Evening Express

The Man in the Street t —— With a more or less steady downpour of rain heralding the approach of Christmas. and only the blazing ahop windows to cheer the hearts of pilgrims through a weary world, it seems hard to lift one's thoughts above mundane matters. The event of the week, the acquittal of Wood on the charge of murdering Emily Dim- mock, leaves us with another undis- covered crime, and reveals the sorry 4act that the Scotland Yard sleuthhounds have not yet attained the standard of Sherlock Holmes. Indeed, in face of the failure of the police in this and other remarkable instances to lay criminals by the heels, it looks as though much worse might be done than the putting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the head of our great detective force. Led by such a herd as Sherlock Holmes, and inspired by the clouds from his clay pipe, fiction might come to the aid of cold matter of fact, and the detective world would be revolutionised. At the worst, Sir Arthur could not fail more lamentably than the present imperfect system of crime detec- tion. People who deliberately set out to commit murders must be credited witfh some ability to conceal their movements at the fatal time, and to remove traces that might lead to their capture and sentence. Of many it may be said that their reputation exists mainly on what I is not found out about them, and not a few reputedly good citizens are, doubt- less, devoutly thankful that they have l not been called upon to dangle at the end of a rope. But the difficulty appears to be to get tihe right man in the dock, and, looking at the mistake* sometimes made^ cme nafcursiUy iroiKleiv-how DJIIIIQ: I people have been wrongfully hanged and gaoled for crimes they know little or nothing about. To recall a few of the undiscovered crimes of the last two years or so, there are the Merstham Tunnel crime, the murder of an artist in Bays- water, the Staffordshire cattle-maiming outrages, the theft of jewels from Dublin Castle, the disappearance of the A.soot Cup (to which Mark Twain pleaded not guilty), and now, on the top of all, the Camden Town mystery, in which many are of the opinion that Wood had a narrow escape from becoming the victim of circumstantial evidence. The perpetrators of each of jftaeee crimes remain undiscovered, and there seems little likelihood of their being • placed on trial. The result seems alike discreditable to the acuteness of the Criminal Investigation Department and unsatisfactory with regard to the safety of the public. The evident desire of the police is to arrest someone hastily, or to proceed along some orthodox lines a certain distance, and then to practi- cally dirop the affair for something nearer, or, possibly, because they are tired of it. There is wanted that remoraeieeB taking up of a olue and purauing it, with its side issues, to the bitter end. The Essex murder trial of a few yearB ago is an illustration of the original incapacity of police methods. A thorough-going officer-Superintendent Marden—took it up after four years had gone, and from the slightest clue the mysteries of one of the most cold-blooded murders of the century were eventually revealed. More of this thoroughness is required if people are to be able to rely on adequate protection from the designs of the criminal-minded. The inevitable has happened. The Northern Union have invaded the Welsh Metropolis, and the Cardiff City thirteen will seek to rival the glories of the Cardiff Arms Park. At the best it can be but a re:frection-for some time to come, any- how. During the remainder of this season there is very little that such a side can hope to accomplish, though many will, doubtless, be attracted by curiosity to see what kind of a game can be played with only six men in the pack. If it is found to be a game worth watching, with cap- able exponents, there is little reason why it should not exist side by side with the older national code. But Rugger has been essentially a Welsh game, and Welshmen have been the means of introducing the finer touches and dashes which have made the pastime of such world-wide popularity. The Welsh four-back game had to be adopted by the rest of the playing world, and if need be the Welshmen can play the flying half with as much suooees as the original All Blacks. The game seems to be part of the atmosphere of the Principality, and the Northern Union will probably find that their divergence from the rules of the Rugby code will tell against success here. All the same, the Welsh Union should be able to read the writing on the wall, and after what has happened, with the enemy now in the camp. they cannot hope to retain all their best workingmen players if they continue to refuse recognition of the principle of payment for broken time. This is the red light which the authori- ties will do well to observe and act upon. With the approach of the time when all mankind should be at peace, and for the dignity of what Should be a dignified authority, it is to be hoped that the troubles at Howard-gardens, Cardiff, are at an end—at any rate, for some time to come. It is not for the good of a seminary, especially an important secon- dary school, that the head and staff abould be at war, with advocates on and off the Education Committee. Teachers, aldermen, and councillors have had their ning, and, now the matter of appointing fling Er;t amstant mistrem has been decided, the new arrangement should at least have a fair trial. Besides, it should not be allowed to disturb the jolly enjoyment of the holidays now. at hand. Teachers may have worrying duties, but they get weeks of refct, wtbaoh many in the business world envy them. If the holidays bhd £ Christmas- time oould be used for the making of a weU-kept resolution to let bygones be bygones, and to start afresh amicably with the New Year, it would be infinitely better for the soholars aod all concerned. If I were Alderman Lewis Morgan or Alderman Trounce, I would invite the Howard-gardens staff to a friend-making tea party the day before the ed?l re- pa q the aldermen and councillors might also be invited-and then we should hear no more of them poky bickerings among those who are respon- sible for the training of our future Lord Majors Prime Maxustero, eta.

STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. MB. G EOJRGE MOJiTSOO, We are !1id to And tlist the report- c the of ilr, Georfa Jtor'v-oo, c Wliin-h-urch, C'arditf, cirvmlattd to-day, in -orrect. Mr. 3torisco i5, on the ws trary, in a good. state of health. tj& £ I

