Evening Express

GOOD FOR THE PAINTERS. I By justifiably thundering against the corporation and the board of guardians, the Cardiff Master Painters' Society does not damage tho case of the men for an increase. Granted the public bodies are -litting below the belt, they have no right to lead the way in making concessions disputed by employers in the same line of business. Still, tho men appear to be getting on very well without these blows ,dealt to their opponents from behind. The corporation and the board of guar- dians should have taken no side in the matter at all; but should have held aloof. So far as the case against the demands for increased wages was considered by the employers last night, no argument of a convincing character was discussed. On the contrary, the tendency of the masters would appear to be a concession of the demands made by the men. It is no use denying that the ranks of the masters have been sensibly weakened by the defections of several employers. These defections now number 31, and there was one thing in last night's meeting of the employers which indicates that the determination to resist to the utmost any advance may, after all, become only an idle boast. This was the proposal to pay the 8d. per hour to the best hands. The prospects, on the whole, are good for the painters; but it is a great pity that the whole dispute was not settled peace- fully before coming to this pass.

The Rev, J. Harvey Boudier, of St. Mary's, Cardiff, seems to have struck out a new line for himself, and one that is pro- ducing excellent fruit. Cardiff is one of the most cosmopolitan of towns, and it occurred to Mr. Boudier to found a Coloured Men's Christian Association. He knew that many of these poor fellows were lonely in our great port, and. ex- posed to many temptations, and here was a chance to befriend them. The result is that the new association already has a hundred and fifty members, including Portuguese, Brazilians, North Americans, and Arabs. A weekly service is held, and real good is being done.

This is the time of year when exas- perated gardeners devote their leisure to wondering "why on earth it is that snails, slugs, and all manner of insects are in- cluded in the beneficent economy of Nature. These poor victims-who are as much harried this year as they were in 1902-4hould take heart of grace. A Bill has been introduced by Sir James Rankin providing for the creation of a special department of horticulture and pomology under the Board of Agriculture, to include a salaried State entomologist. The Bill provides for an inspection of all nursery gardens by a State official, with full powers to order, if necessary, the destruction of any diseased or infested plants. If the provisions of this Bill were made more general it might result in the discouragement of many an insect which is at present the plague and bane of every gardener and horticulturist. At the same time, it must be admitted that the task i. is one of the most formidable, for the insect world is the one of all others over which man has the least effective control.

Enthusiasts who shout Back to the I r land may well feel that they have sustained a check. Some labourers from overcrowded London were sent down to Devonshire to see how they would like the change. The result was pathetic. They complained that they were taken from their "comfortable London homes" to a place where they were "buried &live." They had to climb the hills," and one declared his "heart was so bad (in consequence) he had to sit down." All this—as related by Mr. Rider Hag- gard, and there was much more to the same effect-seems to show that there is a difficulty in getting London-bred folk to acclimatise in the country; and Mr. Haggard's view is that none but town lads should be deported into the rural districts, where they should be placed í1rith respectable people until able to earn living.

