The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

COUNTY CRICKET. At Leeds on Tuesday the Lancashire first innings total was carried to 169, or 21 runs behind. The Yorkshire men scored a. second innings of 209, and then Lancashire, wanting 231 to win, had twenty minutes batting, in which time they lost one wic- ket for 23. The Middlesex batting broke down badly at Lord's yesterday, and Surrey won a victory by an innings and 58 runs. At Derby the Austra- lians carried their overnight total of 370 to 625, the highest number they have made in their pre- sent tour. Derbyshire in rather less than half an hour lost two wickets for 28. At Leyton Hampshire beat Essex by eight wickets. Soar's bowling was so effective that Essex only made 87in their second effort. Gloucestershire had a bad day at Trent Bridge. Notts' first innings reached a total of 227 Shrewsbury making 125— or 109 in advance of the visitors. Gloucestershire made a good start, scoring 86 for the first wicket, but then tl. e batting broke down, and six wickets went for 107. Kent, playing against Somerset, maintained the advantage they gained on Monday, and when stumps were drawn were 331 runs to the good with one wicket to fall. Lancashire were defeated by Yorkhliire at Leeds by 123 runs. Their second innings only realised 107, of which Rowley and MacLaren made 64. The match between the Australians and Derbyshire ended in the expected draw. When play ceased the county, with two wickets down in the second innings, wanted 272 to escape an innings defeat. Half an hour's play put an end to the Notts and Gloucestershire match, the former winning by nine wickets. Kent beat Somerset by 145 runs. Yorkshire and Somersetshire met at Dewsbury on Thursday. The home county went in first and scored 251, and Somerset at the drawing of stumps had made 37 for three wickets. There was some remarkable cricket at CatfordiBridge, where Surrey began a match with Kent. Kent scored 161, and then Surrey, on a bad wicket, were all dismissed for 48. Martin sent down his last three overs and three balls for seven runs and six wickets. Kent had to go in again, and in one over lost two wickets for six. The Australian's met an M.C.C. eleven again at Lord's on Thursday. Trott won the toss, and the game opened with a sensation, four wickets falling for 16. After that things went better, and the innings realised 202, of which Trott made 103. The English eleven opened well, making 119 for two wickets. Stoddart scored 61, and Ma?Laren was 42 not out. Playing against Essex at Leyton, Derbyshire scored 356, of which Chatterton made 111 and Storer 92. Essex lost one wicket for 31.

_m_+- CYCLING. [BY "PUMP HARDER."] I have been handed the following letter which is worthy of reproduction chieflv because of its generogity: <IT^ 9tli July, 1896. ear Sir, Probably you have noticed that recently, owing to the fact that cycling has been a en up in such a remarkable manner, many 1.t.or8 ive wisely adopted the idea of having a cycling column in their paper. "Now, as we are very much connected with matters appertaining to cycling, we have engaged a specialisfl for writing cycling notes, and could, if wTii ?!re lfc' 7on with a column each week, gratis. „ may ^y tliafc the paragraphs are written by enian thoroughly master of his subject, and are of such a nature that they will commend them- selves to your readers, not only for their interest and smartness, but also for the valuable advice em. bodied with them. You may, perhaps, think that these cycling notes are written in such a manner as to advertise our- selves, but we can assure you that this is not the case, and shall be only too pleased to send you a specimen of the columns we ha'8 beon sending out hitherto if you entertain our proposal. Our chief reason for supplying theso notes, free of charge, is that almost every cyclist uses Dunlop tyres, and we believe that the insertion of these interesting cycling notes in your paper will tend to still further increase the large army of cyclists, which will in due course be to our mutual advant- age. Awaiting the favour of your reply, and trusting to have the pleasure of your co-operation.— Yours truly (for the Pneumatic Tyre Co., Ltd.), S. F. EDGE." There is an air of innocent candour about this communication which reveals not a little skill on the part of whosoever drafted it, and it is this which must have led to the following replv — "July 14th, 1896. "Dcar Sir,—Returning to business after a brief interval I find your circular letter of the 9th inst., written on behalf of the Pneumatic Tyre Company, Limited, and in which you make us au offer, viz., to supply us with a column of cycling notes each week, gratis. In these days, when business has been cynically said to mean the acquirement of somebody else's money, it is refreshing to find even a limited liability company anxious to work for nothing and find its own tools, and for persons with whom it has had no previous connectiou. The pro- posal is delightful, but incomplete, and as it comes