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

GARDEN GOSSIP. Plants and Rain.—It is rather early to stand plants in general outdoors during rain. Some few hardy subjects may not (Suffer thereby, but the majority wi.ll be better suited by indoor washings, sprayings, and waterings. No newly potted plants should be stood outdoors at this season, or the wind will probably loosen them in the soil to such an extent that they will not recover. < < Bulbs after Flowering.—As soon as the flowers become shabby on bulbs in pots or glasses, the spikes should be cut off and the bulbs turned out of the window. They may be taken from their receptacles and packed tightly in a box if no frame exists. Soil should be filled in around the bulbs taken from the glasses, and this should be kept moist until it is safe to plant the bulbs outdoors. The floor of an empty room will accommodate the boxes meanwhile. Aspidistras.—If Aspidistras are divided or re- potted now they will have a long season in which to make and consolidate their growth. Divid- ing a, plant into two portions and potting each section separately is a simple way of dealing with old plants. Far better results are obtained, however, by shaking the soil away from the roots, dividing the thick root-stem with a knife between every pair of leaves, and disposing half a dozen or so well-matched leaves to fin a 5-inch pot. One of these, however, was treated in this manner last March, seven leaves being potted it now has thirteen, and promises to yield more. It will not be repotted for at least two years, otherwise the variegation of the leaves would probably suffer. < Musk.—A careful search in the flower garden may reveal numerous little rosettes of Musk leaves pushing upwards. If roots are taken up with a trowel and potted and placed in the window, they will soon yield green leaves and fragrant blossoms. Old plants in pots may be split up into several portions and repotted separately. Baskets planted with Musk are charming for sunny windows in early summer, and may be planted now. < Lifting Plants from the Garden.—It should not be forgotten that a dearth of flowers in the window may be remedied by lifting and potting specimens from the garden. Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils. Primroses, Violets, and Polyanthuses will all lift successfully when in bud, and the three former may be taken up with impunity when in full bloom. They frequently last a fortnight when so treated, and are very appre- ciable when biting winds, or hail, rain, and snow, made the outdoor garden unpleasant. A cool room prolongs the floral display, and also suits the plants best for a week after lifting. » Something New for Hanging Baskets.—Al- though some individual occasionally breaks away from conventionality and strikes out a line for himself in basket filling, yet the majority of hanging receptacles are filled yearly with the same old sorts of plants they have associated with from their youth upwards. The latest de- parture from the orthodox in basket filling which has come to my knowledge ("E. J. C." writes in "The Gardener") is the employment of the Streptocarpus, and the result was such a happy one that I have no hesitation in calling the atten- tion of readers to this plant for the purpose. Baskets are filled in the same manner as prac- tised with Achimenes, i.e., plants are inserted through the bottom, head downwards, between the sides, and all around the top. The effect when the plants are in bloom is charming, the leaves hiding the basket and making an exquisite setting for the flowers. Yuccas.—Many small gardens owe much of their effect to the presence of a Yucca, and several may be used to advantage in good-sized front gardens, while others may be placed as specimens upon lawns. They need a light, ordinary soil, to be protected by coverings during severest winter weather, and to be allowed full sunshine. Many Yuccas are tied up in Bracken during the winter months, as matting looks more unsightly. The plants can also be grown in pots in the greenhouse, and plunged up to the rims out of doors for a summer show. Wherever healthy Yuccas exist, they may be increased by division in March, or by offsets or suckers in March or April I 0 0 Mowing Lawns.—Even backward lawns should be ready for mowing by this date those which were not cut late in autumn will have been calling for the mower ere this. A thorough sweeping with a besom, followed by a good rolling, should be given a couple of days before mowing. Set the knives of the machine high to begin with. and after the grass has been cut, lower them slightly. and traverse the lawn at risrht angles to the first cutting. The shears should follow the mowing machine to remove any tough tufts or stems that the machine has missed. Lawn Edsres.—However cnreful the owner of a lawn is. trifling accidents will happen to destroy the uniformity of the grass edges. A clumsy foot, a. wheel of a barrow or of a cart, even the domestic cat or dog, soon destroy the symmetry of the best outline. Now is an excellent time to put things straight for the summer, and if the work is well done and reasonable care is after- wards exercised, one trimming annually should suffice. Do not remove more of the grass than is necessary to restore the correct outline of the edge, and wait until the ground is fairly dry before commencing operations. Z!1 < Ventilating Frames.