South Wales Echo

LONDON LETTER. LsrECIALLY WIRED.1 [SY OUR GALLERY OOltRESPOXDF.XT.] LONDON", Tuesday Night. The sudden death of the Bishop of London places in the hands of the Prime Minister a piece of episcopal patronage of great value and importance. There had been rumours of his lordship's intention to resign his See, and the probability of his taking this step was considerable, looking at his age— seventy-four—and the enormous labour consequent upon the efficient administration of his populous diocese. It is true he had a suffragan in the Bishop of Bedford, who took from him a large portion of the work in the eastern part of the metropolis, but even with this assistance there was much more to be done than the Right Rev. prelate could properly manage. It appears that on Sunday he took part in the mid-day service in All Saints' Church, Fulham, very near his palace, on the back of the Thames, and in the evening preached in St. Paul's Cathedral, where the service was interrupted by a fanatic named Freund, who the Lord Mayor yesterday sent to prison for two months as an old offender in this direction. The bishop suffered for some time from in- termittent spasms in the region of the heart, and there is little doubt that this morning's lamentable event was the result of Sunday evening's unwonted excitement. A long time has elapsed since the death of a Bishop of London in the full discharge of his ecclesiastical duties, for when Dr, Tait was appointed in 1856 the vacancy was occasioned by the resignation of Dr Blom- field, and the prelate now lying dead suc- ceeded Dr. Tait on his translation to Canterbury in 1869. Therefore when this morning, between eleven and twelve o'clock, the great bell of St. Paul's boomed out the intelligence of the bishop's death over the city, the sound was an unwonted one for such a cause, as ordinarily the bell is not heard except on the death of a member of the Royal Family. The value of the See of London is £ 10,000 a year, with residence at Fulham Palace and in St. James's-square. As one of the primary dioceses, whoever is appointed will not have to wait his turn for admission to the House of Lords, as is the case with the junior Bishops, but will at once enter upon all the privileges of his high office. The translation of the deceased prelate from Lincoln to London in 1869, when Dr. Tait was promoted to a primacy, was a surprise, for those who knew the spiritual wants of the See of London, failed to recognise in the mild and gentle Dr. Jackson the qualities for episcopal rule which distinguished his energetic predecessor. At his first addresss to his clergy after his translation, he told them he had asked them to come and see him as an old- fashioned Churchman, so that he might talk to them in an old-fashioned way. At the same time he contrived to get on without raising much antagonism. He was a man of broad and tolerant mind, supported Liberal measures in the House of Lords, and last session in the two divisions on the Franchise Bill voted in the minority in favour of the measure. There will be a flutter among the occupants of the episcopal benches for this vacancy, but it is quite possible that, as in the case when Lord Palmerstone selected Dr. Tait for this position from the deanery of Car- lisle, Mr Gladstone may go outside the ranks of the hierarchy for a young and vigorous man. The news from Hawarden is again better, and the fact that Mr E. W. Hamilton has arrived at the Castle shows that the Prime Minister is once more enabled to attend to business. The birthday celebration of Miss Gladstone there within so short a time of that of the Premier last week should make the castle bright and cheerful on a wintry day. Those who are accustomed to meet Mrs Gladstone in the London season in the fulfilment of the numerous duties devolving upon her position will be inclined to think that her 73 summers Bit lightly upon her. If ever there was a thorough helpmeet to a husband, that Mrs Gladstone has undoubtedly been during the 45 years of her married life. The Duke of Argyll is added to the list of distinguished invalids. His temporary ill- ness at Inverary Castle need, however, excite no uneasiness, albeit it arises from a bad sore throat. Those who remember the duke as a Cabinet Minister in and out of office during a generation can scarcely reconcile his recollection with is general appearance, which is certainly not that of a man who has suffered much from the cares of public life. The truth is, he began early was in the Cabinet of Lord Aberdeen before he was thirty years of age, and is now merely at a time of life when the late Lord Chief Justice Cockburn described the present Earl Cairns as a young man. Mr Parnell's summons of a second conven- tion to-morrow invests the Tipperary elec- tion with somewhat more of interest than it has hitherto possessed. He and Archbishop Croke between them will now take every precaution to carry their nominee, Mr John O'Connor, over the local candidate, Mr O'Ryan. It was Mr Quaritch who gave £3,900 for the copy of the Gutenberg Bible sold at the Lyston Park collection. The book is not nearly so easy to read as one of the British and Foreign Bible Society's ninepenny edi- tions. But Mr Quaritch generally knows what he is about, and since he gave this stupendous sum for the book, it is presumable that it is somewhere about its value. He did not, as was said in the sale-room, buy the book on commission, for immediately after the sale he sent a cable message to a New York gentleman, named Mr Brayton Ives, offering him the book for 94,000. Mr Ives replied that he was one of the two possessors in the United States of a copy of this, the first book ever printed. He did not seem inclined to duplicate his stock, and the Gutenberg Bible is still in the hands of Mr Quaritch. The rumour is revived that the Duke of Marlborough and his divorced wife are about to get married again—to each other. Such a consummation is devoutly to be wished for from both sides. Even in London society it is not a convenient thing for a duke, who aspires to high political station, to be divorced, whilst it is still worse for the duchess. It is no slight social position which the woman has for- feited. She, it will be remembered, was only Lady Blandford when it happened. It is a very strange story, if true. But the very improbability of it seems to forbid the ex- planation that it has been invented. It would be so much easier to invent something else.

