The Abergavenny Mail

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NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE I LEAGUE. Ledbury Lodge Hold A Smoking I Concert. Address by Mr T. B. Hunt, of I Worcester. On Saturday evening last the monthly meeting and smoking concert of the Ledbury and District Lodge of the National Conser- vative League was held at the lodge room, the New Inn Hotel Assembly Room, Led- bury, when the Worthy Master (Bro W L Pritchett) presided, and was supported by the Deputy-Master. Bro J E Craddock, Mr T Barnett Hunt, of Worcester, and the officers of the Lodge. Mr Hunt was briefly introduced by the Worthy Master, and in the course of a lengthy address, Mr Hunt mentioned it had been his privilege to go round the constitu- ency of South Herefordshire with their member, Captain Clive, and he was glad to be there that night to say something on behalf of the splendid cause which their gallant member represented. He also referred in commendatory terms to the exchange of visits between the Sir Richard Temple Lodge, Worcester, and the Ledbury Lodge, which he hoped would continue. He hardly knew where to begin so far as politics wereooncerned, but he would ask them to go back to the time when the present Govern- ment under which they suffered was returned in 1906. Let them look at some of their achievements and some of the promises they had not achieved. When they were returned to power in 1906 they got in chiefly on the cry of Chinese Slavery, and ere they had been in power long they sanctioned and allowed to be passed an enactment for the New Hebrides, which allowed people to buy at auction block Kanaka natives at 150 per couple, which was virtually slavery under the Union Jack. This still existed, largely for the benefit of the German finanAers who were interested largely in the development of the Islands. Liberals did not tell them that what they termed Chinese Slavery was the old system which had existed in South Africa ever since the white man went there, by which the natives indentured themselves for a term of years to work in the mines or on the plantations, and at the end of that time were free to leave with their savings. That system still existed in South Africa. That was Radical consistency so far as Chinese slavery was concerned. Practically all the Radicals newspapers in the country were under the control of the cocoa press, and Rown trees and the Cadburys controlled most of the Liberal papers. These people at the same time were buying their cocoa from the Portuguese Islands, slave-grown cocoa, and they continued to buy it until 1908, when the Standard showed the whole business up. Theae same papers railed against the Unionist* on the question of food taxes, and to-day the food of the people was taxed to the extent of over 11 millions under the present Radical Government. They paid more in food taxes in Free Trade England than protected countries like America and Germany. Then the Chancellor of the Exchequer said they were going to tax land, and he started his land-bursting campaign. Food came from the land, and a tax on land was a tax on food. The Liberal policy at the present time so far as the land was concerned was that instead of the old land- lord system farmers should hold land under the County Council. No County Council or Government department could bind its successors, and there was not much security of tenure in that case. The County Council bought land under the Liberal Small Holdings Act and in no case did the County Council let land except at a higher rental than ,ias charged under the old system. Contru«i that with the Unionist policy of enabi:? small holders to become their own  tandIur?B, as bad been done m Ireland. (Applause.) Dealing with the Home Rule question, he said the Liberal Party had no mandate for Home Rule from the electors. He pointed out that under the Government Home Rule Bill the Imperial Exchequer was to pay the piper and have no say in calling the tune, while representatives from Ireland were to be allowed to sit in the Imperial Parlia- ment. They were asked to hand over the loyalists of Ireland to Mr John Redmond and his followers, and the former had said that the Ulster men must be overborne with a strong hand. What smashed the Liberal Party in 1886 would smash the Liberal Party again, if they only went to the country on it. He himself was an Ulster volunteer in the Worcestershire contingent being raised by Mr Charles Coventry. (Loud applause.) The Master proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Hunt for his address, which was vociferously accorded, Mr Hunt briefly replying. The healths of the Worthy Master and the Deputy-Master were heartily toasted to the accompaniment of musical honours and cheers, and both gentlemen briefly responded. During the evening an excellent pro- gramme of harmony was rendered by Bros. W G Witham, H B Whyld, F Farmer (Bosbury), J Brooks and E W Reed, who also with his customary efficiency acted as accompanist.

