Evening Express

The Man in the Street! —*— The death of Lord Granville Gordon, brother of the Marquess of Huntly, recalls the divorce case in which that gentleman was the co-respondent. In November, 1901, Mr. C. F. Gordon obtained a decree nisi, and upon the decree being made absolute in the fol- lowing year Mrs. Margaret Gurdon (for- merly Mrs. Close) became Lady Gran- ville Gordon. The custody cf the then four-year-old child, Cicely Margot, was given to the petitioner, but the respon- dent (Lady Margaret) failed to obey the order, and in a subsequent action, when the original order was upheld, the child was spirited away, and sailed from Tilbury to Dun- kirk dressed in a boy's sailor clothes. This young lady will now benefit by the will of Lord Granville, left estate valued at about £6,000. "Thè Gay! Go1"dons," head of the famous Scot- tish clan, are notoriously of a aborting disposition, and it is said#of many of them that they are the handsomest men in the kingdom. Certainly, the abduc- tion of Cicely Margot Gordon in the! face of an English High Court's order was in accordance with the family tradi- tions. Though some misguided sportsman 'claims to have "potted" a luminous owl, the discussion still rages round the pair of harmless barndoor birds discovered by a disciple of Mr. Algernon Ashtou. The discoverer's latest effusion is to point out the impracticability of the idea of a practical joker having caught and smothered the mouse-catchers with phosphorescesnt paint. No one apart from the gentlemen who .see all kinds of creeping and flying things, fromj beetles to rhinoceroses, unwitnessed by others nearly, every day of their lives would think of such an explanation. Possibly the suggestion came from a practical joker who habitually dabbles in the find- ing of mares' nests. These "bicycle lights" are no mystery at all. Every naturalist, pretending to the slightest elementary knowledge is aware tnat phosphorescent light is given out by the lumino-us bacteria that infest nearly all animal matter in a state of decomposi- tion. In decomposed fish the light given out is often wonderfully great. The miracle is probably explained by the birds being of dirty habits, and "that from their filthy holes, filled with the decomposing remains of all the non- heads and dead ends brought home, they carry much of the unclean stuff on their ill-kept feathers. It is to be hoped these unfortunate ow ls will now be allowed to rest in peace. But what dares the golfer if one of the poor, starved, luminous owls has been shot? To him the summer of glorious con- tent has changed to bitter, biting winter. The pretty white ball he has followed so blithely over bunker and dyke, from green to green, to hole out lovingly and start afresh from the tee with a joyful swing of the club, and over the hills and back again-thát precious, blessed little sphere has gone up like bread and barley, and in future the mighty srniter of earth will be haunted by the ever present know- ledge that each ball he sends whistling through the air represents a new tax of threepence. What is the price of coal 111 comparison, or rent, or rates? From Saturday next the manufacturers will only allow threepence for each returned ball instead of sixpence, which will mean that the golfer who sends hack used balls will have to pay a guinea where he paid 18s. for a dozen new balls. Think of it, ye drinkers of effervescing ruby Bass, daintily pale Allsopp, and bubbling known Guinness, if your brewer suddenly decided to redu the return of a penny per returned bottle to a half- penny! Think, and weep, and sym- pathise with the troubles of the perse- cuted golfer! This great disappointment cuts more keenly and wounds more deeply because it was only the other day that the infallible House of Lords decided that there was no patent in the rubber- cored golf ball. It was naturally anti- cipated by all who ctmld beg, borrow, buy, or steal a bundle of clubs that com- petition would make the article cheaper. Alas, how vain are human hopes! Those good golfers who increased their expendi- ture in other directions on*the strength of this decision must now pull up in their extravagant run to ruin. It must now be ffolf (and balls) or sackcloth and ashes! It is possible that some players will be able to "take the change" out of their caddies, like the saving wiclow who falls back on her well-filled stocking when mis- fortune knocks at the door. But it is hopeless for the majority to think of tackling the imp of the weird eye and the possessor of the clouble-edged tongue which cuts to the quick. It is equally useless for any golfer to think of reduc- ing the number of hours that he devotes to the game. Golfing is like ac mighty thirst, and the mofe one has of it the more one desires. Find the man who can cure a single golfer, and you have dis- covered the mighty genius who will be worth his weight in gold to General Booth or anyone else eager to turn all drunkards into sober people. The only way out of the trouble is to reduce one's consumption of champagne, order a cheaper brand of port for onte's friends, and if British-grown cab bage cigars prove repulsive keep one's case of Havanas in an-inside pocket when tempted to bring them out for chums, who will, of course. understand and appreciate the abyss into which the golfer has been thrown. The people of Newport and Cardiff woke with different sensations this morning—the former to a reasonabl e I expectation of lower rates in the near future, and the latter to a well-founded anticipation of an expenditure of £100,000 on re-laying the tramways tracks. While congratulating Newport, with a spice of envy, it must be con- fessed, the only consolation Cardiffians have is the knowledge that the evil was bound to oome. Though the chances of serious accident in Cardiff are rendered remote because of the flatness of the place, with scarcely a hill down which a runaway car can race to destruction, it is not nice to think of what might happen to an overloaded car at a sharp curve. A reckless turn or speed by a careless driver round a corner on one of the worst patches, and we might be bemoaning a terrible accident. It is high time the Tramways Committee took the matter in hand. Transfer tickets and other troubles are very nice things for children to play with, but Car- diffians want their business men to turn serious attention to their work. It may mean a huge expenditure, but the public safety must be considered above all things.

