Abergavenny Chronicle

OBJECTOR KILLED IN ACTION. I A conscientious objector belonging to Bath -ra,iied Private Henry Beliamore (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry), has been killed in action. His statement before the local tribunal attracted wide attention, for he stated that he wouJÜlwt succ?our a child who was a. victim of a Zeppelin raid, because it was connected with the war. Demonstrations were held outside his home, and he subsequently stated he was be- wildered before the tribunal, and did not mean all he had said. Directly afterwards he joined up volun- tary, and was very popular with his com- rades. ————— 0' —————-

NAVY'S NEW CHIEF ENGINEER. I It is officially announced that Engineer Rear-Admiral George G. Goodwin has been appointed E n g i ri oe r -in Ch ie f of the Fleet, with the rank of Engineer Vice-Admiral, in Huccession to Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Henry J. Oram. Engineer Vice-Admiral Goodwin became Deputy Engineer-in-Chief in 1907, and was promoted to the rank of Engineer Rear-Ad- miral in 1911. Sir Henry Oram entered the Navy in 1879, and has been Engineer-in-Chief since 1907.

CRUELTY TO PRISONERS. I Asked in the House of Commons by Mr. Johnson Hicks what steps were being taken in regard to the ferocious cruelty inflicted upon British prisoners in Germany, Mr. J. F. Hope said that the War Office had always been willing to arrange for a man- for-man exchange of prisoners, but as the German Government insisted upon an all- for-all exchange, which would mean a large balance of man-power in favour of tie enemy, the British Government had decided that they could not accede to the proposal.

NO BISLEY DURING WAR. I Earl Waldegrave, presiding at the spring meeting of the National Rifle Association, said that the Bisley Meeting had again to be abandoned on account of the war. The Council was anxious, if possible, to arrange a competition between public schools which competed for the Ashburton Shield. ♦

RETIRED HAWKER'S FORTUNE. Mr. Benjamin Bryan, of Breidden View, Burgedin, Montgomery, retired hawker, who died on November 20 last, left estate of the gross value of X19,599, of which £ 1,960 is net personalty.

FOOD STOCKS "ABOVE DANGER-POINT" Captain Bathurst, Parliamentary Secre- tary to the Ministry of Food, speaking at Haverstock-hill, said our losses of merchant shipping through submarine attacks had been very serious, but since the end of April there had been some abatement. The position was, however, not without some anxiety. Our stocks of wheat had been almost dangerously low, but with the action of the United States of America and our own Admiralty, our stocks of food-stuft.s were for the moment raised above the danger-point, and by drastic economy they would be maintained and increased with a small reserve supply before our home-grown corn came upon the market—probably in September. We could, he hoped, look _y for- ward to a "bumper" crop of potatoes, a most valuable food. He was glad to say that there would be sugar for jam-making at home owing to the kindness of friends in America. It was hoped that voluntary rationing would render compulsion unnecessary. The Food Con- troller might do something, but self-control could do a deal more. The power of the purse was the most dangerous of powers un less exercised with discretion and restraint, and with consideration to the wants of others. The spirit of brotherhood and a mutual sympathy could alone render the patriotic food campaign really effective.

A BRAVE SCHOOLBOY. I Sidney Witham, living at Phillip-street, horeditch, is a brave boy, and his bravery 5 to be brought to the notioe of the Royal jiumane Society. It was stated at the in- quest held on the body of James Henry Moxey, aged six, of Hoxton. who was acci- dentally drowned by falling in the Regent s Canal while at play, that Witham pushed his way through a crowd on Whitmure-road Bridge by saying: "I can swim," and quickly succeeded in bringing the body out of the water. "I was two and a half hours respirating hira," said Witham, describing the incident. Both the coroner and the jury warmly com- mended his plucky action.

Princess Patricia of Connaught has planted a laburnum near the Calvary in Hampstead Garden Suburb in memory of Canadians who have fallen in battle. Hooligans have reappeared in London, a "Check Cap Brigade assaulting people right and left in Hackney, and a "Black Cat gang robbing seamen in Chinatown. The two soldier sons of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, of Kingston-on-Thames, have been killed in action within three days.

