lower lip. He was senteucec to a month's imprisonment.

I AMERICAN STORIES, c "BT GUM!" The "Iboitt wai just custiug off from ifie pier vher. a man$(1 Citizen's Rothes who appeared to bt greatly excited rushed up the gang-plank and shouted to 'the captain to wait Three or fout minutes later it was understood that a d.-speritt( a robber was on board, and that the excited man wit"- his victim. None of us remembered of seeing "s ragged, desperate-looking chap" coin* aboard, bUt the mau was Mire of it, and began a soaieh Nob- ti y wanted' a robber and |!e»perado aboard, anl the search went on with a wilt After about n-init-.i the man who had rushed ab t ':t'r*d shuns < t exultation. Ife bad discowier t.H» «rcJi vilUia .Jriddjyi under twine tMrtnhtfu on t.I, i,)vrer deck mid 'the mate produced a revolver ml order-id the iei- low to come out or take the consequences. Be prepared-took out for ItJml cautioned the excited individual, and three or four more pistos came into view, and others secured b.lt9 and bar. The desperado came forth. He was a boy of 1; ragged, dirty and frightened. He had some- thing wrapped up in a newspaper, but lie had no weapons. "He's the one who robbed me—there's his plun- der I" shouted the victim, and three or four men closed in on the lad. 'J^ia package was taken from him and opened. We expected to see bonds or money or jewellery, but instead of tiiat our eyes rested oil a half-eaten loatt of bread. I listil ii't nit.v tliiitg to eat for two days I said the boy as he looked from face to face, and his big biue eyes filled with telrs and his chin quivered. "He's a robber and 111 send him to State Prison exclainle(i the man, as he seized the boy by the col- lar. "By guiut growled a voice from tlie gang-way, and a fat, red-faced man, who had armed himself with a heavy stick, threw it dciwu with a crash and pushed into the crowd and asked: "Boy, who are you? "Tiiii IViiiittiis." "Where's Y(,ur liotiie? "N-nowhere "Did rob this man of that loaf of bread ? Y-yes, sir, but I was starving." "Oh! you young villain, I'll Stop Jour thieving and robbing! shouted the loser of the bread. U Someone help me get him ashore I By gum ? said the fat man, as he felt in his pockets. He fished up a nickel, handed it to the baker, and continued "By gum! I giiess not I There's your money, and I stand by the boy I Yes, sir—by gum, sir! ,,He's a tli ie f I Can't help that, sir! He's a boy, and ho was hungry and had no other means to get bread. I'm his friend, sir-by gum, sirl Anybody who litys a hand on that boy has got to climb over ine-by gum!" Fifty men cheered the fat man and groaned tho baker, and the latter gripped his nickel and walked ashore. "Captain," said the fat man, "give this boy a chance to wash up, aml111 hunt him up some clothes. I'm goiii, to give him a sllow, sir-by gum, sir! I was kicked and cuffed and stepped on myself when 1 was a boy, and I can feel for this chap, sir —by gUlli, sir, yes, sir, and I'll probably take him home with me. Come, Tim—by gum—but there's nothing desperate about you, and have a talk and see how we can better your fortunes. Yes, sir —by gum sir." And as the boat moved away everybody gave three cheers for 11 By. U uta I and Tim.

A CONFUSING MESSAGE. The Cleveland (U.S.) police lately took up a prominent citizen in a sad state of mental aberra- tion, and, after restoring him, learned that he prob- ably lost his milia in trying to remember and de- liver the parting message of his wife, who, on bid- ding him good-bye in the morning, tokl him to 'gl, to the dressmaker and tell her that she (the wifo: had changed her mind, and would have the watered silk made up instead of the poplin; and be sure and tell her," said the wife, "that if she thinks it would look better with ten bias flounces without putling, and box-plaiting below the equator, which should be gathered in hemstitched gudgeons up anc down the seams, with gusset-stitch between, she can make it up in that way, instead of fluting the bobinett insertion and piercing' out with point-ap- plique', as I suggested yesterday."

