Evening Express

The Man in the Street. 4 Ndt&ing oouki be more saddening than the jiewfi that Mr. Robert Forrest passe d away at hits St. Fagan's home a.t 6.30 this morning. Appareaitiy Xihe popular chief agenit ror the Plymouth, eataitea retired to bed last night in his umvai health, and no one anticipated tiiai the end was so near. However, Mr. Forrest had not been himseif this winter, and only a month ago he returned from Bourne- moufth, where he had been resting, to preside at the New Year's meeting of the Liandaff a.nd Dmae Powis District Council. It was the<n remarked that he looked the better for the change. But has geniality must have served to bide the fact that he was still suffering from the illness which he so bravely withsftood, and which has now cut him off from the people among whom none were more eeteeoned. He about to the last, and presided with his usual breeay, cheery manner a.t Wednesday's meeting of the Uandaff Council. All Soooh Wattes is in mourning again, for there was not a better-known and more esteemed figure in our midst than Mr. Forrest. One of the ablest of chairmen, he was associated very intimately with every phase of local and social life—the county council, as a magistrate, board of guardians, as pre- sident of the Cardiff Chamber of Agri- culture, the Cardiff Horse Show, only to mention a few of his best-known associa- tions. We have all lost a friend in the jovial, always smiling Robert Forrest, and all must sympathise with. Mrs. Forrest in her irreparable loss—a lose which is also that of Sottfh Wales, a-nd one that can never be made good. Death, the Great Leveller, does more with one stroke of his scythe to make all mankind equal than the entire legislation of a hundred sessions of Parhamoo.t. And the hearts of all people, of every political creed, went out yesterday to far-away Scotland on hearing the pathe- tically 'sad news that Lord and Lady Ninian Stuart had lost the bright three- year-old son on whom all their hopes were centred. Immediately our minds went back to that clear, bright, but cold January day when CardiffLans registered their votes a.t the Parliamentary election. The streets were alive with people gaily adorned with the colours of the rival candidates. Motor-oars witih their loads of voters rushed merrily along the streets for twelve hours. Men and women were keen to get their supporters polled, and brightest of all among the enthusiasitic ones was the little heir of the Conserva- tive candidate. He wore his colours bravely, and smiled on everybody with the dedight of robust, happy childhood. with the dim but anxious 'hope that "daddy would get in"—^whatever that meant to the budding consciousness of his immature mind. Now the little one has been gathered to the great majority, and the general feeling is one of intense sympathy with the bereaved parents, a feeling that is all the more keen with those who know the depth of a father's and a mother's love and the hideous void created by the loss of one so young, fair, innocenft, and promising. Mere words fail to adequately express our rent hearts a.t such a moment. Nothing is more pleasing to the critic than those moments when he can discard the salt and the pepper boxes a-nd take up the sugar basin. One is then tempted to go full-pelt to the extreme and lay on the praise with a trowel, as the vulgar would put it. Anyhow, one can seldom say too much in favour of wide, airy streets, and if to these are added the beneficent shade of carefully-nurtured trees springing from nice green turt- then it seems that all is well with the world, and let the comets do their worst. These thoughts are prompted by hearing that the main thoroughfare of the Tre- degar estate at Newport is to be a 60trt wide boulevard, and that it will be worthy of the name Edward VII. Avenue which is to be given it on christening day. One would like to see streets of great width in other places. One can imagine what an enormous improvement it would have been to Cardiff if some of the early City Fathers had tackled Duke-street and provided a broad thoroughfare right from Queen-street to the Castle. And some of us fear that the city council may be led into making an irretrievable error in sanctioning anything under a 40ft. road- way from St. John's Schools, in Queen- streert, to Cathays Park. Every day the Duke-street improvement grows, nighit- mare-like, more impoesrble on account of the probable cost, and it is to be honed that the new street will conform to the city bye-La.ws, which say that every main thoroughfare must be at least 40ft. wide. In olden times, when the powers that be were not so particular, the water supply of the country generally was in a very bad way. But since the Local Government Board bestirred itself in this vital matter and insisted on full atten- tion to the prime needs of a com- munity, a. change has been effected, until it has been considered impossible to come across the condition of affairs just revealed at Pontllanfraith, where the polluted source of the water supply has been emphasised by the astonishing statement that the habit of tramps washing their feet in the springs and wells had caused the outbreak of infec- tious diseases. This is the more surpris- ing because it is said that in the summer time the wells dry up. That the knights of the road were so fond of cold water will come as news to many, even if the bath thus favoured extended little fur- ther than their travel-stained pedal extremities. But this is of minor importance in oonsidering the n-eed of an adequate supply, and the inquiry should result in an immediate sanction to the proposed loan, with a full and proper supply of good, pure water. PoaitDan- fraith is a growing centre, and it is time that its people were properly provided with something fit to drink—to say nothing of tea and other things to mix with the pore element. It seemed too much like tempting fate to think of shirtings and frills while there was a vote unfolded, and there could be no doubt that tne General Elec- tion was responsible for a considerable falling off in the New Year sales. Women are taking such an interest in politics that probably for the first time in the history of this country it was considered as something approaching sacrilege to even j dream of bargains while there were gains and lo6ses to count. At Cardiff the race between Mr. Asquith (with Mr. Lloyd George urging speed by the practical aid of a picturesque pitchfork) and Mr. Balfoar was all absorbing as exhibited at the entrance to the Evening Express" Office, aDd in other parts of SoutR Wales the sitnation was equally tense. The waiting ofl the telephone and the tele- graph made slaves of us all, and it is umoTIred that the exchange girls had fewer opportunities than usual of flirting with invisible best boys across the wires that brought us the news red hot upon the declarations. However, now the excitejnont has simmered down, ladies are resuming the old, beloved habit of buying a host of things which they will never use, but which must be purchased because they are so cheap." After the election, the sales. Then the comets, and other things. It is not such a prosaic old world after ail.