I DRESS OF THE DAY. I I A VERY SMART SKIRT. I One of the real necessities in the sum met wardrobe is a smart separate skirt that is suitable for wear either with a plain morn- ing shirt or with a daintier muslin blouse of simple type. Now a skirt of this kind when meant for summer wear may be carried out in either woollen or cotton materials, or, if preferred, in linen stuffs. Among the most suitable woollen fabrics may be mentioned serge, tweed, cheviot, homespun, gabardine, and light weight cloth. Of all these navy serge is, perhaps, the ideal material for a hard year separate skirt, but nowadays it has advanced so terribly in price that many of us rather hesitate to purchase a skirt of it; still, when considering the price one must also remember its serviceable, hard- wearing qualities, and that its usefulness will not cease with the summer, as is the case with thinner stuffs or with-those of a washable type. Alpaca, especially in the v [Refer to X 791.] I heavier weaves, is an admirable material for a summer skirt, for it is light and cool, and does not tumble or crush like" linen or cotton fabrics. Shantung, too, makes the most charming of summer skirts; but neither of these fabrics, of course, is suitable for autumn or winter wear. In cotton and linen goods the most suitable materials for this purpose are heavy suiting linens, cotton repps and poplins, pique, and heavy cotton herringbone stuffs. The very smart skirt shown in our sketch may be carried out in any of these materials, though the original was made of soft and very fine navy serge. This skirt is rather new in style, and is wonderfully becoming to the average figure. In front. it has a rather broad panel, beneath the edges of which, at each side, a < pleat is arranged. On either side of the front comes a large pocket, which is machined round the edges, and forms, as it were, a sort of small hip yoke. The fullness of the skirt at the sides is gathered on to the bottom of these pockets. The skirt is gathered just a little across the top of the waist, and is finished by a narrow stitched belt of the material, which finishes on either side of the front, just on the edge of the panel, in a rounded end which is caught down by a button and buttonhole. NAVY BLUE AND CHERRY. I Many of the smartest women in town are showing just now a pronounced liking for an alliance of navy blue and a dull sort of cherry red. In nine cases out of ten this alliance takes the form of a costume or coat frock of navy serge or gabardine, and a hat, be it large, medium, or toque-like in size, of this cherry red. I FOR THE BAIRNS. The left-hand design in our illustration will make up well as a play-suit for either boy or girl. Many mothers are adopting the fashion of dressing little girls in rompers and overall, to save the washing of many petticoats and underwear, so that our pat- tern will suggest another economy. Serge does splendidly for the knickers, and they are really nicer for a small girl if made to match the overall. Instead of a blouse proper, a long-sleeved bodice with turn-over collar can be buttoned on to the band of [Refer to X 792.] I knickers, or, if preferred, bodice and knickers can be cut in one. The tunic or overall can be cut from two and a quarter yards of 40in. to 42in. wide material. The pretty summer frock to the right will look extremely dainty if made up in figured voile, of which we have such charming specimens to choose from nowadays. Or, fashioned of print or cambric, it will make a sweet little garment. Remember to allow plenty of free- dom in these play frocks, so that wide materia! is the best to purchase for making them in. I SCHOOLGIRLS' HATS. I There are some very charming new ideas in the way of schoolgirls' headgear this year, most of which, I am glad to say, are of an economical type. One of the best of these new ideas is a fairly large hat of rush straw, which is trimmed with nothing more than a plain medallion of chintz, which is laid flat across the crown in front. This straw is the ideal thing for hard wear summer use, for, being soft and pliable, it wears admirably and keeps its shape splen- didly. These new hats are shown in all sorts of pretty shades, as well as in the natural colour. One of the prettiest models is carried out in apple-green rush, and is decorated by a large medallion of apple- blossom cretonne. Paper patterns can be supplied, price 6J4. When ordering, please quote number, en. close remittance, and address to Miss Lisle, 8, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

After 'being-heldntinuoU81y for_n1 years, the bell-ringing festival at Bra.ughing Herts, hM been abandoned owing to most of the ringers having joined the Colours.