I Mainly About People. Few livfs have been filled with such con- trasts as that of the ex-Empress Eugenie, who was 77 yesterday. The beautiful daughter of Cyprien, Conde Montijo and Marie Manuela Kirkpatrick of Cloaeburn, Scotland, her mar- riage to Napoleon III. in January, 1853, was one of the most brilliant in modern history. For nearly fifteen years her life was a tri- umph. Clouds gathered. Scandal hovered ovet the French Court. Then came the great downfall in 1871. and the beautiful Eugenie fled to this country. During the past 30 years (says the "Morning Advertiser,") ahe has been ont, of us, a silent, almost pathetic figure, beloved by our late Queen, who herself was net a stranger to trouble, and whose quick sympathies went out to the fallen Empress as to a sister. The evening of the ex-Em- press's life is inexpressibly sad. Her husband and eon dead, her former glory departed. She is alone. "Griselda, said the visiting relative, "you ought not to try to sing when you are shak- ing with the chills." "I haven't got the chills, auntie," remarked the church choir soprano. "I am practising on my tremolo." Dean Farrars personal estate, £ 37,000, ia large for a working cleric, who commenced life with about as much hope as the latd archbishop commenced upon (says a London correspondent); but the explanation is found in the remunerative use to which Dean Farrar put his pen. His "Life of Christ" is said to have yielded its fortunate author a third of his testamentary wealth. Dean Farrar was a copious writer in other lines of literature. On one occasion he dictated 1.200 words to a scribe for syndicate use, and was paid zEZ5 for less than forty minutes' work. General Sir George Greavee, the hero of many hard campaigns, was married again in London last week. Sir George began his fighting career in the Mutiny Campaign in India, and afterwards went down to New Zealand to go through the long Maori war. Then he went to Kumasi with the expedition against King Koffee, 30 years ago, and later on won distinction in the Soudan. Before leaving active service Sir George held the command in Bombay for a term. The Archduke Leopold Ferdinand has at last decided to accept the Austrian Emperor's terms, and to renounce his rank in considera- tion of a yearly allowance. The Archduke was absolutely without resources, and so he has now promised not to marry Mdlle. Wil- helmina Adamovich; to renouce his rank and titles, and to live abroad; in exchange for an annuity of twelve hundred pounds a year to be paid him on the first of every month. The ex-Archduke intends to live in Switzerland, where he has applied for his naturalisation under the name of Leo Woelfling. The Right Hon. Sir E. J. Monson, British Ambassador to the French Republic, who had the honour of entertaining his Majesty during his visit to Paris, can boast of nearly half a century in the Diplomatic Service. lie was first appointed Attache to Paris in 1858, and is now 68 years of age. The British Embassy, in the Rue du Faubourg St. Honore, was formerly the residence of Pauline Bonaparte, the sister of Napoleon, afterwards the Princess Borghese. When Paris was occu- pied by the Allies, it was the residence of the Duke of Wellington, and was purchased in 1836 as the British Embassy. In the last 50 years it has seen fewer tenants than, per- haps, any other Embassy in Paris. Brevet-Major Charles Fitzclarence, V.C., of the Irish Guards, who has just been gazetted Brigade-Major of the 5th Brigade in the let Army Corps was one of the defenders of Mafeking. During the siege he was twice seriously wounded, and on three important occasions he displayed remarkable courage and military skill. With a loss of two men killed, he relieved an armoured train, and drove off a formidable Boer commando, kill- ing 50 of the enemy. Again he inflicted great loss on the Boers one night in the trenches, accounting for four with his own sword, and in the action at Game Tree he also scored heavily against the besiegers. The very serious illness of Lord Strathmore brings to mind the weird story that is con- nected with his seat of Glamis Castle, in For- farshire. What the mystery of Glamis is no one knows, but, whatever it is, it is known to but three persons-the holder of the title, his heir, so soon as he comes of age, and the factor of the estate-and for hundreds of years has this secrecy of three been maintained. As Strathmore has succeeded Strathmore there has been talk of the old legend being exploded. Thoughtless heirs over their wine have vowed to expose the family ghost, but when the secret has been communicated on their coming of age they have one and all refused even to speak of the mystery. Nor has any factor ever betrayed his trust. Though Lord Alverstone, Lord Chief Justice, and Chairman of the Alaskan Boundary Com- mission, has never crossed the Atlantic, as Sir Richard Webster he is well known to Cana- dians. In 1893 he sat as one of the British counsel on the Behring Sea Commission, and again in 1857 on the Venezuelan Commission, both of which met in Paris. Unlike most English statesmen of the nineteenth century who figured in the Anglo-American diplomacy (says the "King, Navy, and Army") Lord Alver- stone is identified with British socceeses. For both in the Behring Sea arbitration and the Venezuelan arbitration British claims were upheld. Thus his appointment on the Alaskan Boundary Commission is of good omen. A discussion, the interest of which is by no means confined to golfers, is in progress in a paper devoted to that sport. The point in dispute is the pronunciation of the word "golf"—i.e., whether it should be pronounced as spelt or as "goff," with the "1" silent. What is called the "I" party show that the original spelling-in days when orthography was largely phonetic—was "golf," and that "goffe" or "goff" is not met with till James VI. succeeded to the English throne; therefore, they say, goff is probably an English importa- tion. The "silent I" partly show that the Scot- tish poets always rhyme the word to "off," to which comes the crushing retort that if a rhyme can be found for "golf" the argument may be admitted. Can any readers help to elucidate this vexed question? "Ever since I've rejected him, Cholly has been threatening to blow out his brains." "Don't worry! He'll never hit 'em." The late Sir Oliver Mowat had some very amusing Bar stories, and he delighted in re- peating an American rendering of a yarn about Sir Henry Hawkins and J. L. Toole. "When I was round that section," said his American who had been visiting in England, "I fetched right up against a real true bill about Jedge Hawkins and John L. Toole. Hawkins is holditg court in Liverpool and John L. is there simultaneous doing oomedy. Jedge goes to the play after a heavy day, and brings John L. back to his hotel for supper. Tells him, in course of conversation, about a crook who has been convicted that day, but sentence deferred till to-morrow, and he is going to give him fifteen years. When Toole is leaving for home, turns round, and says, 'Say, Jedge, it does me good to keep in with the newspapers; do you mind if I run round and give 'em the tip about that fifteen years?' 'Lord Almighty,' says Haw- kins, 'don't go and give me away like that'; and to make sure he walked home with the comedian and saw him to bed before he could do any harm." Canon Bell, who at the end of the present summer will sever his connection with Marl- borough College, of which he has been head- master since 1876, was born at Streatham just over seventy years ago, and went via the Bluecoat School to Oxford, where he did brilliant things, and developed into a Tutor, an Examiner, and a Select Preacher. Then he went to Dulwich School as Second Master, and then to Christ's Hospital as Head, and in 1876 was called to succeed the late Dean Farrar at Marlborough. It is told of Dr. Bell that he once invented a new boat—or at least the name of one. The builder told him it was "something between a wherry and a skiff." and he replied, "Then call it either a skerry or a whiff." and a whiff it Is to this day.

THE LONDON PRESS. Examples of Their Views To-day. BRIEF EXTRACTS FROM LEADING ARTICLES. Irish Land Bill It is the interest of all parties who desire to restore peace in Ireland that the Bill should pass, with such reasonable amend- ments as will make it workable and equit- able.—"Times." Macedonian Trouble The cause of freedom in the East is essen-I tially a noble one, but it has fallen in these days upon ignoble means. Liberators who march with dynamite bombs and "necrosene" —a substance which produces blinding fumes —cannot expect to excite much sympathy from public opinion in Europe.—"Daily Chronicle." I Irish Landlords I Nothing can be more wide of the fact than the loose assertion that the owners have any sordid inducement to part with their estates. They are weary, indeed, of a situa- tion in which they find it difficult to maintain easy and cordial relations with their tenantry, and, as -good patriots, they are reluctant to stand in the way of peace.— j "Standard." Corn Tax I The only legitimate purpose of taxation is to raise a revenue for the common services of the nation. The corn tax does more than this, for, in addition to the threepence per hundredweight paid upon all foreign corn, and collected by the Custom House for the benefit of the Exchequer, there is a corres- ponding sum added to the price of all British corn, and paid by the British consumer to the British farmer.Daily Graphic." England and France. I With the French we have had trouble- grievous trouble-in the past; it would per- haps be a fool's hope that there should never be trouble again. But if ever and however the evil day shall come, the people of Eng- land will not forget, will even then remember better, the manner in which their King has been received in Paris.—"Daily Mail." Auxiliary Artillery. I Our Auxiliary Artillery is still armed with absurd and obsolete guns, and the War Office shows no sign of intending to change this ridiculous and probably fatal state of things.—"Daily Express."

DEATH OF MR. D. JAMES' ABERDARE I We regret to announce the death of Mr. David James, Sunnyeide, Aberdare, which took place this morning at his residence between ten and eleven o'clock. Mr. James had an apoplectic seizure when proceeding to his home on Monday evening. Yesterday the effects of the seizure seemed to be passing. He waa making excellent progress, and no danger was anticipated. He, however, had a relapse last night, and passed away at the time stated. Deceased, who was about 44 years of age, was a native of Merthyr. When a lad he entered the office of the late Mr. D. Tudor Evans, who at that time carried on the business of an auctioneer and valuer at Merthyr. In 1874 Colonel Phillips, solicitor, Aberdare, opened business in that town. Shortly after Mr. James was engaged by the colonel, and he remained with that gentleman up to the time of his death. Mr. James represented the Western Mail" and Evening Express" in Aberdare and district for many years, and was a painstaking and conscientious corre. epondent. He was of a kindly disposition, and a host of friends, will regret his sudden demise, Mr. Thomas James, station-master, Sesolven. is his only brother. His sister married Mr. Isaac Wilks, accountant, Merthyr, whom she has predeceased. Mr. James leaves a widow, with whom great sympathy is felt.

