Evening Express

There is much hand-shaking amongst the Pan-Kelts at Cardiff this week, for have they not amongst them some of the doughtiest of their Breton confreres? There is, for example, the Marquis de l'Estourbeillcn, one of the most impor- tant men in his own romantic province, and M. Jaffrerinou, the young Breton poet. racy of the soil, and whose enthu- siasm no power can extinguish. The visitors are going on to Carnarvon for the Pan-Keltic Congress. but we may be sure they will not leave Cardiff without seeing every one of their friends and admirers, and they have rpany. Is Russia endeavouring to force the I hand of this country? Many people think so, and are accordingly tempted to take a gloomy view of the situation. In proportion to Russia's apparent eager- ness to force a quarrel should be our fixed determination to avoid one. Neverthe- less, there are seme things which a great maritime Power cannot brook, and it galls Englishmen to see members of their mercantile marine overhauled, cap- tured, or sunk at the caprice of any two- penny Russian privateer, which a boat- load of British tars could chevy off the seas. We do not admire Russia's game, nor like her the better for it. It is to be hoped there will be no con- flict of opinion between the local authori- ties and the Board of Education over the new rules for the physical instruction of our young hopefuls the country over. Good men of widely differing views have been so terribly exercised over the souls of our boys and girls that there has been great danger of their bodies being neglected altogether. Religious and moral training is an admirable thing, and we should be extremely scrry to even appear to say one word in disparage- ment but in the battle of life our children want sound bodies as well as correct principles, and the good old adage, Mens sana in corpore sano," is as truly applicable in education as in other I spheres. Happily, there is little likelihood of ¡ Liberate and Tories, Anglicans and Non- conformists, men of Church and no Ciiurch, aristocrats and democrats, learned and unlearned, quarrelling over this question as they squabble and fight I over the other we have named. Every- | one is agreed that the healthier our children are the better, and that a sturdy boy or well-developed girl is to that extent all the better fitted for the duties that lie before. For years our educationists have paid more or less attention to physical education, and to such an extent has this been carried in our higher schools that it has been said, and with no small amount of truth, that Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. Only of late years, however, have our elementary schools taken up this subject with the enthusiasm evinced in other countries, and now the Board of Education is stepping in to place physical instruction on such a basis that, for the future, it will be impossible to neglect it or to thrust it aside. Of course, the reason for this wise step ia found in the fact that the nation has awakened with a start to the physical deterioration that is going on. Children are not always what they should be— cigarette smoking, sweet-eating, and other indulgences, coupled with confine- ment in bad air through long hours, sap many a young frame and shorten many a life. But weakly boys and girls are not only a danger to themselves, they con- stitute a national peril; hence we cor- dially welcome the steps the Board of Education are taking, and we earnestly hope they wilt. be backed up loyally by all the authorities concerned. Only thus can a blow be struck in the cause of health and strength that shall keep us from drifting to physical ruin and decay. The Board of Education has not only drawn out a scheme, but it very wisely insists on rigid regularity in the carrying out of that scheme. Its latest circular says:- The Board attach great importance to the regularity and thoroughness with which physical training should be given. Aud they consider in ordinary circumstances (a) that at least one hour per week shouid be devoted to the formal lessons, such hours being divided into not le3s than two periods of thirty minutes each, or into not more than three periods of twenty minutes each, and (bi that the recreative exercises should be daily and constantly practised. It is recommended that where possible a system of taking physical measurements of the children at regular intervals should be instituted. There is one hopeful factor in the case that must not be forgotten, viz., the co- operation of the pupils themselves. Chil- dren are not always as enthusiastic as they might be about history and grammar and French, but they are all united in their love of drill and other kinds of physical recreation. We may, therefore, rely on it that they will second with all their force the efforts of their teachers and others to strengthen and fortify their systems. This should simplify the problem immensely. The Boys' Brigade alone has shown what fascination drill has for juveniles, and we believe if swim- ming, for instance, were made compul- sory in all schools there would be few (if any) backward disciples and not a single passive resister! Let us hope that Wales will give the latest circular a warmer support than she has accorded the Educa- ion Board for some time past. THE NEW STOMACHIC. [It is said that an occasional handful of gravel might possibly assist digestion.] No more indigestion— That ogre is laid He's out of the question, So ho for the spade! Dysr.E)"i3;s devil's Compelled for to flee. A neat patch of gTavel'3 The making of me! There's many pkysiciaiia As all will agree Of various conditions— B.S. and M.D. I scorn 'em and flout 'em Whoever they be. I now do without 'em: Good gravel for me! Once stomach was stupid And gave me much pain, Capricious as Cupid, A worry and strain. But now I can travel Light-hearted and free A mouthful of gravel. Nice gravel for me! No food has its terrors— No after effects, Digestible errors The gourmand expects. Serene I unravel Life's skein to a T. A mouthful of gravel The making of me! IDRIS.

