Abergavenny Chronicle

TO AVOID STRIKES. I CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL I COURT. The standing Industrial Court to deal witih. trade disputes which, by consent of the disputants, may be referred to arbitration, has been constituted by the Mimster of Labour as follows: Presi.dent-Sir William W Mackenzie, K C Since 1917 chairman of Committee on Production and Interim Court of Arbitra- tion; has also acted as arbitrator and con- ciliator in many industrial disputes. Chairman-Mr. F. H. McLeod: Director of Labour Statistics of Ministry of Labour and editor of "Labour Gazette. Has had oreat experience in dealing with industrial matters. Members—Mr. D. C. Cummings—Genera! secretary of Boilermakers' Society for nine years prior to entering the service of the Board of Trade (and later Ministry of Labour) as a Labour Adviser. Mr J. McKie Bryce—Secretary of the En- gineering and National Employers; Federa- tion and of the Confederation of Employers' Organisations, the Federated Admiralty Contractors and the Employers' Trade Boards Consultative Council. Mr E J. Brown—Director and past pre- sident of London Master Builders Associa- tion and past president of Institute of Builders and of National Federation of Building Trade Employers. Mr. F. S. Button-Member of the Execu- tive Committee of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Miss Violet Markham (Mrs. JT «nes Car- ruthers)--Memiber' of Central Women s Em. ployment Committee and of Executive Com- mittee of National Relief Fund. Miss Cecile Matfueson-La.dy Warden of Woodbrooke Settlement, Birmingham; mem- ber of Trade Boards fsimce, 1914. The secretary of the court will be Mr., G. T. Reid, and the assistant secretary Mr. R. J. Humphreys. While the court will form the central tri. bunal for the settlement of disputes, the new Act will continue the practice of single ar. bitrators appointed by the Labour Minister, or ad hoc boards of arbitration, consisting of representatives of employers and work- people with an independent chairman. Compulsory arbitration has now ceased.

"If the experience becomes common it will U be safe to travel in an ommbu. unless a person is a professional boxer," said Alderman Sir George Touche ??the London Guildhall in fining John 1Iheiby, a conductor ?3 for assaulting Ernest J. Yale, a passenger. j

HIGH LIFE. I JEAMES AND SUSAN IN SOCIETY. I Society ladies held a dance with their ser- vants at the Artists Rifles Drill Hall, Euston-road. The ball was given by the mistresses to help the servants to rai=e the odd £ 400 needed to make the £1,000 they are collecting for the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital. Prizes were given for the best costumes, and these were won by Miss Kilshaw (Lady Northcliffe's maid), and Miss Eltsie Shelley (Lady Hall's maid), and Mr. Spencer, of St. Dunstan's. The prize for the most original costume went to Miss Olive Cornish, and the prize for the cheapest to Miss Masler. Mr. Spencer, who won a prize as "Lord Nelson," was a blinded hero who had also lost his arm.

BENCH TO WOOLSACK. RON. JOHN DE GREY A. PEER. The Hon. John de Grey, who was a London police magistrate at the South-Wes- tern Police-court for many years, has suc- ceeded to the title of Lord Walsingham on the death of his half-brother. He protested against the rule that obliges magistrates to leave the Bench on attaining the age of 70, and returned to his work at the Bar in March this year. The Walsinghams are a legal family, the title being conferred on Lord Chief Justice William de Grey in 1780. The late Lord Walsingham was famous as a game shot, and held the world's record for his bag of grouse, 1,070 .birds in 15 hours.

THE HUNS' HOPE. I NEW TOAST ADOPTED BY OFFICE-RB. I According to the Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Mail," "Auf den Tag ("To the day!") is the new toast of the associations of ex-officers, reviving the old Navy toast. The "day" is, of course, that of monarchic restoration. The toaat was formally adopted at the original meeting of the Association of ex- Ofhcers of the First Grenadier Life Guards, which sent a telegram expressing "unswerv- ing loyalty" to the ex-Kaiser.

Irish flax prices under a new Order, are raised 5s. per stone for each grade. Taken at Seringapatam in 1799, Tippoo Sahib's sapphire, set in a brooch and sur- rounded by 14 brilliatts, fetched .£1,240 at I a sale.