MOTORCARS FOR GREAT WESTERN I RAILWAY. The Great Western Railway directors have decided to introduce a service of steam motor-oars on a section of their main line west of Swindon, between ChaJford, Stroud, and Stonehouse. The cars will have a speed of 30 miles an hour, and are estimated to cost about ES,000 each. A novel feature of the service (which will be of one class) is tha.t arrangements have been made, with the sanction of the Board of Trade, to stop at certain specified level crossings en route to pick up and set down passengers. It is expected that the new system will be inaugurated early in July.

SECOND IN COMMAND HOME FLEET. I The Admiralty announce that Rear-Admirai Edmund S. Poe, M.V.O., has been appointed second in command of the Home Fleet, in suc- cession to Rear-Admiral Atkinson Willes. Rear-Admiral Poe is best remembered in connection with the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg, when it fell to this officer to bring home his Royal Highness's body from the West Coast of Africa. He was appointed a member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Victoria as a mark of her Majesty's appreciation of the special services he rendered in this connection. Admiral Poe afterwards served as an A.D.C. to Queen Victoria, and was in attendance on the occasion of her Majesty's funeral, and lately he was in command of the Cruiser Squadron. He is not only a most experienced and capable officer in command of a squadron but has had a brilliant career as a naval student. He hoists his rear-admiral's file for the first time, having hitherto flown only the broad pennant of a commodore.

A FIREMAN OVERCOME AT CARDIFF About ten o'clock this morning John Wallace, aged 45, a trimmer employed on the steamer Innishowen Head, in the Roath Dock, Cardiff, was engaged in removing some fire- bars from the boilers, when he was overcome by the excessive heat. He became partily un- conscious, and was found some time after- wards by his shipmates in a weak state. He was carried on deck, and was kept there a couple of honrat but as he did not show much signs of improving he waa conveyed to the Hamadryad Hospital Ship by a Bute Docks police-officer. Before reaching the institu- tion, however, he died from exhaustion.

TWO 8HIPS MISSING I Two Liverpool-bound ships are reported as missing with all hands, forty in number. The Norwegian barque Dromingen, 1,100 tons, bound from Darien to the Mersey, with pitch pine, has not been heard of since she sailed on December 30. The crew numbered eighteen. Norwegian steamer Ayrgal, which sailed from Liverpool on January 2, with ore and bricks, for Sydney, Cape Breton, has also mysteriously disappea,red. She was 1.500 tons register, with a crew of 22. It is feared that both have foun- dered in the Atlantic.

BAROMhTRICAL INDICATIONS I The Mtewtzt Me the reeatn?o .Ince Ave o'clock last I evening, aa g>«n by the barometer 1D the ve.tibu!. of the Evening Mxpresa." St. Mary-street. Cardiff, WAlch te 33ft. aboVn wean sea level:- I

A SOLDIER'S TRIALS. Justice After Eight Years. WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF MURDER. Jean Voisin, a French soldier, was wrongly convicted of murder by a court-martial eight years ago and sent to a convict prison. After undergoing much suffering in the prison for eight long years, his case was investigated by a council of war at Mans, with the result that he now has been acquitted. At the re-open- ing of the trial the advocate of Voisin related the story of the latter's sufferings, and demanded C3,200 compensation. Further, he insisted that the decree of acquittal should be officially published in the Rennes, Mans, Orleans, and Cherbourg newspapers. A our- geon-major, who examined the wrongly-con- victed soldier in the presence of his advocate and a Government commissioner, stated that Voisin's general condition was satisfactory, but he was suffering from the remains of fever, and there was a wound in his leg which did not seem as though it would heal. Voisin's capacity for work, added the surgeon- major, had been reduced by one-half. Hence- forth he would only be able to follow a sedentary occupation. In the end, the Government Commissioner recognised that some compensation was due to the unfortunate soldier for all that he had gone through, and fixed it at £ 1,600. Besides receiving this money, Voisin will have the satisfaction of reading the decree at Cher- bourg, Mans, and at Orleans, and in the "Journal Officiel" and five other newspapers, to be selected by himself.

.NEW LINE TO BRISTOL. The Opposition to the Great Western Railway. The Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to consider the Bristol, London, and Southern Counties Railway Bill resumed its sitting yesterday, Sir Lewis M'lver presiding. Mr. Mills, formerly high-sheriff of Bristol, was re-called and cross-examined as to the advantages which he expected the new line would possess over the Great Western Railway. He said one great advantage, to his mind, was that the London terminus would be at Waterloo, and he regarded that as much more convenient than Paddington. The central station at Bristol would be much more con- veniently situated than the present Great Western Station. Mr. Claud Baggally, K.C, who appeared on behalf of the Midland Railway Company and certain landowners, said: I am puzzling my head to find out why it. is that between Trow- bridge and Bollingbourne the line is laid out to do as much damage as it does, and to con- fer as little benefit as it does. The witness replied that the line was laid out with the object of obtaining the best gradients possible. In reply to other ques- tions, he said he was not aware that the' line cut away from the villages and caused ex- ceedingly bad severances, nor did he know that for a considerable distance the new line would not be more than three miles away from the existing railway. The Committee then adjourned.

MAFEKING HERO. I Contradicts an American Love I Story. Major-general Baden-Powell arrived at Ply- mouth yesterday morning after his trip to America.. where he travelled aa "Colonel R. S. Stephenson." He was aooompanied by his aide-de-camp, Captain R. H. Kearsley. In an interview with a "Daily Express" represen- tative, the geheral emphatically denied that he had held any conversation with American reporters. "I went to America on a purely private visit, and mainly for the sea trip. Our stay was very brief—only fourteen days-but we rushed about and saw a good deal. I visited West Point, Washington, Philadelphia, Niaga.ra. Falls, and Toronto. I hope to visit Amerioa again, and spend more time there." On being informed that one American paper stated that he travelled under an assumed name to Washington to propose to one of the belles of the Capitol, with whom he had fallen in love at Cairo, the general laughed heartily, and said he did not know the lady, and was sorry he had never been to Cairo,

THE! KAISER IN ROME I Rome. Wednesday.-The Emperor William, the King of Italy, and the Princes were present yesterday evening at a very brilliant recep- tion at the Capitol. After viewing the illumi- nations on the Forum and Palatine, the I Imperial and Royal party returned to the Quirinal.-Reuter.