Mainly About People. Reports are rife that before King Edward left Marienbad the last arrangements had been made for the conclusion of a Treaty between England and Austria. Drafts of the proposed Arbitration Treaty had been drawn up and so far approved that the two Monarchs were able to discuss the question in its last stages, and it is said that the Treaty- which would be the fifth entered into since the King 3 accession—will now be signed very shortly. It really seems as if King Edward had decided to copy the example of Willia.m. of Orange and be his own Foreign Minister. The British Royal Family is at present spread well afield. Prince-as Christian has just started for South Africa. The Queen has just arrived in Scotland. The King is at llarienbad, and the Duke of Connaught is on his way to Carlsbad. Scotland claims by far the greatest number of our royalties. In addition to the Queen, the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales, the Princess Victoria and the Duchess of Fife are all there. After Princess Christian has visited the grave of her son in the cemetery at Pretoria she will visit some of the principal hospitals in the Colony. In hospital affairs she is an expert, who. though a princess, has done much down- right hard work. News has just reached London of the death at Mombasa of a very remarkable man, whose knowledge of the English tongue and profound intellegence generally afford a striking example of the slate of cultivation attainable by the African mind under civilisation. The African in question-the lev. W. H. Jones, as he was re-named in early life—was a member of the Yao tribe, and, having been rescued by a British cruiser from an Arab slave ship, was sent to Bombay. Here he learnt the trade of a blacksmith, and just forty years ago he set foot in Africa, where he became the first native clergyman of the East African Mission. Ordained by the late Bishop Hannington in 1835, he accompanied the unfortunate pre- late on his ill-fated journey to Uganda. After the murder in Busoga, Mr. Jones, who had been left with part of the caravan in Kairrondo, led the men the whole of the 500 miles back to the coast, the guide carrying aloft the blue flag (so familiar a feature at missionary exhibitions), inscribed with the word "Ichabod" in white characters. In point of culture, Mr. Edun. who accompanied the Alake of Abeokuta to this country, was such another as the late native clergyman, whilst, in times more remote, a third instance was furnished by the case of Ignatius Sancho, the subject of Gains- borough's well-known picture. The appointment of General Sir Kelly- Kenny to the command of the Second Army Corps, in succession to Sir Evelyn Wood, has not yet been formally announced, but (according to the Liverpool Post ") it is inevitable. General Kelly-Kenny's adminis- tration under the old regime at the War Office was marked by ability, discretion, and wise resolution. He has greatly enhanced his already considerable reputation, and some such appointment as the command of an army corps was assured. Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Mus. Doc., who celebrated his fifty-seventh birthday on Mon- day. inherited musical ability from his grand- father, Alexander Mackenzie, of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, who was an excellent violinist. Young Alexander was sent to Schwarzburg-Sondershausen at a tender age to be trained in the paths of music, and suc- ceeded so well that at the age of thirteen he w-a,s a violinist in the ducal orchestra. Prom Germany he came to London to the Royal Academy of Music, of which he has now been principal for nearly seventeen years. He became famous as a violin player with such artists as Joachim, Norman-Neruda, Wil- helmj, and Strauss. Then Von Bulow -I Manns encouraged him to compose. At Florence he produced "The Bride," "Jason," and other works. Since then he has com- posed "The Troubadour" opera, "A Jubilee Ode" cantata, "La Belle Dame Sans Merci," and a Coronation march dedicated to the King. Sir Henry Howorth, who is so well known to many in different ways, but in none perhaps better than as a conversationalist, was dining out, and fcund himself sitting next to a young lady, who immediately attacked him by saying: "Oh, Sir Henry, I am so glad to have met you, for I want your advice about a. dog of mine." My dear young lady," quoth Sir Henry, I know nothing about dogs." Oh, yes, you do. I have been told that you have written a book on Mongrels,' ajid mine isn't a really well-bred dog." Sir Henry smiled. It really was rather hard (says the On- looker ") that the great Asiatic authority, who had written on Mongols," should he heckled thus. Yorkshire kee-pers are among the salt of the earth in their own particular line; and while more genial than the average Scotch- man, are (says the "County Gentleman," not deficient in caution. A new tenant of a moor, taken on for one season only, was interviewing one of his keepers, whom he addressed as Smith, adding, in the question- ing form of assertion, Your name is Smith?" "Well, sir," said the keeper doubtfully, they do commonly call me Brown." Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson, whose appointment as Black Rod has now been formally gazetted, is a hale and hearty tar of 62. who has been twice wrecked, has served through two wars, and goodness knows how many affairs," not to speak of the Indian Mutiny. He fought in every engagement against the mutineers with the Pearl's naval brigade, and was several times mentioned in despatches, especially for his gallant conduct at the capture of the fort of Chandeopore. He commanded the Channel Squadron for eighteen months, and is now King Edward's principal naval aide-de-camp. The office of Black Rod is in the gift of the King, and the recipient is always persona grata with the Sovereign. Black Rod is an officer of the Order of the Garter, under Garter Principal King of Arms, Mr. Alfred S. Scott Gatty. He is a. sort of guardian at the doors when Chapters of the Garter are held. Si Mohammed Torres, late Moorish Minister of Foreign Affairs, whose resignation has just been aocepted by the Sultan, is a Moor of venerable appearance. Though he speaks no word of English, his manner in audience is extremely affable. He has a passion for maps and globes, as befits one who was so often a buffer between hia young Sovereign and the encroaching Nazarenes overseas. In his youth Torres had the reputation of a gallant. His eldest son, an exceedingly hand- some Moor, with somewhat unusual deep blue eyes, occupies high Government office at Tan- gier. The resignation of Si Torres removes a landmark from a few meeting points between Europe and Morocco. Louis Mazzantini, one of the mo3t famous of Spanish toreadors, is about to retire (writes a correspondent of the "Manchester Guar- dian"). He has now passed his fiftieth year, and feels that he needs repose, which one can well believe on learning that, he estimates that daring his career he has killed some 3,500 bulls. He has followed his calling for 23 years, three as a novillero and twenty as matador. He is retiring on a fortune of 3,000,000 francs, and declares that he has never I ceased to be proud of his profession.

I If C)TCE the "easy" food. No trouble to get ready. No trouble to l digest.

