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

Yarmouth's guardians are seeking to obtain from the wife of a man in the workhouse a "weekly contribution towards the cut of his maintenance, despite the fact that dle three years ago secured a separation from him, and that he served several terms of imprisonment becaue he failed to obey an order to pay 10s. a week to her

GARDEN GOSSIP. To obtain fine Strawberries next year, strong young plants should ("The Gardener" counsels) be got out as early as possible. An occasional dose of liquid manure will assist the Asparagus beds to produce finer" grass" another season, It is better to pinch Tomatoes in good time than to allow them to make a lot of unnecessary growth and then have to cut away a mass of leaves :1 and shoots. Small, sturdy seedling Lettuces should always be planted in preference to larger drawn material. The merits of Abutilons as climbing plants for the back walls and rafters of conservatories are not sufficiently recognised. The dwarf Mock Orange, Philadelphus Lq moinei, will make a pretty permanent bed, and i useful for the margins of shrubberies containing larger subjects. To get fine Dahlia blooms for exhibition, disbud- ding must receive attention; evenly shaped buds should be selected for retention. Celogyne Cristata should have ample supplies of water at this season. Cinerarias, as they are potted on, ought to be placed in a frame with a north aspect; they will thrive much better than in a hot, sunny position. Keep the tobacco powder tin replenished now, as the tops of Chrysanthemums are liab!e to attacks of fly at this season. Do not forget that about now the Lacheoalias will need repotting in fresh compost. After planting Celery during hot weather, slight shade should be provided for a few days. The plants will be grateful for this and respond by making a much earlier start into growth. The old Double Meadow Saxifrage, S. granulata fl. pi., is a venerable favourite of the hardy flower garden that should have room found for its recep- tion wherever there is a border of mixed plants. That strikingly coloured Rose Madame E. Resal has been giving us a fine number of blooms; they are highly esteemed for buttonholes. When planting Strawberries take care to make the ground firm about the roots this is one of the secrets of success in their cultivation. It may be well to repeat the advice as to keeping Sweet Peas gathered, and not allowing the plants to bear seed pods. To keep the haulm healthy and productive, liquid manure from stables ought to be given once a week; failing this, mix 3-oz. of nitrate 2 of soda to 1 gallon of water, and apply. TALL FLOWERING PLANTS.—Tall growing plants in flower borders require some support before the stems are damaged or broken by wind or their own weight. Dahlias and early-flowering Chry- santhemums especially should receive attention, also Michaelmas Daisies, Gladioli, Pyrethrum uliginosum, Golden Rod, and Sunflowers. PROPAGATING TENDER PLANTS.—The present is a good season to propagate a stock of Alternan- theras, Ifesines, Coleuses, Mesembryanthemums, and similar tender plants of which it is necessary to secure a stock and winter under glass. Insert the cuttings in shallow boxes, water and keep close in a cool frame until rooted, after which grow on a shelf in the greenhouse. GERANIUMS.—A commencement may be made in the propagation of the stock of bedding varieties. Begin with the tricolour varieties, which place round the edge of small pots in sandy soil. Water and stand outdoors in the full sun on a hard base. CHRYSANTHEMUMS—Plants in pots require constant attention in watering, feeding, and top- dressing. Up to recently it has been necessary to remove early buds which have shown on Japanese varieties. The growth buds which have followed must be reduced to one, selecting on this the next bud which appears. Pinch or rub out all lateral growth below. Only weak liquid manure ought to be given once or twice weekly. Destroy black aphis on the shoots by dustings of tobacco powder, followed by syringings with clean water. POTTING FREESIA.S,-Pots containing bulbs which have become thoroughly ripened by standing on a sunny shelf may now be turned out, and the largest and firmest bulbs selected for potting. Place them 1 inch apart in 5- to 7-inch pots, using a good compost of loam, manure, leaf soil, and sand. Stand in a cool, moist frame to start growth. MIGNONETTE FOR POTS.-Seed for pot culture may be sown now. A compost of loam, rotted manure, and pulverised lime scraps should be pre- pared and placed in 4- and 5-inch pots. Make level on the surface and water well. Then sow seeds 1 inch apart of a good pot variety of Mig- nonette. Cover lightly, and place the pots in a cold frame. CINERARIAS.—Shift on Cinerarias in vario-i stages, giving them cool, moist treatment in shady frames. Exposure, however, when established to night dews will be beneficial. EARLY VINES.