South Wales Echo

LONDON LETTER. LSPECIALLY WIRED, j [ST OUR QAXLKKY CORRESPONDENT.] LOXDOX, Friday Night. Renter's correspondent at Korti has taken care that his plucky achievement in return- ing through the desert from Gakdul Wells to the main body, with despatches from Major Kitchener to Lord Wolseley, should not be unnoticed by the British public, and his telegram detailing the con- voy-capturing operations of the gallant major have been read with much interest to- day. A very optimistic spirit is display11 in many quarters with regard to the ft;:lire Ilf the expedition, and there are not warning military critics who believe that we shall vary soon be hearing of the presence of British troops in Khartoum. Judging by the progress already made, it will not be long before some of our men are at Shendy, and as the latest information indi- cates that General Gordon's adherents still hold that town, there may bo good reason for the hopes now expressed. But it would be useless to disguise the fact that serious difficulties remain; and although all that our spies tell us of the waning power of the Mahdi may be true, it is in the highest degree unlikely that the False Prophet" (a name not heard so much just now as it was when first its bearer caused a stir in the Egyptian world) will succumb or even retreat without a severe struggle for the mastery. It is not very difficult to understand the fueling of elation under which Mr Parnell spoke at Clonmel this morning. His especial nominee, Mr O'Connor, for whom he had taken such risks, and on whose behalf he had caused a Tipperary Conven- tion to eat its own words with an appearance even of liking the process, was about to be returned to Parliament without opposition, and the circumstances were sufficient to justify a victorious strain. The great lesson of the whole affair, as far as England is concerned, is drawn by moralists to-night as being never to pro- phesy Mr Parnell's downfall as long as he has a single chance of recovering himself. It does not require the possession of a very long memory to recollect that when the Irish leader was liberated from Kilmainham there was a great deal of talk in some English journals as to the practical certainty of his soon being abandoned by his followers. Very much the same kind of tiling was heard when Mr Davitt raised his voice at the Dublin Convention against cer- tain items of Mr Parnell's policy. This week it has been similar, and to-day's unopposed nomination at Clonmel is regarded here as the completest answer yet given to the oft repeated cry that Mr Parnell's days as leader of the Irish people are numbered. The ancient proverb which declares that A stitch in time saves nine is evidently believed in by the various political bodies throughout the country, which are forming new organisations and choosing fresh candi- dates as if the Redistribution Bill had already been passed into law. To be in a state of thorough preparation is a highly desirable thing, but there seems a danger of the matter being a little overdone. This, at least, is the opinion of one of the London Liberal Associations, which, upon being invited this week by one of its members to commit the happy despatch, declined to accede, on the ground that the bill was not yet iaw, and from many reasons it might not become law this year, and that even if it did it would not be in operation for another twelve months, during which time such contingencies as deaths, I promotions to office, and. successions to the peerage will cause byo-elections, which will have to be fought in the existing constituen- cies and under the present system. These are details which appear to have escaped the notice of some of our more eager political organizers, but they are worth bearing in mind all the same. The trial of Madame Clovis Hugues has excited much interest here, and if we exclude the result as being not quite in accordance with our insular notions of jus- tice, the attenuated proverb that these things are better managed in France might be likely to recur to the mind. In London such a case as this would have taken at least a week to try, the court sitting five hours a day. No one can imagine an English judicial tribunal sitting until half-past two in the morning, although, no doubt, in the Penge murder cuso at the Old Bailey, the prisoners were not sentenced until nearly midnight, in consequence,of the abnormally prolix summing up of tho presiding judge, which was not brought to a close until ten o'clock at night. If our ideas of French justice in its results are not very high, our increasingly cumbrous mode of conducting judicial inquiries is certainly open to improvement. It is not so many years Isince the Emperor Napoleon and King Victor Emmanuel were two of the most prominent figures in Euro- pean politics. One died on the 9th of January, 1873, and the other on the same date in 1878. It is doubtful whether the clates,-are remembered, of either event to- day. Pius the Ninth, an intimate political acquaintance of both sovereigns, died a month after the King of Italy, in the height of the Jingo excitement here. The claimant, who does not find his starring tour through England very lucra- tive, has turned his eyes towards the rich field of the United States. Arrangements are now nearly completed for his visiting that country, where he will be under the direction of an enterprising agent. A society has been formed bearing the sonorous title of "Tichborne Release Association," which guarantees a certain sum of money that has proved irresistibly tempting to the unhappy nobleman lately languishing in prison. They intend, preliminary to the visit, to educate the American mind, to which end they are even now distributing pamphlets purporting to give the true history ot the Tichborne case. This fable appeals also to religious feeling, showing, as the late Mr Whalley often attempted to do in the House of Com- mons and elsewhere, that it is the Jesuits who are at the bottom of the whole business. It is demonstrated that if Arthur Orton had been proved to be Sir Roger Doughty Tich- borne, the result would in some occult manner have led to an increased charge of 15 per cent. upon certain lands held by the Jesuits. One difficulty that suggests itself in connection with the proposed visit is the toils in which the claimant is still held. He is on ticket-of-leave, one of the conditions of which is that he shall at stated intervals report himself to the police. If he goes to the United States on a prolonged lecturing mission, it is evident that he cannot fulfil this condition, where- upon his licence would lapse, and on re- turning to England he would be liable to be remitted to prison to complete the full term of his penal servitude.