—Advantage should be taken of all dry sunny periods to ventilate cold frames as much as possible consistent with the temperature. If the occupants are dry, ventila- tion can rarely do harm, unless a severe frost is on the warpath. Choose a. warm, sunny morning for watering, and admit air to allow superfluous moisture to escape. So arrange that the frame is opened on the side opposite to where the wind is blowing. Frames that have had ashes piled around them for the winter may now be freed from his protection, and any lights thai have been coated with soot or slime should b& washed. » Birds and Buds.—Sparrows are frequently troublesome among Carnations, Pansies. and Primroses at this season, pecking out the hearts of the former, and destroying the blossoms of the latter. A spraving with Quassia solution, made by steeping Quassia. chips in water over night and using in the morning, will generally check the marauders. Paraffin and water is equallv efficacious, but leaves something to be desired in the wav of perfume. < Slugs and Snails.—Lose no opportunty of hunt- ing for and destroying these. Soot and lime sprinkled around and over plants are excellent fertilisers, as well 3.S being obnoxious to the slugs. Heaps of bran, put down at night and inspected in the morning, make very attractive traps. Vegetables.—Parsley is so indispensable in the home that an effort should be made to grow a little. A single row will afford a lot of pickings, or an edging along a path will do likewise. The seed should be sown thinly about half inch deelo and trodden in slightly after covering with soil. Three weeks generally elapse before pronounced germination takes place. Thin the seedlings early, leaving the, plants six inches apart at the final thinning. A little Onion seed may be sown in drills six inches apart, on a warm border, to give supplies for salads. Celery trenches should be dug, incorporating a six inch layer of manure with the soil at the bottom of the trench. Planting Peas.—If the weather is suitable and ground in condition for planting, Peas sown thickly in boxes some time ago may be planted out on a sunny border. Let the soil about the roots become quite dry, so that the latter can be easily unravelled without incurring damage by breakage. Set them in double lines, the one about six inches apart from the other, and the plants about four inches in the rows. A worn mason's trowel is a, better implement than a garden trowel for this purpose, the roots lying wider apart when the former is used.

OUR SHORT STORY. J I THE STOLEN "HEAD." I A SECRET SOCIETY STORY. I The last of the guests had departed. Dorothy Wenham, her lips parted with pleasure, descen- I ded the wide staircase towards the library to wish her father good-night, and the recollection came to her that he had not seemed well, but worried and distraught. The girl entered noiselessly. Miles Wenham was seated at his desk. At the sound of-Isier voice he hastily covered something with a sheet of blotting-paper, and looked up. "You, Dorothy!" he cried. "I didn't hear you, and you always knock." "Yes," noticing with alarm his agitated look. "But I felt too tired. Surely, father, you're not thinking of business?" Mr. Wenham laughed uneasily. A man like myself," he said, "can never for- get business, never leave it behind." "Then I'd rather not have any business," she returned, laying a hand caressingly upon her father's arm. Somehow, she did not seem afraid of him as usual. "To become wealthy is fairly easy," he an- swered. "To keep so, much more difficult." The girl sighed. From her mother she had inherited yearnings, for a peaceful existence un- like her father she possessed no social ambitions. Often had she begged him to reside in the coun- try, but he would not hear of it. A financial magnate, his position made it imperative that he mainta.ined a large establishment and entertained lavishly. "Well," she said, with smiling authority, "you're to put business away at once. And I shall see that you do." "But I expected a, letter--a message," he said, glancing around nervously. A letter? At this time!" "Information sometimes arrives late," he mur- mured apologetically. Dorothy looked at her father anxiously surely his brain was not giving way? "All right, my child," he observed, noticing her look. "I'll go to bed." And taking her arm, after locking the door, he wished her good-night. Once in her room Dorothy dismissed her maid, and her mind reverted to, the incident of an hour ago. Her face flushed and her eyes sparkled. Gerald Hanson had asked her to become his wife, and she had said "yes." On the morrow Mr. Wenham's sanction would be sought, and she wondered as to the result. For young Hanson was not rich. And then, feeling instinctively for a ring, a keepsake Gerald had given her, she discovered it no longer remained on her finger. The bauble was of diamonds, and Gerald had purchased it from a stranger quite recently. He had had his j doubts whether it had not been stolen, and show- ing it to hia father, who was an old Anglo-Indian, the latter had pronounced it to be undoubtedly of Oriental origin, one of those mysterious- orna- ments believed by the superstitious to give luck to the wearer. Dorothy thought a moment; she must have dropped the ring in the library. The room was locked. When