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HARRY SEYMOUR; OR Incidents in the Life of a Cardiff Clerk. CHAPTER II. Harry had lain on tho footpath for some minutes, when two soldiers came up. "Halka, Jim, what's up here ?" Hum, 4 bloke' tight, I suppose." I No, by Jingo, he's bleeding, look They were stooping over the prostrate man, and one of them was turning Harry's pockets over, when a policeman came suddenly upon them, and collared them. Ha, ah Caught, are you ? A nice piece of business. Highway robbery with violence, I'm blow'd." We didn't touch him, we're only just come up." "Well, you'll have to persuade the magistrates that, and it'll be a rather hard job, I fancy." The policeman blew his whistle, but in so doing, had to 1of. go one of the soldiers, who ran off at full sy, <1 towards the barracks. He stuck to the other, and upon another policeman coming up gave the soldier into his charge, and bade him send for assistance. Ere it arrived, however, Harry recovered consciousness, and was soon able to walk into Queen-street, where a cab was called, and he was taken to the police-station to identify the soldier. In the meantime the first officer pro- ceeded to the barracks, and brought back the run away soldier, who stoutly protested his innocence. Why did you run away if you are innocent?" asked his custodian. It Jooks very ugly, that does." On arrival at the police-station, however, Harry at once declared that neither of the soldiers had been concerned in the outrage upon him, and they were liberated. Louie heard nothing of the affair until, when at breakfast next morning, her aunt gave vent to a sudden exclamation of surprise. Louie looked up, and asked her aunt what was the matter. "Nothing, my dear, at least—" But her aunt shut up the paper she had been reading, and looked very grave. I am sure that something is the matter, auntie, what have you seen in the paper to make you look so grave ?" Don't trouble yourself, Louie, I will go out presently and learn if it is true." "If what is true? Tell me, does it concern Harry ?" "Yes, my dear, he has been robbed and-" "And what? Not murdered, aunt? Ob do tell me." "No, only assaulted, and he was soon better." Oh auntie, I cannot go to school this morn- ing till I know he is safe." "Nonsence, Louie read the report yourself; you will see that he was all right when he was taken home." Louie would not be satisfied, however; so they both proceeded to Harry's lodgings, and were grieved by the sad tidings that the shock and fright had made Harry very ill, and that brain fever was feared. It came, and for weeks Harry lay between life and death, but gradually grew better. Meanwhile, Will Aylwin had married Blanche. and so infatuated had he become by the arts she used to ensnare him, that he so far forgot his good principles as to take Blanche without her father's consent. So a special licence was procured, and one fine Saturday morning they met at St. Mary's Church in their ordinary costume, and were quietly married, only the wife of the sexton being present. Blanche's friends knew nothing of it until next morning, when a letter arrived from Blanche, dated London, announcingher marriage, that they were going to Brighton, and would be back in a fortnight, Mr Aylwin having got leave of absence for that time. But a great aud startling event was to take place, wnich somewhat changed Blanche's prospects, Her father had for some years been a widower, and would have married again had he not a great dislike to depose his daughter Blanche from her position as mistress of his establishment. Now she was gone, and partly to revenge her jilting Mr Palmer, Mr Aubrey made up his mind to marry again. So he proposed to a young lady of a certain age," the forewoman of a tobacconist shop close by, and explained h s reasons for pressing a speedy marriage. So, as in the case of his daughter, a special license was procured, and, strangest of all strange coincidences, the marriage was celebrated at St Mary's Church; but not clandestinely. Oh, no; she wouldn't have that and Mr Aubrey began to think, before he was married, that he had caught a Tartar, and was half minded to break it off. But visions of an appearance at the assize court, in a breach of promise case, and the never-forgot undutifulness of Blanche, determined him to go on with it, and so they were married. Mrs Aubrey strengthened her husband's resolve respecting Blanche—that she was not to come near the house thai, she was, in fact to be disinherited, yes, even disowned. They had not long to wait. A letter came one morning when the runaways had been three weeks away for Mr Aylwin's employers had lengthened his lioliday-wherein Blanche in- formed her father of her arrival in Cardiff. I have heard of your marriage, dear Papa," she wrote, but you will surely not refuse to see me. I could never have married that odious Mr Palmer, even if I had not loved Mr Aylwin, I will call to-morrow, unless I have notice I am not to come. The notice not to come was sent in answer and Blanche began to see that all the fine castles in the air she had built on the strength of being still able to put her hand in her father's pur^e, doomed to vanish like a soap bubble. How could she manage, out of her husband's miserable salary of L150 a year, to dress as she had been accus- tomed to do ? It could not be done. She began to wonder whether her husband had any money saved, though if he had, he had not mentioned it. The thought did once occur to her to go and see her father, but pride came to her aid, and she resolved not to humble herself in the sight of her stepmother. They bad gone to Mr Aylwin's old lodgings for a few days, which were occupied to the infinite delight of Blanche, in purchasingfurni- ture, &c., for their new home. Mr Aylwin had taken a small, but neat little villa in Roath, and was evidently resolved to furnish it handsomely for his beautiful wife. The half-scornful, half- petulant expression had apparently left her face, for Blanche was quite happy in those early days of married life, and they entered their new home under the happiest auspices. The next morning, ere going to the Docks to his office, Mr Aylwin playfully tossed his wife a piece of paper, saying, "There, Blanche, you must make that suffice till next pay-day, nearly a month." -Po Blanche opened it, and saw a ten-pound note. She was ominously quiet, as her husband thought. I cannot afford more than that per month. I will pay the rent, as the house belongs to one of our partners. Will not that do, my dear." Ye-es," said Blanche, hesitatingly. But no sooner was he gone than Blanche threw the note on the floor, and burst into a passion of tears. "Ten pound a month! Why, it will not find me in clothes." Harry at length got well, and easily persuaded Louie to consent to their immediate union. But they were, comparatively speaking, poor, and were married by banns. Happy in each