DOING AND DONE IN A MgRICA. There is a sheriff in Illinois who was rather taken in, on one occasion, IUld done for. ite made it a prominent part of his business to ferret out and punish pedlars for travelling through the State with. out a licence; but one morning lie met his match— a ginooine Yankee pedlar. "What have you got to sell?—anything?" asked tjie aliorit. Yaes, sartain wlint'd ye like to her? Got razors, fust rate that's an article, 'squire, that you want, tew, I shall say, by the lookso'your baird. Got good bi ackiix'; 'twill make them old cowhide boots o' your shine so't you can shave into'em. Balm o' Klumby. tew; only a dollar a bottle good for the ha'r, 1111.1 assistin' poor human natur', as the poet says." The sheriff bought a bottle of the Balm of Columbia. and in reply to the question whether lie wanted anything else, that functionary said lie did lie wanted to see the Yankee's licence for peddling in llliuois, that being his duty as the high sheriff of the &tate. The pedlar showed him a document "fixed up good-iii black and white," which the officer pronounced all correct; and handing it back to the pedlar, he added, "I don't kno^rtow that I've bought this stuff, that I dare anything about it. I reckon I may as well sell it to you again. What'll you give for it? Oh, I don't know as the stuff's of any use to me, but seein' it's yeou, sheriff, I'll give you about thirty- seveu and a half cents fur it," quietly responded the trader. The sheriti handed over the bottle and received the money, when the pedlar said, "I say, yeou, guess I've a question to ask yeou now. Hev yeou got a pedlar's licence about your trouse's? ''No; I haven't any use for the article myself," said the sheriff. ''Hain't, eh? Well, I guess we'll see about that pooty soon. Ef I understand the law, neow, it's a clear case that you've been tradin' and peddlin', Balm o' Klumby on the highway—I shall inform on yeou." Reach- ing the town the Yankee was as good as his word, and the hfgh sheriff was fined for peddling without a licence. He was heard afterwards to say, You might as wall thy to hold agruased eel as a live Yaukee."

NOT ALL RIGHT. A reporter called upon a prominent citizen and said; "I would like to interview you with regard to the strike." The prominent citizen frowned, reflected a mo- ment and replied: "No, air, no. It is a rule of my life never to be interviewed, but I don't mind telling you privately what I think." "All right" But mind, now, you must promise not to print a word I say nor au idea I advance." "I promise." The prominent citizen freely expressed himself. And the reporter after again promising that lie would make no note of the conversation, departed. Early next morning the prominent citizen seized the paper and eagerly looked for the interview. "What are you-looking for?" his wife asked. "Nothing," he replied as he threw down the paper. You can't place any confidence in those confounded reporters." "lias he priuted what you said?" "Na" "Then it's all right." "No, it's not all right. Do you reckon I want to talk two hours and then be treated with contempt ? He ought to have said I refused to be interviewed and then to have stated what I said. A reporter is a nuisance."

A Texas town was recently visited by a clergy- man for the first time in its history, and the iuhaoi- tants, wishing to do the handsome thing hyhiw, offered to get up a horse-race for his eiiteriainmenr. "The deceased," says a touching obituary notice in.a.Nova Scotia journal, "left as a legacy to his sorrowing friends, seven dollars in cash, one dog, three pigs, and ten children." .1 Says a Wisconsin editor:—"A young poetess sendB in a contribution entitled, 'Let us I.Ov,, We will do our best, but we have been married over four years now, and are a little out of practice." A citizen of Dakota took a Turkish bath in Omaha a few days ago, and died within an hour. The verdict of the jury was-" He hadn't ought u have got so much of the mud off him at one time.

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT rdESSON. The other night, about nine o'clock, two cousins samed John ltoach, a labourer f-SB), and Austin Sbea, were sitting together at 5, 'Allan-street, Pres., ton, the residence of the former, when Roach sud- denly jumped up, cried out "Jesus Christ is talking to me," and run out of house. Shea followed, but coulll not oven, him, and nothing more is known of him except tit" »» iix o'clock the toUow- ing morning a gas stoker «amed William Turner informed Police-constable Barnes that there was a man with his head and shoulders fast in a sewer grid in East-street. The constable went to the place and extiacated the man, who was rccogllJstd as Honch. and took him to the infirmary, where Dr. Travis declared that he had been deal several hours, and the ho ly was conveyed to the mortuary to await an inuu st. There were severat cuts on Roache's face and one at the b.ick of his head. Nothing is known its to how deceased came by his death, .but investigations are being made by the police. • t.

