South Wales Echo

I IONDA Y" JANUABY 12, 1885. I SOUTH WALES NOTES. V r' THESE is bad news again altJ to the iiieasies. La3:" mondi it was cniefiy due to this" disease t.iat the Cardiff death-rate obtained such unenviable predominance, and now there is anuthcr epidemic to be faced in iloath. Canton, Grongetovvn, and other piace3 have passed through the ordeal, and at last the disease has broken out in another direction. So bad "does if seem to be that the medical officer, sit a special meeting on Satur- day, actually advised the temporary closing of ail the elementary schools. I am not an alarmist, and hardly think that matters are bad enough for that at present. That there is need of every possible vigilance is, however, clear, and that every child should be watched, and that constant visits should be paid to the hom&3 of the parents, is a DroEtramme which sn>uld bemOst- rigidlv fulfilled. I WITHOUT wishing to excite any unnecessary fear among parents, I may yet call attention to the fact that in Grangetown the rate of mortality' from measles alone was at ojie time as high as 60 per 1,000. Last week in Roath there were no lesa than fifteen deaths from the disease. These facts have to be faced, and they are eloquent to prove the necessity for the strictest care among all who have the charge ef children. To send a child to school from a house where there is conta- gious CiAsease. is simply shameful and cowardly.. Yef this is probably llOYl the disease has been spread. THAT the authorities are fully alivebu the necessity of inspection I aui glad to learn from the following communication which I have received from the chairman of the school board Doctor iPalae, as the medical olSter of.health, having drawn the attention of tho chairman of the scnoril board to the epidemic amongst the -children of the towa, it tiaa been arranged ior tiie staff of attendance officers, which will lie tempo- rariiy increased, t!»<U)Vote their whole attention to visiting the homes, so as to prevent the chilciraii from aliy infected homes attending tue schools." IT i3 pleasing to learn that the collection at workshops aaid works in aid of the infirmary, which is made on one Saturday in the year in Cardiff "and the district, has this year been the largest that hasbeen made since the movement started some years gince. The working men have given nearly S300 out of their wages. Some of the figures are sug- gestive. It is estimated that nearly 50,000 workmen contributeand that the separate donations averaged between 6d and 9c\ This is perhaps as much as their qariliu-A- jusb now will admit of. their giving. The present condition of the fund is satisfactory compared with that at one time, when the movement seemed in danger of languishing. The revival is due, no doubt, to the new energy introduced by the hon. secretaries, Messrs Lincoln and Lock, as well as to the assistance of the secretary of tllo infirinary, Mr Coleman. But the satisfactory feature of it all is the proof afforded that the, working men of Cardiff" are willing to give if they are only asked in the proper way. COULD any better means be adopted, so that even the present amount might be increased One of the local secretaries tried last year to start a weekly collection of one penny, and 'where this was carried out the effects were satisfactory. The chief difficulty lies with those employers who consider the collection irksome, and wilL not take the necessary trouble. This is a pity. Charity flows most readily when the pocket is fullest. and such a weekly collection would be just the means to give the greatest spirit to that of the working men. So far as I can understand, Saturday's de- cision of tke Cardiff Guardians in the matter of Dr Sheen's salary has created considerable dissatisfaction among the ratepayers. The doctor's salary for the union and the Ely Schools was Then, mainly because of distanc,- between his house and the schools, it was>thought better to have a separate medical officer for tho schools. At the same time It was considered that the increase of work ab the union should, b3 recognised by an increase in the salary., The first committee, therefore, proposed to take away the work of the schools and raise tho salary to B175. Dr. Sheen replied to this by offering to do the work of both for but this was not. agreed to, and the second committee (proposed to-give the doctor £2,00, To this, however, the board sad(I "no", ia emphatic terms, and the committee met again, with the result of Saturday's compromise. This really means that work to the amount of £ 26 a year is taken away, and an addi- tion made to the salary of about half its original amount. The majority that adopted r the resolution was smail,\and I stiould not be surprised if they heard of the subject agaia, and pretty sliarply., THE Newport Town Council on Tuesday will have another discussion on the subject c the | -prospect of getting separate representation. If public feeling in the town could arrange the matter it would be Soon settled, as it is considered a very great hardship that a thriving, prospering pMce like Newport,, with 40,000 inhabitants, shouIH have to loose its individuality and subside into compara- tive obscurity among the Monmouth District Boroughs." But unfortunately the 'feeling of the inhabitants wilt not be the deciding power. Much may be done, and I am &ure will be done, to agitata for the coveted prize. At the same time the public will be glad to know, in what direction precisely the Town Council intend; to move. For this reason tho debate, is eagerly awaited in the. town, and nothing short of very energetic pleasures will satisfy the public. I HAVE not yet seen the agenda for next Wednesday's meeting of the Swansea Town Council, but from what I can learn, it con- tains the welcome announcement that the reproach from which Swansea has for so long suffered, as being the worst lighted town in the kingdom, will soon be removed. After much difficulty, the corporation has succeeded- in bringing the gas company to their senses, and an rrangemeat has been entered into by lu-aus of which Bray's lamps will be introduced into the town. It is, of course, too much to expect that in'a town, which moves so slowly ill these matters as Swansea, that there will be an immediate improvement on a large scale, ,but it is intended at once ,to erect these brilliant lamps in some of ,the prin- cipal thoroughfares; and since these new lights will by comparison make the rushlights- which will remain in many streets appear ttill more, ridiculously inadequate, I have no doubt the ratepayers will soon insist on Bray's lamps beirlg erected in all but the' bye-streets'. For my part,I can't conceive why the corporation have allowed so iyjjch valuable time to be wasted in an endeavour to come to terms with,the gas company. It would have been much better if the corporation had—as, I be-ieve, they will still have to du-aken advantage of their compulsory powers, and purchased this profitable concern for the benefit of the ratepayers..