MAN WITH 30 WIVES Bmil Karl von Miller eaone to New York from Los Angeles under police protection last night (wires the Xew York correspondent of the Daily Telegraph.") He baa been careering aJboafe the country, calling himself Count, Baaodi, and Doctor in turns. He boasts of having 19 wives, arrwi goes so far as to aay that there may be eleven others. He is to be tried for bigamy on information supplied by a New York woman, named Viebalmanm, who saya he is her husband. A few weeks ago. von Muller married Pau- line Wood in Loa Angeles, the local papers desaribing the wedding as one of the society events of the season. The bridegroom then gave the name of Emile Vonderhage-n. Detec- tives, who were put on hie track, are now ooarvinoed that he has left a trail of wives all over the country. Apparently, two of them were at the station to meet him last ni-g-frt. They flew at his throat and tried to choke him. He merely smiled, and said to his escorts: They have no more claim on me than twenty, or perhaps thirty, other women. The police assert that von Muller, who is a young and athletic person of sandy com- plexion, married Miss Kelta Tritzel, of Brook- line, Mass., about a year ago, and Miss Fanazie Wagner, of Rockford, Iowa, some- what later in 1909; besides Marie Taylor, of Philadelphia, in 1902, Mrs. Richard Smith, of Dubuque, Iowa, and others, in leisure moments.

I TOO MANY UNIFORMS The amazing inefficiency of the administra- tion of the various departments of the Ger- man Government was revealed yesterday in tho debate on military estimates in the Bud- get Committee of the Reichstag. The German miltary authorities decided to abolish the present blue uniforms and introduce grey uniforms, but they now dis- cover 1 that they possess a surplus of £ 1,000,000 worth of blue cloth which must be used up before grey cloth cam be intro- duced." An turgently necessary military reform is thus postponed for a ooneilerable period owing to the lack of business princi- ples displayed in buying such large quanti- ties of material. Apart from this cloth the military authorities have 500,000 pairs of stockings and 300,000 pairs of trousers in ex- cess of the actual requirements. These articles of clothing were ordered for the campaign in German South-West Africa. In view of the fact that never more than 15,000 Genna ntroope ware ugaged in this cam- paign it is inexplicable how the authorities responsible for their clothing could order such excessive supplies.

I ARE WE TOO TOUCHY ? The frequency with which actions for defar rnation are to be found on the cause Met nowadays ie commented upon by the "Law Journal," which regards the fact as evidence tiot so much as an extension in the com- munity Df the habit of libel or slander as to the increased sensitiveness which accom- panies the spread of refinement. Thus the question arises: Are we as a nation becoming more refined, and, therefore, more sensitive as individuals to things that are said abowt us? Dr. Bernard Hollander, the well-known mental expert, interviewed on this question yesterday, said that people nowadays were certainly more "touchy," but in these oases of going to law with grievances one had to consider always that there was a particular form of mania which affected people a.nd made them go to law. "It is due to modern conditions which have made us more nervous and more sensitive. Where in the old days a man wouM have chalLen?ed his opponent to & duel, he now enters the law oou. A I higher civilisation has made us more refined and more susceptible to pain'

I A PALACE LOVE STORY Gossip is rife in nat-ive circles at Cairo at ibe forthcoming marriage which, it is alleged, the Ithedive is about to make. The lady in question is an Austrian Countess, well known in Egypt, who, although not actually resident in the Palace, has been for many .•oars attached to the Khedive's Court. Abbas II. has all along evinced a great affection for her, and as a result the' Countess has just become a convert to Islam, the ceremony having taken place last week. The official announcement of the marriage has not been made yet, but it is considered imminent. The Counters, who will become a Khedivial Princess, will bear the name Zubeida Yeni Hanem, and will, in future, have to reside in the harem. Abbas II. has already one wife, but the Moslem religion allows a man four wives, so this new step of his is quite permissible.

TRACES OF A TRAGEDY I A discovery was made at Twickenham yee- .orday which suggests a tragedy, but no solu- cion had been found late last night. The keeper of the Marble Hill Recreation Ground found yesterday morning, in the bows of a punt moored closed to Twickenham Ferry a pointed fox fur boa, a woman's black silk umbrella, and a black handbag contain- ing a leather purse and two unmarked hand- kerchiefs, a halfpenny, and a motor omnibus ticket from Mansion House to Chiswick. Later in the day a woman's picture "hat was found entangled ia some rushes under the Middlesex shore. The hat was trimmed with mauve pansies, and a b)kek veil was attached to the brim. All the things appeared to have belonged to a worn air of position. The small heel-marks of a woman's shoes could be traced on a plank leading from the river bank to the punt, but there were no foot- marks traceable from the boat back to the shore.

MANY OCCUPATIONS Gilbert G. Oliver, described as of Jermyn- street, St. James's, whose affairs were before the London Bankruptcy Court yester- day, was said to have tried the following successive ocmpations:- Articled clerk to an architect, Financing a theatrical touring company, Making and selling cellular clothing. Club proprietor, Farming and occasional dealings in horses. Secretary of a olub, Carrying on a club, Acting as managing director of a company which took the club over. Unsecured debts, £ 1,823; no available assets; insolvency attributed to liabilities in connection with the last-mentioned company. The emam-linataon was concluded.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN I The Ik-eas Asootdwtion is Wornied by Mr. Chamberladn's private secretary tbet the statement in to-day's papers, that the right hon. gentlemen hias left for Cannes, is in- correct. He is remaining at his London resi- dence a abort time before leaming for tfhe Riviera.

