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r Gllk6l)-l'?G,?_,_nlz ??…
r Gllk  6l)-l'? G,?_nlz ?? I'? ??II)I I fcTLife in a Boarding House 1 '1 I OUR SHORT STORY. | WELL," said little Mrs. Tibbs to herself, W as she sat in the front parlour of the as she sat in the front parlour of the Coram- street mansion one morning, mending the piece of stair-carpet off the first landing; "well things have not turned out so badly either, and if I only get a favourable answer to the advertisement, we shall be full again." Mrs. Tibbs resumed her occupation of mak- ing worsted lattice-work in the -carpet, anxiously listening to the two-penny postman, who was hammering his way down the street at the rate of a penny a knock. The house was as quiet as possible. There was only one one low sound to be heard-it was the un- happy Tibbs cleaning the gentlemen's boots in the back kitchen, and accompanying him- self with a buzzing noise, in wretched mockery of humming a tune. The postman drew near the house. He paused-so did Mrs. Tibbs-a knock-a bustle —a letter-post paid. T.I. presents compt. to I.T. and T.I. begs to say, that i see the advertisement And she will Do Herself the pleasure of calling on you at 12 o'clock to-morrow morning. j T.I. has to apologise to I.T. for the short- ness Of the notice But i hope it will not unconvenience you. I remain yours Truly, "Wednesday evening." Little Mrs. Tibbs perused the document over and over again; and the more she read it the more she was confused by the mixture of the first and third person; the substitution of the "I" for the "T.I. and the transition from the "I.T." to the "you." The writing looked like a skein of thread in a tangle, and the note was ingeniously folded into a perfect square, with the direction squeezed up into the right-hand corner, as if it were ashamed of tiself. The back of the epistle was pleas- ingly ornamented with a large red wafer, which, with the addition of divers ink-stains. bore a marvellous resemblance to a black bettle trod upon. One thing, however, was perfectly clear to the perplexed Mrs. Tibbs. Somebody was to call at twelve. The draw- ing-room was forthwith dusted for the third time that morning; three or four chairs were pulled out of their places, and a correspond- ing number of books carefully upset, in order that there might be a due absence of fomality. Down went the piece of stair-carpet, before noted, and up ran Mrs. Tibbs "to make her- self tidy." The clock of New Saint Pancras Church struck twelve, and the Foundling, with laud- ablp politeness, did the aame ten minutes afterwards. Saint something else had struck the quarter, and there arrived a single lady with a double knock, in a pelisse the colour of the interior of a damson pie; a hat of the same, with a regular conservatory of artificial flowers; a white veil, and a green parasol, with a cobweb border. The visitor (who was very fat and red- .e.:J\ _1. — .1 1 > !»- £ 1 O. Tibbs presented herself, and the negotiations commenced. "I called in consequence of an advertise- ment," said the stranger, in a voice like a man who had been playing a set of Pan's pipes for a fortnight without leaving off. "Yes!" said Mrs. Tibbs, rubbing her hands very slowly, and looking the applicant full in the face-two things she always did on such occasions. "Money is no object whatever to me," said the lady, "so much as living in a state of retirement and obstrusion." Mrs. Tibbs, as a matter of course, ac- quiesced in such an exceeding Iilatural desire. "I am constantly attended by a medical man, resumed the pelisse wearer, have been a shocking Unitarian for some time, and have had very little peace since the death of Mr. Bloss. Mrs. Tibbs looked at the relict of the de- parted Bloss, and thought he must have had very little peace in his time. Of course, she could not say so; so she looked very sympa- thising. "I shall be a good deal of trouble to you," said Mrs. Bloss, "but for that trouble I am will ing to pay. I am going through a course of treatment which renders attention neces- sary. I have one mutton chop in bed at half-past eight, and another at ten, every morning. Mrs. Tibbs, as in duty bound, expressed