Evening Express

THE GREAT SHAMS. When Shall We Away With Them P INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN THE COMPETITION. I BY LLOYD MEYRICK.* Writing on a Sunday, one naturally looks out for a text. Every Welshman is at heart a preacher, and I am no excep- tion. By the bye, what a blessro day Sunday is as a Day of Rest. It has theological and religious aspects upon which I do not propose to touch, but as a day sacred to rest and leisure it is most worthy of preservation. It is a man's own day, so to speak-a day that owns no order of a master, no tyranny of duty. Most of us wake up on a Sunday morning with a. feeling of joyous emanci- pation, an escape from the drudgery of work. I am no strict Sabbatarian. I believe in large towns in Sunday trams, in open musaums. and well-peopled parks but, as a broad policy, the seventh day, as far as possible, should be kept free from labour. The Bill to prevent Sun- day trading as far as possible is deserving of all support, as there are signs in recent years of looser and more insidious habits. There are many phases of the Continental Sunday very attractive. Its innocent gaiety and the way whole families of all classes go out and drink their beer and coffee in country cafes arouse in a broadminded Britisher a feeling of envy. Still, the other side to it—the almost universal opening of shops in the morn- ing—ought to be strenuously resisted in this country. However, what about my tcxt? Here it is. Opening a volume of Shakspe-are, I came across the following lines When beggars die there are no comets seen, The heavens themselves blaza forth the death cf princ-ca. It is an old superstition that the heavens are disturbed and move in sympathy with the events in the lives of the great ones of the earth. There has grown up a bodv or opinion that even God Almighty is a spob -and has His preferences for men of great estate. A great French nobleman was warned after some evil deed of the punishment of the Hereafter, and he replied, "GGd will think twice before damning a gentleman of my quality." The most hopeful sign of the present time is that. this view is fast disappearing. The gospel of social equality is being preached trumpet-toned throughout the land. The work of Charles Kingslev. of Ruskin, and of Carlyle has steeped the very soil of the country, and. is bearing rich fruit. Shabspoare, by habit of mind and of temperament, was an aristocrat, and genius did not become democratic until long after his day—at least in this country. Milton, possibly, was a demo- crat, but he was an individualist to the point of anarchy. Carlyle had the latter characteristics, but he waged deadly war- fare against ail shams on behalf of the realities. That, after all, is the only point that matters—respect for real men and real things. Most of us go through life wrapped up in illusions and poor little conventions.of caste and habit. We are fed on them in school, and are taught to see history through the tinsel of courts and the chicanery of diplomacy. This .system gives a distorted view to our outlook and shapes a slavish attitude of mind. As has been well said by a great American We want to know less about meq who started poor and amassed great fortunes and ino-re about men who lived liimillied lives and died poor. The whole community needs the baptism of se!f-rexpect. The last sentence sums up a most crying need. It is the day of wealth, and multi- niillionaires scatter largesse to creeping populations We want more of that self- respect and a clear realisation of the dignity of num. We have heard quite enough of the individual who started with half-a-crown in his pocket, has amassed a fortune, and claims the prívi- lege ever after or prosing on the virtues of industry and thrift. They seem to say. with almost painful emphasis: Look at the work of the Good God. He gives carria-g-ea a.nd heroes and large houses to those tha.t deserve them. I am making no attack upon any of these happy possessions, but they are poor things to hold up as rewards. The dis- tinction of a gentleman "as one who keeps a gig" is now for ever exploded, and the true tests of gentle qualities are being applied. The great work of education should be to free from convention and to equip all young men with a shrewd eye for Shams. Shams abound in the pulpit, in tho press, in politics, and in all the walks of life. They are known, they are bowed to, and even courted. More than one walks about the streets cf Cardiff. As Carlyle would sj?', "a very simulacrum of a. man." No one is deceived; they are known as Shams, are given respect as Shams, and are given large funerals as Shams! I wonder will it always be so? Will a sturdier race arrive and sweep the whole wretched crowd away? Even soliie churches and chapels are Shams-a. Sham is in the pulpit, a Sham carries round the plate, and a Sham rubs shoulders with a Sham in the big seat or vestry. Weil, even on a Sunday afternoon I must, limit preaching, or the proprietors will be telling me that religious journals don't pay! My competition is fast becoming a matter of international concern. Mr. Carl Anderson has written from Stock- holm, Sweden, to Mr. James Holmes ask- ii- him to let him know if I will allow foreigners to compete. Mr. Anderson is the foreign correspondent for th$Swedish Raiiwaymen's Society, and he states he lias seen an account of the competition, and, although I do not mean to compete with the English brat,hers, I just want to partake of their pleasure and intereet. Mr. Anderson writes an admirable letter I in English, stating he has given the matter much consideration. The three prizes already offered will be given to British subjects only resident in this country, but if, in the opinion of Mr. Holmes and myself, a foreigner's state- ment ranks with the prize-winner, I will forward such a competitor some souvenir of his success. Mr. Anderson's contribu- tion will he warmly welcomed, as that wf any other man from any land or clime. I hope this will not necessitate putting on a staff of linguists to go through the statements. I have three or four lan- guages on the premises, and Mr. Holmes is an authority on Welsh and Yiddish. I may say that the rumour that the Ger- man Emperor intends competing has not been confirmed. I do not know if he is eligible, except that, being the most versatile thing in Emperors, he might say lie is engaged in the manipulation of traffic as Head of the national railways. If any delicate inter- national complications arise a special meeting of the Trades Congress will be called to pass a resolution, which, no doubt, will at once settle any difficulty. A statement sent in in Chinese must be accompanied by a certificate from the clergyman of the parish that its contents are fit for publication, as I cannot under- take to acquire the language before April 7, when the competition closes. Speak- j ing seriously, all statements may be written in French, German, English, or Welsh; but, while the three prizes of five guineas, two guineas, and one will go to the best British competitors, our worthy foreign brothers will not be for- gotten. If as a result of this competition there is any keen demand for the "Even- ing Express" in the large towns on the Continent, we will take steps that it shall be on sale at all the kiosks and bookstalls. In the meantime: Vive l'en:t.en.te cordiale, Swedan!