THE Nile expedition is making good progress, and if all continues to go well it is not un- likely that before the month is out Lord WOLSELEY will be able to shake hands with General GORDON. It seems now to be pretty clear that it is intend^ to reach GORDON by the desert route f*n Sorti to Shendy—Korti being at one end and Shendy at the other of the great horse-shoe bend of the 'Nile. The bulk of the forces of the MARDI lie between those two points *in the neighbourhood of Berber, sp that, unless he is bent on giving battle, the rescue inay I)e effected without any serious engage- ment. This may seem pdd, seeding that Khartoum is besieged; but the fact of the matter is the seige has never been of such, a character as to prevent General Gordon plying his steamers as far as Shendy, and tliishehas done pretty often, dealing out desttuc^n on the way. It is reported tlrat several of GORDON'S steamers ,are now at Shendy. Lord WOLSELEY sas if a steamer is att Sliendj1 when General STEWART reaches Met em meh, "lie will' communciate with General GORDON without delay." Metemmeh, it may be stated, is (tile opposite banof the Nile to Shendy, and it is expccted that General Stewart will arrive there on Thursday next, "taking the desert route via Gakdul, which is a present occupied by British troops. What if General GORDON, and those who wish to leave Khartoum with him, .-should be upon a steamer at Shendy on General STEWART'S arrival1 The rescue would be, effected—the object of thxDeditíoll wouhl be accomplished. It is just possiblwhat some such pleasant surprise may be ik store for us. Everything noiv depends upon the attitude of the MAHDI if he meafts tp fight, there will be bloodshed and. considerable delay, for it is stated that he -lias 5,000 troops in the vicinity of jMetemmeh, They at it is true, disheartened by failure and famine but they are brave and reck- less, aud if they mean to bar our way we tray be sure Lord WOLSELEY will not risk an encounter until our forces are more concentrated than they are at present. The fact that the MUDXK of DONGOLA has beeu requested to proceed to Merawi, which is fprtber up the Nile than Korti, would suggest that Lord WOLSELEY has a prospect of work for him in the way of negotiation or organisation. OSMAN DIGNA makes no sign, and would seem to have as much as he can do to hold his own against hostile tribesmen. He is like an extinct volcano and we trust to hear before long that the MAHDI has become as impotent and as harmless. I

THE announcement that as the.tesult of the I Treharris colliery accident two cases are to be brought against the company for damages under the Employers' Liability Act, will again draw- the attention of local miners to the advisability of joining the Miners' Permanent Fund. It appears that two of the men killed were members of the fund, and although they had only paid their first contribution, their .widows I ir Ivt will be entitled, to the full bene- fits* accruing from membership. Surely this fact will canso colliers in those districts in which tlie fund has not obtained a good footing to consider the matter. The Employers' Liability Act is doubtless a thoroughly good measure btit it is a difficult and costly -process to obtain averdictunder the Act, aP (t when obtained the CMe ca bo carried from court to court until ,j the patience and the means of the plaintiff are exhausted. For these reasons, except that the 'l\ ct caused the formation of the j Permanent Fund, it has been of little prac- tical benefit to the miner.

COLLAPSE OF A BLASTFURNACE !N THE F-ORESTOF DEAN. Oh Saturday, iuss as a draw of molten pig I I iroii N-Ru ab,,)ut; to have taken piece, aw accident of an alarming: nn^ura occured at Messrs Henry Crawshay and Son's hoi; air bla$t furnaces at Cindorfort!. It appears that the inside lining of the furnace had been worn considwabiy, but without tha slightest indication the Imckwork I suddenly, collapsed, and an immediate fylow out was ail imperative necessity. Thi ia misrortr.ne tc the manufacturing district of tne forest, thegreater portion of raw material having been taken from tb-i local fartsace. It is feared that some months will elapSe before tha damage caused can be made good. Tho whole of the em- ployees at the furnaces will conr-quently suffer ■from enforced idleness. Messrs Crawshay's iron miners at Buck's Shaft 21i»e Works are con- sequently ordsred to cease operations. This was the rinly blast furnace ia the forest in Wort, and Was built upon the most modern and improved Was built upon the most modern and improved method.

