County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

IDA: "Elmore received a terrible insult this morn- ing." May: "What was it?" Ida: "Why, an old lady saw the handle of his golf clubs projecting from the bag, and asked him how much he would charge to mend an umbrella."

GARDENING GOSSIP. I (From Gardening Illustrated.") I CONSERVATORY. I White Trumpet Lilies make charming gre-ups now. Retarded bulbs are now flowering freely and will continue to do so for some time. The flowers of this and other Lilies have been very cheap all the season some people say in consequence of the war there has been fewer parties and balls, and less demand for large flowers. Many of the leaders of fashion have given up growing mixed collections as was the case years ago, but fill their houses with special things, and more attention is given to Orchids. Lily of the Valley are now in demand all the year, and this demand can be met by retarding the crowns in a cool storage place; and it is wonderful how well these retarded crowns of Lily of the Valley bloom, though 1 think (remarks Mr. E. Hobdaj) the flowers are hardly as fine as those produced by the best Berlin crowns forced from Christmas onwards. There is a very large demand for good long-stalked Violets. Prince of Wales and Admiral Avellari are favourites. When well grown in pots these are charm- ing in winter. Double Violets are not so much grown, and a group in the conservatory surrounded by small Maiden-hair Ferns or Club Mosses is very attractive and the fragrance delightful. Tree Carnations and Bouvardias should now be in their flowering pots. Large specimens of Bouvardias can be easily made by placing three strong plants in an Sin. pot. Scar- borough Lilies are now throwing up their flower spikes, and may have weak liquid-manure two or three times. These bulbs always flower best when & little pot-bound and ripened by exposure outside. The Eulalias, especially E. japonicum variegatum and gracillimum, are valuable plants for decorative work, and are easily propagat.edty division. Groups of early-flowering Chrysanthemums will be useful now. Asparagus Sprengeri makes a pretty graceful basket plant. Winter-flowering Heaths should now be under. glass, with free ventilation and careful watering. Strong plants of Acalypha Sandersi are very distinct and effective, especially when the plants and the flowers are well developed. WINDOW GARDENING. Cleanliness is always important. Dead leaves and flowers and dirty pots are not conducive to healthy conditions of growth. Cuttings 'must be kept moist, though not in a continual state of saturation. Cac- tuses and other succulents will not require much water. Plants in the borders which it is intended to keep through the winter should be potted up care- fully, though they need not be taken indoors till frost comes, and it is an easy matter to throw a cloth or other light covering over a group of plants when frost is expected. OUTDOOR GARDEN. Sow Sweet Peas during this month for early bloom- ing; sow on a good well-drained site thinly. If at all crowded in spring thin carefully; the thinnings may be planted elsewhere. Sweet Peas sown in pots now will flower early in the greenhouse next year. Must be grown near tne glass during winter in a cool greenhouse. If snails or slugs attack the plants out- side, dust a few sifted ashes round the plants. The sooner the early-flowering bulbs are planted now the better they will flower. This refers to Snowdrops, Winter Aconites, and Narcissus especially. Anemones, especially coronaria and the double scarlet, should be planted now. The last-named is a lovely thing for cutting, but is not always satisfactory, though in some places it grows and flowers very freely. Carna- tions should be planted as soon as the layers are well rooted. If manure is used in the beds, it should be very old and mellow; two-year-old cow-manure and old turfy loam form a good dressing for the beds, with a sprinkling of soot added. Continue to take cuttings of Geraniums and other bedding plants; but, if kept in a close frame or hcuse, they will damp off. Cuttings are scarce this season, and old plants will have to be potted up. FRUIT GARDEN. This will not be a very profitable season for the fruit-growers, though it will suit the consumer, and all the jam-pots should be filled with good fruit. Pears and Apples must be small this season where the fruits cannot be thinned and where no extra nourishment has been given. There are hundreds of old trees which ought to be grubbed up and better kinds planted in even the best fruit districts. After a glut will come a scarcity, and it is upon the young trees that we must rely for a crop next year, as the older ones will be too exhausted to bear. There seems to be a demand springing up for Passion fruit, which is the produce of Passiflora ednlis. I have grown this both in a warm-house and also in a con- servatory where the temperature never went above 50deg. in winter and was often much lower, but the best fruit came from the warm-houses. In both cases the plants were set out in a well-drained border in good loam and a little old manure. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Te keep Celery solid and good, moisture is neces- sary. Up to the time of writing, in our district it has been necessary to water Celery twice a week, and while the watering is necessary, earthing-up has been delayed; but it is quite possible to begin the blanching by wrapping paper round the bottom of the plants and drawing the leaves together with mattings. Cardoons may be treated in the same way. Now that the Onions are harvested, the ground should be dressed with soot and hoed up deeply and planted with Cabbages for spring. No one wants very large Cabbages, and it is a mistake to plant in loose, recently-manured ground. After Onions the ground is usually in good heart, and Cabbages do well on it. Unless Cabbages are intended to remain for the second crop, 18 inches between the rows and 15 inches between the plants will be ample, and a patch on this early border may be planted much nearer for early cutting. Autocrat is a very fine Pea for late planting and seems to resist mildew better than most. This has been a bad season for shallow cultivators, but some people never seem to learn the value of deep work. THE WHITE EVERLASTING PEA. Very few hardy climbing plants can surpass this for freedom of flowering. This is particularly true where the plants are old and well established. A very remarkable instance of this plant came under notice quite recently in a market nursery which runs beside a. deep railway cutting. The limit of the company's property is marked by their usual four-barred fence and posts, and to make the most of the fence, or rather the space at dis- posal, plants of the Everlasting Pea had been set out a few feet apart along an extensive line of some 300 yards or 400 yaids. The plants were merely looped to the fence by strong cord, and have for many weeks in succession provided an un- told wealth of blossoms, and of not a little value, seeing the cost of production is trifling. The plant in question is such a favourite, that private gardeners might imitate this method, even if on a smaller scale. There arc certain positions in almost every garden where a sort of floral fence such as this suggests would not only prove attractive, but valuable, for long sprays of flower and foliage could be cut intact, and these of a pretty and useful kind. In such positions the plants if given room root deeply and give but little trouble. ROSE VICTOR VERDIER. Except as regards fragrance, of which it is defi- cient, this may be considered one of the most useful Roses yet raised. Various conjectures hh-re been advanced as to the origin of the type, but nothing is definitely known. It was introduced by M. Lacharme in 1859, and since that date a numerous progeny has sprung up from it directly by seed and sports and in- directly by crossfertilisation.It is remarkable that much of its individuality isembodied in the offspring, such as want of fragrance, nearly smooth wood, and free- flowering qualities. Those who grow for exhibition must watch carefully when the time comes for dis- budding to remove the centre bud if it shows signs of being malformed, for this defect is a distinct pecu- liarity of the tribe. The usual practice in disbudding is to retain the centre bud and remove the two tiny outer buds, whereas in this case the reverse is re- quired. The colour of Victor Verdier is of a very clear shade of cherry-rose and the form is globular and high-centred. The buds of many of the varieties are long and handsome. The type makes a good garden variety where the colour is admired, but as a rule these rose-coloured Roses are the least beautiful from a colour point of view. While being fairly hardy, a very sharp winter leaves its damaging marks upon the wood, so that it has to be cut back very hard the following spring.