I Happiness on the Stage WHY MR. AND MRS. KENDAL ACTED TOGETHER Mrs. Kendal, the famous actress, gave a.n interesting littJe "talk" to a gathering of ladies at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, yes- terday. After an amusing description of stage love-malting, Mrs. Kendal pointed out that the ooostant repetition of the same words by the stage lover at rehersal, com- bined with the action gone over and over again, in order to get it right, took all the romance out of it. I have sometimes been asked," she said, why my husband and I always acted to- gether. My father was an actor, who said that the greatest amount of domestic happi- ness oould exist on the ffta-ge provided hus- band and wife were never parted. It was only on the condition that we should never be parted that he oonsented to my marriage with Mr. Kendal. If, because an aotor can earn 210 a week more by playing a one theatre, and his wife cam do the same by playing somewhere else, they acoopt positions in different places their feelings will be divided, and gradually a shadow may grow up at home which will divide them for ever. If Mr. Kendal and I hadn't played to,-ethex-well, one might have been worth a few pounds more, but I thank God there was a section of the public who said they liked to see us play together." (Applause.) Speaking of her early experiences, Mrs. Kendal related how she played Lady Mac- beth once a.t Hull. The reason, she explained was that there was no one else to go on. I was received tremendously. I suppose I got through it somehow or other, but I was much applauded, and had to go before the cu rtainseveral times. That proves how any- one, however incompetent, may sweep out a/rt and experience and knowledge if they are popular with the audience."

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.' During the hearing of a burg-tarry charge at Marliborouig'h-street yeeterdey against £ )djg<air Hicks, a youth, it was stated that he was caught running away from the premises of Hale's Tours, in Oxford-street. The manager of the ppmc-iaes said he found the safe with the back forced off, end £1 as. stolen. The police prcduoed two letters whioh they said were found near the safe. One read: Dear .%i,rs,-We have given your place a visit, with the idea of getting about 1100, but we were mistaken-bad luckfflbetter luck next time.— Yours truly (signed) X. E. Body. A postscript to the letter head: Please exhibit this saJe in the shop, We i have had a lot of trouble with it.' The Prisoner: They were not written by me. Continuing, Hacks said he thought the letters had been written maliciously, to make the oase appear worse against him. Mr. Mead: I don't think they make the case worse. They are; rather in your favour, as they show you have some sense of humour. (Laughter.) Prisoner was oommifted for trial.

FIVE LITTLE COFFINS The five children who were burned to death in the City-road fire, London, on Friday last were buried yesterday at Manor Park Ceme- tery. Some time before the funeral proces- sion started a crowd of several thousand people gathered in CSty-road, stopping the traffic. Three little coffins, covered with wreaths and containing the bodies of Melville Hill, aged four; Edith Bertha. Hill, aged three; a.nd R.ioha.rd Hill, aged 12 months, were first brought from the house and plaoed in a.n open hearse, drawn by four ho race. Amongst the mourners who followed was Mrs. Hili, the mother of the three little ones, who was so overcome with grief that she had almost. to be carried to the coach. Five coachds oontaining mourners followed the first hearse, and then came the second hearse, which bore away the bodies of James Smith, aged three, and Elizabeth Eva Smith, aged six months.

I AM SORRY I DID IT NOW I) Before the Cardiff magistrates to-day Antonio Gonzales (34) and Louis Grassets (25) were brought up charged with cutting and wounding Wilhelm Wickmann on the face, neck, and left forearm with a knife with intent on board the steamship Reynolds in Cardiff roads yesterday. Police-constable Moos said that at two p.m. he was near the pier-head, and was their accosted by Gonzales, prosecutor, and a witness, named Wilkinson. The latter said "I wish to ghe this man (Gonzales) in charge for cuttimg this man (meaning prosecutor) on the steam- shipship Reynolds in Cardiff roads. Informed that he would be taken into custody, accused answered "All right. I am sorry I did it now." The other man was subsequently arrested, and he, too, eaid he was sorry. On the application of Inspector Bingham, for the police, a remand was granted until Wed- nesday.

-CHIEF PARKS OFFICER I We understand that Major C. H. Enthoven, who has had considerable experience in military organisation in South Africa, will be recommended by the General Purposes Committee as ohief officer of parks to the London County Council in succession to Colonel Sexby at next Tuesday's meeting. The appointment will probably provoke considerable criticism in some quarters as Major Enthoven, it is said, has not had any experience in such a position as that which it is proposed he shall fill. Mr. Pettigrew, Superintendent of the Cardiff Parks, was one of the applicants in the short list.

I DR. COOK'S POLAR CLAIMS The Scottish geographical official magazine, issued to the members to-day, states that the report of the special committee of the university of Copenhagen appointed to con- sider Dr. Cook's olaims to his having reaohed the .North Pole is -highly unfavourable The report declares that the documents submitted afford no proof that Dr. Cook reached the Pole. The magazine adds tha-t there is a general tendency to acoept this decision as finally disposing of Dr. Cook's claim to have reached the North Pole.

MOTHER AND SON HANGEDI PARIS, Saturday. Finding her eon Kostia hanging de&d in his room, the lad having committed suicide, beoause he had been punished at school, Madame Effron also hanged herself y- day, being unable to survive her child. 'The destiny of Madame Effron was remarkably tragic. The daughter of a former Governor of Moscow, and a niece of M. Dournove, a former Russian Minister of Interior she threw herself into the revolutionary move- ment in Russia, and narrowly escaped exe- cution. A greater part of her life was passed in prison or in exile, and she had recently come to Paris to watch over her son's edu- cation.—Central News.

AFRICAN SHIPPING TRADE An important development in connection with the African shipping trade is announced to-da-y in the shape of the Formation of a British company to run a direct steamship service to British East African ports. Mr. Evelyn Cecil Wilfrid Ashley and a prominent Liverpool shipowner a.re interesting them- selves in the project which is developing obi the basis of a Government guarantee. It is stated the Union Castle Line will co-operate with such an independent line which would proceed via Suez Canal and take up a service to Mombassa.