«fc)USIN'. TOIl" u Mary. I aiii atitonislied 02 course, the grave, elder siscer was astonished. In truth and in'ficfe'she lived in a chronic state of" astonishment, doii24 some- thing hei fryjpds and re latins. „i-a n scarcely credit the evidence of r.or <;wu in the^hazy,«^.ow of the August- ftiornr.is; when sTie- earns out ofthe shadows of the htsie south porch ftnd discovered thai yonBer Mavii. olajeqt, lyilf-<vay v#p ,|he .hranehesbf the '•huge old fteiJE- tree was'n6s a" spr&y of 18aves,'nor a, ouster of sun-cheeked pearfe, but Miss Mary perched intheerook f the old tree, her cijrls all flecked with the sifted rays of-sunSliine that dBtfii th, shifting canopy of leaves,"and a book in horband. "I don't care!" said the little damsel, laughing saucy defiance. "It's the nicest place in the world up here. I feel just like a bird, with the leaves fluttering against my face and the wind blowing so softly, and I intend to stay here. r Wouldn't you like to come up here, liuthy? It's easily done. Just put your foot on that knot, and then-" iiuth who was thirty and weighed a hundred and sixty pounds, bristled up with amazement. "Mary Thorne are you crazy? Come down-, this instant.' ■f lnde¿d' I shan't!' laid nau;h:y Marf tossing the silky shower of haiL" away from her forehead,, and glancing down with eyes that shone a sparkled like two blue jewels. Hut we are all oin, "Yes, I u:.ders:and; you are all going in triumphal procession to the depot to render an ovation to the great. "Professor La Place, the wisest, sagest, and grandest of mankind to whom the Thorne family have the unutterable- bonot oi; bei,ng secojia ^oasiufj, .^nd. to esaoKfc Uim wolerftnly lo^a month's *Sojoui% *slt Thorpe hail, (s»h, 'ear," ejaculated Mary, I wish I co'uTd run away somewhere and hide. I hate this paragon of prime precision. I shan't marry him if he asks, and I mgan to behave so badly that he won't dream of it. No, I am not going with you. I hate the close barottehesj and it's too warm to riue on horsebacks l fehall (Stay at homo." And HILARY settled herself -t>o snugly, with Ota. ti'iy, slippered foot swinging down, and her precty head ciose to a nest of blue spefekled bird's Ruth gave it up with a sigh of despair. Well, tueu. have it your own way, you incorrigiole rum 13: I wish you Weren't too (IIg- 1;0 I to shut up in a dac closet^ or to have your ears well boxeël: It is a pity, isn't it?" said Marv. demurely. Ot course it is, Mary It cousin Tom Bradley cranes this morning, be sure to explain to him, why we are at sent-and behave like a young lady, mind! "All right!" said Mary, dauntlessly. "T always lifee^ Tom, We Used' to have romps together." bhe sat there in the old pear tree, prettier than any hamadryad that might have haunted the mossy od. veteran of the garden, her cheeks touched with .sunshine and carmine, her (iiiaP-6 I lips apart, now reading a. line or two from & book in her lap, now .looking up, rapt iu girlish reverie, into the blue ky, as it sjtarkled ciown tiuouuii ever-moving leaves, and now breaking into a soft little warble of sogtto which the very robins themselves put their heads on one side to listen. The carnage had driven away long since. She bad watched it beyond the curve of the winding road the dark mantle of shadow was slowly failing the. creeping-sun-glow across the velvet lawn below, and tfie clock in the old church-spire among the far off woods had chimed out eieven. Any :H Mary Thome sat there in those forked or.uJches of the old pear tree. Suddeiuy there floated into her leafy sanctum a pungent, aromttie, odour, which made her lean euriously forward, shading her eyes with one hand, the' better to penetrate the green foliage below. Not the late fnonthly roses, not the amethyst borders of heiiofcrppe, not the spicy, geraniums— ncn-.)' o>. thess! bldssoina distilled' 'tis at' peculiar swel1. t I "My patienca' little Mary, "it's a cigar. A Cigar it was and the owner thereof—she couid just see a white linen coat and a tali head covered wfth bjack, wavy Curls—stood.on (the porch steps quietly smoking and indulgi»G HI#> le117.heaed view of the garden slopes.. 1 -hats Tom Bradley said Mary to herseif. "N ',¡\' If he thinks I'm coming O,o.\fn ut III tms deelicious, cool place to sit up straight in the hot pariours, he's mistaken Tu-in 1callcli out, in a silver accent of imperative summons, and' then bnrsfc into merry tire evident amazement at which the stranger gazed rnund him, vainly trying to conjecture whence the caij liad proceeded. "You dear," stupid cousin Tom!" she ejaculated. stare off toward the cabbage beds. Look stri'.ighu up here. You may come ^P^if you p;e ise .^there's plenty of room for both- You are Cousin lom, aren't you? she continued, as sud- tl011 tiros;ed-her i^iud. T 9',(, C0'drS3 I am; .aud you aie Mary, 1 saP" Pos*. | "Mary herself. Up with you, Tom! Catch, hold oi this branch— there Now shake handy— you sj'.ucy f^ilpW j j didp't say .you might kiss me! f" I couldn't help it; and, besides, aren't we cousins ?" said Mr Tom, swinging himself coirf- *011;TV-I into a breach just above NL-Lry. v -ly, -Loll', how you have changed'' ejacu- lated the young lady, pushing back the curls with one r.S.pd, that she ijiight better view tho play- laan of her childhood's days. Your hair "ftever curled so before; and wliafi a nice moustache yon e R^t I shouldn't have known you, Tom 1. "'° aid Torp, roguishly. ;ndyou've grown so tall!