her father saw it. in the morning he would require an explanation. It must, there- fore, be obtained at once. For a moment Dorothy hesitated, and then crept softly to her father's bedchamber. Outside she listened-by his breathing he was alseep—and, quietly entering, she gro,ped her way to the drawer she had frequently seen him, as he thought unnoticed, slip the key of his den. In a few more seconds she was within the library itself, and, switching on the electric light, the welcome flash of diamonds met her gaze. Pick- ing up the cherished hoop, she brushed a piece of blotting-paper on the desk aside. Something beneath glistened. It was a revolver Dorothy was alarmed. A revolver! Whnt I could it mean? Her father had .seemed much worried lately. Could it be self-destruction? I The girl shivered, glancing around the room Almost frightened. That something was troubling him, undermining his health, she knew. He had ) been expecting a message at one o'clock in the morning Was it possible that on that message depended the use or otherwise of the weapon? I Once more Dorothy shivered, and then rested her finger on the electric switch—in her room: she would be better able to smooth matters out. Bat, about to shut off the light, there was a. quick, scratching sound. The girl's heart seemed to stop still. Her first thought was to flee. ¡ Facing was a long, deep casement covered wit,'a heavy curtains; she saw them flutter, and then heard something unseen strike the sill. The 1 noise was unmistakably breaking glass. And the intruders? Burglars, of course. Dorothy Wenham opened her mouth to speak. but no sound came. Then, like a flash, the cur- tains parted, a hand thrust its way through, and something dropped to the ground. The hand dis- appeared instantaneously. With an effort, the girl rushed forward and threw open the case- ments. No one was to be seen the back of the house was deserted What could she do? With a. shudder, closing the doors again, she drew the curtains. On the floor was a piece of paper. She took it up, and read. The message the message her father had been expecting! "To-morrow night, here, at twelve," was all it said. ] Nervously, the girl crumpled the note in her fingers and hurried away. After replacing the key where she had found it, she staggered to her room, and there, her emotions too powerful, fainted. The next morning Miles Wenham did not come down to breakfast as usual. Weary and heavy- eyed, for lack of sleep, Dorothy went up to find him unconscious. The doctor, when he came, looked grave. "Worry," he said, with a glance, at Dorothy; and at that moment Wenham opened his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked. "What is to- ( day?" "Wednesday,answered the girl gently. "Oh He gave a deep sigh. "Any letter- messages?" eagerly. "None." Wenham gave a gasp of relief, and then noticed the presence of the doctor. "Jarvis? The latter approached the bedside and made a rapid examination. "Nothing radically wrong," he said at last. "You need a change. A long voyage, say, where you can escape letters and messages. The financier smiled faintly. "Very well, then," he muttered. "I can go- now." Later in the day-Dr. Jarvis insisted on his remaining in bed-Wenham returned to the old subject. "You're quite sure," he asked of Dorothy, "there were no communications—that no one called for me?" "Whom do you expect, father?" she inquired instead. "Nobody, nobody," he answered and the tone was so peremptory that Dorothy was loth to question further. One thing, however, she mentioned. "Dad, Mr. Hanson is calling to see you." "Hanson? I've no business with him." "No; but he wishes to speak to you about- about me." Miles Wenham looked up. His keen scrutiny read the meaning in her eyes. "Then I can't see him. I can't, and won't!" "Father! "No," he returned shortly. Such an arrange- ment's impossible." "Impossible? Gerald was your guest last evening." "Perhaps so. But I've alre&dy made arrange- ments for your future." The girl was aghast. "My future?" she repeated. "Yes," went on the financier relentlessly. "Sir Andrew Rayne has taken a fancy to you. And I've promised him. Dorothy Wenham could scarcely reply. Sir Andrew Rayne was the only man she felt she could ever hate. "Well, what have you to say?" her father demanded. "That I will never marry him!" the girl responded. And without another word she L:ft the room. A little later came a note from Gerald saying he would be unable to make his promised call. The eirl felt almost inclined to cry. She longed to ten him of her interview with her father, of that mysterious occurrence the previous evening. There was no one to whom she could turn for sympathy.. The day dragged slowly out, her mind harassed with the thought that her only parent should be made acquainted with that incident in the library. It would aggravate his illness yet, on the other hand, if bewailed to keep the appoint- ment something terrible might happen. And then a thought struck her—she would keep the appointment herself Just before midnight she crept softly to her father's room once more. But the apartment was empty the key of the library gone m Dorothy was horror-stricken. Qviickiv, how- ever. she descended the stairs to find the door ajar. Impulsively entering, she concealed her- self behind a portiere curtain. Miles Wenham was muttering, looking around