I The Old Man's Spirits. I The following is a chapter from "The Red Manor," a novel written by Lady Betty Lytton, which is at present appearing in Temple Bar. Lady Betty Lytton, who is daughter of Ear! Lytton and granddaughter of the famous novelist, is a ynwg lady not yet out of her teeiis:- The drive was long, and they went but slowly on account of the heavy snow. At last, however, the coachman descended from the box, opened two iron gates, and drove through them. Leoline had fallen asleep in her husband's arms. It was a clear, frosty night. The snow lay deep upon the earth, and the moon shone bright. They were driving down an avenue of yew-trees, the sombre branches of which were covered with snow. At the end of the avenue the house rose clear and dark in the moonlight. No cheerful light was v; in any of the windows, and the whole l-ii'ding looked black and prim, The carriage stopped and as the coachman rang the bell an owl hooted from a neighbouring tree. Leoline woke with a start. She felt a vague sensation of fear, and instinctively she clung to her husband. After a few minutes, the door (a low one inside a porch) swung back with a,'creak- ing sound, and an old woman appeared with a lantern in her hand. Her face was wrinkled, her nose was aquiline and crooked; and two ugly yellow teeth projected from her thin, colourless lips. She wore a black cap, with long black ribbons dangling from it, and a few grey hairs appeared from underneath it. From her waist hung a large bunch of keys, which rattier whenaver she moved. "Are you the housekeeper?" said Maurice, springing out of the carriage. Yes, sir." mumbled the old woman, looking at him with an ugly leer. "I've prepared everything for you, as comfortable as possible. Come in, my lady, out of the cold Air. Ah I see the lady is tired she wants to'get to a warm fire. Come along, come along." Leoline and Maurice were standing in a large square hall. It was surrounded with figures in armour, and a broad oak staircase led from it to the rooms above. The floor was stone. Through two large windows on each side of the staircase the moonlight streamed into the otherwise dark hall. The old woman led the way upstairs, and Lord Maurice and his wife followed. On the first landing was a small latticed window in tho wall, and as they passed it the window was violently tapped. "Oh, Maurice!" cried Leoline, "what can that be?" The old woman turued round and said — Don't ye be frightened, ma'am. That's an old owl, as always comes and beats agin that window. It's a tiresome old bird, but ye'll soon get accus- tomed to it." Well, go on," said Lord Maurice, sharply we don't want to stand here any longer in the cold." Softly, softly. I'll go as quick as my old bones will carry me. This way, gen'elman." The old woman now turned into a long, narrow passage, and,opening a door richly carved, showed them into a large, low room, hung with tapestry so old and worn that it seemed only held to tho wall by one or two threads. There was a four- post bed in this room, a heavy oak table, a few hard, high-backed chairs, a moth-eaten sofa, a washstand, and a chest of drawers-the two last- mentioned articles having evidently been recently put there. Opposite the table was a larg-echimney. piece, reaching to the ceiling, and a warm fire was blazing up the chimney. There was a window facing the bed, and the curtains of it were drawn. "You have not selected the most cheerful room for us," said Lord Maurice. Oh indeed, sir, this is far the wannest room in the house; others haven't been used for ever so long, and we hadn't time to do 'em up for ye. I am sure ye'll be at your ease here, and I can answer for the bed being well aired, for I and my husband have slept here for the last three I nights." The other two did not seem to relish this re- assuring information, but the old woman con- tinued— "This is the bedroom, and the sitting-room tinued- "This is the bedroom, and the sitting-room leads out of it." Here she opened a door opposite the fireplace, and ushered Lord Maurice and hi-s wife into a smaller room of the same character. It had but one window, opposite to which was bookcase, filled with old books, all in a torn and tattered condition and facing the fireplace was a large picture, reaching nearly from the ceiling to the ttcor. It was the life-size portrait of a man, to the ttcor. It was the life-size portrait of a man, dressed in a loose dressing-gown, and seated in a chaic. Long grey hair hung down over his shoulders, and his countenance, a strange but noble one, wore an expression of the deepest melancholy. Leoline could not repress an ex- clamation as the picture caught bar eye. Who is that ?" she said. That picture, ma'am ?" answered the old woman. That was the grandfather of my late master. He was a wonderful man. I was with him three years before he died. These are the rooms he always lived in. Will you have your supper downstairs or would you like it up here, ma'am?" Leoline said she would .prefer having it in the sitting-room. My man will bring up your lugguage. And, now, is there anything more I can do tor you ?" They replied that they required nothing but rest and quiet, and the old woman withdrew. When she was gone, Leoline dropped into a chair and sighed. "Leoline," cried Maurice, "does the place seem very lonely? Ah! I ought uot to have brought you here before everything was made fit to receive you more comfortably.' No, no, Maurice. I am enchanted with the place, and it will look cheerful enough when we have been here a short time. Indeed, I am only a little tired." The caress which answered her was interrupted by a knock at the door. It opened, and an old man looked in. He was short, and his back was bent with age. His face had a malicious expression, and a largo wart at the end of his nose did not improve his appear- ance. After ^watching the lovers for some seconds in silence, he pulled his forelock, and in an indistinct, stuttering voice Good-od evening, 1-1-lady and gentleman. I'm Will Crotchet, the husband of the worthy dame who has just left you. I'w' brought up your box, and, if you wish it, I'll now bring up your supper." The old man withdrew, and shortly reappeared with the dinner cooked by his wife to the best of her abilities, which were not great. When they had finished their meal and were alone again, Maurice and Leoline examined the room more carefully. He opened the bookcase, and attempted to take out one of the books, but as soon as he let go the glass frame he had just opened it shut with a snap, and he narrowly escaped pinching his finger. All his efforts to reopen the bookcase were in vain. How very strange," he said. "It opened so easily before. It is probably a spring door," said Leoline. Maurice sat down musingly. I cannot under- stand this place at all," he said, after a pause, and taking Leoline's hand in his own the cold- ness of it startled him, and he then noticed that she was trembling. Leoline, dearest, what is it ?" I don't know," shasaid. "But I thought I heard a low moan, as if some one were in pain close beside me." They both listened, and after a time the moan I was repeated. "There must be someone outside," said Maurice, and he sprang up, opened the window, and called out, Who's there?" A gust of cold blew into the room. It must have been the wind, after all, be said. "Shut the window, dear Maurice, and come and talk to me. Everything is so still, and that picture opposite haunts me, and that moan—for I am sure it was a moan—made me so frightened." Maurice drew his fair young wife to him. She nestled herself upon his knee and they began to talk of what is always the most interesting thing to young lovers—themselves and in the pleasant discussion of that congenial subject they soon forgot every other. The night was far advanced, and the houses as still as death. Maurice and Leoline had fallen asleep in each other's arms. Suddenly a shrill scream echoed through the house. The sleepers were awaked by it. The scream was repeated. Maurice tried to speak, tried to move, but some invisible power held him 'back, and he could not utter a sound. His wife clung to him, her eyes wild with terror. The fire had died down upon hearth. The window had been blown open, and the candle blown out. The moonlight streamed into the room. The scream ceased. The attention of both Maurice and Leoline was now involuntarily attracted by the large portrait opposite them. Tte head of the portrait slowly moved; the mournful eyes turned with a look of supplication towards them. The whole portrait moved the hands were lifted from the arms, of the chair, on which they had been resting in the picture; the figure of the old man rose, straightened itself, stepped out of the frame, and disappeared. The picture frame was empty. The blank wall behind it was distinctly visible in the moonlight. At this blank wall the terrified owners of the Red Manor