"My Dearest Emily" i A TAILOR'S LONG COURTSHIP I In the Yorks Under-Sheriff's Court at Leeds yesterday Mr. Edwin Gray and a jury assessed damages in the case of Emily J-agger, of Huddersfield, versus Tom Holmes, a technical inspector in tailoring, of Liver- pool. in which there was the story of a thir- teen years' courtship. Mr. Hincheliffe said the plaintiff was seven- teen years of age when she began to walk out with defendant, and in May, 1901, they became formally engaged. There were some hundreds of letters, and in one of them defendant, addressing Miss Jagger as "My dearest Emily," said: I present you with this ring as a token of constant love and affection, also as a proof of our engagement. Hoping yon win aooept the same in promise of marriage, I am, yours for ever. Two days later defendant said: I shall spend as muoh time with you as economy will allow. What has taken plaoe recently will. I hope, have the means and power to strengthen that united love which j should for ever exist between us. I am more than satisfied to learn that I shall find every comfort in you, and all that is required. I shall promise that all your expectations should be fulfilled. I could taJk to yoii mue" longer if you were here, but you know, love, our good thoughts travel as well as our bodies, eh? Pleased and proud to say I am yours forever, Tom. Many letters of a similar kind had been written, and they concluded with heaps of love and the usual hieroglyphics. Last year, however, plaintiff noticed that defendant was beginning to oool down. His affections underwent a considerable change, and ulti- mately he broke off the engagement. The fact, was that there was another lady in the case. After trifling with plaintiff's affections he had thrown her over, and she now found herself, at the age of thirty, with her best chances gone. Defendant had repeatedly told plain/tiff to "prepare for the happy day," and she had spent f,20 on her troussea-u. Miss Jagger bore out her solicitor's state- ment. Defendant, in a written statement, said they met at church. During the courtship several lovers' tiffs occurred. In August, 1906, he was ill, and this prevented him from making his customary .visits. Plaintiff took offence. She only said she was going to Canada as a dreeemaker, but she never went. He admitted in cross-examination that he had walked out with another lady in Liver- pool. The jury awarded plaintiff LM. "Good-bye, gentlemen," said the defendant to the jury as he left the court.

I MONMOUTHSHIRE J.Ps. I Thirteen New Names on Commission I The Lord Chancellor has added another batch of thirteen gentlemen to the com- mission of the peace for the county of Mon- mouth. The names are:- Colonel Philip George Pennymore. Blaen- avon. Captain Bran Jenkin Morris, Blackwood. Mr. Frederick Herbert Davies, Brynoneo, V arteg. 'Mr. John James Hole, New Tredegar. Mr. George Jenkins, Manor-road, Aber. eychan. Mr. Percy Jones, Poctypool. Mr. W. R. Lysaebt, Oastleford, Chepstow. Mr. Alfred Onions, 1, Owen-square, Tredegar. Mr. Thomas Richards, M.P., Laburnaan House, Beaufort. Mr. John Rogers, Monachty Farm, Aber- gavenny. Mr. Thomas Morgan Williams, Dakestown, Tredegar. Mr. William Roeser, Langstone Court, Langstone, neat Newport, and Mr. Henry Webb. Of this batch seven are understood to be Conservatives, three Liberals, and two Lib.- Labs. With reference to the last gentleman on the list. Mr. Henry Webb, no address was given in the list sent to the clerk of the peace, and there is some difficulty in Axing his identity.

I EMPIRES: HOLIDAY FARE I Zancigs Return to Cardiff I I The famous Zancigs—that mysterious married oouple, possessing two minds with but a single thought-will undertake an engagement at the Cardiff Empire next week. It will be remembered that a few months ago Mr. and Mrs. Zancig set all London talk- ing about their marvellous powers of reading one another's thought. The Zancigs do not pretend to lraNa occult powers. On the other hand, 11-r. Zandx distinctly claims that everyone in the world, under certain conditions, can impress upon the mind of some other person his own mental images. Casey's Court, Minnie Cunningham, the Two Butterflies, the Dandies, Henry Herbert, Jennie Hartly, and Will Cornish are the others on the bill. "Parson Gray, V.C." at Newport I Mr. George Gray wiil remain in Newport for another week, and present "Parson Gray, V.C. at the Empire. Conn and Conrad, Sybil St. Elmo, the Eisteddfod Sextette, and Ned Graydon are among others on the bill. An illustrated song will be rendered, and the latest bioscope pictures shown.

I THE PERSIAN CRISIS I Revolutionaries Holding Tabris I Official infofpmaitiom received at Odessa to- day from Tabris Blrowø ftaat the situation in that town, whin*, for the pact two or three doiys has been threatening, has now become grave in the extreme. A Consular despaAdh bearing yesterday's date states tiiat to aJ4 hvteixts and purposes I t he town is in tihe hands of the revolution- airy party. No business of any kind whatever is being carried on, the shops lbemg closed. One of the most serious features of the position as the aAtitode of the Imperial troops, who appear to be on the verge of open mutiny. At present the scfldiers refrain from par- ticipating m -what is going cm, and their considered' ominous. The Crown, armoury has been looted by the revo- lutionaries, who are norw weil armed.

"BEAUTY AND THE BARGE" I There will be no lack of attraction for the holidays next week at the Lyceum Theatre, Newport. "Beauty and the Barge" is just the sort of comedy for the occasion; the second act is as good as a. harlequinade; and the whole play is fall of fun and go." And Newport playgoers are not likely to have forgotten "Captain Janice Barley," as played by that admirable actor, Mr. Blake Adams. The part of the heroine, "Ethel Smed- ley," will imtrodmoe to m Misa Dido Drake, a young actress of much obarm and talent, of whom reporte speak very highly. But the holiday attraction does not stop here. Mr. Arthur Hardy, whose excellent company is responsible for the production of the Barge," has arranged with Mr. Sidney Cooper to produce for the first time on any stage a now one-act play entitled Chapter 97." and in this Mons. Henri de Vriee will play five distinct characters. M. de Vries "is, we think, new to Newport, but the success he made in London some two years or more ago in a piece Qfrlled A Case of Arson was extraordinary.

AN ELEPHANT'S VITAL SPOT I Twelve soldiers and ten gendarmes, all armed with rifles, were requisitioned to kill an infuriated elephant called Punch in a menagerie at Agen. The elephant hod broken loose, torn down a wall, trampled a horse to death, amid finally broke two ribs of his keeper and nearly killed him. The beast was chained in a yard, and a veterinary indi- cated the vital part at which the soldiers and gendarmes were to fire.