through you, will you kindly suggest to the Com- pany that while it is in this generous mood it might very properly pay the wages of our printers and machinemen, and also the salaries of the three classes of journalists employed on the paper ? It would further show the extent of the philanthropy if each of the persons concerned were supplied by the Company with a bicycle, its own pneumatics preferred—provided a four years' guarantee were given with each machine. Of course the Company will pay carriage." I was also handed the specimen column, signed The Don," and it's a marvel of literary skill (?) I will save niv readers from going into fits by not quoting any of the stuff. Nothing better illustrates Dogberry's famous dictum, writes "Rover," regarding the assinine proclivities of our judicial system than the legal treatment of cyclists. If a wheelman has the mis- fortune to come before an average dispenser of justice he may calculate, with a pretty fair amount of certainty, that the interview will leave his pocket lighter. The bias shown- by some magistrates against cyclists can only be the outcome of a blind prejudice which ill assorts with our nineteenth century ideas. To some people the cyclist is a a pariah who ought to be hunted out of existence as fast as he trundles his own wheel. I am per- suaded that a good deal of this ill-feeling is due to envy as much as to anything. There are in every community a certain class who like to play dog in the manger. The great grievance against us as a class is that we do not give warning of onr approach. The British public are not supposed when walking on highways frequented by cyclists to have eyes to see or ears to hear anything but the sound of a regulation bell. Only the other day I saw an account of a cyclist being fined for not ringing his bell when passing two tramps on the road. Now, every cyclist knows thatït is much safer where there is plenty of room to pass without ringing a bell or making any noise, as the chances are that the pedestrian, instead of stepping aside, plunge right in front of your wheel. But what if cyclists should retaliate on the inconsiderate public by arming themselves with those monstrosities called Cyclorns or screachers, and when opportunity offered wheeling stealthily behind their persecutors, destroy their nerves and their piece of mind at one full swoop with a fearful and ear-splitting shriek. The amount of ill-nature vented on the cyclist is really surprising, but happy in the enjoyment of his splendid pastime, he passes contentedly on smiling at the discomfiture of the wicked urchin who tries to arrest his progress by flinging a cap at his back wheel; pitying the nervous and elderly females who scream hysterically when he passes within twenty feet of them; and treating with silent contempt the boorish road hog who refuses him room to pass on the Queen's highway even the snarling and snapping of the numberless curs that infest the neighbourhood of towns and villages fail to ruffle his temperament, though he would gladly welcome a general muzzling order through- out the country. The ever recurring question of taxation continues to crop up as often as some fossilized public 'body passes an equally fossilized resolution on the sub- ject. It is, therefore, a pleasure to note that such an important representative body as the Surrey County Council have passed the following resolution and communicated the same to the County Councils' Associations :—" Resolved that this Council are opposed to the idea of a tax being imposed on cycles, and that as regards thereof, they are of opinion that, though certain police reasons may fairly be urged in support of that suggestion, yet the difficulties in the way of carrying it out suc- cessfully are so great as to render the scheme un- feasible." Now that is a sensible resolution, and worthy of the serious consideration of those wiseacres, who; with very little knowledge and less consideration, pass absurd resolutions. The action of the Surrey County Council is all the more significant when we recollect that the county has the finest roads in England, and more used by cyclists than any other two counties. Compare this with the Cheshire County Council, who, not content with passing the usual taxation resolution, have also instituted a regular crusade against cyclists, whom they pro- secute for the most trivial offences. The number of cycling accidents is becoming quite alarming, and is attracting the attention of the criers-down of all pastimes as well as that of the comic men. Every paper one takes up con- tains reports of two or three accidents, and quite a large proportion of these are fatal. If, as we re- cently stated in print, the majority of the accidents are deliberately ignored, and mention of them sup- pressed, the state of things must be decidedly serious. I am bound to say, however, that in view of the public thirst for news, and especially un- pleasant news, I do not suppose that editors lay themselves out specially to suppress reports