A GAMEKEEPER SHOT DEAD. Much consternation has been caused in Alytli, Perthshire, I y the news reaching the town that Mr. Wainwright, tenant of the mansion of Keith, near Blairgowrie, had accidentally killell his gamekeeper. From the meagre details to hand, it appears that Mr. Wainwright, who is a member of the Chancery Bar, London, and has the shooting of the fine es- tate of Keith, went ut in the forenoon, attended by Peter Gilruth, his head gamekeeper, to shoot oil the farm of Welton, a 111 tie below the village of Rattray. It is slated that \fr. Wainwright was in the act ol preparing to fire at a covey of partridges whicl: suddenly rose beside him, when his gun went off, and the contents lodged in the heart of his unfortu- nate attendant, who was standing near. Death was instantaneous. Dr. Lunan was sent for, and speedily arrived from Alytli, but his services wert of course of no avail. Deceased had been in tht service of Mr. Wainwright for many years in the shooting seasons, He was about oO years of age, and a man of superior mental ability. He leaves « widow and a numerous family.

THE RATING OF NURSERYMEN. Edwiu Beutley Ilayues, proprietor of the Penge Nurseries, has been summoned at Croydon, by the overseers for the hamlet of -Peiige, to show cause why a distress warrant should not*be issued against hini for the non-payment of X39 15s. tid. due for rates. The defendant contended that he had been over-charged, the Act of Parliament clearing stat- ing that nurserymen, florists, farmers, and occu- over-charged, the Act of l'arliamént clearing stat- ing that nurserymen, florists, farmers, and occu- piers of itral,le land should only he called upon to pay one-fourth of the rateable value. In this case the overeers had charged him one-fourth in respect I to his laud but they had demanded the full amount of the poor, lighting, and police rale for his house. He held that a nurseryman's house was quite as necessary for him to keep his stock iu as a cellar was to a publican. At Tottenham a case was fought, and the justices decided in favour of a florist who used his house for the purposes of his trade, He (the defendant) would be glad if tlie Bench Wuuld state a case, as he was determined to have the opinion of the court of Queen's Bench on the subject The chairman said they could notdo that. They must grant the warrant asked fer by Mr. Besley. Defendant: As the matter is to be fottgtit ont, will you kindly allow the warrant to stand over? Mr. Besley: If you reply you can take the matter to the House of Lords. The warrant asked for was then granted.

A MYSTERIOUS DROWNING CASE. Mr. Richard Preston, one of the deputy coroner* for Kent, held an inquest at the Mark Beech Schools, near llever, Kent, relative to the death of Lottie Spittles, 23 years of age a domestic servant living at Thornton-heath, near Croydon, who was found drowned in a pond. The evidence went to show that, the deceased had been to Hever, where alie had some friends, with her mistress, to spend the day. The party walked back to the Edenbridge railway station together, and the deceased was seen speaking to a lIIale cousin outside the station. The train then left without her. John Heaysman, the Cousin, was called, and said that after the train left his cou-in refused to go home by a later train, and said that t;he should go back to her auut's at llever and return home in the morning. On tile way she 1 said she did not care if she never weut home again, and would as soon commit suicide as not. Witness was with a friend named Worzell, and with the-de- ceaw&d they had six pints of beer between them. Wb&n they got to thd Bower Farm, llever, witness left them for a moment, and when lie returned he could neither see Worzell nor the deceased, and he never saw tlie latfer again. He was sorry to say that he told the constable a lie when he said he last saw her at Eden bridge railway station, as he wanted to screen Worzell. What he now said was true. tka the deceased's ear-ring had been torn out, and there were other suspicious circumstances in the case, the inquest was adourneù in order that a post-mortem examination might be malle.