I CAERLEON FAIR At a meeting of the Oaerleon District Council last night Mr. T. Parry referred to the state of the Goldcroft Common, Caerleon, in conse- quence of the holding of the fair on May 1 and the many travelling showmen who had been stopping on the common for the past week- He characterised it -as scandalous that the inhabitants near the common should be obliged to submit to the abominable and filthy nuisances which had existed.Several members spoke in a similar strain, and main. tained that the fair should be held elsewhere. —Mr. Parry suggested that the council should approach Lord Tredegar, who is lord of the manor, with a view to the council enclosing the common as a public park.-Ultimately the clerk was asked: to prepare a report by the next meeting as to the proper proceedings for the council to take to prevent a repetition of the disgusting practices witnessed during the past few days.

A GHEEK BANKER'S WEALTH Mr. Evangeloe Constantine Achillopoulos, of Cairo, banker, formerly of Tsangarades, in the Commune of Myresion, Thessalomagregia, Greece, who died in Paris on December 3 last, has left estate in the United Kingdom of the gross value of £ 507,958. The testator stated that at the date of his last balance-sheet and by his books the value of the whole of his estate appeared to be £ 936,188.

MOROCCO REVOLT Madrid, Wednesday.—The correspondent of the "Imparoial" at Melltia telegraphs a rumorar that the Roghi has been assassinated in his camp at Zelonon.-Reuter.

THE VENEZUELA SETTLEMENT I Washington, Wednesday.—The Ambassadors of Great Britain, Germany, and Italy have received permission to sign, with Mr. Bowen, the Protocol submitting the question of prefe- rential treatment of the claims against Vene- zuela of the three Powers a.bove mentioned to The Hague tribunal.-Reuter.

A CLERGYMAN OVERCOME. John Hudson, 38, "clerk in holy orders," giving an address in Montague-street, Blooms- bury, was charged at Worship-street Police- court, London, yesterday, with being drunk and incapable. He said he suffered from dyspepsia, and had taken a little drink, which overcame him. Mr. Dickinson, having had inquiries made. said it was scandalous to see a clergyman disgracing his cloth, and fined him 5s.

Food and Cooking Exhibition, Albert-hail, London, April 21st, 1903.-Another success. Highest Honour. Gold Medal for Pastry; au?er Medal for Cal.4 in 0 CA Competition f; Mt Ztgt«)4 to Mema, Stmni, iofe Uoawti CUdif. IUU&

COURAGEOUS LADY Holds Up" Three Burglars in Her House SHOWS HOW SHE CAN HANDLE A REVOLVER. The burglars who entered the rooms of Ma.da.me Belliard, widow of an officer in the colonial army in the R02 Leonie, Paris, on Monday night, got more than they bargained for. The lady was out when the thieves got into the house, and they were making a tour of investigation when she returned. They at once sought to coftceal themselves. Two con- cealed themselves under the bed, another squeezed himself into a wardrobe. Unfortu- nately for one of the men under the bed his feet were seen on the floor. Madame Belliard, being a cool kind of woman, did not scream or utter a single word. She went to a drawer, took out a revolver, fired at the feet, and hit one. "I will fire again if you make the least movement," she said. The men did not stir. Then Madame Belliard (says the "Morning Advertiser") went to the door and shouted "Thief!" Instantly the concierge and some neighbours appeared on the scene. The men were dragged from underneath the bad, and the man in the wardrobe, hearing that all was lost, made his presence known, and begged to be let out. All three, greatly crest- fallen at the failure of their plans, were haled off to the police-station.

LLANDAFF MAN MISSING. Insurance Agent's Strange Disappearance. The disappearance of William Davies Sans- ford, an insurance agent, of Llandaff Yard, who left his home on the night of the 30th of April, still remains a mystery. The police have been making extensive inquiries as to his whereabouts, but have failed to trace him. It is stated that on the night of his dis- appearance he left the following note:- My dear Wife,-Cod forgive me. A strange feeling has come over me. I must go. God help me. But where to go I do not know. Oh, Polly, look after the little ones. I pray God will help them. I feel as though I am going mad; I can't stand this worry. May God help and keep you in this hour of trouble.—From your broken-hearted Hus- band. I have tried to get on. I feel as though I can't stay, but where am I to go? God help me; my poor mother, I am dressed in my best. Sanford is well known in Llandaff and dis- trict, and for some years acted ae lieutenant of the Llandaff Fire Brigade and captain of the Church Lads' Brigade. Up to last summer he followed the occupa- tion of a barber. He rescued a lad who had fallen into the Taff River, and remained in his wet clothes all day. This caused illness which set on his lungs, and he had to give up his barber's shop and become an insu- ran oeagent to get a living. He has been in a depressed state ever since.

DEATH OF MR. F. H. MACKLIN I This well-known Shakespearean actor, long associated with the companies of Sir Henry Irving, Mr. and Mrs. Kendal, and Mr. Beer- bohm Tree, died yesterday at his residence, Caste 1 nau-mansionb, Barnes. Deceased, who was 54 years of age, and had long suffered from a heart complaint, first came pro- minently before the public during the late Miss Adelaide Neilson's season at the Hay- market, some twenty years ago, when she revived "Measure for Measure." His sound elocution and manly wtyle made him a favourite in characters needing firm handline together with a good presence. He was engaged by Mise Mary Anderson for her revival of A Winter's Tale at the Lyceum, and toured in America with Sir Henry Irving, as well as with Mr. and Mre. Kendal. His "Don Pedro," in the former's memorable revival of "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Lyceum, was warmly praised. At Hie Majesty's, two years ago, he played in Herod." He married that able actress, Miss B. Henri, who survives him.

THE FINDING OF THE MISSING ARTIST I It appears that the missing lady, Miss Winifred Christie, was found at King's Heath, four m ilesfrom Birmingham, where she had taken apartments in Station-road. A tele- gram from Edinburgh yesterday afternoon to the Birmingham police apprised the autho- rities of her whereabouts, and was sent on to the superintendent at King's Heath, which is in the county of Worcester. They found the lady in her apartments, and advised her parents at Edinburgh. They arrived this morning, and have since left for the North with their daughter. She told the landlady at the apartments when she arrived there on Friday that she had coma from Edinburgh. She was alone, and there is no suggestion of interference with her in any way. The inference is that her mind had become sud- denly unhinged. She visited the municipal art gallery of Birmingham yesterday. She appeared perfectly sane to the people at King's Heath.