IN LIGHTER VEIN I BY THOMAS JAY. ILLUSTRATED BY J. H. LUNN. It is hard to realise that some monthl have passed since we last donned summei clothing and tucked it away with a slab of camphor to keep the flies from biting it. The time, however, has arrived to throw ofl our winter dress, for a few days ago, on consulting my thermometer, I found that the mercury was so high I could hardly set it. It appeared that we had been given: quite gratuitously, several degrees of best warm weather. I therefore, in the absence of the news in the papers, decided that summer had arrived. Now arises the question of suitable clothing with which to defy all the various temperatures of our summer. One of the first things to be careful about is to be pro- perly clad. Many a man, through going ou1 with a small pipe instead of a large one has contracted pneumonia, so much so that his wife has been compelled to send an urgent message around to the family undertaker, requesting his immediate atten- tion in the household, when he invariably remarks that the pleasure will be his. A good stout suit is necessary to guard against the rigours- of our summer weather, and while there is no limitation to the number of waistcoats a man may wear, ] must point out that the old plan of wearing two pairs of boots is now falling out of fashion. If one suffers with cold feet in the summer a food PREPARED FOR SUMMER. plan, of course, is to invest in a brace of c h i 1 blains. I f OUT summer should be a hard one, a good plan but one wi,th which Mr. Frank Richardsol heartily disagrees, is to wear a good pair of side-whis- kers but summer frosts have a knack of getting even into one's whiskers. All that is necessary in order to be pro- perly protected this summer will be one out- fit as follows: Three suits of clothes drawn on one over the other, two pairs of boots (ditto), a cricket cap worn underneath the bowler, two overcoats, a mackintosh, a pair of waders, ditto leggings, a cap with ear- flaps drawn well over the head, two um- brellas, one to take with you, the other to leave in the train, and I venture to think this will be quite effective, besides being more naive and picturesque. I am very glad to note that America hae made up her mind to enter fully into this war with vigour and vim. She is deter- mined to leave no stone unturned, and I am so pleased about this latest information that I thought of dropping Mr. Wilson a jolly nice letter about it. I am not a bit sur- prised to find the German socialists, who are humanitarians, drying to patch up a peace. I gather from the papers that the American Adjutant-General is now busy searching America for twenty thousand musical instruments necessary to equip the 537 bands which will be attached to the American Army. I admire America's choice of weapons. Those old Greek professors who used to sit up late at night thinking out new torture stunts would have gone half crazy if they could only have thought of musical instru- ments. Twenty thousand musical instru- ments, in the hands of powerful and broad- built Americans, would be enough to make a Germany army corps shout "Kamerad" in Yiddish. If the Americans want to be really cruel to the Germans they might have the piano next door. Of if they would like the sound of something in pain, there are quite a lot of bagpipes to be had in this country. It has been said that the Irish were the originators of the bagpipes, but we can hardly blame then now, and I hear sinister statements from soldiers at the Front that Scottish soldiers often play tunes—or emit noises or a horrible row—by means of the bagpipes, and yet I find that the pipes dc not figure now in the list of "field punish- ments." I even hear people speak with scorn because one battalion of the W arwick shire Regiment boasts a band of twenty- five quite expert players of the Jews' harp. Why they should thus scorn this noble instrument I can- not say. I have long admired the Jews' harp. I have seen boys, not content with their ordinar y faces, playing the Jews' harp. I am THEIR NATIVE HEATH. I afraid the Jews' harpist has been sadly neg- lected. He is the Cinderella of the musical world. No composer ever thinks of writing a decent concerto for the instrument; no decent people will ask the Jews' harpist out and ask him to bring his music. Besides, the Jews' harp is the only instrument that can be carried without bulging one's coat pockets the way the bass fiddles do. I cannot say that I like the manner of Perkins. To me it shows lack of confidence when your family doctor feels your pulse, tugs at one of his side-whiskers, shakes his head, and mutters: "I will do my best to pull you through." As I lay there beneath the sheets I laughed at him. But it was a hollow sort of laugh. I can do that sort of thing rather well when I am fit. He would do his best to pull me through. That was nothing to do with me, I mused. What I mean to say is that it was no affair of mine, because if he failed to pull me through, the blame would be on him, not me. Perkins said there was quite a lot of it about. Every other person seemed to be suffering with it, but springtime would soon cure me, he remarked. It was just my lllck. of course, to catch measles in the most en- joyable period of the year. I said "catch measles," but, of course, nobody ever catches it. It is one of those nasty secondhand diseases you pick up cheap in the streets. Measles in springtime! Perkins ought to have known better. It was springtime, but no amorous lark sang its cantata outside my window. No lark could have eased my mind as I lay on my bed of sickness-me and my blessed measles. It was true that the spots matched my pyjamas, but I didn't exactly like the colour scheme. Besides, I didn't have my right number of spots. I told Perkins so, and gave him to understand that unless he delivered a proper complaint next time, I should give my influenza and measles business to another doctor. What was that? Another visitor. I would pretend to be dead. Outside, spring* had ilothed the world around in her mantle of reen, the green leaves were burnished against the western sky. But it was a shy visitor. Could it be? Yes. It was little Miss Summer with her fiance, the Sun. The dear old Prodigal Sun returned. Banish thyself, cursed apothecary! Go, Perkins! A.way with thy drugs! Lord Derby calls thee. Go to France! The summer hae arrived, and I shall get better now.

