Abergavenny Chronicle

As a test, the laborious work of unload- ing coal from trucks was given to women by the Wandsworth Gas Company, but it was found that they <&«Cd not undertake it. Of the 45,000 Unfted States soldiers train- :ing in one cantonment and preparing to go to France only fifty-three have been court- martialled, of whom only ten were accuoed of criminal offences. Superintendent Thomas, of the Criminal Becords Office of Scotland Yard, has been appointed to succeed Mr. McCarthy, wOio ia retiring from the position of Superintendent ,of the C.I.D.

f GERMAN FABLES. STORIES OF RIOTS IN SCOTLAND AND I LONDON. News from Berlin transmitted through the ) wireless stations of the German Govern- j ment:- j We learn on the authority of English re- 1 ports from Amsterdam that in February there was a great deal of unrest in England, and that many riots took place, which were caused partly by the scarcity of food and partly by the calling up of workmen. f The discontent was manifested with par- j: ticular violence in Scotland. In Leith and 1 Edinburgh excited crowds came into conflict with troops which had teen brought up ? from Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Wales to [ maintain «der. Even ia London, on February 12, there j were riots, in which women and half-grown youths took part, at Camden Town and Somerg Town. In Camden Town High-street various food shops, especially butchers' and vegetable shops, were looted. The police were helpleea against the crowd. The situation became threatening when towards eight o'clock a considerable number of men also took part in the riots. The streets had to be cleared by Territorial troops, and more than fifty people were wounded.

WIDOWS WORK FOR ENEMY. I AA the Old Bailey on Monday, Louise Mathilde Smith, a widow, aged forty-four. was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude under the Defence of the Realm Act for un- authorised communication of information, with intent to assist the enemy. The trial was heard ia. camera. Addressing the accused, Mr. Justice Avory said: "The jury have found you guilty of this offence and that you committed it with the intention of assisting the enemy renders you liable under this statue to be aentenced to death. "I have mentioned that in order that other persons may take warning from it. In your eace I will act upon the assumption in your favour that this is an isolated trans- action. "I give you the benefit of any doubt that there may be upon that point, but in doing so you must realise that such an offence can only be met by severe punish- ment in the hope—perhaps the vain hope— that it may deter others." —

MONS HERO'S SAD END. I At the inquest on Captain S. C. Tinne, R.F.C., who was found dead, apparently having been strangled, in his room at the Hotel Imperial at Hythe, a strange theory was advanced. Captain Tinne, who had gained the Mili- tary Cross, was one of the heroes of Mone. Being fond of theatricals, said Captain foote, in evidence, one of his favourite characters was that of a parson. Packing his bag to go on leave, he had come across a wig and had put it on. Then, apparently, he had seen a black fonT-inch elastic band, which he used as a bandage for an injured knee. Captain Foote's theory was that Captain Tinne put the band round his throat to see how he looked as a parson, or how a man, "even Crippen," looked when being hanged. The bandage got tighter as he moved about, and finally choked him. "Accidentally suffocated" was the jury's verdict.

I POSED AS WEALTHY RANCHER. I At the Old Bailey on Monday, a man named Hargreaves was sentenced to fifteen months' imprisonment for bigamy and steal- ing the clothes and property of his second "wife." The evidence showed that, after parting from his wife, he met Miss May Driscoll in Ireland. They were "married, prisoner stating that he was a wealthy Canadian rancher. Miss Driscoll sold a house for kloo, and gave prisoner the money. They came to London, where Hargreaves disappeared, Miss Driscoll alleging that he took her luggage, value £ 100, from an hotel. Prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, declared that he was a victim of drugs, and that when the "marriage" took place in Ireland he was "doped," was partly unconscious, and had to be helped to the altar. A detec- tive stated that Hargreaves had "married" women in Leeds, Bristol, and Coventry.

I THE WAR IN THE AIR. I Lord Denbigh, speaking at the People's Palace, London, E., on Saturday, said there was too much talk about British war aims. "We have no war aims except to defeat the aims of the Boche," said Lord Denbigh, who advocated the bombing of Rhine towns. "I am certain if we give them hell of the very hottest kind for a few weeks it will bring the war to an end quicker than months of fighting." Lord Desborough, speaking as president of the Imperial Air Fleet Committee, at Manchester on Saturday, made a similar de- claration. "The war will be won in the air," he asserted. "I claim it is our duty to do all that is humanly possible to stimulate the exertions of those who are resoonsible for supplying the necessary equipment, and to assist the gallant young men who man the flying machines."