A GOOD CHRISTMAS. I SUPPLIES POURING INTO THE I COUNTRY. BETTER DELIVERY WANTED. There should be no dearth of supplies this Christmas. It is reported that food supplies are pour- ing into the country; so much so that there is great congestion at the docks. The Food Controller will, it is said, at the earliest possible moment remove the control of articles of food and leave them the or- dinary free play of the market. It is not, however, desirable to deprive the Food Con- troller of the power to control the food- stuffs. Dock authorities and shipping men are at their wit's end to know how to deal with the growing general cargoes, plus the abnor- ma.l quantities of meat and wheat that are reaching this country. Lorries have been of very little help, and until more wagons and barges can bo made available and ships are turned round in quicker time, the block at the docks will continue.

I AN OLD-TIME CIRCUS. I I BEVIVAL OF FORMER GLORIES AT I OLYMPIA. Many will undoubtedly visit the good, old- fashioned circus which is promised to Lon- don this Christmas. This is to be the won- derful £ l,000-a-day circus, which will be opened by Princess Beatrice at Olympia. A new wizard of the North. Mr. Fred Wil. kins, with the aid of an army 1,000 strong, is now working might and day to transform Olympia into a reproduction on a splendid scale of the old-time circus. Clowns, daring equestrienne performers, acrobats, trapeze artists, Cossack riders, trainers of musical elephants and flying dogs, dancers and others are now gathering in London from all parts of Europe, and fat women, midgets, coconut shies. houplas. mystic castles, Indian jugglers and dancers of every kind will be found in the side shows.

THE ARTFUL HUN. I TROUBLE BREWING IN THE FATHER- LAND. Reports to hand concerning the position in Germany are disquieting. Marshal Foch has addressed a Note to the Supreme Council drawing attention to the danger to the world's peace in the inces- sant warlike preparations of Germany. M. Pa to. a former member of the Peace Commission, states that he had already in- sisted on the peril alluded to by Marshal Foch, and had demanded the immediate control of German armaments. It was absolutely necessary to obtain the irinic,diate application of the Treaty, especi- ally of Article 213, permitting of the con. trol of German armaments.

DAI-MENY. I I EARL EOSEBERY'S HEIR SUES FOR I DIVORCE. The Rolls issued by the Edinburgh Court of Sessions contain a petition for divorce on the ground of desertion, which has just been I broaght by Lord Dalmeuy, eldest son of the Earl of Rosebery, against his wife Lord Dalmeny is living at present at Dal- meny House, Midlothian, while Ladv Dal- meny, who was youngest daughter of the late Lord Henry Grosvenor, and grand- daughter of the first Duke of Westminster, lives at Little Tew Grange .Enstone, Oxford- shire. Lord and Lady Dalmeny were married in 1909. There is one son and one daughter.

THE EX-KAISER. I TRIAL RECEIVING DAY-TO-DAY I ATTENTION BY GOVERNMENT. Sir Gordon Hewart, the Atorney-General, speaking at Pontypridd, said with regard to the trial of the ex-Kaiser that they must not be led away by those who suggested that the matter was not receiving the most care- ful and day-to-day attention. In order that they might have some con- ception of the magnitude of the task, he would mention that there already had been examined more than 50,000 written state- ments. It was quite untrue to suggest that there was any dissension or wavering with regard to thia vital matter. 0

JUMPED INTO TUB. I BURNED TO DEATH THROUGH I READING OVER FIRE. While reading by the fire late at night, Miss Julia Eimes, aged 40, of Wareham, went to sleep, and a piece of burning coal flew out of the grate and ignited her dress. Awakened, she rushed into the garden and jumped into a tub of water, when her brotner came to her assistance. She was terribly burnt, and died from burns and shock.

I H.M.S. VINDICTIVE. I Mr. Long, First Lord, stated in the House of Commons that H.M.S. Vindictive, which had practically broken her back, had been moved out of the way of navigation at Ostend. He was advised that anything more in the way of salvage would be impractic- able, and her disposal was now under con- sideration. The Vindictive is the old cruiser which was filled with concrete and sunk across the entrance to Ostend Harbour on Mny 10, 1918.