-MR. LLOYD MEYRICK'S Notes now appear in the "Evening Express" on four day3 a week, i.e., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. MR. W. BRACE'S Labour Notes appear on Wednesday, and MR. HARRY BOWEN'S, o;i Sport, on Saturday.

Rejected Lover's Death I RUN OVER ON THE RAILWAY. I The discovery of the much-mutilaited body of a. man an the Soutih-Eastern Railway a little distance above Godstone Station, just outside the tunnel, early on Sunday morn- iug has been followed by the disclosure of a. sad story of disappointed love. Papers were found on him by which he was idfntined as Mr. David Syrad, an ex- sergeant in the Army Service Corps, who has lately been engaged as public-house broker's tout. His parents live in Warmington-road, Upper Westboarno Park. There was alM found on the 'body a photo- graph of a handsome young woman, which, upon inquiry, was found to be that of Miss May Brooker, daughter of a gardener, living a. Hook, near Godstonp, and recently a, bar- maid at the Garibaldi Hotel, Blackfriars- road. From her story, as told to a Morning Leader" representative, it appeared that Syrad had made her acquaintance at the Garibaldi, and had fallen in love with her. Three times he proposed to her. the last time as recently as Friday, and each time he was rejected. They remained on friendly terms, however, and an appointment was .'fixed for Sunday- but in the interval he wired off, the telegram being followed by a registered letter contain- ing several pawn tickets, five or six shillings in money, and a letter asking her not to write to him till she heard from him again, as he was "changinsr his address." It sQCms clear that he travelled down to Godstone on Sunday evening with the pur- pose of going to his sweetheart's home. A man answering to his description arrived at Godstone Station by the 8.30 train, and next morning Syrad's mutilated body was found by the driver of an up goods train.

WAITERS ON WHEELS. I One of the curiosities of Salt Lake City, in the eyes of the many visitors who have passed through the town recently, is the sight of the messenger-boys riding bicycles easily along the streets with heavily-laden trays on their heads. To Salt Lakers this seems quite natural; it is a sight they see every day, and have seen for yeans, but to the Ftrangcr within the -atei it is a quaint novelty. Salt Lake is not the only town in the United States where this custom prevails, but it has the distinction of being one of the three towns where the messengers have this speedy method of delivering meals.

NEWPORT RIVER WORKS. I Further discussion, took pi ace to-day at the I Newport Town Coirnoil on the proposal of the harbour board to carry on river works. Tbe Pariiaraentary and improvement* com- mittee represented to the cotmeil that, in view of the divided opinions, expressed at the election, no further recommendation in raf-erence to the matter 00 made by the com- mittee. to tli;s fr. J. Mox As a,u amendment to ntis Mr. J. Moxon moved that a round-table conference be arranged between the com-mittee, harbour1 board, and the docks company to promote- tho iinterests of the work. Mr. Blackburn seconded, and after ooiar aiclerable dieouasten it wu6 agreed to.

THE CANAL TRAGEDyl Prisoner in Court. HIS REPLY TO THE CHARGE. The man William Thomas, 55, was brought up in custody (before Mr. T. W. Lewis, stipendiary) at Cardiff Police-court this afternoon charged on suspicion of causing the death of William Edwards, a bargeman, some time between six p.m. on the 11th and eight Prisoner appeared with his nose bandaged, and his face disfigured with marks. He was clad in a white moleskin waistcoat and blue guern- se.,7, and he had the appearance of one who lives (as he does) and earns his living on the canal. Before the proceedings began Mr. Harold Lloyd, who defended, had a brief oon- sulfation with his client. Police-constable John Petheram deposed: At 9.55 yesterday morning I saw prisoner on. the Hayes Bridge. I told him I should take him into custody on suspicion of causing the death of a man whose body had been found in a boat at Black weir. He said, "All right. I thought you were looking for me. I have come straight from the infir- mary." I took him to the Central Polioe-sta- tion, where I told him he would be detained and charged on suspicion of causing the death of one William Edwards. I cautioned him, and he replied: I have nothing at all to say, only he hit me with a hatchet last night. I had been to Whitchurch, and when I came to the boat he was washing the blood off. I had not been in his company all da,y. I have nothing more to say, only I found him dead this morning in the cabin. I reported it to the canal company's policeman. The coat produced prisoner was wearing when, arrested. It had a lot of bloodstains upon H. There was a'so blood on the leather belt (produced), which he had on at the time. The Stipendiary (to Mr. Harold Lloyd): Do you postpone your examination?—Yes. What remand do you ask for? Superintendent Hayward: Until Thursday. The inquest is at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Mr. Harold Lloyd: I should like to have him at the inquest if possible. The Stipendiary: He is bound to be at the inquest as a matter of course. It is not a matter for me at all. Prisoner was remanded until Thursday. He made no comment, and was remanded in custody.