Barry Burglars Busy TWO MEN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION During the past month burglaries have been so frequent at Barry that the inhabi- tants have been afraid to leave their houses for any length of time. Early this morning Police-constable Lenane arrcct-ed two men on suspicion. The plate-glass window of the shop occu- pied by Messrs. Llewellyn and Bell, outfitters, Thompson-street, Barry Dock, was smashed during the nig-ht, and a large quantity of wearing apparel carried away. One of the arrested men. William Bom^ord, a seaman, of no -.axed abode, was wearing three pairs of troupers, three einglets, a cap, and a pair of gloves, all of which are stated to be part of the stolen property. The remainder was discovered stored in the yard of a boarding-houee ia Travis-street. Bomford and the other man, John M'Allis- ter, also a seaman, were brought before Mr. J. Lowden and remanded in custody until to- morrow.

AN INTERESTING EVENT. I Much interes jt is evoked in Roman Catholic society in England by the forthcoming mar- riage between Captain Charles Jerome Vaughan (eldest son and heir of Colonel Vaughan, of Ccurtfidd) ad Miss Florence Li-stor-N,iyr- daughter of Mr. and Lady Eeat rice Lirtar-Kayc and granddaughter of the sixth Duke of Newcastle. Captain Va^ghan, who is a, nephew of the late Cardinal Vaughan and one of the private chamberlains to the Pope, was formerly in the 7th Dragoon Guards, and served with distinction in the late South African War, where he was severely wounded. The bride is the youngest sister of Lady Oxmantowa. Court field, the Herefordshire seat cf the ancient family of Vaughan, is historically celebrated as the nursery Off Henry V. The house stands on t'ae banks of the Wye, not far from the ruins of Goodrich Castle, and commands fine .views. Captain Va-ug ban's two brotheroare both, like his uncles, eccle- siastics.

"CONTINUALLY MESMERISED" A woman carrying a ba«>y in her arma and leading a small child by the hand applied to the Kingston Bench yesterday for a separation from her husband, and one of the grounds of her application was that she was "metraierised" in her own house. She assured the bench tha-t this had been going: on for three years, and that she had been to the police-station about it on seventeen different occasions. The Mayor tried to get a more tangible reason for a separation from the woman, but without success, and at last he told her that the bench could not assist her. She then railed at the bench in a loud voice, declaring that she was being continually mesmerised.

NOT QUITE SO SIMPLE Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton was sum- moned Sit Greenwich yesterday for having driven a motor-car at a speed of 271 miles an hour at Loa-mipit Vale. Polioc-constble Woolmer said that when he was stopped the defendant said, "I am a member of the Metropolitan Polioc myself. I have simply to write to Sir Edward Henry, the Commis- sioner, and I will got out of it. A similar thing happened to me the otheT day." (Laugh- ter.) The defendant did not appear, but sent his licence, from whicji it appeared that he had been convicted In 150b of driving to the common danger. Fined £10 and jE2 2s. costs.

ANARCHISTS IN LONDON A list has been compiled of the members of the chief revolutionary clubs and societies, whioh Slhows that there are at present 5,800 professed Anarchists in London. The large majority of them belong to one or other of ten clubs in the AIetre?x>lis. They are 94eierally foreigrwts-c-hiefly Bassiaiis, Poles, and Ita,lians-and they are for the most part harmless dreamers. The club used by the few da.ngerous Anarchists 18 a secret from all bu.t the police. It is at this "Secret Club," known only to the elect—the headquarters of which is con- stantly o b.Ln-giiig-that the sensational plots to assassinate monarchs are hatched.

BOY BURGLARS I Five lads, named Frank Woolley, Herbert Edge, Alfred Henshaw, Arthur Williams, and Archibald Mifflin, aged fifteen and sixteen yearn, and all belonging to respectable homes, pleaded guilty at Hewcasstle-under- Lyme yesterday to breaking and entering a warehouse and a bakehouse and committing a series of robberies extending over a month. In answer to the Mayor, Henshaw said they had become assooia.ted it.h each other at the Sunday j school. Mifflin and Williams were boiind over, and Woolley, Edge, and Henshaw were placed under probation.

BISHOP'S BURGL RS I Burglars have paid a visit to Fulham Palace, the Bishop of London's residence. On Tuesday morning the caretaker found a window on the left wing abutting on the lawn open, and some eighteen or twenty (of the 60 rooms of the Palace disturbed. However, nothing had been stolen, though drawers, and wardrobes had been everywhere subjected to careful inspection. Xll valuables were under look and key, the bisihop being in residence at London House, whilst the historically interesting pictures which adorn the walls of the bishop's library and other rooms were not touched.

GRAVEDIGGER ROBS CORPSES A gruesome *dW,-overy lias been made at P,, c* n, in Transylvania. A gravedigger, named Saechsisch, was surprised in the cemetery at night opening two coffins, which had been buried the same day, andjitripping the bodies of their olothes and rings. It appears that the nian Saechsisch has for many years systematically robbed the corps RhortJy after their burial, for in his house two wardrobes filled with clothes of dead villagers, rings, and other valuables in great number have been found. It is remarkable that a similar case came to light a short kime ago in the village of Neundorf, in Bohemia.