RUNAWAY MOTOR-CAR. I Sir John Simon's motor-car, which un- expectedly started while standing outside a Bradford hotel, ran over and seriously in- jured a woman named Driver. The chauf- feur, William Walton, of Fulham, who sprang into the vehicle as it started off, was injured when it collided with a lamp-post. vth the injured were removed to hospital.

OF CORSET IS I I A. woman at Thames Cort told Mr. Booth, the magistrate, that she wished to ask his. advice concerning the purchase of corsets. Mr. Rooth: That is a matter about which man knows nothing. The county court is the place for corsets. (Laughter.)

CHESS IN THE HOUSE. I Capablanca, the Cuban chess champion, played 38 games at the House of Commons, and scored 36 wins and 2 draws. The first player to gain a draw was Sir A. Strauss, and the other player to achieve the distinc- tion was Sir Watson Rutherford.

THE PLOUGHMAN. Two ex-Land Army girls in Berkshire have bought tractors and intend setting up in business for themselves. Farmers who have previously employed them have pro- mised them ploughing work. I

M. Auguste Renoir, the famous French painter, has died, aged iti. New Brunswick freight handlers who have ibeen on strike for several weeks, have re- turned to work pending the decision of the IConciliation Board cou?rmin? the compro- mise offer of 53 cents 1'er hour.

WIZARD OF THE RING. I CARPENTIER BEATS BECKETT IN 74 SECONDS. I DRAMATIC BOXING MATCH. Georges Carpentier has again amazed the public generally, the members of the boxing fraternity in particular. At the Holborn Stadium he retained his claim to the Heavy-Weight Championship of Europe by knocking out Joe Beckett, of Southampton, in 72 seconds. By tliie dramatic and sudden conclusion Joe Beckett exactly followed in the footsteps of Bombardier Wells, who was also knocked out in the first round at Ghent some time ago. The Englishman. who did not land a serious blow, laid himself open to a feint with the left. and received Carpentier's right on the point of the jaw, and went d(?Nvnt to defeat. Some of the spectators paid 25 guineas to watch the contest. Their entertainment cost them 7s. 6d. a second. A great crowd waited outaide Holborn Stadium for hours to learn the result, and traffic had to be diverted some time before the men were in the ring. The Prince of Wales, on entering the Stadium, was greeted with such a tumult of cheers that he felt compelled to reply. In a short speech he again expressed his thanks for the warmth of his reception and pleasure at being back in London again.

OUR NAVAL SUPREMACY. COST MORE THAN TREBLED SINCE OUTBREAK OF WAR. Revised naval estimates for 1919.20 show that instead of a decrease compared with the estimated of March last, there is to be an advance:— Estimate, March, 1919 £ 149,200,000 Revised estimate .0.m 157,528,800 Increase 8,328,800 Comparing; the pre-war year with the first complete post-war year. we get these figures showing the cost of the Navy: 1913-14 £48,732,621 1519-20 157,528,800 Increase £108,796,179 In 1913-14 the personnel was 142,9GO: in the current year it is 275,000. Following are the chief items of the new construction (for which £ 25,647,781 is the total estimate): Light Crui.ers.-Effingham. Frobisher, and Hawkins (completed). Battle Cruisers.—Hood (estimated expen- diture, £ 5,148,069). Light Cruisers.-Ciiro and Calcutta (com- pleted), Cape Town, Colombo, and Delhi (completed), Despatch, Diomede, Dunedin (completed), Durban, Emerald, Enterprise, and Kaleigh. In an explanatory statement issued by the First Lord. items of increase on the March Estimates include the following: I Officers' Additional Pay and Pensions £2,4:00,000 McnVi Additional Pay and Pen- 61011,3 f-8,000,000 Increased War Gratuities £3,000,000 Special requirements of fuel, etc., owing to the presence of the Fleet in Russian waters and Eastern Mediterranean account for an addition of X4,250,000. At the time of the Armiatice. over a year ago, Mr. Long points out, the weekly rate of expenditure on the Navy was actually about £ 6,750,000, or at the rate of more than = £ 350,000,000 a year. "A large propor- tion of the sum now required," it is further explained, "is to pay for work done and ser- vices rendered prior to the Armistice, for work put in hand before the Armistice and so far carried out that it was not economi- cal for it to be cancelled, for war gratuities on demobilisation, for the pay and victual. ling of surplus personnel, and for other purely deadweight war expenditure."