AN AFFECTING SCENE. Frederick Taylor (52), an East India Company's pensioner, living 'at 21, May s-cottages, Burke- street, Canning Town, has been charged with at- tempting to commit suicide. At about half-past two o'clock on the afternoon of Aug. l. Police- constable ltix, 555 K was called to prisoner's liousu, and going into an upstairs room he saw the prisoner leaning against the wall and about to fall. Rix caught him, and then saw that Taylor was suffering from some severe scalp wounds. Dr. Burke was sent for, and a bed wrench, one end of which was covered with blood, was handed to the constable, and this was stated to have been used by the pri- soner, who beat himself with the sharp end of it. Later on the prisoner, on the advice of Dr. Burke, was removed to the Poplar Hospital, where he was detained for six weeks. -His wife and daughter now attended, and Mr. Phillips had a consultation witt: them, after which they returned into court and an affecting scene took place between the prisoner and his wife and daughter. Both the females grasped his hands in the dock, and the accused hinisell sobbed and hid his face in his halide. -Mr. Phillips said the prisoner was not yet well, and he would advise him to go to the workhouse infirmary for e time.-Prisoner said he would, and he was removed, the warrant officer being directed to allow his wife and daughter to go with him into the room at tilt back of the court.

THE SERIOUS DEFECTS IN A NEW GUN. VESSEL. The Sheerness Dockyard authorities and Mr. J. Bannister, engineer assistant to the Director 01 Dockyards, have made a thorough examination o) the shafts of the new twin screw com posite gfun vessel Swallow, 8, 1,040 tons, 1,500 horse-power, and hawe ascertained that the recently-discoverec defects are due to the galvanic action of salt watei upon the metal while the vessel has been moored in the steam basin preparing for commission. The Swallow is the first of a new iype of gun-vessels, and her shafts are fitted differently from most ves- sels in the Royal Navy. There is a bout 'Oft. in length of each shaft exposed between the keel and the propellers, and it is this portion upon which the rust has made such serious inroads. The dockyard authorities at Sheerness foreshadowed that some- thing of this kind Would happen, alld sug- gested to the Admiralty at the time the vessel was building that the shafts should be encase 1 in metal tubing, so as to render them impervious to the ac- tion of the salt water, but the Whitehall oihcials ignored the recommendation. It is now proposed II) adopt a precautionary measure of-this kind The propellers have been taken oJ, but the shafts have not yet been removed, ati(i as the result of a test that has been made it is expected that they will e simply cased and made to an-wer for tli is colit ii: is- sion. It is thought that the sea water will not have such a deleterious eflect its the water in the st, a ii basin. To provide the vessel with new stafts wo il 1 entail an expenditure of something like £ .:0", 1111,1 would delay her departure for a considerable perio I, as the shafts would have to be specially manufac- tured for her. Except for her gun and machinery trials, the Swallow lias uever been out of the stea.n basin.