"WHAT is an anecdote, Johnny?" asked the teacher. A short, funny tale," answered the little fellow. "That's right," said the teacher. "Now, Johnny, you may write a sentence on the blackboard containing the word." Johnny hesitated a moment and then wrote this: A rabbit; has four legs aud, one anecdote."

ERIC'S MISTAKE: I OR, A RULE WITH AN EXCEPTION. I "Youare entirely mistaken, Eric," said Herbert Hartley warmly; no woman worth having would marry a man for money." Eric Burton shrugged his shoulders. "Yon have retained a delightful simplicity in Australian wilds, old chap," he responded cynically. Try, and see. Hartley pulled thoughtfully at his cigar. They were talking in his private sitting room at the big hotel at wMch he had put up on his arrival in London, with the proceeds of several gold mines at his command. You should know," he answered at length; but at least there must be exceptions." Every wow'1 is exceptional," retorted the other. Do you happen to know a Miss Maud Moreton ?" Hartley went on inconsequently; her father is something high up in the Home Office." Rurton started. What on earth do you know of Miss Moreton ?" he demanded. Nothing—her brother, poor fellow, died when I was at Rig Tree Gully, and gave me some knick- knacks, including her photograph, to bring home." And you have fallen in love with her photo- graph ?" Burton laughed uneasily. That is putting it rather strongly but is she an exception to the rule you laid down just now?" My dear man "-Burton spoke persuasively- you must not ask me to reduce generalities to personalities I recommended you to try for your- self." Will you help me to do so in Miss Moreton's case ?" "How?" The other thought a moment. Look here I" he sa d I must call with those things of her brother's —you can tell her afterwards you have heard I have not made money. Leave the rest to me." I see," retorted Burton I tell the fibs and you make the running. Sorry I eav!k oblige you, Her- bert." You could truthfully say I had no money if I handed mine over to you ?" Handed me your money I" ejaculated his com- panion. "You must have had a touch of the sun! I should not think of any such mad proceeding." "Only in trust," urged Hartley, "and to prove your theory wrong." Burton hesitated. It was a wild proposal, but if he did not concur in it, Hartley might get someone else who would, and Burton had reason. of his own for desiring to retain some control over his friend's communications with the Moreton household. I never heard of such a Quixotic scheme, Her- bert," he said at length; but as you seem deter- mined to make an ass of yourself, I may as well act stakeholder as another." "Thanks, old fellow I" Hartley gripped his friend's hand as though he was receiving instead of tem- porarily bestowing a fortune. I may be as simple as you say, but if you had been, as I have, away for years from the sight of a civilised woman, you would ma.ke sure the one whose picture you had got to care for was no money-hunter. There is method in my madness." Eric Burton was dawdling over'afternoon tea in the Moreton's drawing-room with Miss Maud Moreton as his only companion. We had such a strange caller to-day," the lady was saying. You remember my brother Donald who died in Australia?" Yes," said the visitor; almost seven years ago, wasn't it ?" He has not turned up, has he, like a story-book hero ?" Don't be frivolous, Mr. Burton," said Miss Maud severely he was my brother, remember, and this has brought the whole sad affair up again. Father is quite upset." The deceased Moreton had been somewhat of a rolling stone, but Burton saw his customary cynicism would not serve here time had evidently rehabili- tated the memory of the/black sheep-so far, at least, as his sister was concerned. I am sorry," the visitor said apologetically I only meant it is so long ago, that any news now of Donald must be something out-of-the way. But who was this caller ?" A man named Hartley," replied Miss Maud, ap- parently placated. Such a good-looking man I but so rough. He had been with Donald at the last, and brought some small things of his, which he has been carrying about all these years without opportunity of returning them personally, as Donald had asked him to do. Eric Burton, who had glanced up curiously at the girl's description of Hartley, smiled saicastically. Ah he remarked; "I think I have heard something of Mr. Hartley he has been trying to get, some City friends of mine to float a gold claim—they told him to work it himself first-so I fancy, being down on his luck, he has remembered this old errand, and hopes to strike oil through it somehow." Maud looked distressed. He was brusque and unpolished," she answered or, rather, seemed as though he had lost his polish he had had-just as one would," she went on, wandering about for so long in the wild places he describes. But really, Mr. Burton," continued the lady, if you know anything of the man you should tell father." That gentleman-a Civil servant of the red tape type, constitutionally nervous, and habitually fidgetty respecting his daughter—received Burton in the library. Well ?" the elder man queried, as he greeted the other-" Well ?