—I declare, Tom, you re splendid I coujcl rejiqrn the compliment,, if I dared. But where are all the rest of the f^na,ily ? The house below is as empty as a hauntod hall." All gone to welcome that liorried, poky old Professor La Place, who has graciously indicated his willingness to pass a few weeks with us. Tom, I clo hate that proiessor." Hate him! 'What for?" On, I don't know, I'm sure. He is a snuff- dried, conebitsd olq mei-ch, arid' wr a box of gloves lie wears spficfcacles Nonsense, Mary ? Why, he is only twemy- sis." I don't care; I know he is rheumatic and wears spectacles, fdr ail that. And Tom—now if you 11 never, never, breathe a word of this I won't, upon my honour said Tom. Well, then, mpa has actually got the idea into his dear old head that I Would make a nice wife for the professor, ^nd——" t Mary turned away with crimson inuignatiotj flashing in her cheeks. «• It is too bad of you to laugii, Tom. I never, never, willm&rry that man?" "I wouldn't if I were you, COB*edTos*. But, Mary, wait and see the man beiore you de- cide. He may be quite a decent felloe." K 0 said Mary, shaking her head and biting lier chorry lipe 'flrfiayp. I ^ate him beforehand." 45 Wbciu a spiteiul Ulile puss jou are said ner companion, laughing. "Mo, Tom, 1'.1 not." And the blue eyes became misty. "I love papa and Ruth dearly, and I love almost everybody. I like yoU, Tom, but I hato Prof:3ssor La Place. And I want you to promise, Tom, that you'll be my friend, and not allow him to.tease*mf £ into walk# or-ride^ or tcto-a-tetes pf any kind. Will you?" Would lie? ii she h;td aikid h'.in to pieckpi- tate himxelf out of the pear tree* upon the steps below, with thoe eyes fixed on his, he'd have done it; any man of taste would. I promise!" he said, and thav shook hands on it. i What a coizy. place fr" old tree was. And skv hen they had fcalked.over everything taey could think of, it was the most natural thing m the world that Torn should, recover the b(,ok which had slipped down into the net-work of tiny bows, and read poetry to his pretty cousin, iu the deep, musical voice taat maidens love to listen to. And Mary*at ther** Wiitohing pretty cmis blowing too and fro «n his broad /white brow, and the long black lashes almosc touching his olive cheeks p and she thought how very, very handsome Cousin Totn was, how much ho ha.1 changed in the tenyearJ ,that had elapsed since she had met him, and she wondered whether Tom v/as engaged to any pretty girl somehow she* hoped nolj.Now,why coulditffc. ,T<>ni havb been ncli, bke waft liornd .Professor lia !P»ac^ instead of a poor medical student, and And wiiaii the litge bliicls cyls! weresuddcniy, lifted to hers, Mary felt as though he had read every thought iu liar mind, and blushed scarlet. Collie, Tom." she cnatteryd, to hide her con- fusion, we've been hero long enouggh. me down and I Will show you the old sun-Ctial W len that we used to heap with buttercups wo en we were children." A rumbling of wheels; and it was the returning of the carriage# and Mary clung to Tom's aria. "The"awful professor" she whispered. "Now" Cousin Tom, be sure you stand by rue through, everything." To my life's end! ivn the v/hisyereu answer. But there was no one in the carriage save Mr Tiioino aud Ruth. It urew up on t.W grand sweep beside the two cousins. '• Where's the professor V Ho was not at the depot," said Rutb, "and—. But Mr Thorne had sprung from the--t*«T:&ge and c'asnsd both the -hands in his. "La Place, is it possible Why, we have j "st been looking for you at Mill Station." "I am sorry to have inconvenienced you, sir," Was the reply; "but I eame by the way of Wharton, and walked over this morning." "Never mind now, so you are safely hep?" exclaimed the oid gentleman. •" Ruth, my dear" —Mary, let me introduce -yoti to your cousin, Professor La Place Mary had dropped -his arm, and stood dis» mayei. "You told me that you were Cousin Tom y f hat. is my name, and I believe I am a. distant cousin by relationship. Now, Mary," and the black eyes sparkled, "don't be-ftngry becaue I don\ take snuff or wear spectacles. I beg the other CiJusiri Tom's pardon, V/hoever he is; but I "am v3ryg]ar1"he ¡"n't here. Mary, be just, and don't hate Cousin Tom because his other name happens to be La Place." r But no doubt it was a very perplexing thing to have two Cousin Toms; and so, about six months subsequently. Miss Mary contrived to obviate that inconvenience by allowing one of them to assume a nearer relationship and in spite of all her assertions to the contrary, she is Mrs Profes- sor La Place. For it is a solemn fact in this world, that when- ever a girl'says she never, never will do a thing, she.is pretty- sure to do it the first chance she gets; and Mary is no exception to tlm general rule.