the pity she felt for anybody placed in such a distressing situation, and the carnivorous Mrs. Bloss proceeded to arrange the various pre- liminaries with wonderful dispatch. "Now mind," said that lady, after terms were ar- ranged, "I am to have the second-floor for my bedroom?" "Yes, nia'ani. "And yc,,Li'll find room for my little servant, Agnes. ?" "Oh certainly." "And I can have one of the cellars in area for my bottled porter?" "With the greatest of pleasare. James shall get it ready for you by Saturday." "And I'll join the company at the breakfast table on Sunday morning," said Mrs. Bloss, "I shall get up on purpose." "Very well," returned Mrs. Tibbs in her most amiable tone, for satisfactory references had been "given and required," and it was quite sertaiii that the new corner had plenty of money. It's rather singular," continued Mrs. Tibbs, with what was meant for a most bewitching smile, "that we have a gentleman now with us, who is in a very delicate state of health—a Mr. Gobler. His apartment is the back drawing-room." "The next room?" inquired Mrs. Bloss. "The next room," repeated the hostess. "Haw very promiscuous ejaculated the "Ill dow. "He hardly ever t- up," said Mrs. Tibbs, in a whisper. "Jfor cwK'd Mr- Bloss, in an equally low tone. And win-ft ¡w is up," said Mrs. Tibbs, "we never can persuade him, to go to bed again.. • "Dear me!" said the astonished Mrs. t Bloss, drawing her chair nearer Mrs. Tibbs. "What is his complaint.?" Why, the fact is," replied Mrs. Tibbs; with a most communicative air, "he has no stomach whatever." "No what?" inquired Mrs. Bloss, with a look of the most indescribable alarm. "No stomach," repeated Mrs. Tibbs, with a shake of the head. "Lord bless us What an extraordinary case gasped Mrs. Bloss, as if she under- stood the communication in its literal sense, and was astonished at a gentleman without a I stomach finding it necessary to board any- where. "When I say he has no stomach," explained the chatty little Mrs. Tibbs, "I mean that his digestion is so much impaired, and his in- terior so deranged, that his stomach is not of the least use to liirn-in fact, it's rather an inconvenience than otherwise." "Never heard such a case in my life ex- claimed Mrs. Bloss. "Why, he's worse than I am." "Oh, yes replied Mrs. Tibbs, "certainly." She said this with great confidence, for the set of the damson pelisse satisfactorily proved that Mrs. Bloss, at all events, was not suffer- ing under Mr. Gobler' complaint. "You have quite incited my curiosity," said Mrs. Bloss, as she rose to depart. "How I long to see him He generally comes down once a week," replied Mrs. Tibbs; "I dare say you'll see him on Sunday." And with this consolatory promise Mrs. Bloss was obliged to be con- tented. She accordingly walked slowly down the stairs, detailing her compliments all the way, and Mrs. Tibbs followed her, uttering an exclamation of compassion at every step. James, her husband (who looked very gritty, for he was cleaning the knives), fell up the kitchen stairs, and opened the street door, and, after mutual farewells, Mrs. Bloss slowly departed down the shady side of the street. It is almost superfluous to say that the lady whom we have just shut out at the btreet door (and whom the two female ser- vants were inspecting from the second-floor windows) was exceedingly vulgar, ignorant, and selfish. Her deceased better-half had been an eminent cork-cutter, in which capacity he had amassed a decent fortune. He had no relative but his nephew, and no friend but his cook. The former had the insolence one morning to ask for the loan o ffifteen pounds, and by way of retaliation he married the latter'the next day; he made a will im- mediately afterwards, containing a burst of honebt indignation against his nephew (who supported himself and his two sister,3 on £100 a year), and a bequest of his whole property to his wife He felt ill after breakfast, and died after dinner. There is a mantel-piece looking tablet in a civic parish church, setting forth his virtues, and deploring his lose. He never dishonoured a bill, or gave away a half- jefCiiilv The relict and sole executrix of this noble- minded man was