—Under the influence of plenty of warm. dry air the Vines will be rapidly com- pleting growth. When this is seen to be the case the laterals may be shortened to half their length. Continue free ventilation, and a dry atmosphere to assist the foliage to fully ripen and fall. MIDSEASON VINES.—A moderate amount of fire heat will be necessary except when very hot weather prevails. Watering will be necessary until the berries are well advanced in colouring. Both water and liquid stimulants are best applied through a mulching of manure. LATE VINES.—Maintain the borders thoroughly moist by affording water freely, and also give liquid manure at frequent intervals until the Grapes are well advanced in colouring. The tem- perature should not fall below 65deg. at night. PEACHES AND NECTARINES.—Give a light mulch of manure to all the trees outdoors whether the fruit is near ripening or not. Under glass con- tinue free ventilation. Moisten the borders thoroughly and apply a surface mulching. Fruit ripening and liable to fall must be caught in nets suspended under the trees. APPLES AND PEARS.—The summer pruning of restricted trees ought to be carried out at once if not previously done. Leave four or five good leaves. If further growths push it will be from the upper buds. Stop them at the first leaf. GATHERING EARLY APPLES.-Some of the earliest dessert Apples, including Irish Peach, Juneating, Mr. Gladstone, and Devonshire Qua.r- renden, will be ready for gathering if on lifting the fruits they part readily from the spurs. WINTER SPINACH.—A sowing of Spinach to stand the winter should be made now, following ■ later with other sowings. Well broken up, rather than rich, ground should be selected, and in a position fairly open. Sow moderately thinly. CABBAGE.—A second sowing of Cabbage may be made, as this will probably prove to supply the most reliable plants to stand the winter. Sow the seed thinly on the surface of a well moistened bed or in drills six inches apart. CELERY.—Finally earth up more of the succes- sional rows, the first early ones now being ready for use if the last earthing was finished some few weeks since. The later rows may have some soil applied round the plants, first trimming away suckers and small leaves. Run some matting or soft material round the large leafstalks to keep them in an upright position. Assist growth also with liquid manure.

OUR SHORT STullY. I ANNA HARRIS. I A HOUSEKEEPER'S STORY. I There couldn't have been a quieter, sleepier little village than ours when that pretty young thing from the London Foundlings came to help me in the vicarage. I was cook-housekeeper at the time. I may say everything, in fact, for we couldn't get even a country girl to stop with us- being as we were a thousand feet up in the Glocestershire hills, and nine miles from a town with new bonnets in its windows; and Mrs. Muth, the Vicar's wife, poor thing, had no idea of manag- ing. She was handsome and dark--a die-away kind of lady. It began one morning at breakfast, three days before Mr. Tom was expected home from Oxford for his holidays. My dear," said the Vicar, reading from a letter, when I was bringing in the tray, you'll be glad to hear this." He read it out. It was from a London clergy- man, about Anna Harris saying he dearly wished to get her a place in the country, as far as possible from the temptations of a town. And would the master help him ? Why, Mrs. Green," he exclaimed to me, its just the thing for us." Then he turned to his wile. My dear, I'm going into Gloucester," he said do let me telegraph for the girl at onla. She's quite without experience, of course, coming from an institution like that; and with Tom due wo ought to have some extra help." Mrs. Muth, poor thing, shrugged her shoulders. Please," she said do just what you and Mrs. Green think best." Naturally, I had a few objections to offer. I wanted to know about her character, and so on. But the vicar laughed. She's too young to have a character," he said-a sentiment I beg to doubt of any human being. "And," hp. went on, "my friend and the place she has been brought up in are credentials enough for anything." And so, after breakfast, he put the pony into the chaise with his own hands, and drove away. Anna Harris was to be sent for in the most im- petuous way that ever was. Well, we received a letter the next day to say it was all right. She should come on the Friday. A lady who was a friend of the London clergyman would see her as far as the junction. She could travel the last eight miles by herself, and no doubt there would be some conveyance to bring her on. That's how it stood. Somehow I didn't like it. To me it was so unnatural that a young woman (sixteen) who was all she ought to be should be sent into the very wilderness of England, as it were, away from such friends as her education might have given her. Being a foundling, too, she hadn't a father or mother to look after