— Died After Vaccination I A CHILD VICTIM'S SUFFERINGS. A terribie story of suffering was told before the West JTewington coroner yesterday at an inquest on James Harold Thomas Bull, the five months' oi-d scwi of a tin-plate worker, living at Holyoake-road, Newillgton-butts. The mother faid the child enjoyed good health until it WåO vaceina-toad on the 29th ult. The following Sunday a. rash came out all over the body, and the next d-a-y it entirely disappeared. The doctor said that "did sometimes happen," and gave her a bottle of! medicine. The Coroner: Was there any bandage on. the place?—Yes, and it was left there until j the doctor came and put another on. Got Worse and Died You did not take it off, or interfere with it?—Ho. As the child got worse she took it to Dr. Ryan on the 10th, and he treated it until it died. There was no sickness in the house, added the witness, and the arm was never exposed. Dr. S. W. Brooke, of Westminoter Bridge- road, deputy public vaccination officer, said that he vaccinated the child, and it a.p- peared perfectly well. Nineteen others were vaccinated with the same lymph, which was perfectly fresh, and he had had no other complaint. When he saw the rah he prescribed for the child. The bandage he put on had not been removed. Dr. W. J. Fy-an, St. George's-road, said when he was called to the child he found it to be suffering from stiffness and arching of the back. The cause of death was exhaustion, follow- ing on lockjaw, consequent on vaccination. It was the first ease of the kind he had seen. The lockjaw might have been caused by a scratch. The jury returned a. verdict of "Death from exhaustion. following on lockjaw.

CAKE UNDER HER CAPE. Young Married Woman's Downfail Artlas Annie Davies (29), a married woman, was charged at Caerphilly to-day with steal- ing a seed cake from the shop of Mr. John Thomas, grocer, Bargoed. Evan Davies, an assitant, said that defen- dant came to the shop just after ten on Saturday last, and purcihased lurd and flour to the value of 5Jd. He noticed the woman sIJIp a seed cake under her cape, and he called his employer. She then produced the oake, and asked that it be weighed, saying she was very sorry. To Poiice-conStable Joibn Jones defendant Lq,i,id that shle bad been drinking a. little drop of Whisky, and it had upset her. She was will ing to pay for it. The hmband was called, and said they were only married in June. and the Bench pointed out that thcre were four convictions against her, and that she had been in gaol just before.. The husband said he did not know that. She was a good wife and good to the chil- dren. Her home was in New Tredegar. A fine of £ 1, or fourteen days, was imposed, and time was granted to the husband to pay it.

CONVICT'S DASH FOR FREEDOM, During a severe snowstorm on Dartmoor yesterday one of the convicts at Princetown Prison, a man, named Smith. suddenly broke from the ranks whilst marching to the fields, and escaped to a plantation. The eergeant of the guard fired twice without hitting him. He was reloading when the convict made a dash, and was cclught by another warder. He was secured, handcuffed, and then marched back to prison.

SEAMAN DROWNED at SWANSEA I?ate La?t night a. man, supposed from papers found on him to be Thomas Richards, a, native of Portmadoe, a seaman, was! drowned in the North Dock Ba-in, g-,vanse-.i, in the sight of several persons who attempted to rescue him. The police were informed that a man had fallen into tHe dock. They; obtained a lifebuoy, a ladder, and a boat-hook, and throw them to the drowning man. He drifted itway, however, and sank. The body! was subsequently recovered, and papers found on it showed that he had been dis- charged on the 10th inst. from tho steamer I D I

MUSIC BY TELEPHONE. The New York World" and "Journal," I which are specially demted to news in tie field of electricity, announce that Dr. j Th ad dons OaMll, of Massaehusetts, ba8 invented a system of furnishing music by electricity, which differs essentially from the phonograph, in that it produces, not re-pro- duces, music. Dr. Oah'ill's device produces musuo over the telephone wires at the receiv- ing end. He has spent YAO,000 in perfecting his maohine. Which weighs 200 tons. Plane are being formed to instal t'he inven- I Non in several large cities. It is called the Telhiarmonium." and persons who have i nveatiigated it declare that the tone pro- I duced by the Tel-harmonium" is excellent,

FOUR BOYS ALMOST SUFFOCATED Four boys who occupied a room in a Birken- head lodging-house were this morning found in a state of exhaustion owing to an escape of gas from a pipe in the wall. One, named Thomas Sherlock, died almost immediately I from suffocation, but the others recovered. —

CARDIFF INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND I On Wednesday evening ¡( SIno],lng concert will be held at the Institute, Longcross-street, to wfoioh. all blind men a/re invited, and to which they may bring their wives. Dr. Ututhiaan Thompson will preside.

STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. j i ( i

A Cemetery Mystery. I The inquest was opened at Liverpool to-day ( on the body of William Armitage, twelve, who was found dead near Anfield Cemetery on Saturday with an incised wound in the neck under circumstances which indicated that he had been foully murdered. Evidence of identification having been given, the inquiry was adjourned till March 23. The police are still on the search for a. olue ae to I the perpetrator of the crime.

Genuiiie Howlers. HISTORICAL AND OTHERWISE. I Writing in Past and Present," the journal published monthly in connection with the Friends' Schools, Mr. E. B. Collinson quotes the following genuine" howlers, which he states have been noted in examina- tions conducted at Ackworth, Bootham, Kendal, Bawdon, Sibford, and a few other places: An abstract noun is the uametof something I that has no existence, as goodness. An abstract noun is one that cannot be felt, heard, seen, tcudhed, or smelt. I An autobiography is the life of an animal written after it is dead, as a moral. Chaucer wrote in middle-class English. The adjective formed from sister is I Cistercian. A hybird means a mongril and a morgril is a dog which is ill-bred. A syllable is a word expressed by one ( movement of the mouth. Joan, of Arc was a peasant's daught,er, dressed in a man's clothes and went to fight the English and was slain, and her soldiers said don't you think you had better wait till to-morrow to besiege Rouen. The Wars of the Roses killed a lot of the important knights, and they never got another start. Elizabeth had a, better claim to the Throne than Mary, for she had possession nine- tenths of the Throne by law. Far away on the deep the Spanish Armada. saw the beacon fires twinkling in endless chain from St. Miohal's vMounit to the York- shire Moors, and knew that England was ready. Five Mile Act.—Every parson must preach more than five miles off his church. Charles 1. was going to be married to the Infanta of Spain; he went to see her and broke it, off at once. The Pi,l,grim Fathers thought it better to be out of this- wicked world and so colonised in Massaehiusets. Rome is noted for its Ca.taoombs, where skulls of great people are kept. These are very long and dismal. Every German got*; to school at an early age, however old he ÜL An axis is an imaginary line I)Ilt which the earth lis supposed to take its daily routine. The Pharisees were people who like to show off their goodness by praying in synonyms. "A sower went forth to sow, and afi he sowed he fell by the wayside, and thieves sprang up and choked him." "And having our loins girt. about with the helmet of salvation." The larynx is the voice-box and shuts when we swallow it. Liquids expand when he.ated, e.g., if a kettle is placed on the fire with water in it and all means of ventilation stopped up the kettle would bounce off the fire from the graa.t fp-roe which was made inside it which it wanted to lot escape. A line is the shortest di^stance between two dots. A surface is the very top which you cannot PeL,. A solid is that which hasn't any space under the circumference. A circle is the amount taken, in by the line! which goes all round. Parallel straight lines even if produced to eternity cannot expect to meet each other. An undergraduate is (1) a p,erson not up to the mark; (2) a lower class of board school. An optimist is a person that attends to people's eyes. When a word gats out of date it is termed "dead" and so gradually a language is built up.

