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

I FOR HIS MAJESTY'S TABLE. Among the economies which the King has effected at Balmoral is a substantial reduction in the number of male servants who held positions in the reign of the late Sovereign. There is now no baker at Balmoral, whereas in the late Queen's time there were three. The supply of loaves and the many forms of household bread, says "The i Lady," including rolls and other table breads, come daily from a local baker at Ballater, while fancy cakes for afternoon tea, biscuits for dessert, sponge fingers, and all confectionery come three limes a week from Windsor Castl'e when the Court is in the North.

A pitiful case of successive bereavements has occurred in a family at Templands, Dumfries- shire. A child named Hector died in May last; year, and in a fortnight, the father, Alexander, Callander, passed away at the age of thirty-four. March this year brought further grief, in a daughter's death, and in three months a son, Robert, was laid in the grave. Under the accumulation of sorrow the mother's health broke down, and this week she died. Three children are orphans, their ages being from seven to fourteen, one girl and t,wo boys.

A MAD PRIEST. A terrible case of homicidal mania is that of Don Gennaro Pagano, a priest, who lived wiLh his father and brother a.t Naples, and supported himself by giving music lessons. The unfor- tunate man, who is about fifty years old, was called the other morning by his stepmother and brother Giovanni. He appeared to be hardly awake when he took a revolver from under his pillow and shot his brother, wounding him, it is feared, mortally. An old servant of the. family who passed through the room on her way to tell the priest's aged father what had happened was the next victim. The third was a policeman, who as he came upstairs to arrest the priest was also badly wounded. Don Gennaro then returned to his room, and, half-dressed as he was, rushed to the balcony and fired the remaining shots among the crowd gathered in the street below, severely wounding a young girl of seventeen. Bv this time a picket of soldiers fortunately arrived to prevent further slaughter. The priest was taken to the police-station and put at once into a straight jacket. The people were furious, and could hardly be restrained from sumnnry vengeance. It turns out that Don Gennaro, who has been four times confined in lunatic asylums, one attempted to kill a priest at the altar, though his victim on that occasion had the good fortune to escape.

I NAVY'S NEW WAISTCOATS. Naval officers were looking at the gold-braided evening waistcoats the other day with sorrow mixed with amusement. The gold braid has to go. It has been ordered off by a notification in the "Gazette." In future plain waistcoats, blue or white, are to be worn. But, adds the Order, officers are to be allowed, if they wish, to go on wearing their old waistcoats until worn out, but in that case the gold braid must be removed It was that which caused the amusement. For the officers were wondering how, if they unpicked the stitches and got the braid off, they would ever be able to remove the marks of the sewing and the deep impress of the pattern of the braid. This order for the reduction of gold braid in the Navy came at the same time as the announcement that the Lord Mayor-Elect of the City of London had determined to have plain liveries except for high functions. But the manager of the King's Goldlacemen, told a newspaper representative that neither decision would make the present unfortunate lot of the goldthread drawers much worse. In consequence of the changes in Army uniforms many of the gold thread workers have been ruined.

RAILWAY SMASH AT NEWCASTLE A collision took place between ten and eleven o'clock on Saturday night at Pelaw Junction, near Newcastle, between a Great Central train and an empty passenger train. There was a dense fog at the time, and the express train, which was forty minutes late, ran into the rear of the empty train. Couplings were broken, and this, combined with the dense fog which prevailed, delayed the clearance of the line, which took three hours, and seriously delayed the suburban traffic. No one was injured, and the shock was very slight, being moderated to a great extent by the presence of mind of the guard of the empty train, who ran back with a lamp to warn the driver of the express.