were still staring mechanically, when they became conscious of a dusky space in the centre of it, which appeared to be a wooden panel. The panel, as they watched it, slid noisely into the wall. The aperture it revealed was impenetrably dark but out of the darkness of it a horrible image now emerged. This image bad the apearance of an old hag, in a loose, black garment, the hood of which was drawn over her head, completely concealing all her features except the mouth. The expres- sion of that one feature, however, was ghastly in the extreme. The lips seemed shrivelled away from the igumiess aud projecting teeth, which glittered in the moonlight, tightly clenched as if in a contortion of pain or passion. The apparition in its place, and the human beings in theirs, thus stood confronting each other all three for a while silent and im- moveable. Presently, however, a long black sleeve was lifted and stretched through the emptv picture-frame a bunch of bony fingers, long and sharp as the claws of a bird of prey, protruded fro the black sleeve, and slowly opened and shut, as if clutching at some invisible prey. A low chuckling sound was audible underjthe black hood, and the apparition was no longer in the picture- frame. It was now in the room itself. The hag ap. proached the lovers. Again the silence was broken by a shrill scream. This time, however, it was a human scream-the scream of Leoline for the hag was stooping over her. She seemed to whisper something (something which to Maurice was inaudible) into the ear of the senseless form he now held in his arms. Then the hooded face turned towards him. He saw the glittering teeth a sensation of intense cold seized him, and he too lost consciousness. How long Lord Maurice Chistlewood remained insensible he knew not. It was still dark when he recovered from the swoon into which he had fallen. The moon was' setting. The dawn had not yet broken, and only a dim grey light came from the uncurtained window. lie awoke with a sensation of numbness, as one who had been stunned by a heavy blow or a severe fall. His wife was lying beside him on the floor. She was still insensible. He spoke to her she made no answer, but she was breathing heavily. Not dead, thank God he exclaimed, as he lifted her gently in his arms, and, with his precious burden groped his way to the door of the bedroom. The door was shut, but a dull light was shining through the chinks of it, and as he opened it Maurice per- ceived, to his surprise, that the bedroom fire was burning brightly. It lit up the whole room with a. cheerful ruddy glow, and the flickering gleam of it played warmly among the crimson folds of the heavy bed-curtains, which were closely drawn. Maurice felt his strength and spirits rapidly reviving in the warm atmosphere and comfortable aspect of the room. He bent over the face cf his beautiful wife, who still lay insensible in his arms. Her eyes were closed, and the look of pain and terror upon her countenance vividly recalled to him the ghastly experiences of the room he had just left. He shut the door behind him, but was unable to Jock it. The brass box-lock attached to the door, could it have been used, would have been stout enough to withstand the heaviest pressure, but there was no key in it, and the old-fashioned door-bolt, which seemed to have been added as an extra precaution, had been removed from the brass sockets. Maurice hastened to the bed, and, still support- ing Leoline on one arm,with ths otiler drew aside the heavy curtain. As he drew it the warm fire- light feil brightly over the coverlet, and, 1 to his amazement and horror, he beheld the old man sitting up in the bed, wide a-ake, and looking steadily at him. At this sight his indignation and anger was even greater than his horror. Miserable and impudent imposter he exclaimed—but again, as before, his utterance was stifled by a sudden and mysterious paralysis of power. All the nerves of sensation remained acutely, and, indeed, preternaturally active, but the nerve of motion seemed to have suddenly lost their function, and no longer responded to the will. The old man's face was the same as that of the portrait in the sitting-room. His eyes had an expression of intense and painful expecta- tion, as if he were watching for some- thing, and the full blaze of the fire illuminated his face, which was deeply wrinkled and very hairy. Maurice could not avert his own eyes from this singular figure. The two men (if two men they were) gazed steadily and silently at each other but the old man seemed to be gazing not so much at Maurice as through him, and at something behind, or behond him. The next moment Maurice was again conscious of a sudden sensation of cold, similar to what he had ex- perienced in the adjoining room at the approach of the old hag. The light between the fire-place and the bed was slowly darkened by a faint, form- less, indefinite s liadow.ttlie old man's eyes were fixed upon it with a dilating giaro of intense animosity, mingled with extreme fear like the look in the eyes or savage animal at the approach of a savage master. The shadow strengthened, as it were, in substance, but not in form that is to say, it grew darker and denser, and at last completely opaque; but all its outlines seemed blurred and fluctuating, as if from the quickness of some strong inside motion, confined within a narrow space; like the spokes of a wheel when it turns swiftly, or the figures on a banner violently agitated by the wind. Then the old man stretched out, towards the approaching shadow, a long hairy arm, as if to repel it. Again that low chuckling sound, which Maurice recalled with a shudder; and in the central darkness of the shadow there was a momementary sinister gleam of white teeth, and a quick clutching movement as of dusky prongs or fingers convul- sively opening and shutting. The shadow was now close to the bed. The old man sank back upon the pillow. The shadow was upon him, and then between the palpable, human form, and the impalpable, inhuman formlessness, there seemed to be a terrible struggle, all the more terrible because it was absolutely noiseless. No description of a nightmare, however vividly the details of it may be recalled by the awakened dreamer, can convey to others, or even to his own waking senses, any adequate idea of the abJcc- and impotent horror of its sensation during sleep; nor can any description of this noiseless struggle represent the sensations with which it was watched by Maurice Chistlewood; till at last the increasing terror of it become intolerable, and he fairly screamed aloud at the pitch of his voice. The sound of his own scream at once dis- solved the spell which had been upon him, Panting and gasping, as if he himself had been in conflict with some impalpable but tremendous power, he passed, with a desperate effort of the will, and a confused but deliciously, thankful sense of escape, from an unnatural in a natural condition of consciousness. The apparitions that had haunted him were no more and, if the fire- light were the element in which they lived, it, too, had gone out. The dawn, grey and cold, but clear, was in the wintry sky. He looked around him, the bed was empty, the bed clothes undisturbed. He placed Leoline upon it, drew her hands in his, sank down by the bedside, laid his head upon the hand he clasped, and exclaimed, Thank od!" Deeply seated in the human nature is the instinct of prayer and thanksgiving, and, whatever his race, his creed, or his language, man's first impulse in the moment of escape from some awful peril, or some awful fear, is to exclaim —" Thank God Maurice was still in this posture when he heard steps in the passage, and some one opening, not the door he had closed, but the one leading to the staircase. Maurice's nerves were still so upset that he shrank from ascertaining the cause of these sounds, and did not lift his head, though he heard two people enter the room and;approach(the bed. A hand was laid upon him, and he felt it stroking him all over, with a doubtful, inquisitive touch. "Jim," said the voice, of Mrs Crotchet, in a tone of grim satisfaction, "he's dead; she's dead: they're both dead-dead as two stones. Hi! hi! hi!" Maurice sprang to his feet. "You wretched old people," he exclaimed, "what are you doing here ?" The old woman screamed, but her hus- band said, with a malicious grin, Bless, yer, sir, we only thought ye was both dead." "Dead? And why should you think so, vil- lain, eh ?" Only, sir, because people who come to visit this house sometimes do die; can't tell why, to be sure but I've seen strange things here myself." "You wretch," cried Maurice, attempting to seize him, but the old man evaded his grasp. "You wretch? what infamous tricks have you and that villainous old hag presumed to play upon me and my wife this night?' Will Crochet laughed. So you've been frightened by the old man's spirit, have ye ?"