-have you seen Maud ?" She sent me to you, sir," responded the visitor, about this man Hartley-I happen to have heard of him." "Yes, yes! Heard of him, have you? Well?" Mr. Moreton's speech savoured of the Circumlocu- tion Office, for he seldom put a direct question. Burton, however, knew his ways, and therefort gave him the information—with further embellish- ments—which he had already imparted to Mr. Moreton's daughter. Tut! tut I" commented the father when Burton had finished his tale. "Tut! tut! And I asked him to lunch-he seemed too rough for dinner-and Maud will be here. Well ?" The visiter inferred the nature of the unspoken question and replied to it. No, sir," he said emphatically, you cannot put him off now, but if you will listen to what I have to say further, you may put me in a position to be of service, should he presume upon the acquaintance." "Quite so! quite so I" Mr. Moreton's tone was tentative. Well ?" Burton-considering the communication he had to make-was wonderfully at his ease. "I wish to say now, sir, what financial reasons precluded my mentioning before. It so happens that I have, within the last few days, come into consider- able funds, and think I ought to take advantage of this, as the earliest opportunity since doing so, of asking your permission to pay my addresses 1.0 your daughter." The words were perfectly proper—almost too well chosen, but Burton knew his man, and appealed to the formal side of him. The result justified his dis- crimination. My dear boy I" cried Mr. Moreton heartily, you have not only my permission but my influence. On these occasions, however, it is usual to ask how much. Well?" Burton guessed the question, and named a sum re- presenting the amount Hartley had put into his hands —of private means he had none worth mentioning. My dear Burton," ejaculated the elder man earnestly, Maud is sure to marry you. Well ?" But Eric Burton, in this instance, preferred to leave the question his prospective father-in-law in- ferred without an answer. The Moretons were at Henley. Burton—at Hart- ley's instigation and cost-had chartered a house- boat and asked them down. Not that the actual host was known to them, for he himself, in pursuance of his plan, kept up his character of a somewhat impe- cunious gold exploiter, and had,gas a matter of fact, received a not too polite hint from the elder Moreton that his further visits to that gentleman's house would not be appreciated. So Burton had Maud to himself on deck her father was enjoying an after- dinner nap below. Maud," he was saying to her-" Maud, is that really your answer?" It is," she said curtly. "There is someone else, I suppose?" he went on bitterly, with a touch of his cynical manner. The girl turned on him. Mr. Burton," she said quietly, "you honoured me by asking me simply to be you wife I told you I was sorry that could not be. Then you hurt me by urging your wealth. Now," she continued, "you have made a comment which no gentleman would have done. No "—she waved aside the protest he commenced—"No, I refuse to hear more "—and Mr. Burton found himself left to his own meditations, which were not of the pleas- antest. He went below to consult Mr. Moreton. What!" ejaculated that gentleman, when he had heard from the wooer of his ill-fortune. What!— refused you ? Nonsense—try again—you must be mistaken. Well ?" No, sir," responded Burton, there was no mis- take, and I shall not try again-not, at least," he added, "until that Australian goes altogether." Goes I" said Mr. Moreton with surprise. Goes! —I have not seen him for weeks-nor can Maud. Well ?" Miss Maud has, sir, or I am mistaken. But there is no use theorising further about it at present. I must go ashore for a few minutes—will you pardon my leaving you ?" Burton went off, and Mr. Moreton sought out his daughter, with a view to expostulation. He came upon her behind the deckhouse at the stern but she was not alone-Hartley was with her, and a canoe lying alongside indicated the method of his arrival. Mr. Moreton paid no heed to the lifted cap with which the Australian greeted him, but addressed his daughter. I am surprised, Maud-surprised and grieved- to observe you have not headed my wishes. Will you- But Hartley interrupted him. Don't blame Maud Maud I" ejaculated the father. Yes, Maud," responded the younger man insis- tently. Don't blame her—any fault is mine. She has promised to be my wife." The couple stood side by side in front of Mr. Moreton-in the dim light he could not be sure, but they seemed even band in hand. I suppose Maud "—the older man still addressed his daughter, ignoring her companion. I suppose, Maud, you know this man for a beggar-an adven- turer ?" I never asked," said Maud simply. I love him, father, and have promised to marry him." If he has not a penny to keep you ?" If he has nothing," she repeated-and Mr. More- ton saw the two draw closer. Well ?" he said helplessly; then, as Burton ap- peared on the top of the deckhouse, he saw a gleam of hope, and called to him. Burton came forward with obvious reluctance. Tell this foolish girl what you know of this man here," Mr. Moreton demanded, but Hartley inter- rupted. Tell the facts, Eric," the latter said the play is played." Burton hesitated, but his underhand tactics had obviously failed, and he decided to face the music. I believe I have been mistaken, sir," he said. Mr. Hartley has been an extremely successful man —in more ways than one," he could not forbear adding. But you told me positively '-Mr. Moreton was evidently aggrieved—"you asserted he was worth nothing, and told me besides that you had come into Again Hartley interposed-this time with some- thing of severity in his voice. "I think," he said, addressing Mr. Moreton more especially, but with an emphasis plainly intended for his quondam friend. 1 think we had better not in- quire more closely. Maud and I are satisfied, and I feel sure I shall be able to satisfy you, sir, both as to my motives and my position. I would, however, ask one question." He turned to Burton. "Eric," he demanded, "will you tell me now whether Miss Moreton is an exception to the rule you laid down ?" "Decidedly," Burton answered.