I ART AND LITERATURE. Most of the pictures which have been removed from Osborne House have been hung in the private apartments at Windsor Castle, and a few of them were sent to Balmoral. The fine col- lection of statuary in the corridor at Osborne has been arranged in the Orangery at Windsor Castle. The current issue of the "Magazine of Art" contains articles on H. H. La Thatngue, A.R.A. by Mr. J. Stanley Little. James M'Neill Whistler," by the Editor, Good Furnishing and Decoration of the House" by Mr. Aymer Vallance, Portrait Painting by Professor von Herkomer, Forgeries and Counterfeits in Art" by Mr. M. H. Spielmann, Phil May," and "The Will and Intentions of Sir Francis Chantrey." Mr. La Thangue's "Provencal Farm" is reproduced in colour, and facsimiles of two drawings by Phil May and of a Study in Chalks by Mr. Whistler are also given as special plates. The number is unusually varied and interesting, and shows excellently what progress the magazine is making under its present management. In an article on "Byron and the Murrays "which appears in that admirable little magazine, The Book Monthly," a curious instance is given of the stir which Don Juan" made when it first ap- pesi-e,l. Mr. Murray," says the writer, searched out a Byron which John Murray II. had bound up in a special way. The volume containing Byron's general verse had hi < name outside and on the title-page, but that v ith Don Juan' bore the mysterious cover i: :print, 'Nobody's Works. According to the wri; er, no really valuable Byron manuscript has ever come into the market, though scores of Byron forgeries have been about since his death. The Vatican Library, which has had such a narrow escape from destruction by fire, was founded by Nicholas V., who had made a collection of about 9000 manuscripts. Various other libraries were afterwards incorporated with it, in- cluding that of the Queen Christina of Sweden, who caused Monaldeschi to be assassinated before her eyes at the Palace of Fontainebleau. It con- tains, at the present time, about 2500 manuscripts and about 100,000 books. The famous archives were first opened to students by Leo XIII., who used often to look in during the afternoon and inquire how their studies were getting on. There seems to be at the moment some danger that the justifiable agitation against the narrow and injudicious management of the Chantrey Fund may be made ineffective by the unreason of the people who are carrying on the attack. An excellent review of the position created by Chantrey's will has just appeared in the Magazine of Art," and because it states both sides of the case im- partially and temperately is has been sneered at by the agitators as a defence of the Academy. So long as the critics who, rightly enough, wish to see fie Chantrey Fund properly administered carry on the controversy in this silly spirit, they will fail to secure the support of sensible men, whose co-operation is necessary if any effective result is to be attained. The general public, to which the question must ultimately be referred, will not interest itself in a squabble between two strongly prejudiced sets of experts, one of which shrieks hysterically while the other sits tight and says nothing. But a sane and sincere agitation would command universal respect, and would be most valuable as a means of educating the popular taste. If this educational proce, went only far enough to bring the National Gallery trustees to a sense of their duties, much would be gained. An official refusal to accept a Chantrey purchase, on the ground that it was unworthy of a place in the Tate Gallery, would have a healthy influence at Burlington House. nfor that favourite and high-class illustrated journal for ladies, "Chic," the famous author, "Rita," has written a new story, called "The Silent Woman." The tale, which commences in the next issue of the bright weekly in question, is one of absorbing interest. In order that "Chic" should keep up its reputation of being universally acknowledged as "that most delightful and at- tractive journal," the editor, Mr. William G'Mslley, M.P., has also arranged that, simul- taneously with Rita's story, a page will be de- voted each week to interest and amuse his younger readers. This page will be under the direction of "Lady Nan," and will be headed, "Lady Nan's Young Folk's Coterie." Various prizes will be given away each week in connection with it. This should give" Chic" an even greater vogue than it has at present. Everyone knows what an art school in a country town means. Mere amateurish efforts that never get beyond hopeless mediocrity. The pupils do not see any really good work at all. and competi- tion is not invited. A complete reform ( Chic argues) is needed to bring about a proper state of things. Good teachers, life classes, periodical visits to the nearest centres where work by highly- trained artists can be seen, examinations, and keen interest shown in results. Good work should be sent to exhibitions in the larger cities, and by this means young artists would soon achieve better results. Music is doing well, and we have every reason to be proud of the advancement of the last few years; it is a national disgrace that the sister art should b 1 so neglected. The Rev. John Mitford. in his Life of Gray, after speaking of the poet's interest in natural history as evidenced by the daily entries in his journal, ( says: But the greatest monument of his talent and knowledge is the interleaved copy of the French edition of Linnseus's Systema Naturae,' which f work, we are told, during the latter part of his life, was always lying on his table. It is entirely filled, both in the margins and in interlineations of the printed text, and also in the blank leaves in- serted, with additions to Linnaeus from other works of travel or science, or with alterations and amendments of his own, especially noting where the fauna of Sweden differed from that of England. It is also adorned and illustrated with designs and figures of insects and birds, or portions of them, drawn with accuracy and elegance, both in the natural size and magnified. -Tlie interesting volume thus referred to, after passing through many hands, came into the pos- session of Mr, Ruskin, by whom it was treasured until death. It is now in the library of Professor Norton, who has written a brief essay upon that side of Gray's personality which it illustrates, fol- lowed by selections from the poet's notes, with 13 pages of the more interesting notes and drawings reproduced by photogravure. This will make a book which Mr. Goodspeed, of Boston, U.S., informs us he is to publish a limited edition. Count Leo Tolstoy has written a treatise on Shakespeare, whose works he criticises rather ad- versely. The selection from Queen Victoria's correspon- dence which Mr. A. C. Benson and Viscount Esher are editing covers a memorable period in the history of both Europe and England, 1837-1861. It includes the adoption of Free Trade, the Repeal Agitation, Chartism, the Revolutionary Movement of 1848, the Queen's Marriage, the Crimean War, and the Indian Mutiny. An excellent demonstration of the academic point of view is being made just at present in the galleries of the Fine Art Society in London. There the President of the Royal Academy has gathered a hundred of his preliminary studies for his pic- tures and nearly as many of his water-colour drawings. The studies are decidedly the more interesting. They are sincere, workmanlike pro- ductions, carefully observed and executed with much technical skill; and they have considerable significance as illustrations of the artist's methods. Sir Edward Poynter's water colours are, however, less persuasive. He shows in them too plainly his inclination to substitute mere elaboration of detail for the finer qualities of pictorial practice, and he loses breadth of effect in his striving for excessive finish. A few expressive out-of-door sketches are included in the collection, but most of the landscapes and figure subjects in this section of his exhibition excite wonder at his iatience rather than admiration of his executive i .bility. •