of bi- cycling misadventures. When we remember that hundreds of thousands of people are cycling every day of the week, many of them in the midst of the heavy traffic of our large cities and towns, we cannot be surprised that we hear of a good many accidents. We may ex- pect to hear of cycling misadventures with quite as much reason as of boating, bathing, or football mishaps. But there can be no doubt that the reck- lessness and folly of the new school of cyclists are responsible for much. Any day in the week one can see mere novices riding about i'n parts which are religiously avoided by the experienced cyclist, and at night they are even more foolhardy. Dur- ing a brief visit to Town the other day when the traffic of the Strand was at its worst I saw a young lady riding through it hands off." In view of this particular form of lunacy one only wonders that we do not hear of more accidents. Some of the members of the Newtown Cycling Club seem to be fond of this game too, judging by the way some half dozen of them were riding soon after a start was made in the Thursday club run on the 16th inst. When they come a cropper," as they surely will some day, they will begin to think that a bought lesson is better than a taught one. This is an admirable thing for bringing people to their senses. A lot of nonsense has been written concerning the position which many cyclists adopt when riding, and the protests of the considerate matrons against bending over the handle bars are often ludicrous. I do not believe in riders bending over the handle bars as though they wanted to grind their noses on the front wheels, but I certainly see nothing against a man bending from the hips a little in order to have more power over his machine. For the man who is content to ride at a very moderate rate and never has an inclination to make a burst even on a good road the poker down your back" attitude is the most sensible, and answers all requirements. But where is the man who never wants to experience the delight of a little scorch," especially f he has health and strength and youth on his side ? I. have never met him, unless indeed he was a novice who hardly felt safe in venturing to cover eight or ten miles an hour. Mr J. E. Jones, at the Shrewsbury Police Court on Saturday last, described the bicycle as a new terror to pedestrians, bnt this description is mild by the side of one by Ouida" quoted below. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, while the person who can only present an ex-parte state- ment of any subject under consideration is always to be mistrusted. As a writer of highly-flavoured novels and as an essayist on social and political reform "Ouidt" has many claims to admiration, but when she pens the following farrago of non- sense which appeared in the Fortnightly Review it is evident that she is either very ignorant or highly bigoted on the question of cycling. Writing on the sport" Ouida says Bicycles are a detestable public nuisance; progress by them is vulgar, ugly, and renders the human race more ridiculous than it was before their invention. The racing cyclist is the lowest form of deformed humanity that we can behold, and when he and his compeers tear through country roada he presents a loathsome sight, drenched with sweat, covered with dust, and clinging, crooked and almost nude, to his machine. There is only one thing worse, a light railway, which will help to complete the destruc- tion of what little is left of Tudor England, of Stuart England, of the England of Shakesneane and of Falkland." This is very lively reading, but. we can hold our own opiniou as to what constitutes a public nuisance. Everyone seems to object to a man bending over his bicycle handles, but no one makes any fuss be- cause a man stoops over his desk to write, or over ihe bench at his daily tool. Surely an hour over the handle-bar cannot deform a man. to long as he pulls himself upright when he gets of his machine. However, one cannot advise cjclists to get their heads down too low. and not look where they are going. A man was killed last w; ek by running into a vehicle which he hud not noticed, through bending too much and keeping his eves on the ground. There is moderation in 1]] things. There is no way of reasoning with an antipathy like that exhibited by "Guilla," and one can only hope that this lady may some day come to a wiser frame of mind. Meanwhile it would be interesting to learn her opiniou of motor cars and motor cycles. The force of public opinion is against rational dress, and prejudice makes us favour the skirt. But riding out day after day and witnessing many ladies on cycles almost briugsone to the conclusion that perhaps the rational dress is the more decent. Skirts are all very well when they are properly cut, but apparently very few dressmakers yet know what is required. Many ladies look very well in skirts, for they are made to bang properly, and are kept in position by elastics. Others, unfortunately for their good appearance, seem to thing that