DROWNED WHILE HUNTING At a meeting of the Tipperary Hounds near Cashel yesterday, William Tierney, a whipper- in, 10. his life while swimming his horse over a river. Tierney plunged in where the hounds had crossed and reached the opposite bank, but his horse was unable to get a foot- hold, and being carried back into the our- rent, turned over on Tierney. No trace of Tierney's body could be found.

BROADWAY TO BE ASPHALTED The Cardiff Public Works Committee decided to-day to recommend that the carriage-way in Broadway should be asp,halted and the footways re-laid between Clifton-street and Cyril-crescent, at a cost of £ 1,225. The committee were informed that the cost of maintaining asphalt is nil.

IRVING'S YOUTH v From his childhood up, Henry Irving was lcnely. His chief companions in youth were the Bible and Shakspeare. He used to study "Hamlet" in the Cornlah fields, when he wae sent out by his aunt, Miss Penberthy, to call in the oows.-Ellen Terry in McClure." -.11

ROMANCE OF WELSH MINING LIFE Prominent Personalities of the Pit BY THOMAS RICHARDS, M.P. (Secretary of the Welsh Miners' Federation.) 2.-Risca's ThreeGeorges —and Others. Unlike the Georges of England, the Risca Georges reigned simultaneously in different capacities—managing director, colliery manager, and cashier. Colonel George Wilkinson, the manag- ing director, was invariably referred to by the workmen and their representa- tives as the "Governor," with a some- thing in the inflection and tone of the voice when the "Governor" was men- tioned (even during a discussion at a miners' meeting when some matter in dispute wi)ih the management was under consideration) that at once gave an indi- cation of expectancy and confidence that, when the • Governor" had the matter properly placed before him from the official and workmen's standpoints, the ditierences would be satisfactorily! arranged upon a fair and equitable basis, For a long series of years the "Governor" was not only respected by his workmen, but there also existed between them a boifd of good feeling and comradeship that in itself was a factor in the direction of securing peace- ful operations at the collieries. Possibly, residence near the colliery village, his cheerful participation in their social festivities, and the exercise; of a sympathetic feeling and ready assistance in their distresses had much to do with the respect paid him as 'Governor" of these important works. He was also colonel of the Risca Volunteer Corps, which was largely composed of workmen employed at the collieries, and many all interesting episode is Ald of his dealings wTCh the olunteers at home and in camp. There is an old legend concerning sn ancient resident of Kisoa which is told in a variety of forms. One rendering of it says that the old man promised his boy, who was charmed with the monotone song of the cuckoo, that he would secure one for him, and to that end raised :he garden wall much higher than was neces- sary for/ordinary purposes. We are not told how the bird was enticed, within this enclosure, but it is said that when the boy ika's taken to see the coveted prize the ungrateful cuckoo took wing, going just over the top of the hedge and away to Twm Barlwm. The youngster is alleged to have exclaimed, "One clod higher, father; and we'd have had un. From the time of this failure to mono- polise the song of the cuckoo until the present day to cry "Cuckoo" within the hearing of a Risca inhabitant is supposed to have a similar effect as referring to j green cheese and the moon with le§s than four feet between you and a Devonshire man, or the proverbial process of show- ing a red rag to a bull. This was illustrated upon an occasion of a visit of the Risoa Volunteers to Newport for church parade purposes. The marched proudly through the t streets of Newport with head erect and feot swinging to the strains of thelxIDd in "The Soldiers cf the King," which seemed to say to the ii-ei,ortoiliani;, who lined the pavements in crowds:— You can all go home withi feelings of perfect security while we are here. Who will dare attack yo-or town or' harbooir, when it iB known that the "Governor" and his men are here to defend them? This ifl the kind of com<binatipn t-hat was lac king in the times when you were viMtod by the Chartists. If you had given us a, share in th3 government of the country, more consideration for the ambitions of the country, we should be prepared to defend our country, and not have to resort to arras to let yvra know it wae "men" that descended the mines, that were roasted before the furnaces, to send down from the billi; to the eihipe the coal, iron, and steel that your tOWll depended upon for existence. It was "men" amd not machines that did all this and But while these thoughts were chasing each other through the minds of the Volunteers, a street loafer, in whose mind there was no rc-oeptacle for actual his- torical reminisosTices, had found room among the cobwebs and dirt to store up the old legend, and, with a squeaky voice, shouted, "Cuckoo." I'll Give Him Cuckoc-" In an instant a rifle was pushed into the hands of the Colonel, with the exclamation, "Hold this bally gas pipe, 'Governor,' and I'll give him ouckoo." For the next few minutes the Colonel was busy enforcing the discipline that, fortunately, saved the Newport loafer fwm contact with a Risca stalwart— contact that for aU time would have given him cause to regret that such a bird as the cuckoo ever existed. The "Governor" has departed, and of the very many of the old order of chiefs of the mining industry who are no longer concerned with its ever-varying periods of peace and perplexities, prosperity i and depression, no one is remembered with kindlier feelings than Colonel George W. Wilkinson. The "second in command," the active manager of the collieries during this period, but has siuea resigned, is Mr. George Broackes, who shared with the I "Governor" the confidence and respect o? the,workmen, and, like him, was oft-timeal referred to not as manager or Mr. Broackes, but '-Father George." Given a due sense of consideration for the workmen in his employment, a readi- ness to consider and to try to adjust fairly their complaints after a failure at the collieries, an occasional blind side turned to small excesses, a word of com- mendation in season will ensure to a managing director of any "concern, employing large bodies of workmen a position of honour- that can easily, command loyal and faithful services. But ? similar position to be secured by the active manager of a colliery is not so easily obtained. He is in daily contact, not only with the good work-, men, but with the inferior one as well. The exigencies of work at the colliery: oftentimes make him liable to be mis-; judged and more often misunderstood, | so that something more even than good i intentions are required t't enable a colliery manager to win the confidence of his workmen, and to convince them that his capabilities and devotion are such''as to secure the maximum of safety, and in the matter of wages the best that is! possible. That Mr. Broackes had won this con- tidence does not imply that during his long services he was immune from the usual unavoidable differences that take place between the colliery officials and the workmen—differences that are some- times very much exaggerated by the publis and the press, and very often, possibly unconsciously, considerably aggravated by those not immediately I concerned. Blame for Stoppages u. When a stoppage of a colliery takes place the public and press are generally found divided in their attachment of blame. One party will call the officials tryants, while the other quite. as strongly will denounce what they describe as the unreasonable attitude taken up'by the workmen. No doubt, there have been disputes at collieries some of which justify the con- clusions of the first, and others., deserve the castigation of the second party; but it is