CURRENT SPORT. I THE "SOCCER" LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. Sheffield United again suffered defeat on Saturday, and they are now one point behind Sheffield Wednesday who, playing at home, gained a victory over Everton after a close match. The results of the games were: — Middlesbrough beat Sheffield United, at Mid- dlesbrough, by four goals to one; Sheffield Wednesday beat Everton, at Sheffield, by one goal to none; Wolverhampton Wanderers beat West Bromwich Albion, at Wolverhampton, by one goal to none; Blackburn Rovers beat Perby County, at Blackburn, by two goals to one: Aston Villa beat Newcastle United, at Birming- ham, by three goals to one; Liverpool beat Notts County, at Liverpool, by two goals to one Sunderland beat Small Heath, at Sunder- land, by three goals to one; Manchester City beat Bury, at Bury, by three goals to one the match between Notts Forest and Stoke, at Not- tingham, was postponed, owing to the fog. Second Division games resulted as follows:- Woolwich Arsenal v. Lincoln City: at Plum- stead, the Arsenal team won by four to one. Black-pool v. Leicester Fosse: At Blackpool, the Fosse won by two to one. Bristol City v. Burnley: Playing at home, the City beat Burnley by six to nil. Burslem Port Vale v. Barnsley: At Burslem, the Vale won by three geals to nil. Gainsborough Trinity v. Grimsby Town: Shortly after half-time this game had to be stopped owing to fog. The teams were level-one goal each-at the time. Manchester United v. Bolton Wanderers: No scoring ttol. place in this game at Manchester. Glossop v. Chesterfield: Played at Glossop, and won by Chesterfield by two goals to nil. SOUTHERN LEAGUE. The results of the matches in the Southern League were —Millwall beat Plymouth Argyle, at Millwall, by one goal to none; Welling- borough beat Southampton, at Southampton, by )ne goal to none; Swindon Town and Queen's Park Rangers drew, at Swindon, one goal all; 4ew Brompton beat Brighton and Hove Albion, it New Brompton, by two goals to one Reading )eat Fulham, at Fulham, by one goal to none; juton and Portsmouth drew, at Luton, cne ;oal all; Tottenham Hotspur beat Northamp- on, at Tottenham, by two goals to one Brent- ord beat West Ham United, at Canning-town, iy one goal to none; the match between Yet- Bring and Bristol Rovers, at Kettering, was bandoned, owing to the fog. IIDLAND LEAGUE. Doncaster Rovers three, Whitwick White Iross nil. Denaby United one, Notts Forest teserves one. Grimsby Town Reserves two, lbornhill one. Chestêrfield Reserves five, Porksop three. Sheffield Wednesday Reserves J i )ur, Barnsley Reserves nil. Gresley Rovers J vo, Gainsborough Trinity Reserves one COTTISH LEAGUE. Glasgow Rangers three goals, Queen's Park vo. St. Mirren three, Hibernians, nil. Dun- 3e one, Kilmarnock nil. Greenock Morton tree, Airdrieonians one. OOTTISK CUP.—THIRD ROUND. Celtic two, Clyde nil. DNDON CHARITY CUP.—SEMI-FINAL ROUND. Clapton v. London Caledonians: At Upton, is match was won by Clapton by two goals one. Casuals v. Old Carthusians: At Tuf- sll-park, the Casuals won by three goals to Le. WDER "RUGGER" RULES. In the County Championship tussles or tturday the following matches took place with e results given:—Gloucester v. Devonshire sra beaten on their own ground by a dropped ,al and a try (7 points) to 3 points.—Yorkshire Durham: Played at Hull. The Yorkshire- 1 en won by a goal and three tries (14 points) to urham's one goal two tries (11 points).—Lanca- tire v. Cheshire At Aigburth, Liverpool, Lan- ishire won by a goal and two tries (11 points) tc othing. I NORTHERN UNION LEAGUE.—DIVISION I. Salford 16 points, Huddersfield 3.-Keighley t oints, Swinton 3.-Bradford 14 points, Run- orn 2.—Oldham 3 points, Warrington nil.— lunslet 5 points, Hull 3.—Leigh 8 points, Hali- ax 3.-Broughton Rangers 25 points, Widnes lil. ORTHERN UNION LEAGUE.—DIVISION II. Bramley 3 points, Pontefract nil.—Brighouse dangers 7 points, Castleford nil.—Morecambe 5 )oints, Rochdale Hornets 5.—St. Helens 6 points, South Shields niL-Wakefield Trinity 3 joints, Millom nil.—York 14 points, Lancaster lil. JLUB MATCHES. Old Merchant Taylors v. Lennox: Played on ihe Deer Park, Richmond, and won by the Old Merchant Taylors by two tries to nothing.—Har- equins v. Marlborough Nomads: The Harle- quins beat Marlborough Nomads, at Wands- vorth, by a goal and two tries to a try.—London Scottish v. Blackheath: Playing on their own j ground at Richmond, London Scottish were )eaten by a goal and two tries to nil.—London Irish v. Richmond: London Irish wen by a t lenalty goal and three tries to a placed goal at ;tamford Bridge.—Bedford v. Rosslyn Park: 'hese clubs drew their match at Bedford, neither ide scoring.—Oxford University v. Monkstown t Oxford, the University beat Monkstown by 7 points to nothing.—Leicester v. London 7elsh: At Leicester, the home side were beaten 7 London Welsh by a goal and two tries to i)thing.Swansea v. Newport: At Swansea, lewport were defeated by twee tries (6 points) to tgoal (5 points).-R.I.E.C. v. Cambridge Uni- trsity: Cambridge won against the Engineering 1 Ollege, at Coopers Hill, by a goal and two tries t. nii.-Cardiff v. Moseley: At Cardiff, Cardiff M>n bv three goals (one penalty) and four tries t,(nothing.-Exeter v. Bridgwater: Bridgwater wre beaten by three goals (one dropped) and far tries to nil, at Exeter.—Glasgow Academi- Cs v. Kelvinside Academicals At Glasgow, the hme team won by 13 points to none.-Rugby v.Nuneaton: At Rugby, neither side scored.- J Cheltenham v. Handsworth: Cheltenham beat a, Hndsworth, at Cheltenham, by one goal three tris to one try.-Barnstaple v. Torquay Ath- lete: Torquay Athletic beat the local side at Ba-nstaple by a placed goal to a try.—Llanelly v. penarth: Penarth were defeated at Llanelly by two goals and a try to nothing.—Liverpool OIc Boys v. Broughton Park: With each team Icoing 5 points, this fixture was drawn at Liver- -Devonport Albion v. Camborne: At Dewnport, the Albion won easily by a goal and fix tries to love.-Treorchy v. Penygraig: At freorchy, the local side won by a goal and a try b aothing.—Neath v. T'reherbert: Playing on 8 tieir own ground, Neath won by three goals (one "1 fiom a penalty) and one try to a goal from a J imrk.-Aberavon v. Mountain Ash At Abera- X T'B the home team won by a goal and a try HBP h|> tc nothing.—Maestig v. Pontypridd: At Maestig, t P tb local team were beaten bv two tnes to one.— T off Edwardians v. Burton: The Old Edwardians t win, at Birmingham, by two tries to one. P LONDON AND BRIGHTON WALKING RACE. The Surrey Walking Clubs race from London to Brighton and back, which started on Friday right of last week ended on Saturday in favour d H. W. Horton, whose time of 20 hours 31mm. fflsec. beat J. Butlers record for the 104 miles, vhich was 21 hours 36 min. 27sec. In Satur- day's race F. J. Wakefield was second in 20 hours )5min. 51 sec., and E. H. Neville third in 21 hours t3min. SOsec. M.C.C. CRICKET TEAM'S FIRST AUSTRALIAN MATCH. i Mr. Warner's England Cricket Team com- menced their first match in the Antipodes on Saturday at Adelaide against an eleven repre- senting South Australia, captained by Clement Hill and including George Giffen on the srRe. Mr. Warner won the toss, and the Englishmen went in to bat. Mr. Warner and; Hayward com- menced the defence of the visitors, and played so well that 122 runs were registered before the first wicket fell, the captain being caught at that total for 65. At the close of the first day's play the Englishmen had put on 247 for the loss of only three wickets, Hayward being not out 120; and on Monday the total was carried to 483 for eight wickets, when Mr. Warner "declared" his innings. ToxoHIayward's full score was 157, and Lilley made 91 not out, while Len" Braund contributed 58 and George Hirst 37. Three South Australian wickets fell for 93 be- fore Monday nightfall. SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOLLOW ON. On Tuesday, after some rain in the night, which had slightly affected the wicket, the South Australian innings was continued on the Adelaide Oval, and concluded with the score at 172, Giffen falling to a catch at the wicket off Arnold for 22, and none of the rest, save Jen- nings, who was not out 26 at the close, making any stand against the varied bowling of the visitors. Braund captured a couple of wickets for 15 runs, Hirst two for 19, Arnold 3 for 49, Rhodes 1 for 27, Bosanquet 1 for 38, and Relf had 5 runs hit off him without succeeding in getting a man out. Shortly after the com- mencement of the Antipodean follow-on, Gehrs was cleaned bowled by Arnold for 7, but Hack and Clem Hill then made a fine stand, and the latter was not out at the close of the day's play with 102 to his credit, the score standing at 191 for the loss of two wickets. MONDAY'S "FOOTER." Two matches were played in the Western League on Monday with the following results Queen's Park Rangers beat Tottenham Hotspur at Kensal-rise, by two goals to none; Brentford and West Ham United drew, at Canning-town, one goal all. Oxford University and Millwall played a drawn game, at Oxford, each side having scored one goal. Sh-effreM Ufiiisd beat Derby County, at Shef- field, by three goals to two. Southampton and Aston Villa drew, at Southampton, one goal all.