others love, with nothing to disturb the serenity of their newly-wedded life,,the weeks slipped quickly by with them. One e vening, Harry Seymour came home from work with a cloud on his brow, and Louie anxiously inquired if he were ill. "No, dear; it is not my. own troubles, but those of poor Aylwin that grieves me. Blanche and he have parted, and as her father's door is closed against her he is in much distress as to her whereabouts. What Blanche parted from her husband, and gone no one knows whither here ao you think she will be, Harry ?" I cannot tell, Louie: I wish I did know, for we would have her here for a time. Your example might induce her to lay aside those notions con- cerning dress and pride which have so far been her ruin." Harry, if you don't mind we will go after tea and see if we can find her. I know all her female friends and probably she has gone to reside with one of them." So when their simple, yet tasty meal was over, Harry and Louie set out on their errand of .mercy. They were unsuccessful in finding her iii any of the places Louie thought she would have gone to. At length Harry, to Louie's surprise, went into the police-station, leaving her outside. He reasoned rightly, that Blanche was known to most of the police force, and some of them might know where she was now living. He was successful, and learnt that Blanche had, when she left her husband, gone to live with an old woman who had nursed her in infancy, and was occasionally em- ployed as a charwoman by her father. To the old woman's humble habitation Harry and Louie repaired, and found Blanche at home. She is in, for she goes out nowhere," said old Mrs Davies, in answer to Harry's inquiries, and has told me to let no one in to see her." Tell her it is her old friend Louie Randell who wishes to see her." The old woman (took Louie's message, and re- turned, bidding Louie to come in. Harry very considerately remained outside. Louie started at the appearance of Blanche. Her cheeks were pale, her hair in disorder, her eyes swollen with weeping, and ebe looked yery ill and woe begone, Oh! Louie, what will people think of me only four months married I wish 1 was dead." "Nay, Blanche, dear, don't talk so; but come home with us. Harry is outside, and we want you to come and stay with us until a, reconciliation can be brought about." "No, Louie, I had rather stay here." "But, Blanche, your husband knows not where you are, and it is right that he should know. You would not wish him to learn that you were living here." "We have parted, and that for ever." Nonsense, Blanche; don't you love your husband ?" Yes, I have only found out how much since I left him but lie said if I ran away he would not fetch me back." "Then you must go back of your own free will, Blanche, dear; for it will never do for two young lives like yours and Aylwin's to be separated." I'll never go back on such terms father will have me home again when he knows I have left my husband. Father will be glad to get me in the bar again, for his profits. I am told, have fallen off tremendously since I left him." Her eyes flashed with pride as she spoke, and Louie sorrowfully felt that while that pride was permanent, there was small chance of Blanche being brought to return to her husband. Have you written to you father, Blanche?" Yes, I wrote this afternoon." "Then come and stay with me till you get an answer,' said Louie, hoping to win her over to her plans. Why should I ? I am all right here; Mrs Davies cares for me as if I were her own child." But this is not a suitable place for you. You would not like it to be said by-and-bye, that you lived in Dispensary-court." Well, no and if it will not inconvenience you and Mr Seymour, I will come." He is waiting outside, and shall speak for himself." Louie called Harry in, and he repeated Louie's invitation, and in a few minutes a cab conveyed the three to the Seymours' neat abode. Blanche was charmed with the arrangement of the interior of the house. She examined the furniture with a critical eye, her gaze being most of all rivetted upon a grand piano, by Collard and Collard. That is a splendid instrument, Louie; how ever could you-but there, I am going to be rude." You meant to say how could we afford it. Well, I will tell you. Harry, there, flatters me with the notion that I am a good player, and knowing how fond I am of music, he was de- termined I should not be without the means of im- proving myself. We could not afford to pay cash down for such an instrument as that, so we had it from Thompson and Shackell's, on their three years' system." How much do you have to pay ?" It comes to about eight shillings per week fi ve guineas per quarter for three years is the amount we have agreed to pay." And you had no trouble in getting it?" None; but we pay a little more by the system under which we purchased it, than if we had paid cash down." Harry had retired into his sanctum, a little room upstairs, which had been fitted up specially as his study or library, and Blanche took advan- tage of his absence to enquire the amount of Harry's salary. He has but JE120 a year, and we live on £ 100, and save the odd ;C20. What! and pay five guineas per quarter out of that for this instrument?" Yes, my dear, it is easy enough." "Well, my husband paid the rent, and gave me £ 10 a month for housekeeping and my clothes, and I could not make it do." Just then Mr Davies brought a note for Blanche, and on reading it, Blanche, with a white face, exclaimed, Father will uot receive me. What shall I do?" (To be continued.)

THE FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE HUNTING FIELD. Inquest on Mr. Lister. I On Tuesday Mr E. D. Batt, coroner, held an inquest at Cefn Ila, the seat of thb late Mr Edward Lister, respecting his death, which took place on Saturday last, while riding with the Llangibby and Chepstow Hounds. Mr Alfred Getlung, of Llancayo, near Usk, was called, and s.iid he was out with the Llan- gibby hounds on Saturday, the meet taking place at Llanvair Discoed, Wentwood. He saw Mr Lister, and was riding with him for some time. He was only 10 or 12 yards from witness when he fell. The fence was a small one, and Mr Lister did not ride hard at it. The pony jumped on to the back of the fence, and off into a wheat field on the other side. The pony pecked," and the ;rider was thrown over its shoulder very sharply. Witness waited a short time for Mr Lister to get out of the way, but on riding up to the fence he saw him lying on his back. He then went round through a gateway to him. He did not speak or breath, and was evi- dently dead. The Coroner asked the jury whether they wanted to hear more evidence. In reply, they said it was quite sufficient. The Coroner told the jury that Dr. W. Boulton had seen the body soon after the accident, and attributed death to inju- ries sustained to the neck. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally killed."