THIS YEAR'S HARVEST. The season has not been unfavourable for the com- pletion of the harvest in England, Gertiany, Scandi- navia, and in the spring wheat regions of Russia while Canada and Manitoba have completed their cereal ingathering without frost. The Scotch and Irish wheat crops have not been well secured, as there has been rather a heavy rainfall. Threshings of the new English wheat do not proceed with any briskness, and farmers are well advised in their pre- sent policy. Prices will probably be better in 1901 than they are to-day, and the rise .should come with the first severe cold. We notice (says the Mark Lane Express) an in- creased proportion of 631b. lots among the new de- liveries, and this, of course, is an excellent sign. For fine 631b. red 32s. is generally obtainable. At the Kentish markets 641b. samples of white have been met with, and at 32s. 6d. they have been a good bar- gain. The West, we must admit, has already ac- cepted 27s. to 28s. for new English, but these samples were neither very dry nor very heavy. The estimate of a 28 bushel yield for the United King- dom is rather more firmly established than it was a fortnight ago. Allowing for the de- cline in the area under cultivation, it may be reckoned that we shall need 14,260,000 bushels more foreign wheat than we did last year. As the cereal season's imports of breadstuffs equalled 174,480,000 bushels (corrected returns), we may put the new cereal year's import requirements at 188,740,000 bushels, or 23,592,500 quarters. This is a consider- able quantity, but out of the 53,172,000 bushels of English nominally available, fully 8,000,000 bushels 11 y must probably be deducted for seed and tail corn respectively. This leaves us only 5,645,500 quarters of English new wheat to come to the miller.