NEGRO iOL61EWS QUEER STORY A young negro, who stated that he had served for eight years in the medical depart- ment of a West India, regiment at Sierra Leone, asked Mr. Horace Smith, at West- mineter Police-court, London yesterday, for assistance. He had applied to the War Office for an indulgence passage back to the African West Coast, and received answer, but, being nearly at the end of his resources, he could not wait. While under arrest at Sierra Leone, he said, the whole of his savings, amounting to 6165, were stolen. He made a complaint, ,and was sent back to Jamaica and discharged there. By this means he was precluded from taking any further steps-unless he returned to Sierra Leone.—Mr. Horace Smith requested the oourt missionary to inquire about the story.

AN ALL-ROUND CRIMINAL George Jones, 34, painter, wae sentenced at the sessions at Clerkenwell, London, yesterday to 21 months' hard labour for burglary at the premises of John Richard Andrews, a silver- smith, at Tottenham Court-road, and the house of John James Capell, Howland-atreet. Having learned the situation of the Places broken into and the habits of the occupiers by residing for a time at an adjacent house, the prisoner and two others proceeded to break into three sets of premises. Jones, captured red-handed, was known ae an all-ronnd criminal, having been imprisoned for pocket-picking, uttering counterfeit eoin, and the possession of burglar's tools.

PROPOSED NEW STEEL TRUST 1 A new British steel combination is being discussed in Staffordshire. It would amal- gamate existing interests from the ironstone to the finished product, including coal, and in this last department the names of the Sandwell Park Colliery Company and of the Earl of Dudley have been mentioned as pos- sible amalgamators.

DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN I Mr. Louis Riep has just died at Bay City. Michigan, at the age of 105 years. Riep served under Blucher at Waterloo.

T'he Earl of Denbigh has been re-elected president of the Catholic Association for the forthcoming year. Food and Cooking: Exhibition, Albert-hall, London April 21st, 1903.—Another success. Highest Honour. Gold Medal for Pastry; Silver Medal for Cakos in Open Competition to all England to Messrs. Stevens, Confec- tioners. Cardiff. ell272 "Truth" states that the accouchement of Princess Charles of Denmark is expootsd to Ufca place in AXVA04

PASSIVE RESISTANCE Progress of the No Rate" Campaign. HOW THE STRUGGLE STANDS AT OXFORD. The movement of Nonconformists at Oxford against the payment of the new education rate in so far as it concerns denominational religious teaching has already settled one of the points upon which much interest in the campaign has centred. The authorities have refused to accept any less sum than the whole total of the rates demanded. At Oxford the school rate is part of the general district rate, and, contrary to expectation, instead of it being included in one sum with the other items, the amount of it is separately set forth on the demand note. This has enabled those who purpose resistance to know the exact amount of the new rate. Beyond this it is possible this year, by deducting from that sum the average amount of the previous school board rate, to gauge approximately the actual figure which goes in respect of religious teaching, against which the Free Churchmen are protesting. The rate colleo- tor was offered payment of the whole of the rates except that part of the education rate which, by the method of calculating indi- cated, waa considered to be the charge for religious teaching. The collector's reply was that he had no power to accept anything but full payment. The amount of the deduction was not one-thirtieth part of the sum de- manded. So far the delivery of the demand i notes has been made only in a few sections of the town, and is still going on. So also are the refusals. But what the exact num- ber of the latter may be none can say. No organisation exists in Oxford in connection with the resistance to the rate. No branch of the National Passive Resistance Committee was formed there. It is known that the Non. conformist ministers are among those who are resisting, but it is typical of the move- ment, so far as it affects Oxford, that Prin. cipal Fairbairn, the most prominent local figure in Nonconformity, has refused to say more than that each man must obey his own conscience. The next step to be taken by the authori. ties is now being awaited. At a great gathering of Leeds Nonconfor- mists last night two-thirds of the audience pledged themselves to resist the rate.

ANOTHER SOMALI FIGHT. I Mullah Reported to Have Attacked Galadi. A rumour is current in Aden that the Mullah has attacked the British column at Galadi, and has been repulsed with heavy loss. The British losses are stated to have been considerable.-Renter. Galadi is General Manning's advanced base, and is situate a considerable distance to the west of the Berbera-Bohotle-Obbia line of posts, the nearest part of which to Galadi is Galkayu Weils. It was reported the other day that General Manning, with a small esoort, had gone from Galadi to Galkayu and it was also reported that Colonel Cobbe had retired from the scene pf the recent fighting to Galadi. fchould the iumour be true, it waa, no doubt, Colonel Cobbe's force which the Mullah attacked. Aden, Wednesday.-Five thousand camels have been ordered from India to be employed on the Bohotle-Berbera line of communica- tions. The Somali camels will be reserved for use beyond that. The existing means of transport are not sufficient to oonvey supplies of ammunition to the front. The disturbances at Balhar and Berbera have been met by posting pickets outeide the native settlement. Various aifrays of small importance have oocurred lately. A Somali was recently killed in an attempt to escape from the cordon His Majesty's ships Naiad, Cossack. Red- breast, Hussar, the torpedo boat 104, and the hospital ship Hardinge are at Berbera.— Reuter.

1,300lbs. OF TEA MISSING. Alleged Extensive Robbery by Employes. At the Mansion House Police-court, London, yesterday, Bertram Hooper, nineteen, clerk, aad Peter Henry, 23, warehouseman, were brought up on remand (before Alderman Sir Horatio Davies, M.P.) charged with being con- cerned together in stealing, since the 1st of February, about 1,3001b, of tea, valueC75, the property of Messrs. J. Wataon (Limited),' tea. blenders, Crutched Friars.—Mr» Hartley, managing director ol Messrs. J. Watson (Limited), deposed that the prisoners were employed at the company's warehouse in Crutched Friars, Henry being a foreman, and Hooper keeping the rough warehouse-book. When taking stock it was found that there appeared to be 1,1001b. or 1,3001b. of tea short. Subsequently he showed Hooper certain entries in the rough warehouse-book in his (Hooper's) handwriting of packages of tea which should have been in stock, but were not, and asked him for an explanation. Hooper replied, "I am very sorry. I have done wrong. We are both in it, Henry and I." Witness asked him if the deficiency was really as great as it appeared to be. Hooper replied that he was afraid it was. Witness asked him what became of the tea. Hooper said it was sold by Henry to a man named Allen at 4d. a pound. The average market price of the tea was 1.. 2d. The prisoners were afterwards given into custody. Henry said that Allen paid him 6d. a. pound for the tea. The Alderman said he felt very strongly that the prisoners had been badly treated; all this. information had been got from them without any caution. The prisoners bad, no doubt, been tempted by Allen. He should give the prosecution an opportunity of considering whether they would not prosecute Allen. The prosecution had got all this information from the prisoners, and then refused to prosecute the pereon who appeared to him (the alder- man) to be the ringleader. He adjourned the case.