rOPICS OF THE WEEK. Irisb flock-masitera' who had sheep at Bal linasioe Fair realised the ad vantage pf the re- cent advance in the price of wool. On the principal day nearly 2.),000 sheep were sold, and the prices obtained were from 5s. to 9s. pet head above last year's ligures, when over 8r000 sheep remained unsold on the first day of the fair. This year's sales will have realised £8,000 or £10,000 more than would have been fetched by the same number of sheep last year. Cattle are still at a very low price, but the increased value of sheep and butter will assist Irish farmers to JHeet the winter with more courage than was recently anticipated.. i THE Milan correspondent of the "Tagblatt" states ttoat negotiations are being carried on between England: and- Italy, with a viexfc to the conclusion of a convention between the two countries, by the terms of which Italy would support England's policy in Bulgaria, in return for certain compensations in Africa. Although the report is entirely unconfirmed, the semi- official Italian papers contain announcements that appear to have some bearing upon the statement of the "Tagbiatt's" correspondent. According to the journals in question the occu- pation of 3iialciti) by Italian troops is imminent, and it is abided that Italy, in accord with England, will shortly take energetic action against Abyssinia. In return for this, Italy will support England in Egypt agaiust France. A DEFICIT of nearly £ 2-,000,000 is anticipated in the current -r's revenue of New South Wales. All sources of income have proved disappointing, and this is scarcely surprising. The severe trade depression in England and other European countries, accompanied, as it has been, by a heivy fall in prices, would in any case have seriously affected New South Wales, which depends very largely upon the value of its flocks for prosperity but there was also a prolonged drought, which of itself would have impoverished the colony, and the two causes combined have produced a greater de- pression than has been felt for over twenty years. There is no reason to suppose, however, that the check in the prosperity of New South Wales will be more than temporary. THE" W urld" think" that it is matter for congratulation that we are no worse otf than we actually are with respect to the police. Wh in we consider the class from which the men are drawn, the work they have to get through, the pay they receive, and the temptations to which they are exposed, it is not easy to say too much in praise of their general conduct and intelli- gence. It would be irrational to suppose that they, who are most of them of the order, and who all of them earn the wages, of unskilled labourers, should be in every case paragons of virtue and patterns of wisdom. It is unavoid- able that they should sometimes be scoundrels aad sometims fools, that they should occa- sionally commit offences, and often lose their tempers and make mistakes. But when their origin, their education, and their surroundings are considered, they are certainly as good and efficient a body of public servants as we have any right to expect. They are by no means too liberally remunerated for their ordinary duties, to say nothing of the risks and dangers which they must always be prepared to encounter in their discharge. It is, therefore, eminently un- just that they should continue to be deprived of the franchise, to which such multitudes of their less worthy fellow citizens are now admit- ted. NEXT to the average record of a trustworthy thermometer, the vegetable world undoubtedly supplies the truest indication of the severity or mildness of any portion of the year which may happen to be under review. A solitary day of warmth when one expects a fngid temperature is fertile in complaints from the human species —complaints the lousier and more numerous be- cause the brief visitation has found them in their winter garments, and inflicted a corre- sponding amount of discomfort. Altogether different ia it in the vegetable kingdom, upon which .the influence. of phenomenal heat in winter or late autumn must be prolonged to stimulate anything like abnormal growth. Such evidence as the fields and forests afford of a summer which has extended its stay far beyond the customary period, is freely forthcoming. In Hyde Park, London, a horse chesnut tree is stated to be partly in bloom, with tender green leaves showing on the boughs. Further north, even in Yorkshire, similar arboreal testimony is offered, a laburnum tree in Harrogate being covered with a second crop of nne yellow blos- soms. A Scotch gentleman, emulous of the fame of his country in the matter of weather, has forwarded to a contemporary some second blossoms plucked from a jargonelle pear tree near th^ village of Drem. Judged by the most crucial test of all, therefore, the season is proved to be one of rare mildness. Whether the country is to be congratulated upon the dispensation is unfortunately open to doubt. In the north there is still a great deal of grain outstanding, and with such weather as now prevails no human resource can prevent its germinating in the sheaf, which is equivalent to its ultimate ruin for either feeding or milling purposes. Farmers in the South and Midlands, their crops all under cover, can afford to look with compassionating eyes on their less for- ) tunate fellow-husbandmen in the North and beyond the Border. But observations over ex- tended periods have served to show that unsea- f sonable weather is inimical to human health, and to this extent the people of these islands are all in the same boat. Fruit growers in Kent ¡I and Cheshire who have been overwhelmed with Nature's bounty, will be interested, if not con- soled, to learn that their forefathers have more than once suffered from a like embamis des rich- esses. In 1652, as the annals of Old Edinburgh j record, the uncommon heat produced ripe wine-berries and grapes, and abundance of Scotch chestanes, openly sauld a't the Mercat- cross and baken in pasties at banquets." All [ over the country the birds, deluded into the belief that spring was u^on them, began to pair and nest in the month of November. As to the I influence of such unwonted atmospheric condi- tions upon human health, we read that during I this year ague was exceedingly frequent, and smallpox cut off large numbers of both young and old. The year 1865—one of similar eharac- teristics to the present—is memorable as the one in which the dreaded rinderpest broke out in England. Happily, none of those unpleasant, consequences have been experienced so far, and j there is consequently ground for the hope that i if history has repeated itself in the matter of weather, it will at least belie itself in the iw- portant matter of death and sickness. --r7 I A small property in Dorsetshire was sold a fe %,I days ago for 000, for which all otfer of £ 5,000 was refused fire years back. According to intelligence received from Fefical, the King of Trarzas has been assassinated by "his nephews. The building iufcvhich the jubilee exhibition is to I be held in Newcastle next year has been commenced.. The Corporation of the city hare agreed to coutri- bute;65,000 to the guarantee fuud. At the special session at JJantry, County Cork, to conclude the hearing of the case agaiust .Mr. Gilhooly. M.P., a magistrate, for all assault, the magistrates decided, considering all iJie circum- stances, to dismiss the charge. j Lord Hampton has resolved to establish a Jargo, butter factory in the village of Glyiule, ;is he is con- ( vincedthat the dairy trade is profitable when carried I 3n in a thoroughly busiuess-li!$e way and with fair •kill I