THE CIRCUMLOCUTION OFFICE IN PEMBROKESHIRE. Burying a Suicide and then Hold- ing an Inquest. A Jury Waiting in Vain for a I Coroner. In the course of the county business at the Pembrokeshire Quarter Sessions on Tuesday, Capt. Higgon called attention to an extraordinary affair which had taken place in the parish of Llysyfran, which is situated between Clarbeston- road and Maenclochog. Capt. Higgon stated that, about three weeks ago, a man hung himself at a place called Kilrhedyn, in that parish, and no inquest was held upon him till after he was buried. The notice of the death appeared to have been sent to the coroner of the upper district of the county, and he went to a place called Kilrhedyn in another parish. The Clerk of the Peace (Mr W. Vaughan James) said that the place where the suicide lived was in his district,and not in that of the upper coroner.— The Chief Constable stated that the time of the constable stationed in the locality had been taken up by the coroner for two days, and no proper in- quest had been held after all. It appeared from further statements made in court, that the man, whose name was Thomas, hung himself on a Saturday, and when discovered his neighbours sent a dis- tance of five miles to fetch a constable' to cut him down. Notice was given to the coroner of the upper district of the county, who usually acted in the parish of Llysyfran. This official appointed the inquest to be held on the Wednes- day following, and directed the constable to summon a jury. The constable and the jury assembled at Kilrhedyn in due time, and waited the whole day for the coroner, who did not turn up at all. The next day the constable received a message from the coroner, to the effect that the latter went the previous day to a place named Kilrhedyn, near Fishguard, and that he could find no dead man there. It thus appeared that while the constable and jury were waiting for the coroner at Kilrhedyn in Llysyfran, the coroner was prospecting around Fishguard, looking for a dead man needing an inquest. The COIOner then instructed the constable that he would come to the proper Kilrhedyn on the Friday, and hold the inquest there. The neighbours of the dead man, however, decided to bury the body, as decomposi- tion had set in, and the corpse had become very otlensive.-The constable opposed this, but the neighbours persisted, and the body was buried, the inquest being held as appointed, on the Friday, and after the burial. Lord Kensington, M.P., said he thought the court should take some notice of the affair. It was decidedly a disgrace that no inquest was held till after the man was buried. He proposed that the matter be referred to a committee to in- vestigata and report to the next quarter sessions as to where the blame rested.—Mr G. B. Allen seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

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YANKEE YARNS. HE DID'T CATCH ON.-He was a" tender foot," new to the wild scenes among the bushmen of Nebraska, and, when the rancher slapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he would irrigate," he said, What ? Moisten your larynx." "How?" "Smile." "I don't catch your reference." Drive another nail." You have the advantage." Try some of the hair of the dog which bit you." I cannot grasp Nominate your poison." My poison ? Crook your elbow." I'm in the dark.' Test the tipple." The- Sample." Sample what?" "Paint your nose." "Paint my nose. "I "Take some whiskey—gin—cognac— drink something strong with me. You don't seem to catch on to no kind of hint. Won't you drink some whiskey and sugar ? DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. On an Arkansaw railway train. A passenger calls the conductor and says: "Seems to take some time." Yes. they are rather slow to-night." "Why don't you burn coal so you wouldn't have to stop and wood up i We do burn coal." Then what are you stopping here for?" Oh, I didn't understand you when you said it took em' some time. We are waiting for the train robbers to blow open the express safe. Don't be in a hurry, they'll be through pretty soon. Ah, here they come now. Better hold up your hands, I reckon." HAD SEEN IT ALL. One night while John McCullough was playing Virg-inus" in Little Rock, a lean old fellow from the hills, while standing at the foot of the opera-house stairs, was accosted by an acquaint- ance who asked; Uncle Bill, 1.re you going to see the show ?" What sort of a show is it, Lige ?" One o' these here actin' shows, whar men an' women come out on a platform an' bow an' scrape." No hosses in it, Lige ?" No hosses, Uncle Billy." "Then I don't b'lieve I'll go up. I got enough o' that sort o' thing when Abe Spiller's school shet down. We've seed all they can do. Come on here and let's go 'round here whar that fellow is playin' a fiddle in a grocery." A GREAT PHYSICIAN. I Old Doctor Pomp was called to attend Ander- son Buck, upon whom pneumonia had spread its blighting hands. Old Pomp, after looking at Anderson's tongue, said: Got a tongue like er steer." Whut yer say ?" asked Anderson's wife. Say his tongue looks sorter queer." Does yer think yer kin cure him, doctor ?" Dat 'pens on how well he gits erlong chile. Ef he gits well, I thinks dat I ken cure him, but ef he dies, den I thinks dat he'll be outen my reach. We'se got ter wait 'velopinents in er serious case like dis heah one. Now, I'll leab' yer threa doses o' medicine, beginning to wrap up white powders. "Dis is number one, dis is number two, and dis number three. Gin him number three fust. We'se got ter work back- wards in er case like dis." Well, sah." Is yer got it down?" "Yas, sah." Wall, now, doan yer make no mistake. I'll be roun' in de mawnin', and see how he's gittin' erlong." There were several women standing in the door-yard when the doctor called next day, and the wailing of grief, coming from within the house, assured the physician that the worst had come; however, he did not turn away, but entered the house. Doctor, he's dead 1" moaned the woman. So I sees, madam. Has yer got de papers whut wuz roun' dga powders ?" "Yas, sah, heafirda is," reaching up and taking them from the mantle-piece. "Lemme see 'em. Which one did yer gin fust?"* Dis one, I thinks." I Yas, an' dat wuz number two. How yer 'speck de po' man ter lib when yer gin him de middle powder fust? Dat would break down de constertushun o' er elefin'. Heah, yer's had dat po' man strugghn' 'tween de third an' fust pow- der. Doan see how he stood it so long. Wall, kain't 'speck er doctor ter do nutbin' long ez folks is so keerless. Good day, madam, Ez yer's got so much trouble on yer han's, I won't speak o' money matters dis mawnin'. Will be roun' airter de funeral." SIMPLY THE DIFFERENCE' I Mr Bowerman and his wife left for the country yesterday. One could tell that their trunks were not over half full, as they were pitched into the baggage-car with a crash. They began packing a week ago. When the subject was broached, he said he preferred to pack his own trunk, and he didn't propose to take a whole month to do it either. All he intended to take along was an ex- tra suit, and he could throw that in any way. Night before last he began work. It struck him that he'd better put in an extra pair of boots as a foundation, and he flung em in and braced em in the corners with his clean shirls. The shirts didn't seem to ride very well, and he braced them with two pairs of trousers. Then he stuffed his Sunday coat pockets with collars and cuffs, and