A petition presented to the House of Com- nions from residents on the Isle of Man asks that the Constitution should be temporarily suspended, and that the island should be re- presented by a member in Parliament. A single man of twenty-four named Robert Stone, was at Marylebone fined X20 or aeventy-two days' imprisonment for failing to report for- military service or to register, and giving false particulars to a boarding- house keeper.

i BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. ——- -—— I THE WAR AND SOCIAL LIFE. Society has been suffering from mental dyspepsia these many years (writes Lady War- wick, in "The Woman at Home"), and it may have been left to the war to effect a cure. For seasons past we have sought to conquer a growing indifference to enjoyment by making it more elaborate, more costly, more incessant, as though a dyspeptic should endeavour to find a cure by multiplying the number of meals and increasing the courses. Nothing has served to convince me more thoroughly of the folly of modern life than the numlver of tired, bored people one met as late as July, 1914, in pur- suit of pleasure. Take the dinner-party, the crowded rec-eption, the opera house, Ascot, what you would, and everywhere those who had seemingly lost all sense of enjoyment out- numbered those who were frankly enjoying themselves. The great God Chance provides almost the only solace that is inexhaustible, but the price he charges for his anodyne is one that only fools will pay. Sober, rational enjoyment has well-nigh a gone out of fashion; it was as demode as the crinoline. Now at last war has come, imposing a long fast upon the intemperate, and telling of the need for far- reaching changes in our mode of life, and to those who will but read the stern lesson aright, it may bring about a new and far more enjoy- able state cf things. Our losses—those that can and those that cannot be made good-may serve to remind us that all lasting enjoyment has its roots deep down in our being. We shall bring a chastened and subdued spirit to greet the new times, to which only Peace can unlock the door, and we shall have a chance of reconstituting social life upon a. sounder base and with better knowledge of the sources of happiness. FATHER STANTON'S BOYS. I The late Father Stanton, who for fifty years was perpetual curate of St. Alban's, Holborn, a famous preacher and social worker, was always specially interested in the poor boys of his parish. Mr. G. W. E. Russell, in "Arthur Stanton: A Memoir" (Longmans), quotes from an address given by the famous prea.cher in the rooms of an Oxford under- graduate. He had been asked to say some- thing about the work at St. Alban's, Holborn, [ and he at once began to talk about his boys. He said:— We meet on Sunday evenings at six. We meet in a room underground; the sort of language we use sounds best underground. We don't play any games; the only game they know is to spit into the fire: we just sit round the fireplace. One Palm Sunday we were doing that, and suddenly one of them said, "Come for a 'olidav wiv us a Friday, farver" (he reproduced the Cockney acoenti. I said, "No, I can't come with you on Friday. Do you know what next kri?. is?" And they said, "Yuss, it's a Bank 'oliday, ain't it?" And I said, "Yes, it's a Bank holiday, but it's Good Friday; it's the day our dear Lord died for us." Then they said after a pause, "Well, what would you like us to do a Friday?" And I replied, "Well, I should like you to come to church." And they re- plied at once, "So we will if you'll give us a 'ot cross bun." I said, "Oh yes, I'll give you a hot cross bun." As a matter of fact I grot the sisters to provide two hot cross buns for each of them (I can't imagine how they managed to eat 'em) and a glass of milk, and they all turned up clean and tidy as I'd never seen 'em before, and they all marched into church, into a front row, and all knelt down (I can't imagine who'd taught them; I hadn't), and one of the good sisters who saw them said, "Oh, look at those rough lads! That's Father Stanton's influence." It wasn't my influence at all; it was the influence of the buns and the glass of milk. Then the service began, and we had that Litany of Monro's ["The Story of