any- thing is good enough to ride in, and that a skirt ought to keep its place without any fastenings. To make matters worse they have their saddles much too low, and the consequence is that with every upward motion of the pedals the skirt works above the knee. It does not add to the grace of the rider, but some of the ladies do not seem to trouble so long as they are enjoying themselves along a country road. It is no business of the inferior male thing to discourse on these questions, bat soon I shall be converted to the rationals on tiiegrouuci of respectability. Mr. Labouchere, for one, is constantly agitating for some arrangement which will enable a rider to bring his machine to a standstill, and keep it in an upright position without dismounting. A friend of mine gives me particulars of a new invention which has come under his notice, but which have not yet seen myself, and it is claimed that it will meet the want indicated. It is so constructed that it can be released simply by the action of riding away, and does not in any way impede or interfere with the rider. It is asserted that the rest will prove valuable to learners and ladies, as the machine can be held in position by it when mounting, and does not require adjusting when the rider is ready to start, the mere motion of starting releasing the stand which is fastened to the frame of the machine, and works automat ieally. Or:course this would prevent the machine from falling and defacing the enamel, and will keeo the bicycle upright for oiling, cleaning, and repairing. It ought also prove useful to ladies out shopping or making calls, as it enables them to leave their machines upright, without searching for a suitable place to stand them. What I should like to know is the precise result of the automatic falling of the stand if a man or woman were forced to dismount when going at a fair pace. If the machine were brought to a sudden standstill, under the circum- stances, it might not prove of advantage to the rider. Nervous cyclists have been rather alarmed of late by the frequent breakdowns reported in the cycling papers. It is exceedingly seldom, however, that a breakdown takes place absolutely without warning; the signs are usually there, for anyone who has the experience to understand them. A tube does not go all at once, as the popular idea has it; it weakens and bends by degrees, or cracks half across. This is usually perceptible, before the break, in the altered running of the machine the steering becomes a trifle one-sided, and there is an unaccountable awkwardness about mounting which the rider usually puts down to carelessness on his own part. These signs should never be neglected a careful search should be made for any part where the enamel seems to be scaling off, as this is a usual symptom. If nothing can be discovered by the eye, but if, when the rider is mounted again, a strange squeaking and scringing noise is heard, the weak place may be located by the sound, which tells that the tube is very nearly gone, and which should, on this account, always be attended to as soon as it is heard. Cycling is a wonderful help to the overworked and weary. One can often ride when one is much too tinjd to walk, and even feels the shaking of a carriage unpleasantly. I was lately observing the effects of extreme fatigue and overwork on a friend of mine who is a very keen cyclist. When so worn out that he could not sit upright in a chair, and almost wanted an arm to help him in walking down the street, he could yet cycle perfectly well, and declared that be felt comparatively fresh while in the saddle. Certainly he got through an amount of work that would have bad him hopelsssly knocked up and in bed if he had not had the fresh air and exercise to keep him from collapsing. Look out for defective patches when the tyre is leaking mysteriously and the water test fails to locate the evil. Take the patches one by one, wipe each one very carefully under water, and watch it closely to see if a tiny ring of silver is not forming round its edge. It may not be sending out a string of visible bubbles, but if there is the least gleam of silver anywhere about its rim, that is where the fault lies. Pull it off, with the assistance of a little benzine, clean the place very thoroughly of all the rough solution and sandpaper it well, then pnt on a fresh patch, and be careful to press the bevel well down with ycur nail, and not in any case to put on the patch till the solution has reached its stickiest stage. If it gets too dry before you have applied the patch, do not smear on another thick coat; a thin application will be more effective. Recently I have been riding a machine without a gear-case, and the experience is not a very comfort- ing one. It means that the chain requires a lot of attention, no matter how carefully one treats it the dust adheres to it, and in a few hours riding is not only made harder but there is often a clicking of the chain which aggravates the ordinary cyclist. There are few more unpleasant things