I The Earl and Countess of Ancaster are enter- taining a series of shooting parties at Grims- thorpe Castle, their magnificent old seat in Lincolnshire, where the extensive and well- stocked covers always afford abundant sport. The General Council of Trade Societies in Paris has decided to organise a general move- ment throughout the country for the abolition of the registry offices. The honour of possessing the greatest market in the world belongs to Russia. It is situated in Moscow, covers twenty acres, and embraces a thousand different establishments, each of which has its own proprietor. The place is in fact a sort of bazaar, consisting not only of shops on the ground floor, but also on three floors above it. The merchandise offered for sale is described as Of laDuious value; it amounts in met to millions of pounds. The prices of the wares are not marked. The Russians are much given to oargaining for and cheapening the goods they buy, and in buying at the bazaar most of them "negotiate" with the tradesmen very much in the Oriental fashion. According to the British Consul at Stuttgart, the annual revenue derived by the German Empire from its 35,000,000 acres of forest land is estimated at from E15,000,000 to £ 18,000,000. Wurtemberg possesses 1,500,000 acres of forests, the produce of which in 1900 yielded 91,700,000; the net cost of production was £ 500,000, leaving a profit of £ 1,200,000, or about 16s. an acre. If the taxation be deducted from this, there is a clear profit of 14s. an acre. Of the different classes of trees the Scotch pine is the most widely cultivate of any tree, the pine and fir and the beech coming next in extent of area covered. The youngest master of foxhounds on the active list in the United Kingdom is Lord de Clifford, who has just entered upon his second season in the mastership of the Dalgan Foxhounds, a pack of twenty-five couples hunting two days a week in County Galway. Lord de Clifford is in his nineteenth year.