an odd mixture of shrewd- ness and simplicity, liberality and meanness. Brought up as she had been, she knew no mode of living so agreeable as a boarding- housc, and having nothing to do, and no- thing to wish for, she naturally imagined she must be very ill-an impression which was most assiduously promoted by her medical attendant, Dr. Wosky, and her hand-maid, Agnes, both of whom, doubtless for excellent reasons, encouraged all her extravagant notions. Mrs. Tibbs inmates were all lords of the creation, and she availed herself of the oppor- tunity of their assemblage at the dinner table to announce the expected arrival of Mrs. Bloss. The gentlemen received the communi- cation with stoical indifference, and Mrs. Tibbs devoted all her energies to prepare for the reception of the valetudinarian. The second-floor front was scrubbed and washed, j and flannelled, till the wet went through to the drawing-room ceiling. Clean white coun- terpanes, and curtains and napkins; water- bottles as clear as crystal, blue jugs, and I mahogany furniture, added to the splendour and increased 'the comfort of the apartment. The warming-pan was in constant requisi- tion, and a fire lighted in the room every day. The chattels of Mrs. Bloss were forwarded by instalments. _b irst there came a large hamper of G inness's stout and an umbrella; then a train of trunks, then a pair of clogs and a bandbox, then an easy chair with an air cushion; then a variety of suspicious-look- ing packages, and—though last not least- Mrs. Bloss and Agnes, the latter in a cherry- coloured merino dress, open-work stockings, and shoes with sande ls, looking like a dis- guised Columbine. The installation of the late King Edward as Chancellor of the Welsh University was notlilii., in point of bustle to the installation of Mrs. Bloss in her new quarters. The chop- eater was so fatigued with the process of re- moval that she declined leaving her room until the following morning, so a mutton-chop, pickles, a two-grain calomel pill, a pint- bottle of stout, and other medicines, were car- ried upstairs for her consumption. "Why, what do you think, ma'am?" in- quired the inquisitive Agnes of hermistress, after they had been in the house some three hours, "what do you think, ma'am? The lady of the house is married." "Married said Mrs. Bloss, taking the pill and a draught of Guinness's, "married Im- possible She is indeed, ma'am," returned the Colum- bine, "and her husband, ma'am, lives-he- he-lives in the kitchen, ma'am." "In the kitchen Yes, ma'am; and he—he—the house-maid says, he never goes into the parlour except on Sundays, and that Mrs. Tibbs makes him clean the gentlemen's boots, and that he cleans the wondows, too, sometimes, and that one morning, early, when he was on the front balcony cleaning the drawing-room windows, he called out to a gentleman on the opposite side of the way, who used to live here, 'Ah! Mr. Carlton, sir, how are you?' Here the attendant laughed till Mrs. Bloss was in serious apprehension of her chuckling herself into a fit. "Well, I never I" said Mrs. Bloss. "Yes, and please, ma 'am, the servants give him gin-and-water sometimes, and- then he cries, and says he hates his wife and the boarders, and wants to tickle them. "Tickle the boarders exclaimed Mrs. Bloss seriously alarmed. "No, ma'am, not the boarders,, the ser- vants. "Oh, is that all said Mrs. Bloss, quite satisfied. "He wanted to kiss me as I came up the kitchen stairs, just now," said Agnes, in- dignantly, "but I gave him—the little wretch This intelligence wan but too true. A long course of snubbing and neglect, his days spent in the kitchen, and his nights in the turn-up bedstead, had completely broken the little spirit that the unfortunate volunteer had ever possessed. He had no one to whom he could detail his injuries but the servants, and they were almost of necessity his chosen con- fidents. It si no less strange than true, however, that the litHe weakness which he had incurred, most probably, during hi3 military career, seemed to increase as his com- forts diminished. He was actually a sort of journeyman uiovanm in the basement story. I (To be concluded in our next issue.)