Bristol Double Case I PUZZLED GUARDIANS DISCUSSION At yeterday's meeting of the Long Ashton Board of Guardians there was a rather amusing discussion arising out of the extras ordinary case recently investigated at the divisional police-court, when one of the inmates of the w-orkhouse-a woman named Xippress-swore that a man who gave the name of Crouch waa her husband. The defendant denied this, and called evidence to show that he came from Bedfordshire, and the case was dismissed. The relieving officer (Mr. Griffin) was called before the Board, and subjected to a. cross- examination. He said that there was a woman who had known the man at Bed- minster, but although she believed the defendant was the husband of the woman Nippre-as, she would not swear to him, and, therefore, it was no good to call her as a witness. Some of the guardians asked why the pro- ceedings were taken, but the officer pointed out that th whole Board had decided the question. Miss Fry asked why the man wae supposed to be the woman's husband. The Chairman said that a son had seen the man at Avonmouth, and apparently reccgnising him gave information. Sir Henry Miiee wanted to know why the son was not called. Mr. Griffin replied that the boy was only eight years of age when he last saw his father, and it was thought that the magistrates would not a-ccept the evidence. Mr. Froud asked who was responsible for getting up such a case—the clerk, the relieving officers, or who? No answer was volunteered. The discussion was allowed to drop after this, but later in the meeting the guardians were aaked to sanction the payment of £ 1 12s., the expenses of the man who was summoned and his witnesses as ordered by the magistrates. Mr. Froud was surprised that the amount was so small. It must have cost the man so carelessly charged E10 to defend the case. The cheque was signed.

STEALS WITH HIS TOES I An armless boy was recently convicted at Utica, U.S.A., of stealing vegetables from a garden by means of his toes. Fined fl, he took a roll of bills from his vest pocket with his right foot, and kioked the money to the clerk of the court.

SUSCEPTIBLE MAGISTRATE Two actresses in Rome being ejected for non-payment of rent attacked the landlord and beat him until he fell senseless. He summoned them, but the magistrate was so fascinated by the girls that he discharged them. and sent fhe landlord to gaol for four- teen days. I

AN UPSET APPLE-CART Because he upset her apple-cart a Paris market woman fired three revolver shots at a man named Durriaux. Then her daughter fractured his skull with a hammer.

FAT BOY'S RIVAL Johnny Trundley. Peckham's fat boy, has a feminine rival. She is Mise Lizie Dalty, f Betlinal Green, aged nine. She weighs 10s. 31b., and has a 46in. waist and a 7in. wrist.

STEVES' BREAD.—When you e?t K you do not  MqutM My other r&Uab for Btet?Moat a 1?. 012722 I

AFTER TWO MONTHS I WIFE CHARGES HER HUSBAND I WITH THEFT An Extraordinary Story I After not quite two months of troublous I married life, Margaret Elizabeth Dacre has charged her husband with robbing her, and the case was before Mr. Marsham yesterday at Bow-street. On Monday night Dacre, who was well- dressed and described as of no occupation, was detained at Marylebone-lane Police- station. Is that all?" he asked, when the charge was read over to him. I can dispose of that in two minutes before a magistrate." In his possession were twenty-seven JE5 notes and JB4 in gold. "I have travelled all over the world," he said. and have had to come back to England to learn that a man can be charged with steal- ing his wife's property. I have written to her, and only last Friday sent her Ll. W, e have been married two months to-day, and this is the end of it. Fancy a man in my position being locked up in a cell all night. On the way here from Melbourne if I passed a chair to a lady it was wrong, and she told me of it. I ought to have cut her throat." In His Boot Now he denied using these words. On the way to Bow-street he said: I have got some more money on me. It is in my boot." At the police-station he added The things she charges me with taking are in the cloak- room at Charing Cross Station." He then took off his right boot and produced twenty-four more JE.5 notes, new, and bearing consecutive numbers. Mrs. Dacre. it is stated, was formerly a teacher of painting and music at Melbourne. She met Dacre there last May. He said he had been a photographer in England, and that his mother, who had a large estate in Gloucestershire, and fifteen servants, would leave him her money. He proposed, and she acoepted him, but put off the marriage for a few weeks to see how they got on. In June Dacre made out that his mother was ill, and he must go home. His plan was that the music teacher was to so with him. She would not agree unless they were married. Estate and Fifteen Servants The ceremony was fixed for June 23, and she realised the money she had out at mort- gage. She let prisoner have £100. he saying tha.t he could obtain hundreds when he got back to England. His mother was then to live in the dower house. Moreover, all the Dacre brides received a dowry. On the strength of this information he obtained a further advance of L60. On the day of her marriage Mrs. Dacre had L340 left, and this she handed to the prisoner to obtain a draft on Messrs. Cook and Son. Soon after the marriage they sailed for England in the name of Mr. and Mrs. Ward, Dacre said that by adopting that name he could obtain cheap tickets from a theatrical friend. After two days at Plymouth Dacre went away, ostensibly to Gloucester to make arrangements for his wife's reception by his mother. When he went away she asked him for some money, and he let her have 11. He did not return, but sent her £ 5 and several letters and telegrams without an address. He took her money and luggage with him. Prisoner was remanded for the Treasury to be communicated with, and the £ 4 in gold found on the prisoner was handed over to his wife.

T ugboatmen Mal igned I RIDICULOUS STORY OF BRISTOL CHANNEL RISKS The following ridiculous yarn appears in a recent issue of a periodical known as Answers Night after night the lives of all on board many of the tug-boats in the Bristol Channel are risked for the possible chance of a X5 note. There is a limit to the distance to which these tugs are supposed to put out in search of a job; but they wait till nightfall, take their side and head lights inboard. and creep down the channel in darkness, in the hope of steal- ing a march upon their competitors. When they come across a vessel standing off for a tug they promptly exhibit their lights. But all this time they are in a direct track of passing shipping, and scarcely a week passes without a collision of some sort, often ending by the tug being sent to the bottom with all hands. So frequently were these disasters happen- ing that one of the South Wales shipping companies sent down divers to inspect some of the sunken tugs. In every case they reported that the wreck had no lights out, and that the crew were in most cases below in the cabin when the disaster occurred. And half a dozen tugs will run this risk every night in the week, on the bare chance that one of them may pick up a C5 job to share -among its crew. The whole etory is preposterous. The last tug sunk in the Bristol Channel was the Liverpool boat the Oruizer, and she went down after collision with a steamer just out- side PenaTth Dock on April 29, 1902.