LORD ABERDARE AND EDUCATION. Lord Aberdare has consented to preside, at a projected conference, to be.held in Manchester on the 14th of April and following days, to discuss the condition and methods of education in relation to health.

KAT'S COMPOUND, for Colds and Coughs. Sold throughout the World I-i 1.J 9c1.: &:c. Kay Bros., Stockport. 213 THE CORPORATION OF LONDON having required the premises of the Bankrupt Agency Association, 29, Ludgate-bill, E.C,, for city improvements, the Alliance Clothing Company, 33, St. Mary-street, beg most re- spectfully to inform the inhabitants of Cardiff and neighbourhood that they have taken over the whole of the above company's sioek, comprising Hobson and Co.'s stock of clothing, George OliTer's stock of hosiery and ties, and Strauss Bros.' stock of fancy goods for immediate sale at a trifle over one-half the original invoice cost, ■-■ale now proceeding at tue Alliance Clothing Company, 33, St. Mary-street, Cardiff. 214

[ YANKEE YARNS. I -W I ONE MORE HONEST MAN, I When the conductor had passed through the f front part of! the smoker to the Denver train as it pulled out of Crete yesterday afternoon, he was called back by a tired looking man with a faded terra-cotta moustache. Do you see any check terra-cotta moustache. Do you see any check in my hat-band ?" he asked. The conductor looked and confessed he did not. Do you re- member collecting any* fare from me?" "No, I guess I skipped you; gimme your ticket." "Now, I suppose." said the tired man, "that most men would have lot you go when you didn't notice them." "Yes, but can't you find your ticket ?" Hut I don't believe in letting a man suffer for a mistake even if it is his own." "Want to pay in cash? How far are you oing ?" asked the con- ductor, filling out a drawback. "There are a great many psople." continued the terra-cotta moustache; "who think it is all right to beat a railroad corporation, but I'm not one of them. My-conscience wouldn't have let me rest a minute if I had let you go by. Fare to Lincoln's fifty cents," said the conductor with a sign of impa- tience in his face. No, I couldn't go to sleep at night if I had something that belonged to another." He dropped a tear, and reaching down into his vest pocket, drew forth a worn and soiled annual pass. He was an editor, but the conduc- tor was a new man, and had never seen I hi- before. He made some remarks that left a blue streak behind them as they ran along over the heads of the passengers, and returning the docu- ment, passed on through the ctr.-Lincolit State Journal. "OUT OF THE PLAIN HIGHWAR OF TALKt', I It is of no use in "the States" for an Eastern man to try to tell a big story when there is a. Wes- tern man about. "When I was a young man, saidColonel B., an Eastern, "we lived in IllI. nois. The farm had been well wooded, and the stumps were pretty thick. But we put the corn in among them, and managed to raise a fair crop. The next season I did my share of the ploughing. We had a 1 sulky' plough, and I sat in the seat and managed the horses, four as handsome bays as ever a man drew rein over One day I found a stump right in my way. I hated to back out, so I just said a word to the team, and, if you will believe it, they just walked that plough right through that stump as though it had been cream- cheese." Not a soul expressed surprise. But Major S., a Western man, who had been a quiet listener, remarked quietly, "It's curious, but I had a similar experience myself once. My mother always made our clothes in those days, as well as the cloth they were made of. The old lady was awful proud of her homespun—said it was the strongest cloth in the State. One day, I had just ploughed through a white oak stump in the way you speak of Colonel, but it was a little too quick for me. It came together before I was out of the way, aud nipped my trousers. It felt mean, I can ten you, but I put the string on the ponies, and, if you'll believe it, they jusJ; snaked that stump out, roots and all. Something had to give, you know." sic TRANSIT. I As tao train roiled into -it, Ohio. the passenger remarked, "If we had time I'd stop and take dinner with old Hayes." With whom ?' asked the sad pasenger severely. Old Hay's, the fat passenger replied. Didn't you know him ? Used to be the President of the Republic. Some months ago people were calling him His Most Excellent ExcelLency Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States of America and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy.' Then he got on the cars one day in March to ride west, and, when he got as far as Altoona, people* were calling him Rutherford B. Hayes, ex-President of the United States.' When he reached Pittsburg, they called him Ex-President Hayes. When the train got as far west as Cleve- land, the papers announced the arrival of Hon. R. B. Hayes.' And the day after he reached Fremont an old Fremonter, lighting a spring fire with an ancient pea-brush, and blighted boots in his back-yard, said to his neighbour, with little grammar, and less reverence, Old Hayes is got rich.' Sic transit gloria of the United States of America. Yesterday men would chase after Hayes's carriage fifteen miles tbrouh mud and dust to beg him for a little Missouri corner post- olfice worth three hundred and sixty five dollars a year and pay your own rent. To-day he ap- pears at an hotel, and the clerk says cheerfully, Want a sample-room. Mr. Hayes?' R. goes to the bank, and the cashier looks at him pleasantly, but with intense scrutiny, and says, Could you got another name on this for uu_, please ?' Verily, my brother, all is vanity J So is the greatness of the man who hath been President." „ "EVERYTHING'S CHANGED'" Old Air Thistlepod looked very dejected as he came into the ornate sanctum of the Hawkeye and sa-t down in the society editor's favourite chair. Nuthin' isn't like it used to be," said the old man. ( Everything's changed." •' Iligut," said the sporting editor, feeling m his other pocket first, "and there is precious little left of the chang-e." And a look of woe came over his countenance as be wondered what he did with-it. '• What s the matter now?" the city editor asked the visitor. "Well," Thistlepod replied, "I've been out lookin a^ the boys play football. Now, there aint any science in football. Anybody knows that. I've played football' 'n' you have 'n' you know there aint no science in it. They've run all the old ball games out. Boys to-day are too delicate to play sock-a-bout,' Moses in Egypt 1 If I aint had Bill Simpson fire a red hot sold injin rubber ball at me so as t I couldn't think for week but it d gone plum thru h-,e i You hit a boy a crack like that with a ball to-day an' he'd cry 'n' lay down >n'-—" There have been base ball players killed by a ball from the bat," said the sporting editor, in- tent on standing up for the boys of to-day. A so they'a ought to ben roared the old man, in a burst of wrath. "So they'd ought to ben Every last one of ern 1 Any man that'd go iiiasi,crdin, around in such a game had ought to he killed. 