251,550,000 FOR THE NAVY.I
251,550,000 FOR THE NAVY. I Up by E2,740,700 on Current Year. I The Navy Estimates for 1914-15 show :— T?«TIUAT17C 1913-14 k46,309,300 Supplementary 2,500,000 £ 48,809,300 1914-15 51,550.000 INCREASE £ "2,740,700 Mr. Churchill, the First 'Lord of the Ad- miralty, in his explanatory memorandum account6 for the increase in the new Estimates compared with the original and Suplementary Estimates for 1913-14i £ 48,809,300) under the following general heads Increase. Pay and victualling £ 450,000 Fuel service (including oil) 400,000 Air tiervice development 300,000 Existing contracts 750,000 Armaments 800,000 Minor fiervices "40,700 Total zt2,740,700 The £ 760,000 under the heading of contracts is accounted for by increased earnings under existing contracts upon new construction. In regard to pay and victualling, the in- crease ie due to 6,000 addition to personnel to tnain shipe now under construction, "and to enable the new organisation of the Fleet to be completed step by step with the inqrasing IstabJiflhrnente of Foreign Powers." The needs of the Air Service also count. NEW PROGRAMME. The new programme is composed as fol- lows Battleships 4 I Light cruisers 4 I Destroyers 12 together with a number of submarines and subsidiary craft. "The 1914.-15 Bst Imate," Mr. Churchill savs, "like those of the current year. are iittuyiiy burdened by arrears of shipbuilding. The state of the shipyards, the prospects of trade, and the progress of the vessels, make it necessary to allow for heavy earnings by the contractors, and consuequent overtaking of arrears. The total amount provided for con- struction, excluding air service, under all pro- grammes in Votes 8 and 9 in £ 18,373,OtX)v as compared with tl6,033,000 0-riginallv presented in 1313-14 and increased by a Supplementary Estimate to £ 17,360,000. The new pro- gramme commitment being £ 14,817,000, the net reduction of the outstanding liabilities of the Navy on three headw during the vear chould be t3,556,000."
THE MINERS' FEDERATIONI BALLOT.
THE MINERS' FEDERATION BALLOT. On Raieed Contributions. The ballot which is to be taken by the South Wales Miners' Federation with regard to the proposed increase of Federation con- tributions has been fixed for the 19tli of March, and the result will be made known before the annual conference in April. Several attempts have been made of late years to secure an in- creased contribution from the members, but although the Executive Council have several tiines recoil) ifierided this, the general body of the men have rejected the proposal. There is now said to be great need for increasing the contributions if the Federation is to en- force its demands for improved conditions. The following is a copy of the ballot paper SOUTH WALES MINERS' FEDERATION. Ballot re Increase of Contributions. 19th March, 1914.
FOR
FOR I am in favour of an increase of 6d. (sixpence) per month in the Contribu- tions.
AGAINST.
AGAINST. I am against an increase of (id. (six- pence) per month in the Contributions.
[No title]
Put X in the right-hand space opposite For" or "Against." Any other mark or writing will spoil your paper. Thomas Richards, General Secretary.
PIT WORKINGS FLOODED AT GORSEINON.
PIT WORKINGS FLOODED AT GORSEINON. A sudden inrush of water has occurred in the lower workings of the Broadoak Colliery, Gorseinon. Eight men had a narrow escape, and a pony was drowned. As the pump was rendere inaccessible, it was im- possible to immediately deal with the water. Work is still able to proceed in the upper workings, the place where the inrush occurred being through the level out to the main deep, near the eastern district, which has not been operated for pome time.
THE ARRESTED MISSIONARY.
THE ARRESTED MISSIONARY. The Baptist Mifssionary Society has been informed by Sir Walter Langley of the Foreign Office, that the British Minister at Lisbon has been instructed to impress upon the Portuguese Government the necessity for making urgent representations both to the Governor General of the Portuguese Congo at Loanda and to the Governor at San Salvador, that Mr. Bowskill shall be tried before a civil and not a military court, and that the venue of the trial should be changed if possible to Loanda, or at least to Noki, where the British Consul can attend the proceedings.
Advertising
HEAD OFFICE: LOMBARD ST., J E.C. LlOVDS BANK LIMITED I Chairman B. V. VASSAR-SMITH. Deputy Chairman: J. W. BEAUMONT PEASE. Capital Subscribed £ 26,304,200 Capital paid up 4,208,672 Reserve Fund. 3,000,000 Advances, &c.- 50,871,240 Deposits, &c. 91,947,968 THIS BANK HAS OVER 650 OFFICES IN ENGLAND & WALES Colonial and Foreign Department: 60, Lombard St., E.C. PARIS AUXILIARY: LLOYDS BANK FRANCE) LTD., 26, AVENUE DE L'OPERA.