her. Still, she would be a help if she had common arms and legs, and so I just prepared to make the best of it. Mr. Tom also coming on the Friday, she would be in the nick of time to make the beds and save me a deal of extra trouble. But, actually, if they didn't arrive together The chaise had gone to meet Mr. Tom's train, which came in late, and the Vicar had gone on somewhere leaving Mr. Tom to drive himself home, after making arrangements for a dogcart for the girl. They travelled from the junction in the same train, and the beginning of the trouble was that drive together, on which Mr. Tom insisted. The moment I saw her I felt my flesh shrink. She was so pretty, and that dark straw bonnet and blue cloak made her look prettier still. And she had the blushing, timid ways, too, which men like. As different from the country girls I'd had to do with (and pack off one after the other)—as differ- ent as could be. And Mr. Tom's face when he had cried Hullo! Mrs. Green, how are you ?" told me a little about him even that early. He showed such an interest in Anna Harris. The girl's Yes, sir," and "No, sir," were as meek as could be. But, as I say, I felt my flesh Bhrink, for I'd had two husbands myself and under- stood men. Not one full week had passed before I was proved a true prophet, too. I'd no fault to find with the girl herself. She was humble and willing, and gave both my master and Mrs. Muth satisfac- tion as a servant. But you may guess what had happened. Mr. Tom was head and ears in love with her, and already she was beginning to see what it meant. Mrs. Muth, too. was stirring herself, poor thing. She wasn't her usual die-away self. She had taken to come into the kitchen at odd times, and would watch the girl cleaning knives and things as quiet as a mouse and one moment her eyes would be full of passionate rage, and the next she would turn away with a sort of sigh. I said to myself, Anna Harris has got to go, and the sooner the better." Yet it wasn't so, for she had both the gentlemen on her side, as the following from the Vicar him- self one morning showed. He came to me when I was picking salad stuff in the garden and said it. Mrs. Green, you have no fault to find with Anna ?" he asked. She's a good, willing girl, sir," said I. Quite so," said he. Then I do wish you would do vqur utmost to persuade Mrs. Muth to your way of thinking. She has taken an extra- ordinary dislike to the poor girl, and wishes me to send her back to London. I cannot understand it at all. Will you promise to do what I ask ?" What could I do but promise ? It wasn't for me to say what I thought, else I'd have asked him how he could be so blind. But I.hadn't the chance of speaking up for the girl, because the very next day I caught Mr. Tom holding Anna Harris's hand. She had a broom in the other hand. "Please don't, Mr. Tom!" she whispered, quite distressed and then he spoke his nonsense. You are my life's star, sweetheart, and know it you must It was then I showed myself, coming out of the apple room. And feeling it my duty, I just shook my head, and, in spite of all he said to stop me, I went straight down and told Mrs. Muth. It made me feel queer to see tha poor lady's face. She clenched her hands and seemed to turn black with anger. Mrs. Green," she said afterwards, I can't per- suade my husband. Something shall be done, but Heaven knows what. We must be patient." Patient, indeed I'd no patience with any of them. The vicarage was all at loggerheads, just because a girl, that was a foundling, had blue eyes and pretty, quiet ways. But the truth was Mr. Tom had by now decided on a most curious step. His father was in London from the Monday to Saturday that week, and I suppose his feelings had carried him away, being without the restraints that another man in the house might mean. Mrs. Muth was in a sad state of health at this time, due to worry, and not daring, as she said to me, do anything to make her only son turn against her. She said she was sure he would and when I laughed and expressed my opinion that that was nothing to his future happiness, she said I didn't understand the Muth temper. It irritated me fearfully. And there was the girl herself, without a fault that I could see, as modest and unconcerned about the tronble she'd caused as if she were a kitten instead of a human being. Are you happy here, Anna ?" I asked her at that time. Very, Mrs. Green," she replied and I re- member how-thankful I was that Mr. Tom didn't happen to be by to see the beautiful look in her eyes as she said it. In spite of my feelings I thought her just like an angel. But Mr. Tom seized the opportunity of his father being away to tell his mother &11 about his foolish love for Anna. He was determined by-and by to marry her, and he wanted his mother to help him and have the girl sent to a young ladies'school somewhere—to be finished. I believe it was the very day he did this that Mrs. Muth