DYNAMITE OUTRAGE Attempt to Wreck a Town I Miscreants at St. Mary's. Ohio. tried to dynamite the dam confining the reservoir. Fortunately the effort was unsuccessful. If the dam had failed the town would probably have been ruined by flood, and some loss of life would have been inevitable. The reser- voir is amongst the largest in the world. St. Mary's is situated immediately below. Blood- hounds are now searching for the dynamiters, who will probably be lynched by the infuriated mob when found. Later reports state that the explosion was head at places fully twenty miles distant. There were three separate shocks, which damaged the stonework of the dam but failed to release the waters. Many houses were shattered and some persons were stunned. The resorvoir extends to a length of ten miles, is one mile broad, and contains enough water to submerge the entire town. Lately a bitter discussion has taken place relative to the alleged unsafety of the huge reservoir, and it is believed that the present crime will be traced to some one who has taken part in this wordy warfare.

REVISING BARRISTERS' SALARIES The various barristers appointed to revise the lists of Parliamentary voters over Eng- land and Wales will hold their respective courts from September 8 to October 12 in- clusive. There are 97 barristers appointed for this purpose, of which six are allotted to the North Wales Circuit and five to the South Wales Circuit. Each barrister receives the sum cf 250 guineas in payment of his services.

SUMMONS AFTER 48 YEARS I The Marylebone magistrate yesterday dis- missed a summons against Frederick Jeans for "causing an obstruction" with a coffee- stall at the Marble Arch. In cross-examination a police-sergeant admitted that the stall had stood in the same place for forty-eight years, and that Jeans had been there for fifteen years, arriving daily at eight p.m. and leaving at five a.m. The stallkeeper, it was added, had not I previously been interfered with, and there I had be-en no complaints from the park authorities.

STEVEXS' KREAD. —When you eat It you do not ( require any other relish for Breakfast or Tea. el2722 [

MARRIED MISERY I JOINTS OF MEAT THROWN AT A WIFE A sorry story of married misery was told in the Newmarket Police-court yesterday, when Mrs. Cruxton, holder of the licence ot the White Lion Hotel, near Newmarket Race- course, applied for a separation order against Frank Cruxton, her husband. The wife and the husband both appeared in oourt with black eyes. The couple were married in 1898, and Mrs. Cruxton was the widow of a jockey. On account of his treatment of her, declared Mrs. Cruxton, her husband had already been bound over. He had frequently struck her on the face and head, and thrown joints of meat, earthenware match-cases, and other articles at her. He dragged her round the room and down- stairs by her hair. He had kicked her till she became insensible. She was afraid to go back to the hotel. The husband denied the charges, and said he had only defended himself. The bruises on his wife were due to repeated falls. Eventually he acknowledged that he had frequently "bashed" her. The Magistrates refused the application. The Chairman said had the defendant been summoned for cruelty they would have imposed the heaviest possible penalty.

POISONED BY "CROWBAR" Tired of the life in the Bethnal Green Work- house, and with little prospect of ever again having her freedom, Harriet Taylor, aged 65 years, took her life. At the inquest yesterday a witness, also an inmate of the workhouse, stated that on Thursday morning last Mrs. Taylor asked her if she would get a. pennyworth of "crow- bar" (bichromate of potash), which She wanted for her feet, and this witness pur- chased from an oil shop kept by one of the guiairdians. The next morning Mrs. Taylor was seen by a gardener to walk up to a waiter-tap and put something from a piece of paper into the iron ladle which was chained there. Then she partly filled it with water and drank it. Another inmate stated that one day last week the deceased said that if she was out she would jump into the "cut" (canal). She used to complain that her daughter would not take her out of the workhouse. A verdict of Suicide whilst of unsound mind was returned.

A KISS AND A BLOW In a case dealt with at the Nottingham Guild-hall yesterday it did not transpire which class of assault the complainant most objected to-a kiss or a blow. The defendant was Charles Toons, and he was summoned by Alice Packham for assault- ing her on August 8. The woman, it was stated, went to the Eagle Tavern to see her husband, and noticing her in the passage the defendant went behind her, put his arms around her, and gave her a kiss. To this she objected strongly, and he tlieieupon smacked her face. That was in the afternoon. At night he saw her again, and it was asserted that, without any provocation, he struck her in the face, giving her a pair of black eyes. The defendant, who urged that the woman had only one black eye, was fined 10s.

FOOTBALLER AND LUNATICS Some amusing replies were given by candidates for a vacant relieving officership at Chorley Board of Guardians yesterday. Asked if he was married, one candidate replied, "No; but if that is the only objection I will overcome it in two months." Another aspirant, questioned as to his physical strength and asked if he could put any of the members of the board out of the room without assistance, replied diplo- matically, I wouldn't like to throw out a challenge of that sort." He was then asked, "Could you manage a rough lunatic?" "Well," he replied, amid loud laughter, "I have been a footballer fifteen years."

DEATH AT LOVERS' MEETING A pathetic incident was narrated at the inquest at Wandsworth on Monday on Gerald Covell, a young butcher. In his father's garden he amused some children by playing football with them, in the course of which he did a great deal of running about. Then he sat down for a quarter of an hour with his sweetheart, Miss Emily Trundell. He rose to leave the garden, and, after having walked about a dozen yards, fell dead. Dr. Freyberger, who attributed death to chronic heart disease, accelerated by exertion, described Covell, who was seventeen years of ago, as a tall, overgrown youth.

TAXAMETERS IN PARIS In two or three days the cheap cab and the taxameter will be inaugurated in Paris. The "course" will be 75c. (71d.), exactly halt the present price, and the endless discussions with the driver will be avoided by the taxa- meter, which is an instrument for recording the distance travelled. The instrument, which has the appearance of a gigantic alarm clock, is placed on the box beside the driver, and is surmounted by a small flag, bearing the word "libre." When a fare enters the cab the driver turns down the flag, starting the mechanism of the clock, which measures the distance covered, and also calculates the amount of the fare to be paid.