I ECONOMY IN LIGHT. I Mr. Guy Calthrop, Controller of Coal Mines, makes another appeal for the greatest possible economy in gas and elec- t city..0 -wk? all classes of consumers to see that every burner and switch over which they have control is used as sparingly as circumstances will allow. Owing to the ehortage of labour and transport for coal we must limit ourselves to a bare sufficiency of lighting and avoid any approach to brilliant illumination, whether in houses, shops, or public buildings.

I PHILANTHROPIST PROSECUTED. I A wealthy woman named Edith Will, who tvas bound over at Kirkby Stephen on Mon- day for offering to buy butter at a price above that fixed by the Food Controller, pleaded that she tried to buy a pound of butter for a wounded soldier. She said that ahe had LII,000 to spend on the poor. I

I YOUNG SERVANTS SUICIDE. I Remonstrated with because she had been to the theatre with her young man dressed in her mistress's best clothes, Kathleen Jane Palmer, seventeen, domestic servant, of Southampton, drowned herself in a river. At the inquest a verdict of "Suicide during tem. porary insanity was returned.

I GIRL SENTENCED TO DEATH. I Margaret Travers, an unmarried girl of eighteen, who drowned her child in a drain and then laid its body, covered with wreaths, on the shore of a lake, was at Westmeath Assizes sentenced to be hanged on March 28, the jury adding a strong re- commendation to mercy.

A claim for X- 1,270,724 compensation is to be made against the Government by the Ru- manian Consolidated Oilfields Company in respect of their property destroyed by the military to prevent the wells falling into enemy hands. For having used the sugar card of her daughter, who was in prison, a woman was fined -61 at Marylebone Police-court. About fifty Russians at Thames Police- court were fined, and one was sentenced to a month's imprisonment and deportation, for failure to notify addresses. Cuba has prohibited the exportation of sugar to Spanish and Mexican firms. Rations from Army supplies in this country are drawn for 50,430 combatant pri- soners and 6,282 interned civilians.

JRESS OF THE DAY, A DAINTY NIGHTDRESS. The new lingerie shown for spring and summer wear shows a commendable re-action in favour of what one might call real lin- gerie materials, such as madapolam, nain- sook, India longcloth, lawn, and tarantulle. Those have been more or less eclipsed during the last year or two by such fabrics as crepe de Chine, double ninon, crystalline, etc., which though undoubtedly lovely in in their way, are not, in my opinion, really suitable for underwear, for many of them wiH not stand even most careful washing, and have to be cleaned each time they are soiled, not an ideal arrangement for under- garments unless one be possessed of a practi- cally bottomless purse. And even then, they are not really so dainty as less fragile mate- rials, for they cannot be so thoroughly fRefer to X 867.] cleansed as fabrics which will stand plenty of soap and hot water. But to return. to the lingerie of 1918. As is only proper in war- time, the great majority of the new gar- ments are very simple in style, simple almost ments axe very ''e to severity in some cases, and, therefore, are easy both to make and to launder, whilst they will certainly wear remarkably well, for there are no frills and elaborations to get torn and out of order. The nightdresses strike one as .being specially pretty and be. coming, their long, unbroken lines giving a charmingly graceful effect. Our skitch shows one of the newest and most successful of theee new nightgowns, a very simple model which is plaan enough for everyday wear and yet is dainty enough to form part of a trousseau. As sketched, this nightie is carried out in tarantulle, but any of the above materials would serve equally well, as would also plain or flowered cambric or linen lawn. This nightdress is a all model and has no fastenings. The neck is cut square and is bordered by a hem of the material, which is set on by hand-worked veining. Below this hem comes a band of plain material, which is also set on to the garment by hand-veining. A tiny edge of lace softens the otherwise hard line of the neck. The hem and the plain band of mate- rial, with the veinings, form a sort of yoke on to which all the fullness of thegarment is gathered, both front and back. The sleeves which are rather wide and loose, are cut in one with the nightie, and reach a little below the elbow. They are trimmed to match the neck of the nightie. j CHILD'S DAINTY HAT. The bonny little hat shown in our illus- tration can be manufactured out of odd- ments, and therefore need not cost a penny-1 piece. A piece of buckram or stiffening ig P= ?d for the brim, but it is possible that most mothers have by them one of their [Refer to X 868.] old hats which is beyond wearing. The buckram can most probably be obtained from this discarded article if you take the trouble to unpick it. The mob portion should be slightly stiffened, too, and lined. A hat of this description built in black satin looks very dainty. The roses can be quite easily made at home of wool. THE TURBAN HAT. There can be no doubt now, I think, that spring will bring with it a marked vogue for the turban. It is already shown, both in London and Paris, in a wonderful variety of styles. In some cases it has the typical rolled brim, if brim it can be called, which one always associates with the Eastern turban, whilst in others it is quite brimless, the fullness of the crown being slurred to form a band which comes well down upon the head. I OSTRICH FEATHERS. Ostrich feathers, it is prophesied by those in the know, are to be worn again during the coming spring and summer. But the fashionable ostrich feather will be of one type only, that is to say, it will be sh-ort and not very curly. The only other ostrich plume which is to be used is a tiny tip, numbers of which are arranged to form a wreath round a small hat or turban. Paper patterns can be supplied, price 6t. When ordering, please quote number, en- close remittance, and address to Miss Lisle, 8. La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