I FLOODS AND RABtES PARIS, Friday. In the devastated suburbs hundreds of homelesa and Carving dogs aie being shot or poisoned by order of the authorities, who fea.r the spread .of rabies, of which many of the animals have shown symptoms. Most of these poor beasts were employed to help to drag the handcrafts of humble owners- ¡ Reuter.

SAVED BY WIRELESS I NEW YORK, Saturday. The steamer Alamo, which set off yester- day in response to a, wireless message from the steamer Kentucky, which was sinking off the coast of Carolina, succeeded in reach- ing the vessel in time tg take off the captain and crew of 46 men. The Kentucky shortly afterwards foundered in the neighiboturihood of Cape Halteras.Centml News.

The United States Ambassador and Mrs. Wlhitelaw Reid arrived at Southampton to- day by the Oceanic. The other passengers included Mrt. Ogden Mills, the Hon. George Keppel, an. Mr. John Ridgely Carter, the new AmerktkQ Minister to Room auto

I Mr ROBERT FORREST SUDDEN DEATH AT ST. FAGAN'S. Prominent Public Man I LONG & STRENUOUS CAREER I A DIPLOMAT AND A GENTLEMAN" I Universal Sorrow A heavy gloom was cast over the whole of South Wales this morning when it was known that Mr. Robert Forrest, J.P., D.L., had passed away at his St. Fagan's home, near Cardiff, at six o'olock, and! the utmo&t sympathy is felt with Mrs. Forrest and the fa.mily in their great bereavement. Mr. Forrest had been far from weJJ aJl the winter, but he declined to consider himself THE LATE MR. ROBERT FORREST, J.P. seriously ill. At any rate, he went about as usual, and to all appearances was bis usaul self, though a few of his intimate friends thought he was ageing somewhat lately. Mr. Forrest consented to consider his health so far as to spend a portion of the winter at Bournemouth, where he stayed over Christ- mas, and it was thougblt that the balmy air in that unique spot and the beneficent scent of the pines had done him an enormous amount of good. Probably he wouild have received more benefit if he had remained there for & few weeks longer, but Mr. Forrest seemed out of place right away from the centre of has very busy life. and he returned home just in time to preside at the New Year's meeting of the Llandaff and Dinas Powie District Council, where be was congratulated by his delighted colleagues upon his apparent good health. Mr. Forrest was in the chair as usual at the last meeting of the district council on Wednesday, when he warmly sup. ported the increase of salary voted to Mr. M. Wa..rrean. the clerk. That was probably his tast psublic act. I Busy to the Last. Since Wednesday Mr. Forrest had been very active in looking after the affaifi of the Ply- mouth Estate, and was in the St. Fagan's offloe working up to as late as 9.30 o'clook laet night. He then went home, apparently as well as he bad been lately, albeit some- what tired after a long day's work. He retired to rest as usual, and no one thought for a moment of the dreadful possibility of th.) end coming. But come it did at six o'clock this morning, as already stated, to the great grief of his wide circle of friends and acquaintances. It would be difficult to find anyone who worked harder than the late Mr. Forrest, who was always attending to a multitude of I duties. Has niamv o&ow Ln publio bts i-ndluded the foU,owinc-- Chairman of the Lfcandaff amd Dinas Powia District Council. President of the Cardiff Chamber of Agri- culture. Member of the Cardiff Board of Guardians. Member of the Glamorgan County Council, and a. county committee chairman. He was a director of Baxry Dock and Railway Coampany. Vale of Glamorgan Railway. Cambrian Trust Limited. Cambrian CciiLieries Limited. Cambrian Railway Company. Metropolitan Bank (of England and Wales), Limited. North British and Mercantile Insurance Company (South Wales Local Board). Penarth Extension Railway. South Wales Electrical Power Distribution Company. Western Mad Limited. Weston-super-Mare Pier Ocxmpany. Windsor Steam Coal Ooanpaaiy (1901), Ltd. He was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1893, and heLd other important offices in the county, where he was one of the best known figures. He was a large guarantor and an interested spectator at the recent Welsh National Pageant, and was greatly interested in the Cardiff Triennial Musical Festival. In no sphere was Mr. Forrest more esteemed than in that of agriculture, and it is a pathetic fact that he succeeded the late Mr. James Howell laeit year as a steward in the big show ring of the Cardiff Horse Show, in which he has been deeply and practically interested since its establishment. In no cirole will he be more missed, and as a. judge of good horseflesh his opinion was always valued. I Typical British Squire. Mr. Forrest was also a good friend to the Glamorgan Hunt, and actively ittd himself in the fortunes of St. Fagan's cricket and bowling clubs, and similar institutions at Radyr and thrroug-hout the district. In this he supported the wish of the Earl of Plymouth and has own inclinations. He was an aJi-round sportsma,n and a typical British squire. Every frost at St. Fagan's witnessed him in a unique phase. He was a Sooteman, and had hia country's low of curling, and it was an edjoation to watch him directing operations. He would take a brush himself to sweep the ice clear, and then he threw his whole heart into the pastime, few being able to direct a ourler with more precision and strength than thas glad-eyed, robust- looking sportsman. He will be remem- bered every time the frost binds the familiar I and picturesque waters under the shadows of fit. Fagan's Castle. I Estate Activities However, Mr. Forrest has been best known as the excellent agent for the Earl of Ply- mouth's estates in Glamorgan (St. Fagan's, Barry, &c.). Hewell (Worcestershire), Oakley J Park (Shropshire), and Flintshire, as well as I for the Wenvoe Castle Estate (Mrs. Jenner), the Romilly Estate (Lord Romilly), and Messrs. Vachell's estates, &o. Even from this incomplete description of his activities it will be readily understood that very few men had more numerous busi- I ness a.nd social connections. His life was a j continual round of work, and that he died in harness was flttinjr to his character and tastes, though all deplore the cutting off in the prime of life of one who was so essential to the success of suoh a. va,ried and numerous round of interests. For nearly 40 years Mr. Porrest had been connected with the Plymouth Estates, and tihero can scarcely be a sti-ok or stone in its broad acres with which lae was not familiar. His later works axe well known. He was most sympathetic in carrying out the Small Holdings Act in Glamorgan, and on the county committee he freely gaive of his wide influence and experience in putting the Act into operation. It was mainly on hia advice thait the committee decided to engage an able and experienced land agent in Mr. Osmond Smith, who has justified so thor- oughly the good opinion which he inspired in Mr. Forrest and t.hrougtb that gentleman, in the other members of the committee. His Guiding Hand I Many improvements in the Llandaff and Dinag Powis District Council can be traced to the guiding hand and directing head of Mr. Forrest, notably the tar-spraying of ro&ds and paths since the advent of motor-cars. He was also deeply interested in the widen- ing and improvement of Ely Bridge and its approach from the railwa-y station, and, with lVIr. Richard Williams, had been hammering away at this subject for several years past. It was not his fault that the scheme was delayed, and it seems hard that he should not have lived to see this good work com- pleted. He was also interested in military matters, was prominent as a supporter of the Glamor- gan Territorial Association, and supported everything that tended to increase the wel- fare and the physical fitness of bis fellow- beings. Mr. Forrest was a familiar figure at Barry, where he lived for two or three months every summer at his beautiful residence on Friar's Point, Barry Island. He took a particular pride in developing that district, and nowhere will he be more missed. He was interested in aJl educational move- ments, and participated with Mrs. Forrest in the recent opening of the new Oardiff Uni- versity College. lie glady lent his support to all social func- tions, and was foremost in entertaining on the occasion of the recent visit of the mem- bers of the Conservative Associations to St. Fagan's Castle. At the St. Fagan's Flower Show he was always