Evening Express

I The Man in the Street. 4 What tragedies might be written con- cerning the parlour or "best room And what comedies There are customs I stronger'than the laws of the Medes and the Persians—and this is one of th2::11'1 No habit is more of the solid cast-iron quality than that in which an eitire nation sets apart in every house an apart- ment which can only be used on state, holiday, and special occasions. Some un- conventional people really maklc good use of the best room. But they usually live in big houses, where plenty of servants are I employed, and they can retire to the paradise of upholstered plush and brass- nailed leather to follow the bent of their I pleasure after a good dinner, when, per- haps, the god Morpheus calls them to his arms to forget the world of parlours in a restful "forty winks" on the anti- macassared sofa. These fortunate pos- sessors of the earth are not worried with anticipations of henpecking at the conclu- sion of their evening's relaxation. They will not have to listen to endless disserta- tions en the evil effects produced by the close relation of muddy boots with the floral pattern adorning the couch. They are exceptions to the general rule. The majority of mortals would as soon think of jumping over the moon as of entering the best room on any other but a Sunday or a holiday. But the average family regard the par- lour as the holy of holies. Generally it is unlocked on Sunday morning, and the head of the family can sit down in the best armchair to read his paper, while the pinafored branches of the olive tree devote themselves to picture books and other amusements peculiar to the British Sabbath Under prosperous circum- stances, friends are- entertained to after- noon tea, which may be followed by the singing of hymns—enhanced mostly by accompanying music on the piano by the promising daughter of the house. The instrument is probably out of tune and suffering from the want of regular use— but during these pleasant Sunday even- ings at home much is suffered and for- given. Though doing little else than catering for tho pleasure of others, the mother and housewife is the happiest of them all, and her eyes light up with plea- surable pride when at last she allows her- self a few minutes to sit aside and note the different points of her well-kept room. Tho evil Monday, and the consequent straightening-up process, must follow with its hours of slavery—but it is all forgotten in the joy of possession. The room that has been locked up for six days renders its account of pleasure on the seventh, and the hour for locking it up again comes all too swiftly. However, in very many cases the best room is seldom or never used between Christmas and Christmas-and some times never. Many families are fortu- nate enough to possess a comfortable, cosy living room. Everything required is close at hand. The few friends that call are sufficiently at hdme to need no pressing invitation to ';come into the par- lour." These people do not need a front room-but it is of no use telling them so. Their mothers and grandmothers before them had best rooms, and so must they. I am far from writing in a carping spirit. I have a best room which I never enter. In it there are nice pictures and other things worth seeing. But I know that if I sat down in it for ever so short a time I should have to be constantly going out or sending for different articles that are within easy reach in the homelier apartment. Perhaps the worst feature of the best room is revealed in very small houses, where space is precious. Perhaps the family herds itself into a small, ill- ventilated kitchen-living room in order to preserve intact for special occasions the highly-prized parlour. In such cases the builder is to blame—he should, by providing one good apartment, make the best room an impossibility. Witii Henry VIII. filling the Lord Mayor's chair, the hundred footballers who are to storm Cardiff Castle at tne Pageant received their first lesson in the council chamber yesterday. It was neces- sary to have instructions of some kind, for it appears that the oval-kickers will have to engage in --a real set-to" with the defenders, and nobody must be hurt. It must have required all Mr. Hawtrey's ingenuity to explain how this can be done. The danger is that after an exhilarating run the footballers' blood will be firod. and tHey may be tempted to collar the besieged low down. high up, and round the middle, to throw their cap- tives into the Castle moat, if not into the deepest dungeon. This rush is to be no baby's affair, and athletes of proved stamina will be necessary to go hard for the full 200 yards, and then engage actively in a hand-to-hand battle. Another important part of the Pageant cootisidered yesterday was that in which 5(i9 fairies will appear. This will cer- tainly be one of the prettiest and most effective scenes presented, and it is not surprising to learn that there are only a few vacancies to be filled.

STRIKE RIOT IN PARIS. I PAIUS, Thursday. Following a meeting held by them at the St. Paul Riding School this afternoon, a crowd of some hundreds of navvies and masons who are on strike came into collision with the police in the Rue Buint Antoine. and an ugly ôtruggle ensued, lasting for about twenty minutes. Detachments of Rei)u?ai?.U., Guards and cuirassiers were hurried to the ecene of the conflict, and these charged the strikers, who were driven into various streets in the locality and ultimately dispersed. A considerable number of policemen and strikers were injured in the course of the conflict. This evening complete cahn prova"-Cen. tral News.

Every box of ENGLAND'S GLOBY MATCHES used I rnoana MORE WORK lor BriUsii wor.llpeo¡.l¡,Mol"" Uud. Gloucester. 062S 1