FACTS AND FANCIES. -+. WHEN PAPA COMES HOME.—A well-known London alderman tells a stqyy at his own expense, 'about a small donkey he; ant to his country- house for the use qf tiie children. One of the little daughters, going out with the nurse to admire the animal in its paddock, sorely distressed when the donkey lifted up his voice and brayed dolefully. "Poor thing, poor thing!" exclaimed the sympathetic child. But, suddenly brightening up, plie turned to her nurse, and said, Oh, I am so glad Papa .will be here on Satur- day, and then it won't feel so lonesome." • ABOCT A SHM'BNT IN HUMAN SHAPE.—Mr, afterwards Baron, Piatt had a decidedly comic physiognomy, and took much delight in assuming Melancholy avrs. On one occasion, v^hen he was oefore Lord Lyndhurst, the judge said to him, Pray spare us that wife-and-twelve-children faict! But the woe-begone looks which had so little effect upon the judge served at times to impress tli,) jury and in a breach of promise case w Platt gfined for his client more damages than might otherwise have been awarded to her by winding up with the pathetic outburst—" And, gentleman, this serpent in human shape stole the heart of my unfortunate client whilst she returning from confirmation A SWEET REJIINDEK.— Some years ago, as the great Barnum was selling off his menagerie, he notified that when lot 20, a ferocious female Ben- gal tiger, was put up several bids came from a quiet ordinary-looking citizen dressed in deep moimiing, anything'but a showman in appear- ance, and finally the animal was knocked down to this stranger. After all was over, Barnum ap- proached him, and inquired what on earth he could want with such a quadruped. Waal, re- plied the puichaser, with a profound and sugges- tive sigh, "you see, professor, I, was a married man, and my wife died last week, and I miss her; so I've bought this tiger." Barnum silently pressed the wido wer's hand. A chord had been touched. The two men -understood each other, and no more was said. UNANSWERABLE QUESTIO..A. gentleman was passing the Institute of France, on the Quai Couti, the other day, accompanied by a little .English boy of tthe tender age of seven. Be- fore that building, consecrated to ,thc sog-es of Stance, is a fine feta'ue of the Re- public, which is represented as a woman. The child asked, what it was, and, Joeing told, said "Then it is she who now reigns in Franca. That is curious for I thought that no woman could reign here." Tha reply was, Yes, that is the law." Then, if so, why is there a Republic here ? The French seem to like changing their ntifcds," added the child. Oh," he was told, "it is ouiy a form of Govei-iiiiie t "Then why," iteratadjie^ is the Republic Represented to be a woman A FQRTZ YptvR-Oi.D SPUING CHICKEN. Two wTunen got into one Of the southern trafn-cars the other day, every seat of which-was filled. One of the women had prematurely grey hair, and wore spectacles, because she was near-sighted. The other was homely, and carried a big bag. A beautiful girl jumped up, and said to the grey- haired woman, Take my seat, madam I am 'jovtagqk than-you." Then every man in the tram rose and offered his place to theooautinll girl who only .smilsd sweatly, and. said, No, thank you I prefer to stand. Meanwhile tho woman with grey hair laid hold ofjx strap and glared at the crowd. 441 may ndmbe a cliib of 1" she s £ iiciyi;i; tin^rar-tohes bat lin not infirm, I'll give you to understand, r.ad can stand up as long as anybody And the Î101:Jy woman, with the bag' sat down in a space ■ 14- inches wide, and wondered what*ft was all"about.. -I- <XOB« BBAR THAN' LAW. When Gratiot, Michigan, began to be disturbed by pioneers, and had its first justice of the peace, a farmer named Davison walked three miles to. secure a warraut against a neighbour named Meacham for assault and battery. To save the constable a six-mile trip, the defendant walked in ,with the plaitttinf. --They encountered his honour just leaving his house with a gun on his shoulder, and Davison, halted him w:ti I want a; warrant for this. man for strikin' me." I:- in an awful hurry— come to-morrow." So'm I in a hurty; and I'm goin' to have a, raisin'to-morrer." Meacham, did you. hit him?" "Yes." Davison, did you strike back?' "No." Mcachain, would you rather wprk foj him three .days than go to gaol ?'' ■'I guess so.' "Aud that will satisfy you, Davison ?" "Yes." "Then make tracks for home, and don't bother me further! My son has just cofne in with the news that an old bear and three cubs are up the old beech dOwh clu the edge of the slasiiingj. aqd I'm goiag to have soine .bear-meat if it upsets the'State of Miohigar;, Courts, ad- journed." THEATEIOAX- MIXTOBE. — An actor of the-name of Bass, says a, writer in the Theatre, was the manager of a provincial theatre' in England on the boards of which Bdihurirl Kean once appeared ifir a' feiv nights. During his brief engagement Othello was performed three or four times, the rdle of the Mqor and his ancient being alter- nately assumed by the great tragedian and tho manager. One evening they had been dining to- gether, and the bottle had peen passed ,too freely. They got through the play however without theiv. ccaidicion being discovered by the audience until they came to the scene in the third act in which Othello seizes iago bv the throat and delivers the speech beginainr, Villain, be sure thou prove," &C. Kear., who orr this occasion was. the Othellrl" as he spoke, grasped Iago so, fiercely ti(at, being, sortsewha? unsteady on his l^gs,'he -fell, dragging his companion down with him. This accident coufused them both, and, when thojrrngaiaed tiieir feei,Aea»i, inatead of-.waiting for Ba s to continue the dialogue, himself uttered the''exclamation, "is it come to this?" which properly belongs to làg-o. Bas, who-was letter perfect '*■ in either part took the cue, and went «n with that of Othello. For a moment or two tha audience Were not a little puzzled by this inter- change of .characters but, as soon as the real facts of the ease dawned upon them, they appre- cnted to the. full tha absurdity ot- the situation, and the remainder of the scenes-usually ligteaed to in breathless silen.ee-vlas grP- with ifequent peals of laughter. Both actors were alike surprised and disgusted at, the merriment they caused. Kean in particular was in a tower- ing re ge. Anger in some measure sobered him. Still he had to suspicion of tha bliKider he had been guilty of, and when hs quitted -he sta^e ne made hiS way hastily to the greenrooin. As lie, enttrod the apartment, however, the reflection oi his bronzed visage and Moovisn garments ia a small mirror over the mantelpiece caught his eyo, and, turning to' his fellow-actor he abrupt y exclaimed, "By Heaven, Bass, lm Otnello!" Of course w are ? =' was tne response. Then wiiv the deuce did you "assume my cliaracter ?" was the aitgry query. -uscause you in the tist instance took mine, and" being as drurik as you were, I simply followed •your lead." Kean was about to make-a;-furious rejoinder'to this retort, -iwhan suddenly, tiie hi:iiaf)u'6u» side of-the incident striking fiuj, the .heavy iroWHJthich had gathered on. his brow re- laxed, and, buretirtg into a hearty tit of laughter, he-feud, Well, after all, I belieVe it was 4s. much my fault-as yours.. TInt I fancy we shall tin(I tlle. people in front in no very appreciative 'humour ujwiftg the remainder of tiie even'm# In this, however, Kean was mistaken. Whan he next ap pejirad uoon the stage, tho magnificence of hi le acting—lie being flow upon his mettle—quickly quelled ail manifestations? of merriment, and ci uriug the reiaaindsr ct the play he never Once relaxed his hold upon the audience. J