equally true that very many disputes have taken place in which no real blame could be attached to either officials or workmen. The varying conditions under which oolliery work has to be performed render it impossible to secure immunity from disagreements as to the methods of work- ing, payments, etc., between colliery officials and the workmen. Having retired from colliery work, Mr. George Broackes is still resident in the district; and,, if we are to judga the frequency with which he is found in jovial conversation with his many friends among the workmen and their leaders, nothing affords him more real enjoy- ment than the re-telling of the numerous experiences of his colliery manager days —incidents that are recalled with a glistening of the eye that bespeaks either their pathetic or tragic nature, or, possibly, the remembrance of bonds of friendships long since severed. Humo- rous situations are revived, and the various battles with the miners' agents fought over again in the same good humour as* prevailed upon an occasion when there waited uppn him in his office three representatives of the workmen of varied stature, volubility, and discre- tion, who were thus greeted by him: "What! Am I expected to deal with the whole three of you—mouth, matter, and wisdom?" I refrain from giving the names of these representatives awaiting the decision of their colleagues upon the Federation Council, who have several times discussed the proper allotment of these euphonious titles among them. It is hoped that George the Second will live until this puzzle of his has been I satisfactorily solved, and that for many years he will have, among other plea- sures, the happy reminiscence of a respected career as colliery manager. The third of the George is, happily, still in office as colliery cashier—a posi- tion which in itself would not bring the occupier into such close intimacy with the workmen as those officials more j-ftctivelv engaged in the direct manage- ment of the collieries. Who is John Burns P But his untiring exertions in connec- tion with all the public bodies and movements in the district has made the name of Councillor George Nurse ser well- known in the county that I imagine that, if the opportunity presented itself, a boy would be found who would give a similar reply to that given to a question put by Cochfarf to a' Battersea fad. This lad was soliciting subscrip- tions in the streets of Battersea on behalf of the John Buriis election fund. He accosted Cochfarf, who before sub- scr i bin g the u gh t he wo uld test t he yo u n g- ster's knowledge of the use to which the money was to be put. Cochfarf asked, "Who is John Burns?" and the lad with a look of surprise and aston- ishment at such appalling ignorance for- got all about his mission, held up his hands as if horrified, and ran off, exclaiming, Good gracious don't know John Burns." I h"ave no doubt that a similar ques- tion at Risca respecting Councillor George Nurse would be met with equal astonishment, though the iorm of the reply would probably be, Good gracious! Don't know Uncle George." The letters U.R.A. upon the packages of stores supplied to the Commissariat Department of the Army during the Civil War in America gave to Abraham Lincoln (and is still used of representa- tive America) the sobriquet, U ncle Sam." It is very probable that the stores that so frequently find their way from the house of the councillor to the homes of the empty cupboards and the abodes of the sick and suffering in the locality are partially responsible for the U ncle George." Always full of sparkling energy, ready to tell a good tale, do a good turn, hold a good argument, or play upon you a good practical joke, he is no believer in the old, old adage about "being seen and not heard," but is evidently seen and not hea? strongly of the opinion that man having legs is expected to walk with them, and that it naturally follows as the night the day that his tongue has been provided to enable him to give his friends the benefit of speech. Mabon's Story Mabon is fond of telling a story of an old Rliondcla collier who had to carve for his four sons on Cfiristmas Day a large duck, and was very much con- cerned as to lio,.i, jie-was to'supply each one with the portion for which he expressed a preference. The whQle four of them desiring a leg, the old man gave it up with the protest: — "Boys, what do you think I have here —a spider?" If what I am told of Uncle George's ingenuity is correct, he would have had no difficulty in adding a couple of legs to the duck, and so providing 83fh of the boys with his oovett-d joint. As secretary of the local agency of the Miners' Permanent Provident Society he invited to dinner once a year the committee and other leading mem- bers of the 'society employed at the col- lieries. At one of these gatherings a goose formed part of the menu, which Uncle George undertook to carve. A preference for goose became so general with the guests that an ordinary carver would have been compelled to cry, "Goose is off." No so with Uncle George, who is not a¥ ordinary carver. Small pieces of beef, surreptitiously taken from another dish, and thor- oughly mixed with the seasoning, gave what appeared to be an unlimited supply of goose, and after one of the check- weighers who had been hitherto satisfied with beef had under much pressure been prevailed upon to try a little of the bird the carver laid aside the cutlery while there still remained not "twelve basketfuls," perhaps, but, considering the number who had been regaled, a very considerable quantity of goose. I thjnk it was Thackeray who wrote of the Georges of England — George the First was reckoned vile, Viler George the Second; And what person ever heard Any good of George the Third? If I attempted to described the sign of the Geores at Risca in a "talcen slip," I would say:- George the first has died beloved, And honoured still the sccond; Many people here have heard Lota of good of George the third. The old order changes, giving place to the new, of which we hope to say something before this series is closed. Long Service It is gratifying to hear that during the last decade all concerned at these collieries are to be congratulated upon their immunity from fatal accidents. I am informed that there has been but one fatal accident during the last eleven years. Long service in every phase of (?.?310nyg.ellt seems to be a very pleasing feature of the Risca collieries. The colliery weigher, W. Thomas, having lost a leg in another branch of world there, has for nearly 40 years been engaged at the weighing machine, and what he does not know about the ramifications of the concern is not worth going after. If you peep through the window of the dingy structure called the machine house you will see his face beaming like Falstaff's when in a good humour, but he is not alone. Your eyes wander to another of the kind Shakspeare has described as the species that think too much—lean, spare, and of comely coun- tenance. He is not called, as is usual with men of his calling,- "Jack the Check," nor is the prefix "Mr." used in connection with him. He is simply "Woodward," who has enjoyed the con- fidence of the workmen %s checkweigher for a quarter of a century. It is almost impossible to imagine the Risca workmen without their guide, philosopher, and friend Woodward. The Winstones may come, the Hart- shorns may go, but Woodward goes on for ever, always to the fore whenever any work has to be done, enjoying the confidence of the workmen, the respect of the management, and the suffrages of the inhabitants. Woodward has recently received the patronage of the Lord-lieutenant of the County (Lord Tredegar), who has added him to the Commission of the Peace for Mon- mouthshire, and Woodward wilL be known henceforth as the J.P. THOMAS RICHARDS. [Mr. Richards's third article, which deals with the Ebbw Vale district, will appear in the "Evening Express" Aoxt .J I