LLOYDS BANK, LIMITED. A Reoord In Profit Earning Capacity. The fifty-sixth ordinary general meeting of Lloyds Bank, Limited, was held on the 4th inst., at Birmingham. The Chairman (Mr R V Vassar-Smith),. in moving the adoption of the report, said: To-day we have the satisfaction of presenting a report and statement of accounts establishing a record with regard to the profit-earning capacity of your Bank. But the year has been one of continual anxiety, owing to the uncertainty of the political situation and the stringency in the markets for money. These factors existing in the early part of the year no doubt called for a prudent policy. There has been no pronounced uneasiness, and we have had a successful and prosperous year. Never has trade, both at home and abroad, been so large, profits have been good, there has been very little unemployment, and wages have advanced. It is, however, now clear that this extraordinary activity is lessening, and we must look forward to a period of greater quietude, but I do not feel that we should fear a long time of depression. Given peace and freedom from political and labour troubles, the great and legitimate develop- ments, colonial and foreign, as well as at home, will revive activity. Falling trade appears not to be so pronounced in England as in other countries. The vast amount of credit created by this expansion of business has called renewed attention to our gold reserves, and a committee was appointed and is now considering this important ques- tion. Reasons have been advanced why gold is not attracted and kept here; and methods outlined for strengthening our position. With a great many of the argu- ments I thoroughly agree, but I certainly do not with the advocacy of a Royal Commis- sion to determine what bankers should do. From recent experience I think we may be assured that in present day necessities bankers can be relied upon to take, and will take, a proper course to maintain safety. After referring to the general conditions of trade throughout the country, the Chair- man said In these reports there has been little reference to what is the most important factor in modern history, viz., labour. This is not the place to go into causes, nor to suggest remedies, but no one can review the results of a year's trading without feeling how much better they would have been for all parties bad we had rest in the industrial world, nor can we look forward to the future without misgivings as to the course labour will be inclined to take. I may mention that our colonial and foreign business has in- creased in a most satisfactory manner. The number of offices in England and Wales is now 679, an increase during the year of 41. The staff numbers 3,507, an increase of 142, the current accounts having increased by 8,827, and the deposit accounts by 9,578. The increase in the turnover of the current accounts is L56,641,000, or 3.7 per cent. The drawback upon this comparison of im- provement has been the continual deprecia- tion of our investments during the past fifteen years, in 1913 the largest we have yet had to write off. During the past month, however, the rise in values has been consider- able, and there is strong reason to think we may have seen the worst. Much of this appreciation is, of course, due to the lower value of money, and this may in turn reduce the profits of the Bank. It will be interest- ing to you to compare the position of the Bank in 1901 with last year jfercencage 1901 1913 of increase. £ £ Current and deposit ac- counts aver- 0 age  48,285,000 88,470,000 83.2 O verdrafts, average 25,267,000 48,536,000 92.9 OScea. 315 679 1155 Capital 2,848,OdO 4.209,000 47.7 Reserve 1,950000 3,000,000 538 Premises. 1,185,010 2,205,000 86 Net profits 654,000 1,240.000 89 6 while perhaps the most satisfactory feature is that the number of our accounts has increased by 106.4 per cent. I The Chairman moved that in accordance with the recommendation of the Directors, a dividend for the half-year ended the 31st December last of 14s 6d per share, being at the rate of 181 per cent. per annum on the paid-up capital of the Company, be declared. The report was unanimously adopted, the Directors and Auditors elected, and the usual votes of thanks given to the Chairman and the staff.