'Taint anything like a Christian game o' ball, knockin' men to nieces like that way. Tain't played right, nohow. Kin you cross a man betwixt bases? No, you can't. Kin you hit him a clip with the ball when he's runnin' betwixt bases, and put him out an make him think you ve bored a hole clean thru' him at the same time! No, you can't. Ye got to run after him weth one foot on yer base and tech him with the ball in yer hands. Is that any way to play ball, I'd know ? Kin a fellow knock a ball a mile and then run around the ring three times an' bring the wnole crowd in ? Or kin he bring another ^when he runs around oncet wethout stopphi iNo, he can't, Do you choose sides ? No you don t. You have teams an'- Oh, well, Mr Thistlepod," said the sporting editor, that's old town ball; nobody plays that now. That's ball!" howled the old man. "Didn't I I play ball afore you was born? Reckon nobody plays one old cat' nor two old cat' now, nuthcr. Nor 4 Andy over,' not 'bull pen,' nor anything. | Don't talk to me! ) "But about this game of foot-ball ?" askd the I city editor, anxious to get the old man back to his item. "Oh! Well, they call it foot-ball, but good- ness only knows what it reely was. They hed two teams: hope to die if they didn't. An' the more I looked an' the more I listened, the less I knowed. They hed goals and half-hacks-now, what'n the name o' sense is half-backs ?' -^n' they had touch downs,' whatever they may be, an' rushers and full backs, an' quarter backs, an| there was off sides, an' safety touch downs, an drop kicks, an' dribbled kick oil's, an' punted balls, an' all that sort o' nonsense. Now what kind of a way is that to play foot-ball, I'd like to know T' How did you used to play foot-ball, Uncle William?'' asked the society editor. Kicked it!" shouted the old man. "Slapped it down on the ground an' kicked it. When we couldn't get to where the ball was danced around an' kicked somebody's shins! Kicked an got kicked back H'isted her Didn't have no pull- backs 'n' no gaols 'n' no punts 'n' no nonsense Jest kicked Like this And the boys cheered as the old man jumped up, backed across the sanctum, and made a rush at the waste basket to show how they kicked it." He caught it low, and up far into the blue cerulean dome of the ceiling went that basket, out of the open window, and in graceful curve clear across the street, and for two long hours it rained original poems, sonnets of all sorts of girls with fancy names, and two-ton political contributions and faded correspondence, and demands for the stoppage of the paper, threats oOibel suits, and a miscellaneous shower of advice, dictation, sug- gestion, approbation, abuse, cheek, news and political wisdom from Taxpayer, Constant Rea- der, Old Subscriber, Fiat Justitia, Citizen> »ox Populi, Lex, Americus, and One Who Knows. Howling and groaning under the table lay old Mr Thistlepod with a broken toe, while a big stone- ware Queen Anne spittoon that had been through three Presidential campaigns lay in its place by the side of the waste basket without a dent in it. Football used to be a great game when Uncle William was a boy, and they just kicked.—Bur- lington Haivkeye.

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FACTS AND FANCIES. 18 THE AGE OF REASON.—Very bard to tell. A CIRCULAR "SAW."—A saying that cuts all round. PAT'S "HEIGHT OF MANNERS."—The top of the mornin' to you. When is a book like a lost dog that 'has been found ?—When it is recovered. FASHION NOTE.—All sorts of sleeves are admis- sible for ladies' dresses, but the coat-sleeve round the waist remains the favourite. Why should candidates for a racing crew b8 less than 21 years of age ?—Because miners know best how to handle the ore. A Philadelphia coal-dealer recently received from a prominent shoddyite, who had been to Europe, an order for five tons of coal delivered a la, cart. Now, I understand," remarked Oldboy, with a sigh, at a malinie, after vainly trying to get a view of the stage over the bonnet in front of him, "what they mean by the 'height of fashion. It is said that under the laws of the pilgrim fathers a man could not kiss his wife on Sunday. "Judging from the pictures of some of the pilgrim mothers," says a wag, one day's vacation a week was none "too much." ABSENT-MINDEDNESS ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE. —Considerable surprise and excitement were created on the London Stock Exchange the other day by a prominent operator appearing with his hands in his own pockets. A well-known aesthete, paying a morning visit to a lady, surprised her dusting some china too precious to be entrusted to any hands but her own. Oh," said ho, what unnecessary labour Dust should never be removed; it is the bloom of time." Monsieur Gomgom, who had teen married only ene.' a few days, happened, in company with his wife, to pass near a beehive. The beea stung his wife, and Gomgom, instead of pitying her, said, "How intelligent are these bees, my dear, to know that we are on our honeymoon f THE INFLICTION OVER.-Scene-In the audi' torium of a theatre. Actor, who has appeared in the first piece Good evening May I take the seat next you ?" Lady Certainly. But don't you appear any more to-night Actor No." Lady Oh, I am so glad Pray sit down. A party of Texan wagoners, after a hard day's pull, were chatting around the camp fire while they smoked their pipes. "Sambo, me b'y," exclaimed Pat, a rollicking Irishman, to a jolly darkey, "tell us what makes yer nose so flat." 5 Dun'no, Mars' Pat, answered Sam but I spec it's to keep me from pckin' into udder people's business." PETE'S DELIGHT.—A rather elderly darkey was inquiring of a policeman if he knew anything of his sou Pete. The policeman replied that there was a youns darkey in the lock-up for breaking up a meeting with an axe-handle. Dat's him Dat's my chile Pete exclaimed the overjoyed parent. He told me he was gwine to 'muse himself." A Syrian convert to Christianity was urged by his employer to work on Sunday, but he declined. 0 But," said the master, "dü not your Bible say that, if a man has an ass or an ox that falls into a pit on the Sabbath-day, he may pull him out ?" Yes," answered the convcrt but, if the ass has a habit of falling into the same pit every Sabbath-day, then the man should either fill up the pit or sell the ass." THE GREAT ENGLISH CEMETERY.—Not long after his removal from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, Disraeli met a brother-peer in the street, who asked him how he liked the change. Like. it." exclaimed Disraeli, forget- tmg himself for ihe moment, and blundering out the truth, like it I feel as if I were dead, or buried alive?" Then, seeing the expression of discomfiture on the peer's face, hs added hastily, with a courtly bow and an irresistible smile, And in the land of the blessed TREADING ON THE TAIL OF HIS COAT.