ORIGIN OF BILLIARDS. The origin of billiards is uncertain. Some ascribe its invention to Henrique Devigne an artist, who flourished about 1570. It was brought into fashion by Louis XIV., whoso physicians recommended him exercise after eating. Others believe billiards to be of English origin. It is mentioned by Spenser (Mother Hubbard's Tale, 1597), and by Shakespeare ("Anthony and Cleopatra"). The earliest description of billiards in Eng- glish is Cotton'a "Compleat Gamester."

After twenty-two years' experience of religious and social work among the poor. Rev. W. H. G. Shapcott has accepted the post of metropolitan secretary to the Churoh ??ly- A Dalston dealer, named Jefferson, was sentenced to four years' penal servitude at the Old Bailey for receiving butter and other provisions, the proceeds of a series of van robberies.

I MOTHER AND HOME. WI .A.iI. .&1.v I i.j.. If you would make your house and home attractive and your husband fond of it avoid the habit of magnifying the littl< vexations of everyday life until they absort your whole attention. The writer has knowi many a husband return home in the hap- piest mood to have his serenity roughlj shattered by a depressing account of th< servant's shortcomings, the chi ldren>,¡ naughtiness, and the iniquities of th< tradespeople. All unconsciously the habit grows upon some women till their husbands associate their homes with nothing but com plaints and worries, instead of being a plac< where peace and happiness and rest of mine are always to be found. I CUBTAIN POLES. Curtain poles and portiere rods allow the hangings to slip along with eaee if rubbed with hard soap. This is much better than greasing the rods. When drawers will nol pass in and out easily or stick to the frame. work, rub the edges top and underside witb hard soap. Creaking doors and hinges other- where should be treated in like manner. I D mTY JEWELLERY. I Allow "dirty gold jewellery to lie in a saucer of paraffin for a minute or two. Shake gently and you will see the dirt roll- ing off it. Take out, dry carefully, and polish with a chamois leather. I AIM AT SIMPLICITY. I When dressing to be photographed some women make their most elaborate toilets, wearing expensive gowns and displaying their ooefcliest Jewellery. "As a general rule, this is a mistake," said a lady protographer. "For one thing, elaborateness in dress makes the sitter self-conscious and some- times unoomfprtabie, and there is a stiff and studied look, about the picture. It is fatal to the artistic side of things. The dress should be, simple and comfortable. Fashions change rapidly, and after a. few years cer- tain types of costume appear almost ludi- xroua. Think of the photographs of people forty or fifty, y J.. How absurd the dreapce look- especially when the sitter is wearing a hat of the. antiquated pattern of those days. Simplicity ia the keynote in «photographs tofday, esIpecially in the case of women. The good photographer strives not (u> much for a portrait as for an effective and artistic picture." I RIBBON BBLTS. I .If you wish to make a belt of ribbon, which ia, of course, on the straight, do not use,, one wide kngth for the purpose. You will find it much more satisfactory to use two narrower lengths for the belt. Do not sew the two lengths of ribbon together, but adjust -them to the bones at the back, sides and front. The two pieces of ribbon will allow -of more give" than one piece would, 80 that the belt will fit far better into the line of the waist. I To WASH OB CLEAN SILK. I Pat an old white kid > glove in a pint of cold water and boil till reduced to half a pint. Sponge the silk with this on the right side. Iron on the wrong side whilst damp with ? warm, but not hot, iron. By this means, old silks and ribbons will look like new. I POINTS OF ETIQUETTE. I All the rules of etiquette pertaining to the paying and receiving of calls should be strictly adhered to. All calls should be re- turned in about a week's time. If the