"An Ungrateful Rascal" ABERGAVENNY MAN SENTENCED AT GLOUCESTER Edgar Price, clothiers' assistant, hailing from Abergavenny, waa sentenced to six months' hard labour at Gloucester on Wed. nesday for stealing about Y,31, the moneys of William. James Hodges, hairdresser, now of Frogmore-TStre&t, Abergavenny, and lately of Gloucester. Prosecutor last summer carried on a hairdresser's business in Gloucester, and met p-rieaner one evening. Finding him out of work, prosecutor took him to his home, and let him stay with him, as he had known him as a boy at Abergavenny. At a later date witness missed the sum mentioned. which he had put away for safety in a drawer. Prisoner disappeared, and when arrested said that he went to London, and the Welsh Aid Society paid his fare back to Pen ty pool. The Chairman of the Bench said that prisoner was an ungrateful rascal.

JOCKEY AND BONESETTER The ques-tion whether a witness should or should not be allowed to bring hie own Test.ament to court to be sworn on instead of using the much-kissed court voluxno arose in an appeal which came before Mr. Justice Phillimore and Mr. Justice Waltou yesterday. The appellant was Mr. Rabey, a bone- setter, of Highbury-grove, who in the oounty- court had been non-suited in an action for 172 against Arthur Birch, the jockey. Birch met with an accident at Gatwick in December, 1906, a subscription of £1,800 was raised for him, and on the recommendation of a Major Christopher he went to plaintiff's home and remained for te^i weeks, leaving j over a dispute as to whether he should be allowed stout. The question was who was liable for Sabey-« account. At the trial Dr. Day, who attended Birch, had produced a Testament of his own, and refused to be sworn on that supplied by the court. The judge "wouM not allow him to be sworn on his own book, and his evidence was disallowed Mr. Justice Phillimore said a new trial could not be ordered just because the judge refused to allow a witness to be sworn on his own Testament. The ajvpeal was dismissed.

BRIDE AS CONSCRIPT Mile. Leys,- a handsome young brunette, of Dunkirk, recently became engaged, but when her parents nppjied to the registrar of births for the nccereary copy of their daughter's h-irt.ll certificate to lodge it in view of her marriage, they discovered that by a mistake the girl was registered as a boy, and that her name was down on the lists of conscripts to be called up for military service this year. The mistake had arisen owing to the parents hff.'ing called their daughter Arsene, a name of a rather mascu- line turn. As in the eyes of the law the girl is a man, the Mayor of Dunkirk has refused to publish the banns. Mile. Leys has, therefore, been obliged to petition a court to have the mis- take rectified, which will take about six months. Meanwhile (say3 the "Daily Mail" Paris correspondent) the military authori- ties have notified her, as "Arsene Leys," that she will be called up for military ser- vice very shortly.