a prominent helper, and last summer he went with Mrs. Forrest to open a church bazaar in Colonel Fisher's lovely ground at Radyr. A Weil-Spent Life I It was really a wonder how Mr. Forrest found time to do so much, and the only explanation can be the ol daphorism that only the busy man can find time to do some- thing else. Yesterday Mir. Forrest was on the flood of business. He had had a busy day in London, amd returned to St. Fagan's, where he was working with Mr. Brace at the estate office until 9.30 p.m. Truly, his was a well-spent life, and in its shortened span he succeeded in doing much that could not be crowded into that of two or three of his fellows who may have lived much longer in the matter of years. It was in 1868 that Mr. Forrest came to Monmouthshire to take up a position under the Blaenavon Company, and in 1874 he was appointed as agent to the Windsor Estates in Glamorgan. Later he became agent of the Plymouth Estates in Warwick- .shire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire. Mr. Forrest was a native of Allanton, near Hamilton, N.B., and was the sixth son of the late Mr. William Forrest, J.P., of Trees- bank, Allanton. He had been twice married, and leaves a widow, three daughters, and one son. Mlr. Robert Forrest's first wife was Miss Flora Matthews, and his second wife, who survives him. was Miss Turner, of London. It is said that Mr. Forrest was contemplat- ing a voyage for the benefit of his health, and that he had booked passages for himself and Mrs. Forrest on the Durban Castle, which is due to sail for Teneriffe from South- ampton on February 26. An Appreciation. I "A DIPLOMAT AND A GENTLEMAN" I By a Friend of 40 Years I "A diplomat and a gentleman of great capabilities." In these words a friend of forty years' standing described Mr. Robert Forrest, end they are true in every sense. Mr. Forrest took over the reins of management of the Windsor Estate about 1870. receiving the appointment from the late Lady Mary WindBor-Clive, succeeding the late Mr. Goddard, who had also been connected for a lifetime with the estate. At that time he resided in Abergavenny, but removed to the picturesque residence known as the Green- woods, St. Fagan's, and in the course of a. I few years married the eldeat daughter of the I late Mr. Ben Matthews, Glan-Ely. During the early part of his career Mx .1 Forrest olœely ideo-tmed himself with the administration of the Windsor Estate, and one of !his early successes in that direction— and one which eloquently shows the magni- tude of his foresigh,t-was the development and laying out of what is undoubtedly the most delightful and moet thickly-populated of Cardiff's healthy suburbs, Penarth. As time went on other developments of the estate became essential, and were carried out, in the same businesslike manner. Then came the time when Barry Island was submitted to auction aut Cardiff. Few saw the vast possibilities in the property, and it was not sold at the auction, but imuiediatleiy atiter was purchased at the reserve price by Mr. I Forrest for Lord Windsor, and it proved to be another example of his wonderful fore- sight. It was a remarkably successful venture, and it was followed in the course of time by the gigantic scheme for the Barry Dock and Railway, with the results of which every buain" person in Wa?ea M fuUy aware. This brought, Mr. Forrest's business acumen into greater prominence, and his valuable advice and assistance were greatly sought for publicly and privately. To his personal friends he was a man of exceedingly genial and kind disposition, and his death will be deeply deplored. Heidentifted himself with nearly every agricultural move- ment in Wales, and his commanding figure will be as much missed from Cardiff's annual horse show as was the figure of Mr. James Howell. Territorial-ism also oiaimed his devoted attention, and here again he will be greatly miseed. Musio had a staunch supporter in Mr. Forrest. The Oardiff Triennial Festival owed a lot of its success to his sound knowledge ,and tact, whilst he evinced endless interest in the recent Welsh National Pageant, and was one of the guarantors. What he did for Miss Amy Evans, the now idolised soprano is oommon knowledge. Whilst at the Cardiff National Eisteddfod in 1899 he quietly listened to Mr. Ben Davies, who advised that their tiny girl deserved to be taken care of, and Mr. Forrest at once established himself as the girl's guardian, generously paying for her education and ¡ studies from his own pocket. The girl has since grown into a handsome woman, and her voice developed as finely as the great tenor had predicted. Miss Amy Evans, to her credit, has never lost sight of the fact that she owes her position to the noble heart of Mr. Forrest. MR. BRACE'S TRIBUTE I Mr. William Brace. M.P., wee one of the earliest to send a telegram to the family this morning, and in a brief chat with a reporter he expressed profound regret at the news. A beautiful trait in his character," re- marked Mr. Brace, "was that he never thought any the less of those who were poli- tically or otiherwise against him. Whenever I went to St. Fagan's I always received an invitation to pay him a visit, and during my recent campaign, although I had attacked matters that he was directly interested in, he treated me just as well. When I was at St. Fagan's a few days before the election, he sent for me, and I was entertained at his house." Mr. D. T. Alexander, wao had been a friend of Mr. Forrest for o!ose' upon half a century, said, To me nothing has upset me so much for many a day as when I had a telephone message with the sad news. It is a great I loss to Wales." Guardians' Sympathy I A LOSS SHARED BY THEM ALL I An air of gloom pervaded the boardroom of I the Cardiff Guardians at the usual weekly meeting heM this afternoon. The Chair (Mr. O. H. Jones) presided, and said before They began the business of the day he was very sorry to gurtnounce-wbat many of them tprobably knew—the sudden death of Mr. Robert Forrest, who was the senior member of the board. Mr. Forrest had been a member of that board for something like 34 years, and for some time he served in the position of vioe-ohoirma He had been a regular member of their meetings, though not so frequently dIuitIing the past few years as at one time. He had been chairman for majiy years of the district council, of whioh niany of theguaxdlsii6 were members. The deatlh of Mr. Forrest would, of course, not onjy cause a great loss to themselves, but to the life of the county and the city of Cardiff, as well as the commercial interests in which he was so largely mixed up. Also, many of them looked upon Mr. Forrest as a personal friend, and they would miss him sadly. (Hear, hear.) He moved that the 1 board exprews their deep regret at the loss they had suffered with others, and that a vote of oondolence be sent to Mrs. Forrest and the bereaved family, with whom they expressed their deep sympathy. Canon J. R. Buokley (rice-chairman) seconded the vote with very sincere sorrow, because he had enjoyed the friendship of Mr. Forrest for very many years. It was true they seldom saw him at the meetings of the guardians lately, but formerly he was most regular, end since then he used to turn in occasionally, as at their annual meetings, when he presided while they appointed a chairman. The members of District Council knew him very well, and only last Wedinesdiay he (the speaker) sat next to him at the monthly meeting of the Llandaff Diistrict Council. He then appeared to be in the full vigour of his health, in his usual jocular, genial mood, lightening their business, as he sometimea did, with good- natured jokes. Mr. Forrest was a man of great popularity, and a most zealous and capable public servant. Mr. Forrest had served his aidopted country faithfully for a very miiany years. Politics sometimes divided people, but this feeling of separation dis- appeared on public bodies, and no man in the county was more deservedly popular on account of his kind, geniaJ, robust charac- ter, and they all felt—especially those who worked with him on the dipt riot council—that he was a friend to everyone. It was a great loss, indeed, to the whole of the county, and taey would all be sharing in deep sorrow. The vote was carried in silence, the mem- bers standing. Glamorgan Hounds I In oonsequenoo of the death of Mr. Robert Forrest the Glamorganshire hounds will not meet on Monday, as advertised, but on Thursday next at Miskin village.