BEAUTY ON A BANK NOTE A charming interest is attached to the new Austro-Hungarian 10 knonen note, to be issued some time in November. In the design, which is the work of an om- cial in the Austro-Hungarian Bank, is the hea-d of a beautiful child. The designer, who had been looking for a model unsuccessfully for a long time, saw a sweetly pretty child in the street; he was so struck with her beauty that he followed her home and found her to be one of the Princesses Rohan. He obtained permission from her parents to paint her portrait, with the result that it now adorns the bank notes.

SERIOUS CHARGE AT PENAHTH Colonel Thornley and Mr. D. Duncan were the presiding magistrates at Penarth Police- court this morning, when Leopold Pitt was charged with exposing himself to females at Barry Island on the 23rd in-st.-There not being sufficient corroborative evidence, the Bench stated that they were bound to dismiss the case.

DEATH IN AVOIDING DEATH Two men were killed on the District Railway yesterday between South Kensington and Gloucester-road, and in each case death occurred under similar circumstances. Both men in stepping out of the way of trains were knocked down by trains travelling in the opposite direction.

SLOVENLY VOLUNTEER The Bletchley Volunteers, says a local cor- respondent plaintively, would have retained the battalion cup for smartness but for the fact that one comrade wore his socks over the buttons of his leggings."

OLD MAIDS' VOW TO MARRY Before being admitted to the Old Maids' League of Bristol (Wisconsin) four young girls were forced to take an oath that they would use all honourable means to become wives during the next twelve months.

REVET-.AHJ'Nr to the appetite comee about by eating Steven*' Household Bread. VIA will oali, aiZBtt

FORTUNE IN A STONE A SHIP'S FIREMAN SECURES I 175,000 A young man, named Albert Winter, who sailed from South Shields three years ago as a fireman on the steamer Ilford, is now on his way home from New Zealand with a fortune of £ 75,000. The story of its acquisition sounds like a chapter from a boy's book of adventure. Winter left his ship at Melbourne and made his way to New Zealand, where a few months 1 ago he was working at the mines at Grimsby Creek, near West Port. Walking at the edge of a creek in the Moki- huuui district he picked up a stone to throw at a bird, but before flinging it suddenly saw that it was a bit of gold-bearing quartz. He did not throw the stone. Instead he returned post-haste to town, took out miner's rights, and, together with a mate, pegged out his claim. It was one of the richest gold finds ever made in New Zealand, and he has sold his share for L75,000, with which he is returning to his mother at South Shields.

Alarming Fire at Pandy RAILWAY STATION BURNT TO THE GROUND Pandy Railway-station, near Abergavenny, was totally destroyed by fire early this morn- ing. The premises included booking-office, cloak-room, and the station-master's dwelling- house. The alarm reached the Abergavenny Fire Brigade at ten minutes to one. On arriving at the scene of the outbreak the brigade found that their hose was too short to reach the river, the nearest spot at which a supply of water is to be obtained. Six men had, therefore, to ladle water to a dam reached by the hose, and six others pumped the water into the hose by means of the engine, which requires twenty-four men to work it at full pressure.

I THIEVING BY SALVAGE A new industry has been discovered by a band of Paris Apaches," who modestly called themselves Sauveteurs." Their method of procedure was delightfully simple. Whenever a big fire occurred, they appeared on the spot shortly after the out- break, and, ruehing into the neighbouring houses, warned the inmates that their apart- ments were in danger of catching fire, at the same time offering to assist in the work of salvage. Seizing some handsome piece of furniture, they carried it into the street below, and when the bewildered owners went to look for their property it was nowhere to be seen. Four of these enterprising gentlemen were yesterday sentenced to one year's imprison- ment.

I PLAGUE OF VIPERS The tropical heat in France has been favour- able to reptiles. One of the masons engaged in repairing a dam on La Sioule, near Moulins, noticed the head of a snake appear- ing through a fissure in a stone close to where a little girl was sitting. In alarm he called the child away, and went for his mates, who in a few minutes killed twenty-three vipers. Continuing their search, they discovered and destroyed no fewer than 406 vipers, the smallest of which measured ten inches. They also collected 166 eggs, from every one of which, wifhin twenty-four hours, had issued a tiny reptile, only to be crushed under foot aa soon as born. As a reward of 2Jd. is awarded by the authorities for every reptile killed, the masons have done very good business.

• I BRYNAMMAN TIN-PLATE TRADE Some three weeks ago the day men at Glyn- hendy Tin-plate Works, Brynamman, ceased work at the expiration of notices, in sym- pathy with a fitter whom they believed had been unfairly dismissed. The company, after a stoppage, obtained men from Pontardawe and elsewhere, and re-placed a number of the strikers, and a demonstration of protest was held. A resolution was adopted expressive of admiration of the men who risked sacrificing their positions in support of a brother work- man, and strong condemnation of the men who at Glynhendy Works had taken the places lof those who had left their employment.

PONTYPRIDD-NEWPORT M010R-CAR I SERVICE The Alexandra (Newport) Dock and Rail- way Company's motor-car made its trial trip on Tuesday, running from Newport to Ponty- pridd. Mr. Macaulay, general manager, and other officials were on board, and thoSo. trip was considered very successful. The car pro- vides accommodation for 90 third-class passengers. It will run between Pontypridd and Caerphilly, and will call at the follow- ing intermediate stations: -Glyntaff, Tre-I forest, Rhydfelen, Dynea, Upper Boat, Groes- wen, and Nantgarw. It is hoped that the regular service will be commenced at an early date.