CURIOUS STORY OF BONDS I At Bow-street Police-court, London, yester- day, Frank Pemberton Peach, a financial agent, of Camberwell-road was charged with having in his possession bonds value JETS, alleged to have been stolen abroad. Prisoner is said to have induced a clerk in the Educa- tion Department, Whitehall, to sell the bonde in the City, representing to him that they belonged to a gentleman living at Ba.th.Mr. G. F. Butterworth, who defended, said that it had been suggested that this man was a myth, but, according to his instructions, he was a very substantial personage, and the prisoner thought he could find him if he were admitted to ball.-Prisoner was remanded on bail.

THE LATEST WHEELBARROW WAGER I M. Ziegler, a publican of Tsohernoschin, in Bohemia, has made a bet that he will make a journey from Prague to Paris with a wheel- barrow. the contents of which shall weigh nearly nine hundredweight. Ziegler expects to arrive in the French capital before the end of the month.

Food and Cooking Exhibition, Albert-hall, London April 21st, 1903.—Another success. Highest Honour. Gold Medal for Pastry; Silver Modal for Cakes in Open Competition to all England to Hessrs. Stevens, Confec- tioners, Cardiff. ell272 Food and Cooking Exhibition, Albert-hall, London April 21st, 1903.-Another success. Highest Honour Oeld X.a1 for PMt?) Mw Medal for 0?<t <B OMa OM?tttttjMt? ? MWIUW to MQW16 't"au, CC= UiDMI" CMM. cunt

POPE AND PRESIDENT Holy Father Refuses to See M. Loubet. KING EDWARD'S VISIT TO THE VATICAN. The Rome correspondent of the Daily Express" telegraphs:—A cardinal assures me that the Pope has announced his decision not to receive President Loubet if, as is expected, he should decide to visit Rome in the autumn, especially if M. Combes, the Premier, is still in office. The President has been privately informed of the Papal decision in the hope that he will not ask for an interview, but it is feared that M. Combes will use his influence to insist on a. meeting in the hope of a refusal justifying the suppression of the French Embassy at the Vatican. The interview between the German Emperor and the Pope on Sunday last is already bearing fruit. A riper time could not have been sought by the Kaiser to move for the protection of German Roman Catholic missions in the Far East—hitherto a right exercised by France. The action of the French Government in expelling the congre- gations haa naturally arousedt-he indignation of the Vatican. This, together with the pro- posals of the Emperor William, has caused the Vatican to take up an attitude of great, energy, and a Bull will shortly be issued recognising the Kaiser's exclusive right to protect German Roman Catholic missions in the East. I "I AM POPE, NOT YOU." The trouble about the ceremonial to be observed by King Edward on his visit to the Pope while in Rome was overcome by Leo XIII. himself. Cardinal Rampolla, who was aware of the unwillingness of the King to pay a formal visit, insisted on the strict observance of the ceremonial followed by other Sove- reigns, which would have obliged his Majesty to start from the English Roman Catholic College, and not from the Embassy accredited to the Quirinal. But the Pope was anxious to see the King again, and, disregarding the cardinal's advice, made advancee to provoke a visit, which his Majesty courteously made in a private capacity. When Cardinal Rampolla openly complained that hifladvioo was not followed, the Pope warmly remarked, I am Pope, not you." King and London Traders I The Press Association telegraphs :-Tbe fol- lowing communication was yesterday sent to his Majesty the King at Buckingham Pala.ce: The president and councillors of the French Chamber of Commerce in London, assembled in council, respectfully express to your Majesty their sincere gratitude for the fresh proof of esteem for and sympathy with the oountry of their birth, which you have just given; and they earnestly hope and believe that your gracious Majesty's visit will be the means of cementing that good feeling between the two nations which is so desirable from every point of view and absolutely eseential to their mutval pros- perity. The following reply was sent:- To the President of the French Chamber of Commerce. The Equerry-in-Waiting is oomma.nded by the King to thank the president and coun- cillors of the French Chamber of Commerce in London for their telegram. His Majesty sincerely agreed with the hopes which they express in regard to the existence of the good feeling between the two countries.

J THE AMERICA CUP. I Reliance Beaten by the Old Defender. The Columbia beat the Reliance by nearly a quarter of a mile during about half an hour's sailing in a seven-knot breeze on Toes- day.-Reuter. New York, Wednesday.—All the newspapers this morning give much space and prominence to the aicoounts of yesterday's spin between Columbia and Reliance, when the Hcliance failed to hold the old boat. Mr. Iselin, inter- viewed last evening, declared that his confi- denoe in Reliance was not shaken. The yachtsmen who witnessed the spin generally criticise the fit of the Relianoe's sails, though it is not contended that the canvas of the Columbia was in any better trim. It is gene- rally expected that both boats will do better after some more tuning up.Oentml News.

TURBINE YACHT'S VOYAGE The eteam yacht EmeraJd, the first turbine vessel to oross the Atlantic, has just arrived in New York, having been chartered by Mr. George J. Gould from her owner, Sir Chris- topher Furneas, M.P. She came through a succession of severe storms, and Captain Donald Tod, her commander, is most enthu- siastic over the way in which the engines behaved. He says: "The weather could not have been more severe unless it had wreoked the vessel, but not a breakdown, occurred. There was no racing of the propellers, and there was an entire absence of vibration."

BOY CHARGED WITH MURDER I James Dean, seventeen, was brought up at the Thames Police-court, London, yesterday. charged with the wilful murder of Clara Ola.rke, a widow.—Police-constable Shipley stated that about half-past twelve on the morning of April 14 he was in the Mile-end- road. and saw prisoner walking on the other side. The deoeased was on the same pave- ment as the accused, and going in the reverse direction. After she passed Dean he turned round and ran after her. With his left hand he struck her a swinging blow. apparently in the face. Deceased was thrown about a yard and a. half by the force of the blow, which lifted her off her feet. Witness and another constable went towards the woman, who waa lying motionless, and on Deen seeing them approach he ran away. Witness pursued and caught him. Evidence was also given showing that the deceased, who was between sixty and seventy years of age, afterwards went to a. common lodging-house, but later on had to be removed on an ambulance to the infirmary. Dr. H. Lardey, medical superintendent at the Whitechapel Infirmary, said when he saw deceased on the 15th ult., she was unconscious. There was considerable swelling about both eyes, which were closed. Deceased died on the 24th ult. A post-mortem examination showed that the skull was fractured. That was done by direct violence, and was con- sistent with a fall in the roadway. Mr. Mead committed the prisoner for trial on a charge of manslaughter.