the Cross'], and they all sang it; and when we got to the last section begin- ning— Oh, I will follow Thee, Stsfr of my soul, Through the deep shades of life To the goal. they all sang the last word as H gaol" -and upon my word before the next Good Friday every one of 'em had been in gaol. THE ALLIES AND THE AMERICAS. I Dr. T. Miller Maguire, the well-known expert on military matters, writes in T.P.' s Journal" on the value of the South American Republics to the Allies:— "If our Government takes time by the fore- lock in the present crisis, alliance with such fountain heads of material prosperity as Brazil and the Argentine would be inestimable. In export and import trade, as well as railway construction—for example, we have invested more than X150,000,000 in Argentine railways alone-Britain already holds a leading place, so we shall derive not merely immediate ad- vantage but be sowing seeds of great value to posterity. "The jJHncipal point of greatness in every state is a race of military men.' This is ready at hand in every republic in America. Both Brazil and Argentina could become at least second-rate, military powers at very short notice. Revolutions and civil strife have for- merly been so habitual that in some of our leading books of reference the Argentine is congratulated on having had peaceful security for about twenty years now, and Paraguay on having had a fairly settled constitution and good order for some six years at a stretch. "People like these, when fairly organised and drilled, and under a different type of general from the bloodthirsty and ruthless early adventurers, could soon furnish several excellent Army Corps." "GRANDMOTHER." I Grandmother," it appears, is the pet name of one of the big guns at the Front. A writer in "Cassell's Magazine" describes her as an imposing sight, all of her, from the terribly long chase to the clanking breech, from the crane for the shell, that weighs 1,4001b. or so, to the delicate sights which are always kept safely stowed away when she is not actually in action. "Open your mouth," says the officer who commands this grim plaything, "we're just going to fire." And then you are wellnigh stunned as a lean brown gunner applies him- self to the firing lever, jerks it nonchalantly, and hurls half a ton of potential death into the blue. You see the great barrel leap back on its recoil cylinders, you see the breech-block clang open, and the vast sponge thrust in amongst the curling smoke; the stench of burnt cordite makes you cough and fills your eyes with tears. Then the crane swings solemnly, and another shell engages with the yawning breech, the rammer thrust home, the cordite bags are inserted, and- "Five minutes more right," says the battery commander, who has received a message from the wireless operator in the dug-out near by. A wheel is moved by a single man's hand, and the terrible muzzle swings ever so slightly. Fire! Again the belchmg thunder, again the sensation of sheer convulsion. "But what are you firing at;" you ask. "So and so." He names a target that is a good ten miles from that gun's muzzle—most probably a railway station six miles inside enemy country, or an ammunition depot as far away, or maybe even a German big gun battery. "We're doing a shoot with a 'plane. What's fhat? "Target, sir." "Right. Register that." And the angular elevation and the horizontal laying of the grandmotherly pet are duly recorded in a book kept for the purpose, so that, if ever word is received from any one of a dozen observers,, that such and such a target requires the earnest and painstaking attention of an engine of war that can blow half a town into ruins, all that is necessary is to take out the book, read out the registration, adjust the sights, and blaze death into an invisible somewhere, knowing that it is a hundred to one en hitting the mark the first shot. And somewhere up there in the clear blue sky, invisible from the gun-position, a dron- ing insect is hovering, gliding this way and that, with a calm-faced pilot at the joy-stick, and a clever observer staring down at the target concerned, his fingers playing a merry tune on the sending key of his wireless in- stallation, so that the gun might fire true to an inch.