A CONQUERING MELODY. A private in t King's Royal Rifles writes home to Blackburn, describing the removal of Boer prisoners to Ceylon. He states that when in Colombo Harbour the ship lay alongside a French transport, crowded with troops for China. The Boers threw into the water bottles containing letters, which the French sailors picked up. The prisoners were thereupon ordered below. When the French vessel sailed the troops sang the national air, but," adds the writer, we gave them God Save the Queen,' and that settled them."

A NAPLES TRAGEDY. The Italian papers for some time past have been daily full of cases of stabbing and murder. One of the worst and most fatal scenes of the kind; however (writes the Naples correspondent of the Daily News), has occurred at Torre Annunziata. A barber was quietly taking his supper at an inn, when a young man of his acquaintance, called Ferdinando Balzano, came into the room, poured out a glass of wine from the barber's bottle, and drank it. The barber took offence at this conduct, and challenged Balzano to go out into the street and settle the quarrel. In a few minutes the two came to blows. Then they drew out their knives and began to fight, the barber, wild with rage, attacking his opponent with particular fury. Attracted by the uproar, the father of Balzano, with a policeman called Lasco and a man named Ferrone, rushed to separate the combatants; but Balzano, vexed at the interruption, immediately left the barber and attacked the new-comers. In a very few moments he had stabbed the policeman Lasco to the heart, the man falling dead on the spot. Then he turned again to the barber, and stabbed him inthebody. The barber fell, exclaiming: Mamma mia! he has killed me and died in a few minutes. Meanwhile, Balzano had turned on the other intruder. Fer- rone, stabbing him more than once. The cries of tae onlookers now become terrible, and a respect- able shopkeeper named Giorgio rushed forward and tried to disarm the murderer but was immediately, in his turn, stabbed low down in the stomach. He was promptly taken to the hospital, but the sur- geons despair of saving him. The man Ferrone died as he was being conveyed to the hospital."

THE total number of leagues and other similar playinur combinations which have been sanctioned by the Football Association is about 250. 0 THE 20th century will have 24 leap years, the greatest number possible. February will have five Sundays three times—1920, 1948, and 1976. The earliest possible date on which Easter can occur is March 12. The last time it occurred on that date was 1818. The latest date that Easter can occur is April 25. It will occur .but once in the coming cen- tury on that date—1943. The middle day of the century will be January 1, 1951. There will be 380 eclipses during the coming century. A GLASGOW man has in his garden what he calls a tree clock." Fir trees are planted in such positions that one of them will shade a portion of the house at every hour of sunlight. For example, at nine o'clock in the morning the nine o'clock tree shades the dining-room, while as the sunlight changes the ten o'clock tree" shades the room above or the room adjoining it, and so on through the day. On a sunny day this tree clock insures a successior of shady places round the house.