WOMEN'S BODIES AS SHIELDSL Desperate Manila Amazons. Manila, Tuesday.—General Wood, replying to Mr. Taft's inquiry for an explanation as to the alleged deaths of women and children in tihe battle of Dajo Hill, states there was no wanton destruction of women. and chil- dren. jiany of them were killed beoausethe Moros used them as shields in hand to hand fighting, and because many women, clad in male attire, were fighting desperately that it wa.s imp^seible to distinguish the sex. —Reuter.

CREW OF TEN RESCUED. I The Grimsby steain trawler Dominican returned to port to-day having on board the j crew of ten hands belonging to the Grimsby steamer Beechwold. W hilst at the fishing grounds on Sunday, the BeechWud had her tail shaft broken off. and imanediateiy sprang a leak. She gradually filled with w.ater and 1 foundered. The crew were picked up by the Dominican.

"ADVICE TO WlTffiP-" you broken In your rest, by a aiok f.1);id suffering with the pain hv cutting twth? Go at once to a chemist a.nd get a bottle of Mrs. Winflow's Soathing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer im.media.tcly. It ta ploaaajit to taste. It produces natural, quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little olierub awakes óts bright as ) a button. Of all chemists, Is. lid- per bottle. e495

NEW CRAFT'S FIRST TRIP. Newport Trader's Rough Passage About one o'clock on Monday afternoon a ship was observed in distress three miles off Cardigan Island, with her sails torn to rib- bons. Alarm rockets were immediately fired at Penrhyn Castle for the lifeboat crew, who were quickly in attendance. The wind was blowing a heavy gale from the north-west, with snow squalls. A gallant attempt was at once made to launch the lifeboat, but owing to its being dead low water, and a terrific sea on, it was five o'clock when she was successfully got off antl proceeded under sail to the vessel. vrbiah had drifted by this time seven1 (miles to the eastward and was riding danger- ously near the shore opposite Tresaith. By the time the lifeboat reached the vessel the gale had moderated, and the captain refused the assistance offered him. The lifeboat returned to her station at St. Dogmaels after a. very hard experience, the crew having been without food for twelve hours. « The vessel is from 800 to 1,000 tons regilter, but her name has not yet been ascertained. She still lies in the same dangerous position, and if the gale should again clrise no doubt she will be driven ashore. The lifeboat is being kept in readiness. She only arrived at Cardigan in August last, and this was her maiden attempt in saving life. Her crew are delighted with her, stating that she behaved splendidly, and was like a. duck on the water. The crew, headed by her coxswain, Thomas Bowen, were most prompt in assembling, notwithstanding the distance many had to walk before reaching the life- boat station, and one and all are most enthusiastic in their praise of their new boat. A Stormy Passage. The steamer Ouee, of Cardiff, laden with pitwood from Arcachon, arrived in Newport River this morning, and reports having encountered severe weather during the voyage. On the llt-h and 12th inst., when between Trevose Head and Lundy Island, the sustained considerable damage. Her main decks were badly strained, bulwarks before and aft bridge damaged, main rail broken, and poop covering boards started, in addition, to other minor damage. Floods at Cleethorpes. The gale last night did enormous damage a,t Cleethorpes. The extensive promenade was submerged for hours, and scores of houses were flooded.

FEARED DISASTER AT SEA. New York, Tuesday.—A dispatch from 'Vic- t-oria says that wreckage which has been found off Graham Island leads to the belief that the steam fishing vessel Zapora has foundered with her crew of thirty.—Central News.

Terribly Severe Weather. Another snowstorm occurred in North | Wales to-day. On the uplands the snow is many feet deep, and the mountain passes a-r?o blocked. A Clacton message states that a lot of snow has 'fallen during tihe night on the Essex coast. A French fishing schooner was driven on the rocks at Thurso during the storm last night. The crew were rescued.

Newport Economy. A QUESTION OF DECORATION REFERRED BACK. Look after the penec-the pounds will look after themselves," was an adage which seemed to be in the mind of a good many members of the Newport Town Council to-day. The works and general purposes committee recommended that £ 125 be spent upon the cleansing and decoration of the Tov.n-haU assembly-room and No. 1 committee-room, but the chairman (Alderman Greenland) and other members asked that the matter should be referred back for reconsideration. Mr. Abrahamson (chairman of tho finance committee) seconded the reference back. Mr. W. H. Brown attacked the parsimonious policy which appeared to actuate the mem- bers who wished the matter referred back. He said that the council was told at the last meeting, when the question of the reduction of the rates was being discussed, that tlTT-re would be an increase in rates next year. Mr. Abrahamson dissented. Who told the council that there would be an increase? Mr. Brown: I did. (Laughter.) When I said we were told I used the word in the editorial sense. The finance committee was swallowing up every bit of available balance, and if they went on in that way it was inevitable that there would be an increase next year. It was a wrong policy to put off cleansing and decoration which ought to be done this year till next year. Alderman Mordey, in support of the refer- ence back, thought the expenditure was not necessary. If it wag work for preserving the structure of the building he would have no hesitation in supporting the expenditure, but when he found that it was simply decora- tion—or luxury—he thought it was another matter. It was by looking after such small sums as Cl25 that they would arrive at true economy. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Parry opposed the expenditure so soon after the estimates for the year had been considered. Mr. Baker said he understood that a sum of IL,900 was allocated for miscellaneous expenses. On being put to the vote the minute was referred back.