FROM ALL QUARTERS I An Admiralty wireless station. at Ipswich is approaching completion. General Sir John French inspected the First Life Guards at Windsor yesterday. Peace is a great thing to .obtaiii. and it is so easily procurable."—Judge WiHis. Battlements and findals cf the great hall of Hampton Court Palace are being restored. A Eomford resident has written to a local paper suggesting the formation of a league for the abolition of spring cleaning. An unknown woman was seized with illness in St. James's Park yesterday, and died while being ta.ken to Westminster Hospital. About 120 domestic sernLllts, who are going out to situations at an average wage of £ 30 a year, left Liverpool to-day for Winnipeg, Canada. Very few persons are capable of doing anyt.hing more than taking a subordinate part, in business, Judge Willis asserted at Southwark. Mr. Haldane has informed Sir S. Scott, M.P., that the Yeomanry are to be armed with the short rifle, and that orders have been given for its issue to them. The silver jubilee of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children will be celebrated next week by meetings and a ball at the Mansion House. Miss Ada Reeve leaves Southampton fo.r South Africa by The Kenilworth Castle on Saturday. She will play for nine weeks at the theatre in Johannesburg which she I opened three years ago. You can walk for eight miles from this village over land, now uncultivated, which j forty yeaors ago grew good wheat crops," stated a speaker at a Conservative meeting at Great Chishill, Essex. Mr. M'Kenna told a deputation yesterday I that the Government were not blind trx the necessity of having floating docks on the Ea,st Coast, and that the claims of New- castle would nGt be overlooked. Mr. Justice Parker held yesterday that the term "slip-on coat" may be used by any maker. It was first used by a novelist early in the nineteenth century to denote a cloak worn in the Highlands. Owing to there being no recognised ehim- ney sweep in the town, which has a. papula, tion cf 10,000, the Millom (South Cumberland) Council has decided not to prosecute a resi- dent who had his chimney on fire. The estimated population of New South Wales at the end cf March wa-i 1,614,517, as compared with 1,6G5,0C9 at the end of 1908. This (says a. Sydney telegram) is the largest increase for the March quarter for many years, except in 1907. I

SURVEYORS' CONFERENCE. II SURVEYORS' CONFERENCE. I MR. ARTHUR BODY. Who read a paper on Amendment of Patent Law and Procedure.

Industries Exhibition I OPENED BY MARCHIONESS -OF BUTE The Marchioness of Bute on Thursday after- ncon i).penoo a two-days' exhibition and sale of work, which is being held under the anspices of the Welsh Industries Association, at Hyde Park House, Albert-gate, the resi- rlence of Lady Naylor-Leyland. The Princess of Wales gave her personal patronage to the exhibition, at which there was a large and fashionable gathering. The Marchioness of Bute wore a handsome gown of heliotrope crepe de chine, with three rows of lovely pearls, and a plum-colourwl straw hat with white feathers, and was presented by Mise Dorothy Helme with an exquisite bouquet of pink roses. Among others present were Lord and Lady Aberdare, her ladyship wearing a grey satin caelimere dress, with a black toque; Lady Magdalen Wiliiams-Bulkeley, who was in a pale blue drees, with black hat; Lady Naylor- Leyland, who woi a handsome gown of grey, with pale blue trimmings, and a black hat with white feather; Lady Newborough, in black dress, with blue feather in hat, and wore some fine mauve orchids; Lady Llan- gattock and Lady Fox-Pitt, both in grey; Lady Buchanan Jardine. in a dark blue coat and skirt; Lady Eva Wyndham-Quin, the Countess of Dundonald. Lady Joicey, Lady St Davids, Lady Hrynmor Jones, Mrs. Richard Helme, Miss Alke Hughes, and Mr. Ernest Ilelme. Lord Aberdaro briefly introduced the Mar, chioness of Bute, remarking that he had great pleasure in introducing her ladyship, who had shown so kindly an interest in the exhibition. It was Lady Bute's first appear- ance among them, and he was sure they would re-echo his wish that they hoped it would not be her last. (Applause.) The Marchioness of Bute said Ladies and Gontlemen,-We have only to look at the pro- ducts of Welsh industries which have been brought here to-day to agree that these industries speak for themselves. It is not necessary for mo to speak further than to say what very great pleasure it gives me to open this exhibition and to wish it every suc- cess, in which wish, I am sitre, you will all join with me. I also thank the committee for asking me to declare the exhibition open, which I have very much pleasure in doing. (Applause.) Mr. Ernest ffelme, in- proposing a vote of thanks to the Marchioness of Bute for so gracefully performing the ceremony of open- ing, said that he felt certain that ajiy under- taking with so prosperous a start must have a brilliant voyage to its destination. He re- echoed what Lord Aberdare had said, and wished many, many happy returns of the day to the Welsh industries and Lady Bute's presence among them. (Applause.) The exhibition was then thrown open, and those present were soon inspecting the heavily-laden stalls and making purchases from the vast amount of material provided for purchasers. The various industries in North and South Wales which it is particu- larly hoped to encourage by this annual exhibition were very prominently displayed on the stalls at which ladies presided, several of them wearing typical Welsh costumes. At the stall of the London depot of the Welsh Industries Association were many beautiful flowers sent by the Duchess of Westminster, Countess Reauchamp, Lady St Davids, and M. Mackintosh of Mackintosh. Other items on the etall were needlework and brasswcrk done by Welsh men and women in London. The woollen an,d cloth industries, and needlework, meta.] work. pottery, lacemaking, and many other industries were largely in evidence at the various stalls. Cardiganshire, under the care of Mre. Wad- dingham, of Hafod, was adequately repre- sented by its local industries, while Car- marthenshire had an extensive reptesenta, tion of industrial products under the care of the Hon. Gladys Rice, including pottery from Llanelly (which it was hinted v as sometimes exported abroad and came back as "Persian"), some basketwork, oak carved cupboards and chests, such as are used in many old Welsh houses, some excellent quilting work in ohintz, crochet work, and flannel. Glamorgan was largely represented, among the exhibits being specimens from the Welsh School of Art, Queen-street, Cardiff, of which the Countess of Plymouth is the president and the Dowager Marchioness of Bute one of the vice-presidents. A very pretty mi niatlITe Vookcase had a hand-painted and silk design, a copy of which was painted by the manageress of the school. Miss M. E. Boucher, to the order of the Marchioness of Bute. Some very choice church embroidery was also on this stall, including a chalice iii silk ajid raise/1 gold and alms-bags, besides some Jacobean work, brfdemaids' pra.yer books in vellum and gold, blotters and stationery cases, a large collec- tion of sofa cushions, crochet work. lace work' (Hopiton point), and other specimens. Some glazed pottery from the Ewenny Pottery Works at Bridgend also formed part of the Glamorgan exhibit. At the Pembroke stall (Countess Cawdor being the president of the county society, with Mrs. Owen Philipps as hon. secretary) were some very fine silk quiltings, many Welsh doLls. anSSt &Weodj.