MYSTERIOUS POISONING Herbert Richard Robinson, 35, a police-con- stable, was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hos- pital on January 14 complaining of violent abdominal pains, and after an immediate surgical operation he died. Opening an inquest yesterday Dr. F. J. Waldo, the City coroner, said he thought it necessary to hold an inquiry owing to a suggestion of poison- ing. Mr. Musgrave Woodman, house surgeon at St. Bartholomew's, stated that, not being satisfied as to the cause of death, he had a post-mortem examination made. This led him to the conclusion that death was not due to natural causes. The Coroner: How might it have been pro- duced? Mr. Woodman: By food poisoning, or some other kind of poisoning—arsenic or mercury. The inquiry was adjourned.

"WHISKY IN BABY'S COT" I A charge of parental neglect was heard at Aberavon to-day, the defendant being Ebenezer Richards. It was stated that the defendant and his family had been ejected from 4, Gwyn-ter- race, where they had lived. The children were ill-clad and emaciated. When spoken to by Inspector Best, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the defendant accused his wife of drinking, and said that he (the defendant) had found whisky secreted in the baby's cot. When called to give evidence Dr. Arnallt Jones remarked: "If you will provide a clean Bible I will kiss it, but not this one." The doctor then took the oath in the Scotch man- ner, and deposed that the children were pale, wasted, and grossly underfed. One suffered from measles, and the whole surroundings of the home were squalid. The case was adjourned for a month.

LODGER ROBS LODGER 4 At Cardiff to-day George Olsen (21), a Nor- wegian sea man, was charged with stealing a quantity of underclothing, value il, the property of Robert Hyde, a seaman, from a bedroom at 11, Evelyn-street Prosecutor said prisoner and himself occu- pied the same bedroom. He last saw the c-lothee on the window sill on Sunday night, and on the following morning Olsen got up and dressed between five and six o'clock, with the object, as alleged, of joining a ship. PoJice-conetable George Giles arrested pri- soner, who was wearing one of the shirts, and he had also in his possession a pawn- ticket relating to the other articles, which he had pledged. Tho Magistrates passed sentenoo of one month with hard labour.

IN THE EVENT OF WAR The relations between the United States and Japanese Governments have excited the close attentioti of. the South and Centrad American Republics, whose sympathy is entirely with Amerioa. Yesterday t,he Bra- zilian Foreign Minister, during the course of an unofficial, conversation, stated that hie Government was willing to sell to the United States, in the event of war breaking out, the three battleships of the Dreadnought type which are now being constructed in British yards for Brazil.

A LOVE MATCH J Count Szech-enyi, the prospective,. husband of Miss Gladys Vanderbilt, in order to demon- strate to the critics of the marriage that he is not a money hunter, yesterday issued through his lawyers a statement to the effect that there will be no money settle- ment in favour of the husband in this case. The fortune of Miss Gladys Vanderbilt is to oontinue in her independent control, and both of the parties to the marriage desire it rto be known that it is a love match pure and simple.

PEACE IN DOWNING-STREET A Ca.binet Council was hold at 10, Downing- stroct, this morning at eleven o'clock, the Prime Minister presiding. There was no dis- turbance, the suffragettes not appearing at all. The fuinisters were only able to sit till half-past twelve, because the Prime Minister and Mr. M'Kenna were receiving a deputa- tion. Their deliberatione will be resumed to-morrow.

THE COTTON CRISIS This afternoon a special meeting of the Cotton Employers' Federation will be held in Manchester to consider a letter received from the Cardroom Workers' Amalgamation. 0 cial negotiations between the two parties have thus been resumed after a suspension of several week. If there is to be a settle- ment there is no time to waste, as the lock- out notices expire on Saturday next.

MOROCCO'S NEW "SULTAN" A Paris message states that Mulai Hafid has again commenced preying on his own countrymen. The newly-proclaimed Sultan of Morocco has given orders to the tribes that all caravans going to or coming from Mazagan and Gasa Blanca are to be pillaged. Only those going in the direction of Saffl are to be spared.

I CHANNEL SWIMMING I Mr. Jack Roes, a Llanelly swimmer, con- I templates attempting to swim the English Channel in Aupnst next.

Free Holidays for Ladies HOW TO COMBINE PLEASURE WITH MENTAL PROFIT The world outside one's own country is to most people more or less unknown. Modern education has done much to illumine the horizon. To read from books about nations other than one's own is good; to hear about them, and to converse with the natives, is better, but each of these methods of acquiring information has its limitations, because tha-t which is read is soon forgotten; that which is communicated by hearing is, perhaps, remembered longer, but not much; whilst that which is seen, and, so to speak, dra.inatised, before one's eyes, never eva-pora-tes from the memory even of the youngest. It is here that the Western Mail scheme for a. fortnight's free trip on the C-OTTtinent for six of its lady readere possesses immense educational value, apart from the purely p-leasurable facilities of a tour on the Continong." Already the educational authorities send promising students to France, Germany, or Spain to finish them off in the languages of those countries. So much for the scholastic side. Then, for those bent only upon pleasure, or the acquisition of pleasure as the handmaid of study, nothing cam equal a tour to the charming localities, so far away, yet so near under the provisions of the coupon scheme. The six lady nominees who receive trie most votes in the coupons which will appear daily until June 30 next will be entitled to the trips. Under the pre- scribed conditions a winner may be accom- panied by her husband or another lady, and what an opportunity for betrothed couples to spend their honeymoon at some para- disical spot. and to do it all for nothing.