SUGGESTED MAESTEG POLICE-COURT I During a sitting of Aberavon County Police-court the justices on the bench adjourned the court for a while for the pur- pose of receiving a deputation from Maesteg in support of an endeavour to have a weekly police-court held at Maesteg. We understand that the result of the conference was to refer the deputation to wait upon the Bridgend magistrates again, and in the event of their declining to move in the matter that the Aber- avon justices would then be prepared to fur- ther consider the question. I

PASSIVE RESISTERS I At North London Police-court on Tuesday 42 passive resisters were summoned for non-payment of a. portion of the rate allocated to elementary education. The Magistrate, in making the usual order for payment, said he noticed that the people who now objected to pay had no objection to their I children going to the voluntary schools before the new Act was passed.

TREORKY CHOIR'S TOUR I The Royal (Treorky) Welsh Choir have just returned from a remarkably successful fort- night's tour of North and West Wales, under the oonductorship of Mr. Wm. Thomas, the secretarial duties being discharged by Mr. J. T. Austin. Miss Alice Maud Cove, of Treorky, assisted as soprano. Musical critics are agreed that the reputation of the choir has been enhanced, and further engagements in the North of England are likely to follow.

A BIG COAL DIVIDEND | The directors of Astley and Tyldesley Col. lieries (Limited) have declared a dividend of 15s. and a bonus of 5s. on the XIID fully-paid ordinary shares, and a dividend of 12s. and a bonus of 4s. on the ordinary shares C8 i paid. This, with the dividend declared last February, makes a total of 20 per cent. for the year.

GLYN NEATH EISTEDDFODIC PRIZE In a message to the committee of the Glyn Neath eisteddfod Mr. Jenkin Jones, of Bram- well. West Virginia, United States of America, who is now on a visit to Wales, offers a prize of iClO for an essay on the Aberpergwm family.

CABFBT8 Obampoood.-Now, perfect, cletntB? P1'OCeØ.j -4en4 postcard to 1, mi-, -stmt. Cathsy& &tab. 1887.  0= STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. Empire, and 6 to 1 36t H3.n:r,:¡\iG. gelding. 3.10—DUKE OF YORK STAKES RESULT — Erin. colt The Warrior Esquire 3.50-GREAT EBOR HANDICAP RESLMT: Mr J C Sullivan's War Wolf Ownsr 5 7 9 "EXPRESS" OFFICE, 4.0 p.m. i; fCi £ LEE,'S PilOGHiiSis. C"a1 weather conditions iavourei Lc waii: o, m Luckier, ot IVcwport, at Ai-hton-Cadcr-Lyue to-day, a1ci at twelve o'clock lie nad C0\ eroå 1.0Ssi mile6 hO yards. The heavy recent rains has made the track in a i loppy condition, but nevertheless, the Newportoniau pluckiiy wCLd.) hie way without com- laint. The interest in the tramp is daily increasing. Sjmcrset 109 for u. s-oa £ loa County (2nd innings) 25 ior i), ■Lancashire 15 fo" 1. "icestershirc 2.0 for Ó (innings declared; "•Vaiwicksiiu-e m for 9 (innings declared' vivith. Africans 2^9 for 5. Xiient (2nd innings) 83 all out. Middlesex (2nd innings) Z3 for Z. » The PINK EDITION of the "Evening Express," on Sale at 6.15 p.m., contains all the news of the day up to that time, includ- ing latest movements on London and Cardiff Stock Exchanges, Special Market Reports, Local Charterings and Arrivals.

ONE SOVEREIGN EACH Copies of the "Evening Express" were pur- chased yesterday for one sovereign each from the following persons at the addresse6 named:— CARDIFF.—Mrs. Iealine Price, 129, Eldon- road. PONTYPRIDD.-Mr. Robert Hogg, 2, Thurston- road. PORTH.-Mrs. Agnes Davies, 172, High-street, Cymmer.

ROYAL LOVE AFFAIR I Belgian Princess and Pretender In spite of all official denials, I have it on the authority of a gentleman of the Bel- gian Court (says a Brussels correspondent) that Princess Clementine's dearest wish is to marry Prince Victor Napoleon, the Pretender to the French throne. She is the youngest daughter of King Leopold, and noted for her great beauty. The King was agreeable to the marriage taking place if France had no objection to the match, and when M. Delcasse was com- municated with he replied that the Govern- ment of the Republic had no desire to inter- fere, as Prince Victor had now little or no influence with the French Bonapartists, who desired that General Bonaparte, of the Rus- sian army, should re-place him as their leader. At this time a quarrel occurred between the Princess and her father about a trivial matter, and he forbade the marriage in con- sequence, declaring that he would never con- sent to it taking place. The Princess says that if the King persists in his resolve she will enter a convent.

POLICEMAN'S "PHONETIC ERROR" A constable in the X Division, at the City Summons Court, was asked why he had stated that the offence with which a man was charged was committed on one side of the street when it wa-s committed on the other side. He replied: I am sure it was outside Donald Currie's, even if there was a I phonetic error. (Laughter.) The Solicitor: A phonetic error!

I A PROPHETIC VISION An extraordinary fatal accident, with which a. dream and a motor-cycle collision are con- cerned, has been reported at CPst-end. Uneasy at her husband's continued delay in return- ing from a village near Bruges, whither he had gone on a motor-cycle, Madame Meyrink dreamt that something had happened to him, and was so much upset by her dream that she aroused her son and insisted that he should go to look for his father. The young man started on a motor-cycle, and had only gone about six miles when at a sharp turn he met his father. Both were going at too rapid a pace to be able to avoid each other, and col- lided with fearful violence. The father was killed on the spot. The son when picked up was in a dying oondition.-Dalziel.

t ENGLAND'S GLORY MATCHES are made entirely I by BRITISH LABOUR. Send for particulars of com- petitions. Ugl=d's Mory Match Works, Gloucester,

MOONLIGHT TRAGEDY BOATING PARTY UPSET: SIX PERSONS DROWNED A shocking boating accident took place last night on Lough Neagh, at a point about ten miles from Lurgan. Seven young ladies and gentlemen went out in a boat from Kinnegoe in the' evening, and were returning home by moon- light, when the craft overturned. Six of the occupants were drowned, the only survivor being a young lady, who clung to the keel of the boat until it drifted shore.