THE WOMAN'S WORLD. 1 LADIES who are able to employ a cook should give her instructions (Spare Moments advises) that, so fur as possible, all the baking is to be done when the oven is hottest, so as to avoid the constant making up of the fire. Also let it be understood that in order to save coal the cinders from the other fires are to be burnt in the kitchen range, either before the greater part of the cooking is begun, or after it is over. Another simple way of decreasing the coal bill is to use a briquette when the oven is not required, to keep in the fire. When in the kitchen, satisfy yourself that both it and the larder are scrupulously clean. Any deficiency in this respect should not be overlooked in the department where food has to be kept and prepared. If the kitchen tables are not a good colour, they should be scrubbed daily with soft soap and silver sand until they are white. It is a saving of time and trouble to the cook, and gives an air of comfort to the kitchen, if the floor is covered with linoleum or oilcloth, as it can so easily be kept clean. The scullery sink should not escape attention, for it is of great importance that it should be kept in good order. The pipe leading from the sink should be flushed each time after the washing up is done with boiling water; once a day some disinfecting fluid should be poured down. THERE are some pure simple sweets (says a writer in the Rural World) such as barley sugar, good chocolate, sugar candy, and toffee, whick are not injurious to children; indeed, in strict moderation, are good for them. But allowing children to con- stantly spend pennies and even larger sums in pro- miscuous sweets is bad for them in every way. It is well to teach them when they have money given to them to save till they want something, or if they wish to spend it, to spend it on the ripe fruit of which they can hardly have too much. Eating sweets, as too often done by children, ruins teeth and digestion, and prevents a healthy appetite for wholesome nutritious food.^Beside all this, the habit of putting by small sums instead of spending every halfpenny they get is capital training. It is well to give every child a pretty money box, and when enough is in it to start a savingsbank book, and let them see for themselves how small sums grow to larger ones. I have known boys and girls who have bought canaries, bicycles, and many things they desired and could not otherwise have had, witt pence so saved as children. IF legislation can accomplish it, the trailing skirts of the New York woman will have to go, for Dr. O'Hanlon, of the New York coroner's office, is busy framing a bill to present to the august body at Albany during the 1901 session. It is claimed that every sort of bacilli is carried into the home on the skirts of the fashionable woman, and if earnest im- portunings that she abandon her reckless oversight of the laws of health are disregarded, then she shall be compelled to abolish the injurious fashion by being classififed with the law-breakers and treated accordingly. There was an anti-crinoline bill before the legislature a few years ago, and since then a theatre-hat bill. The large sleeves escaped repudia- tion, however, and now the feminine contingent will watch with considerable interest the efforts of the state powers in a field where the law seldom puts itself to the test. THE choux, so often used to describe hat trim- mings, are cabbage-like knots or rosettes of ribbon, silk, tulle, chiffon or any other material. BAYADERE is, of course, running across. Stripes are bayadere when they run across, and, whether it is silks, ribbons, laces, or dress goods or the manner in which trimming is applied, if it is des- cribed as bayadere it runs across. A CABOCIION, that is so much used in description of girdles, hat garniture, &c., is a round buckle or brooch. The expression is also used to describe mock jewels-as a cabochon jewel, when they are round; that is, uncut. PEAU DE SOlE is the fashionable and most exclusive fabric for separate waists, its satiny surface being in accord with the mode of satin-like effects in dress goods this season. This silk is woven like gros- grain, but with a rib so fine as to produce a plain face. AMONG the trifles that obtain this season may be mentioned the ear-rings that seem to be again in vogue. So far, these are confined to very small rings, though we may in time expect the large hoops and long pendants that were worn by our great grandmothers. IT frequently occurs that a straw hat of delicate texture is spoiled before it is half worn out, by the puncture of the hat pin. While the pin may go in or remain in the same opening on the right side of the hat, it is impossible to make it come out in the same hole on the left side. An inventive genius has provided a shield of metal to be fastened in the side of the hat, which forces the pin always to pass through the same hole, and at the same time provides a. protection for the straw, or whatever material of which the hat may be constructed. IT is very inelegant to fold napkins into fancy shapes, such as lilies, fans, &c. This is done only in cheap restaurants. Napkins on elegantly laid tables are folded square and flat, and laid beside the knives at the right of the plate. The bread served at formal dinners is individual rolls, and one is laid at each plate under the top fold of the napkin. MAIL-CARTS are not suitable for very little chil- dren, for the simple reason that they are not adapted for sleeping in. SACKS of white serge with Russian embroidery in red are seen for very little children, and are pretty and easily cleaned. LONG redingotes of plain cloth, with a plaid capuchon or revers finished with mixed fringe, are useful and fashionable. IN preparing salt for the table add a teaspoonful of cornstarch to a cup of salt and mix thoroughly. A BLACK skirt adapts itself well to a different bodice, and usually has an air of greater elegance than a coloured skirt in such circumstances, unless the latter happens to match some part of the bodice- the material or trimming. A black taffeta or satin skirt is a most useful item in the wardrobe, because it is so generally adaptable. THE earring has come quite into favour again, but it is difficult to estimate if the revival will last. Those women who have not had their ears pierced have bought little hooks of invisible wire or clasps that pinch the lobe closely. Of course, all such patent fasteners are liable, while a woman dances or even emphatically nods her head, to shake free from their hold, and, in consequence, there are amazingly few earrings made up of genuine gems. The pearl ear-stud is much worn, but the Neapolitan ear-hoop its to some women decidedly becoming. A thread of gold, strung with five small tinted pearls, is the choice oftenest made, and girls who Pompadour their hair, letting a tress drop over the ear tops, get very interesting effects with their pearl circlets bob- bing over their shoulders. FEEDING and sleeping are the two most important duties of infant life, but, unfortunately, mothers and nurses often most unreasonably interfere with a baby's desire to perform the latter. They have the idea that sleeping in the open air is harmful, and, therefore, when they take baby out in his perambu- lator, they keep on rousing him whenever he falls into a little nap. This behaviour of theirs is very trying to baby's temper, and often results in quite unnecessary crying. Baby wants to sleep, and he would be all the better for doing so, and the only thing that should be seen to is that he is laid in a comfortable position, and covered with a rug or shawl to prevent any chance of chill. FOOD for the sick should always be prepared in the most careful manner, and served neatly. Every- one should keep the back well covered, especially between the shoulder-blades; also the chest well protected. For a cold in the face, apply to the cheek a piece of cotton-wool wet with a mixture of lauda- num and camphor, using two parts of laudanum to one of camphor. For a cold in the chest there is no better specific for most persons than well-boiled onions, both for a cough, and for the clogging of the bronchial tubes, which is usually the cause of the cough. If eaten freely at the outset of a cold, they will break up even a serious attack.