found a place for it, using his white vests for chinking," and the balance of his clothing just fitted in nicely. The man who takes over ten minutes to pack a trunk is a dolt said Mr Bowerman, as he slammed down the lid and turned the key. Mrs Bowerman had been at it just seven days and seven nights and, when the husband went upstairs at ten o'clock, she sat down before the open trunk with tears in her eyos, You see how it is," she exclaimed, as he looked down upon her in awful contempt. I've got only part of my dresses in here, saying nothing of a thousand other things, and even now the lid won't shut down. I've got such a head- ache I must lie down for a few minutes." She went away and Mr Bowerman sat down and mused. Space is space. The use of space is in knowing how to utilise it." Removing everything, he began bv reoacking. He found that a silk dress could be rolled to the size of a quart-jug. A freshly-starched lawn was made to take the place of a pair of slippers. Her brown bunting fitted into the niche she had reserved for three hand- kerchiefs, and her best bonnet was turned bottom up in its box, and packed full of underclothing. He sat there viewing sufficient empty space to pack in a whole bed, when she returned and said he was the only real good husband in this world, and she kissed him on the nose as he turned the key. It's simply the difference between the sexes," was his patronising reply as he went down- stairs. When that wife opened that trunk last night- But screams and shrieks would avail nothing. -A?nt)ica?z Paper MRS O'HARA'S LOST OPPORTUNITY. I The unpleasantness that caused the presence in the Tombs police court yesterday morning of Mrs Rosie O'Hara and Mrs Wilhelmina Strauss was brought about by a feather bed. Among the exhibits that literally or oratorically figured in the case was a pail of unclean water which Mrs Strauss was alleged to have distributed over Mrs O'Hara's features; a stick of wood which the chubby hands of Mrs O'Hara and the rather at- tenuated digits of Mrs Strauss variously measured off upon the edge of the magisterial desk, and with which, it was claimed, Mrs O'Hara betrayed an inclination to make a corpse out of Mrs Strauss a frying pan containing a hot sausage, with the unnecessary use of which each of the ladies volubly credited the other, and an extensive asssortment of harsh and unscriptural language that had sullied the air during the progress of the discussion. There were various other articles with which the affair had been embellished, but the feather bed was the top, bottom and both sides of it all. Mrs Strauss had the floor first, being the com- plainant, and while she was unfolding her story Mrs O'Hara utilized the time to tidy herself up a little by tying upon her head a black bonnet with a bunch of red berries in it, and which (the bon- net) her son had brought to her wrapped up in a bit of newspaper. There was amazement and in- dignation in Mrs O'Hara's rotund face when Mrs Strauss intimated to His Honor that her oppo- nent had struck her in the eye first, and when she got her innings she proceeded to disabuse His Honor's mind of any belief he might entertain that Mrs Strauss' averments were anything else than the solidest kind of hand-sewed, copper dis- tilled lies. It nearly caused both ladies to faint when His Honor broke in upon the development of the story with an abrupt Case dismissed. Out in the corridor Mrs O'Hara. entertained two policemen who were off duty and a bootblack with the details of the affair. When she came to the part where'Mrs Strauss had said to her, Lave down that feather bed," and Mrs O'Hara had responded, Divil a lave down I'll do," and Mrs Strauss had again remarked, Lave down that feather bed," to which Mrs O'Hara had again retorted, "Divil a lave I'll lave it, the two policeman and the bootblack were as a unit in the agreement that if Mrs O'Hara. had had an apportunity to lay those facts before His Honor, Mrs Straus would have got at least two months on the Island.

KAT'S COMPOUND, for Coughs and Colds, is equally serviceable for liQisw aad Cattle* 9*4, isiid, and 2? 9cL 213

FACTS AND FANCIES. FOOL MOON.—The honeymoon. LIGHT LITERATURE.—Lampoons and squibs. PROVERB FOR THE BOPROW.Eft.-It is never too ate to lend. A fine old Cornish squire drinks brandy only on two occasions—when he has goose for dinner, and when he has not. A Mississippian puts it thus-" At the earnest solicitation of those to whom I owe money, I have consented to become a candidate for county treasurer." cc o ^id you hear your mother call you ?" Course 1 did Then why don't you go to her at once ?" Well, you see she's nervous, and it'd shock her awful if I should go too sudden." Wanted to know who was the author of that little poem beginning— 'Tis sweet to love, but, oh, how bitter To love a girl and then not git her ?" Little Gertrude was learning to read and when she read a dun cow" her sister said, Now, Gertrude, that doesn't mean a cooked cow." She replied immediately, I know that; but it means one donermilking." Don't waste your time in clipping off the branches, but lay your axe at the root of the tree," said a woodman to his son. And the young man went out and laid his axe at the foot of the tree, like a good and dutiful boy, and then went fishing. This notice is to be found posted up in a Vir- ginia blacksmith's shop—" Notis-De copartner- ship heretofore resisting betwixt me and Mose Skinner is hereby resolved. Dem wat owe de firm will settle wid me, and dem wat de firm owe will settle wid Mose." "Where are ye livin' now, Moike ?" "In Donegal-street, number eleven. Come and see me." Faith I will Ought I to come in be the airy, or be the front dure ?', "I don't care but, as I'm occupyin' the garret, perhaps it would be mote convanient for ye to come in be the sky; light." UI can't very well express-which it—what there-I do not-you are very-I am not, sir, in- sensible-the fact is," said the diffident man, suddenly called to his feet for a speech at a public dinner, I can't make a speech, and I can't say anything you would understand or would wish to here; but, if it pleases you to see me blush and perspire, I will stand here on one leg and Perspire for the next ten minutes." They let him off. A well-meaning but hasty-tempered divine whose denunciations of the short-comings of his flock justly laid him open to the commentary Passed on Charles Fox that, though he knew how to hit the right nail on the head, he generally hit it till he split his work, was once induced to ask one of his congregation what he thought of his philippics. "Sir," said his friend, "I think that good advice is like brandy and water-a capital thing in its way, but nobody likqs to swallow it scalding hot." A STROKE OF BUSINESS. A young German wine merchant, unable to dispose of his goods, sitting disconsolately reading the newspaper, when he noticed that a convivial old baron famous for Rhine wine was deaci. Seizing one of his letter-heads, the young man penned a note thanking the baron for his kind order of a few days before, saying the wine would be forwarded at once, and enclosing the bill. The message and wine were received by the heirs, who, overjoyed at falling into a good property, paid the mer- chant's bill, promptly drank the wine, and gave the dealer whom the baron seemed to have favoured an extensive order. What kind of a house do you want ?" asked an architect. Oh," replied his client wearily, I don't want a house at all I just want