MEDICINES, ELASTIC SXOCKM6FE,' CHESICALS, DIIUGS, &c., by parcel pes:, umlev Uy, 3d, KayBcps., DIIUGS, &c., by parcel pes:, umlev Ill., 3J, KayBcps., StosJjp&rt,. 213

YANKEE YARNS. I BIP VAN WTVTvT.ir. while Mi Josepli. Je fferso-a was once playing hip van Winkle at Chicago, he went to the tneatre very much exhausted by' a long day's fisnwg on the lake. When the curtain rose on tnetmrd aci, it ci.sc.osed' the white-haired Rip still deep HI his twenty years' nap. Five ten twenty minutes passed, and the did not waken. Tho audience began ^to get impatient and the prompter uneasy. The great actor doubtless knew what he was about, but this was carrying the "realistic" business too far. The fact was that all the time Jefferson was real-y sleeping the sleal) of tho j List, or rather of the fisherma-a who had sat eight hours in the sun .without getting a single bite. Finally the gallery became uproar- ious, and one of the "gods" wanted to know if there was going to ba "nineteen years more of tJ;is snooze business." At this point Jefferson began to snore. This decided the prompter, who opened a small trap beneath the stage and began io prod Rip from below. The much-travelled comedian began, to fumble in his pocket for an imaginary ticket, and muttered drowsily, Going right through, 'ductor." The audience was trans- fixed with amazement at this entirely new read: ing, when Jefferson sat up with it- loud shriek, and evidently in agony. The exasperated prompter had jabbed him with a pin. The play nt on then—with a rush. ■* A CALIFORNIAN BARGAIN. The other day one or Frisco's most esteemed young burglars was by some oversight arrested and fined for creating a disturbance. In default of the fine he was to stay in gaol thirty days. The prisoner was deeply humiliatef by this sen- tence, as "burbling" has been so dull recently- that he was not in funds. He sent, however, for a well-known Pine-street broker. "Mr R. said the burglar- they were oid college chums—" I want to make you a business proposition, Last month yOur house was entered and robbed of a fine breach-loader gun, a stem-winder watch, and a pair of diamond studs." Yes. Well?" Well, I took 'am; but you can't prove 'it. Now, if you will pay my present fine, l'n return you the gun or the watch—take your choice." I'll tell you what I'll do," suid the broker, after a second's reflection—" I'll do it for the gun and the studs." Couldn't possibly,' said the crowbar artist. I want the studs to wear at a dinner the boys are getting up. But I tell you what I will do. My dress vest buttons up pretty high I can get along with one stud so I'll let yon have the other. Now, what d'ye say?" "It's a go," said the broker, and he passed out and settled up. A BIG INVESTMENT. A New Yorker was seated in an office in Gunnson city one day not long ago, when a grisly-looking old man entered and asked if that was the place where they sold shares of the White Horse Silver Mine. Being assured that he was in the office of the company, he observed, I have heard the White Horse spoken of as being a likely mine." It certainly is. We took ten thousand Illilars' worth of ore out in one day." "Phew! She must be just old richness How many men have ye got to work?'' "Oh, about three, hundred Have ye, though ? Are the sheers going off purty lively ?" Shares are selling like hot Takes, and wo have only a few left. Every- body says the White Horse is a bi investment." What are sheers worth to-day ?" I will sell you at ninety-five, though I know they will be worth face-value to-morrow." "1,9 Yon don t really mean ninety five?" "I do," "Well, that's better. There's a hundred sheers which you sold my pard yesterday for twenty dollars. I went over to the mine, found nothing but a hole and a dead mule, and I told him I'd come up and get his money back or do some-shooting. I'm 'tarnal glad to find them sheers has riz from twenty to ninety-five. That will give my pard his money back, and buy me a winter outfit besides.Here's the sheers, and now let me see the colour of the money." But, air, v/e Pass out the cash 4" dthe old man, as he rested the end Of his shooter on the edge or the counter. Tho "company ur.i iext his rolWr inihis overcoat outside. Alter a look -a.round, with p, bland smile he began counting out the money; and as he made the, exchange, he Fad, certainly, sIr-greatest of pleasure, sir. Sorry you didn't hold them one day more, and get the full face-value." [ CIRCUMVENTING A WIDOW. I There was a Detroiter among the trio of officials who passed over the route of the Butler Road to secure the right of way. In some cases farmers cheerfully signed od; in others money had to be used but in one case the "committee found a most determined oppositipn. The road would divide a widow's farmland she was independent, obstinate, and defiant. She knew that her haystacks and barns would be destroyed by sparks, her live stock run over by trains, and her slumbers disturbed by the rattle of trains, and she would not-lisfen to argument. In this emergency one of the committee said, Madam, do you know of any widow in this neigbourhood who would .be billing to board a gentleman connected with the construction of our road ? He is a widower, and prefers to board with a widow." "No, I don't .know as I do. Is he a nice man?" "Splendid man, :>:d has money iu the bank. We want him to locate psniianently at. this point, and are in hopes he will take a wife. it is unfortunate that-" "1 never did take boarders," she mused; "but-" "If you only could now, I'm sure you would not regret it. He is extremely fond of children, and would be like a father to your little ones." Perhaps I might accoinmo- dote you." "Ah, thanks! He would be here nexu week if this right-of-way matter was decided; but, as it is, he may not-" "Do you agree to pay damages if 'you burn my barn?" "Of course we do." And I'll probably get used to the noise?" "Ob, of course. In a week you won't minclit. Fact is, yuu'll sit np every night till midnight, anyhow, after the gentleman arrives." -"Oh no I shan't! I shall never love again but, J if I)c- is Di Ce man and loves children, why, I don't know all I ought tp stop your road. I guess I'll sign !"—Detroit Pape>\ TOO CLOSE FIGGEEINGC. •" Get- you tickets at LIe waggon screamed the doorkeeper of the circus yesterday to a young nifn with a girl on his arm who had a handful of small change. •• This is the third time you have come here without tickets when you know I can't take money The young irian and his girl fell back, and, as they did not go near the ticket waggon, and yet seemed very anxious to see the circuiv a curious minded citizen edged round and enquired of the young man, Why don't you buy yonr tickets if you want to go in ?" 'Cause I'm short," was the whispered reply. "I didn't 'iow enough for incidentals when I was figgering Oil the cost of this thing but I don't want the val t,) know it." How much are you short 1" Only five cents. I figgered that ten shillings would pay all expenses, but got left. We spent ten cents for pea-nuts, Ithn dcp;nt on the street-cars, and five in candy- 1 J one djobar left to pay onr way in, w„b|uTth.efl got a pea-nut stuck in her throat, and I had to buy a glass of lemonade to wash it down. Didn t do it though till I had- pounded her on the back mora'n fifty times, and tried to pull one of them fire-hydrants up by the roots. I'll lend you five cents to make up your dollar," said the citizen. Yon will,.by gosh ? But that lets me out I'd znado up tuy mind to tell the gal that ► tho' tigers had got loose, and the hyenas hod ran m?d j but she's long-headed, and might not have believed it. Thankee, 6ir and the fust time Viu in town I'll pay it back, ll&ng it, I orter figgered on eleven shillings 'stead of ten, but yam've made me happy for life Come, Bets."—Detroit Paper. I SNIP SNIPPING. A cheap tailor in San Francisco, whose trade- mark on his advertising-boards is a venerable- looking man at work cross-legged, is thus, attacked by a rival snip of the game town—" JDon't be humbugged by hoary-headed patriarchs who pic- ture themsei vca sitting cross-legged and advertise ptaits made to order S3,$4-. and $5 a pair. A few pieces of cassai'iere ahd a terrible amount of cheek is their stock-in-trade. Don't be humbugged, Do you know how it's done ? When you go into one of these stores %that cover up their ghop* wir.dow.s with sample lengths of cassinaere maricea pants to ord«,$3.50 and$4 '—after^you have made a selection of the piece of cloth you wan o your pants made from, the pompous mdividual who is chief engineer of the big tailor shears lays them softly on tho smoothest part of his cuttiag-table, unrolls bis tape-line, and proceeds to measure \is victim all over the body. The scvtral measurement? are all carefully entered in a book by tho other humbug. The customer is then told that his pants will be finished in about twenty-ionr or thirty-six hours; r.il depends upon how long it takes to shrink the ciotb. That's- the end IIf tho nrst act. Part second—The Customer no sooner leaves the eg? .than the wotild-be merchant tpilbr call# hoy Jim, and sends him around to some joober, and says, 'Get me a pair of -,Veeo <> 30 '—which ia the shoddy imitation V t eassimeve that your panl* ere to oi around the wvust and 33 in the I0?-. pulled out of a pile of r. hundred, P»ir&■ «r ^oie tits taveuiiiv--t.in.Cie li'ceswr^a^n^- uatJ- trap i& the"b:iitt>-a the. "hook xants raaue <to order,$3.50,$V and$5.' 1 hat's t.ve way it's done., Corns and select for yourselves from the largest stock," &c,