I CARDIFF "BRECH" ACTION MISS M. M. HENN (Plaintiff in the breach action reported on Page 3). (""Evening Express" photo MR. R, IDRIS HOLLY (Defendant in the case).

TENBY MAKES HISTORY As an immediate consequence of the deci- sion in the Court of Appeal that a council ha-s a right to exclude all persons who are not members from its meetings, and to prevent the accredited representatives of a local newspaper from attending the meet- ings without the consent of the council, a Bill will be brought into the House of Commons in the coming session (says the Birmingham Daily Post") seeking to intro- duce in Great Britain the system adopted in Ireland by the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902. Clause 15 of that statute enacted that No resoLution of any council, board, or commissioners to exclude from its meet- ings representatives of the press shall be valid unless sanctioned by the Local Govern- ment Board, in pursuance of bye-laws which the Local Government Board are hereby empowered to frame regulating the admis- sion of the representatives of the press to Such meetings."

"THE OBJECTION IS FATAL I, To-day (before the Cardiff Stipendiary) Mr. I Lewis Morgan, acting for the defendant in a case under the Food and Drugs Act, took a technical objection before any evidence had been tendered, and, as a fact, no evidence was tendered. /he objection was that the summons was issued on January 2 a.nd made returnable for the 16th, thus not giving the fourteen clear days' notice required by the Act. Mr. F. W. Ensor (from tik town-clerk's office), who was present in Pfull state ot preparedness, sa.id he couldn't dispute it. His Worship: Mr. Ensor, the objection is fatal. The summons is dismissed. What is the reason for this?-It ha-s come as a surprise to me. The Stipendiary: Someone has been negli- gent, you know, a.nd it is a matter that should be inquired into. Mr. Ensor: That is so, sir. •

SUNDAY TRADING AGAIN I After a Sunday trader had been fined at Aberavon court to-day Inspector Edwards said that in consequence of some remark which Jiad been made at the last court the chief-constable had instructed him to stop the prosecutions unless something could be done to prevent all trading on Sunday. Mr. John Davies (a magistrate): Do you intend to stop the prosecutions?—Not at pre- sent. You will accept an expression from the bench?—Yes, certainly. Then it is the unanimous decision of the bench this morning that they should be con- tinued. The Inspector: I will give your decision to the chief-constable.

CARDIFF CRUELTY CASES Before the Cardiff stipendiary to-day, Robert Quanoe was summoned for causing a horse to be- worked in an jinfit condition. Samuel Moore was- summoned for a like offence, and Arthur Penman, a youth in his employ, was summoned for working the animal. Evidence was given by Inspector John Barrack, of the X.S.P.C.A., and Quanoe and Moore, who pleaded that they did not know the horses were so bad as described by the inspector, were fined 40s. and costs eaoh. The case against Penman was dismissed.

I PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE At a meeting of the Enfield Education Com- mittee yesterday, it was decided to permit lectures to be given at the schools on the evils of cigarette smoking. When the public business had been trans- acted and the meeting resolved itself into committee, the chairman suggested a cigarette, and other members followed suit.

i OANClN-RECKS A BRIDGE I It was explained at, the last meeting of Donegal County Council that a bridge which connects Cruit Island with the mainland collapsed while a number of young people had assembled on it for a danoe, many of them being thrown into the sea.

CLARKE'S BLOOD MIXTURE. ftIII BMxao DMCteiM irm ole-aw the blood bom aa isvpu rtUes tram wbtterer cau. arte Inc. A satb remedy tor Bczema, Bad L-egs. Blood Pais= ham of au -a& libtlg, Eruptions, Ulooza, OtoaAulai Swellings, oke. Of an stxrre*, tea. Forty yean' movem Pl- ai fcattcUDo.

I Decapitated ABERBARGOED MAN'S FATE. I Body Guarded by Dog As John Burton. a signalman on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, was walking from hia cabin at Aberbargoed to his home klSt even- ing, he was attracted by a growl to the body of a man, on which was faithfully crouching a type of greyhound. Burton attempted io get the animal off, but it proved too hostile, and he then went for Police-constable Doolan. On the arrival of the police-officer, it took four persons to drive the dcg off, and it was then found that its master, Thomas Green, a collier, aged 52, was de.1d. and frightfully mutilated. One arm waa cut off close to the shoulder, and the head was smashed. Tho deceased had evidently been knocked down. by a train. It is said that Green was walk- ing along the line from Gilfach, where he had been seeking work. The body was conveyed to 154, CommercaaJ- etreet. Aberbargoed, the home of deceased. "Bombay tile dog, is well-known among the rabbit-coursing fraternity

RICH ISLANDS GONE Sunk Beneath Atlantic A telegram from Mexico City to-day reports tha.t three guano islands off the ooast of Yucatan, one of the Statco of Mexico, have entirely disappeared beneath the waves during the past few days. The phenomenon is attributed to volcanio action. The islands contained very rich deposits, and the loss to the owners is estimated at many thousands of dollars There does not appear to have been anyone on the islands when they sank.