The Ministry of Munitions have extended tho lilst of occupations for which men are eligible for enrolment as war munition volunteers, to include bricklayers and general labourers, suitable for munitions or ehipyard work.

 a  -t i il -I 1fjI1 A pinch of 6alt in the teapot brings ouk the full flavour of the tea. A few .drops of lemon-juice added to the water in <fchich rice is boiled will make the grains white. Potatoes do not stain the hands if peeled when quite dry, and not thrown into water till afterwards. Before placing oil-cloth on a damp fioor- sprinkle borax over, and it will not rot. When storing knives, rub the blades with mutton suet. This will keep them from rusting. When delicately-coloured wall-paper gets soiled, it may be cleaned by gentle rubbing with a soft flannel sprinkled with plaster of paris. Cream or eggs can be beaten in half the time if a pinch of salt is added and the job done before an open window. Rub silver spoons discoloured with egg with common 6alt, and then waah with ammonia. A teaspoonful of pulverised alum mixed with common stove-polish will give a wonderful polish. Before boiling eggs, wet the shells tho- roughly in cold water before dropping in boiling water, and they will not crack. —— —— LARDER HINTS. 'Never put onions or cabbage into the larder; the smell is apt to affect other food. WTarm gravy should aiso be kept away from the larder for the same reason. The bread- pan should be scoured out once a week and thoroughly dried before the bread is put back again. A COOKING BINT. When cooking dishes which require a con- siderable amount of time, such as macaroni, first allow it to boil on top of the stove, and then place inside. In this way much gas may be saved, as the food does not re- quire nearly so long to cook. WHEN MAKING CAKES. When making small cakes have a sheet of tin slightly smaller than the oven shelf, and turned up at the edges, on which to place the cakes. This is easily lifted, and can be very quickly turned, so that all the cakes are properly baked without the trouble of moving each one separately. It saves time. A CHEAP FIRELIGHTER. One of the best fireho-hters in existence may be prepared from coke and paraffin. AU that is necessary is to soak a lump of coke overnight, and to use it in the morning to light the fire. It is perfectly safe, does not make a mess on the hearth, and needs very little, if any, wood to make the most obsti- nate fire burn up. Besides, it is more economical than any of the firelighters sold. An old tomato-can, kept with a little paraffin at the bottom, and filled up with coke lumps, will last a week or more. CHEAP BEEF-TEA. Now that beef is so dear and beef-tea is ordered for an invalid, many a purse is strained to provide it. Try this method. Get sixpennyworth of bullock's liver, cut it into dice, and put it into a covered jar with one and a half pints of water. Put it in the oven, or at the back of the stove, and stew it slowly for two hours. You will be surprised at the richness of colour and flavour. HOME-MAD* JAM PATTIES. First make a nice dripping paste. Roll it out about half-inch in thickness. Cut the paste out with a cutter or glass, press the paste into greased patty pans. Bake in a qpick oven. When done, fill with any kind of jam. Remove from the tins, and set aside. These may be served hot or cold. These patties may be covered with a lid of paste. The edges should be damped and pressed lightly before putting in the oven. If made upon a plate, cross the jam with narrow strips of paste. CAM or BROOMS. The fibres of a broom are very brittle. Before using a new broom soak it in warm water for a few minutes, then hang to dry. Soft brooms should be dipped once a week into a pail of boiling soapsuds. This has the effect of making the hairs harder but not brittle, and the brush will last much longer and be more effective in collecting the dust. When not in use, it is most im- portant to keep all brooms hanging up. If left standing on the floor they are soon ruined. Metal or bone rings should be used instead of string, which gets twisted and entangled when more than one brush hangs on a nail. —— —— SOME USEFUL RECIP. RISSOLES OF MINCE IN PASTRY.—Use a. ilb. of short pastry and lIb. minced meat. Mince any scraps of meat left over, season with salt and pepper, and moisten with a little gravy. Prepare the short pastry. Roll this out and cut it into rounds about three inches in diameter. Place a spoonful of the mince in the centre of each, fold these over and pinch the edges, and fry in deep fat a golden-brown colour. Dish and garnish with parsley. MAIZE TEA CAKES.—For a real war- time eoonomy let our lady readers give the following recipe a .trial, and they will be delighted with the result:- Tate Ilb. Colman's self-rising flour, ilb. maize, or Indian corn meal, a teaspoonful of salt, one egg, loz. margarine, and milk to mix. Mix self-rising flour, corn meal and salt together; rub in the butter, be.t the egg and add a little milk, say a breckfast cup, or rather less. Mix all to a soft light dough, roll out. lightly, cut into rounds with a pastry-cutter, and bake for about ten minutes. These can then be spjit open aid buttered. ECONOMICAL PrDDING.-Take one pound of flour, a pinch of salt, and one ounce of mar- garine. Rub the margarine into the flour and salt, and add a teacupful of tapioca, previously soaked in milk for ten hours. Mix all with water, as you would a suet pudding, and boil in a cloth or basin. This is equally good for meat pudding, jam roil, currant pudding, etc. CURRANT DumPLING.-Take a quarter of a pound cf flour: two ounces of suet, two ounces of sugar, two ounces of currants, half teaspoonful baking-powder, one ounce of candied peel, one egg, and quarter of a pint of milt. Mix all the ingredients to- gether and pour the mixture into a well- greased mould. Twist a. greased paper round the top and steam for an hour and a half. Turn out and serve with milk raid sugar or a sweet sauce. GOLDEN TARTS.—Take two breakfast cup- fuls of flour, one teaspoonful of baking- powder, three ounces of lard; make into a paste with cold water. Line some patty- pans with the paste. Into each put a spoon- ful of golden syrup, then sprinkle liberally with cocoanut, and bake in a good oven. Sousto MACYEREL.-Wash, gut, and dry the fish. Cut it down the back and remove the bone. Cut off the head, then roll the pieces and lay side by side in a pie-dish. Cut an onion into slices: lay them on and about the fish. Throw into the dish some popper corns, two or three clovos, a bay leaf, a teaspoonful of salt; then fill up the dish with vinegar. You may add a little "sweetened water, about a wineglassfui. Set the dish in a very hot oven for a quar- ter of an hour, then lessen the heat. This dish is very nice cold for b?akfasf. In cLN.n is vcrv nice c, cooking mackerel, they must be put int? ?boiling water if boiled, into a hot if moused. Then they will not hurt.