Ledbury Corn Market. I The market at the Feathers Hotel Corn Ex- change on Tuesday was very sparsely attended. There is plenty of stuff on offer, and the markets are firmer. Any amount of clover seed was on offer at from 4d to 8il per lb, but samples were rather neglected. Seed spring beans were from 43 9d to 5s per bushel; peas, 4s 6d to 5s and Garton's Abundance Oats 28;J to 30s per quarter. Generally seeds are firm. Quotations :— Wheat (new), 3s lid to 4s Id. Beans, 3s lid to 4s Id Peas, 3s 9d to 4s 3d Vetches, 4s 6d to 58 Rye, 4s Oats (old), 22s to 288 per qr. „ (new), 20s to 22a per qr. Flour, firm. Maize, 25s to 27s per qr. English Barley, 28i! to 32s. Foreign Barley, 22s to 25s 400 f.o.r. Sharpness. Bran, t6 10s per ton.

FOOTBALL FIXTURES. I LEDBURY TOWN. Feb 28-Evesham United, home March 21—Norton Barracks, home April 4—Badsey Rangers, home April 18—Droitwich United, home April 25 —Stourport Swifts, home -West Malvern, away —Norton Barracks, away COLWALL. Feb28-Norton Barracks, away Mar 7-Evesham Wanderers, home Mar 14-St Clements, away Mar 28- Stoke United, home Apr 4-Evesham United, home Apr 11—Stoke United, away ApI" 25-Droitwich United, away 4-

TEMPERANCE MISSION AT I LEDBURY. Mr. George Blaiklock's Visit. The temperance mission at Ledbury, pro- moted by the Ledbury Temperance Council, which opened on Thursday in last week, was continued on Friday night, when Mr G A Neal, of Plymouth, was again the speaker. On Saturday night Mr George Blaiklock, barrister-at-law, of London, was the speaker, but the attendance was again small. The chair was taken by Mr Stephen Ballard, of Colwall. After the usual 'devotional exercises, the Chairman delivered a short address, and said it was 30 years since he last spoke to a Ledbury audience in that room. They had come there that night to discuss the greatest social question of the day. Some of them were apt to forget the evils of intemperance. As an employer of labour he was simply horror struck at the ravages of drink. He did not know how an employer could not but be on the side of the temperance workers. (Applause.) When the employer saw his best men gradually becoming drunkards it was enough to turn him to the temperance workers. He did not know Ledbury as he did 30 years ago, but they need not go much further than Worcester to see some of the work of the drink. Let them look into the slums and see the slatternly and untidy women standing about and the poor little children half starved. Ask anyone what was the cause of it; ask the ministers and if they spoke from the bottom of their hearts they would answer in a word—strong drink. Referring to Mr Balfour's Licensing Act of 1904 he said this law gave the magistrates power to issue a levy on the brewers. They had got-26 public-houses in Ledbury and that was by far too many. The magis- trates," he said, do not do their duty. If we, as advocates of temperance, did our duty we should make it so hot for them that they would have to do their duty." There were 26 public-houses in the town and there ought to 13. (Hear, hear.) Mr Blaiklock, who was greeted with loud applause, said it was 25 years ago since he last spoke in that hall. He came there to influence the minds of young men and women to become enthusiastic temperance reformers and to help in the promotion of these movements to the benefit of humanity and the weakening of the forces of evil. There was no need to go far for the main- tenance of this point. There was a home in this country for inebriates. In this home there were nearly a thousand persons of the upper classes. 200 or 300 were described as being independent persons. But this movement dealt more directly with the wage-earners of the country in more ways than the richer classes. When the wage- earners drank to excess it meant that the wives and children had to go short. The working men of this country," he said, have yet to learn to strike, not only against the employer, but to strike against the gin bottle and the pewter pot as the first step towards the social evil." The liquor traffic in the first place absorbed an enormous amount of the workers' capital, and they got nothing back worth having. It only employed a miserable amount of labour in the labour market. The liquor traffic employed but a small amount of labour, compared with other industries. He mentioned Guinness's as an example. Their invested capital was 6^ million pounds, and 2 million poun d s, an d the premiums ran up to 16 millions. They employed only 2,500 men. They paid their men very low wages, indeed, the average per man was 24s. per week. The profits made by thin firm amounted to Y,855,000 per annum. The wage bill wasZ156,000 a year, therefore the profits amounted to six times the amount of the wages. The liquor traffic only employed one person for the same capital as four persons employed in any other place. The Socialists said that the temperance movement was a dodge of the employers to lower their wages, but the total abstainer got the advantage in the labour world. The Socialists thought that when the employer found out that the workers could live without beer, the employ- ers would reduce their wages. He said that there were in their midst criminals and paupers and loafers and unemployable per- sons. These people had to live, but who kept them ? The other people. They had to maintain themselves and their families and pay their rates and taxes to support the victims of the liquor traffic. Remove the cause producing these people and they would gradually cease to be. Who is it," demanded the speaker, that helps to raise the