THE LEICEGTER MYSTERY The adjourned inquest was resumed at Leicester yesterday relating to the death of Minnie Walker, whose body, stripped of her jewellery, was found in the canal on the 5th of April last.—No further evidence was offered, and, the Coroner having summed up. the jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned." They were unanimously of opinion that no reliance could be placed upon the evidence of Sankey, the young man who accompanied the deceased girl to the canal side, and requested the coroner to severely censure him.—In doing so, the Coroner said if Sankey had laid himself open to suspicion he had only himself to blame.

DESERVED HIS SENTENCE Charles Merritt, 32, admitted to the magis- trates (Messrs. T. H. Stephens, W. T. Symonds, and W. H. Renwick) at Cardiff Police-court this morning that between the 7th of Novem- ber last and the 2nd inat. he had been living in part on the earnings of Immorality.-The Bench sentenced him to two months' imprison- ment, with hard labour.

Food and CcoMn<r Exhibttlon? Albert-hall, Ldon, April Mat, 1903.—Another success. Highest It 7nour. gold Modal f Pmtrr; Billrer Modal for Cakes in Open OMPDUUon to in Ba)MMK M MtMM. et?v<M, CeofM- I UMM. oudm tUM

IPORTLAND MILLIONS + A Druce Claimant from Australia. THE ECCENTRICITIES OF THE FIFTH DUKE. According to the Adelaide "Register," among the passengers who sailed in the Oroya on the 2nd ultima from that port was Mr. George Hollamby Druce, a carpenter, of Mel- bourne, who, in company with Mr. Thomas K. V. Coburn, solicitor, of Melbourne, is coming to London with the object of proving that he is the rightful claimant to the Port- land Estate. He is described as the eldest son of the late George Druce, who was him- self the eldest son of Thomas Charles Druce, the latter being, it is asserted, the-fifth Duke of Portland, who for certain eccentric reasons of his own passed as Thomas Charles Druce. The new claimant's story is that the fifth duke, under the name of Druce, carried on an extensive upholstery business in Baker- street, London, from 1835 to 1864, when he was supposed to die and be buried in Highgate Cemetery. If that burial actually took place, Thomas Charles Druce could not have been the fifth Duke of Portland, who really died in 1879 and was buried at Kensal-green. The keystone of the case set up by the Druce claimants to the estates is that "Thos. Charles Dduce" did not die as supposed in 1864, and was not buried at Highgate. In this con- nection the proceedings from 1898 onwards of Mrs.- Anna Maria Druce before the London Courts, with a view of proving that her late husSand was the fifth duke's only son, and heo fruitless attempt to get the coffin of "Thos. Chas. Druce" in Highgate Cemetery exhumed (which she declared only contained ballast), will be fresh in the public recollec- tion. The success or non-success of the new claimant depends entirely upon the result of the exhumation of the coffin in Highgate Cemetery. If the remains of Thomas Charles Druce, under which name the eccen- tric duke was alleged to have mas- queraded, are found in the coffin, then the hopes of the Melbourne claimant are buried with them. If the coffin is empty, the corroboration thus afforded of his story would doubtless justify further investigation. The contention is that the fifth Duke of Portland, desiring to get rid of the identity he had created in the false name of Druce, went through the performance of burial, and then resumed his right place as the duke. I THE ECCENTRIC DUKE. I Some interesting details were given to an Adelaide reporter by Mr. Coburn, the travel- ling companion of the new claimant, as to the early history of the fifth duke, as to whom all that "Debrett" states is that, he sat as M.P. for Lynn from 1824-6, and died in 1879. His first marriage, proceed Mr. Coburn, was with Elizabeth Crickmer, the daughter of a øhopkper at Bungay, Northamptonshire. At that time (1816) he waa only a lad, and a son of the fourth duke, and not the heir-pre- sumpitive to the title. The heir was an elder brother, known as the Marques of Titchfield, who died in 1824. Wihen that event happened the younger brother became the marquess, and is said to have abandoned his wife (nee Eliza- beth Crickmer) and her five children. In 1854 he became the Duke of Portland. His second marriage took place in 1851, a month or two after the first wife's death, but, as in the case of Elizabeth Crickmer, so the story runs, the second wife was never acknowledged as the Duchess of Portland. It was partly to cover up the lowly marriages and partly due to eccentricity that the duke is alleged to have set up as Druce, the upholsterer.

ADVOCATE AND IRISH WOMAN I Humour at Cardiff Police-court. I There was a humorous wordy passage between a solicitor and a woman who spoke with a pronounced Irish brogue at Cardiff Police-court this morning. Remanded from yesterday was a case in which Harry O'Connor, aged 22, was summoned for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mrs. Margaret Dance, who confessed she was living with a man named Charles Merritt. The hearing was deferred because of the talkativeness of Mrs. Dance, who now stated that prisoner struck her on the arm with a hammer, hurting her severely. Questioning her with regard to her condition at the time, Mr. Lloyd Meyrick (for the defence) asked, "Were you more sober on that Monday than you were yesterday?" "Arrah! now," retorted the witness. "Who are yi gittin' at?" (Laughter.) "Oh. I am not getting at anybody." mildly rejoined Mr. Meyrick. "Oh, be tab-eral and ye're paid for talking," assented the prosecutrix with a. knowing wink. "Well, now," pursued the advocate coaxingly, "tell me how many glasses you had on that day?" It was with a sophisticated smile Mrs. Dance replied. "If yiz go up to the public-house they might tell yiz. Shure, I can't." (More laughter.) Medical evidence was given that the injury sustained was slight, and the case waa dis- missed.

PUBLIC WEIGHBRIDGE AT CARDIFF I At a meeting of the Cardiff Property and Markets Committee held this morning (Mr. W. Evans presiding), tenders for weigh- bridge offices in North-road and Broadway were received. Messrs Turner and Son's tender amounting to £ 198 frfr the two offices, being the lowest, was accepted. The weighing machine in North-road is to be removed to a site north of the canal bridge. The machine in Broadway, opposite Beresford-road, will be an entirely new one.