Police Officials' Pay. PROPOSED INCREASE AT NEWPORT At to-day's meeting of the Newport Cor- porout-iorl Mr. J. Twomey a-lluded to the ques- tion o.f the proposed increases of pay to the head-const able (up to X450), Superintendent Brooks (up to X200), and Inspector Williams (up to a 15s. per week), and asked if these increases would count for pension if any of them retired within twelve months. Alderman Pugsley said the inoreases would count for pensions. It was a very for'tun?.tc thing that the watch committee had been able to retain the services of these officials, who were now entitled to their pensions. If they retired now it would cost the town £ 485 8s. 8d. per annum. Instead of paying that sum their services had been retained for a very small sum. As it was. the town nearly lost the services of one of the officers, who had had an offer made to him which, in addition to the two-thirds of his pay, would have made up a sum more than he received now. That was one of the difficulties the watch committee had to face. Mr. Peter Wright congraitulated the watch committee on the arrangement which had been made, but. asked for more consideration for the ordinary constables. Alderman Pugsley said it was a question for oonsideraition whether the police autho- ritiefl could not encourage policemen to remain in the .force after they were entitled to their pension by giving them some extra pay. The Town-clerk said tihere was a Bill before Parliament at present dealing with the matter, and, as it would, he understood, receive Government support, it would probably be passed.

WHO IS RIGHT? I Discussion Upon a Newport Legal Appointment. Mr. F. Phillips asked at the Newport Town Council to-day for an explanation of the fact that Mr. Horace Lyne was appointed solicitor to oppose certain licences after the first licensing sessions had been held. He understood that the magistrates who gave notice of the objections had appointed Mr. Lyne, and the watch committee also appointed him. It &eemed a strange thing that the magistrates should appoint the same solicitor as the watch committee. Alderman Mordey said Mr. Phillips was quite wrong. The magistrates did not appoint Mr. Horace Lyne. They could not. The watch committee appointed him and would pay him, and when the matter was before the watch committee the magistrates on the committee did not vote for it. Mr. K. Wilkinson said Alderman Mordey was wrong. It was the magistrates who first appointed Mr. Lyne, and when they fonud that they were wrong the watch committee appointed him. Alderman Golds worthy said Mr. Wilkinson was wrong. Mr. Wilkinson proceeded vigorously to pursue the question, when the Mayor ruled tilt-, matter out of order. i Mr. Wilkinson: I know that I am right. Cries of "Order, order." Mr. Wilkinson: You will say black is white next.

ABERTRIDWR GHOSTj CURATE'S STRANGE STORY Believes the Rappings to be Believes the Rappings to be Supernatural. The Rev. Gwilym Rees, curate-in-charge at Senghenydd, has furnished to the "Daily Mail" the following remarkable narrative of his experiences in "the haunted house," where the collier, James Graze, recently heard mysterious knockings:- "Last Thursday fortnight (February 22) Craze, his wife, and a young man came to my house in the afternoon; they begged of my wife to ask me to go down that evening, as they had not been able to sleep the pre- vious night owing to some mysterious rap- pings "I took a friend with me about twelve mid- night. After listening to their incredulous tale, I asked Craze and his mother-in-law to go upstairs. They complied; we heard them distinctly entering each room. We hea,rd two very loud knocks on one of the doors upstairs; we were at the time stand- ing at the base of the staircase. We at once went up and end-eavoulred to calm Craze and his mother-in-law, whom we met coming down, shuddering with fright. I called out in the name of God for an answer by knock- ings to some serious questions which I put to the supposed ghost. Receiving no reply, I put it very plainly to Craze that he must have been guilty of some crime, and asked him to confess. He vehemently declared, with tears in his eyes, that he bad nothing to confess. After a short time had elapsed I asked them to go once more, which they did, with the same result. Again we went upstairs, and asked In the Name of the Holy Trinity, for a revelation of the mystery, but to no purpose. By this time three young men had come in from next door. I asked them to go up- stairs. No sooner had they entered one of the bedrooms than the mysterious rappings again took place. My friend and I left, not at all satisfied, as the rappings did not take place in our immediate presence. The following morning Mrs. Craze and two men came for me at half-past two. Having been told that the knockings took place only between twelve and two, and also that it was their intention to leave the house that morning, I declined to go. Tho following Monday evening I called to see Craze at his new house, which I found overcrowded, and hundreds of people outside. I made my way into the house, and found Craze prostrate on three chairs, the only furniture in the house. When he came to himself he informed me that the ghost had followed him. I reprimanded him for his superstition, and took the family to the house of his mother, who lives a little dis- tance away. When we arrived at his mother's house, Craze told me that. he intended going th,a.t night to the old house with twelve men to convince them of the existence of the ghost. I promised to call later on, which I did about twelve o'clock. Policemen as Witnesses. I "I found two constables, who urged me to go with them to Ilan-road. Craze and wife led the way, followed by about twenty men. On our arrival we found a large crowd out- side, the inside of the house being crowded. I advised the officers to have the house cleared. They left only about fifteen inside. "Having locked the doors, we proceeded up- stairs, searched everywhere, and satisfied our- selves that the house was clear. We went downstairs, when the same process took place, with the same result. "I now asked Craze, the constable, and another man to accompany me upstairs. The constable stood on the landing whilst we entered one of the rooms. Having closed the door, my friend and I held Craze on either side by the hand. We stood about a yard from the wall. I said to Craze in a loud voice, 'I am now going to tap the wall, so don't be alariticd.' After doing this, silence reigned suppreme for about a minute, which was broken by two knocks on the partition, which were heard even from downstairs! Craze now became unmanageable, and made a rush for the landing, where the constable stood like a statue, and declared that no one from outside had caused the noise. We prevailed upon Craze to enter the room once more, when the same mysterious rappings took place. We now went downstairs, being fully convinced of the mystery. Voice in the Cupboard. 1 I asked Graze in the presence of all: Prom what cupboard did you hear the voice emanating la8t week?' He pointed to the one on the right side of the fireplace. I asked him to sit near the cupboard; this he did. I also requested that some of the men should go out into the yard, as we were too many in the house. 'About eight or nine went and looked in through the window; we were now six left. The light was turned down, and all eyes were eagerly fixed on the cupboard, when, to the amazement of all, the cupboard door was violently struck. This convinced us that all the rappings were perpetrated by no human agency. One more experiment was tried. This time a chair was placed in the centre of the kitchen; a man sat on the chair, and Craze sat on the man's knees. The men aga-in went out. After waiting about two minutes we all heard two distinct knocks on the chair. After this no power could prevail upon Craze to stay longer."