Attack on Home Office! Attack on H0l11e Office I JUSTICE DARLINO'S SCAT H ING REMARKS Mr. Justice Darling made a remarkable attack on the Home Office at the Old BaiJey yesterday in sentencing Ada, Walters, a doctor's widow, who was found guilty of the manslaughter of a young woman by performing an illegal operation. In my opinion people like ycu deserve the penalty of death, which used to be inflicted on them," he told Walters. I shall sentence you to a long term of penal servitude. The sentence would be longer but for tbis-tha:t what has happened to others leads me to suppose that if I passed on you what I consider an adequate and proper sentence it might be reduced by the Home Offioe to a kind of stereotyped sentence which they allow. I shall not, therefore, in this case expose my- self to that kind of dilemma, but I shall pass upon you a sentence which you will have to serve—one which will not be reduced. I do not myself think it on. adequate sentence, but such as it is I pass it upon you. It is that you be kept 'in penal servitude for ten years."

Bets Not Prompt Enough CARDIFF BACKER FAILS TO RECOVER I In the Oitv of London Court on Thursday Mr. William Hawkins, merchant, 25, Plastur- tcn-gardens, Cardiff, sued Messrs. Wynne, Stacey, and Co., turf commission agents, Ingram-court, Fenchurch-street, E.C., for £5G 8s. 3d. for bets on horses placed for him. The case has already been partially reported. Mr. Harold Simmons and Mr. Samuel Duncan appe,ared fo.r the plaintiff, and Mr. Cannot and Mr. Woolf for the defendants. Plaintiff said he commenced doing business with the defendants in October last. Now that he was entitled to X50 he cowld not get his money. It was not true that he pent the telegram making the bets after the race. The telegrams showed that hie transactions were all straightforward. I The defence was that, while no suggestion was made against the plaintiff, a great many belated telegrams had been sent from Cardiff and Bristol, and there had been public prose- cutions arising out of wires backing horsefi being despatched after the races. It was significant that plaintiff was timed to have sent tho wireg one minute before the race was begun, which would not give defendants time to place the oommissions. The bets were made direct, but the defendants did not raise the Gaming Act. Judge Lumley Smith, K.C., now found for the defendants, with costs, on the ground that he was not satisfied that they had received the money to be amenable to pay in a court of law.

JUDGES AND THE OLD BAILEY The Court of Common Council yesterday considered a proposal tiliat the City Lands Committee should report on the present system of ventilation at the Central Criminal Court, but after discussion the motion .was wit hdraw n. Mr. Carl Henteehel, who sup- ported the inquiry, said he understood that t,he only comfortable place in the court was the dock. (Laughter.) Mr. Miller Wilkinson said tha,t one judge wainted a window closed and another desired it open. Mr. W. H. Pitman, as chairman of the committee responsible, said that in seventeen months there had been only three grumbles. On3 complaint was by a judge who said the court was too hot, but, as a fact, the temperature was 74deg., while outside it was 82. (Laugh- ter.) iL was not possi-ble to please everybody.

TRIED TO FIRE THE PRISON. News of a desperate attempt by a convict j to fire the Princetown prison, sixteen miles from Plymouth, hae just been allowed to transpire. A few evenings ago a ccanvict, named Stanley, was found unconscious in the punishmen t cell by warders as as Bundle and Baley in the course of their rounds. The I)artmeiit was full of smoke, and Stanley's bedding was a mass of flames. Warder Haley was overcome by the smoke, and both he and Stanley required medical attention. Stanley nearly lost his life, and he is only now a,pproaching the stage of convalescence. It appears that thie convict has caused trouble, and was lIndergolilg punishment, and investi- gation shows that he smashed a glass pro- tecting the gas jet lighting his own and the adjoining cell. He then deliberately set fire to his bedding. Another prisoner in an adja- cent cell raised the larm. An inquiry is being held.

DOUBTED BLACKSMITH'S STORY It is dangerous to call a hunter "Tartarin" in France. M. Marcos, a native of Voisons- le Bretanneux, near Bambouillet, has just dis- covered this truth. He was out cycling, and stopped for refreshment at an inn at Guyan- court, where a blacksmith was relating his prowes sas a hunter. M. Maros was amused at the recital, and murmured "Tartarin!" When he left the inn the blacksmith was waiting outside, and attacked him fiercely with a knife,- stabbing him in two places be, tween the shoulders. The irate Simrod then took to flight, while M. Maros was conveyed to the hospital in a serious condition.

BARBERS ON STRIKE At a meeting held yesterday the barbers of Paris declared that they would cease work to-day. This is the latest development of the social war. The hairdressers may be followed by other branches of trade, but at present the general attitude is one of caution. The bakers ha-ve postponed definite action on the question of striking until Saturday, by which time they will be able to decided whether the general strike move- ment is likely to become popular. The gas- men have decided by an overwhelming majority to ignore the appeal of their execu- tive committee to join the strike.