MATRIMONY DEFINED I There is a six-year-old boy in Auburn, Me., whose long suit is spelling and definitiori. The other day he waa aekwi to spell matri. mony. "M-a-t-r-i-m-o-n-y," said he, promptly. "Now define it." "Well," replied the boy. "I don't exactly know what it means, but I know mother says she's had enough of it."

CHARACTER AND DRE88 Drees wuporte ebarmter. OLbw tbings being the same, the well-dressed man pre- vails with his fellows. He has the courage of his cut. 17cabaahed by any sense of out- ward inferiority, he can. reveal himself a.nd his businesa with the more assta&noes.— "T.P.'s Weekly."

"LUTSKED COlCOtTJED," Trade mack, of K*y*»l ComBBgwl Ssmooo dC T O&qgfaa-wut-CoMw.

1 Cardiff's Pantomime. I "JACK THE GIANT KILLER" TRAINING Mr. Robert Redford is again producing his Christmas pantomime in conjunction with Mr. Milton Bode, with whom he has been so happily associated in his Christmas enter- tainments for several yeaxis. Jack the Giant Killer" will be the subject. One of the most beautiful scenes will be the Fairy lAUld of Flowers," which has been painted by Mr. James Hicks for the grand finale. The stage will seem filled with garlands of rich-tinted flowers, and a wreaith of eurLninglyde-visedelectricaleffeetts. A very fine scene will be that in. Which, the toy ballet will bo presented. Innumerable play- things will be represented by over 200 people, and this is a scene which should prove a thorough delight to all children. As for the dreeees, Mt. Redford and Mr. Bode mean to eclipse the reputation which the dresses in "Red Riding Hood" last yea.r gained for the New Theatre pantomime. Miss Katie Veaey for the part of "Jack" will, undoubtedly, be one of the most popular boys Cardiff has ever seen. MiBs Felieite Raymond is to be the pretty Princess Pansy," and will appeal to all, while the Good Fajry will be played by Miss Lotrison. Miss Cora Da.rrell, another of Mr. George Ed'wardes' reoruita, is cmgaqed for the fair "Sylvia," amd this will be her first pantomime engagement. There is a splendid cast of comedians., Wales and Welsh will be much in enridenoe, for the Dame of the pantomime will be none other than the new Welsh star, Mr Tom Jones, who has already made himself a great favourite in Cardiff, and much original fun will be introduced. He had only a few weeks ago a very successful week at the Empire, and he will be a worthy successor to Tom Owen and Ted Hopkins. Mr. Will Harman and Mr. Rolando Martin, two favourites in Cardiff, are the "Silly Sammy" and "Simple Simon," aDd their fun will be fast and furious, while the patter and songs of Messrs. Harrington and Holt, also known to Cardiff audiences, will still add to the superabundance of humour. The Great Giant" will give Mr. H. Courtin plenty of hard work, and Mr. Clifford Morgan will pay a welcome return visit. Mr. Redford has engaged two dancing troupes, the Stella Eight and the Twelve Dutch Dolls, whioh will especially delig-bt. the children. These midgets sing and dance with a wonderful youthful abandon. 1

IPORTH ALDERMAN'S CLAIM Rhondda U.D.C. to Pay 23,226 1 At the Gwyn-hall, Neath, this afternoon, the award was given in connection with a big property action, the claimauo/t being Alderman W. H. MatMas, Porth, and the respondents being nominally the Rhondda Urban District Council. Mr. S. T. Evans and Mr. Sa.nkey again appeared for the claimant, and Mr. B. Francis-Williams for the respon- dents. Further evidence was heard before the under-sheriff (Mr. A. T. Williams), and counsel having addressed the special jury, the latter, after half an hour's deliberation, found for the claimant for £ 3,226. The amount of the claim was £ 4,141.

EX-CONVICT'S FORTUNE I Alter wending luaJf his life in prison or under police supervision (says the Daily Mail") the. convict Gerolaimo Paequale, at the age of 49, now finds himself, through the death of an aunt, the owner of a great fortune and the proprietor of villas at Oomo aaid at G uavedoma. Pasquole was born in Milan, and came into the hands of the police at an early age. He was frequently arrested, and go-t his last sentence, one of four years' impris- onment, in 1906. While he was working in the prison cottony on the island of Laon- pedusa in April, news came of the death of his aunt, Giueeppina Porrtig'gia, to whom Paequaie, it was found, was direct heir. The woman died intesitate, amd Pasquale, though was her pet aversion, inherited the estate after other relatives had tried in vain to prevent it. Pasquale has been released, and will not have to finish his term, which ordinarily wouild not be ended until 1910. He has mar- ried a widow with some children, and spent his honeymoon luxuriously in Goano.

TRADE UNION DEMANDS I The secretary (Mr. W. C. Steadman, M.P.) and the chair man (Mr. D. J. Shaokleton, M.P.) of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress met in London yesterday to arrange for the speakers a.t the deputations which are to wait on Cabinet Ministers—if it can be arranged—in the week I that Parliament is opened. The questions to i be discussed include: Adult suffrage. Coaecriptian. Government contracts and trade union tareBtsMOite. Premium bonua system at Woolwich aad ether pfeicee. Cheap workman's trains. Lower fete in seoonduy schooJa. Opening Hyde Park to hackney carnages. Uoe of municipal buildings for tiada union meet laps. Insurance agents' agreements. Ertooding li6t of daugeroue trade*. Help to the blind. Trade union representation at laqiiarta.

SUICIDE BMEW LEAVES I A man named Attwell has committed suicide at Devonport by the extraordinary method of eating yew. A poet-mortem examination showed that he had eaten a quantity of yew leaves, which a doctor said contained taxine, a very active poison. It set up giddiness and vomiting, and after- wards collapse. A yew tree was growing 30 yards from the spot where deceased was lying, and a quantity of leaves were found in his pocket. The Coroner remarked' that there were very few cases on record of yew poisoning. Deceased, he said, evidently intended to take his life.