COST OF COTTON. I AN EXPLANATION BY MESSRS. COATS. The following letter ha3 been issued to the Press by Messrs. J. and P. Coats, Ltd.: With a. view to correcting a number of misleading statements which have recently been made regarding this company and its profits, the directors think that the public should be informed of the following facts: Retail price of 200yd. reel:1914, lfd. 1919, 4d.; increase, 128 per cent. Retail price ot 400yd. reel: 1914, 3d.; 1919, 7 d.; increase, 140 per cent. The above shows the increase which the public have to pay when buying reels; but the company, in order to produce the goods, has to pay much greater increases, namely: Cotton yarn (nearly three-fourths of the whole), 24U per cent.: other raw materials (wood, paper, etc.), 150 to 400 per cent.; coal, 160 per oent.; wages, 150 per cent. The actual cost of the 400yd. reel is made up as follows (to three places of decimals): Yarn as bought from spanners, 3.497d.: our manufacturing cost (twisting, bleaching, spooling, etc.), .684d.: spools, wrappers, and selling expenses. ,899d.: total, 5.080d. Our selling price to the trade, 5.729d. Our profit, .649d. (or less than two-thirds of a penny per reel). These, figures are 'based on values ruling at September 5. when our last price-list was issued, and since then the market price of yarn has advanced very considerably. The total profits of the company last year amounted to T3,995,000, but of this approxi- mately £ 370,000, or under one-tenth, was made from goods sold in the United King- dom.

PRINCESS MARY. I VISIT TO LONELY GIRLS' CLUB. I The Cicy Women's Club at 9, Wine Office- court, Fleet-street, E.C.. which was once Oliver Goldsmith's home, was opened by Princess Mary. She was accompained by Lady Joan Mulholland. The Lord Mayor, with whom was the Lady Mayoress, pre- sided, and short speeches were made by busi- ness men and members of the Free Church co uzicil, who are lending their support to the club.. i GIFT TO THE PRINCESS. I Sir Arthur Spurgeon, managing director of the Hou6e of Cassell, said the canteen at the City club would be a great boon to City girls, who now found much difficulty in obtaining a noon-day meal. After formally declaring the club open Princess Mary was shown over the premises, .and spent some time chatting with the waitresses in the kitchen. Before the open- ing of the club the manager of the famous 'Cheshire Cheese" presented the Princess with a bouquet of roses, violets, and white heather, to which a gold spoon was attached bearing the date 1667 (the year in which the "Cheshire Cheese" was rebuilt after the great fire). The grey parrot, which is the mascot of the famous inn, was taken out of his cage and shown to the Princess.

I STEEL HOUSES. In the course of a. speech at Glasgow, Mr. Bonar Law said that among the housing schemes considered by the Government, one )L ..ihe most feasible was that of a steel house, which could be built more rapidly ind more economically than ordinary Souses. These were to be tested.

I MAD 000 AMOK. A supposed mad dog dashed down Robert- son-road, Battersea, barking and snapping at all comers. Two lads of 13 were badly bitten, and had to be removed to hospital. The dog was killed by a constable with a trunch eon.,

SIR EVELYN WOOD DEAD. 'j HERO OF MANY WARS PASSES AWAY. I FROM NAVY TO ARMY. I It was with general regret that the news of the death of Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., who passed away in his 82nd year, was received in both military and civil circles. The gallant and distinguished Field-Marshal gave his services to his county in three successive reigns; in fact, "From midshipman to Field-Marshal epito- mises the wonderful career of Sir Evelyn. I Transferring from the Navy to the Army in his youth, he served with distinction in the Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Ashanti, Zulu- land, Transvaal, and Egypt (1882) cam- I paign. "Sir, Evelyn was always working for the Army; never for himself. He was one of the best, desperately brave and true as steel," is Sir Ian Hamiltcns tribute.