1 A ROYAL BETROTHAL. I PRINCESS ALICE OF ALBANY ENGAGED. An Esher correspondent states that he has the most reliable authority for announcing that an engagement between Prince Alexander of Teck and Princess Alice of Albany had been arranged and will shortly be officially announced. Prince Alexander has been staying at Claremont, the residence of the Duchess of Albany, since Saturday last, and he still remains there. On Sun- day he attended Esher Church with the Duchess and Princess Alice. On Monday the Duke and Duchess of Teck and Prince Francis of Teck, his brother, spent the day at Claremont. They left at five o'clock the same night for Windsor. Princess Alice of Albany is the eldest daughter of the Duchess of Albany, and is thus, of course, King Edward's niece. She is twenty years of age, and is one of the most popular of the young English Princesses. She is very much like her mother in ways and appearance, and is very bright and cheerful. Prince Alexander is the youngest brother of the Princess of Wales. He is in his thirtieth year, and is a captain in the 7th Hussars. He served with distinction in the Matabele and the South .frican wars, gaining the Distinguisl ,a Service Order. He was the hero of the interesting story concerning the shortage of hands at Hampton- court, when he himself helped in the grooming of horses. CORDIAL APPROVAL OF THE KING AND QUEEN. Tuesday night's Court Circular" contains the following announcement on the subject of the engagement of Prince Alexander of Teck and Princess Alice of Albany.- Sandringham, Nov. 10. Their Majesties the King and Queen have received the gratifying intelligence of the betrothal of her Royal Highness Princess Alice of Albany, their Majesties' niece, to his Serene Highness Prince Alexander oE Teck. Their impending marriage has the King's entire sanction and approval.

I "ASKED ME TO KILL HER." [STRANGE EXPLANATION OF AN ADMITTED { CRIME. A verdict of "Wilful murder" against Walter George Couzens, eighteen, a groom, was re- turned by the coroner's jury at Kineton on Tuesday in the death of Annie Devall, aged twenty-six, a laundry-maid at Compton Verney, Warwickshire, whose dead body was found in a ditch near the lawn. Couzens was again present in custody in a state of tearful despondency. He broke into sobs when his father said that two years ago he gave the prisoner the razor found near the body. His son was subject to fits, and was very despondent after receiving a letter from Annie Devall recently (in which she said that she did not want to "keep company" with him any longer). Detective-Inspector Drakeley recounted a strange statement made by the prisoner to him. "When I went to see the girl, said Couzens, "I had no thought whatever of hurting her. I should not have done so, only she begged me to do so. She walked with me towards the lake, and we sat down on the grass under a tree and both smoked cigarettes. She said she wished she was dead, and asked me to kill her. I told her not to talk rubbish. She placed her head on my shoulder and said, Cut my throat.' She begged so hard that I cut it. Afterwards I rolled her body into the ditch."