FORGETFUL MURDERER I The man named Sohiess, who wae arrested some months ago on a. charge of murdering a little girl in a forest near Geneva (Switzerland), hae been sentenced to eighteen years' imprisonment. When arrested Schiess calmly admitted that he might have killed the griri, but. if bo, he had forgotten '• the crime. It was only when he was shown his blood- stained knife, which he had left by tfie victim's side, and some blood-stained clothes that Schloss re-called the murder, aaid gave the police full particulars.

CONSIDERATE BRIDEGROOM I The girl and her sweetheart both had I steady jobs. The day after they were mar- ried the girl said to her fond husband: "Oh. George! now that we are married. there is only one thing I regret, and that is that I have to give up my fine position." The fond young husband stroked the silken tresses of the young wife's hair and sooth- ingly replied: "Now, darling, don't worry. You needn't give up your position. I'U give up mine."

CARDIFF PALACE I To make certain that his first Christmas shall be a marked success, Mr. M'Naghten has got together an exceptionally strong com- pany of artistes to supply the wants of am-usementrseekers during the holidays. Amongst them are John Henderson and company, Ricardo and Sawing, Edgar P. Hayes and his educated horse Billy," the Rhoda Brothers, Ivy Nelson, Valero's naval bombardment, and Lillian Lea. in a delight- ful scena, entitled "Primrose Farm."

BARMAIDS J To be a barmaid may not be the most ideal of all occupations for our daughters, but the same thing may be said of being a chairwoman. For the matter of that, it is not equally an ideal occupation foT our sons to be potmen. The presence of woman humanises, civilises, and moralises. Banish women from the bar and you remove one of the best influences to be found in the pmblic- hoose. Review of ReviewB."

LIFEBOAT FUND I The Lady Mayoress of Cardiff is interest- ing herself in the Cardiff branch of the life- boat Fund, aad to-day, in company with Mr. H. C. Vivian (the Deputy Lord Mayor) and Mr. Petty (the hon. secretary of the fund), she called upon a number of bueincae offices, with excellent results. An effort is being made to improve the status of Cardiff in regard to the fund, as the ofcfcy is strangely behind most other towns in the matter.

KAtSER AND RTS NAVY t According to a Berlin newsagency, the Emperor has issued aID order, pointing out that more attention should be paid to naval literature, and that foreign works of this otaas are partioulariy deserving at nodoe.

IMZNTA&H FLAX Qbxum- ZU-9 I  =?. ?rth?-<tM, !?

I COAL AND FREIGHTS, -0 I Depression in the Shipping Trade STEAMERS TO BE WITHDRAWN I A serious crisis in the shipping trade has been brought about by the high price of coal. Last night the shipowners of Liverpool, Glasgow, London, Cardiff, Grimsby, and other ports (says the "Daily Express") agreed to lay up a percentage of their steamships because the high price of coal makes it impossible for them to run the boats, except at a lose. It is said that a large number of vessels will be laid up, and their cargoes transferred to other shipe which are now sailing only partly full. This means, of course, that thousands of men will be thrown out of employment. From all parts of the country come stories of manufacturing industries cyippled or forced to suspend on account of the price of coal. Sheffield is suffering acutely, and Scot- land is also feeling the pinch. In view of these facts, it is interesting to note that the exports of coal this year—the first since the removal of the coal export tax by the present GoNernment-have increased by 7,000,000 tons, Germany alone taking 2,000,000 tons more than in 1906. Situation at Cardiff While the shipowners of Cardiff have taken no concerted action in regiard to the present depression in freights, which is being felt very-, seriously, individual owners are taking steps to lay up steamers until conditions improve. The Chairman of the Shipowners' Associa- tion (Mr. W. J. Tatem) has already laid one vessel up, amd has two others bound to Cardiff with the same object. Other owners are in the same position, and although there are very few vessels yet withdrawn, some twenty or thirty steamers will be laid up in the course of the next fortnight. The Cardiff owners, while in full sympathy with the owners in the Baltic trades, who) have dooirle-d to la.y u/p a percentage of their tonnage are engaged in such a diversity of trades, and work under so many different conditions that no joint action is con- temfpGlated locally. The position so far as they /ire concerned, is that their vessels will simply wait until they ca.n get remunerative charters. The dearness of ooaJs only affects Cardiff owned steamers so far as the bunkers are concerned. When good freights are obtain- able cloax coals matter very little. When freights are bad at the sarnie time, it is a serious question. Efforts are being made to show that coals are dear because of the with- drawal of the coal-tax. This is not the I case. The world boom caused the rise in coal values.

INSANE PEOPLE CURED I I A remarkable series of experiments, which, suggests that a cure has been found for dementia praeoox, one of the most pitiable forme of insanity, has (says the "Daily Express") just been completed by Dr. N. M. Owensby, the principal physician at the Bay I View Insane Asylum, Baltimore. Investigations made by Dr. Owensby led him to believe that the disease was due to over secretion in the thyroid gland, and he rooolved to attempt an operation with a view to removing the diseased portion of the gland, and thus give new blood vessels an opportunity to form. One of the worst cases of the disease in the asylum was decided on as the subject for the operation, and it was performed on July 1. Within Z4 hoars the ma-n had recovered all his faculties. He wae kept under observa- tion till October, and was then discharged as completely cured. Four other cases have been operated on. In three of them complete oures resulted. The fourth case was an extremely bad one. The patient had not uttered a word for years. It was necetssary to feed him through a tube while his personal habits were those of an animal. Since the operation the man talks and eats rationally, and takes a keen interest in his surroundings, although he is not regarded as wholly cured

MR, GEORGE MORISCO DEAD I Mr. George Morisco (Whdtchurch) passed away suddenly on Friday evening. Deceased and his wife had for some years lived quietly at WThitchurch engaged in the homely industries of farming and poultry- keeping. Mr. Morisco's name when iu his prime was eminent in the music-hall world, a.nd he was one of the last links between the oLd mode and the new. Mr. Morisco was acknowledged to be the champion equilibrist at Tayleur's Circus (Cardiff)—amongst other Pla,Des-b,eid where the new Poet-office now stands. Virile to the last, he had thought of treating the new generation to feats that nearly 50 years ago won him fame. The veteran was in harness almost to the last. Driving in his trap or riding on his bicycle (up to a few days ago), he displayed mar- vellous agility for a man near upon 70.