you to build me three tiers of cupboards like gaol cells, one hundred and thirty cupboards in a tier, and put a roof on the top tier. I want to put up a house that will contain enough cupboards to satisfy my,wife." But the architect, who was a man of vast experience, told him he would have to put a thousand cupboards in a tier and make the edifice six storeys high, and then his wife would say, when it was completed, that there was not a cupboard in the house big enough for a cat to turn round in. The elder Booth was at time-, the victim of strange fancies. Once he took the fancy to be an absolute vegetarian, and while possessed of this idea, he was travelling on a Western steam- boat, and happened to bo placed at table oppo- site a solemn Quaker who had been attracted by the eloquent conversation of the great actor. The benevolent old Quaker observing the lack of viands on Booth's plate, kindly said, Friend, shall I not help thee to the breast of this chicken ?" No, I thank you, friend," replied the actor. Then, shall I not cut thee a slice of the ham "No friend-not any." "Then thee must take a piece of the mutton thy plate is empty," persisted the old Quaker. "Friend," sa-d Booth, in these deep stentorian tones whose volume and power had so often electrified crowded audiences, "I never eat any flesh but human flesh, and I prefer that raw." The old Qnaker was speechless, and Jhis seat was changed to another table at the next meal. LETTING HIM DOWN.-The late Archduke Francis Charles of Austria, father-in-law of the present Emperor and biother-in-law of the great Napoleon, when Ferdinand made over the crown to him in 1848, declined the honour in favour of his son with these words: I am a good Viennese citizen, but I should make a bad Emperor." The Archduke had a sharp tongue when occasion de- manded. The brilliant but conceited pianist Leo- pold von Meyer once played before him a difficult composition, "to the rather too evident satisfaction of the pianist himself. It was very warm, and Herr von Moyer was somewhat exhausted by his exertions. His heated face and unlimited conceit were too much for the Archduke, and when the artist, with manifest self complacency, looked to him for praise, Francis Charles sarcastically said, I have heard Thalberg, and I have listened to Liszt"—profound bow from the pianist—"and I must say that neither of those eminent artists''— here Herr Meyer executed the most obsequious of salutations-" neither of those famous masters perspired half as freely as you do." Some commercial travellers were one night chaffing one another in their room in the George Hotel, Glasgow. Among them were two road- sters in the tea line, one of whom declared his intention of next day soliciting an order from the late Mr Smeal, the-Quaker tea-merchant in the Gallowgate. "You may save yourself the trouble of calling there," said No. 2, for Mr Smeal has dpalt with our house for years, and he is a man who never changes when he is well served." I will bet a sovereign I get an order from him before X leave pj&cs, said No. 3. The bet was duly booked in the presence of all the room, and next day SO. 1 made his appearance at Mr Smeal's, and, in his blandest tones, solicited an order. The Quaker, in his blunt way, told the traveller that he had no order to give him but the man of samples would take no denial. Give me a little order," he at last urged. I do not care how small it may be, so that it is an order, as it is to settle a bet." Well then," said Mr Smeal, losing all patience, I order you to get out at the door "-which the traveller at once did, and went back to his hotel and claimed his bet. AMONG THE BITrs.A gentleman, arriving at a town in Yorkshire, repaired to the house of a relative, a lady who had recently married a merchant of large means. His cousin and her husband were glad to see him, and invited him to stay with them, as he declared his intention of remaining a day or two in the town. The hus- band of the lady, anxious to show his attention to a relative and a friend of his wife, sent the gentle- man's horse to a. livery-stable in the neighbour- hood. Finally his visit became a visitation, and the merchant found, after the lapse of eleven days, a pretty considerable bill had run up at the livery- stable. Accordingly he went to the man who kept the livery-stable and told him that when the gentleman took his horse he would pay the bill. Very well," said the stable-keeper—u I under- stand you." In a short time the visitor went to the stable and ordered his horse to be got ready, and presently the bill was presented to him. Oh," said the gentleman, Mr X., my relative, will pay this Very good," said the stable- keeper please got an order from Mr X. It will be the same as money." Tho horse was put up again, and down went the gentleman to the merchant's office. Well," said he, I'm going now." Are you?" said the merchant. "Good- bye. But about the horse ? The man said the bill must be paid for his keeping." "Well, I suppose that is all right," answered the merchant. "Yes, but you know I'm your wife's cousin." Certainly," said the merchant, 111 know you are; but your horse is not,"

CLERICAL SCANDAL IN RAD- NORSHIRE. Serious Charges against the Curate of Presteign. Commission of Inquiry. A Court of Ecclesiastical Commission was held on Tuesday at the Radnorshire Arms Hotel, Presteign, by order of the Bishop of Hereford, to inquire into certain charges of drunkenness made against the Rev. John Davis, curate of Presteign who in consequence of such charges has been sus- pended by the bishop. The complaint was made by Mr Stephens, clerk of the peace at Radnor- shire. who is one of the churchwardens at Pres- teign, and also the accused clergyman's father-in law, the rev. gentleman having recently married Miss Stephens unknown to her parents. .The commissioners were Dr. Tristram (chancel- lor of the diocese), Rev. C. E. M. Green (rural dean), and Mr Wood, Mr J. Clowes, and Mr S. Robinson. Mr Garold, of Hereford, appeared to support the complainant, and Mr Corner of Here- ford, for the defendant. The commission, which was read by the deputy- registrar, accused the defendant of having been drunk on the 27th October, 1872, in front of the Radnorshire Arms Hotel, Presteign, and that he fell out of a vehicle; that on the 1st May, 1883, he was drunk in his lodgings and afterwards was guilty of profane swearing, and alternately shout- ing Brief life is here our portion, Mrs West, old girl, is gone," it being immediately after the death of the rector's wife; that in January, 1884, immediately preceding his holiday, he was drunk for several days con- secutively that on the 4th March, 1882, he was drunk in his lodgings at Presteign, and guilty of profane swearing and other bad language that on the 11th July, 1882, he was drunk in the public streets of Presteign; that between the months of March and July, 1884, he was on several occasions drunk in the streets of Presteign and that he purchased spirits at the shop of Mr Welsh, grocer, Presteign, and went to his lodgings to drink it, as much as three bottles at a time also that he was drunk at a popular entertainment in Presteign on December 5th, 1883. and had altogether brought great scandal upon the Church. Several witnesses were examined, and the in- quiry was adjourned until to-day (Wednesday), when the defendant's case will be heard, and it is understood that the defence will be that the pro- ceedings were taken for malicious motives.