—A member of the House of Commons has discovered that it is not always safe to make jokes. Talking with a prominent Land Leaguer, that gentleman happened to mention that as soon as Parliament was up he was going to Ireland to do a little shooting. "What's your game," asked the facetious member-" landlords ?" The joke was obvious; but the Land Leaguer was not in a humour to take it, and there was some talk of the intervention of the Speaker. "Mossoo's'' ENLIGHTE-; 51 ENT. -While on a visit to the recent Paris Exhibition, an American went into a grocer's shop in Pans and asked for a tin of corned beef. While his purchase was being wrapped in paper, he asked the shop-keeper whether he sold much of this meat put in tins. Yes, a good deal to foreigners," said the man the French do not dare for it. You see, we can get fresh meat in this country, but in America, where this comes from "-pointing to the tins on the shelf-" all the meat is salt." A parsimonious laird was once at a party at Kelly Castle. It was customary for the guests to give a small sum of money to the servants, who were drawn up in the hall to receive their "vails." The gifts of those who proceeded the laird were received gravely, not calling forth smiles, or even thanks but, when he passed, the faces of the servants brightened up as if he had given them *'J1. V you give them, Robbie?" asked his friends. They looked as sour as vinegar till your turn came." De'il a bawbee did they get frae me answered the laird. H I just kittled [tickledj their palms." When the Duchess of Edinburgh was in Paris this spring, her Royal Highness went about a good, deal shopping on her own account. One evening quite late she arrived at the establish- ment of a celebrated coutaridre. Everybody was gone, and the bonne sent the Duchess away, saying that her mistress had retired for the night. Next morning the bonne reported that a. Madame d'Edinborg had called late, and that she had refused to admit her. Do you know who it is you have treated thus ?'' asked her mis- tress. That was a daughter of a Czar of Russia, and she is the wife of a son of the Queen of Eng- land." "Tiens" exclaimed the bonne, greatly exercised at her lost opportunity, "and I let her go without having a good look at ber 1" One of the driest American jokers of the day is Judge Allen A. Bradford, of the Pueblo Bar. He is a little eccentric, but withal one of the best lawyers 'in the far west. He was engaged upon a case a few years since before a judge to whom he took a dislike. The judge was undecided in his rulings, and would change his conclusions every time ths opposite lawyer argued a point. When Bradford came to address the jury, he took occasion to express his contempt. Said he Gentlemen of the jury, the indecision of this Court reminds me of the fabled ass that died between two bundles of hay for want of decision." The Court could stand this no longer. Calling the attorney to order, the judge finerl him five dollars for contempt. With all the coolness he is capable of, Bradford felt in his pocket for a moment, and then, producing two dollars fifty cents, said, in his peculiar intonation of voice, Your honour, I have but half the amount. I will pay for the hay, but let the ass stand." M. Leon Gambetta has recently incurred the vehement displeasure of a Gascon poet named Cassaignau, who, indignant at the ex Premier's ommission to acknowledge the receipt of a volume of lyrics in dialect forwarded to him by their author, gave vent to his wrath in a briskly vituperative letter After rating M. Gambetta soundly for his lack of courtesy, the irate rhymster, in a burst of scathing irony, observes, You may be an intelligent man but you most certainly are a very badly-bred and ill-con- ditioned fellow, smelling unmistakeably of the grocer's shop in which you were brought up. It is this unpleasant odour, believe me, that will eventually mar your candida- ture for the Presidency of the French Republic." From this sarcastio epistle M. Gambetta will no doubt have learnt that the sen- sitive appreciation of a poet, and more particu- larly of a Gascon poet, is not to be slighted with impunity, even by so eminent a personage as him- self. He would never have fallen into M. Cas- saignau's ill-graces had he acknowledged that ex- citeable bard's book of verses in some such terms as those employed upon innumerable occasions during the past half century by Victor Hugo. in answer to the letters addressed to him by poets who have favoured him with copies) of their works. Hj. invariable formula of acknowledg- ment ran as followii-" Man of genius 1 You are a far" greater poet than I. Persevere Your 'Victor Hugo embraces you without env h

CARDIFF SCHOOL BOARD. The Opening of the Higher Grade School. f A suecial meeting of this board was held at I -lic the Town-hall on Friday, Mr Lewis Williams in the chair. There were also pre,-ellt-)," Thoma.s Rees (vice-chairman), Mr J. Gunn, Dr. Edwards, Rev. J. C. Thompson; Dr. Wallace) and Rev. G. A. Jones. The meeting was called for the purpose of electiug assistant masters and mistresses to the higher grade schools. The higher grade school committee reported that they had received 89 applications for the appointments in connection with the boys' school, and bad selected several to attend the special meeting. OPENING OF THE HIGHER GRADE SCHOOL. The CHAIRMAN, prior to the commencement of the proceedings, said that it would probably be expected of him to make a brief statement with reference to a telegram and a letter which he had received from the Education Department. The telegram, which he received last evening, had ap- peared in the morning papers, but he had re- ceived that morning the following letter :— Privy CouncifOifice, 8tli January, 1885. Sir,—I sent you a telegram this afternoon in com- pliance with Mr Mundella's wishes, telling you that he had returned to-day, from Folkestone, where ho opened a school-board school, suffering from a severe chill and a bronchial attack. He is in bed, and has lost his voice and the doctor says that he will not befit to speak in public for three weeks or a month. Ho de- sires me to express to you his great concern and regret that he should be obliged to postpone his visit to Cardiff, and be unable to carry out, at present, en- gagements to which he has looked forward with so much interest and pleasure.-I remain, sir, yours faithfully, H. T. BRYANT.-L. Williams, Esq. He (the chairman) was sure that Mr Mundella's illness had caused a general feeling of disappoint- ment in the town, the inhabitants generally having looked forward to his visit with much interest. Ho thought the only course left open to them was to defer the- formal opening ceremony until Mr Mundella's health would be sufficiently restored to enable him to visit Cardiff. This, with the public meeting, could be deferred, but the actual opening of the school must take place at the time appointed. As Mr Mundella was compelled to postpone his visit in consequence of illness, he (the chairman) was of opinion that they should send a letter to him expressing their regret at his illness, and also expressing a hope that in a month or six weeks be would be able to pay his visit to Cardiff. The chairman also mentioned that he had received a telegram from Lord Aber- dare, advising that all matters should bg held in abeyance until IMr IMundslla was iible to visit Cardiff. Some discussion followed, but the suggestion or the chairman was adopted, and the school will be opened by the school board without ceremony, the formal opening being deferred to be carried through by Mr Mundeila. The school will be formally opened by the school board on Tuesday. It will he opened on Wednesday for enrolling scholars, and the work of the school will commence on the Monday following. For the office of assistant mistress for the girls' schools, Miss Ellen .laue McLellick, of Kil- marnock, was elected, and for the second assistant-mi stress, Miss Mary Joses, 6, Great Fredcriek-street, at present assistant-mistress at the Grangetown School Board School. For the office of science master for the boys' schoo;s three candidates were in attendance, the choice falling on Mr Charles Joseph Gaban, 19, Montpelier-road, South Kensington, London, S.W.