THE HOME: USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE, MAKING MUFFINS.—To make muffins requires practice and dexterity. They are most troublesome ;o make—indeed, so troublesome, that they are rarely baked at home, unless by experienced persons with proper utensils for the purpose. A great many bakers even have the muffins manufactured for them by firms who make it a special business. Persons attempting to make the above, without being well "up" in the art of baking, must expect one or two failures. Again, the most explicit directions (fol- lowed min utely from an inexperienced point of view) will prove a disappointment if the temperature of water, proving, &c., be not studied. The ferment, for instance, should be set at eighty-five or ninety degrees. 1 would advise a beginner to experiment with flour, water, and yeast only. Strong or com- mon flour is not suitable. It must be of superfine quality, well dried, and sifted. One pound of flour is more difficulty to manage than two or three pounds. Always bear in mind, however, that "practice makes perfect," so that eventually you are bound to succeed.—To Prepare. Have one ounce of yeast, ditto salt, one quart of water, four ounces of mashed potatoes, and a-quarter of an ounce of sal prunella. Prepare the potatoes by boiling and mashing them, dissolve the yeast and salprunella in water heated to about ninety degrees add to this sufficient flour-aùout a pound—to make the whole into a sponge; let stand till it rise and turn, that means, until the batter rises and is on the point ol going down again. Now add the salt, powdered fine, and enough flour to make a very soft dough 01 thick batter. Knead up the whole briskly until the batter draws out as you take it up. Let this rise again about twenty minutes; then break off the pieces for each muffin. The dough is usually so soft that it will not allow of handling into form, so that it may be necessary to use a knife and spoon to form each muffin into a round shape. Lay them on to a tin previously dusted with flour, and let stand twenty minutes to I, prove." The muffin or hot plate being juite hot, should now be dusted with flour, and the muffins placed thereon to bake until slightly browned on one side then turn—by slipping a knife under each—them, and bake on the other side. Another way is to proceed as above, but omit the salprunella, and use a little more yeast. Again, instead of beat- ing up the batter after it has "risen," as directed in the foregoing recipe, give it a good beat up when setting the sponge. Let it rise and turn as before, stir in by degrees remainder of flour, "prove" for an hour in bulk. Divide dough and prove again ae before. Bake in hoops on slab or hot plate. KASPBERKI" CULTURE.—In reply to "W. T. H. he had better choose a rather damp situation, and soil with staple in it—even stiff clays, well manured, will produced abundance of fruit. The ground should be well dug, and a good dressing of farm- yard manure be applied. Canes that are strong and well-rooted should be chosen, and although the red inds produce most fruit, the white kinds are fairly productive. Three or four canes may be planted together three feet apart in the rows, the rows five feet apart. Let the tops of the canes be left at one auiform height, and the bed kept free from weeds. The canes will require supporting with sticks, and the sooner the planting is done the better. If the summer turns out very dry, the plants had better be watered. Each year, as soon as the bearing wood has been cleared of fruit, the old canes should be cut off close to the ground, to give the young ones a better chance. Care is needed in gathering the fruit that the young branches are not broken off. It should be gathered every second day, for, different to some ftuit, raspberries are, like strawberries, several weeks ripening off. In the late autumn every year the caaes should be well manured and carefully dug about, and any wild ones cut up. Such as are to stand can be trained according to taste. I prefer them bent over from one to the other peacock-tail fashion. The raspberry, well managed, is very profitable, but the beds should be changed every six or seven years, as these plants love new ground, which their tendency to run shows. OFFENSIVE BREATH AND REMEDY.