lady eaUed upon has an "At Home" day, the call should be upon that day. If the servant who answers the door sa-vs that her mistress is not at home, cards should be left. If, however, the lady is at home, the visitor must give her came to be announced and follow the eervant to the drawing-room. When during a call another guest arrives, the former caller should leave as soon as possible. It is unnecessary to rise when another visitor leaves, but bows should be exchange d if the two have been introduced, or if they have spoken to each other without a fonnal introduction. I TUBBS OF CREAM, ETC. I Tubes of cream and tooth paste should always be pressed right from the bottom; when used otherwise holes will wear at the end of the tube and consequently the paste will run out. I BLACKING BROWN BOOTS. I Add to a teacupful of hot water a tea- spoonful of liquid ammonia, and well sponge the boots with this, then place them aside to dry. Cut a raw potato into slices, and, using a slice at a time, rub it well all over the boots, and again give them time to dry. The boots should be rubbed with potato three or four times, and, after again being allowed to dry, should then be given a good thick coating of black boot-polish. Shine them in the usual way, and they will look as if they have been black boots from the start. No amount of rain will wash off the polish. I YOUIL SRAsoN TicKET. I People who now have to carry season tickets should slip a rubber band round them, so that other little things, such as stamps and cards, which are put loose in the handbag, do not get mislaid inside the ticket or drop from it. I A USE FOB OLD CORKS. I Old corks can be steeped in paraffin and placed in a tin or box. Keep the box covered and use the corks for lighting fires. Two or three of thooecor ks will light a fire and save the wood. I EMBROIDERED CANDLE SHADES. I For lingerie candle shades handkerchief linen is the material to use, and the em- broidery is done in floss in solid and eyelet. If to go on a square shade, one section of the cover is embroidered at a time, and then all the sections are joined together with a fagotting stitch or narrow seam beading. A thin silk or prepared linen is used for the linings, which, as the reflection casts a delicate glow on the table the candles are to decorate, is of a colour chosen ,to harmonise well with the other furnish- ings of the table and room. I AN ECONOMY HINT. I When making flannel underclothes there are alwals cuttings which seem too small to be of any use. Do not throw them away. Take a sheet of paper and pin the pieces all over it, taking care that they overlap well; then machine them, tearing away the paper when done. This makes a strong house- flannel at the cost of cotton only. I BOOTLACB8. I Bootlaces can be made to last four times as long by sewing a strong black thread through them once or twice. Broken laces will also last a considerable time if sewn to- gether neatly with thread. HOME-MADE CLEANING-BALLS. I A cleaning-ball for cleaning clothes can be made easily at home. Mix together three ounces of powdered pipeclay and half an ounce of French chalk. Make into a stiff Easte with spirits of wice. Roll up into a ball, and put aside to set hard. When you want to clean a dress, moisten the material with warm water and rub well with the ball. Leave this to dry and then brush off, when all grease marks will have vanished. If the stains have been caused by mud, damp the material with water in which potatoes (cleaned and peeled) have been boiled, then rub on the ball.

Because his mother complained of his "keeping company" with a girl, Christopher Grant, aged seventeen, went out of his house and broke a neighbouring shopkeeper's win- down valued at £ 1-6. He was sentenced at Dublin to six months' imprisonment. Compensation amounting to Y.18,232 haa been awarded by agreement to the depen- dents of the sixty-two victims of the Minnie pit disaster; most of the money will be in- vested in War Loan.