Garnant False Pretences I…
Garnant False Pretences I DOCTORS AND SCH(>OLMASTER I "HAD." I Youthful Culprits. At Ammanford on Monday—before Messrs. Henry Herbert (in the chair;, David Richards, W. Llewellyn, and J. Lewis-a young lad, named John Lloyd Jones, seventeen years and nine months old, of Morriston-place, Gwaun-cae-gurwen, was brought up on three charges of obtaining money by false pre- tences. Mr. Hugh Williams, Llandilo, who ap- peared for the prosecution, said there appeared to be a wholesale system og obtaining dona- tions 011 the representations that the parties responsible were authorised to do so by Mr. W. A. Hay, the secretary of the Garnant Cricket Club, and the object of the present proceedings was to put a stop to such practices by making an example of Jones. The charge of obtaining a sovereign from Dr. Daniel Stephenson Richmond, Garnant, was first of all heard. Dr. Richmond, Garnant, alluded to Satur- day, the 21st of February, when in the even- ing accused called at his residence, and he interviewed him in his consulting room. He produced a book and said he was collecting for the Garnant First XI. Witness replied that he had been &imilarly approached a week previous and understood that there were no collections to be made, whereupon accused said Mr. W. A. Hay, of Gellv, had authorised him to go round with the collecting book, which was to be returned to Mr. Hay by the following Monday. He saw- names on the book, as subscribers including Dr. Byrne, for 1:1, Dr. Hawkins El, Mr. Ewart Davies 10s., and others. Believing his story and on the strength of the fact that his colleagues had subscribed and that Mr. Hay's name appeared on the book as secretary, he gave him a sovereign. Accused elected te be dealt with summarily, and admitted the offence. He was further charged with obtaining a shilling by false pretences from Morgan Lewis, a schoolmaster, ,f Dolwerdd, Glanamman and with attempt- ing to obtain Xlfrom Dr. E. C. Byrne. Mr. Williams observed in the latter case that Dr. Byrne had not contributed anything although his name appeared on the book shown to Dr. Richmond as having donated the sum of £ 1. Dr. Byrne stated that he was approached by the accused at the entrance of the lane lead- ing to his residence, and asked to give some- thing towards the cricket club. He told accused that lie had given something to- wards the cricket club the r.ight before last, and the latter explained that it Was not the same club. Witness was shown a book, and in the dusk he could see that both Dr. Rich- j mond and Dr. Hawkins had given sums which he took to be a shilling each, and he gave the same, but when hie name was entered he saw that his two colleagues were down for a sovereign each. He .then questnoned the accused about it, and finally obtained his shilling back, promising that if he called the following night he would get a sovereign. In the meantime, he ascertained that Dr. Hawkins had not given anything. In reply to the Bench, F.S. Richards said there was nothing known against the accused. He had been a troublesome boy all along, but no charge had buen preferred against him be- fore. He had been in Garnant for two years. His mother was a widow. The Chairman, after a consultation with his- colleagues, said the charges were of a serious nature and they were inclined to think that if they had done their duty they would have sent him to prison for a term. However, they had taken his age into con- sideration, and had decided to give him the option of the payment of a fine of 10s. and costs in each case—* £ & 4s. 6d. in all-and the return of the guinea, or in defalut a month's imprisson inent in each case, the first two months to run concurrently. Another youth, fifteen years of age, named Gomer Jeremiah, of Caeshinkin Cottages, Garnant, was similarly charged in two in- stances before a juvenile court formed im- mediately after the previous defendant had been dealt with. From the evidence it appears that defendant went to Dr. Richmond about the 13th of February, showed the latter a subscription book, and represented that he was collecting for the Garnant cricket second eleven. There were other names on the book, and he gave him XI. Three weeks later he again called upon the doctor, this time with the. tale that he was soliciting donations towards the golf club. Knowing that there was no golf ciub in the place he declined to give anything. Accused admitted both offences, and had nothing to say. Inflicting a fine in each case og 15s. and costs, the Chairman said if defendant had been older they would have had no hesitation in sending him to prison as it was a mean thing to do. Mr. David Richards added that defendant ought to be ashamed of himself for getting his people into such trouble, and should he come before him (Mr. Richards) again he would be severely deaIth with. Defendant was ordered to return the sovereign, and this, in addition to the fines and costs, brought the total to £ 4 19s. fid.