WHEN XMAS WAS ILLEGAL "Christmas was illegal in Cromwell's time," said an antiquary. "Puritans would not have any gaiety even on Christmas Day. "Cromwell said that holly and mietletoe were heathenish things. He said that they had no real Christmas significance--they were a part of some pagan festival of the Druids. Accordingly he made a law that if you decorated your house with mistletoe or holly at Christmas you got oO^cIays in gaol. "Cromwell also forbade Christmas celebra- tions. No dancing, no singing, no playgoing, no feasting on Christmas Day-penalty, 30 days. It was his idea that Christmas was a religious, a serious time, a time for church going and prayer and reverence, and for: nothing else." ===

MR. BALFOUR AND FOOTBALL At a dinner given by Sir Thomas Dewar j at the Carlton Hotel to the committee of the Corinthian Football Club, Sir Thomas i Dewar announced that the Right Hon. A.. J. Balfour, M.P., had accepted the presi- dency of the Sheriff of London Charity Shield Committee. Mr. Morgan Owen, the Welsh international, who is this year's captain of the Corin- thians, handed to Sir Thomas a presenta- tion copy of the Corinthian annals, as a6 token of regard from the club.

PHILOSOPHY UP TO DATE I Aidvice is obasup unM4 we begin to follow tit. Wealth may not bring happiness, but. it certainly helps. Cupid shoots his arrow, but his victim olay feeJs the quiver. Experience is the cream of life, which, ^xge too frequently sours. The more a man wants to borrow, itiie more he shakes your hand. While some men outlive their usefnlnJ 3BS, others are born without any.

MR. BRYCE AND THE POETS I Ambassador Bryoe has been credited with asking where our American poets are. At onoe showers of poems fell upon him and blocked his mail-box and carpeted, his study floor. The Ambassador says he fails to remember I asking any such question. But, whetiw* he asked it or not, he doesult seem preJJalred to admit that it haa been answered.—tJieve- lamld Plain Dealer." I

STRIKE AT SALTPETRE WORKS I A private telegram received at Milan fjtates that the Government of Chili has prod-Aimed a state of mkve in Iquique, to oonXDnnl the extreme violence of the strikem at t-lbb salt- petre mines. Ten thousand men are out, and have committed several acte of bri-aalfty, and have attacked houses and shops. Soldiers, sailors, and police are protecting property and passers-by. Reinforcemi ents of troops are being sent to Iqtrique, whem severe measures are to be adopted agaijr&t the strikers.

DEATH AT 103 I The death took plaice yesterday :WI Spring- field, Essex, of Samuel Turp, at the age of 1S3. Turp was a barn man, and was possessed of a collection of flails which he used for threshing before machines were invented. Although for some time bed-ridden, he exhi- bited no signs of ill-health, and ncpcer wore spectacles.

THE MOTOR ERI. I 'I!be progress and present position of the motor industry oan in some wajys be coonr pared with that of the cycle tradte. We can. inamy of us. remember the old eaftetiy bicycle of neatiy twenty years 04% and, the vice we had to pay for' A. Nowadays we obtain a [better machine in every way pA lem tfaain o-sawtm ct the old Xift--fte, "Ow."

I "I've Done It This Time" I BOY'S TRAGIC STORY I A seven-year-old boy was the principal witness at an inquest at Bradford yesterday on the body of his mother, Mary Eisdon, aged 28, who is alleged to have died from the violence of her husband. The boy stated that his father and mother quarrelled about money ajud beer, his mother having refused to dripk any beer, and that his father knocked his mother off a chair in front of the fire three times. She then struck his father with a poker. His father said, "I'll stiffen you before you sleep," and struck her in the mouth with his fist. She fell on the stone -floor, knocking her head. On getting up. ahle lay down on the bed. which was in the 'living-room. His father shook her. but got no answer, and then said, "She's dead; I'm going out for the bobby." He went out, aad returned with a policeman. The officer said Risdon remarked, "I think I've done it this time; I hjt her a clout on the head, and she fell with, her head against the bed." The medical evidence showed that death was caused by pressure of blood on the brain due to rupture of blood vessels, the result of external violence, and the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Risdon.

1400 BOOK LEFT AT A CAFE A second charge was 'brought at Bow-street. Police-oourt yesterday a-gainst Goteho Spira, the Frenchman arrested in London some weeks ago while carrying a parcel stated to contain a beautifully illuminated book stolen from a museum at St. Germains, and valued at X500. Spira was further charged in connection with a book. said to be worth £400, and dated 1569. entitled "Coutumea du Gouverne- ment de Peronne. Mont Didier et Roye." This book is supposed to have been stolen from a museum at. Roye, France. An attendant at the Cafe Royal, Regent. street, named Cheviot, said that about two months ago a man he believed to be the pri- soner left a brown paper parcel with him, saying he would call for it later. He did not return, and the paroel, on being opened, was found to cojita-in the sooond. book in question, and it was at once handed over to the police by the manager of the Cafe Royal. Detective-inspector Lawrence gave evidence as to receiving tb& book, and making inquiries about it in Fraoae. Through Mr. Zeitun, the interpreter, the accused said he was not the man who left the book, and another remand was ordered for further evidence as to his identity.

MYSTERY OF A WILL I When holding an inquest yesterday con- oerning the &:ath of John Robinson Ward Fothergili, an, aged man, the Southwark coroner elicited that deceased had been sup- plied with medicine by a chemist for along time. Weea,ert was described as somewhat eccentric, and so far as was known he had no relatives. A witness aid deceased told him that he had made a will and posted it to a Mr. Scott, but Mr. Scott said he had never received it. The coroner's offloer had not found a will among deceased's effects. Dr. Stoker said deceased's illness had been serious, and. he really needed an operation performed on him. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from naturs.l causes."