The Nile ExpeditlonTa ARRIVAL OF A MESSENGER! FROM GORDON. 11 All's Well" at Khartoum. I The Press Association has been furnished w a copy of the following telegram received at War Office on Sunday from General Lord Wolsel to the Secretary of State for War :— KOHTI, 11th January, 1885, 1.50 pma.-Il niessenger, who left this place 18th Decembl with a letter to General Gordon, has just return* °be day ifl ^')artoum> and left on t zSoh ecember. He was taken prisoner ret urn ir and Gordon's letter taken from him.. H bears inarms of having been bound and beate Sewn up in his clothes, and not taken from him was a facsimile of the previous little note bearing the same date (14-uh December), and announci all well then. Gordon was in tlerfect health, att< the troops on the five stelmers- be saw were w and happy. The steamers seize Cattle and grai and take them up the river to Khartoum. Th messenger returned on foot via Bavuda. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM. 1 I C^IRO, Sunday.—Authentic news of a sati*9 factory nature has been received here from Kh»1 toum as late as the 28th ult. General Gordon arijl his troops were then in good health and spirit!^ Cattle and grain were being brought to Khartoull from the north by General Gordon's steamers. » :'["TIMES" TELKGRAMS.1 IVORTI, Saturday.-The Mudir of Dongolfl arrived here this afternoon; and had a long aH<jV cordial interview with Lord Wolseley. coXiM voy of maize has started for Gakdul, accompanugl by Colonel Burnaby. J A telegram on S unday says: When the force sent! out reaches Metemmeh Sir Charles WilsoBl will go to Khartoum and confer with Gordon, returning as soon as possible to repo personally to Lord Wolseley. jW T" STANDARD" TELEGBAM.1 I J KORTI, Saturday.—General Gordon reports attj well at Khartoum.. His steamers ply without} interruption to Metemmeh. It is arranged thafl as soon as General Stewart's enlntnri reaches Metemmeh, Col. Wilson, with three other officers, shall go up immediately in one of Gordon's steamers to Khartoum to ascertain from him the exact position of affairs, and after a consultation with the general return to Metemmeh by steamer. I [" DAILY CHRONICLE" TELBGILUL]; HANDAB, via Merawi, Friday.^—The South j Staffordshire Regiment and. a small force of cavalry haver been busily engaged during the last few days examining the country around, and in obtaining supplies. Twelve whalers, manned j by the infantry, went as far as. Abudom, and returned here in triumph with a quantity of grain-j The, work of building the fort here continues. It j will be armed with artillery. The health of thaj troops continues excellent. There is not a s' pr man in hospital » j