"WE ARE PROUD OF YOU." I KING'S TRIBUTE TO THE PRINCE OF I WALES. Speaking at a dinner given at Bucking- ham Palace in honour of the Prince of Wales King George said, "My dear son, I wish you a most hearty welcome on your return home safe and sound. I am thank- ful that you could tell me that President Wilson is progressing towards recovery. All in this country greatly appreciate the cor- dial, and, I may say, affectionate welcome which you received from the Government and people of Washington and New York- "You have shown the highest sense of duty. Your speeches have been excellent, and your own personal charm and your smile have won all hearts. "Both your mother and I are very proud of you." I OFF AGAIN SHORTLY. I The Prince, in a characteristic illy frank and charming reply, said: "My tour in Canada has only intensified my desire to see more of the Emo-e, and I am looking forward keenly to visiting Aus- tralia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India in the near future."

I WALL FALLS ON HUT. I THIRTEEN MEN INJURED. The wall of a new building at Leyton col- lapsed during the recent storm, and fell on a temporary hut containing 25 men who were employed on new buildings at the works of the British Wire Works Company in Claude-road, Leyton. Members of the Leyton Urban District Council Fire Brigade and ó1 numtber of policemen succeeded in extricating the men, thirteen of whom were treated at Whipp'e Cross Infirmary.

COMIC SONG IN NINE LANGUAGES. Many music-hall "stars" took part in the farewell matinee at the Alhambra Theatre to Mr. Charles Coborn, who is retiring from j the, profession at the age of 67. Mr. Coborn sang "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" and the still older favourite "Two Lovely Black Eyes." The chorus of the latter he sang in nine languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, modern Greek, Welsh,, and Dutch.

STEEL MAGNATE DEAD. j A New York message announces the death of Mr. Henry Clay Frick, the steel magnate. Mr. Frick had been suffering from ptomaine poisoning for several weeks. His fortune is estimated at 200,000,000 dols. (. £ 40,000,000). Mr. Frick, who would have been 70 years of age on December 19, was formerly chair- man of the Carnegie Steel Company, and afterwards became a director of the United States Steel Trust.

FISH AND CHIPS. I Fish and chip friers have decided as a body to form their own supply association under limited liability company laws. The prospectus put the capital required at £ 50,000. Of the eight directors, three are produce brokers, three fish friers, and two depot managers of the Fish Friers' National Co-operative Supply Association, and it is based on a bonus-sharing purchase scheme. It is stated that there are approximately 25,000 fish friers in the country, who need ] about £ 16,000,000 worth of oils and fat yearly.

"A SHOCKING THING." 1 Captain Bernard Stewart, of Sidney-street, Chelsea, was fined < £ 10 at the South-Western Police-court for stealing a pair of field- glasses from Captain Crome, who is blind. It waa stated that Captain Stewart was the guest of Captain Crome, and he took the glasses and pledged them for £2 when he was financially embarrassed. "It is a shocking thing to rob a blind offioer," said the magistrate.

LADY EXPLORER'S DEATH. I Miss Mary Hall, the first woman to travel without any white companion from the Cape to Cairo, has died at her home in Hamp- stead. During her journey she carried no weapons of any kind, and boasted that she went through the heart of Africa in a muslin dress. The journey occupied nine months.

NEXT, PLEASE I I An application was made to Blackburn Town Council by the Union of General Workers that corporation labourers should be given 15 minutes' interval every morning and afternoon as "smoking time."