FEARED PUNT TRAGEDY. I Complete mystery surrounds a discovery made at Twickenham, where the keeper of the Marble Hill Recreation Ground, on going his rounds, found in a punt the following articles:—A br, -vn fur boa, a black handbag, containing a ulue leather purse and two handkerchiefs; a eilk unbrella, a halfpenny, and a ticket for a motor-'bus journey from the City to Chiawick. The punt was chained to the steps close to the Marble Hill gates. Later the Thames police patrol, rowing up river, found a, woman's hat under the Middle- sex shore. This hat, of heliotrope straw, is expensively trimmed with violets, green moss. and ospreys, and was suggestive of consider- able means in its owner. Attached to the hat by two pins with pearl heads was a fashion- able veil. The police at once commenced to drag the spot, but discovered nothing further. The only clue-and it is very faint-with which the police were provided was to be found in the small heel-marks of a lady's boot on the gangway leading to the punt. There were no returning footmarks in the direotiom of the river bank.

REMARKABLE WAGER I Arriving on the Mauretania at New York yesterday was Mr. James Coffroth, a Western glove-contest promoter. Before he left Lon" don last week Mr. Eugene Corri, the well- known stockbroker, bet him JE500 that he could not reach San Francisco in ten days. Mr. Cotfroth at oiice took up the wager, which was made in the Eccentric Club, and went on the Cunard line's swiftest grey- hound. He cattght the Twentith Century Limited yesterday afternoon, and should be in Chicago at breakfast-time on Saturday. He will be obliged to wait in the windy city till seven o'clock Saturday evenng, when he will oatoh the Overland Limited, which is due in San Francisco at halfpaet seven on Tuesday evening. If it is on time, this will leave Mr. Ooffroth a. margin of 4, hours to win his bet. If. however, the train should encounter a western blizzard, or, as is very probable, high head winds, it will be touch and go who loses that X500.