asked me if I thought Anna was honest. Yes, indeed," I said. "I don't believe she'd steal a pin. She asks me even if she may eat a pipce of bread and butter between meals." The poor lady seemed disappointed, and just a little ashamed. It was the next afternoon that the horrible event happened. Mr. Tom had gone off for a day's shooting, and Anna was down at the village. I was in the middle of my afternoon nap, when I woke and thought of a letter from my brother Reuben that I Ead to answer, and I went right up stairs to fetch it. If only I hadn't had my hst shi es oti, the yuuv misguided lady might have heard me and had time to become sensible. As it was, I was up- stairs and at Anna's bedroom door, on the way to mine, when I heard a noise in the room and opened it to see. And there was Mrs. Mutli kneeling on the floor, so flushed, with Anna's tin box before her and two brooches and a ring on the bed. She gave a start that terrified me. Oh!" she gasped, it's only you Surely ma'am," I cried, you've never found those things in the girl's box ?" Yes I have she said slowly, and breathing very fast. "That is, 1- And then she got up with her hands to her forehead, and cried a- loud: God forgive me What a wicked woman I am! No, no, I was going to put them there and She looked bo miserable as sue seized my hand. Say nothing about it to anyone, dear Mrs. Green. I am all unhinged. To think that I could come to this! But you will keep my secret ?" I didn't rightly understand at first, but I said "Yes, indeed, ma'am!" to comfort her; and then she thanked me very solemnly, and picking up the brooches and ring went downstairs with a bent head. When I did see what it meant, I was shocked beyond words. It was too awful that a lady should stoop to injure a poor girl's character like that! But I'll say no more about it, for I never saw poor Mrs. Muth alive again. She must have gone out almost immediately and drowned herself in the pond at the bottom of the garden. It was Mr. Tom who found her there, with a lantern, when we'd searched everywhere else. Well, now, after all this you would c rpeet a young man to change his mind about a, young woman who had caused so much trouble. But the worst of it was Mr. Tom didn't know the true his- tory of his poor mother's death. I kept that to myself. It wasn't likely that I should tell such things to the coroner, and so it was brought in suicide on account of neuralgic pains. The Vicar was terribly put about. He was worse upset still when Mr. Tom went on with his determination about Anna Harris. Mr. Tom, too, was terribly grieved about his mother. But, according to him, losing her made it all the more important that Anna should go to that young ladies' school. He hadn't any one else to love, he said. And so, being of a strong will, he got his way. Anna Harris went to a high school at Cheltenham. But the Vicar made one condition-Mr. Tom and she weren't even to see each other for two years. And Mr. Tom promised that. The young will promise anything—to get their own way. This whole curious story came to an end when the two years were up. In the meantime, what must Mr. Tom do but fall in love with another girl in London-a young lady with money as well as looks. I made this out from what the Vicar said in stray words, and at last he asked me plump what was to become of poor Anna. I But that beat me; and I said so. He said it was too much of a riddle for him also. But he thought it his duty to go and see her, and perhaps bring her back and talk over her future with her. And that is what he did. But it wasn't until several days had gone by that I had the least idea what fresh thing was to happen, though I'd noticed a change in the Vicar- thoughtful looks, silence, and so on. That idea soon got proved. Mrs. Green," said the Vicar to me one morn- ing, I wish to tell you that Miss Harris and I propose shortly to be married!" He said a great deal more that didn't interest me. To tell the truth I had one of my uppish turns. You musn't expect me to stay, sir," I sar t In fact I left three weeks before the wedding. He was only forty-eight, I know; but it took me all my time to hold my tongue about the real cause I of his poor first wife's death.

A SIBERIAN MAMMOTH. The wonderful antediluvian mammoth dis- covered eighteen months ago in Siberia has at last, after twelve months' labour and great ex- penditure, been safely secured in the museum of the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg. It was discovered on the left bank of the Beresovka, in a region that for ages has been the scene of great landslips at the melting of the snows in spring. The discovery was made by a Siberian hunter, who secured one of the tusks for sale. It was of almost incredible size. Scientists estimate that the beast, entombed by a landslip, has been laid up for quite 200 centuries in the ice, which has so preserved it that the hair and hide are still preserved.