than the constant clicking of a chain, nnd a gear case is worth all the money asked for it if only to prevent this irritating nuisance. Buta gear-case does more than enable one to avoid inconveniences such as those referred to. On muddy days one need not be afraid of riding, and on dry days the dust is kept away from one of the most delicate parts of a machine. The chain is kept much cleaner, and as a result wears more than _ice as long. I have been driven almost to desperation during the last week or two by using a naked chain along roads which axe covered with dust, and I advise everyone to procure a gear-case, even if it is only a leather one. The coloured flunkey who attends the young lady who is constantly to be seen riding about the West End is probably not an enthusiastic devotee of the wheel. He is always garbed in magnificent style, with plenty of gold lace and cockade about him, which, however imposing it may be, is not the style of attire that even a nigger would select when he has to plug along under a broiling sun, at some- think like 12 or 14 miles an hour. Rumour hath it that the man-servant fraternity is up in arms against the bicycle and the story of t.he footman who was asked, on an emergency, to oil the pedals has gone the rounds of the servants' hall, and has aroused as much indignation as did the request that one of the" select footmen of Bath" should eat cold meat, as fully detailed in an entertaining chapter of Pickwick." One of the latest ideas of the inventor is a shield to be placed on the front of ladies' machines to conceal the feet. The thing is said to open and close like an umbrella. There are several objec- tions to such a contrivance. One is, that it creates extra opposition to the wind, and anything that in- creases windage is to be avoided by the cyclist. Another is that ladies don't desire to hide their feet; and a third is.that riders will not have their machines covered over with fads that are of no earthly use to anyone. The old question, What is the best drink for cyclists" ? does not seem to have been satisfac- torily answered yet. Like a great many other queries, it is unanswerable, for the simple reason that what will suit one person is almost regarded as poison by another. There are those who believe in milk; others extend their favour to mineral waters; while many have the utmost confidence in beer. It is agreed by all who have studied the question that the less liqflid a rider absorbs the better condition will he be in to continue his journey. The majority of experienced riders seem to think that they find a cup of tea—which is always better when a slice of lemon is in it—more refreshing than anything else, and more than one doctor has expressed the same.opinion. Communications for this column should be addressed to Pump Harder," County Times Office Welshpool, not later than Thursday in each week, to ensure publication in the current issue. Secretaries of clubs will oblige by sending their fixture lists as soon as possible.

CHESS. ] All communications for this department should be addressed to the Chess Editor, who will be glad to hear from Secretaries of Chess Clubs as to tournaments, &o. All letters to reach thisofiice by Wednesday morning. Loeal intelligence will be given the preference to other news. Solution to Problem No. 34 Q—Iv(3. Correctly- solved bv Maurice Whittinghnni, F. Carter, S. Jones and W. A. Doody. :¥.<(: PROBLEM No. 34.Sollitioijs invited By W. Finlaisov BLACK — 4 Pieces. WHITE—11 Pieces. White to play and mate in two moves. Position Wnite K at Q8, Rs at and K115, Bs at Q2 and KKt8, Kt8 at KKt5 and QKt7, Ps at at QR3, Q,Kt5, K2 and KKt3. Black-—K at Q4, R at K3, Ps at QKt3 and KKt5. 4 .J:7T' GAME No. 51. IRREGULAR, OPENING. \ï If IT e..BLACK. J. Mason. A. Burn. 1 P—QL54 P-Q3 2 i' K3 P Q4 3 Kt-KP,3 Kt-KB3 4 Kt-QB3 B K2 5 P-Q4 Castles 6 B-Q3 P-QH4 7 P x OP BP x P 8 KP x P (1) Kt x P 9 Castles Kt-QB3 10 R—Ksq QKt-Kt5 (2) 11 B—Ktsq Kt (Q4)-B3 12 P QR5 Kt (Kt5)-Q4 13 Q-Q3 P—KKt3 14 B-112 P-Kt3 15 Kt-K5 B—Kt2 16 B-R6 R—Ksq 17 Q—B3 (3) B—KBsq 18 B-Kt5 B-K2 19 QR -Q.sq (4) P—QR3 20 R- Q3 RQ—Bsq 21 R 133 Kt x Kt (5) 22 R x Kt (B3) Q x P (6) 23 Kt x BP Kt -K5 24 B—K3 R x R 25 Kt R6 ch K-Bsq 26 Q x P Q Kt2 27 P x R (7) B-Q3 28 Q-R3 let x QBP (3) 29 Jl-Kt3 (9) B-B5 30 K-Bsq (10) T-R4 31 B-QB4 (11) P-QKt4 (12) 32 B- B5 eh Resigns Notes by B. H. N. Pillsbury. (1) There is nothing to fear from isolating his Queen's Pawn, and, moreover, his pieces are given increased freedom of action. (2) The object of the Knight's moves is to keep the adverse Pawn isolated, and at the same time prevent any direct attack upon the King but they permit the entrance of the White Knight at K5, where it cannot be easily dislodged. Black could not plav P-QKt.3 without loss by 11 Kt x Kt, Q x Kt (best) 12 B-K4, Q—Q3; 13 Q B2, Kt- Kt5; 14 Q —Ktsq. winning a Pawn at least; but 10 Kt x Kt; 11 P x Kt, P QKt3; 12 Q K2, B Kt2; 13 Q K4, P KKt3 was not very dangerous for Black, aud preferable to the text, which allows to strong an