A DUCAL WEDDING. ltOXBURGHE-GOELET MARRIAGE IN AMERICA. The marriage of the Duke of Roxburghe to Miss May Goelet, only daughter of Mrs. Ogden Goelet, and one of the richest heiresses in America, was solemnised at St. Thomas's Church, New York, on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Ogden Goelet is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wilson, her two younger sisters being Lady Herbert and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Bishop of Albany (Dr. Doane), assisted by the Rev. Dr. Ernest M. Stires, rector of St. Thomas's Church, performed the ceremony. The company, which included the Duchess of Roxburghe, numbered only about 250, but the masses of palms shrubs, and flowers which were employed to decorate the church banked it so effectively that the great nave seemed far from empty. The interior appeared to be divided into three long ardours of white and green foliage, leading to a great bank of palms, chrysanthemums, and English primroses in front of the chancel, while the choir stalls were embowered in a profusion of white orchids and English primroses. The four walls beneath the galleries were fronted by green plants of various sorts, and from the galleries drooped palm leaves and long streamers of ferns. The bride entered the church leaning on the arm of her brother, Mr. Robert Goelet. Her dress was of white satin, covered with tulle and chiffon and point d'Alengson lace, the waist being finished with a bertha of lace. The train was very long and was fully trimmed with lace. A tulle veil, caught by a coronet of orange blossoms, enveloped the costume. The bride carried an old-fashioned posy of lilies-of-the-valley. The maid of honour was Miss Beatrice Mills, and the other bridesmaids were Lady Isabel Innes-Iver (sister of the bridegroom), Miss Martha Johnston, Miss Alice Babcock, Miss Marian Haven, Miss Thérèse Iselin, Miss Nina Thayer, and Miss Pauline Whittier. They wore Louis Seize gowns of pink mousseline de soie of quaint and effective design, combined with ecru lace, and toques of pink velvet trimmed with lace and sable. They carried muffs of pink roses. The ushers were Mr. Hugo Baring, Mr. Howard Brassey, Mr. Robert W. Goelet, Mr. Rogers Winthrop, Mr. Henry Bull, and Mr. William Woodward. At the chancel steps the bride was met by the duke and the best man, Mr. Reginald Ward, son of the late Earl of Dudley. Dr. Stires read the betrothal service of the Protestant Episco- pal Church,and the bridal party then advanced to the altar rail, where the Episcopal marriage ceremony was conducted by the Bishop. A surphced choir sang Oh, perfect love as the bridal procession moved up the aisle, and while it was still at the altar rail the organist, with harp obligato, rendered the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin. During the service the choir sang, sotto voce, Sweet is Thy Mercy," and as the duke and duchess proceeded down the aisle the hymn To Thee, 0 Father" was sung. As the party left the church Mendels- sohn's Wedding March" was played. The wedding was to have been much more brilliant, but owing to the death of Sir Michael Herbert, the bride's uncle, the original arrangements were modified. The guests at the informal reception which was afterwards held at Mrs. Goelet's house numbered less than a hundred and consisted exclusively of relatives and intimate friends of the family. Among those pre- sent were Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Astor, Col. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor, Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Clarence Mackay, Mr. and Mrs. Gerry, Mr. and Mrs. Iselin, Mrs. Payne Whitney, Mr. Egerton Winthrop, Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mr. D. O. Mills, and Mr. August Belmont. The bridal pair were re- ceived under an arbour of vines, orchids, and roses. The roo m was banked with palms relieved by English primroses, and masses of white roses filled the corners. The honeymoon will be spent at Ochre Point, Mrs. Goelet's place on the cliffs at Newport. Among the principal gifts received by the bride were a diamond necklace, and a diamond and pearl tiara which formed part of the crown jewels of Louis XVI., from Mrs. Ogden Goelet, the bride's mother, a diamond tiara from Mr. Robert Goelet, and a diamond tiara and pendant and the Rox- burghe family jewels from the bridegroom. The pendant was the only jewel which the bride wore.

Divers have recovered silver ingots to the value of £ 20,000 from the wreck of the Harold, off Sewaren, New Jersey. Two costers selling cheap clothes at Upton Park have been arrested. Their stock is alleged to have been stolen. The total amount of the fund for the Queen Victoria Memorial in course of construction in the neighbourhood of Buckingham Palace is £ 250,000.. Artificial teeth of compressed paper are not unknown. One set, it is stated, has been worn for years. General Methuen will on the 21st inst. unveil the memorial to be erected in the Town Hfell at Trowbridge to commemorate the services of local men in the South African war.

A man addicted to walking in his sleep went to bed all right one night, but when he woke he found himself in the street in the grasp of a policeman. "Hold on!" he cried. "You musnt't arrest me; I'm a somnambulist." To which the policeman replied: I don't care what yer religion is-ye can t. walk the straps in er nightshirt."