FRENCH HORSE BREEDS. English people who have regarded England as the home of the finest breeds of horses in Europe will learn with surprise that Paris dealers con- sider that France is becomfng the international mart quite as much for horses as for automobiles. The Percheron breed is in great demand, both for England and America, as well as for Germany and other European countries. England has imported 300 Percheron stallions, and America 200 during seven months, while the total aver- age yearly exportation is 1,200. France boasts of being able to spare 3,000 of these stallions yearly without straining the supply.

BOAT ACCIDENT AT BRIGHT- LINGSEA. LOSS OF NINE LIVES. I An accident causing the loss of nine lives oc- curred on Saturday night off Brightlingsea, Essex. The steam turbine yacht Lorena, owned by Mr. Barber, of New York, put, in last week to Brightlingsea to take in coal. Shortly after 11 on Saturday night an under steward named McLaren with eight stokers left Brightlingsea for the Lorena in a small ferry-boat which would have carried five persons safely. They were rowed by a ferryman named Annis, who was as- sisted by a bricklayer named Lock. The boat behaved well in the river Colne, in spite of her heavy load, but on reaching the more exposed1 estuary she filled and sank within 400 yards of the Lorena. On the shore shouts for help were heard for several minutes, but at length they ceased. They had, however, been heard by Mr. W. Mall Green, who is Mayor of Brightlingsea, and who was en board his yacht Yolande. He at once ordered all his boats out, and himself cruised in a motor launch near the spot. He picked up the ferryman named Annis and one of the firemen named Jamieson. Annis stated that when the boat reached mid-channel one of the firemen stood up and caused the boat to upset when about a mile from Brightlingsea Hard. The names of the men drowned are:—John Currie, J. Douglas, A. Smith, J. Johnson, J. McGregor, A. Wilson, D. Wilson, F. McLaren, and Joseph Lock. The bodies of the first five have been recovered. They lie in the hospital ship at the entrance to the harbour. Except Lock, all the drowned men belong to Leith, where the Lorena was built. She was proceeding to South- ampton to complete her fittings.

IF A COMET HIT THE EARTH. I Astronomers having found that Borelli's comet has got a third tail, other scientists are figuring out what would happen if the heavenly body were to hit the earth. The comet (says one scientist in the "New York Herald") from its nose to end of its tail is at present about 200,000,000 miles long. The earth is only 25,000 miles in circumference. If Borelli's comet were to hit us it would coil around the earth like a big boa constrictor around its victim. It would keep on coiling and coiling until its hundreds of millions of miles were wrapped about us like a lace mantilla around the head of a Spanish girl. Other astronomers, who wish evidently to reassure the public, claim that in 1861 a comet several times larger than the one now heading for us, hit the earth while travel- ling at the rate of 10,000,000 miles a day, and nobody knew it.

Boast not, and the world knows not who you are boast, and it despises you for what you are. A Western paper refuses to publish efogies gratis, but adds:—"We will publish the simple announcement of the death of any of our friends with pleasure."