attack. (3) Threatening Kt x BP. (4) The sacrifice would not be sound at this point: e.g., 19 Kt x BP. K x Kt; 20 Q x KPch, K— Kt2; 21 Kt x Kt, Kt x Kt (best); 22 B x Kt, B x B 23 Q K5ch, K-B2, and will win. (5) White can now win by 22 Kt x BP, K x Kt; 23 Q x KPch, K- Kt 2 24 Q—B7ch, K—Esq; 25, R x B, and wins; or if 22 Q x QP, 23 P x Kt, Q-, KKt5 24 Kt—R.6ch,. and wins. (6) B—Q4 was imperative now, and gave Black a good ,,anie. (7) Kt—B5 is met by RxB, and Black would win. (8) B-QBqglL\'e Black some hope; the text move should lose at once. (9) 29Kt-B5 wins here in all variations. (10) If now 30Kt—B5, Kt-K 7ch; 31K—Rsq, PxKt; 32 BxB. Black contains a winning superiority by BxPch, Ac. (11) Again, Kt—R5 wins, if in reply B—R3ch 32K Kt eq, Kt K7ch 33K-R sq, PxKt; 34 QxPeh, K —- K2; 35BxB, and must win; and if Black in this variation 33 Queen moves anywhere 34Q- R6c\ forcing mate in a few moves. (13) Of course a frightful error, which loses at ones. THE HASTINGS CHFss TOURNAMENT BOOK."— I The Hastings Chess Tournament Book (Chatto and Wiudus) was published on July 9th. We bad a letter from the publishers last February, in which they stated that, they hoped that the book would be ready in about three weeks From February until July is rather a long three weeks, but it seems that the delay was caused by the tardiness of some of the players who supplied the notes to the games, first in sending their copy, and afterwards in return- ing the proofs. The book is well got up generally, the excellent portraits of the 22 competitors being an important and interesting feature. The editorial part of the work is done by Mr. II. F. Cheshire, a member of the Hastings Chess Club. This gentle- man has acquitted himself as well as c-uuld be expected, everything considered. The book is com- piled in narrative form, and in chronographical order, each round in the Tournament being dealt with separately, which is certainly an interesting innovation. Not so much can be said for the arrangement of the headings of the games as seen by the two specimens we give below. It would have been far more satisfactory to have adhered to the usual custom of placing the names of the players over each column, for then the reader could see at a glance who won and who lost. The omission to give the name of the opening to each game strikes us as extra- ordinary, and seems like taking a step backwards into remote antiquity. The notes to the games are by Messrs Pillsbury, Lasker, Tarrasch, Steinitz, Schiffers, Teiclnnann, Bardeleben, Blackburne, Gunsberg, Tinsley, Mason, and Albin. As may be surmised, the notes by the first four named are especially instructive, and show clearly that in many instances these masters took great pains to point out to the student the most important points of the games which are not generally apparent to the inexperienced eye. For the rest, although the annotation is always interesting, a good deal of it is more or less superficial, and not a small portion would have been .all the better for a little vigorous editing. It is pointed out in the introduction that none of the players were allowed to annotate their own games. The Committee of the Tournament had, no doubt their own reasons for adopting this strange plan but, to an outsider, it is rather puzzling to gness what their motives could have been. There can be no question that, in the game played between experts the players themselves see more and know more of the intricate features of the game than any other annotator is likely to do, unless he takes a very long time over his analysis, and is a very far seeing analyst. Who, then. can possibly be more competent to annotate a game than one or other of the players who contested that game ? In the book of the 1893 Tournament this plan was found to work very well, and we do not think that the Hasthgs Committee were wise in selecting a different course, nor that they have acted to the at] vantage of the student in this particular matter. Biographies of the players follow the games, but the records given are not always reliable. Some are credited with more than they have performed, and others with less, which may be good enough for the purpose of striking an average, but can scarcely be altogether satisfac- tory, especially to the master who is credited with less. We note several printer's errors throughout the book, such for instance as spelling the name of a noted master of bygone days as Kieskeritzky which seem to indicate that the proofs were not subjected to that painstaking scrutiny so necessary to the production of a first class book. Neverthe- less, we feel convinced that all Chess enthusiasts, when they see the bock, will exclaim, With all thy faults 1 love thee still." There can be no doubt that to a lover of the game there is scarcely a page but has to him or her some interest, and the record of the International Chess Tournament of 1895 is likely to find its way speedily into every Chess library throughout the world. The book may be obtained for the modest sum of 7s 6d.