ROOF OF SAND I A fire broke out yessterday in a repair shed at the garage of the Gecc^ral MOtOr-cob Com- pany in Brixton-rmd, London, S.W., the largest in the world.. III the oontre of the garage, in an isolated building, is a store of over 3,000 gallons of patrol- The s.tructure has a thin wooden roof, upon which is piled more than 100 tons of sand. The idea is that should a fire break out, the roof would colla.pse a.ud let down the tons of t-and to extinguish the flames. The employes and the fire brigade were able to confine the fire to the shed where it broke out and to some barrels of lubricating oil standing close by.

LOSSES DUE TO WRECKS. I Onoe more the urgent need of an efficient salvage orgainisatioin for the British merchant service is shown by the latest figures of the losses due to wrecks. It 1= shown that no less than £ 10,000,000 is lost owing to mishaps around, the British coast alone in a year, without reckoning wiM"ships. Additional tes- timony is forthcoming from the fact that the operations of one Swedish salvage company during the few years of its existence have resulted in the salving, at an enormous remuneration, of vessels worth X5,500,000.

BISHOP'S PALACE ON FIRE. I An outbreak of fire caused considerable I damage to the Bishop's Palace at Peter- bopough yesterday. An old oak beam which passed through a chimney in the south-east wiing burst in,to flames after emoulderinig for several days, and the fire spread to the 1 afters. The plate roof had to be broken in order to reach the seat of the fire, which was extinguished after an hour's work by the firemen.

CARDINAL SERIOUSLY ILL. Cardinal Archbishop Kopp, who is on his annual tour through 8ilesia for the purpose of confirmation, has been taken ill with in- flammation of the lungs at Kattowitz. His Eminence's own physician was telegraphed for from Breslau. His condition is stated to be serious.

CIGARS, CIGARETTES—Med. Navy Cut, 20 44d. j UirceUa* 2d..m. NelloA cm do ir. I

A Striking Story of Wales [NOVEL BY REV. H. ELWYN THOMAS A striking new story begins publication in I this week's "Weekly Mail." It is entitled "The Forerunner," and the author is the Be v. H. Elwyn Thomas who long ago won his spurs as a Welsh novelist of originality and ability. "The Forerunner," which was awarded the first prize at the National Kisteddfod of 19C8, is a tale of thrilling inte- rest. depicting life in Wales in the seven- teenth century. It is essentially a religious story, ajtd re-produces the stirring times through which Wales passed in its fong and situ b born struggle for religious and civil liberty. In it we are brought face to fae-e with the pioneers of Welsh Nonconformity, and made to feel the hardships and suffer- ing they experienced, the persecutions they endured, and the opposition they encountered from men in power in Church and State, but most of all from the mob in different parts of Wales who were instigated by prominent people high up in the social scale. The Forerunner grows in force as it progresses, and it should not be missed by all lovers of Wales and Welsh history. LATE MR. HEBBEBT C. MEYRICK, I' Drowned at Apley Castle. [Photo. Edmonds, Wellington.

PAOLI AND THE KING I King Edward is very sorry that M. Paoli, the eminent French detective, has decided to retire into private life. For many years M. Paoli watched over his welfare whenever he visited France. When the half-witted lad Sipido fired a.t him in the railway station at Brussels some years ago, the King at once remarked to those about him, "If Paoli had been here I am certain he would never have had a chance to as much as draw his revolver." M. Paoli tells an amusing incident that happened at Biarritz a few years ago. In company with an English detective he-had been sent to engage a conveyance on the out- skirts of the town to take Qie King for a drive. All that could be found was a clumsy old vehicle, with, a nondescript horise and driver. "Well," remarked the English deteo- tiÍve. "I suppose it will ha.ve to do, but I'm blowed if I would risk my neck in it." "And may I be the same if I do, either," laughed a voice behind them. It was the King, who had come up unobserved.—"M. A. P,"

CALVINISTIC METHODISM. I The Calvinistic Methodists of South Wales and Monmouthshire brought their quarterly association meetings to a close on Thursday at Blaengarw, the day chiefly being set apart to preaching. The services were well attended. Stirring scenes took place at several of the chapels where some of the leading preachers of the Corph held forth. Notably at the Tabernacle, the vast congre- gations broke out repeatedly into hymn- singing, and as many as a dozen ótiJO of men and women rose to their feet and exclaimed "Halleluia" and "Bendigedig." The preacher was the Rev. S. T. Jones, Bhyl, and he at last, in the height of reli- gious fervour, and amid the shouting of the congregation, was compelled to give up long before the end of the sermon, and fell back in the pulpit seat overwhelmed. For a long time the service remained in the hands of the congregation, a/nd several here and there in the chapel prayed, whilst others sang.