"Artichoke Heart" MURDER OF DEMI-MONDAINE. Thanks to tattoo marks, the Paris police have been put on the track of a hideous crime. On Sunday night a young woman was found lying dead in a street in the Fau- bourg Saint Antoine district. She had been stabbed in the heart and other parts of the body. Yesterday the deceased was identified at the Morgue as one Gabrielle Jouin by a woman who lived with her. On examining the body M. Hamard, chief of the detective department, found on Jouin's left arm a tat- toed picture of the rising sun. Underneath were also tattoed the words "Knight of the sun. I am Gegene's for life." These indica- tions re-call-ed to M. Hamard's mind a gang of bad characters calling themselves the "Chevaliers du Soleil," and who hold their meetings in the dens around the central markets. A raid was made among these rascals, and ten of them were arrested. Out of that number M. Hamard selected one, a fellow known as Little Louis," who had a sun and an inscription tattooed on his left arm. Little Louis, being energetically cross-examined, admitted that he had assisted at the murder of Gabrielle Jouin, whom he described in his criminal's slang as an artichoke heart, who fooled a lot of men. She was so inconstant that she was causing murderous dissensions among the knights of the sun. Every day men were Fighting for Her like Wolves so it was resolved to suppress her. Little Louis said that he had nothing to do with the murder. He was walking with his friend, whose name he declines to give, and this person, who was determined to suppress i Gabrielle Jouin, enticed her into a side street, and soon despatched her with his knife. After this cynical declaration, Little Louis was sent back to prison, and a visit was paid to his lodgings by the detectives, who arrested there a hawker named Moreliere. This man, with whom Little Louis lived, was arrested and charged with having murdered Gabrielle Jouin. Moreliere said that he was not going to make any statement to the police, as they were not good enough for him. He would only answer questions before a juge d'instruction and an advocate. Moreliere has been sent to join Little Louis in prison. This is not the only crime of the kind that has been perpetrated by the dwellers in the low-life depths of Paris recently. A woman, known as Zizi la Blonde, was shot the other day by her man, a hooligan nicknamed Polo" by his companions. A desperate attack was made on another woman named Marie Francillon, in the Faubourg du Temple, yesterday, by her former lover, a returned convict. The latter, one Paul Balle, on leaving prison, heard that his marmite, or the woman who used to keep him before he was convicted, had turned over a new leaf and had married a respectable workman. This Made the Ex-Convict Furious I and he sought a meeting with the young woman. She went to the rendezvous, and refused to leave her husband, whereupon Balle attacked her with a. razor, and inflicted fearful gashes on her face, neck, and arms. He was trying to cut her throat when pass- ing people intervened, saved the woman, and carried Balle to the nearest police- station. There the man declared that he fully intended to murder Marie Francillon, who belonged to him, and who had taken advantage of his trouble to give herself to another man.

KING'S SPA LIFE I His Majesty's Plain Living I King Edward spent a quiet time yesterday at Marienbad, enjoying the beauties of the Spa. His Majesty's course of life is very regular. He rises at any time after six and walks to the Kreuzbrunnen, where one or two glasses of the water have to be slowly sipped. This lasts a.bout an hour, and another hour's brisk walking must elapse ere break- fast is taken. Breakfast consists of two lightly-boiled eggs or a little lean ham and coffee or tea. No butter or fa.t may be eaten. During the morning, every alternate day, the King takes a fifteen-minute bath in water strongly resembling soda-water. A plate of cold meat or plain roast, washed down with a quarter-pint of white wine, con- stitutes the luncheon. Exercise of some kind occupies the after- noon, and a two-course plain dinner and a little white wine concludes the day. Good spirits are infectious at the Spa, and no one laughs more heartily than his Majesty the King, who is quite the idol of Marienbad. Ruebezahl is the favourite resort of the King. It is a handsome new hotel, but on a hill overlooking Marienbad, and some 300 feet high. It is here that most of those informal lunches and dinners which the King loves are given.

STORM ON THE ST. BERNARD Narrow Escape of Tourists Some 200 tourists, English, French, German, and American, had a very narrow escape on the St. Bernard yesterday, where they haa climbed with the object of getting away from the terrible heat. A sudden storm broke over the mountain, the snow falling to a depth of as much as five feet in places, and completely blocking the path. There could have been little hope for the tourists had it not been for the fortunate arrival of some of the famous St. Bernard dogs from the monastery, by whose aid they were enabled to make their way with safety.—Central News.

HORRIBLE CRIME IN ITALY A horrible crime has been committed at Palermo. A married couple, who recently lost their only daughter, got it into their heads that the young girl had been bewitched by an exemplary married woman in the dis- trict named Antonina Lojacomo. Their hal- lucination was shared and encouraged by their neighbours. Passing Lojacomo's dwelling at a late hour the aggrieved couple noticed that the door had been left ajar on aocount of the heat. They entered the bedroom where Lojacoma and her husband were lying sound asleep, and knifed the latter to death. They then bound the suspected witch to the mattress, satu- rated it with petroleum, and burned the luck- less woman alive.