CO KRESPO lXDENCE. L E T T E R S TO THE EDITOR. BI-METALLISM IN AMERICA AND BRITAIN- To the Editor of the COUNTY TIMBS AND Sir,—The American Democratic Party-rightJYO wrongly-have taken an important decision. The" have decided for Free Silver i.e. Bi-metalHsin tOT tbe United States with or without other nation* and they have nominated Mr Brvan for the Presi- dency. ri he writer of the leading article in the Timey, of July 11, after quoting Mr Bryan's (t: Democratic nominee's) rhetoric — rhetoric niuca more picturesque and much less mischievous than Mr Gladstone's "masses versus classes" writes :— "Whnt are we to "Jiink of a party whose hes man gives utterance to this staff, and who listen t° it witti unanimous approval? Mr Brvan is no f°°.' He knows his hearers, and he suits himself to their intellectual capacity. Tiie ground, as he knew, well prepared for his remarks. The Western farmers are not prospering just now. They have no longer their old command of thp foreign marketS, and they are threatened with increasing rivfth"^ from more quarters than one. Men in these cir omittances are easily persuaded that there nluS be something wrong, and that it is the office of the Government to set it right, and cheap nioriey presents itself as a short cut to more prospero.ll times. They look to iu partly to raise prices for their produce, and this it will at least sreni to do when prices are reckoned in the debased eor- rency which they demand. That it will lightl1 their debts is a more real benefit, but it needs 1\ r Bryan's eloquence to raise this from the level of dishonest trick to a grand principle, and to retef with effect the charge of dishonesty on its op ponents." The above is a mild example of the temper, th grammar, the logic and the monetary science 0 those who write and speak against Bimetallisu1. The monetary situation in Russia, Western Europe, and the United States is very critical. JGscow ceptions help no one to right decisions. Will yoIl, kindly permit me a few words ? S 1. The Times leader-writer admits that prls have fallen, and therefore, of course, ho adnM that gold which at present is at standard money 1 the United States and Western "Europe, has fal as a standard of value. It was said long a%°\ said Professor Foxwell, that money witho stability of value is a fraud. Now we have be suffering from this instability for some twen years." Is this just- ? 2. Is it not "the office of the Government to sel;1 it (an unjust money) right": and thus to presefV the balance between creditor and debtor; and thll to save industry from being crushed by the n earned increment of pressure of fixed charg 'e (taxes, rates, interest, &c.) and thus to S the equity and sanctity of the contractual relatlOflIl on which our civilisation is based ? If not, tb8 what is tho office of the Government ? '11 3. From whom are the United States and suffering a disastrous rivalry? And why? t < rivalry comes from the. users of paper ant- si money, who were ably shown last autumn bf 1 special correspondent of the Timex to be virto»? protected against us by the gold premium. metallism would correct that. t j) 4. Apparently the Time* writer thinks thjJ¡hOS monetary system which casts down prices and t OIl increases the pressure of debts and tixed charg08 8t the producers ana the industrious, is just and h.Ol1ei but a monetary system—Bi-metallism—whi1c st human experience proves to be less likely to c down prices, is a dishonest trick." 5. Or is this. the case ? Does the Time* w.r'e8; fail to see any relation between money and prlC between money and industry and trade ? (l'le 6. If so, can the Times writer point to a 8JI1"118 period in the history of mankind when times were not the result of increased supP of money ? 