wages of the workers ? (A voice Lloyd George."). (Laughter). Mr Blaik- lock replied, "The sober man." Continuing, the speaker said fcfeat if the sober man wanted anything he generally got it. The drunken workman was contented with one or two rooms in a foul slum, instead of desiring a comfortable cottage to live in. The sober man desired a well-furnished home and he was able to get it. (Applause). The men who were the victims of the public- houses and who were bled by the brewers and distillers were the people who lived in slums. He went on to speak about sweated female labour. He said it was generally the case of the drunken husband who sent his wife out to work to help to support the home. Some of them worked at making paper bags at sixpence a thousand. He went on to say that he did want to say a word on low wages—he wanted to see men have more leisure, and enjoying more wealth than they were enjoying to-day. The Labour Party representatives iu the House of Commons were the best of Christian men and total abstainers. That was how they came to be labour leaders. They lived laborious days and spent studious nights, and as a result of that self-denial they became leaders of their class. He went on to refer to the temperance problem, and said that their programme was total abstin- ence from alcoholic liquor. It meant that they were to keep outside the doors of public-houses. They saw sometimes in Court a poor broken-hearted wife pleading for a drunken blackguard of a husband, who had mauled and maimed her. This was another reason why the liquor traffie should be abolished. Forty per cent. of the friendly societies in the country were held on licensed premises, and this also helped on the causes of evil. He thought that their municipalities and town councils and churches and chapels and education authori- ties ought to help the working men in regard to holding their meetings in their room :11. a small sum. The time had come fro.. a labour stand point-when they should have the Sunday closing of the public-houses. He was not a Puritan in a narrow sense, but he felt gravely concerned I at the encroachment on what remained to them of the English Sabbath. If they could have Sunday closing it would take away the only i"-gument that was made in the support of opting cinema houses on Sundays. In Canada the public-houses were shut at 8 o'clock on Saturday evenings, and he also wanted to close the public-houses in this country early on Saturdays. They wanted to see a man in power, a Christian of moral rectitude and mind who would help on the nation to the highest platform of sobiiety. (Loud applause). One of the audience, at the end of the meeting signed the pledge. Mr Hill, secretary of the Temperance Council, thanked Mr Ballard for presiding over the meeting. He also deplored the scarcity of the gathering that night. The meeting concluded with the Benediction. MONDAY'S MEETING. I The Rev G Dyer, who, in the absence of Mr James Fielding, of Gloucester, took the chair at Monday night's meeting, said they were fighting a very great and powerful foe-the force of intemperance. Drunkenness was a kind of Goliath of death that comes out from amongst the Phillistines. He referred to the cider apples as some of the most miserable little things that were grown. He had ad vised people to cut down all apple trees so that none of the fruit could be turned into cider. It would be a great sacrifice, but they would be following the way of their Saviour. Mr Blaiklock, upon being introduced to the gathering, said be would speak about "Temperance and Social Reform." He wanted to urge the young men and women, when it was their turn, to do valiant service for the cause. It was his last visit to the town, but he felt amply repaid for the labour of coming there. The temperance movement was getting on in years. It had bad its many triumphs and sometimes defeats. They suffered a grave defeat nearly six years ago when a great measure of temperance reform introduced by the Govern- ment and passed by a large majority in the House of Commons, was destroyed temporarily by the House of Lords. At any rate they must be thankful it could not be done again. (Applause.) They had been temporarily defeated, but they had not been beaten. (Hear, hear.) They had not failed, there was no real defeat; checked sometimes, defeated occasionally, but the cause of truth and righteousness marched triumphant still. Bumbledom and Poor Law in this country were doomed in the future. (Applause.) Another success was the Children's Act. Then there was the Temperance Act passed for Scotland. (Applause.) He hoped that it would not be long before it would be in force in England and Wales. Two great evils that existed all over the world were ignorance and selfishness-the devil was the father of ignorance and the promoter of selfishness. Both were caused through the affection of the liquor traffic. He supposed that the greatest lawyer was Lord Halsbury, and evidently he had not bad a Band of Hope training. In a speech he made in the House of Lords on the Licensing Bill he said that beer was the working man's food. The temperance movement had sent out challenges for over 70 years. They had challenged the brewers and makers of alcholic liquor to scientifically justify the qualities of their trade. After giving Various illustrations of the misery caused by alcholic liquor, Mr Blaiklock concluded. The Rev Mr Barnes proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Blaiklock, which was carried by acclamation, and the meeting closed with the Benediction. Three pledges were taken.