-I'I EARLY ATLANTIC LINER. Now that the recent Atlantic race is still fresh in the public mind, reference may be made (writes a Chronicle correspondent) to the little Phoenix, a vessel whioh was built in 1819, and was one of the first to be propelled by steam. The paddle-boxea were so conveniently arranged that they could be pulled up on deck in fair weather when the sails, were used. She crossed the Atlantic in 29 days 11 hours, and consumed 75 tons of coal. The Phoenix cost £10,000 to build. The New York rl estimated to have cost £ 650,000. <

BURYING A BANKRUPT LOTTERY, A remarkable ceremony is reported to have beoi observed in the Chinese cemetery at San Fi-ancisc4 a night or two ago. It was the ceremony of a defunct lottery company convincing its creditors, through its president, that the offer of liquidation made them was the best possible, and that 53 per cent. of the claims against it was all that could be paid. The Fook Tai Lottery Company existed in Chinatown for many years, but during the past 10 months it has lost 100,000dol., and that ruined it. The last big loss amounted to 35,000dol., for which there was only 28,000dol. in the treasury to pay it with. Up to 20,000dol. the holders of for- tunate tickets were paid in full, but the holders of the tickets for the remaining 15,000dol. had to be content with the 8000dol. the company still had. The creditors refused to accept this, and imputed dis- honesty to the officers of the collapsed affair. Naturally the officers resented tbis, and offered to take the most solemn oath known to Chinamen in order to convince the populace of their honesty. Accordingly, on Friday night, a body of robed priests led the march from Chinatown to the Chinese cemetery. One of them carried a rooster and another a huge knife. Following came the lottery men and ticket-holders, and in the rear drew up hundreds of pig-tail wearers, who regarded the sight of the solemn ceremony as one of the great events of their careers, and one of the most sacred that has ever been performed in that city. In the centre of the burying-ground, with tombstones all around, the straggling procession halted. The glare of the torches carried by the chil- dren and assistant celebrants was the only light cast upon the spectral scene. When the rites had been read, the president of the company raised the knife and spilled the fowl's blood, and his oath was made. The party then returned to Chinatown, and the creditors were satisfied with the pro rata that they received.

ARMOURED TRAINS. Two new armoured trains for employment over country where there are no rails or permanent ways- have just been placed upon the establishment at Aldershot. Each consists of a locomotive, ortraction engine, and four trucks, all of which are painted the now familiar, but ever unlovely, khaki. The locomo- tives,which are of exceedingly powerful construction, are completely cased with steel, the vital parts being especially protected. An ingenious arrangement of prisms and mirrors, somewhat after the manner of the camera obscura, enables the driver inside the cab of the engine to see without being seen, or in any way exposing himself.