I THE NEW EGYPTIAN. LOAN. 1 I To-day's Standard understands that -the.French Government have received fromr Germany and Russia an intirfiation that theywould not b* prepared to join in an internateonalf guaranteeFfoiS the New Egyptian Loan. ——■

RUSSIAN PROGRESSIN"lA'SIc" £ TIMES" TELEGRAM.1 [ TEHERAN, Saturday.—The Russians are laying^ a telegraph line from Astrabad to Mero. Thtf fcliuli intends to visit Ispahan durin^ho spring. «««„

I THE OUTRAGES IN COREA. (I. STANDARD T=GRABLI SHANGHAI, Sunday.—The partyinow in power in the Corea have issued an official statement, clearly implicating Ja,pan in the recent outrages. It" is now ascertained that the outbreak occurred prematurely.

RUMOURED LlBERATIONOF LOUISE MICHEL. [Cl DAILY CHRONICLE" TELEGRAM.] PARIS, Sunday.—A rumour is current, the cor- rectness of which I have every reason to believe, that Louise Michel has beenliberated from prison, ,i and is now either in Brussels or in London.

FRANCE AND CHINA. Rumoured Ultimatum ov France. [" STANDARD" TELEGRAM.] VIENNA, Sunday. -Semi-official French infor- mation has reached Vienna to the effect that an ultimatum will shortly be presented to China, to be followed by a declaration of war. The French diplomatic agents have been ordered to leaw Shanghai, bqt they will not quit the country alto- gether, retiring only to Saigon, or Hong Kong.

THE TRIAL OF MADADE CtWlS' HUGUES. A Duel as the Sequel. ["pAILT CHRONICLE TELEGKAM.J 1 1, PARIS, bunaay. is understood that M. Clovis Hugues will refuse to pay t 36'2,000 francs damages, which the court condemns him to pay to the representatives of the murdered man Morin. A duel, arising out of this case, was fought yesterday afternoon, between M. Theophile Chavargnon, a friend of M. Clovis Hugues, and M. F. Bovie, and ended in the wonnding of M; Bevie. 1.0 ■ -a

I FEEL SO WfiARY AND TIRED" F Is the exclamation of many wn°M we 4a\f £ Jet they never pause to think or refiept upoa cause of this feelino- It may arise fi om slug/pan vna impure tioo/ w^Tch if neg'ecte'« forerunner 0f seri0tla ""SOT "SSS^,i8eliag is nature wavnins us that mere is soinetiiinjr wrong, which must be set /S'ering illness will sneeiUly 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 tne Dest means to do so is to take "Gwilvm !>ans' Quinine Hitters," which purifies the blood, and imparts new life and energy. It is inj*Ju- able to those wno are su-. ering from affections w the chest, indigestion, nervousness, debility in iW worst forms, depression of spirits, and melancholy- GWILYM EVANS'S QUININE Bittebs* THE VEGETABLE TONIC.—This preparation & N0Y exten- sively taken throughout the country suffer- ing from debility, nervousness, and 66*1 exhaustion, and," if any value be attached to buuaan testimony, the efficacv of this medicine has beatt su.cessiully estab- lished. Its claims have ana proved by the medu al nrofession and other* «"u corroborated by the written testimonials of Thei Quinihe Bitters contain not onijquantity of Quinine in each dose, but the ^4i!rim £ les of thefoQowing well-known herbs—sa«apariUa, saffron, gentian, laven- der, and dandelion r°°J- J he use of Qumine w well known but it 138611 satisfactorily combined witli these preparations until, after overcoming consi derable diffic?1 Proprietor was able to secure a oerfeetly Preparation, combining all the essentiJ properties of the above, plants iu thei greatest;prlty. an concentration. it is now established as a famny meiueine, and is increasing m popular avour tbe more it ia fenown and Gwylim Evans 's Quinine Bitters is a tonic fick-me-up,' scientifically mixed in iiappy 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 of the system which is weakest, and, therefore, most liable to colds and their attendant diseases. The in- gredients they contain cannot be put into pills, but the Patient can follow his usual occupation without fear of exposure. T, GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS are recommended by Doctors Analysts, Chemists. Sold, in s 9d and 4s Gd Bottles, and Cases contaimny three hs 6d Bottles at 12* Sd vm- cuse, by all Chemung, or from the Proprietor, vrriage free,parcels post {under cover). N.B.—No one iioald sufferAvithoat tryilig Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters."—Mr UWILYM KVANS, F.O.S., PrOymtor, abovaiorv, Uanelly, South Wales. ;OSír8 K¿y'š COMPOUND, for Colds and Coughs. Sold throughout the World,1s i»d 3d Ac, JERY Brag, Stockport. 811