ANOTHER MAIMING THREAT. I The Wolverhampton "Express and Star" re- ceived another letter on Monday, signed G. H. Darby," who calls himself captain of the Wyrley gang. It was posted at Walsall on Sunday evening. Sir," it runs, at the meeting of our secret gang last night it was decided by our clever captain that we are going to kill some horses just outside Birmingham and Aston shortly, so tell the Bir- mingham detectives to get ready for we, because we shall find them some work to do when we start our game. The reason we are not catched because we have got one in our gang who knows every thing about the police movements, what they are going to do. One of the gang have gone out of England about three weeks ago to watch another young gentleman who have gone out of England lately. The captain have paid him £ 500 to kill him, be- cause he have been a traitor to we, and I am afraid he won't see England shore any more alive. It is no use the farmers and detectives watch- ing the lanes at night, because we have got more sense to come and kill a horse and be catched afterwards. We do it on the sly. The captain will shoot one certain police officer in the force at Cannock if he can get the chance, because he have got it in hot for him, so tell him to beware.—Yours truly, G. H. DARBY, Captain." On Sunday afternoon a donkey belonging to Mr. John Colbourne, of Willenhall road, Wolver- hampton, was slashed across the neck with a knife.

GREAT DETECTIVE RETIRES. I HOW INSPECTOR MELVILLE SURPRISED AN I ANARCHIST. The most distinguished detective of the day, Superintendent William Melville, "Protector of Kings and pa,st-master in the detection of crime, is retiring, after long years of service, on Nov. 30. By his retirement Scotland Yard loses one of the ablest officers it ever had. He and such com- rades of his as Mr. Littlechild and Mr. Sweeney stamped out Fenianism. Mr. Melville, with his polished demeanour, his strength of arm, his known deadly aim, and his ready resource, was a terror to the dynamiters, and frustrated many of their plans of destruction. He arrested the Anarchist Ravachol, unravelled many a bomb mystery, and during recent years has carried on a system of espionage by which he has been able to lay his hand upon almost any dangerous Anarchist, English or foreign, in this country at almost any moment. On day last year a disappointed Anarchist stole into Scotland Yard and, resolved to show up a gang of dangerous men with whom he had quar- relled, began to tell Superintendent Melville about a secret meeting which they had had in a locked room in Soho. He told how they had quarrelled, how revolvers had been levelled across the table, and how, after narrow escapes from mutual murder, the plotting had gone on. "Ah," said Mr. Melville, with just a twinkle in his Irish eyes, I know all about it." He ran his hand along s row of pigeon-holes and quietly drew out some sheets of foolscap. "I have here," he said quietly, "a complete report of all that took place. I had one of my men at the meeting." The would-be informer left, trembling. Mr. Melville has watched over many royal visitors to this country, and has accompanied the King abroad. A few months ago, while the King was in Paris, the Figaro said of Mr. Melville, He sees everything, and he is not seen."

STATESMAN'S SUICIDE. ITALIAN MINISTER OF FINANCE SHOOTS HIM- SELF. A great sensation was caused on Monday, in Rome, by a telegram from Naples announcing the suicide of Signor Rosano, Minister of Finance in the new Giolitti Cabinet. At six o'clock in the morning he was found dead in his bedroom, having committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver. Since his appointment the Minister had been violently attacked by the Radical and Socialist Press, which impugned his moral character. He was also worried by the conduct of his two sons. He went to Naples to see his family before taking up his appointment, and there read a letter published by the Anarchist Bergamasco proving that he (the Minister) had accepted E160 to release him from prison. He also heard that his son was to fight a duel on the following day. Signor Rosano dined with his family, kissed his wife and two daughters (the Marchioness Ferri and the Countess Municchi), and retired to his bedroom. Here he wrote a letter to his wife, protesting his innocence and stating that for the last month charges had been brought against him of such a nature that he could not endure them. He added that he pardoned his enemies, and also his two sons, who had caused him much trouble. After sealing the letter, he shot himself through the heart. It is now stated that in his youth Signor Rosano attempted to commit suicide owing to unrequited love.

I BRITISH INTERESTS IN MOROCCO. Lord Lansdowne, in reply to the deputation who waited on him with reference to British mercantile interests in Morocco, said the future of Morocco was obviously at present somewhat obscure; but, what- ever might be the result of current events in that country, the British Government would make it their business to see that our trade should in future have the same equality of opportunity which it enjoyed at present.

The largest consignment of silver coin eve! brought to England by one vessel was landed at Plymouth from the Hamburg-American Com- pany's Deutschland on her arrival from New York. It consisted of 730 cases of Mexican dol- lars, weighing in all about sixty-four tons, and worth over £160,000. It was forwarded by train, and will be melted down and re-coined.