CREAM CAKES BLAMED The question whether babas" and "oclaiira" purchased at a confectionery shop in CfCt Compton-street, loomd-an, were respon- sible for upsetting the digestions and im- pairing the health of a family named Le Massu, living at Lee, proved too difficult yes- terday for the jury which wa,8 trying a claim for damages. Before retiring the jury- men v/ere somewhat bewildered by listening to a witness and two counsel talking simul- taneously in French. The former, a French ühef, illustrated his remarks, which counsel interpreted, by meanis of a saucepan. He was describing the art of making irreproach- a.ble "eclairs." When the jury retired it took some specimen, eclairs and" babas with it. This was at lunch time. Ultimately there wan a disagreement—<in the legal sense of tho term, of course, —

SUICIDES ON THE INCREASE A comprehensive work has juot Teen pub- lished, which was compiled at the s-pecial instigation of the German Minister of Edu-! üation by the medical department of his offioe. It gives some interesting statistics of the Prussian State in the year 1907. The birth-rate was considerably lower than in the preceding years, numbering 1,296,291. Suicides showed an increase of 350 over 1906. There were altogether 7,643, of whom 1,798 were women; 744 cases occurred during intoxication, whilst 1,203 deaths were due to delirium tremens. The number of victims of murder and manslaughter was 788, or 90 more than in the preceding year.

DRAWN INTO MACHINE. The first fatality in the Aberdare Valley consequent upon the use underground of a coal-cutting machine was investigated by Mr, R. J. Rhys (district coroner; at Aberdare Police-station on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was George Lewis, of Harlech-place, Aberdare, who met with a frightful death last Tuesday whilst working as a oollier at the Llwyn-lielig Colliery, Cwmdare. Evan Da vies, t'he driver of the cutting machine, said somehow or other he must have slipped against the bar, with the result that he was drawn into the machine. It took about two hours to extricate him. A verdict of Accidental death" was returned.

MUST POETS STARVE? I If genius—there will never be too muoli of- Ït-i-s as high and noble a. thing as men say; if poetry is among the deepest needs of a prosaic ivorld, then is it false economy, as well ats hypocritical cruelty, to let poets starve. It may be that nothing can be done; it may be only superstition that where there's a will there's a. way. But in that case let. us give lip pretending that we honour anything except what will sell.—"The Graphic."

132 OFFICERS KNOW RUSSIAN. The number of officers (including the Indian Amy) qualified as interpreters in Russian is 132. Ur. Haklane st.ates in a Parliamentary paper. Of these at the present time eighteen are employed in appointments where a knowledge of Bussian is essential, and three where such knowledge is advantageous. The peace requirements of the Army in the matter of interpreters are necessarily much smaller than the war requirements.

CORPORATION TRAMWAYS I Passengers. Beceipts. Last year. Cardiff 470,741 IC2,031 10 6 £ 2,059 1* 3i Newport 147,513 £ 615 13 1. j,617 6. 0

For soups and gravies, meat end game. The nicest sauce that one can name, Is made by Hoe's, and you will find Hoe's Sauce the best of all its kind. e590 1.

Women Dressed as Men I STORY OF A COUNTRY HOUSE DINNER I Strong remarks on what he termed the de,gradation of the S,abbrat,h by people in I society" were made by Bishop Thicknesse, Archdeacon of Northampton, in delivering his charge at his annual visitation at North- ampton. "What we have to deal with now," he said, is open disregar(I of the worship of 1 Almighty God by persons in the higher wall-is of life, their selfish profanities cf the day of public worship by needless journeys, motor expeditions, dinner parties, and games, to the utter deprivation also cf any needed Sunday rest and quiet to their ill-used ser- vants and dependants. I know as a fact ot a large 'fancy-dress' dinner party held on the first Sunday in Lent at a country house in a neigh hour iug county, where the so called lad'ies shamelessly appeaa-ed dressed as men and the so-called gentlemen dressed as women. I mention it witJ1 profound shame, sorrow, and indignation almost ready to dis- own the term 'gentleman' for any manly man, if men with more money than manners, with more pfretence than pedigree, have brought it to this and dragged it in the mire cf their own corrupt hablt.B." I

RECENCRAHON OF TURKEY I Paris, Friday.—The "New York Herald" I (Paris edition) publishes an interview obtained by its Constantinople correspondent with Mahmoud Srovket Pasha, Commander- in-Chief of the Forces in Constantinople. In the course of the interview Mahmoud criti- cised the new Parliamentarian ism and dis- approved the attempts made by a certain party to lessen the prestige cf the Sultan and tho prerogatives of the throne. He is convinced that the Sultanate and Khali fata are indispensable to the existence of the Empire, and ought to rcma.in sacred. The state of siego in Constantinople, he declared, would be raised after the "purging" process had been completed. Europeans would not be molested, and Pera would be per- mitted conditions which were specially advantageous, but severe steps would be taken Stamboul. Executions would still be necessary, principally those of assas- sins of the Young Turk officers. Shevket I Plasiha regretted the massacres at Adana, and stated that the punishment of thc-se responsible had been ordered. He paid homage to too good qualities of Sultan Mohamed, and concluded by expressing the hope that Europe would accord 'benevolent sympathy to Turkey, thus facilitating the regeneration of the country.

CHOPPED THE GAS-PIPE I The story, sa far as it is known, of the gas explosion at Bethnal-green, when Thomas S pal dung Dillons committed suicide by gas poisoning, and five people" were injured, was told at the inquest yesterday. The three injured constables, DiHone's son-in-law, and the widow are still in hosipital, and were unable to attend the inquiry. Dillons was stated to have been out of work for nine months, and ha,ci become melancholy in con- sequence. When the widow failed to get any answer to hei; knocks at the door, early on Sunday morning, she sent for her son-in-law tliid the police, and as soon a,s a panel of the door had been forced run explosion occurred which injured all those present. A fireman said that on the dreeser in Dillons's room were a chopper, a screw driver, a hammer, and a pair of pincers. From a penny-in-the-slot gas meter on the wall the money-box had been prised, and a lead pipe cut through by the ehopper. The supply pipe of the meter was cut. The jury re- turned a verdict of "&ti cirle by ga,g poison- in.g during temporary insanity, due to being out of work and money trouble."