PARSON'S RHYMED PROTEST I The Rev, G. Hennessy, chairman of the Friern Barnett District Council, at Monday night's meeting, protested against the decision of the council not to nominate him as a mem- ber of the body of school managers undef the Education Aot. If a. man was a parson he could be honeet and just. He was the last "erson to push religion down the throat of anyone. He referred to the words blazoned on the gatefli of Bandon, County Cork, in 1689:- A Turk, a Jew, or Atheist-may enter here, but not a Papist. To which the Catholics later added:— Whosoe'er wrote these words, he wrote them weU; tThe same are written on the gates of hell. (Laughter.) Be applied this, by way of a. parody, as follows:- All colours but one-may managers be, But the parson—what! oh, no, not he; Clerical influence is much too great, Now damning connection between Church and State** Religious freedom has been our cry, But, don't you see, It's only a guy; Freedom for ourselves is all we believe, But Down with the paraen" we put up our sleeve. (Laughter.) A proposal by the ohairman to re-consider the matter WM rejected.

SOUTH AFRICAN AND CHINA WAR I COSTS. A Parliamentary return issued this morn- ing shows that the estimated amount of war charges in South Africa and China incurred up to the end of last March is £ 217,166,000, viz., South Africa, L211,156,000, and China, £ 6,010,000. This total is exclusive of the E3,000,OW advance to the new South African Colonies, which was provided out of the Exchequer balance, but includes grants of £100.000 to Earl Roberta and of LWOoo to Lord Kitchener. The proceeds from new taxation imposed during the war was E75,150,000, viz., "7,152,000 from additional Customs, and 947,996.000 from additional Inland Revenue taxes.

ENOLAHD'S OLOBY MATCHES are Mao* entirely hf BBITIBE LABOUB. Sand for particulars of 80m, I ttUMS. swan&& O)wy am" Weeks, ammaim t

I "Gochfarf's" Comments. The old question of the preacher and the pipe is again to the front, and it will be interesting to watch how the modem theologians will face a dispute which has conquered some of the ablest pulpiteers of their day. The renowned Robert Hall composed some of his most celebrated sermons whilst laying on his back on a couch of sickness, and the sermon which appears in his works as the most repre- sentative of his genius was composed whilst he was thus situated. He forgot his physical suffering through smoking alternately two well-primed church- wardens. I have heard it said that he smoked both pipes at one and the same time, but probably he smoked them alter- nately-taking up a fresh pipe when the working" pipe became too hot for the mouth. Tobaco'r achos" was an institution peculiar to Wales, probably. This waa kept at almost every "ohapel house" for the use of itinerary preachers and those who met them at the close of the sermon. Had there been a shorthand writer at these informal gatherings some of the best stories would have been recorded, and discussions on theological problems and questions of the day worthy of the Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster or the mother of Parliaments at West- minster—according to the subject that came under review. Tobaco'r achos" and the churchwarden" pipes have become things of the past, and the ministers and clergy who still have courage to smoke in public have trans- ferred their affections tb the more un-, assuming briar, unless they prefer that, modern abomination, the cigarette. Spring cleaning is not an unmitigated blessing. The Lancet" refers to "hous&- painting headaches" as one of the troubles which accompany it. Headache is a common experience at this time. The writer suggests the possi- bility that the smell of the oil with which the painter mixes his pigments is sufficient to cause nausea, although there seems to be little doubt that minute quantities of lead are inhaled also. Persons have been known to suffer from a severe attack of colic after sitting a few hours a day in a room in which there were canvases" covered with whitelead and a drying oil. If the writer in the Lancet" carried his inquiries a little further he would, undoubtedly, find that the trouble is due entirely to the drying oil, or what is known among, the decorators as driers." It is a most dangerous poison, and its use is carefully guarded by every workman who knows his business. An uncovered tin of it in a workshop will give everyone the headache mentioned by the "Lanoet," the only safety from its effect to the householders being to seek temporary lodgings until it has dried and hardened. Mr. Walter Long, M.P.'s speeches at thfe meetings of the Municipal Corpora- tions Association in London recently and again in Leyton last week have alarmed the opponents of centralised local government, and a Poor-law Union Defence League has been formed. I heard the first speech delivered by the President of the Local Government Board, and there was no room to mistake its purport. It was a plain warning that corporations shall be the dominant autho- rity. For home years the consensus of opinion aftiQngst local administrators has been that a single authority for all local administrative purposes is bound to come to pass, and it is not likely this new league will find many adherents—except, perhaps, amongst the guardians themselves. The Rev. J. Reavley was not satisfied with taking up a defence of smoking at the South Wales District Meeting of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, but he threatened also to raise the question of the too indulgent lay-a-beds. Pre- sumably the rev. gentleman does not claim a monopoly of people who stay in bed until noon to the Primitive Methodist community. If he is anxious to effect a reform in the direction of early rising, I would suggest his copying the anti- laggards of Barry, and Mr. Reavley will have his hands full for some time to come. His busiest time would be on Sunday mornings, when nothing but the savoury odour of the Sunday dinner will move the weary and heavy-laden" who cling to the blankets with a tenacity worthy of a better cause. They know of only one Scriptural text, and that is, Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep." As in the days of Solomon, so it is to-day, and ever will be. The sluggard will not go to the ant, and a rural wiseacre with' whom I am acquainted used to say that he had only one fault to find with the Book of Proverbs-it should have advised the ant to go to the sluggard-and he undertook to say such a procedure would produce more early rising reform than any other. Those who know how caustic an angry ant can be upon the skin will agree with the views of my farmer friend. The invitation to young men and young inaidexi4 to go and trip, trip, dance, dance" upon the greensward of the Sophia Gardens is come again, and this evening the Sophia Gardens popular concerts will be commenced, although Jupiter Pluvius is prolonging his rule somewhat unduly to make outdoor amuse- ments as successful as we would wish them to be. The Cardiff military bands will each take their turn in this commend- able effort to cater music for those whose opportunities to hear it are none too many, and, given good weather, the pro- moters need not oe apprehensive of a financial deficiency. Reverting to the school childrens' fund for the emidren's cots in the Cardiff Infirmary, I have now before me the result oi the Bristol Children's Hospital collection. The sums collected vary from one shilling and ninepence three farthings to five pounds, and reaches a total of three hundred and fifty-one pounds fifteen shillings and sevenpence farthing. This represents only the money value of the collection, the training in the duties of citizenship which it inculcates is still more valuable, and the teachers can enforce the lesson very profitably whenever such good works can be appropriately anim- adverted upon. The Cardiff school chil- dren are already busily at work, as the writer knows to his cost.