EVAN ROBERTS IN GLOUCESTER I Evan Roberts, the famous Welsh revivalist, is visiting Gloucester, and last night was, with several local ministers, in the pulpit of a Gloucester chapel at a meeting which lasted three and a half hours. It was hoped he would speak, but the huge congregation went away disappointed. On Tuesday morn- ing, accompanied by Mr. Luce, a Church of England clergyman, and several Noncon- formist ministers, he visited the cathedral and other places of interest.

MUNICIPAL TRADING PERIL. I The Duke of Norfolk presided yesterday evening at the twelfth annual meeting of the London Municipal Society. The Duke of Norfolk, in moving the adop- tion of the report, said that they believed that, efforts were being made in certain quarters to carry on business on wholly un- businesslike lines, and to take money from the ratepayers for plausible objects which it must be patent could not succeed. lIe feared that the recent general election would put into the hands of those who formulated schemes) of the kind ihe had hinted at a. in the sympathy of the House of Conunons, which made an increased danger. Captain Jessel said the London County Council was borrowing money now at the rate of 5,000,000 sterling a year. An illustra- tion of the effect of municipal trading had been found in the disastrous result of the steamboat service, and he believed that, although it had been skilfully concealed, the loss on the tramways had been even greater.

I A NEWPORT IMPROVEMENT. I ¡ At to-day's meeting of the Newport Cor. ?i por?tio.n a scheme was agreed to for the l j improvement of Be?rhwocd-road (leading to Beecihwood Park), by which the landowner Qn the Gibbs-road side (Mr.. C. J. Jackson) agreed to give t?e necessary land to make it a 40ft. road, the corporation bearing the j expense of making the road in II. ■■

The washerwomen iu Glasgow say U,,¡t "Foaroo I j. a splendid powder." Fo;uno is a pure special i 31X111 for very heavy wa.shiii<j. Powerful. Easy" and safe. I.c:ivcs no smell. Ask your grocer for a ]ienay I pad;et-three for twopence J¡alrnenuy. "1942 At Staffordshire Ast-iaes to-day Kruest Cox, engine-driver, was sentenced to five years' penal servitude for stabbing Ellen Welles, his half-sister, at West Bromwich, after she refused to give him money. I