TEA TABLE TALK. JJ. ¡ )j 1\ ).0 Lady Susan Townley, wife of Sir Waite-r Townley, was an intimate friend of that mysterious and dreaded old lady, the late Dowager Empress of China. She -would, it is said, do more to please Lady Susan than any other white person .she had ever met. w Lady Onslow tells a good story of a cer- tain platoon commander "licmewhere in Franco" who insisted upon obedience, in- stant and complete. "Smith," he said to his servant, "I want you to go down to the railway station and get me the correct time." Smith shuffled hio feet and fidgeted with his fingers. "\Yel1, man," roared the officer, irately, "Why don't you do as you are told?" "Please, sir," implied the ser- vant meekly, "I—I haven't a watch "A wat.ch-a Avatch snapped the officer, "What d'ye want a watch for? Just write it down on a bit of paper < The Duchees d'Uzès tells a thrilling story of German brutality in 1870. Her grand- father-a eivilicui-wa-3 imprisoned and threatened with death unless he handed over 400,000 francs an twenty-four hours. "I am eixty-eight," he said; "my life is not of that value. After a fortnight the de- mand was repeated, and met with the brave reply: "As I am older now my life is worth still less." He was shot. His grand- daughter etill treasures "the brightest hap- piest letter of farewell" he wrote to her. Without the keenest and clearest brain imaginable, it would be an utter impossi- bility for Lady Mackworth to carry out her stupendous work (says a c-ontemporary). She is director of no than twenty-seven com- panies. She supervises, in addition, many of the business affairs of her father, Lord Rhondda. Her most recent appointment is Controller of Women's Recruiting at the National Service Ministry, the chief clear- ing-house for women's war-time work. Lady Mackworth had a narrow escape from being a U-boat victim, with her father, during the last trip of the ill-fated Lusitania. Her rescuer was Mr. Thomas Dooley, of Liver- pool, whom Lord Rhondda. rewarded with a handsome gold wateh, on which was in- ecriber "Remember the Lusitania." It ia hardly likely that any survivors of that tragic voyage will forget it. ♦ • • "It is a tremendously exciting thinz to be a girl to-day," 6ays Miss Maude Roy den, of the London City Temple. "She has no idea what she is going to be or what service she is going to give to the world. She may be a better writer than George Eliot, a better poetess than Mrs. Browning, or a greater scientist than Mme. Curie. Every girl's life should be a great adventure to-day." < < Miss Marie Lohr tells of an amusing in- cident that occurred ouitside her theatre. With the aid of a small square of black cloth, a busker had been entertaining the gallery queue by a series of qui.c1-chaIl.ge impersonations of celebrities of the war. Haig, French, Jellicoe, Joffre, Beatty, and the rest, followed in rapid succession. Then the busker deftly twisted his bit of cloth into the shape of a'pierrot's cap, and, paus- ing for a few moments in order to lend em- phasis to his words, 6aid: "I shall now. Fadi" and gentlemen, give my famous im- personation of a tank." There was a rustle of expectancy, followed by a burst of laugh- ter that was presently punctuated by the rattle of pennies. The busker-having in mind the famous tank bank-had merely started hia usual collection, utilising hia improvised cap aa a money-bag. Mrs. Florence Barclay, the authoress, was beginning to think herself middle-aged as the busy wife of a clergyman and mother of a family, when she suddenly struck fortune with "the Rosary." It is no secret that she was forty-six when that fascinating and, im- mensely popular book was published. < Miss Lily St. John, the actress, tells a food story. ?A new patient in a military foopital," she said, "had just been operated upon. On recovering. consciousness he turned to the man lying in the bed on his left and asked him how he was. Fine, till yester- day but the doctor left a spool of cotton in me, and they opened me up again.' The new patient sighed, then turned to the sick one on the right. Well, how are you, old man?' Pretty good until yesterday; but the doctor left his scissors in me, and they opened me up aga n -I Just tnen the door opened and the doctor came in, exclaiming: 'Anybody around here wen my hat? The new patient jumped out of tho window!" Madame Ada gro&sley, the popular voca- list, is of opinion that, perhaps most young singers make the mistake of learning on y a few, maybe more or less easy, songs, and singing them over and over again. She be- lieves that mastery of a long list of songs I helps to develop the singer's powers. < Madame Melba tells the story of how Hammersteia engaged her in Paris to sing in New York in the opera house where Tetrazzini, Mary Garden, Sammarco, and Renaud won their American reputations. "He offered me a bundle of bank-notes," says Melba, "as if to assure me that he pos- sessed real money. You must come, madame,' he shouted; I will give you £ 600 a performance.' No, not to America,' I replied. You shall,' said he, and there- upon he began scattering bills from one end of the room to the other. The piano and all the furniture were covered with 100- franc notes like leaves. He rushed out, leaving me to gather them. I found they totalled 100,000 francs, which I turned over to Rothschilds, my bankers; and so New York heard me." Lady de Bathe, more popularly known as Mrs. Langtry, owned her first racehorse be- fore she was twelve years old. In partner- ship with a youthful brother she bought the horse for a few pounds, and it won the first race for which it was entered. it < Viscountess Ebrington is a lover of chil- dren, and tells a delightful story concerning a tiny girl named Be-ssie. Not long ago Bessie's school teacher set her and her com- panions to drawing, allowing them to choose their own subjects. After the teacher had examined the other children's efforts she took up Bessie's paper. "Why, what is this?" she said. "You haven't drawn anything at all,, child!" "Please, teacher, yes I have," answered Bessie. "It's a war picture—a long line of ammunition wagons at the Front. You can't see them because they're camouflaged." < Lady cyclists arc sometimes advised, when they ride, to wear gloves of a size larger than that usually worn. This is really un- necessary but as new gloves cramp the hands, and holding the handle ends spoils the shape of gloves, a pair that have seen some service should be kept for cycling purposes