THE KING AND QUEEN. The King and Queen, accompanied by Prin- leSS Victoria and the Prince of Wales, and at- tended by Lord Knollys, Sir Stanley Clarke, the Portuguese Minister, Captain Ponsonby, and Commander Godfrey Fausett, arrived in Lon- don on Monday afternoon from Portsmouth. Before leaving for London the King presented M.V.O. medals to Captain Napier, formerly com- manding the Victoria and Albert staff, and Cap- tain Mansell. His Majesty also sent for Mr. Green, R.M.A., bandmaster, and presented him with a pair of gold and diamond sleeve-links. The King held a Council at Buckingham Palace on Monday afternoon for the tiraiasact-i-on of certain business connected with the winding- up of .he Session and the prorogation of Par- liamett i. Among those present were the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Balfour, and the Earl of Kintore. ROYAL CHRISTENINC. The christening of the infant son of the Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark took place privately at Sandringham Church on Tuesday morning. Only residents on the es- tate and a few invited guests were admitted. The infant Prince, wearing a cream robe, was brought by two nurses, who paused at the Royal entrance to await the arrival of their Majesties. At the time fixed for the ceremony the Royal party drove up. The King and Prince Charles were the first to enter the church, followed by the Queen and Princess Victoria and Prin- cess Charles. Then came several guests, who had travelled from London with the King and Queen, these including Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Henry Keppel, the Rev. Edgar Sheppard, Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal, Sir John Williams, Sir Francis Laking, Dr. Manby, Mrs. and Miss Manby, together with the members of the suite in attendance on their Majesties. The officiating clergy were the Rev. Canon Hervey, the Rector of Sandringham the Rev. F. A. S. Ffolkes, Rector of Wolferton and the Rev. H. C. Staveley, Curate of Sandring- ham. "Glad Sight, the Holy Church," was the hymn with which the service commenced, the other hymns being "Lord Jesu, our Lord most dear," and Amen, the deed is done." The in- fant Prince was baptized in the names Alexan- der Edward Christian Frederick. The three sponsors present were the King, the Queen, and Princess Victoria; the four absent sponsors be- ing the King of Denmark, the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, and the Prince of Wales. The font near the entrance to the chan- cel was covered with white silk, relieved with white flowers, surmounted by a handsomely- chased silver bowl. The Queen, who was dressed in grey, handed the infant to Canon Hervey, who performed the ceremony. Princess Charles wore light blue and white furs and pink hat. Princess Victoria was attired in dark blue and white. The Royal party and guests after- wards proceeded to Appleton House. THE KING'S DEPARTURE. The King, attended by Lord Knollys, Lord Farquhar, and General Sir Stanley Clarke, re- turned to London by the special train from Wolferton, which reached St. Pancras at 7.25 on Tuesday evening. At nine o'clock on Wednesday morning his Majesty, travelling as the Duke of Lancaster, left Charing Cross for Port Victoria, there to embark on the yacht Victoria and Albert for Flushing, en route to Marienbad. Admiral A. H. Markham, Com- mander-in-Chief at the Nore, had issued orders directing the commissioned ships in Sheerness Harbour to be dressed rainbow-fashion, and for Royal salutes to be fired by the flagship Wild- fire and the battleship Edinburgh on arrival of the King at Port Victoria.

THE NAVAL MANCEUYRES. A DASH INTO MILFORD. At noon on Saturday the operations of the tcrpedo flotillas concluded, the closing hours witnessing a daring dash at Milford and another attack on Queenstown. Two destroyers, believed to be 53 and 58 of the Blue flotilla, forced their way into Milford Haven between one and two o'clock in the morning. When their presence was discovered an alarm was raised, and the forts on all sides threw their searchlights on the vessels, while the guns of the Reds were trained on the enemy. One of the Blue destroyers found the fire too hot, and retired at a great speed. The other destroyer went through the Haven as far as Pill Point, firing at everything. Once past the forts she was safe. She returned down the Haven, and, putting on powerful seareh- lights, ran the blockade of the forts, sweeping past two torpedo-boats and rejoining her consort in the offing, who had signalled her recall. How the destroyers escaped the vigilance of the vessels of the Red fleet just outside the Haven is a mystery. The umpires will probably rule that the enemy's destroyers were put out of action by the land defences. The Red Fleet attacked Queenstown again at an early hour in the morning. Two torpedo-boats and a torpedo-boat destroyer were engaged in fihe attack, but with the aid of the searchlights they were discovered and put out of action. The umpires have ruled that torpedo-boat No. 107 succeeded in getting sufficiently close to the cruiser Isis during the attack on Queenstown Har- bour on Friday morning to put a torpedo against her, but that three, if not four, of the flotilla were either sunk or disabled by the guns of the Isis, and of the land defences. Cork Harbour is now largely occupied by the disabled craft of the Blue Fleet. The naval and military officers at Milford Haven maintained that the land defences put out of action the two destroyers of the Blue Fleet which ran the blockade and forced their way into the Haven early Saturday morning. The destroyers while entering and retiring were under heavy fire from the forts, all of which are armed with the most modern guns, and experts say that nothing could live under such a heavy and concentrated fire as the destroyers had to face for fully two minutes each time of passing. The Milford naval authorities contended that they have maintained the impregnability of their harbour and valuable dockyard. The umpires gave their award that the gunboat Alarm, of Scilly's fleet, is to go to Milford, as she was at sea when the claim was made that she was put out of action. The Bullfinch, together with torpedo boats Nos. 107 and 119, of the Milford fleet, were put out of action at Queenstown during the attack, and these are to return to Milford. THE MANOEUVRES OVER. I A "Standard" correspondent with the Cruiser Division of Fleet X, telegraphing from Lagos Bay, on Tuesday night, said the Naval Manoeuvres were over, but it was unknown if the opposing fleets met. The Bacchante witnessed the junction of B and B2 Fleets. The Bacchante was chased by the Good Hope, but the latter was claimed to be out of action.