IWELSH TEMPERANCE BILL.
I WELSH TEMPERANCE BILL. The text is now out of a Bill to promote temperance in Wales and Monmouthshire by conferring on the electors in prescribed control over the grant and renewal of licences and bv amending the law relating to Sunday closing and clubs, which has been introduced in the House of Commons by Sir Herbert liobertii, Mr. Ellis Davies, Mr. David Davies, Mr. Hugh Edwards, Mr. John M. Robinson, and Mr. Richards. N The measure empowers electors to demand a poll and subsequently vote for a "No change" resolution, "Limiting resolution," or "No licence" resolution. The first option which electors can exercise means that the pawers and discretion of licensing magistrates is to remain unchanged; by "limiting" is meant that licences shall be reduced in accard- ance with the Act; while "no licence" means that none shall be granted except for hotels and restaurants in special cases. Further, the Welsh Sunday Closing Act is to apply to Monmouthshire.
jA Farcical Debate in the…
A Farcical Debate in the House of Lords. II CONSCRIPTION PROPOSED FOR I THE RICH. Or Payment of a Small Fine. I In the House of Lords on Thursday, Lord Willoughby de Broke, ,moved the second reading of a Bill for imposing compulsory military service on the upper and middle classes. Broadly speaking, everyone with more than t400 a year—"the salary which in the House of Commons rn-akes a gentleman" is liable, also members of learned profes- sions—"in which, my lords, I include the Stock Exchange"—and public schoolboys and undergraduates. A schedule of what Lord Newton rather unkindly called the selected "acadeniias" was addled, and the age limits are 16 and 45. Anyone not serving must .pay extra income tax, varying from 3d. to 6d. in the £ Even dentists are liable, and the Act applies to Belfast. The upper and middle class con- script is to be liable for nine months' con- tinuous training, reducible to six months if he has proved himself an efficient cadet. In succeeding years there are fifteen-day and eight-day camps. THE L'OOH ARE TlIE PATRIOTS. "This House," said Lord Willoughby de Broke, in a sentence that will not be forgotten, "represents the comfortable classes in the community, and the comfortable classes should do their duty. When Mr. Lloyd George next wants to attack the comfortable classes, let him come to rue for instruction. I will tell him of those who spend every shilling on amusements—the kind of people that 1 want to drill. It is in poor homes, not in the rich ones, that you find real patriotism." Lord Willoughby paused—surveyed the carpet-looked up and encountered a hundred pairs of astonished eyes. "If I go on," he said, "I shall be as bad as Mr. Lloyd George in a momenf.' "Hear, hear," said their lordships, "Hear, hear The Bill would have "a very fine effect." It would show that national service was not an attempt to arm the poor for the defence of the possegisona of the- rich. 'I am not a detiloer,,tt," said Lord Willoughby, amid general relief, "because, niy lords, 1 believe that everybody should be an aristocrat"—rest- lessness—"but I shall divide the House on this Bill, if I can find a peer to tell with mq. He resumned his seat amid the silent en- thusiasm of the prospective conscripts. Lord Newton had an amendment down ia favour of the true gospel—universal military scrvice for irch and poor—comfortable and un- comfortable alike. He said, very shrewdly, that Labour would hardly be conciliated by the uming of the upper classes, possibly against the working man, who would be re- duced to the status of the Christian under the Turks. Nor did lie see why "the rich unfit" i should be taxed out of existence, merely be- cause "one shoulder may be higher than the other. Lord Willougby must live "in a vitiat,ed neighbourhood," but he, Lord Newton, comes from Manchester, "where, my lords, everybody works. Loafing among Lord Newton's set, and especially on "race- j courses," is nowadays "out of fashion," while as for the provision about public schoolboys, what would happen? Merely this—Lord Morley would persuade Mr. Carnegie to I ebtablish schools where boyn would be educated free of charge on condition that they did not serve their country. No -no In these matters we must have "the cardinal principle of equality,' for wlt Ie'li the House of Lords, like the National