THE STRANGE FIND AT I SWANSEA. Identification of the Remains. I The Inquest. I Mr Coroner Strick, on Friday afternoon, held I an inquest, at the Centre Hotel, on the portions of a human body which, as we have previously ¡ announced, were picked up in the scoops of the large dredger while it was working, on Tuesday last, off the Swansea Extension Pier. In opening the proceedings, the Coroner explained that con- sidering the small portion of a body picked up, 't he should not have thought it necessary to hold an inquest but for the fact that the po- lice had ascertained that people were in a position to identify the face. He then called Martha Howard, the wife of John Howard, who said she had seen the remains which, amongst other thing, comprised the scalp of a mail, show- ing the ears and beard, and she was of opinion that they resembled very much Robert Wood, who was employed as a weighman at the Manure Works at the ilafod, and had lodged with her for eleven months. He was about 58 years old. During the time he was with her he had had several drinking bouts. He had to leave her house in consequence of his intemperance, he having for a month previously been drinking whiskey continually. He was a widower, and a boy and girl lived with him. On one day he had fallen three times into the canal. She had heard from Wood's daughter that he had been missing three weeks before the skull was picked up. Wood, while sober, was of a saving disposi- tion, but when his drinking bouts com- menced his craving for drink was so great that lie had once endeavoured to pawn his little girl's boots in order to obtain money.—lames Coch- rane, captain of the No. 1 dredger, spoke to the discovery of the remains.—Catherine Devine said that when she last saw Wood he was getting over his drinking bout, and his fellow-workmen had made up a subscription to enable him to go to Glasgow. Three weeks before then he had been dismissed from the works.—James Williams, the second mate of the dredger, corroborated the evi- dence of Capt. Cochrane. The Coroner, in summing up, said though the law said an inquest must be held on a body found under circumstances similar to those in question, it did not say it must be a whole body or a very considerable portion cf it. In this case it seemed that there were sufficient of the fea- tures to be identified, and lie suggested that perhaps the case would be met by the jury saying that from tho evidence they firmly believed the remains to belong to Robert Wood.— The jury expressed themselves hardly satisfied that it had been conclusively proved the remains were those of Wood, though they believed them to be, and therefore found That the said Robt. Wood, who was much given to drink, was miss- ing on Tuesday, the 16th Dec. last, and the jury are under the impression that the remains which they viewed, and which were dredged out of the entrance to the harbour on January 6th formed part of the body of the said Robert Wood, but how they got there there is no evidence before the jury to show."

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. TlPPEKARY.—The nomination, for Couuty Tip- perary to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr P. J. Smyth (Home Ruler) took place at Tipperary on Friday. Mr John O'Connor (Nationalist) was the only candidate put forward, and was declared duly elected.

KAY'S Tic PILL, a specific in Neuralgia, Face- j ache, etc., 9W, Is qrl j postage lrl old by Chemists, Kay Bros., Stockport 213 I FEEL SO WEARY AND TIRED" Is the exclamation of many whom we daily meet, yet they never pause to think or reflect upon the cause of this feeling. It may arise from "sluggish wul impure blood,' which, if neglected, is the forerunner of serious and chronic disorders. This Wean ::d tired feeling is nature warning us that there 1. something wrong, which must be set right, or a lung and lingering illness will speedily follow. What does nature require to throw off this weary and tired feeling? She requires to have new life and energy imparted to all the organs of the body, and the best means to do so is to take "Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters," which purifies the blood, and imparts new life and energy. It is invalu- able to those who are surtering from affections of the chest, indigestion, nervousness, debility in its worst forms, depression of spirits, and melancholy. GWILYM EVANS'S QUININE BITTERS. THE VEGETABLE TONIC.—This preparation is now exten- sively taken throughout the country by patients suffer- ing from debility, nervousness, and general exhaustion, and, if any value be attached to human testimony, the efficacy of this medicine has been successfully estab- lished. Its claims have been tested and proved by the medical profession and others, and corroborated by the written testimonials of eminent men. The Quinine Bitters contain not only a suitable quantity of Quinine in each dose, but the active principles of the following well-known herbs-sarsaparilla, saffron, gentian, laven- der, and dandelion root. The use of Quinine is well known, but it has never been satisfactorily combined with these preparations until, after overcoming consi derable difficulties, the proprietor was able to secure a perfectly uniform preparation, combining all the essential properties of the above plants in thei greatest purity and concentration. It is now established as a family medicine, and is increasing in popular avour the more it is known and tested. Gwylim Evans's Quinine Bitters is a tonic Pick-me-up,' scientifically mixed in happy proportions. MODE OF ACTION.—(And here lies the secret of the Remedy.)—The Quinine Bitters (being a vegetable tonic), by their peculiar power, strengthen that part the system which is weakest, and. therefore.* in. liable to colds and their attendant diseases. I,"t tbe gredients they containcannot be put into rear patient can follow his usual occupation witno eXGWlLVM luVANS' QUININK UlTTEKS by Doctors, Analysts, Chemists, ,.j" Bq,n te id, Battles, and Cases containing P/-oS0? 12s 6d per case, by all Chemists, or from atriage/ree,parcels(under m ). No one hould suffer without trying gwilym Evans Qummo Bitters."—Mr OwiLjM li^s, Proprietor, Moratory, UaaeUy, SoutU Wales,

THE COAL TRAFFIC BY RAILWAY I ø to London from South Wales, 1 884 It appears that the quantity of coal sent over various lines of the railways in 1334 fell con- siderably off what was forwarded in 1883. The falling cif principally affected the Midland and the I oiicioi-i and North Western lines, whilst, !:).