NOT OUT OF DOORS FOR 3 YEARS. I A Mother's Badly Poisoned Foot I Splendidly Healed by Zam-Buk. Mrs J Newsome put on an old pair of boots which she kept for use in the house. A naU sticking'up in one boot scratched her foot. Dye from my stocking set up blood-poison," Mrs Newsome, who lives at 114, Huddersfield Road. West Town, Dewsbury, said to a local reporter. The foot festered badly. I never went out of the house for three years, and for twelve months I couldn't even get upstairs Crossing the kitchen floor gave me intense pain. Friends advised all kinds of ointments and remedies, but these failed, and I then realised that the poison and festeiing had gone too far for any ordinary treatment. Several doctors next had my case under treatment, with the same disappointing result. Finally I was taken in a cab to Dewsbury Inlirnaarv. I couldn't have walked to save my life. My poisoned foot was dressai by the surgeon, and when I got home again I carefully carried out the Infirmary treatment. But my foot still remained in a shocking state. My son one day came home, and seeing me in great ptin said, I wish you would try Zam-Buk, mother. I'm sure it will heal your sore foot.' "To please my son I got some Zam-Buk. I hadn't been using the balm more than a few days before I saw proof of its extraordinary healing powers. Not only was the dreadful pain soothed the inflammation and proud flesh also disappeared. Zil.m.Bllk was simply marvellous! It cleansed and healed my foot splendidly. New healthy skin grew over the old sore place. 1 can now get out and about again as well as ever. Zam-Buk has completely cured me." Every housewife and out-door worker should know that a box of Zam-Buk is the most useful balm as a first-aid for injuries and a cure for skin diseases like eczema, ringworm, festering sores, ulcers, and also for piles, etc.