WARNING THE CZAR. I Some details hp-e leaked out of a curious series of State papers dealing with the social conditions of Russia, and presented to the Czar, at his Majesty's own desire, by an engineer named Demcinsky, who last year had several long conferences with the Czar at Livadia, and was directed to state his views in writing for the Emperor's personal study. In these documents M. Demcinsky insists upon the indestructibility of national political ideas, criticises the exces- sive powers wielded by the provincial authori- ties, and after depicting the chronic semi-starva- tion in which millions of Russians pass, their whole lives, urges the Czar to bring the throne into close union with the people by constitutional Government.

Dean Hole has just been telling an interviewer how he came to take up his hobby of growing roses. "When I was a young man at Oxford," he says, "I was sitting in a garden one evening, smoking a cigar, when my attention was attracted to a beautiful shining object that gleamed against the green. I got up to satisfy my curiosity and found, to my surprise, that it was a rose lit up by the rays of sunset. My heart was filled with affection for the lovely flower. It was a case of love at first sight. And from that day to this I have loved roses. I began rose culture with twelve trees in the vicarage garden of a little village in Nottinghamshire-I have always had a large garden-and I have ended with 5,000."

jjiPITOME OF NEWS. A monument is to be erected in Berne, at a cost of 170,000fi., to commemorate the establish- ment of the Universal Postal Union. In London cabs £ 21,000 worth of articles 1U9 left in a. year. The aggregate capital of one hundred and twenty-two German banking institutions, is, according to the "German Economist," £ 354,250,000. More than half of this capital is located in Berlin. Senator Lodge, one of the members of the Alaska Boundary Commission, has left London for Paris. The Commission will have a formal meeting on September 3. The King has lent Frogmore Cottage, Wind- sor Park, for a time to Major General Sir Arthur Ellis, Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Department. M. Pelletan, French Minister cf Marine, has decreed that the religious ceremony at the launch- ing of French warships is to be discontinued. No married man in Vienna, it is said, is allowed to go up in a balloon without the formal consent of his wife and children. Frau Herman, the wife of a professor, has taken the degree of Doctor of Philology in the Berlin University. Recent returns show that out of the 181,- mil- lion inhabitants of Spain nearly twelve millions cannot read. The Devon oat crop is heavier than it has been for years. At Colyton a single stalk has been found to bear 319 grains. Of the 19,000 inhabitant householders of East Ham, 14,531 have signed the petition for a charter of incorporation. Princess Christian has endowed a cubicle in the Union Jack Club in memory of her son, Prince Christian Victor, and has suggested that, when possible, it might be occupied by a man of the Rifle Brigade or King's Royal Rifles. A severe storm blew down nine trusses of the agricultural building in the St. Louis Exhibi- tion, killing a woman and injuring thirteen per- sons. The damage to the building is estimated at 10,000 dols. A bride in some parts of Switzerland receives from her friends a Gruyere cheese. It is not eaten, but is preserved by her, and all the im- portant family events are marked on the rind. The most curious paper-weight in the world belongs to the Prince of Wales. It is the mummi- fied hand of one of the daughters of Pharaoh. The Australian House of Representatives has adopted a clause prohobiting the manufacture, importation, and sale of intoxicating liquors in New Guinea. Outside nearly all the public baths in London the Life-Saving Society have placed large posters with illustrated directions how to save life. Wear Shipyard joiners applied for an advance of 2s. per week, but the Conciliation Board has agreed on an advance of 6d., bringing wages up to 37s. 6«? Pietro Mascagni is said to be engaged at pre-i sent in the simultaneous composition of na fewer than four operas. They include one on Marie Antoinette, and another founded on "Frou-Frou." The Government of Kansas wants to buy from the authorities the gallows on which John Brown, the martyr of the cause of the emaimpa- tion of the negroes, was hanged in 1859. The oldest teacher of the world is presum- ably Herr Dorfer, in Sodehmen, Prussia. In