LORD MAYOR'S DAY IN LONDON. A MILITARY PROCESSION. The Lord Mayor of London's Show tools place on Monday, and attracted large crowds, despite the fact that the weather in the morning was very wet. The procession started from Guildhall at noon. There were no emblema- tical cars on this occasion, and very few regular troops participated in the proceedings, their places being taken by detachments of Yeomanry and Volunteers connected with the City. The Eastbourne lifeboat, drawn by six powerful horses, evoked the usual enthusiasm amongst the crowds. Sir J. T. Ritchie was cordially greeted along the whole route. He was pre- sented with an Address of Congratulation by the electors of the Ward of Tower, which he represents in the Court of Aldermen, and made a suitable response. AT THE ROYAL PALACE OF JUSTICE. At the Law Courts, the new Lord Mayor was introduced by the Recorder to the Lord Chief Justice, who was accompanied by Justices Kennedy, Darling, and Phillimore. Lord Alver- stone said in these days, when it was sometimes thought that sufficient interest was not always shown in local life, it was very satisfactory to find that men of ability, integrity, and com- manding commercial position, like Sir James Ritchie, were willing to give a large share of their time to the performance of municipal duties. Members of the commercial community, who desired that legal business should be effi- ciently performed, must be prepared to recog- nise that the number of Judges was barely sufficient to do the work of the present time, and that there must be some moderate but substantial increase of the Judicial Bench. The Lord Mayor and members of the Corporation then repaired to their carriages, and returned to Guildhall, via the Strand, the Embankment, and Queen Victoria-street. THE GUILDHALL BANQUET. The Lord Mayor's banquet took place on Monday evening, in the historic London Guild- hall. Among the guests were Mr. Balfour and several other members of the Ministry. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been honoured, Mr. Balfour, acknowledging that of "His Majesty's Ministers," dwelt on the mag- nitude of the national loss involved in the death of Lord Salisbury. Preferring to abstain on that occasion from any allusion to the fiscal question, he proceeded to refer to external affairs. If it could not be affirmed that the diplomatic sky was cloudless, he could at least say that there was nothing in the present state of the world's affairs which need cause any overpowering anxiety. In the Far, and in the near, East, there were problems which fur- nished food for serious thought, but they might be reassured by reflecting that there was no more passionate advocate of general peace than the Emperor of Russia, and that our allies of Japan were as certain to show moderation, discretion, and judgment in the demands they made as firmness in supporting those demands. The difficulties not yet solved in the Far East would, he hoped, be solved without great delay. In the Near East, the question of Macedonia raised far more difficult and complicated prob- lems, because they had existed so long. He was convinced, however, that we were on the right lines in endeavouring to maintain that this question, as a European one, was ultimately to be dealt with by the concert of Europe through the joint action of Austria and Russia. Mr. Balfour went on to speak of the beneficial results of the King's visits to Portugal, Italy, and France, and of the return visits of the Heads of those States. There were, of course, always dangers in regard to disputed frontiers, and he was glad the recent difference between Canada and the United States had been settled. Whatever the balance of gain or loss to the parties might fee, it was as nothing compared with the advantage of the dispute being settled for ever. Another danger to peace arose from decaying Oriental countries being brought into relation with Western civilisation, which made it all the more important that the nations of Europe should work together. He therefore heartily congratulated Lord Lansdowne on the conclusion of the arbitration agreement with France. No man had done more to promote international relations in the interests of international peace. In responding on behalf of the Navy, the Earl of Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty, said: Recently there has been a naval test which, as a test, occupied a very high place. The Channel Fleet was cruising at midnight, without lights, when the Hannibal collided with the Prince George. The discipline was as perfect as it could possibly be. The Prince George was navigated to harbour, and within thirteen days was able to sail home, prepared to fight the whole way. The whole affair was immense testimony to the efficacy, re- source, and discipline of the Navy. With regard to the charges of bad shooting on the part of ihePower- ful's men at Ladysmith, the Lords of the Admiralty regretted the view placed before the Royal Com- mission. The men deserved the gratitude they received from the country and the honour bestowed on them by the King. Mr. Choate, the United States Ambassador, speaking on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps, paid a tribute to the courage, devotion of duty, and sense of justice of Lord Alverstone, the Lord Chief Justice, which had re- sulted in ju&fcicg being done to both parties in the Alaskan "arbitration. Lord Alverstone, replying for the Bench, said "lam not here to justify my judicial conduct by any public speech. If the judges of England, when they had given their judgment, thought it necessary afterwards to explain and justify their conduct by public utterance, a death-blow would be struck to public confidence. Discussions will arise between nations, but if you don't want a judicial decision, don't ask British judges to be members of the court." The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Solicitor-General also spoke. LORD MAYOR'S POOR GUESTS. While the great and rich were banqueting at the Guildhall 1500 of London's poorest citizens were enjoying a sumptuous feast, to which the new Lord Mayor had generously contributed. Two hundred and sixty gallons of tea, 1500 of the best Melton Mowbray pies, the same number of pound cakes and loaves, and 40.000 apples, were Bet before the hungry diners ai the Great As- sembly Hall, Mile End-road, and disappeared in a remarkably short time.