"THE U- RISTIAN "AT CARDIFF I The speclad attraction for the holidays at the Theatre Royal, Oardiff, will be Mr. Hall Caine's The Christian," to open on Thursday next for nine evenings. The Christian" is not by any means a "religious" play, but it has been reverently treated, and delicately resolves around one of the most absorbing problems of our time—that of a social extil. Doubtless, all will desire to renew a. pleasant acquaintance whilst the play is running. Mism Hilena Millias will play Glory Quayle," while Mr Frank Beresford will portray John Storm." There wigil be matinees on Thursday, Friday, and Satncday at two o'clock.

SOLD AS SCRAP IRON I John io,Grady and Thomas Thomas, employee of Messrs. James and Co., wagon repaireajB, Cardiff, were charged at Cardiff to-day with stealing two railway wagon springs,, of the value of 35s., from the sidings of the J thymney Railway Company, who were the baaJiees. Mr. H. H. Handcock prosecuted, and Mrt Harold Lloyd defended. It trrfpspiaed that the prisoners bad taken the sprsings, believing them to be the pro- perty of their employers, and sold them as scrap iron, giving the proceeds of the sale to their employers. The charge was dismissed.

"HE LIKES LAW" Tbo name of Eli Young was again called in tl/e county justices' court at Newport, to- day. There wao at once the sound of uneasy shuffling of feelt beard, as though the habijfeues were moving about to see the mooh- litigpjtod Dli. Etut he did not appear. He was summoned for having made detfa-ult in the payment of E3 and coeJte upon an order of the justices for the support of his wife. "He likes law," observed the jtreitices"' cderk. ilx. J. H. Griffiths, relieving officer, having proved that default had been made, amd tlbat defendant was able to pay, the Bench coaumitited him for a month, for disobeying the order.

THE BOARD GAVE WAY Wliile working aboard the steamer Gap- Carifar, now lying at the Tredegar Wharf, NewPOTt. a. Belgian seaman, named Jacopus Weireman, fedl between the ship and the wharf, a distance of eighteen feet. He sus- tained slight concussion of the brain, and an injury to his neck. It appoaxl3 that a. board upon which he was standing gave way, causing him to fall. He was removed to the hospital and detained.

I LEFT WITHOUT HIS HAT I After the judge had read the sentence of six months* imprisonment on a young man convicted of theft in Bordeaux, the oourt looked round and the prisoner was no longer there. He had jumped out of the box, raced out of court, end disappeared without even asking the gendarmes for his hat.

DISABLED UNER I The Red Star liner KroonJand. which recently was obliged to be docked on account of a broken propeller, will leave dry dock at Southampton this evening or to-morrow, and proceed to New York. where she will discharge her cargo. It wiH be remembered her passengers were at the time of the mishap transferred to a White Star liner for New York.

GETTING SEASONED TO IT I A Devonport message states that a oolli. sion occurred in the Hamoaze on Friday morning between the destroyers Lee and Fairy The former vessel had her bows badly damaged, and her condition necessitated her being docked at once. The Fairy was not so badly damaged. The Lee met with a similar accident some time ago, when she had her bows stove in.

GELLIGAER MUDDLE I An important meeting of Gelligiaer Parish Council has been oonvened for Monday at Hengoed, important in the sense that bu&i. ness will be transacted whioh will make it possible for the date of the adjourned audit of the accounts of the old parish oouncil to be fixed very shortly.

NO SERMON, NO BREAD I There lis a. charity connected with the parish of Wolvey, one of the conditions of which is that 17 one wishing to partici- pate in the distribution of bread must attend a oertain service at the pariah church, and be present during the delivery of the sermon. It is on record that one Christmas several applicants did not bear the sermon through, and were refused bread.

CLARKE'S BLOOD MIXTURE. yth f&-SM "eClcÏM "m "1* h?ad from ? lapu- Tijtles t!. ram "hate. an. jm. A nx» ttxmdy tot XesMn*. g** Lt?t. 6et««? =-. SO* «n mb, SSSeSed. BruptMCA, OtcM??MtJSS ?ZS?'SL? M?a?M?. so. pony Ys-* ,S=n s?s?'??- -?''

I Cardigan Will Suit I A QUESTION OF CONSTRUCTION In the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice to-day (before Mr. Justice Swinfen- Eady) there was down for hearing the action of Powell v. Lloyd, which raised a question under the will of the late Mir. John Lloyd, of Convoy, Borth, Cardigan. The testator died on July 30, 1890, and the question in the action was whether an annuity of X60 bequeathed to the defendant, Anne Ma.ria Lloyd, and an annuity of £ 20 bequeathed to the defendant, Mary Anne Da vies, were payable only out of the income of the testator's estate not specially bequeathed, or whether so far as such income was insuffi- cient such annuities and all arrears thereof should be made payable in full by repeated sales of sufficient capital estate for that pur- pose. It was also asked that directions might be given to the plaintiffs as to th,e proper mode of raising money for the purpose of paying any portions of the anmuities which could not be satisfied out of income, and for what period the defendants were entitled to recover the unpaid arrears of the annuities. Mr. John Henderson, on behalf of the plain- tiffs, said the object of the action was to ascertain the construction of the will. The proceeds had to be instituted by action because one of the defendants interest was abroad. The action came before tlii.? Lw- at the insitamoe of the trustees, and the de- fendants ware annuitants. The sole question was whether the annuities were to be pa-id out of capital also, or whether the annuities were merely income annuities. After hearing counsel for the defence, Mr. Justice Swinfen-Eady held that the annuities were payable out of corpus, and, so far as that was not sufficient, th-ey must be made up out of capital. The ari-e.ars also must be paid. There would be an inquiry as to what was owing to the estate of the testator.