— Offensive breath is a functional disorder liable to occur at aU periods of life. It is a prominent symptom of many morbid conditions. Being a mixture of gas and watery vapour exhaled from the lungs at each ex- piration, it forms a very valuable guide in the treat- ment of sickness, and is a good index of the state of the body. If the foul breath is dependent upon bad teeth, the dentist should at once be snusultud. The holes or cavities in decayed teeth not only gives off an offensive odour from their carious surfaces, but become filled with particles of fo<ji|. which rapidly undergo decomposition from thecortskmt passage of the heated breath over them. The following remedies may be used as a wash for the mouth or a gargle for the throat:—Tincture of myrrh, half an ounce; ti icture of liydrustris (golden seal), one ounce water, four ounces shake well before using. Or, permanganate of potash, thirty-five grains, dissolved in five ounces of distilled water. These local applications must be persisted it steadily, and for some time, using at the same time a course of tonic and alterative treatment. Tonics, fresh air, and exercise are absolutely necessary to give strength to the system. Local remedies only will not cure. If, however, the disease has lasted so long as to prelude all hopes of a cure, the constant use of the deodorising lotions will be lIè,:e ssary to 1 keep the breath in good condition. In cases of constipation and foetid breath arising from a general lax condition of tlie system, a course of tonic medi- cines alone will often suffice to britig ab >ut a cure, and as a rule vegetable tonics agree better with the stomach than do mineral ones. Bear in mind that the successful treatment of this at first trivial, but afterwards serious, disease depends upon its not be. 1 ing delayed until it has become chronic. TREATMENT OF WABTS.—A ligature by means of a silk or silver thread tightly wound round the root of the excrescence is a method applicable to large pendent warts, which, thus treated, shrivel and drop off, when the base can be cauterised with a nitrate of silver stick. Common warts, without a pedicle, may be removed by repeated applications of strong I acetic acid, nitric acid, caustic potash, lunar caustic in pencil, tincture of chloride of iron, and hydro- chloric acid. In applying any of these remedies, care must be taken uot to touch with them the sur- rounding skin, else a stain or scar may result. It is best to isolate the wart or mole before putting on the caustic, by spreading a thin layer of soft wax or spermaceti over the adjacent surface. All the agents enumerated are liable, it must be borne in mind, to leave permanent marks behind tliem. Children and j young people who suffer from abnormally moist hands, a feeble constitution, and general debility of health, sometimes have warts of various sizes 011 the hands and fingers. In the treatment of these medi- cines is often advisable, combined with the local ap- plication of a paste made of precipitated sulphur, glacial acetic acid, and glycerine, in equal parts. This paste must be freshly made at the timci of w. ing, and spread evenly over the warts. How TO FEED POlil ES. -(I) Give the pony thirty- Are pounds of best old white oats per week, and as much prime hay as it will eat. A few carrots could be well added. (2) The pony may be trotted as long as it is in good health. A neighbour of our rode one regularly which was nearly thirty years old. (3) Give good white English oats, carrots, a few old beans, good sweet meadow hay, and regular exercise. The principle of fattening horses should be to give a liberal quantity of good oats :)f the best quality. A little linseed cake might be added. The quantities of each kind of food must be regulated according to the size and work of the animal. One meal should always be cleared up before another is served. Keep a knob of rocksalt in the manger. REMEDY FOR ROUGH HANDS.—Take three parts of pure beef suet, one part of bee's- wax, and sim- mer over the fire till melted then pour into a block. When set it will be like a block of soap. Wash the hands well at night with hot water, then rub the mixture well in before the fire. Wear gloves over night. Cod-liver oil used the same way is very good. CUBE FOR CORNS.—A scientific authority gives the following prescription :—Salicylic acid, thirty parts extract of Cannabis Indica, five parts; col- lodion, 240 parts. Apply by means of a camel hair pencil.

I It has been remarked that ladies liave generally a great fear of lightning, and this has been superfi- cially ascribed to their natural timidity but the truth is that is arises from their consciousness of being- attractive. The old lady who believes every calamity that happens to herself a trial, and every one that hap- pens to her friends a judgment, is not yet dead. Son# stupid says that "if a fee were charged, to see the sun rise, nine-tenths 6f the world would be up in the morning." Every one's centure is first moulded in his owe nature. l

The death is announced of General Ulirich. t',o defender of Strasburg, during the Franco- Prussian war. Xhta. seven Chicaco Anarchists, wlrn were con- victed of murder in August lasr, and sentenced to be hanged, will be executed on December The Duke of Wellington has liberally granted an abatement of 50 per cent on the Michaelmas rentals of his farms on the Slrathfieldsaye esuUe. Captain Gordon reports that the ice was not so heavy or extensive as last year, and that it left Hudson Bay and the Stiaits much earlier than usuaL