RHYMNEY MINISTER SUED I MTS. Ann Griffiths, Bryn Cottage, Rhymney, brought an action on Thursday at Merthyr COunty-eourt against the llev. Isaac Evans, a Wesleyan circuit minister, to recover zCl3 in respect of a balance ofc account due for lodgings, money lent, Ac. Mr. Pulliblank appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Ebsworth for the defendant—The plaintiff, a widow, in the course of her evidence said that she lent him S4 10s. (which she borrowed from a neighbour) to enable him to attend a con- ference in North Wales, and she bought him a shirt and a pair of boots. In cross-examination, Mr. Ebsworth asked: Why have you been so long in making this claim? And in reply the plaintiff answered, "I thought Mr. Evans wad an honest man like myself," whereat there was a roar of laughter. The defendant denied that he owed the plaintiff anything, amd deolared that the alleged loan of £4 10s. was a pure fiction. His Honour gave judgment for the defen- dant, saying that the account produced by the plaintiff was moct unsatisfactory_

1 ■? I A ?200 PARROT -I Madame Adelina Patti, staying a few years ago in the fall in New York, heard of a wonderful talking parrot, one Jumbo. Forth- with she bought him at the unconscionable price of L230. Once in her possession, Jumbo did not open his beak. Every blan- dishment failed, and at length she gave him up as hopeless. Then one morning the diva, awoke with a severe sore threat. She was engaged to sing at the opera on the same night, and naturally, in greait trepidation, sent off for a throat specialist. Jumbo, whom she had quite forgotten, remained, T ) all appearance, asleep on his perch. A a the door opened, however, and the specialist stood on the threshold, before ever Patti could open her lips, Jumbo flapped his wings in grewt excitement. Oh, doctor,' he croaked, I'm SO sick.' Jimlo still !ives; but that was the first and last time sn ce Madame Ptti became possessed of him that he deigned to speak. M.A.P."

RUINS OF PHARAOH'S PALACE In giving an aocount at University College yesterday of the work of the British School of Archaeology during the past season at Thebes and Memphis, Professor Flinders Petrie said the great result at Memphis has been the discovery of the palace of King Apt-ie--t,bo Pharaoh Hophra of the Bible- who was contemporary with Jeremiah. The palace is of impressive scale, about 400ft. long and half as wide. The middle court is well over 100ft. square, and the painted fctone columns in it we"e more than 40ft. high. The stone-lined halls, of which seven remain, were over 40ft. long and half a.?wide. In the ruins scale armour, hitherto rarely found in Egypt, was discovered. Good bronze figures of gods were also found. What Professor Petrie described as the one supreme piece was the fitting of a palanquin of solid silver, a. pound in weight, decorated with a bust of the finest workmanship.

THE RIGHT TO DIE I An application has been made by Dr. Roberts, a prominent physician, for legal authority from the Minnesota Health Board to end the sufferings of a physician named Dr. Hatch, who is stricken with an incurable disease. Dr. Boberts realised that the boa it! had no power to grant his application, but the patient insisted on his making it, know- ing that his illness was mortal and believing that euthanasia was the hum an est course in such circumstances.

JUMP FOR LIF.E I When half a. ton of roof fell yesterday at the Blairscough Colliery Company's West Whittle pit two miners just succeeded in saving their lives by jumping to a place of safety, but a. third, Thomas Watson, was killed.

FIRST LORD AND POLICE TRAPI The chauffeur of the First Lord of t.he Admiralty tvas fined n at Kingston yester- day for exceeding the speed limit. It was stated that Mr. McKerma paced the distance of the police trap when he was caught. '?? j?__? ? ——?:

HOUNDS AND FOXES POISONED Lord Harrington stated at the annual dinner of Leicestershire keepers that poison had been laid down in several districts, with the result that a number of valuable hounds and foxes had been- destroyed.

DUTCH CAFE, near Queen-street Station, one of the quaintest in the world. Afternoon Teas with our 1 delicious Broad and Butter. Stevens, Confectioner, Limited. CudiS. 64"2

Fell Back and Died — TRACIC AFFAIR IN CARDIFF HOME I A sudden death occurred about a quarter to five this morning in the Workmen's Home, Mill-lane, Cardiff. The man is supposed to be Arthur 'Vanward, about 65 years of age, living at Blcwett-street, Newport. It appears that deceased went to the home and took lodgings on Tuesday, and went there again last night about 9.30. He retired to bed at 10.50 in the evening, and made no complaint of feeling unwell to Mr. Bennett, the manager, or anyone else. About a quarter to five o'clock this morning a man, named Walter Green, who was sleeping in a bed opposite, was awakened by hearing a noise. On looking up he saw the deceased in a sitting position in bed. He suddenly fell back, as though in a fit, and in doing so his head struck against the, bedstead. Green at once informed the deputy-manager, and he brought up some water, but deceased died before anything could be done for him. Dr. Buist was called, but found life extinct. The body was removed by the police to the mortuary. On the body was found a piece of paper giving the name and address as above. The police at once communicated with Newport, and ascertained that a man of the name given lived there. MR. HENRY MATTHEWS. Who was killed at I.Ian brada-c-h Colliery. [Photo. A. and G. Taylor.