A DRAMATIC STORY. JACTITATION OF MARRIAGE ALLEGED. 1-1 Servant Girl and Employer's Son A curious story of a secret marriage was narrated before Sir Gore 11 Barnes iesterday in a suit brought by Thomas Henry Ascroft, the son of a builder, a former mayor of Bootle, against Ellen Trevor, his father's former tervan.t, the daughter of a, labourer, for what is legally known as jactitation of marriage. In this class, of action, which is very rare, the petitioner seeks to make the respondent either prove a, marriage which she alleges has taken place, or, if she cannot prove it, to cease claiming it. Mr. Priestley, K.C., stated the case for the alleged wife. His client, he said, at the age of nineteen, went into the service of peti- tioner's father, and afterwards of his aunt. In 1900 the petitioner walked out with her, and finally took advantage of her under promise of marriage. He took lodgings for her at both Man- chester and Liverpool, and visited her at both places as her husband, and under the name of Ascroft.. When a child was born at the latter place he found all the necessary money, and told her to register the child in her own name." i. Story of the Marriage. In September, 1901, she returned to Man- cheater, and lodged at the house of a, Mrs. Burgess. In December of that year petitioner told her to get a licence, and to give his name a.t the registrar's office a6 Harry Trevor, and his address as Endell-street, St. Pan or as, London. There was no such address. On December 10, 1901, they were married at the registrar's office of the Stretford Union, Manchester. He signed the registrar as Harry Treior." He also took the certificate, sayiDg that if her father ever raised any question about the date of the child's birth, he could easily alter "1901" into "1900." He went back to Bootle, and she told her mother of the wedding. On December 13 she received a, letter from the petitioner, which at his request she burned. In it he besought her to keep the matter very quiet, and give the name of Trevor: For God's sake don't mention my name to anybody! Give her the name of Trevor. If she asks you why you took the name of Ascroft, say it was the first name that came into your mind. Say anything, swear any- thing. Educating the ex-Servant. This letter was seen by Mrs. Burgess, an independent. person, before it was burned. o Subsequently, petitioner sent respondent to a, writing school and a school of elocu- tion. In October, 1904, a quarrel took place between her and her mot her as to the main- tenance of hereelf and her child. Hearing of this, the petitioner sent her a letter, which he asked her to copy out and return to him. It ran as follows:- Dear Father and Mother—I have given this letter to Ha.rry Ascroft so as to clear him in case you go to him at any time and cause a bother. It is no use bothering him at all, as I have no claim on him, a.nd the etory I told you about a form of marriage I went through with an assumed name is not true, as it was not with him at all.- Nelly. She copied it out and sent it as he desired. Petitioner then paid her £1 a week down to October, 1905, when she urged him to provide for her openly as his wife. He offered to take their child and provide for it, but she declined. In November, 1905, they met for the last time. A Dramatic Story. The young woman then told her story in the box. She was pale-faced, neatly-dressed, and fragile-looking, and began by identifying her signature on the register, and swore that "Harry Trevor" was written by the peti- tioner, who stood up in court-a tall, dark- haired, good-looking man. Petitioner, she said, told her that if she I took the matter into court and forced him to live with her, he would make her life "a hell upon earth. thedl upon earth." and elicited that the year when the intimacy began, 1900, was the year in which the peti- tioner's father was mayor of Bootle. When petitioner was ill in bed at his aunt's with a bad knee, did you take up his food to him?-Yes. I suppose you sat on the bed while he had his meals?—Yes. I And it was in that room that the impro- pricty took place?—Ye.?. Mr. Shee then asked respondent if she had not said before that she had been seduced when she was fifteen, to which respondent indignantly replied, "Nft never!" Didn't you say to him that if he gave you means to go away with while the child was born you would never trouble him any more ?—No. The Amazing Marriage. I With regard to the marriage, she said I that they met at the registry, got married, and went off in different trams. As the girl spoke of the marriage in rather a matter-of-fact way, Mr. Shee asked, "Did you attach any particular importance to the marriage?''( to which respondent replied, "No." "What!" cried Mr. Shee. "I didn't think one way or the other about it," added the respondent calmly. Not although he was trying to make an honest woman of you?—I didn't mind it, though I didn't like the false'name. Were there any witnesses?—No, I wasn't particular. Then I can only suppose that it was the petitioner who attached importance to the marriage?—I think so. And he wanted the name as Trevor, a false name?—Yes, I knew it was wrong, but I let it be EO. "And he went off with the licence." Mr. Sbee was continuing, when there were shouts of "certificate!" from all parts of the conn. "Oh, well," said Mr. Shee, easily, "certificate if you like, I haven't been uirough the cere- mony myself." "Were you fond of him?" asked Mr. Shee curiously. Yes," replied respondent, "and I I think he was fond of me." "Coast Will Be Clear." I Respondent could not explain what she mean,t when in a letter to him after the ceremony asking him to conie to her parents' house, she wrote, "the coast will be clear for she had told her parents that she was married to him. She had never called herself his wife in any letter, nor had he called himself her husband. The petitioner at one time sent her £ 20, of which LID was in gold. Whether the rest was in notes or cheques she couldn't say, as she didn't know the difference between a note and a cheque. He had never sent her any money specifically for the child. She took about zCl2 to the school, where &he passed herself off as a. widow. "And it wasn't true?" asked Mr. Shee, keenly.—Certainly not. I' After the letters had been discussed again, the case was adjourned until to-morrow.

STRANGE ABDUCTION. CHARGE I At Ilcyland yesterday James dnd Mary Riding and Margaret Miller were summoned for abducting Agnes Wer,. aged fourteen years. The parties, it was alleged, were employed at the same works, and the girl complained to her fellow workpeople that she vae ill- treated by her stepmother. Mrs. Miller advised the girl to leave home I for Scotland, and she was given a sum of money which had been collected for her. The girl was afterwards taken to Preston Station, where a ticket was purchased for her and a porter told to put her in the proper train for Kilmarnock, where her sister was in 11 service. Agues, in her evidence, said (hat she wrote to her aster expressing a, wiph to go to Soot- land, and asking for money to pay her fare, j The Bench dismissed the case.

— "JTBVK.R QUIT CERTAINTY FOR IIOPB." When you buy ENGLAND'S GLORY MATCHED you have for a "certainty" the Best, most Iteliai>le, and Cheapest match you can ever hope" to get. Far superior to any foreign make. Made at England's Glory" Match Works, Gloucester. elOS3—2