Mrs. Maybrick landed at New York on Tuesday. There was no demonstration. In a statement handed to the reporters she expressed the belief that God, in Hia own time, would right the wrong done to her.- Exchange Telegraph Company. STEVEN* BREAD.—When you eat it you do not require any other relieh tor Breakfast or Tea. el2722

MIDSHIPMAN'S FRAUD SEQUEL TO A TOURIST'S VISIT TO LIVERPOOL An extraordinary case of false representa- tion was heard yesterday at Brierley Hill (Staffs.) Police-court. Reginald Harcourt, described as a midshipman, of the Sailors' Mome, Liverpool, was charged with attempt- ing to obtain 7s. 6d. by falsely pretending to be the son of Mr. Abel Marson, of Amblecote. The latter's son, a young commecrial clerk of Amblecote, told the bench that he started on his holidays to the Isle of Man on July 31, and in Liverpool he met the prisoner by the railway station. Witness asked where he. should have to board the Cedric to get to the Isle of Man. This led to a general conver- sation about shipping, a perambulation of the docks, and eventually A Drink at an Hotel When they parted witness gave him his card, and went on to the Isle of Man, prisoner stating that he was a native of Worcester. Abel Marson, father of the last witness, said he received the following letter three days after his son left home for the Isle of Man:- 25, Strand-street, Lierpool. Dear Father,—Ju3t a few lines to say that I arrived here safe enough, but I am sorry to say that I have had an awful time ot it. I told you I should stop overnight here before going over to the isle of Man, and 1 went to Temperance Hotel in Lime- street. I got into conversation with a, young man, who said he knew me and you, and that he worked under you at the works. He offered to show me the docks, and, 01 course, I went with him. All went well until night fell, and we went to some place to have a drink. I called for a stone ginger beer, which we drank, and after that I felt drowsy. I remembered no more till this evening, when I found, to my dismay, that my money was all gone, and that but for the fact that I had paid in advance at the hotel I was destitute. ■ My watch I have had to pawn, and if you don't send me some money I shall lese it. Please send it to the addrees as above as soon as you can, so that I can come back. I have not got even my ticket to get home, and I ishall hae to get back somehow. I will tell you more when I arrive. Please send some money at once to—Your affectionate son, GEORGE MARSON. Witness said he came to the conclusion that the letter was not in his son's handwriting. Moreover, he had received a postcard from his boy stating that he was in the Isle ot Man. Mr. Marson gave information to the polioe which led to the prisoner's arrest in Liver- pool. He admitted to the officer who received him into custody from the Liverpool police that he wrote the letter because he was com- pletely "played out" when he met young Marson. He wanted the money to last him until he joined his ship on the 17th inat. He was committed for a month with hard labour.

Czarevitch Christened CLEMENCY TO CRIMINALS The christening of the Czarevitcli took place to-day at Peterhof, and it is more than probable that the date was chosen for a very speoial reason. For this is the sixth anni- versary of the day on which Count Moura- vieff, at his weekly reception of the Diplo- matic Oorps, handed, on behalf of the Czar, to each member thereof a lithographed com- munication which turned out, to the great surprise of all, to be his Majesty's proposal for the Peace Conference that met at The Hague in the following spring-anly to be followed in a few months by the Boer War. And now we have the Russo-Japanese War. Since the issue of the Czar's peace rescript the world'¡; temple of Janus has never once been shut. Honours for Russian Ministers The Emperor has conferred the order of the White Eagle on M. Witte, the President of the Ministerial Council, Count Laxasdorff, the Foreign Minister, receives the insignia of the Alexander Xewsky Order with diamonds, and the Minister for Agriculture, M. Yermo- loff, and the Minister for Justice, M. Nouravieff, are also decorated with the Alexander Newsky Order. Prince Chilkoff, the Minister of Communications, has been appointed Secretary of State to his Majesty. Thanksgiving Gifts The Czar's thanksgiving gifts in recogni- tion of the birth of his son, extend to many -eiasses of the community, prisoners under sentence being especially favoured. Men who have been sent to the galleys have had their sentences shortend by one half. Life sentences have been commuted to fourteen years' imprisonment, and persons sentenced to four years and under are now made free.

CARDIFF WORKHOUSE VISITING COMMITTEE A meeting of the Cardiff Workhouse Visit- ing Committee was held on Tuesday, Mr. F. J. Beavan in the chair. A recommendation was made to the board of guardians that the clerk be directed to make inqniries as to what institutions were prepared to accommo- date consumptive patients, and upon what terms. Dr. Sheen reported that out of four- teen Cardiff cases now in the workhouse hospital two patients might possibly receive some benefit if transferred to a sanatorium.

ATLANTIC CUT Private advices reoeived in Liverpool to-da.y confirm the saloon easward out from New York reported by Continental lines to bring them into harmony with the Cunard and White Star companies. The Hamburg- American line reduces the first-class fares to C14 and the second to £9 on fast steamers, and the slower boats £9 first and JE6 second. These rates are to Plymouth and Cherbourg. The North German-Llayd makes a similar reduction. The French line reduces to JE:13 and JE8 fast boats and the others ES and E6.

SYSTEM OF WORKING AT TONDU A meeting of railwaymen was held in th& St. John's Schoolroom to hear the report of Mr. T. J. Robinson, the delegate, on the Great Western goods guards, brakesmen, and shunters' movement, and a resolution was carried regretting that more consideration was not given their position, and trusting that the board of directors would again meet their representative, and that Bro. Robin- son bring to the notice of the directors the system of working at Tondu.

BIRMINGHAM TRAMCAR WRECKED At Birmingham last night a steam tramcar,, carrying about 50 passengers, was proceeding over a temporary junction on a re-con- structed portion of the line when it failed to negotiate the points and fell over on its side, with a loud crash. Glass and woodwork were smashed, but the passengers suffered only from cuts and bruises. Five passengers were taken to the hospital, but were not detained. The car is a complete wreck.

CAERPHILLY ELECTRIC LIGHTING SCHEME The fortnightly meeting of the Caerphilly Urban District Council was held on Tuesday at the council offices, Caerphilly. Mr. Thomas Evans presided. With respect to electric lighting a. committee was appointed to carry out the scheme. It was decided to refer the appointment of engineer to the electric lighting committee. The Clerk sait] the cost would be about £ 5,500.

SOCIETY CIRCUS Well-known members of American society are to perform in a charity circus at Lenox, Massachusetts. Sawdust, ring, bareback riders, and clomns are to be provided undet cover of a tent.

CARPETS Sluunpooed.-New, perfect, cleaning rntan. —Send postcard to 1, Minny-street, Cathays. Estah. lsst •uoa ■