COLLIERY EXPLOSIONS AND THE WEATHER OF 1884. At last, after thirty-three years, the heavy record of explosions showsa very appreciable reduction in tho number of persons killed. Since 1850, when the management of collieries became subject to Government supervision and inspection, the number of explosions has steadily decreased from an average of 91 per annum, for the four years ending 1854, to less than 30 per annum for the four years ending 1384. The loss of life, how- ever, to the end of1883 was rather on the increase, for in the thirteen years ending with 1863 the number of deaths averaged 224 againgst 242 for the similar period ending with 1883. Of course relatively to the number of ,o persons employed and the quantity of coal raised the deaths show a decrease. Still the period now under review proves that, in spite of the continued failure in previous years, it is possible to have a very considerable diminution in the absolute num- ber of deaths, which had ranged from 94 in 1864, and 95 in each of the years 1859 and 1876, to 499 in 1880, 586 in 1878, and 651 in 1866, the deaths from 1851 to 1883 reaching the truly appalling total of 7,850. It is therefore most gratifying to record so exceptionally low a total as 48 for the year 1884. The number of explosions was 20, the following 11 being the fatal ones: —Januard 2nd, Walsall, 1 killed llth, Wrex- ham, 2; 27th, Penygraig, 12 March 28, Rowley Regis, 1; April 2, Bndgwid, 2; May 14, Silverdale, 1; July 22, Mostyn, 1; 23, West Bromwich, 3; September 6, Hale End, 11 seri- ously injured, seven of whom died in the following fortnight; November 8, Pochin, Tredegar, 14; December 18, Pwllcarn, Glamorgan, 3. To these may be added the loss of three gallant rescuers at Penygraig, and one case of suffocation at Wigan, August 6, thus raising the loss of life to 51. It will be noticed that Wales contributed six explo- sions, causing 57 deaths. Thirty-one warnings were issued during the year, and of this number thirteen were justified by seventeen explosions. Classifying the accidents according to the atmospheric conditions accom panying them, it is found that 15 causing deaths occurred with a high or rising barometer; 2, with nine deaths, when it was low or falling and 4, with four deaths, appear to be connected rather with a high temperature than with the slight changes of pressure at the time. Comparing this classification with those of previous years, we had in 1882 23 with a high or rising barometer, and 7 with a low or falling temperature, against 18 and 3 respectively in 1883. It will be seen from these figures (which are contrary to the belief which has prevailed hitherto) thjft colliery explosions very rarely occur wheflf' the barometer is actually falling; although in saying this it must not be supposed that no connection exists between a decrease of atmospheric pressure, and an explosion which may take place on the succeeding increase. The important lesson which the figures teach us is the absolute necessity for special exertions to be made to discover gas accumulations during the period of increasing pressure, as well as taking precautions against escapes when a fall of the barometer is setting in. We have stro. evidence that explosions in foreign coal- fields take place under identically similar conditions to those noted in Great Britain. As only serious disasters are announced from abroad, we hear nothing of the minor ones but we may safely conclude that, as at home, these latter contribute largely to the total luss of life. However, in 1884, intelligence from Ame- rica gave six explosions with 281 deaths, and from the European Continent six others with 141 lives lost. Of the 33 accidents at home and abroad it is interesting to know that the official records as to the atmospheric pressure at the time of the chief explosions, at home and abroad, bear out the theory as to the comparative infrequency of such occurrences at a time when the barometer is actually falling. Snch are the simple facts connected with the terrible catastrophes which so often visit the mining villages, and cause untold sorrow and anguish in hundreds of families. It is fervently to be hoped that the encouraging report for 1884 will prove but the beginning of a long period of freedom from colliery explosions; but this can only take place by the combined preventive action of both officials and workmen.

DISPUTE AT THE NEATH AND MERTHYR COLLIERY. Our Resolven correspondent writes :-In con- sequence of a month's notice on the part of the company all the colliers of the Neath and Merthyr colliery brought out their tools on Saturday. The custom in vogue in this work has been to till the coal through and through, for which the colliers were receiving 2s Obd a ton. Now the company want a change in the mode of filling by having it all clean without small coal, for which they offer 2s 3d per ton. But as there is a distance of between three and four miles from the work to the siding where the company insist upon putting a Billy Fairplay," the colliers, con- sidering all the breakage, think they should have 3s a ton. As the difference between the estimate of the company and the men is so great, no ap- proximate understanding has as y t been come to between the parties.

RUNAWAY NEWSPAPER RE- PORTERS. Elopement of a Youthful Bigamist. Securing an Irish Heiress. A sensational elopement has taken place from Dublin. A well-known newspaper reporter left that city during the last week for America, taking with him a young lady of great personal attrac- tions, and who will have, when she comes of age in three years from now, a fortune of £ 8,000 in her own right. After the pair had flown, it was discovered that the faithless swain, who is only 22 years of age, has two wives living, and one of them a family. The matter is now_ „ hands of the police. This is the third d • reporter who has left Ireland sudden y o the last three months.