I CLUB WINDOW. I Needless to say, the Prince of Wales met with a marvellous reception when he re turned to England after his tour of triumph in Canada and the United States. The weather was awful, but neither the spirits of the crowds at Portsmouth or London were in any way damped. The Prince of Wales, whose tour has now ended, has been an even greater triumph for tact and statesmanship than most people are as yet aware, and it is said that he will probably make a much more extended journey some time next year. The latest suggestion is that his Royal Highness should go to Aus- tralia via the Cape, returning by way of 'Frisco and Vancouver. FtOvm Vancouver ho would proceed to his ranch in Alberta, whence he would travel to the Atlantic sea- board by way of Chicago and the Great Lakes, and so home. As an ambassador of geniality he is undoubtedly unrivalled. » » To most people it is very interesting for the veil to be lifted on the private life of reigning monarchs, and in this respect King Allonso tells the following story of liis first cigarette. The incident occurred after he had been formally enthroned as King of Spain on attaining his majority on his six- t-centh birthday. Up till that time he had not been allowed to smoke, nor even then was the prohibition withdrawn-" Neverthe- less, he came to the conclusion that, as a ruling monarch, he might at least do as he liked in this respect Accordingly he asked his brother, the Prince of the Asturias, for a cigarette. I haven't got one," said the Prince, faithful to family orders. At last the young king made his way to the sentry at the palace door, who amiably produced a plug of black tobacco from his trousers pocket and rolled a cigarette for his ma- jesty, who smoked it proudly through the palace. It made me violently isick later )n," the King said, "but I enjoyed it at the time. I felt, as I puffed and puffed, that I was really and truly grown up at last. Some six years back Baroness Furnivall became a peeress in her own right through the title being called out" of abeyance, after a lapse of 136 years. A beautiful and talented girl. the Baroness belongs to the Petre family, one of the oldest Roman Catholic families in England. A favourite story in the family concerns a duchess—an irascible bridge-player—who entertained King Edward. A young subaltern was privileged to play at the same table as the King and the duchess. The duchess Te- voked. The subaltern noticed it, and at I the end of the hand clanned the penalty. The duchess glared, but submitted. "Young fellow," said the King, leaning over and tapping the subaltern on the knee. "I have given the Victoria Cross for less than that." It is reported that Mr. J. T. Brownlie, the chairman of the Executive Council of the Society of Engineers, once said. "I am not a Bolshevist, but I would rather waste five years in prison than sacrifice the right to strike," when asked by King George to give "an absolutely frank expression of views" on the Labour situation. With a twinkle in his eve Mr. Brownlie tells ot the humours of strikes. An "incident" which appeals to him concerns an employer who arrived at his factory to find all his hands 3n strike. "What's your grievance?" he asked one of them. "Dunno yet, sir. We ain't heard from the gentleman in Lunnon yet. Here is a good story told by Mr. J. B. Fagan, the well-known Shakespearean pro- ducer. He relates how a member of a barn- storming theatrical company, arriving at a certain small town. walked -in to the only grocer's shop aDd inquired: "Got any stale 6gg??" admitted the tradesman, "a eggs?" Y es, ?I'H buy all you've got. was few. Why?" "'1'J! buy aJl you've got," was the reply. A light dawned upon the grocer's understanding. "I guess," he said, "that you are going to see Hamlet. at the Town Hall to-night?" "No," said the customer. I'm going to play Banilet. at the Town Hall to-night." Something hke wisdom! «- 4 Sir Thomas Lipton had a slight period of misgiving when the Adriatic came into col. lision with a small vessel off Sandy Hook, on the homeward journey from New York. where Sir Thomas has been for a month in connection with his forthcoming attempt to lift the America Cup Amongst many good stories told by Sir Thomas is one concerning a certain yachtsman whose appeal to join the exceedingly exclusive Royal Yacht Squadron had been repeatedly rejected. Eventually the disgusted candidate put in an appearance at Cowes. fiying a pennant showing the legend M.O B.Y.S. There were anxious discussions as to what this could represent, and at last the squadron descended sufficiently from its dignity to in- quire. "That," said the owner, "stands for My Own Blooming Yacht Squadron!" From mine boy to journalist describes the rise of Mr. Lowell Thomas, whose wonderful war lectures at the Royal Albert Hall have attracted so much attention. Beginning life at the age of eleven in the gold miues of Cripple Creek, Colorado, lie managed tu save enough money before he was tvyenty to get a college education. Funds, how. ever, ran out, and he was obliged to return to mining. His chance came when the pro- prietor cf the Colorado Times" offered him a job as a reporter. Thomas jumped at tho opportunity, and before long was managing editor of the paper. Later, migrating to Chicago, he became a master of public speaking, with a thousand pupils in his charge. To most men in the sporting world the owner of Brigand, who won the Cambridge- shire at twenty-five to one. thereby netting a fortune for its lucky owner, is a great wit. and is known as "Jimmy" Rothschild. He is fond of the story of the man who opened a bookshop m a provincial town. Not a single customer appeared for several days, but at last a little middle-aged spinster walked in and asked, "Have you "A Bleeding Heart "No," replied the o, replied the despondent shopkeeper; "but I've got the bloomin' hump I" The wife of Mr. Fred Terry, Miss Julia Neilson, tells the following amusing story: "We were rehearsing the death-scene in The Heel of Achilles,' and a member 01 our company came in from the street and asked the call-boy how far the rehearsal had 'gone. Mr. Terry's just dying,' replied the boy. Good: I've tiiiw to smoke a cigarette before my entrance.' Presently the actor returned, and repeated the ques- tion. Still dying.' answered the boy. Oh, I'll go and have another cigarette.' Back he came, but only got the same reply from the cail-bov. FInally, after Hmoking five cigarettes, he asked a htHe wearily how far the rehearsal had gone. Ylixig, answered the ca11-boy.. Great heavens! gasped the actor, he must be immortal! # In "Eating in Two or Three Languages," Irvin S. Cobb, the American humorist, tells many good stories- One is to the effect that a chap named Dave Lewis went into the restaurant business. Dave had been line of the boye," and his pals started to lick their chops in anticipation. But he was beforehand with them. His first act was to publish a notice which read: 'Dave Lewis begs to notify that he has gone into busi- ness on his own hook and started a first- class restaurant, and hopes that his many friends will jolly well stop away and give him a chance." Thus it is sometimes neces- sary to be plain if seemingly uuimd.