A three weeks' vacation course for 1 students and tea?h?rs of French will be beli I at University College, London, in An?Utt next.

MEN, MONEY AND MATERIAL ALREADY MOBILISED. Press Bureau, Monday, 4.30 p m. A brief rfeumfi of what the United States I has accomplished during the seven weeks which have elapsed since they entered the war may not be without interest, as demon- strating America's complete participation in the war and her ability to give immediate and powerful aid. A Selective Draft Bill which will ulti- mately give an army of 2,000,000 men has passed Congress, and will be put into opera- tion forthwith. Loan legislation has p3QJCd II Congress, and the law is already in opera? tion, with prospects of the greatest success; £ 150,000,000 have already been advanced to the Allies. Flotillas of American destroyers have been sent to the submarine zone, where they are now effectively co-operating with the Allied navies. I 100,000 FOR FRANCE. I One Army division, a force of Marines, and nine regiments of Engineers have been ordered to France; 10,000 doctors, in addi- tion to many nurses, have been ordered to England and France, and hundrecls have already gone. Together with the Americans who are already serving in the British and French armies, these additional units will shortly give a total of 100,000 Americans in France, equalling five German divisions. By August next the United States National Guard will be at full strength of 400,000 men, an increase of 250,000. The Regular Army has been increased by nearly 180,000 men by ordinary enlistments, while the personnel of the Navy has been doubled by ?le &ame means 40,000 young Americans of the best type are now assembled in six- teen camps to receive intensive training, with a view to their becoming officers in the new armies. 3,500 WAR AEROPLANES. I The conferences with the British and French Commissions arranging for the es- sentials of co-operation have been completed, and comprehensive plans have been arranged for industrial mobilisation, including that of I j 262,000 miles of railways. Arrangements have been made for the construction of 3,500 war aeroplanes, and for the training of 6,000 aviators this year. Industrial firms in all parts of the nation have expressed their willingness to undertake war work, while an inventory of the nation's national Tesources has been ma'le and placed at the disposal of the United states and her Allies.