LINSEED LOZENGES, solidified linsed tea, laxative and demulcent, 6d; postage 2d. hay Bros., stockport, and all Chemists. 23 UNFAIUNG REMEDY FOR HEADACHES KERNICK'S VEGETABLE PILLS, FOR INDIGESTION Sold by all Chemists. &c., in 7id, 13id, and ?d ew* TBEWARE' OF IMITATIONS]

AFFILIATION ORDER AGAINST A MERTHYR TRADESMAN, l Appeal at the Breconshire Quarter Sessions. At the Breconshire Quarter Sessions on, T.r& day—before Sir Joseph R. Bailey, Bart.. M. P « Mr R. D. Cleasby, and Mr A. Crawebaj Bowen Jones, grocer, of the Market-sq w Merthyr, appealed against an order made by M D. E. Williams and Mr E. B. Evans, justice' sitting for the Penderyn petty sessional division, adjudicating him to be the father of the illegiti- mate child of a girl named Elizabeth Edward44 and directing him to contribute 5s per week co- wards the child's support. Mr Bowen Rowlands Q.C., instructed by Mr J. Plews. appeared for the appellant; Mr T. Bonnell Bishop appeared for the respondent Edwards. -The respondent was for several years up to June, 1883, in the service of the appellant a* nurse. Her allegations were that whilst her sla- ter, who was a cook in the same service, and Mrs Jones and the childreen were at Briton Parry (whither she herself had been a few days prior), in the week following Christmas, 1882, the appeU mt' became unduly intimate with her, this intimacy afterwards continuing with the result that on ha 24th of September, 1883, she gave birth to a child. Six weeks after the cominencernent of the in, course he gave her some medicine and piIh: to take, and subsequently, when it was obser, J that she was pregnant, he endeavoured to induce her to fix the paternity upon a young man named! t Howells, an assistant in the shop,, who at that I time was on the point of leaving. This ;o declined to do, but after she had left she persuaded, upon the faith of promises which ne had made her, that if she screened him he would give her plenty of money to rear the child, to sign a paper drawn out by Mr Lewis, of the fitni of Lewis and J ones, solicitors, stating that neither he ror anyone else in his house was the father of the child with which she was was then pregnant. _He gave her half a sovereign to pay Mr Lewis in case he should make a charge, which, in fact, he did not, and he had previous handed her a half-sovereign, saying that u to go for buying clothes for the child. Aftet the birth, he, for the first time, doniod that he was the father, telling her that the cuild did not come to his time but on the same occa- sion he offered her J32 to affiliate it upon someone else. In cross-examination by Mr Rowlands, she said that she took out a summons against the appel- lant in August, 1884, at Merthyr, but she d-d mt • appear, as her solicitor, Mr T. PhillipSj couid not attend. She had consulted other solicitors inee with the view of taking the case up. She denied that it was upon the suggestion of a certain woman at Twynrodin, against whose goads Mr Jones had taken out execution, that she first charged t the paternity upon the defendant. She denied also that she had ever been seen in the warehouse with Howells uuder suspicious circumstances, and, further, that she had been caught in flagrante delicto whilst, mis- conducting herself with a married man, during her stay at Briton Ferry. Sarah Ann Edwards, respondent's sister, de- posed to overhearing a conversation between appellant and respondent, whilst her sister was pregnant, in which the appellant admitted paternity, and promised to give her money, but she admitted having signed a statutory decbr. tion, prepared by Mr Plews, declaring that she never heard anything about Mr Jones being charged with being the father of the child until long after her sister was confined. The young man Howells was also called, and he stated that there were no grounds whatever for the imputation that he had ever been unduly familiar with the respondent. This closed the respondent's case. For the appellant,Mr D. R. Lewis said that when the respondent came to him he was quite unpre- pared for her visit, and when he read out to der what he had written, she declared it to be per- fectly true. Judgment was given for the appellant, and each party was ordered to pay bis own costs.

I SWANSEA FREE LIBRARY. A meeting of the free library committee was held on Tuesday, Mr Brock presiding. -Ldr Hartland reported that, in accordance with in- structions of the committee, he had waited upon the town clerk respecting certain corresponueviae with the authorities of the South Kensington Museum in relation to the promised grant to tha Swansea Free Library and Art Schools. Tha reply he had received from the town cleric waS to the effect that the correspondence would have to be considered by the property committee of the town council before it could be communicatr d to the library committee.—TheLibrarian compulsed of the mutilation of periodicals and papers by readers visiting the reference librar ■ and news-rooms. Several members of the committee recommended that a more stringent supervision [ should be practiced by the library attendants.— The Chairman referred to a visit to Leeds mado by Mr Thompson, the librarian, during the Christmas week. He had, at his suggestion, submitted the plans of the new library buildings to the library authorities of that town, with the object of receiving any suggested improvement or additions. The general opinion expressed was that the plans, if carried out, would give to | Swansea a building in many respects superior to that at Leeds, which had cost a much larger sum than the Swansea building was estimated to cost.—Mr Hartland moved a resolution to the effect that the property committee of the town council be requested not to take any steps with respect to the papers relating to the South Kensington grants until they had bean considered by the library committee.—Mr Par- minter seconded, and, after some discussion, Mr Burnie said he thought the resolution cam too late for the subject to be discussed by that coai- mittee, and recommended that the consideration of any proposition from South Kensington should now be left to the property committee.—The Chairman said that the science and art tiection would be under separate control, and he did not consider it their province to go to any length in interfering with arrangements now pending. Ha thought the science and art department would derive much advantage from being connected with South Kensington.— Mr Hartland, in pressing his resolution, said that there would, in addition to an anticipate -A grant of B1,000 towards the building, be also annual grants for scholarships, the conditions of which would be in the possession of the property committee of the town council, but not oi the library committee. He thought they wero en- titled to that knowledge, and it would be much more satisfactory for the committee to ha\ r tHe terms before them. Another point was tfio transfer of the present quarters of the schools of art to the postal authorities, for which ihore would be an annual sum paid bygoveminent ""1' which the library committee would have control. On Mr Hartland's motion being put, four voted for and nine against it.