[Am RIGHTS RESERVED.] BIBLE STUDIES CONDUCTED BY PASTOR RUSSELL. BAD CONFESSION v. GOOD CONFESSION. The Lesson :—Luke xii. 1-12. The Text:—"Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man con- fess before the angels of God/'—v. 8. A large crowd surrounded the Saviour, anxious to hear him who "spake as never man spake." Jesus addressed his disciples, saying, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Here, as elsewhere in his teachings, Jesus used leaven as a symbol of an evil influence. We know not of one instance in which leaven was used to represent anything good or pure. During the Passover season Jews were prohibited from using it, thus symbolising the putting out of sin. Jesus declared that the hypocrisies prac- tised by the Pharisees—the learned people of that time-were leaven, impurity, sin, con- taminating in its influence. His disciples should be honest, sincere, pure, free from cant and deception. He declared that ulti- mately all hypocrisies and sins will be un- covered, revealed. Undoubtedly he meant that during his Kingdom, when the power of the resurrection will be exercised, all the hidden things of darkness will be abolished, the secrets of mankind will be exposed. No doubt this will constitute the basis of the shame and contempt which will be the punishment of many, as foretold. FEAR NOT PERSECUTIONS. Jesus intimated that honesty of life would bring his followers persecutiorr from the hypocrites; but that tlley should not fear, even though the persecution resulted in their death. The present life is but ephemeral at best. The life that is worth considering is the everlasting one, which God has provided for all the willing and obedient, and which may eventually be at- tained through the merit of Jesus' sacrifice. Those who thus believe should have no fear of what man could do to them, but rather should be fearful of anything that would separate them from God and His gtacious provisions of a future life. "Fear Him who aftef He hath killed hath power to cast into helL" The word Hell here is Gehenna in the Greek. Primarily, this is the name of the valley outside Jeru- salem, into which the offal of the city was cast for utter destruction, and into which the vilest criminals were cast after execu. tion-not to torment them, but to imply symbolically that there was no future for them. Jesus used Gehenna as a type of the Second Death, which will be the portion of all who wilfully, intelligently, deliberately, sin against light and knowledge. The fear of God is the beginning of wis- dom, and a reverential fear is always proper. But as God's people become inti- mately acquainted with Him, learning of His Justice, His Wisdom, His Love and His Power, and realise that He is the Friend of all who love righteousness, they come to love God; and, as the Apostle declares, "Perfect love casteth out fear. The Lord's disciples were to realise that as their Heavenly Father forgets not the sparrows, so He will not forget them; and that not even a hair of their heads could be injured without His knowledge and permission; that everything He permits to come to His people, to His children. He assures them will work out for them some blessing. "CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN." I Whoever would be in accord with (iod must confess Jesus, His Representative, whom He sent into the world. Whosoever confesses Jesus confesses the Father who sent him. All such will be in the Lord's favour, and ultimately be acknowledged in the resurrection by the Father and the holy angels, as members of the Bride of Christ. But those who, after becoming disciples of Christ, deny him. he will not acknowledge as disciples in glory. Jesus' words were ad- dressed to the disciples, not to the masses. None could deny him who had never ac- knowledged him. He is to be confessed, not merely bv baptism, nor by any outward form, but in the life. in the conduct, in the words, of his followers. Whoever makes a profession of being a disciple, and then ignores the Master's teachings, misrepre- sents him, slanders him, denies him, and will not share in the glorious presentation of the Bride, in the end of this Age. The masses, of course, were in doubt, and dii not become disciples at all. Some even derided Jesus, saying that he had a devil and was mad. The Master declared that such misunderstanding of him and such slanders were quite forgivable if done ignor- antly, but when .some went beyond this, and declared that his good works of the Holy Spirit were accomplished through the power of Satan, Beelzebub, they were committing inexcusable sins, which should not be passed over. Such sin must be wilful, for their accu- sations had no basis whatever. The Master's teachings were purity itself. His conduct, his sayings, and his miracles were all good works. Only a wilful perversity could attri- bute these to Satan. The fact that they would never be forgiven does not signify, however, that the vilifiers were hopelessly lost. They would suffer punishment propor- tionate to their degree of wilfulness. If the punishments brings reformation, well and food; if not, they will eventuate in utter destruction—the Second Death. SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT. I Few subjects are lesai understood than this —the sin against the Holy Spirit. The word spirit, in such a case as this, stands for power, or influence. For instance, the spirit of Satan would be the power, or influence adverse to God and to righteousness. 'Hie spirit of error would be the power or influ- ence of falsehood. Contrariwise, the spirit of the Truth, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, represents Divin e iiilfii-oizee, and power wherever recognised. The responsi- bility of each individual is proportionate to his enlightenment. The mentally and morally blind have comparatively little re- sponsibility, because they do not appreciate clearly the distinction between the spirit of Truth and the spirit of error, the spirit of God and the spirit of Satan. Man was not created in this condition of inability to discern right and wrong, good and evil. He was created perfect, in the image and likeness of God. Sin has wrought death, not merely to man's body, but also to his mind, his conscience. The ability to discern between right and wrong varies therefore. Additionally, sonic have opportunities for instruction more than others, and thus their responsibility is in- creased. The world in general knows not God, and hence could not sin against the Holy Spirit in that full degree which would be punished with the Serond Death. "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not. "-2 Cor. iv. 4. Some knowledge is necessary to bring UB to an appreciation of Christ ail "the Sent" of God. Then if we accept him and become his consecrated .followers, we receive the begetting of the Holy Spirit. This brings us to a vantage point where our eyes of understanding open more and more widely in proportion its we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility increases with our ioy in the Lord and our preparation for the Heavenly glories to which we have been called. It is these advanced disciples of Jesus that are in danger of grieving the Holy Spirit whereby they were sealed-of quenching the spirit of holiness in their hearts.—(Eph. iv. 30; 1 Thess. v. 19);. While the quenching- and grieving are not instantaneous works, they lead to the Second. Death. Every Christian, therefore, should press on toward perfection of holiness—the filling with the spirit.