-? Great Western also shows a decline on the year ot fully 90,000 tons, the greater part of which iell upon the colliery owners of South Wales, whilst Derbyshire and other parts of the Midland field shared the deficit on the other two lines named. It cannot be -:ud that the depression in generally was the crmse of this; the contrary, there is no doubt tiat the comparatively mild weather which prevailed throughout the greater part of the year, ¡ and more particular the many economical appliances that have been introduced for the pur- poses of economy in the consumption of hold fuel during the last 10 or 12 years have, nad ) most to do with the decreased quantity of cord sent to London during the past year. Indeed, the ex cept onally high prices of coal in 1872 and 1875 have trreatly injured the trade, and have don' more; than anything else to lessen the consumption of I house coal, and have also,set aside all calculations [ previously made as to the future increase. Too Royal Commission on Coal, which sat in 1873, re ported that the consumption of coal in Lea don and throughout the country mipht be be expected to increase pari pcasv, with the increase of the population. But this has csr- tainly not been the case, so far, at least, na London is concerned. The population lias gr,;ar]y increased, whilst many new streets and road- have been opened, requiring an increased amount, of gas, yet with all this less coal was r ouireri last year. It may be said that comparatively little steam coal is sent to the metropolis oy rail- way, nearly all being used for house and P" purposes, and there has been no falling ofl- j-g regards the latter, but jusb the reverse. last year several attempts were made to i.iduoo i the directors of the leading lilies to redueo their rates, and this they might weH I have done, aud, at the same time, obtain a good profit. The mineral traffic is ;,he most important of aîi. for of the 250,000,000 tons of goods that are carried annually by our rail- ways, 181,500,000 tons are minerals, leavn 74,500,000 tons of genera! good; Li tairyimv minerals the railway companies have the great advantage of full trucks, which they hav- not in other goods. This was clearly shown by Mv Findley, the manager of the London and Noith- Western Railway, whOj ill his evidence a select committee, said as a result ot a iiiyht's work at the London goods station 26 trains were despatched carrying 1,447 tons in 876 wagons, the average weight in each wagon being oiewt. Whilst a wagon would carry eight "ous of ordinary goods, as before stated, it is very different with coal and other minerals, for the wagons are filled to their utmost capacity before they are sent away from the mines. With respect to last year's traffic, however, it may be said thai, the- quarter ended in December \<as the. bt .-i. The tonnage carried during that period wa- as fol- quarter ended in December \<as the. bt The tonnage carried during that period wa as fol- lows — Tons. Tons Tons. Oct. Nov. Dec. Midland 211,407 2", 407 2)o,;<4 London & North-Western. 146,692 -io.1/0 IU,yt)5 Great Northern 103,205 9b,c0& 100,3 :4 Great Western 96,760 77,611 97 096> Great Eastern 60,704 77.225 71,503 Other Lines 9,655 ;16¿ 8,149 622.123 607,081 643.241 It will be seen that there was a considerable in- crease in the quantity of coal carried by the piiu- cipal lines in December as compared with the previous month, and this was moi e ot-peciaily the case with the Great Western, wnic. > took more than usual from the pits in the Abordare district. The Midland and the London and North-Wes- tern's increase was principally from Lancashire and Derbyshire. The London and North-Wes- tern, it may also be said, too.s moic frorii soiue of the* collieries in South Wales in Dice-.iiuor than it did in the previous month, whilst the Mid- land had also some coal put on to it from Aberdare. Taking this year, however, it appears that the Great Northern had nearly 26,000 tons of coal put on to it from the Aberdare district, whilst the Aberdare Iron Company aloao put 56,000 tons on to the London and North Western. On to the same line there was also sent from Fforchaman 13,600 tons, Reso;ven 10.600 tons, and Bwllfa 17,600 tons. The Great Western took its largest tonnage, about 50,000 tons, from the Aberdare Iron Company's pits; 46,000 tons from Nixon's Navigation, 44.000 from Fforch- tman, and 35,000 tons from Bwllfa. A o-otii of coai was also sent during the yem from Wayn/s Merthyr and Mertbyr and Aberdare. Nearly 34-,000 r-ns of coal were forwarded during the year from Cwm- dare, 24,000 tons from Blaiiia, 26,000 "n; froty,- Resolven, and 52,000 tons from Mountain Ash. A considerable tonnage was also s"nt from "he pits of the Plymouth Company, as well as free; tlbbw Vale, Tredegar, and Aberamau. The tdnnlge Gent over the various lines m 1683 antt 1884 was as follows Tons. Tons, 1883. 1«84. Midland 2,354,318 2,276,471 London & North-Western 1,638,77^ 1,550,445 Great Northern i,130,88o l,i25,'?02 Great Western 1,081,0% 992,663 Great Eastern 790,591 793,970 Other Lines 91,65.. 97.057 7,033,31:. 5,836,016

LORD BUTE ON THE REFOR- MATION. The new collegiate buildings of St. Aloysius, Glasgow, were formally opened on Thursday by the Marquis of Bute. Amonlf those present at the ceremony were th3 Archbishop of G!a*go«v, the Bishop of Dunkeld, the Bishop of Galloway, the Very Rev. Monsiguor Smith, the Very Rev. Provost Monroe, the Very Rev. Canons Mairuire. Macfarlane, Cavan, Condon, the Very liav. Frior Jerome Vaughan, the Very Rev. Prior Arsonine, ().S.F., Mr A. Campbell and Mrs Campbell of Lochnell, Air Monteith of Carstairs, &c. The noble MARQUirf, in the course of his ad- dress, congratulated the fathers of the societv upon the completion of a building so necossary for the success of an important and benefi- cent scheme. lie also congratulated tha Catholics of Scotland upon another H.,ep in the resumption of tint dition which from the earliest ages of the nftt ionit: history had united higher education witb bib Catholic Churcil. To deny such » tradition witfj regard to that highest education would hardly be possible in a country where three of the r Universities were of Catholic institution. 1 o-jy were sometimes favoured with the assertion that for the school system below the universities they were indebted to John ùn.¡: The assertion belonged to the same class as the statement that Mahomedans think that women have no souls, that nobody was allowed to eat and drink after receiving extreme unction, or some fireworks of fiction with which, among other things, a limited group had just celebrated the fifth centena;y of tiie death of Wyciiixa. Education was -s.irly connected with the monasteries and con- ()I, tinued to be so, but grammar schools were also instituted in E'uch numbers that in 1496 an Act of Parliament could make it, and did make it, compulsory for all persons of a certain social position to send their widest sons to one, the object obviously being that the proprietors of the country should all be nie-i of culture. It was not till 1616-40 years after John Knox was laid in his grave-that by an act of the Parliamentary Council an attempt was made at more general system. The Reformation, in some respects less destructive than in England, sparer the grammar schools, only subjecting he masfr s to the approval of the new clergy bat to re- formers no mora created these scho.s than th-y built St. Giles's Church in Edinburgh. Th.. took possession of both. On the other hJ. L task created by the extinction of mon,terics Wa in time supplied by the erection of schools, such as Glasgow University- "isnca the fathers of the society tha f most end»ri»s success i„ spading #g?n «B. the knowleiigc, not only ot f ? l l"-1 more directly of God, but f r U,Uaa Ifammg, To dream tnat any incre*f « U knowledge true contemplation of ;i jusjy n.ihcatH against the faith ei^elves cr other, would be itself an

-=- TTNSEKD Lp16?'*0?3' solidified li <eed .tea} §r- stookport^MrocNi) 0l), Linseed, Aniseed, S Suuilb C"'Chloradyue. 9id, 1- ,■- "KA*8 COMPOUND, for Coughs anu "ervice, equa.y0s1evv!ceil':)ls for Horses and Cattle, and K!- THE VERY HE ST- d", v. have examined the Pills NICK'S VKGETAIILK PILI.S. T certity tUeir ccmipo^1 ui,„i to be Purely vegetable. I have effe .,a.H consider them one ot the best Apt: t J iiig for c«nsti- pated habits that I know of. "(Signed), .TCIIN BALMI-ME, M.A., M J &b Sold by all Printed and Published by the Propi -tors, "DAVID DUNCAN & SONS, at their Steamt,. ntiBK Works 75 and 75, St- Mary-street, and Weatgate-xreot iJ&'fiTOofCardiff w fov Cwwtt <*««««»»■