SUCCESS WITHOUT EDUCATION. A correspondent of the Morning Post sends an Authentic and remarkably interesting record by a lady respecting a young Englishman who, though born in the very poorest circumstances, has achieved wealth in spite of the fact that he cannot read and can use his pen only to the extent of signing his name. The record is furnished in no sense as a recommendation of neglect in regard to education, but as a proof that success in life is something independent of ordinary school instruction." "The lad, whose father was," says the lady, "a farm labourer with 10 children, went irregularly to school until about eight years old, going then to farm work for a few years and afterwards to brickmaking. When he was about 17 a lady started a village mission with a Sunday and a night school, to both of which the lad was most attentive, though he could not learn to read, and was more that six months learning to write his name. The lady in charge of the mission read aloud at the night school. The lad was always interested in hearing of other countries, and when about 21 wished to emigrate to Australia. Having saved a few pounds in the thrift bank connected with the mission, the lady helped him with an outfit, and he sailed from London to Sydney about 1885, leaving a sweetheart behind him. On arrival he was employed in a builder's yard, and in 12 months had saved sufficient to send for his sweetheart. They married at once. His master made him yard foreman, he and his wife living on the premises. In a few years he Btarted business as a builder's caterer. He bought cement in large quantities, sold out quickly, and made money rapidly. He has now a good business and owns many houses. He has two children, to whom he wishes to give a good education. The lad has never been a teetotaler, and is a moderate smoker. He is a good Churchman, and is most grateful to all who put him in a way to help himself." Our correspondent adds: It was the mission ladys moral influence that made this man."

FALSTAFF'S REGIMENT. A corporal in the C.I.V.'s, who in private life is a director of a large mercantile house in London, writes home as follows We have come back to Pretoria. We had two days and two nights in open trucks, not quite so luxurious as travelling on the Orient Express, but to us it was simply heavenly. On our arrival at Pretoria we were reviewed by Lord Roberts. It had been the intention of the authori- ties to send us on with Ian Hamilton's brigade on immediate active duty, but when Lord Roberts saw our regiment of tatterdemalions—wo looked more like ragbags than soldiers-he ordered us into camp to recuperate and re-clothe. We are now rigged out perfectly new, and ready for work.

CHINA'S COAL. There is little doubt that the coal deposits in China are the largest in the world. Herr von Richthofen, the famous German geologist, estimated the anthracite coal deposits in the southern portion of the province of Shansi at 630 milliards of tons. But these are only a small part of China's wealth of coal, more especially in the provinces of Shansi, Hunan, Shantung, Szechuen, and Yunnan. The deposits in the two latter provinces seem more especially to tempt the French. The Manchurian coal deposits are already, to a great extent, under direct Russian control.

THE CAMEROONS. The Norddeutscher Allgemeine Zeitung publishes the following: "The Deutsche Reichspost of Stutt. p gart recently published a report of gross excesses alleged to have been committed in the Caraeroons by the punitive exhibition under Captain von Besser. Nothing of such occurrences has become known at Berlin through official reports, though telegraphic news was lately received from the Cameroons that Deputy-Governor Kamptz had recalled Captain von Besser. The scope of the investigation which has thus become indispensable will have te. be extended to Captain von Besser's general conduct during the expedition which is not yet concluded, in order that the necessary light may be thrown on the alleged excesses."

A BRETON GORSEDD." During the Breton Congress, which took place recently in Guingamp (Cotes du Nord), Breton writers, poets, and leaders resolved to establish in Brittany a Gorsedd of Bards, to be the bulwark of the language, to perpetuate the Druidic traditions of the wise Triads, and to unite more and more the ties of friendship between Wales and Brittany. The patriots subsequently met together, and, with the usual ceremonies, a bardic association was created. It was decided to meet again after "a year and a day," in one of the Druidic cromlechs which are so frequently to be found near Quimper, and on that occasion to invite a delegation of Welsh bards.

I A MODERN Atlantic liner must earn about 916,000 elear per trip before a penny of profit is made. j FINGERS are valued at a high price in Australia. A Melbourne boy of eight, who had his fingers crushed in a gate at a level crossing, was, declares the South Australian Register, awarded £ 1000 damages the other day to compensate for the loss of their use.