GULLS DETECT SUBMARINES. I Seagulls are very useful for betraying the ft-hercabouts of submarines. Either because they mistake the boats, travelling just below the surface, for whales, or because they are on the look-out for fish stirred up by their passage through the water, or pos- sibly out of mere curiosity, they will follow one of these hidden terrors of the deep for miles, circling round and uttering shrill cries all the while. This performance nsitur- ally attracts the attention of the skippers of surface vessels, enabling them to escape it unharmed, or to bear down upon the sub- marine and try to destroy it if the reverse is the case. Gulls as detectors of floating mines, too, have saved many merchant ships from destruction. They have a habit of calmly perching upon the projecting horns of these deadly contrivances, and though a floating mine is practically invisible in the ordinary way at a little distance, one that affords a roosting place for these con- spicuous birds is, of course, quite easily discernible.

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER BY UNOLE RALPH. NAUGHTY NANCY. "Now, Miss ancy," said Martha, "you M i ,-zs -N anc y must lie quiet for a little while logger, and then I'll come and dress yen." And off she went. But Nancy thought she was quite old enough to dress herself, øo 6he quietly slipped out of bed and begaa. Somehow it did not eeem nearly so eesj aa she thought it would be; all her fingers seamed to have turned into thumbs, and she got the stringo into knots, and a button came off, and Yolt can't fasten a hook if there isn't an eye for it to fit into, and altogether she didn't get on at all well. Then in the middle, of it all she remem- bered jthat she ought to have washed firsb of all. However, she could not possibly un- dress again, so she decided just £ o wasn her hands and face as she wae, and she pulled a chair up against the washsfcamd and tried to lift the big, heavy water-jug. Just then she heard a voioe crying, "My goodness gracious! Look art the ohiLd She was so 6tartled that she let go of the jugr, and down it fell, spilling the water all over the floor. Then Martha (for, of eonrae, it waa Martha who had come back again) had to tidy it all up, and Nancy had to be dressed all over again from the beginning, 80 that you may believe that they were a little late for breakfast, and Martha was rather cross and Nancy didu't talk very ntnoh. Wasn't it a pity she couldn't iruit a little longer? ALFRED AND CHRISTOPHER. "You cant' come, Alfred," said Christo- pher, ?you're too small. I don't think Miss Katharine would like it.* "But I'll be so good," said Alfrod} "I will, really." "Well, we will ask Mother," said Chris, topher. So they asked Mother, and Mother smiled, and said that Alfred might go with Christopher for once if he were Tery goed and kept very still while Christopher did his lessons. So off they started for echeol—it was very cold and there had been a good deal or snow, but Alfred did motraiud-bo felt quite grown-up as he trotted along carrying some of Christopher's books for him. When they got to school Christopher told MiBs Katharine all about it, and she Mia that Alfred might stay and watch so tonif as he was quiet and did not make any sol-e. And Alfred was really very good, and whett he came out with Christopher be said, "Oh, I shall be glad when I'm big enough t. go to school?' THE COCK AND THE PARTRIDGES. A hen once sat on some partridge's eggs, and when they were hatched the poor little chicks were very lonely and miserable, All the other chickens in 4the farmyard would not have anything to do with them, and if it had not been for old Mr. Rooster—tho cock—they would have had a very bad time. But the old cock seemed to think that he had to look after these stxange chickens, em he took them under his charge and saw that they got their food all right; and every, night, when it was time for them to ge to roost, he