iMMtmMfSa "liOWDOYUS" aeitroya aj< vormin completely ftad hyKitnio- H I ™ if! J HL ^9 ally. 1/-12/- sod 6/- tina from aU eh«tiiata or I I I I f| j 1 1 1 London Bytienic Chemical Co.. 1 Lo:o.9J:i:.g.o., Sold by A. Stevens, Chemist, Ledbury,

I ACROSS THE TAULE. 1 In connection with the part p:ay.-d by Black Rod in the ceremonial at the opening of Parliament it may be noted thai..<.1- though Black Rod may be independent of the House of Lords, he is well within ther control of the House of Commons; for. while he is appointed by the Crown, his salary is the subject of a vote of the House of Com- mons, who could consequemiy. -If the occa- sion arose, make their power felt, ill a very unquestionable way. On various occasions Black Rod has come into strained relations with the House of Commons. In March, 1627, the House of Commons were sent, for to attend the King in the House of Lords, not by Black Rod. but by a. subordinate. Thi'S delegation of hie duties was bitterly resented, and had it not been for the fact that the King was waiting for the appearance of the Commons the Lower House would not have obeyed the summon. till Black Rod had himself come in person. Now that Mr. John Burns has exchanged the Local Government Board for the Board of Trade, Sir Edward Grey is the only mem- ber of the Cabinet left in possession of the office to which he was appointed when tlio Liberals came into power eight years ago. Mr. Burns will be the fourth President of the Board of Trade since the Unionists went out, his predecessors being Mr. Llovci George, Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Buxton. But that record is broken at the Duchy of Lancaster office, for Mr. Masterman will make the sixth Chancellor. In addition to his immediate predecessor (Mr. Hobhouse) the Chancellorship has been held by the late Lord Wolverhampton, Lord Fitzmaurice, Mr. Samuel, and Mr. Pease. Now that the will of the late Mr. Stanler Houghton has been published there will be- an end to the absurd statements regarding the alleged wealth of the gifted young dramatist. The gro&s value of the estate— ■ ..5,488-i-s only about a twentieth of the amount which Mr. Houghton was said by some irresponsible writers to have earned. and even the denials of those qualified to know did not altogether kill the rumours. ,t l i,c?r kill tlic riLinioulr4s. The announcement that the Athenaeum Club has added to its membership Professor Frazer, Sir Charles Holroyd. and Sir James Ramsay under the special rule dealing with, men of "distinguished eminence" recalls a characteristic exploit of Disraeli. In 1830, not being a member, he strolled calmly into- the club and walked up to the library to talk to his father. He was asked to leave, and: was blackballed when he put up in 1820. It was not until thirty-four years later that he was admitted under this came special rule. Thackeray, who afterwards became one of the club's ornaments, was proposed under the same rule in 1850, but there was a hostile committee man. and he was not elected. J The theft of Lord Lonsdale's watch recalls the story of Mr. George Payri's gold re- peater. for whose restitution word had several timet; to be passed round: "A ten- pound note, and no questions asked." On one occasion Mr. Payn was told: "It will be ten tjuinea* this time, Mx. Payn. Yon see, it was a little out of order, and we've had it done up for yon." The abdication of the King of Sweden in favour of his son, the husband of Princess Margaret of Con naught, would add a sixth to the number of King George's first, cousins among European Sovereigns. The other five are. of course, the Czar, the Kaiser, the King of Greece, the Kins; of Den-mark, and the Queen of Spain. In addition, his Majesty's sister is Queen of Norway. The Par us of an earlier generation is