By agreement with the British Army Command, the Belgian Government will take pcosession of all rolling stock in Bel- gium captured by the British during tho war. Fourteen ex-officials of Tarious French Ministries have been committed for trial on charges of illicit trafficking in the food depots and of profiteering in certain articles of food. Mr. Churchill states in a Parliamentary reply that owing to the military and civil importance of the aerodrome at Kenley, Sur- rey, the War Office desire to retain posses- sion of Kenley Common..

GUNS CROSS THE RHINE GERMANS STILL HESITATE TO FULFIL OBLIGATIONS. MARSHAL FOCH READY. The artful Hun, still haggling over the signing of the protocol in regard to the Scapa scuttling and other matters, is to have a drastic lesson. Our guns have now croeeed the Rhine, and should the German hesitate much longer he will no doubt have a taste of warfare in his own country. The Allies prepared a final warning Note to Germany which demanded the immediate signature of the protocol which will bring the Peace Treaty into force. Till the Peace Treaty becomes effective, the armititice can be ended at three days' notice. It will be remembered that Germany's abjection to signing the protocol so far has been that it contains a cla-use under which Dur, late enemy admits the right of any of the Allies to extend the area of occupation upon any failure by Germany to fulfil the peace terms. Marshal Foch has taken full measures to keep the Hull. to hi-i word, if not, the whole )f the Allies are agreed that drastic action is the only course possible.

BISHOP ON BOXING. Bishop Welldon, Dean of Durham, in alt, interview, said he could not profess to look with much .satisfaction on the extraordinary revival of interest in boxing. "Boxing, in my judgment," ho said, "is hardly distin- guishable from prize-fighting. It is a sport which appeal to the more brutal and more or less uncivilised instincts of human nature. "I think England would he a better country if boxing such ad the Carpentier- Beckett fight ceased -to be. I desire that sport, while it loses its brutal character, should long be, as it ever has been, the dis- tinguishing feature of the British race."

BIG KHAKI THEFT. Some 75 bales containing 05,000 yards of khaki flannel, value £ 75,000, have been stolen from four Army motor-lorries which were standing in the Bethnal Gteen-road. It is believed that the motor-lorries were driven away and unloaded in the neighbour- hood and the bales of flannel probably ware- housed. Tho property may have been taken from the lorries and placed, into other vehicles. The police ask any person who may have seen such property feeing unloaded to write to Scotland Yard, or Divisional Detective- Iuspector Wright at Leman-street station.

CAR FALLS ON DRIVER. I BACKED VEHICLE FALLS OVER CLIFF. Major Douglas Porter, son of the town clerk of Conway, in attempting to turn his motor-car on the sea road at Rhos-on-Sea, near Cohvyn Bay, backed the vehicle over the cliff. The car fell 16ft. to the sands below, turned over, and pinned Major Porter te- neath it. He was taken to Cohvyn Bay Cottage Hospital seriously injured.