would make each little partridge hop on to his back, and thou ke flew tip to a place of safety and left them there for the mght. And the strange little birds grew very fond of old Mr. Rooster, and would follow him about all over the farmyard, and run to him when he called them. Thanks to this kind bird they grew up strong and healthy, and the farmer said afterwards that he was quite sure that they would all have died if it had not been for the old Cock. A QUESTION. Which of the scents do you like best? I wonder which you do? Lavender, rose, or mignonette, Or the eoent of the violet blue? Some like the scent of the new-mown hay As it's borne on the wings of the breeze. And some like the smell of a dish of roast beef When they're sitting at home at their ease. Which of the scents do you like the bestf I wonder if we should agree? Now, I like the—nc, but you say first. And then, of course, we can see. [ THE BATTLE. It wae going to be a great battle. And Simmy felt rather afraid. He was to be the drummer-boy—there wasn't any drum, really, only a large tea-tray, but, as Regi- nald Jenkinson said, that didn't matter at all, and Reginald Jenkinson was the Cap- tain, so, of course, he knew. They all sat waiting for the word of command down by the brook. Reginald was very busy; he told them all what to do as soon as they saw the army of the Avenue boys. "I shall go first," he said, "and lead the way to victory!" It all sounded very fine, and when Tommy Snooks said, "What shall we do if they hit us back?" Reginald Jenkinson said that he ought not to say such things, and if he didn't want to be led to victory he needn't come, and Tommy said he didn t mean any- thing, and, of course, he would not desert them. But Simmy felt rather hnxious, and banged his tray hard to cheer himself up until the Captain told him to be quiet. Then he gave them itheir orders, and they all marched forward, with Reginald Jenkinson in front shouting to them to ceme on. It was all very well, but all at onoe the army of the Avenue boys came round tLe corner, and then-Reginald Jenkinson stopped, turned round, and eaid, "I'Te for- gotten my pocket handkerchief!" and ran away. Then Simmy came to the front. He banged his tray and shouted and waved his arms, and all the others shouted and waved their arms and made such a noise and looked so fierce that the Avenue boys thought they had better go home. So Simmy led the army to victory after all. IN FOREIGN LANDS. In Eastern countries, as I suppose yo-m know, they do not live just as we do over here. For one thing, it is generally much, hotter, so the people have to wear different clothes and build their houses in a different* way. They have courtyards in the middle of their houses very often, where a fountain plays and makes the air cool. Then the men generally wear soft, white druj-ssea which hang loosely about them so that they may not get too warm. They do not have ordinary tables as we do and sit round them to have dinner, but, frequently the seats are placed all round. the room, leaving a bare space in the middle, and the servants bring in the dishes and place them before each guest, who helps himself—sometimes with hia fingers. There are very many other ways in which thino-g arc different in Eastern countries—in some things they are better and in some things worse than we are.

Mrs. Agnes S. Lewis, of Chesterton-iane, Cambridge, haa offered to Cambridge Uni- versity upwards of £ 4,000 towards the foun- dation of a readership in 'modern Greek. The Training College buildings of the Salvation Army in New York haTe been aestroyed by fire. Two of the men studc-nta lost, their lives in endeavouring to rescue their comrades. Removals from London because of air raids are expected to cause a drop of 11,000 in the average attendance at L.C.C. schools this year. Last year the average was origin- ally estimated at 716,000, but it will prob- ably be found not to exoeod 709,000.