I LOWER RATES AT NEWPORT At a quarterly meeting of the Newport Ratepayers' Association on Wednesday (Mr. A. J. Stevens, J.P., presiding) the report of the executive committee showed that there ought to be a very considerable redaction of rates foil the year, as there were some items of considerable expenditure provided for last year which would not come into the present year's estimates. With reference to the suggested large erpenditure on the enlargement of Durham-road Schools, it was pointed out that there were at Barnardtown many more vacant places than the over- crowding of Durham-road, and it would only need the transfer of a.bout 200 children from one school to another in the same neighbour- hood to avoid the necessity for spending more capital for many years to come.

I"GROSS& CRUEL IMPOSITION" At Cardiff to-day Elizabeth Fanill, who has been living in Wellington-street, Canton, was summoned for disposing of clothing and other artioles, the property of Owen Jones, a seaman. The evidence was that whilst living in Patrick-street defendant detained Jones's effects, and on his recovering from an ill- ness he discovered that the woman had sold the things. His Worship remarked that this was a gross and cruel imposition upon a sick sea- man, and fined defendant flO and costs or two months and also he called upon her to I forfeit the value of the property improperly withheld, to the value of A 4s. 7d.

I HYDRO PROFITS I When the case in which Dr. Fergusson, the proprietor of a Malvern hydro, claims damages against the local district council in connection with the contamination of a,/ private water sup-ply and an outbreak of typhoid, was resumed in the Law Courts; yes- terday Mr. Justice Lawrance advised counsel to "keep the witness's heads to the fence." If the case is not ended in another week," the judge added, I shall have to go away." Alderman Leycester, a chartered accoun- tant, said the yearly receipts of the hydro between 1900 and 1905 averaged £ 6,370. In 1906-7 they dropped to £ 4,980. The net profit was about 25 per oent. of the receipts. The hearing was adjourned

I YOUNG GIRLS' FALL James Yeon* and Martha Venn or Pearson, were fined £ 5 each, or one month, at Cardiff tc-day for assisting in the management of a disorderly-house in Court-road. Constables Young and Welsher explained to the justices (Messrs. J. Morcom and T. Callaghan) that they had frequently seen girls of seventeen years of age, or less, going to the house with men, and on Wednesday night, when the police officers made the raid, they found three young girls and two men in different rooms. The Bench, in imposing the penalty, took into consideration the fact that the present was defendants' first appearance.

HOSPITAL MEAT SUPPLY A letter was read from the Cardiff But- chors' Association at the Cardiff Mental Hos- pital Committee to-day stating that they understood the committee were asking ten- ders for frozen and Colonial meat only to the mental hospital, and requesting for advice thereon. Mr. Brown, deputy town-clerk, stated that a letter had been written intimating that the committee had not yet dealt with the ques- tion of tenders for meat, and that it was not their intention to confine them to frown and Colonial meat only. The terms of the letter were approved of.,

CHILDREN ROBBED Kate Beed, seventeen, a factory hand, pleaded guilty at Clerkenwell Sessions yes- terday to robbing an infdnt of its boots, and was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. Mr. Huntly Jenkins, who prosecuted. said that Reed had been hanging round schools in the neighbourhood of Bromley, getting hold of children as they left and persuad- ing them to accompany her to a field close by, where she robbed them of their boots or pinafores. The children were those of poor people.

SILENCE REIGNED SUPREME Henry Burton was found, an uninvited guest, dining at a house in Isleworth. He said nothing when asked to explain his presence, he said nothing when arrested, and he said nothing when at the polioe station. Yesterday when he was sentenced to a month's hard labour at Brentford ho still said nothing, and the police remarked tht nothing was known against him.

HINT FOR HOUSEHOLDERS A firm of ooa.l merchants was ordered to pay 10s. 6d. at Marylebone County-court yes- terday to Mr. Arthur Lawrance, of Porto- bello-road, for supplying him with a poor quality of ooal. Mr. Lawrence stated that out of two tons of coal whioh he bought for two guineas more than a ton was dust. "We had to dig quite half an hour in the coal cellar," ho declared, before we found any coal."

DANCERS DROWNED Lieutenant Straube, of Strasburg, who became an officer only a fortnight ago, was drowned in t.he xjanal on Tuesday night, together wit.h the d+ughter of a municipal official. The lieutenant was escorting the lady home after a dance, and the pair took a short out across ice, which gave way beneath them.

"LEADER OF UNE PLOYED" Stanley Mitton, who was described as a loader of the unemployed," was sentenced to a month's hard labour at Highgate yes- terday for stealing bacon. It, was stated that he went from shop to shop asking for assistance, and occupied his spare time in organising meetings of the unemployed.

MISER STARVES TO DEATH A woman named Krause has died of star- vation at Frankemhausen. It was stated at the coroner's inquest that when her roon2 was searched £1.500 were found. She had no heirs, and the money, consequently, goes to the Pttblic Tre-,t,-ury.

SWANSEA TRADER ASHORE- The brigantine international, from Swan- sea to Guernsey, this morning stranded on a reef of rocks betwee Guernsey and Sark while approaching St. Peter Port. The crew were landed on the small adjai cent island of Herm. (