LATE MR. GEORPAE MEREDITH I Mr. William Meredith on Thursday received the following tele-gram from the King: — I am commanded by the King to express his deep sympathy with you and the mem- bers of your family on the death of your distinguished father. His Majesty, together with the country, sincerely laments the loss of so great a noveli-st and writer.— KNOLLYS." x The following authorised statement in regard to the funeral of the late Mr. George Meredith has been issued:—"Mr. "William Meredith and Mrs. Sturgis wish it to be known that they were not, as stated in cer- tain newspapers, opposed to their father being buried in Westminster Abbey. The Dean of Westminster on Thursday informed Mr. H. P. Sturgis that he has definitely decided not to permit the interment in Westminster Abbey. The funeral will take place at Dorking Cemetery to-morrow. I

A PRACTICAL PROTEST I In connection with the protests made against "the use of the Prime Minister's official residence as a show-room for M. P'ciret's gowns," a meeting' was held at 33, Hertford-street, Mayfair, yesterday, to con- sider some form of practical protest. It was felt that the passing of resolutions condemn- ing the recent display was insufficient, and that as a. counter-stroke to the advertisement given to foireign-made goods an exhibition should be held in London cf British-made g-oods to demonstrate that articles which are preferred to home-made ones merely because they coone from abroad are not really superior. A provisional committee, with Miss Alice Sandford as hen. secretary pro tern.. was formed, and it was dfeeided to appeal to the chambers of commerc,e and chambers of trade to support the proposed exhibition. i

HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR I Londoners had a foretaste o'f real summer weather yesterday, for a shadte temperature of 73deg. was recorded, and at two o'clock in the afternoon the temperature in the sun was 120deg. It was the hottest day of the year so far, and one of the sunniest, for hour succeeded hour of glorious sunshine. Hyde Park, wihic-li now has put OlD its summer suit of green, was more than usually full, nurse- maids and their charges being' especially prominent, and Hampstead A-oath had almost a Bank Holiday appearance. )lor was 14ondoin alone in the enjoyment of this glorious burst of sunshine. It was fine and sunny generally over England and Wales. It was the first timp this year that there has been a real demand for iced drinks.

PUBLIC BARS ON THE FOOTWAY I Mr. Herbert Ramllel, M.P., announced ye-sterday that, in view of the Marylebone magistrate's statement that the Act exclud- ing children from public-houses was having t,he result of ext,ending the bar to the foot- way. Mr. Gladstone had ordered a full report of the working of the Act in London. The Licensed Victuallers' League at Brighton yesterday resolved to suggest to t,he Home Secretary to ask the police to exercise a wise discretion in the matte.. Mr. Turner, Liver- pool, the president, said that there could be no doubt about the "want of humanity" arising under t be. Act in many places.

MOTOR-CARS AT COCK-FIGHT I At a cock-fight which has just taken place on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, some few miles from Manchester, details of whioh came to hand yesterday, it appears that some of the patrons assembled in motor- ca,rs, and large sums of money changed hands over the ail air.

EDUCATION PROTEST. I The Willesden Education Committee has refused to carry out an order of the Board of Education directing it to allow ten square feet of floor space per child. The order would reduce the school aocomodation in Willesden by 1,250 places.

WOMEN AND THE NAVY I "We want to havf, more ships, more states- men, fewer politicians, and fewer promises," declared the Duchess of Somerset at a con- ference yesterday at the Caxton-ha11. West- minster, of the Women's Nayal League.

SAILOR9S ESCAPE Although a t.ra,in from which James Hart- ley, a, bluejacket, f-ell at Dunblane on Wednes- day night was t,ravelling at a speed of 60 miles an hour, he escaped with a bruised head, and was able to walk to the infirmary.

A NEW OCEAN RECORD Xew York, Friday.—The Mauretania has arrived here, having lowered the record between Fa.unt Rock and the Ambrose Light hy thirteen minutes, making the run in four day.- 16 hours 53min.—-Renter.

LICHTNING RECftUITING It WM announced yesterday that a full company of Territorials had been formed at Featherstone, Yorkshire, in three days,

THE BEST THING iN tHE WORLD A really good cup of tea is the best thing on earth." Judge Willis declared yes- terdjjf at Southwark County-court.

MOTOR-CAR IN A RIVER Forty men and a tug were required to rescue a motor-car which fell into the river at Dartmouth.

BEATING THE BOUNDS IN THE CIT I ii. accordance with ancient custom the bounds of the Co 1 eman-street. Ward pf the City of London wero bea-tell yesterday.

REDS &ad LUTUMHI nnorMcd.—lt Mlnoy-K.; CatfiAT*

Saved from the Sea- I SINGUL.AR INCIDENT AT BARRY ISLANfJ I A mysterious affair occurred at Barry 00 Thursday. Just at dusk two young  named William Thomas Down, of 10, '? street, and Arthur Gardner, of 17, Vvind road, were walking along the beach at Cold Knap, when their attention was called to the fact that a young woman had entered sea. The young men at once ran into tJ1'I water after the girl and caught her just It! she was getting beyond her depth. Tlley dragged her ashore, and she was carried jJI an unconscious state to Cold Knap Farf" where she was attended by Dir. Kent. The young woman was identified as ){isS Lily Fisher, aged 32, a cook at the ?'??. Arms Hotel; Gadoxton. Our represent?'f subsequently ?aw M.r and Mrs. Spicer, o' "Tg hotel named, and ascertained that J* Fisher, who had suffered from severe d?P??"? sion for some time, left the house In tjl,, afternoon with the intention of going walk. She is a steady and respectable youlig woman, and held in mnch esteem by Iler master and mistress. On inquiry lat oll Thursday night we learned that Miss FISb lay in a c-itical condition.