I BORROWED FROM POLICEMAN I Stated to be the wife of a former clergy-¡ man of the Church of England. Constance Chapman figured in a peouliar case a-t West- minster yemerday. Me was charged with obtaining money by false p'retences, and a I constable related that she begged a loan from him with a tale of a lost purse whiist shopping, stating that she was the wife of the Vicar of East Oroydoi. He lent her 5s., which was not returned, and a few days later she again asked for moifey to enable her to return homo to Maidenhead It was stated that her husband was under- going a. term of imprisonment for appro- priating a cheque. Inspector Oollins said the woman had been twice charged within a week with being drunk. Her children were at present in Lam- beth Infirmary. Prisoner: Not drunk. I've been starred. A remand was ordered.

GERMAN WOMAN'S POSTCARDS I A German woman, Bertlia Weiss, of Brix- ton, was summoned at Lambeth yesterday for unJa.wfuHy and maliciously publishing certain defamatory libels concerning Ernst von Gcerselen, stated to be a baron. Mr. W. H. Armstrong, appearing for the complainant, alleged that for a very long time past the defendtant had been in the habit of addressing to his client most scur- rilous postcards. Differences arose between the defendant and her husband, and the latter instituted proceedings against her. The complainant and his wife were miled upon by the German Consul to &D8Wer cer- ?tain quesuoms, and the defendant had sub- jooted them to the greatest possible aunoy- ance since. The defendant, upon being shown two post- cards, admitted that they were in her hand- writing, and said she wrote them in the hope of bringing her case before the Broper quarter. Mr. Bros oom=tted the defendant &?r trt?l on bail. ==================

"HAPPY FANNY FIELDS" I MX. Packer* refused yesterday to pro- hibit H.a.ppy Paany Fields" appearing in the Adelphi pantomime on Boxing Day. Mr. Buokmastcr aaid Miss Fields had entered into a contract with the Robert Arthur Theatres Ccxmpany, but she after- wards contracted with the proprietors of ,the Tivoli and Holborn Empire not to appear within a, mile of those music-halls. "Happiness," he said, "is a marketable commodity much sought after by music-hall proprietors. The first contract is not biad- ing, for the Robert Arthur Company might not have a pantomime at all, or might have one in Scotland, where happiness and enjoy- ment are not appreciated." The judge decided in favour of the agree- ment with the Robert Arthur Company.

NEW YORK BROKER SHOT Not since Mr. Russell Sage, the financier, was attacked in his office by a bomb-thrower, has Wall street, New York, been more startled than it- was yesterday! when Mr. James H. Olyphant, head of a well-known &took Exchange firm-, was fatally shot by a oustomer distraught by money losses suffered in the present crisis. The assailant, one Geiger, had lost a for- tune in speculation, and be owed the firm £400. After a dispute earlier in the day, Geiger returned, and, when Mr. Olyphant insisted on pa.yment, Geiger fired a.t bim, and then killed himself. The list of tragedies directly traceable to the present monetary crisis is now a long one.

MURDERED FOR BOGUS NOTE A workman while drinking in a public- house art Stuttgart (Germany) waved an imitation C50 note in front of his com- panions, and declared that he had inherited it froan his unole. The little joke was only too successful. Two of the man's com- panions, believing the note to be genuine, followled him when he left, the hmiee, and when a quiet street was reached, tmey attacked him. In the struggle the man was killed, his assailants making off with the bogus note. Still under the belief that it was gennine they tried to change it, when arrest promptly followed.

DIAMONDS IN AMSTERDAM I Th annroal report of Mr. Churchill. British Consul at Amsterdam, shows that 9,275 dia- mond-workers were employed there last year, their wages amounting in the aggregate to £ 1,680,000, whilst three new factories were built, one of them Shaving 300 mills and cost- illg £ 41,000. The fashion in diamond jewellery is set in Paris, and the "rage" last year was for Small work, which is the speciality of Amsterdam. The factories were accordingly busy, and I prices went up.

SAVAGES IN POLICE TUNIOS I Strange as it may seem, a lot of money is made out of policemen's cast-off uniforms. Quantities are bought by African traders and exported te various parts of the Dark Con- tinent," where they are exchanged for palm. oil, ivory, skins. and other merchandise. It is by no means an uncommon sight to see a swarthy savage dressed in the uniform of a London policeman, and wearing the regu- lation helmet of the force.

A VANDYCK FOR lOd. I A hitherto unknown Vaodyck was yester- day discovered at Waesmunster, near Bruges (Belgium). It was recently bought for lOd. by its present owner a.t the auction sale of the deserted convent at Waesmun&ter. The picture is a portrait of Vandyek's sister, who was a nun in the oonvent. It is in good condition.

EXPRESS OF THE AIR I The Vine de Paris dirigible airship tra- veiled at the speed of an express train with five passengers, one of whom was a lady. The airship ran out against a wind blow. ing at thirty miles an hour, and on its re- turn journey, travelling with the wind, attained a speed of sixty-five miles an hour.

BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN INDIA I While a bridge of boats ai Nbwshera, India, was being opened on Thursday last the structure suddenly collapsed under the weight of the crowds upon it, and hundreds of persons were precipitated into the water. It is fe&red that many of them were drowned.

Farmer Baye: That Jones boy t?mt ?ed I to work for yon wants me to give him *I job. Is he steady? Farmer Beede:, WeU? if he was any steadier hetd be motionleas.

Daring-Safe Robbery. I COOLLY REMOVED IN A CART IThrree daring robberies from Londcl business premises engaged the attention c the police yesterday. The first took' plao a.t the British Restaurant, near the Mueeun "tube" station; the second at the shop 01 Messrs. D. George Clollins. (Lim itod), wholesale silveremiths, and the third at the Farring, don Hotel, by Smithfieid Market. The robbery at the British Restaurant was of a partiouilarly daring1 character. About half-past five yesterday morning five men with a lightt cart dirove up to the premises. WitJh a jemmy the lock of the door wns forced, and while one mam remained with the hors-e the other fou] entered the restaurant and carried out the ease, which contained between C20 and £.30, The safe was placed on the eairt, and tht prurty drove quickly away without arousing eu?icio'n. The < amount of L3W was the value of the haul of the burglars who brok« into Messrs. Collins's shop during the night When the manager arrived in the mornins -he found show-cases standing open, the glasii skylight of the back roof smashed, and a. traok of muddy footmarks around tho pl&oe. The burglars failed to "find the safe, which was in the basement and filled with gold and silver ingots and jewellery. Finger marks were every-whete on the show-oases, and these were photographed by the police. Some of the things taken were: Three dozen knives. Nine dozen plated spoons. Five dozen silver spoons. 120 gold medals. Silver cups, bowls, fruit dishes, cigarette cases, and toaet racks. Late on Thursday night a bedroom at the Farringdon Hotel was ransaacked by a man who it is supposed gained access to the private part of the house from a crowded billiard saJoon. Jewellery worth JEM was stolen and X.11 in money.