CANADA'S BATTLESHIPS I The Toronto correspondent of the Canadian Agency in London writes:—It is hoped that the Dominion Government may see their way to build some of the new battleships at Toronto. Some of the local shipbuilding yards are in a position to compete for at least a portion of the work, and will put in tenders when called for. This will bei a big development, for up to date the Toronto ship- builders have limited their shipbuilding to vessels of a tonnage which can pass through the Canadian canals. I

SHIP SUNK, CREW SAVED I A Lloyd's New York message rays:-The American steamer Kentucky, New York for Tacoma, sank off Hatteras. The crew were saved. The Kentucky was owned by the Hert- ford and New York Transportation Company.

I A POPULAR CAFE I Cardiff Establishment Re-opened after Fire Since the Queen's Cafe, 40, Queen-street, Cardiff, was destroyed by fire la6t September patrons of that well-known and popular [ restaurant have become scattered about the city. But at the re-opening- of the establish- ment on Thursday a very large proportion of them were welcomed back by the genial manager otf the Queen-street Cafes (Limited). Mr. G. Maskell, under whose superintendence the restaurant has been entirely re-built and re-fitted with all modern improvements. Every day witnesses the return of old friends, glad to get baxsk to the good cook- ing and smart serving which have always characterised this cafe. On approaching the establishment the first impression conveyed 18 one of brightness and cheerfulness. Add to this the choice window display of season- able fruit, appetising joints, &c., the passer- by is %ttr"ted to glance, and then to study the establishment and its contents. If it is near lunch or tea time, this is the turning point, and one has to enter, to be wholly sa,ti,sfi,ed with the olean conditions and the wholesome fare provided. On entering one is faced by glass cases filled with, dainty edibles and high-class confectionery, the grill counters, and the carving-room, with appe- tising joints, cooked, cooking, and uncooked, with coJd snacks, seasonable fruite, salads, and nick-naoks calculated to tempt the jaded appetites, and with every evidence of quick service and comfortable surroundings, appealing especially to business people in a hurry who want a good and quick meal served under pleasant conditions. Beginning with breakfasts at eight o'clock, the Queen's Cafe caters for Hill who want this early meal, or lunches and teas of all descriptions. The restaurant on the ground floor is arranged to seat from 80 to 100 persons, and the same accommodation is provided in the first-floor dining-room.. In both these commodious rooms the tables and ohairs are made of oak, the latter upholstered with an idea to com- fort, the wholesome effect of the clean table- cloths and serviettes being emphasised by the chaste decorations of ferns and other foliage and flowers. Above the dining-rooms are .committee-rooms, which can be engaged for meetings by societies and associations. The eight-page artistic menu provided by Mr. Maskell gives the patron a choice of almost every imaiginable edible and drink, but the speciality of the restaurant, the ls. 6d. four- course dinner, is proving most popular with a large section of old and new clients. This fine new establishment, which has risen on the site of the old oa-fe, is the work of Messrs. Griffiths Bros., now of Bournemouth, old Oardiffians, whose workmanship and style are botih unique and up to date. The brillianit illuminations have been entrusted to Messrs. Price, Friend, and Co., electricians, of Car- diff. Mr. Maskell is assisted by a large and competent staff, and it is a pleasure to be wited upon by the trim and daintily-dressed waitresses who are to be seen flitting about.

NEWPORT HOUSE BURGLED I A burglary story which ha-s many elements of daring came to light at Newport to-day. It appears that the house of the late Mr. Turner, grocer, off the corner of Duckpool- road and Church-road, Maindee, has been broken into. Mr. Turner only died a few days ago, and the occupants of the house at the time were his aged widow and another old lady. They bad retired to rest as usual, and the next morning found the house had been broken into, probably by means of a dipublioate key, and a couple of silver watches had been taken from the bedroom.

THE OTHER BARREL. I Lord B- was out shooting the other day, when one of the party, a novice at sport, unfortunately shot him in the legs. He fell and la.y fiat, and the keeper ran up exclaiming, "I hope you are not much hurt, my lord?" "Oh, no," said his lordship, coolly. "But can't you get up?" "To be sure I could; but, you see, if I got up be might let me have the otberbun-el."

I' Gentleman- Newsboy" IONCE IN RECEIPT OF k2,000 A YEAR An extraordinary story of cheque frandu at Manchester, Bradford, Nottingham, New. castle, Scarborough, and Bridlington was told at Scarboroukh yesterday, when George Mu. riott Wesson (44), a native of Nottingham, and described as an agent, of Liverpool, where he was kno-wn as the ge-ntlemaxl newsboy," was sentenced to six weeks' impri- sonment in the second division. Prisoner had been wanted by the Scar- borough police since July last, when be obtained X19 lOs. by means ■ of a worthless cheq- e from Mrs. Tberga Wilson, landlady of the West Riding Hotel, where he stayed m weeks as a. boarder. A. week ago the Scar- borough police discovered his whereabouts in an extraordinary manner. Prisoner was sell- ing newspapers on the Liverpool streets, where his gentlemanly appearance attracted a pressman, who published his life story and photograph in the Liverpool "Weekly Post." This led to his arrest. Wesson pleaded guilty, and said that soon after leaving Scarborough he went into the Salivation Army Home at Leeds, where he stayed three months. I have changed my life completely now," he added. "I have tried my hardest to get an honest living these Last few months, and have &old papers in the streets. I could have changed the last- four oheques in the book in Liverpool as easily a-s could be, but I did not." Chief-constable Basham said that Wesson had been in a very good position, earning: £ 2,000 a yea.r in the soft good-, trade, and was, no doubt, a very clever man, indeed. After his downfall he stole a cheque-book on the Northamptonshire County Bank from a boose where he lodged. Then began his series of cheque frauds The Magistrates'-clerk said that the Salva- tion Army had written very favourably about Wesson. They helped him to Liverpool in the hcipe that he would get a situation as a steward, but he had not succeeded. They would take him back again. The Prisoner (pleadingly): I should like to have a chance to start a. new life. If I get time I shall not get a berth anywhere else. Sentence of six weeks, as stated above, was then passed, and the magistrates'-clerk pro- m.1sed to communicate with the Salvation Army with regard to Wesson's future.