Service League, has always stood. There was grave irony in Lord Ha ldane'g rejoinder. He was so pleased with Lord Willoughby's "Noblesse Oblige" that he tore up the Bill into little fragments. "This Bill levies an income-tax," said the Lord Chan- cellor, "and so contravenes the Resolution of 1078, whereby all aids and supplies must originate in the Commons. The other House will, I am afraid, simply lay it aside." Again, if the upper and middle classes are turned into private soldiers, "from what source will the Army derive its officers ?" German experience showed that the voluntary and compulsory system could not subsist side I by side; but why continue? Lord Haldane's seriousness was only assumed. He evidently regarded the Bill as a practical joke. Not so Lord Joicev, who confessed that since he entered the House of Lord. and sat at the feet of Lord Roberts he has become a little nervous—not quite easy in his mind about those 70,(X)0 Germans. Suppose those Gerhians suddenly landed—"some my lords, at Bristol, and others on the Tyne, and others elsewhere"—what on earth would prevent them marching right up to London '? Lord Joicey looked round and waited for an answer. The fact that there would be IC,0,000 Regulars and 250,000 Territorials waiting for those 70,000 Germans, and that the Channel, with the Navy, lies between Germany and Bristol, did not occur to Lord Joicev. lo meet those Germans," said he, "we must, my lords, have 500.000 men levied by compulsion. And at these words the one Bishop present, evidently impressed by this voice from the Liberal benches, leant forward anxiouslv, so as to catch every syllable. Lord Lansdowne was present, but a ques- tion so momentous could not be determined on a single day. The debate was adjourned till to-day (Wednesday), when we shall see how far the comfortable cltisses-led by the patriotic pecro-mill, in their own persons, show us the way to Conscription.
I RADIUM IN BRITISH COLUMBIA…
RADIUM IN BRITISH COLUMBIA That radium may become an important element in the mining production of British Columbia is evidenced by the announcement recently made that steps will he taken to re- serve all deposits of this precious material for Mie Government. The matter has been under consideration for some time, and it is possible that legislation may be introduced during the present session to reserve all radio-active ores for the exclusive use of the people of the province. British Columbia may one day pro- duce enough radium for the Dominion, if not for the Empire. Doubtless when that day comes the restrictions will be considerably eased off.
1ar:JaDHar:Jftar:J1 1ar:J11ar:J"aDUaDHaD!…
1ar:JaDHar:Jftar:J1 1ar:J11ar:J"aDUaDHaD!  ?Tit'Bits& Rarebits of? ? To-day & Yesterday. | J3 B i lID Some Wise; Some Otherwise. lID THE NEWSPAPER GRAVEYARD. ( Beneath the stones they sweetly sleep, The humble toilers of the press, No more to sorrow or to weep, No more to labour in distress. Here lies a youth upon whose tomb The tear of pity often drops; We had to send him to his doom, Because he wrote of "bumper crops." Here sleeps the golden years away The fairest of the human tribe. We slew him at the break of day, Because he called hiniself "ye scribe.' Beneath that yew another sleeps, Who did his work with smiling lips, We had to put him out for keeps When he referred to "flying trips." And one, the noblest of them all. Is resting on the wind-swept hill; In writing up a game of ball He spoke of one who "hit the pill." Hard by the wall, where roses bloom, And breezes sway the clinging vines, That youth is sleeping in his tomb, Who used the phrase, "along these lines. To-day the sexton wields his spade, And digs a grave both eep and wide, Where soon the stripling will be laid, Who wrote about "the blushing bride." — Walt Mason, in the Manitoba Free Press. HHR WARNiNc,He If I should tell you, dear, that my love for you had grown cold, that I had ceased to care for you, and that the happy time when I shall claim you as my own one will never be, would it really be a trial to you, darling? She Yes, Horace, it would be a breach of promise trial. NBW HAT OR TICKET.—"I suppose, Jane, you couldn't think of going to the concert in that shabby old hat?" "Oh you dear man! How thoughtful you are I really couldn't think of it. "Yes Just what I thought, so I only bought one ticket." No PEARS ON A PLUM Tptias.