I GIGANTIC TURKEY I It was the last and principal day for the reception of English turkeys at the London markets yesterday, and there was keen. I excitement throughout Leadenhall and Smithfieid as to which particular firm poa.¡ sessed the biggest bird. Leadenihall's record yesterday morning was for a fine young Norfolk bird of 341b., which was promptly soLd for E2 2s. 6d. and dee- patched to Munich. Later in the day, however, Messrs. Car and Company, the well-known dealers, received lialP a dozen birds, all well over 301b., the weightiest of which—a prime young Suffolk I bird-turned the scale at 3541b. Geese a.re no-t plentiful this year, probably because goose as a Christmas dish has gone out of fashion. English geese were making about Bd. per lb. and French averaging nd. per lb. yesterday.

THE COLLIE DOG CASE At Brentford County-court yesterday morning application was made before his Honour Judge Howl,and Roberts on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. George Smith for an order releasing them from gaol on the ground that they wished to purge their contempt of court in refusing to give up a collie dog on the order of his honour. The animal was then formally handed over to Dr. Cooney, the solicitor appearing for the plaintiff, George Williamson, who is an engineer's assistant, and an infant at law. On the application of Mr. Leslie Smith, the judge granted an order for the immediate release from prison of Mr. and Mrs. George Smith. Leave was granted for a new trial, an affidavit from a new witness being put in.

ARSON CHARGE SENSATION) At the resumed hearing at Nottingham yesterday of the sensational charge of arson agaanst William Thomson, a chemist, and his two assistants, Ernest Bradbury and Robert Lee, who were severely injured in leaping for their lives from an upper storey on the occasion of the are, all three prisoners were remanded in custody ugital January 3, bail being refused. Evidence would be givevn, it was stated for the prosecution, showing that, though both Thomson and Lee denied that there was any resin an the premises, half a hundredweight of resin, as well as a quantity of methylated spirit, had been ordered and delivered pre- vious to the fire. It was further alleged thiat a tin. found after the npe bad oontained & mixture of resim and turpentine.

TUBE TRAIN TRAGEDY A girl of twenty committed suicide in & Paris tube train yesterday. She was travelling in a second-class compartment crowded with people, when she suddenly stood up, and, exclaiming, My life is worthless to me now, and I wil1 end it," draw a revolver, and fired twice into her breast. She died later in the evening after sending messages to her parents, a-nd a message of forgiveness to her fiance, whosei faithlessness was the cause of her suicide.

WEALTHY WOMAN SHOPLIFTER Mane. Fromes. a. lady whose income is £ 1,200 a year, has been arrested and sentenced at Paris to ten months' imprisonment for shop- lifting. Her two sons, both of them of age, who accompanied their mother, and were held to have aided otnd abetted her, were sen. tenoed to four months' imprisonment. All three benefit under the First Offenders. Act. I '=st

SCATTERED DIAMONDS l Whilst a tray of diamonds was being examined at the premises ot the Alexander Clark Manufacturing Company, Fenchurch- street, London, yesterday, the electric light went out, and the plaoce was plunged in dark- ness. Someone jostled against the tray, and its contents, va-lued at XLOOD, were scattered upon the floor. A search was made, and all the diamonds were recovered with tin exception of one.

ALL OVER A COLLAR-STUD Amboine Francdol, a young man of twenty- three years, living in the Boulevard Magenta, Paris, accidentally dropped his collar-stud yesterday. For some time he searched for it, but in vain. Then he burst into tears, and, telling his motlier that life was not worth living, stabced himself several times with a knife. He was taken to hospital.

DRAWING-ROOM FOUNTAIN A telegram to the New York Herald" states that a duplicate of Marie Antoinette's fountain in the garden at Versailles is being erected in the centre of Mrs. Percival Kuhine's drawing-room on the sixth floor of the Hotel Plaza. in New York. Mrs. Kuhne bought the fountain in Paris, and it is to play in the middle of a pool five feet wide, in which gold fish will swim about.

FOX IN A STUDIO During a run with the Heythrop Hounds at Stown-the-Wold yesterday the fox took refuge in a photographer's studio. When dislodged it sprang upon the roof of some low buildings, climbed to the roof of the houtee, glided down the other side, and entered the kitchen of another house. It was eventually killed after a chase over several garden waJIs.

STOLL'S PANOPTICON There will be four performances at Stoll's Pa,noptioon on Boxing Day. The special attraction during next week is a spectacular fairy tale, shown on the bioscope, entitled, "Water Babies," being an adaptation of Charles Kingsley's story. The artistes appearing will include the young Austra- lian Troubadours, Mr. HarTy Lewis, Miss Iria Tremaine, Misa Hetty Rocking, and Mr. Bert, Williams and company in The Miser's Christmas."

DROWNED IN A DOCK A workman uamed James Kelty, of Liver- pool, was taking gear on board the steam- ship Lady Carrington, lying in bhe Alexandra Dook, Newport, to-day, for the purpose of repairs, when he slipped between a ship he had to cross and the Lady CaTrington and was drowned.

FALL FROM MISTLETOE TREE A youth named H. C. Butterworth (16), living in Clifton-place, Newport, was oat in search of mistletoe yesterday on St. Bride's-road, when he fell from a tree. On being removed to the Newport and County Hospital he was found to be suffering from a fracture of the thigih.

OOAOUIyUTK," SXINX," TSWAsrivlm-- Qamanta foe broteu and other utScta