=-— = -—-—— I FOUR ATTEMPTS TO MARRY A singular case was hea.rd a.t Macclesfield Aeid yesterday, when Hnry John Tester silk band, and Alice Howard, charwoman, were charged with permitting a false entry to be inserted in the register of marriages at the Parish Church of Si. John's, Macclesfield on November 13. 1909. It was said that eigh- teen years ago the woman married a man named Howard. Soon afterwards they went toO America, but the woman returned. She then lived with a man at Bollington. After a time sihe became irttima-te with Tester. They wished to gat married, and for that puipose presnted themselves at a church in Rolling,ton, but owing to certain information which reached the vicar, no marriage took place. The pair next went to Hurdsfield Church, but here again csHai-n ^formation was given, and the wedding did not take place. The parties afterwards put in an appearance at a registry office, but a relative of Tester objected to the marriage, on the ground that the would-be bride had already a husband living in America, and the impedi- ment was upheld by t.he regist.ra.r. Nothing deterred by the ma-ny fruitless visits to churches, the paill' tried once more, a.nd were rewarded for their perseverance, for on November 13 they were matried at St. John's Tarisih C-huirch. The couple, who seemed to treat the proceedings ao; a joke, were remanded at the Public Prosecutor's request.

BABY IN A BASKET Lily Beatrice Sindall (201, cook, lately employed at All Saints' Vicarage, Hagger- ston, was brought up on remand at North London yesterday, to further answer a. charge in regard to a female child. Mr. Young said that during the remand the coroner's jury had returned a verdict that the child haddi ed from misadventure. Mrs. Emily North, of St. Alban's, said that on January 22 she received the prisoner as 3. visitor, as she was in bad health. On Janu- ary 27 while Sindall was out, the witness picked up a Japanese rush-basket, which prisoner had brought with her, and, think- ing it was very heavy, she opened it, finding the body of the child in it. In reply to the magistrate, the witness said that she had known the prisoner for* eleven years, and she had always been a modest, respectable girl. The prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Central Criminal Court for trial on the charge of concealment.

DEVASTATING INFLUENZA The flood has gone, but the animiSia in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris are left dead or else dying with influenza. Owing to the deso- lation the public is not allowed in the public park; but I succeeded in making a short round (wires a 'correspondent) until the director of the menagerie told me I had better leave as the elephant was sneezing, and shooting bronchitis bacilli in every direction. And no wonder! For days he was forced to stand in nearly a yard of Seine water. The giraffe, which was valued by the director of the Zoo at nearly 11,000, got cold feet at once, and when the doors were broken open some hours ago was found dead. Some very valuable antelopes also are gone. The lions, tigers, and hyaenas may pull through with a few doses of quinine, although their homes were flooded. A num- ber of birds are dead, and it is believed that they were killed in astruggle of the survival of the fittest for food. The polar bears are the only animals which look as though they had had an enjoyable time.

SHIP'S SURGEON SHOT. There was a tragic occurrence yesterday afternoon on board the P. and 0. liner Nore, which is lying in the Roya.1 Albert Docks. Between one and two o'clock the report of firearms was heard, and Dr. William Her- bert Hiillyer, the ship's surgeon, was found lying in his cabin in a pool of blood. He was at once removed to the Seamen's Hospi- tal just outside the dock, but life was found to be extinct oil a,rrival there. The only wound visible was at the back of the head, and on examination it was found that when the revolver was fired the muzzle must have been right inside the deceased's mouth, and the bullet had, passed right through the head. Little was known of Dr. Hfllyer among the ship's company, for he had only joined the. Nore the previous day. He was appa- rently between 40 and 50 years of age, and is believed to have lived recently at Clifton- gardens, Maida-vale.

ACTRESS'S JEWELS STOLEN While Miss Daisy James, who is taking the principal part in "Jack and the Beanstalk," was playing at Brixton Theatre, burglars entered her flat in Sadlbourne-road, and stole jewellery to the value of more than £ 230. The thieves paid their visit during a quarter of an èour in which the maid was absent. Among the articles stolen was one which had been given to Miss James as a mascot—a bracelet with a large heart enamelled with a wish-bone and daisies. Boxes of chocolates which had been handed to the actress during the pantomime were littred in one of the rooms. The thieves took a revolver and left in its pla.ce a jemmy.

PRISON FOR A LAUGH. Although, the Berlin Town Council has rejected a proposal to contribute X150 for Salvation Army work, the courts of Muli- ohen-Gladbaerh (Saxony) have just shown their respect (<8 the army in a unique way. They have sentenced to a, week's arrest a factory hand who laughed at a salvation meeting. The acoused's defence was that he had to laugh at the Dutch accent of a woman trying to talk German.

MIDDLE-AGED MEN'S DOLL Wlien two brothers named William and John Bird, both middle-aged, were enlarged wit.h theft at Nottingham yesterday it was stated that they were of weak intellect and spent their leisure time in dressing a jdoll 4ft. higth. For this purpose, it was alleged, they went about robbing clothes-lines, and a large quantity of ladies' garments were found at their home. Out of t',1e men was dis- charged and the other bound over.

THE HARE. The Duike: You would hardly battens. Lady Diana, what a shocking cowamd the hare is. liet- Ladyship: Oh! I don't know. If the hare had yotm- gun and you had his legs do you think you'd be any braver?