WHAT CLOVES TELL I A beautiful big motor-car, -whites a co1"^ pondent in the English Mail, one Of tb. kind that I should like to receive as a be day present, stopped outside a house at WI} corner of the boulevards (in Paris),  man got c'ut. He was an elderly, g?,,Od-I ing, and particularly well-drcs&cd man< ?'? he wore the red rosette of the LeS? 0 Honour in his buttonhole. "You may s y what you like, said my friend, who '? with me, "but Frenchmen nowadays "'?,; just as well as EngLishmen do." "That ? 'Englishman," I said. My friend L-hrllgged his shoulders at my ignorance. "Didn't Vol my Y I sai-d t see the red rosette?" "Yes," I said, ?.t and I don't know—you may be right, I don think an Englishman would wear gloves in the (laytimt, And then we bO bur?t out laughing. The man with the r  rosette in his buttonhole was the King. England, and, of course, he i8 both Engu and Parisian.—"M. A. P."

WILL BEHIND A PICTURE I The action of L-ewis v. Bright came before the Probate Court on The plaintiff, the only son of the late 0- William Lewis, butcher and grazier, of ft minster, claimed that his father, who left estate valued at about ?7.000, died For the plamtiff it was stated that t'lle father made a will making him chief ?'?. ficiary. Plaintiff went out to the Boer ""? and when he returned his father ?ave t ¡\ will to him, and plaintiff kept it behind^^ picture in hM room. Afterwards, at Ïbõ request of the deceased, plaintiff burned th' document, thus revoking it. ef The defendants, who were interested lin,ef the will, said the document was not rev°*, or destroyed at the request of the decea?? The hearing was adjourned.

PREMIERON POOR-LAW REFORM Replying on Thursday evening to a dePØ:; tion of London Liberal members, Mr. Asqo said he intended to get the second readi » of the London Elections Bill immediat1 after the Whitsuntide recess. He express a definite hope that it would be blO before long to equalise the rates of Londo: Reform of the Poor-law mnst form the 9l' ject of legislation in the near future, but  could not say whether that reform WO1'^ take the shape of separate legislation fO j¡ London or not. It was his expectations he would be aNe to supplement Mr. S? court's Bill by a further measure for t government of London next session.

TYNE AS A NAVAL BASE Replying on Thursday evening to a <?*P? tion from the Newcastle Chamber of merce, who urged the d-esimbility of eSltf lishing a naval dock on the Tyne, d M'Kenna said the Government were not Jill to the necessities of the occasMn. but it ? not desirable to publish everything at ??y? stage of anything they might be doing.  BVita.in wa« row much better off In tbo matter of the largest sized doo?s than UT. many or any other country. There "? however, oommon agreement that there ? a deficiency of doc?a on the East Ccx?st, a ki the advantages of the Tyne should be fu^ considered by the Admiralty Board.

THE NEW WHITE CITY. In magnificent weather and in the preserJC of a di&tin¡;uishd company the Duke -? Argyll on Thursday afternoon OP???"  Imperial International Exhibition at SBOP' herd's Bush. Those accompanying his gralo? included Lord and Lady Stratboona, the ?04 of Jersey, and the Portuguese Minister. In performing the opening ceremony tbe Duke referred to the s?oceea of la? ve?ar,o e?hibitio'n. and extended thanks to ??? French director and his colleagues.  thought the experiences of the pa, waUl be repeated this year, and that many -at1d be benentcd by the part they were "king io the exhibition.

THE QEORCE ALEXANDER CIRL The Oeorgvi Alexander girl runs to flulftn She positively dotes on the handsome a.ow:t, and secretly hopes that one day she may f a smile, and even a word, in response to Of years of midday devotion. To catch "War George's" eye as ha passes from his brought& or his motor would be to lay up a treatf^ of ecstasy for months. And because this just possible she must always be wearing f very best. For you never know.VOInla¡]. life."

THE SHAH'S COMPLIMENT On a certain gala occasion the Duchees of Westminster was presented to the Shall of Persia, who was then visiting London. "'1'b fame of your beauty has reached Tcheral1. exclaimed the Oriental potentate, gallant^ as the duchess mad% hercurtsy. He tak me for Westminster Abbey!" the diK'he, remarked to a companion, as the Shah paSS£ d on.—" Woman's Life."

"TUBE" MOVING STAIRCASE Extension of the Central wndon "tnlJe: from the Bank to Liv?rpo?l-stre?t ?" a-uthoTMcd by the Commons' Commit^'1 ye&t?rday. It was ann<?mc€<t that the c?? neotion between the Bri'ti?h Mils0l"o Station and the Holborn Station of PicoadiHy and Brompt?n "tube" wm by means of a constantly mewing stairca^

ADVENTUROUS COCKROACH A cockroach whi;h had crawld into  high tension 8witeh-gear caused a fa?ltire of the dC0tric light supply in the B? district of Plymouth by diverfing a curr?' of 2,000 volts.

MARRIAGE OF A V.C. Sergeant En glebe ant. who won the 1 toria Cross at Bloemfontein in 1900 t saving a comrade's life, was married I Barnet this week to his cousin, Mise M3, Englehea-rt.

FATHER'S NEGLECT I A Colchester labourer, whose son inillre? n;s eye while playing tipcat, was fined  amd costs f(?r neglecting to take the c? to the hospital.

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