7. About March 20th of this year the 2* critic of books described Mr L. L. Price as ftlc' economist of distinction and expressed tion that his just published book, Money 111 1- relation to prices," did not recommend Bi.01J>, lism. But Mr Price is a Bi-metallist and his h which all should read, is from cover to cover, a 1 y and argumentative statement of the mone principles on which he and every able man studies the question base, the impregnable c. for Bi-mettallism. His chapter on the period S1 1Jf 1873 repeatedly points to the loss occasione of the absence of the counteracting influence j Bi-metallism. The Timet; critic either had not the book or was incapable of understanding nrnk^ simple and clear statement of the mone doctrines whioh every pfofeasot-of political econc, in Great Britain is teaching. ,_iS 8. Finally—Does the Time* writer .Jt8" readers to oJ suppose that the "gold men to publican party and Mr McKialey—are oppoe tbe International Bi-metallism ? "Goldmen" United States aim at Internationa] irrespective of the decision o? other nations. pf is the difference between the two parlies, British reader would infer this from the )\11 language used by such papers as the Timeg- Americans in the United States—"seventy solid for International Bi-metallism —wish.fi*" ^e to restore the parity (steady value) in xc «J¡ between the money of seven hundred million9 of use silver as standard money and the mone?^ three hundred millions who use gold and once used silver as standard money. Secondly, t^r0 0( the free coinage and use for legal tende silver as well as gold, which by increasing available supply of metal, is, of course, likely to keep prices stable and serve as a 9 jo standard of value. The Times writer is the whole United States as well as to the # 0f Bi-metallists, who include the trained in^e Britain in matters of monetary and eC° r £ irne? science. Is the action and attitude of the writer creditable or worthy of a prominent or, to paraphrase the above words of the <jeJ" What are we to think of a paper whose itl- writer gives utterance to this stuff ? J<vetIi(J¡I telligent reader can gauge the value of the 0 of the Timf's in reference to the science of rn°.,l;it|^ money "the mightiest engine to which TlI gjf. can lend an intelligent guidance."— I a.rnsv. yours, &c., ELPHINSTONE V. A. Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, Hampshire.

PASS OF BWLCH-Y-FEDWEN- TO the Editor of the COUNTY TIMES AND P° —— Sir,—May we respectfully ask the favour <• inserting this letter in your next issue of bb8 I desire if possibla to call the attention d por- proper authorities to a very much ueglec tion of the highway on the top of Bwlcb f and situated in this county. Business p~ggrftIV me over this well known and historical 'fO& J the other day, at the highest point of t while walking round a curve in the roap 0 suddenly found myself in the centre of a ytil cattle, in the midst of which, and in middle of the fairway, 6tood a most -^a looking bull of mature years. Slowly turj. tvh'j head iu my direction he eyed me ominousj' 0nC{- I in turn hurriedly scanned the surrounding^ h' for any object I could utilise as an (;')Stflie. progress in the event of his coming countenance fell pereeivablv on finding not ti but an open, treeless, fencele*# country slightest sign of anything or anyone to be I' e 111011 not. the faintest trace of any hedge or the sides of the tracing my steps, and meanwhile cast;n detallr f:- glauces to my rear, 1 made a considcrab ed .r t n e l'e' my left, and after describing an ex e ce 111° circle on the hill-side, regained the road o or Soon after doing so, I came across hwaY, n horses in the very centre of the big jI.rit3tl 1 vigourously plying its long tail to keep thatUreII summer fly at bay. Being harmless c did not disturb them, but stepped ov ge0 j drain (the only form of division I ,c?u .)roperh^c there between the road and the adjoiningt .g and went ou my way. It is to be on >je, such improvements have not been do cft tPO road so as to obviate the possibil1 r<J0 horses, &c., getting on the highway to free passage of passengers. Speaking and»fJV to a man working in the neighbourhpo '^e him whv no fence was made along8'*1 replied, Numerous complaints have find -Jlf from time to time as to allowing bul 8■ espe^' cattle free liberty on the highway, m „0ged in summer, but when those who are s appfoti<l0f)e responsible for this state of thing8 s they endeavour to throw the duty jl6 8 .jj^d other than themselves," and proba 0r '^Q»i not before someone is seriously l11JI1 the i¡Jg will anything be done to k- P gpe^ intact." I felt my friend tflect truly. The large number of ladle. ler po t tl1)S road, evidently enjoying their su'|^ ro^-ft-0 render it doubly imperative that 10-W IS or spot should fenced in, otheiwis rev expected that these same P^Pj^uJa e&.f recommend their friends to adop^t thre.g ing their personal safety inay jnse1^ Thanking you in anticipation 0 letter, I am, yours faithfaHy. ELLIS