spite of his ninety-seven years he is still teach- ing. He never has been ill in his life. "Queen May Bell," the smallest woman in the world, has died in New Jersey. Her real name was Mary Jane Piercey. Born in 1863, she was only 31in. high and weighed but 501b. A man named Davis, of New York, has just completed a fast of forty days. Before com- mencing the ordeal he was suffering from para- lysis, but is now nearly cured, and believes that he has discovered the one cure for this malady. The Governor of New Zealand, in his speech at the opening of Parliament, said it would be advantageous if the trade in New Zealand meat could be extended to the manufacturing districts of England. It were well that British-bred should be British-fed. The largest loaves of bread baked m the world are those of France and Italy. The "pipe" bread of Italy is baked in loaves 2ft. or 3ft. long, while in France the loaves are made in the shape of very long rolls 4ft. or 5ft. in length, and in many cases 6ft. A match between hairdressers has taken place at South Brooklyn. The record was taken by a young Hungarian, named Baja, who took ex- actly two minutes to cut a man's hair, shave him, shampoo him, arid turn him out with a beautifully accurate "parting." At the Woodbine Agricultural School of the Jewish Colonisation Association girls cultivate plots of land, milk cows, and look after the dairy and the poultry yard, the plants, and the kitchen. A Jewish dairymaid is indeed a novelty. The Rev. F. H. Burdick, of Philadelphia, has appointed himself chaplain to the hotels in that city. He has sent out cards and inserted ad- vertisements in the local papers stating that he will respond to any call, day or night, to minis- ter to the sick and officiate at weddings and funerals. The richest people in the world are the Osagio Indians, who have invested EI,600,000 in the State Bank, and own 1,500,000 acres of land. Each brave, squaw, and papoose in the tribe possesses land to the value of £ 800, and the in- terest on their money gives an annual income of zC60 to each member. The requirements of the authorities from any man wishing to enter the United States Army are severe. A man must be between twenty and twenty-five years old, 5ft. 8in. or more in heignt, able to run seven miles in an hour, and able to lift 1001b. to a level with his chest. The extension of Lord Curzon's term of office has caused a certain amount of surprise in sort; a quarters, since it had always been underwood that if a Viceroy left India during his period of office he could not go back again unless he AS ere actually reappointed. In Lord Curzon's case, however, while he proposes to come home for a short holiday, which all agree he stands badly in need of no formal reappointment will, it seems, be necessitated by his return. The latest rumour is that Sir Gerard Noel will not go to China, as was thought, but in due opurse succeed Sir Compton Domvile in com- mand of the Mediterranean Squadron. As yet there is nothing settled, for the question of Admiral Domvile's successor cannot arise in any definite form for some little time. There are now in Milan an Irish Canadian and his wife, named O'Malley, though the lady is Dutch by birth, who between 1897 and 1902 claim to have walked round the world, covering on foot a distance of 31,200 miles without any resources other than such is they could obtain as they journeyed. They produce no fewer than twenty- seven volumes -jf documents attesting their wanderings. At present they are organising in Milan a series at lectures, which they hope may yield money en(ugh to carry them back to Canada. A scheme of unparalleled magnitude is about to be undertaken in California, involving the construction of two reservoirs, one of 8,000 acres area and the other, at a level of 250ft. lower, of 2,000 acres area. A canal about ten miles in length will connect the reservoirs. Provision is to be made for a vertical fall of 1,600ft., and this, it is calculated, will develop energy ecmal to 270,000 horse-power, which will be armlied in the generation of electric current for long- distance transmission. Sir J. Wolfe Murray, Royal Artillery, who has been appointed Quartermaster-General at Indian Army Headquarters, has been noted for appoint- ment to the command of a district in India when aa opportunity offers for providing for him. He is a soldier of high attainments, and has strong claims on account of his South African service; but he will put in a year or so in his present anpointmeni.