-Londoner How many pear6 do you get from this tree every Countryman Not one. Lon- doner How funny. Why 14 that, I wonder? Countryman It's a plum tree. THE SERMON WAS TOO POWERFUL.—"Eh," said Sandy to the minister, "you was a power- ful deescourse on 'Thrift' ye preached last Sawbath "Ah'm glad ye were able to profit," said the minister. "Proffc Why, mon, I would have pit ina saxpence into the plate w I'out a thought if it liad not been for your providential words; they saved me four- pence there and then ST. PATRICK. March 17th was St. Patrick 's Daq, and one of the most famous miracle* attributed to the saint, is alluded to in the old Irish ballad of "Polly Roe"— St. Patrick, as in legends told, The morning being very cold, In order to assuage the weather, Collected bits of ice together, Then gently breathed upon the pyre, When every fragment blazed on fire. Oil if the saint had been 10 kind As to have left the gift behind To such a love-lorn wretch as me, Who daily struggled to be free, I'd be contenut—content with part I'd only ask to thaw the keart, The frozen heart of Polly Roe. CLIPPINGS FROM ABROAD. English Guide (showing places of interest) "It was'in this very room, sir, that Welling- ton received his first commission." American Tourist: "Indeed! And how much commis- sion did he get?"—Life. "What a lovely complexion Mrs. Flimgilt has!" "That isn't a completion,"replied Miss Cayenne, "That's a disguise.— Washing- ton Star. "Harry," she said,thoughtfully. "What ia it?" responded the worried business man, rather shortly. "I wish you could re-firrange your business a little bit." "How ?" "So as to be a bear on the Stock Exchange instead of at lioitie.-Puck. Doctor (to patient) "You'll have to rouae yourself up and take more interest in your business." Patient "My dear thir, that ith abthlutly impothible." Doctor: "Why? What is your business?" Patient "I'm a moneylender. "—Judge. j Timid Youth "W hat do I pay for a arri- age licence?" Facetious ('Ierk "Well, yoi: { get it on the instalment plan." Timid Youth: "How's that?" Facetious Clerk: "Ten shillings down and your entire salary each week for the rest of your life.Life. How SHE WAS TO BE REWARDRD.-Professor "You have now been, I understand, twenty- five years in my service, Ermyntrude?" Faithful Domestic (expectantly): "Yes, sir." Professor (impressively) "Well. as a reward ( I for your faithful servxice, I have decided to I name after you my newest species of beetle." BREVITIES. I You can judge a woman by the scent she uses. Love is blind !—but there is a sweet shadowland illumined by the heart's glow. A woman should be old-lashioned ill every- thing but her clothes. Whenever a girl leaves a sitting-out place with a man and powders r- as she goe; it's a plain confession timt she's been kissed. WHERE S BABY.—Ma- What are you rolling that barrel for, Willie? Willie :*To amuse e, To ttijuie baby. Ma Hut where's baby? Willie In the barrel, Ma PEOPLE WHO OBJECTED TO A RAILWAY. In the early days of railways. Cowbridge, Swan- sea, and Carmarthen—as well, indeed, as other towns on the main route of the South Wales Railway, which is now incorporated with the Lrreat Weslern Railway—fought successfully against the railway passing through the towns in question, and the resid- ents have ever since been swearing at the stupidity of their who thus got them put on loop lines off the main road. Similar opposition from the Eton College authori ticH defcated the Great Western Act of 1833, and ultimately in the following year the promoters introduced into their Bill five clauses which are certainly very curious read- ing, By the provisions of these clauses the company and all other companies were bound not to make a railway or tram-road, or con- struct a station with siding within three miles of Eton College. The company were also required to erect and keep in perfect repair a good and sufficient fence on both sides of the line for a length of four miles nearest to the College, and they were bound to keep a sufficient number of persons to prevent the scholars having access to any part of the rail- way so fenced off. These men were to be paid hy the company but to he under the entire control of the College authorities, and to be at any time liable to be (I ini Ismed upon j their representation and demand.