re- called by the death of M. Burdel. the pro- prietor of the famous Cafe Anglais, which was only recently demolished. M. Buruel began as the cook. and finally rose to lie sole pro- prietor of the famous restaurant, which at one time was among the two or three most celeb rater] in Paris, and was the scene of many historic dinners. The Cafe Anglais, which was frequented by King Edward and by practically every Royal and distinguished vi-iter to Paris during the Second Empire, v i ?i',(!r to duri.i! was- especially renowned for its cellar, which at the height of its reputation was pe,rhaps even more fa.mous than the cuisine. The plate-glass window of a jeweller's shop on Denmark Hill has recently been cracked by some nefarious person with the aid of half a brick. The said half brick now rests in its rugged glory on a silver tray in the window, with a card on which is printed the following announcement: Who threw this brick and knocked down all our prices? There have been no callers to claim the brick. This story is told of Captain Barr of the Carmania, who M fastidious about the cleanli- ness and tidiness of his ship. A grimy young diver, it appears, was boasting in a hotel smoking-room about the dangers of hilS call- ing. "Yes," said the young man as he re- lighted the stump of his cigar, you sailors, Captain, think you lead a dangerous life, but, let me tell you, I carry my life in my hands." "Oh, I see," said Captain Barr, "and that's why yo'u never wash them, eh-foll fear you'll drown yourself." An Edinburgh cabman was driving an, American round the eights of the northun city. In High-street he stopped, and with a. wave of his whip announced That is Jolijt, Knox's house." "John Kiif)xl" exclaimed the American, "who was he?" This was too much for the cabby. Good heavens, man, he exclaimed, did you never read your Bible? In connection with the Insurance Act, the word "Lloyd George" is in every-day u«e, but a customer in a London tobacco shop worked it in in a new issue. Half o' Lloyd George," was his demand. The shopkeeper handed hirn half an ounce of shag. No." protested the customer, "I want the same as Lloyd George." "What's that?" was thft- query. Half o' Navy," was the reply. A distinguished painter employed a. «raalt- boy from a neighbouring slum as a model. He gave the child some tea, and asked him if he would like brown bread or white, expect- ing, as is usual with such youngsters, that he. would ask for white. The boy, however,, asked for brown bread. Hello exclaimed' the painter, astonished. Do you like brown- bread?" "Yes." replied the boy. ''it's got. more nitrogen i:i it." A sporting friend of mine. a member- of' Boodle's, tells me, the Carpenter says in the. Daily Express, of an amusing incident at the- house of what he calls a "country aunt," where mention was made of the picture of the famous racehorse St. Simon; painted by Lynwood Palmer, which has just been hung in the club hall. "I am glad to hear that you have, at any rate, one pious picture in your club," she observed; whereupon she was informed that a pious picture was in the smoking-room, too-a. portrait ot St, Gatien. This reminds me of my great-grand- mother, the relict of a Nonconformist divine, who had conscientious scruples against but regularly went to the elit St. .James's Hall to see Mr. "Poity" MQW'0 and the Christian Minstrels. An American furrier declares that most of the chinchilla that is seen on the streets was once the property of the opossum, and that the rare Iceland-fox when he- appears over an opera cape is very often parading in sheep's clothing, the fur. in fact, of a com- mon Thibetan sheep. But the finer rarer ekins, such as the royal ermine, and the silver fox, can be traced to the rabbit.

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