CHAMPION DOG SHOW. I A decision of the National Terrier Club t8 hold a championship show at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, next month follows successful negotiations by the fennel Cluib with the Board of Agriculture an the question of exhibiting dogs from muzzling areas. Intending exhibitors in these areas must get a permit from the Board, and after the show will be allowed to take a dog home on a licence from the show authorities. i

CAMP SAFE MYSTERY. The Bucks police are investigating the mysterious robbery of from a safe in an office of the R.A.F. camp at Halton. The safe was found open and emptied ot its contents of Treasury notes and cash. It is presumed that the thief knew where the key was usually kept and stole it during* the absence of the officers on duty.

AIR HONOURS. Regulations for the wearing of the Air Force crosses and medals are published in the "London Gazette." In future these de- sorations may be awarded to members of the force for acts of valour, though not neces- sarily in active operations, against an enemy, and also to civilians who render dis- tinguished service.

No decision has been arrived at in regard to whether the aerial route to Egypt and the East shall pass via Malta. Mr. J. J. Virgo, of the Y.M.C.A., haw been appointed world's representative," and is to visit every country where the as- sociation has branches.

POSTAL HUMOURS. I A North of England firm who posted a I A North of England firm who posted a letter to Mr. Pike Pease, the deputy Post- ma--iter-Gencral, addressed "G.P.O., Lon- don," have had it returned to them marked "not known."

Major-General Sir G. si. Heath. K.C.M.G., has been placed on retired pay owing to the state of his health. Wives of soldiers who are being treated in mental homes and asylums are to receive the full hospital rate of separation allow- ance. All butchers' shops in Liverpool and dis- trict will be closed from the evening of December 23 until the morning of Decem- ber 29, and on New Year's Day- The first prize of 940,000 in the Paris Loan was won by a man living at Flers, in the Orne Department. In revenge for the execution of General Felipe Angeles, Villa's Chief of Staff, 1,000 epldier3 under General Villa, the Afexican rebel, attacked the 18th Mexican Regiment north of Santa Rosalia, in the State of Chi- huahua, and massacred 674 of them. Only two soldiers escaped. Owing to recent rains the river broke its banks at Port Talbot, and scores of cottages in low-lying parts of the town were flooded. Flood-bound residents were penned in their upper rooms. Harry Dixonspain, a farmer, of Thorney, Peterborough, was fined .£50 and costs under the Foodstuffs Order for permitting eleven stacks of wheat to be wasted between August and October.

STREET-MARKET LOSS. Appearing for his public examination in bankruptcy at Bristol, Mr. George Robert Hood, business manager of the local Com- rades of the Great War Club, estimated his deficiency at i:4,154 and attributed his failure to actions against him in connection with the carrying on of street markets by the Comrades. The estimated surplus from his separate- estate, he said, was £100. He admitted that no accounts were kept, of the takings of street-market stall-holders or of the goods returned to store. There had been a net loss of X120 a day, and wages (sometimes aft much as X400 a week) were paid by money taken from the "stalls.

ANGLO AMERICAN SOCIETY. The Anglo-American Society is to found a chair of American History, Literature, and Institutions for British universities as a per- manent memorial of the Prince of Wales's visit to America. Sir W. G. Watson has subscribed = £ 20,000. The Prince of Wales, writing to Sir W. G. Watson to express his pleasure at the gift, Bays he is convinced that differences between the two peoples (of the U.S. and Great Britain) arc those of form and 4hitbit rather than of substance. Ho suggests that the proposed chair should bear the name of the donor.

SHIPBUILDING CRISIS AVERTED. The danger of an immediate crisis in the Bhipbuilding and engineering trades in con- nection with the demand for a 44-bours week has been averted at a conference of the workers' delegates in London, which de- cided in favour of a joint committee to in- quire into the economic effect of such a re* uction in hours. The conference appointed a committee to meet tho executive of the ironmoulders on strike and offer their services towards secur- ing a settlement of the dispute.

JEZREEL'S TOWER. The famous Jezreel Tower on the top of Chatham Hill, Kent, has been offered to Gillingham Corporation for conversion into flats, but the otTer has been declined on the ground of expense. The Tower was erected half a century ago, but the offer has been declined on the ground of expense. The Tower was erected half a century ago, but the last occupant was ejected a few years since for non-payment of rent.