ROLL-CALL AT LENS i ITHEVICTIMS NUMBLR-H 1,150. I 17 Rescuers Perish. LENS, Monday. According to an. official statement issued by the Courrieres Company the number of killed is 1,150. These figures are the result of a. complete roll-call. Up to the present only 90 bodies have been recovered. Later. The engineers now state that it will be a.t least forty-eight hours before any further operations can be carried on in the mine. The engineers find that the fire is still raging, and they fear that their measures for improving the ventilation, and thus reducing the stench will also have the effect of fanning the flames. It may, therefore, be necessary either to flood the mine or to wall up the burning galleries aDd abandon part of the mine com- pletely. At Shaft No. 4 thirty-nine bodies which still remain unidentified are laid out in the lamp- room, and there is a steady stream of weep- ing widows, relatives, and friends trying to identify them or to take a last farewell of unrecognisable comrades before the com- mon funeral to-morrow. The bodies that are identified are at once removed to the homes of the deceased. At Shaft No. 2 all of the thirty-two bodies recovered ha.ve been identified, as in that pa,rt of the mine the victims were all suffo- cated without being burnt. All the bodies from Shaft No. 10 have also been recognised. All the houses. to which bodies have been removed are marked by a black cross and a branch of boxwood tied with ribbon, and at each there is a constant pro- cession of friends passing before the coffin. Snow is falling heavily. Nine firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are on their way here with smoke helmets and special apparatus, which, it is hoped, will enable them to descend.—Reuter. The Material Damage. PARIS, Monday. M. Dehaynin, a well-known mining director, 111 a.n interview declared that modern im- provements, intended to minimise the risk of disaster, had made the preseait catastrophe more serious than it otherwise might have been. Formerly the pits were isolated, and if a, firedamp explosion took place the men had only two ways of escape. To-day the pits communicated with each other, in order to ensure better ventilation. The result of this was that the name had spread to three pits. The installation of the Courrieres Company (M. Dehaynin declared) was a modei one. The catastrophe, sentimentally and economically, was an appalling one, for practically the whole male population of the place had been wiped out. The victims, whose ages ranged from 18 to 40, were all natives of the district. How could they be re-placed? The men earned l,750f. a year, and the widows would have a. pension of 700f. The cost of repairing the works would amount to about 400,000f. The men worked about a million tons of coal per annum, and the disaster would maka gas coal scarcer. The loss to the company would be terrible. The English and Germans (1\L Dehaynin added) would benefit.—Central News. Seventeen Rescuers Perish. LILLE, Monday, 5.0 p.m. In Shaft No. 10 work is stopped. In Shaft No. 2 the ventilator is working, clearing thf air in the galleries of the obstructed pit. Pit No. 3 is likewise obstructed. It is impoa sible to clear them at present. Bodies wbioh have been brought up have been placed in the lamp-room. They are terribly disfigured, and it is very difficult to, recognise them. Some thirty have beea identified. Seventeen rescuers have perished. The miners estimate the total losses at about j 1,300 or 1,400. Twenty-five Westphalian miners passed through Lille at two o'clock this afternoon on their way to Courrieres with salvage apparatus.—Reuter. Hundreds of Coffins. PARIS, Monday. The sensation caused by the terrible Cour- rieres disaster has not yet subsided. Public- subscriptions are being opened everywhere to assist the widows and orphans. Yesterday the work wa.s commenced of placing the bodies of the victims in coffins. A special train brought several hundreds of coffins to the scene yesterday afternoon. The coffins were of white wood with a black cross on each. The mournful sight was met with a cry of horror from the crowd. The coffins were quickly taken out of the train by the soldiers and carried into the shops and housee, which had been turned into improvised mortuaries. When the watching crowds saw the piled-up heap of coffins containing the bodies of the unknown dead the grief of those who had losi- near relatives, and had been deprived of the mournful satisfaction of a last look at thq remains of husband, father, or son, wae ter- rible to witness.—Central News. A Son's Devotion. A son's devotion was in one case the means of rescuing his father's body. This lad had escaped by a ladder, and when he found his father had not been equally successful he again went down twice with rescue-parties, and each time they had to return half asphyxiated. The miners after these expe- riences commenced to hang back, as they thought it hopeless. The lad, however, threatened to go down by himself if no one else volunteered. Two others eventually accompanied him, and the dea4 hpdy of th? lad's father was found and brought to tho top. Nine others owed their lives to this brave lad and his friends. GERMANY SENDS HELP. More obdies Recovered. Paris, Tuesday.—The special correspondent- of the Echo" at Lens telegraphs that a* detachment of the salvage corps attached to the staff of the Hibernia Mines of Gelsen- kirchen, in Westphalia, unexpectedly arrive-3 yesterday at the scene of the terrible Courrieres catastrophe, their presence, it is said, being due to the wish of the Kaiser himself. The brigade was equipped with a special respiratory apparatus on a system unknown in France, and was under the supervision of Herr Mayer, a director of the Hibernia Mine. The rescuers made their first attempt at five o'clock yesterday even- ing, when they descended the wrecked second pit. The watchers were deeply moved as their German visitors commenced their perilous progress. The attempt was crowned with unhoped for success, for towards mid- night about a hundred bodies were brought to the pit bank. These were badly decom- posed, and were immediately placed 'n coffins. The interment of the bodies of the victims first to bo recovered will take place at eleven o'clock this morning.-Celltral News. Paris, Tuesday.—The German search, party worked splendidly during the morning, when they recovered 32 more bodies from the mine —Central News. Sympathy from South Wales. At a..resumed conference of the South. Wales Miners' Federation held at Cardiff to- day, Mr. T. Richards, M.P. (secretary), read the following resolution which, had been forwarded to M. Basly, miners' agent and deputy-mayor of Lens, who is also ? Parliamentary deputy for the district:— Please convey to sorrowing relatives of our brethren smitten in your terribl* calamity our heartfelt sympathy, as wel-; ias our sincere admiration of the supert heroism of our fellow workmen in tbe rescue work. This is the expression of out annual conference representing over 100,004 Welsh Miners.—Mabon (president), Richards (secr-etairy). Last nig-ht Mr. Richards received an acknowledgment in tibe following terms:- Deeply moved by your address of sym- pathy. Thank yon in the naaae of the mining population. OuT heart is bleeding before the appalling disaster .-Basly. Newport Vote of Sympathy. At Newport Town Council to-day, on tha motion of the mayor, seconded by Alderm-air Goldsworthy, a. vote of sympathy with the sufferers in the mine d'safrter in France w.Li passed.

ONE WHO KNOWS. JAMW SWIFT, Atterellffe, Shefficld, fays:—" Tin first dose gavo me preat relief. I can confidently say that, one box of these Pills has done me mme good than all the medicine I have taken." Sufferers from C ravel, Lumbago, Paina in 1.h« Back, Dropsy, Dia5e!-t of the Kidneys, Sciatica, Rheûœa.tim, and Gout wiil find a positive ct,ro in Holdroyd's Gravel Pills. Try Small Box. If not «atis5ai, money returned, Is. lid., all Chemists. Poet free, twelve stamp s—HOLD ROY D' S MEDTPat* ,wa." mwrtBhaafron, el:ia