vaguely. Crossing over to the desk, he saw the revolver lying there, and locked it in a drawer. Evidently he was preparing to leave, for he drew the curtains with the intention of seeing that. everything was secure. All at once his eye caught the aperture in the glass, and with his hand still on the curtain he gave a cry. As if in response, the clocks outside chimed the hour, and a face was pressed against the window. Miles Wenham recoiled. p "Open!" said a voice. Dorothy, in horror, noticed the visitor wore a mask. Unconsciously, the man did as he was bidden, and the other quietly entered. Wenham sank trembling into a chair. "Well?" The voice was low, a malicious undercurrent in its depths. "Well?" he repeated. "You received the note?" "Note?" gasped Wenham. Come this won't do said the other. "You wouldn't have been here unless." The muscles of Wenham's face twitched. "I'm glad you're prepared," said the other with a sneer. "There's a little matter to settle, and it would be well to review the whole circum- stances." Miles Wenham nodded abjectly. "Well, then, twenty years ago—in India, to be r preise-you were admitted to the society. Then you were a minor government official. You've become one of the greatest financiers of the day. So far, so good. A few days ago, presumably to further your own schemes, you revealed things you were pledged not to. That necessitates removal from the—er—society. Wenham sat in his chair, paralysed almost. He made no effort to speak. "If there's anything to be said," continued the other quietly, "I shall be pleased to hear it." Meanwhile he had produced from his pocket a small phial. Still Wenham sat there, apparently unable to utter a word. "Then there's no time to be lost," resumed the masked man impatiently, placing the phial in Wenham's trembling hand. "Drink!" he commanded. But as the word was uttered, the two, men suddenly started. Before them stood Dorothy, her eyes blazing with alarm. "Father Miles Wenham with difficulty rose to his feet. Go away, child," he murmured, giving her an ■agonised look. Dorothy flung her arms around her father's neck. "No she cried. "I'll give the alarm. Don't drink it?" Wenham smiled sadly, while the other looked on, a grim expression about his mouth. "It's useless to interfere," murmured the financier. "You don't understand. Go away!" Dorothy shivered. It was as though she were fighting some uncanny, mysterious power. With a sudden impulse, a woman's intuition—perhaps recalling its story—she slipped the ring Gerald had given to her into her father's hand. Wenham looked. From the ring shone a blaze of jewels, and he uttered a- cry. The other man saw, too, for once. displaying emotion. Tho Head! he cried wildly. "Ah!" And in another moment he had vanished the way he had come. Dorothy looked round in surprise, and then caught her father's eye. "You've saved my life," cried the latter. "How did you come to possess that ring?" The ring had, indeed, saved Wenham's life. When in India he had joined one of the. many secret societies that exist there, reeking with ancient superstition. Membership ended only with existence, and a few days before, the great magnate on the verge of financial disaster had revealed an important secret in exchange for a heavy loan, and something else. Sir Andrew Rayne it was who had prevented Wenham's ruin. and to complete, the bargain the latter had promised him his daughter. Miles Wenham had known well enough betrayal meant speedy death, but he had seen on Rayne's finger a ring he immediately recognised as "The Head," possession of which was the only thing that gave immunity from death. This, however. he had not mentioned to the baronet, who had promised to give him the ring. Wenham's con- sternation had been terrible when he learned that it had been stolen, for he momentarily expected the message that meant the end. The tension had been so great, he had resolved to destroy him- self rather than wait longer. With the jewel his during his lifetime, Wenham, gave his- daughter to Hanson willingly.

DRAPERS AND~"OaD." The views of the retail drapery tra,de generally on the proposed cash on delivery system are well represented by communications printed in the "Draper." The bulk of the correspondents unhesitatingly condemn the proposal as an unfair concession to the large advertising houses, and a direct disadvantage to the country draper, who has quite enough to contend with a,s things are now. Two or three only have a good word to say for the proposal, and these are not by any means enthusiastic. Even such hesitating comments on the proposal are quite exceptional; the opposition of our cor- respondents is all but unanimous and emphatic. Our own objection to it is not simply the injury the system would inflict on the country draper and the small man in our towns. We believe it would be bad for the purchasing public, and that it would be largely taken advantage of by unscrupulous advertisers, as well as by those who do, or wish to do, a large bona-fide business through the post."

BREAD LAWS. There is a curious provision in the Bread Acts of 1822 and 1836, which are still in force, to the effect that every person who shall make for sale, or sell or expose for sale any bread made wholly or partially of peas or beans or potatoes, or of any sort of corn or grain other than wheat, shall cause all such bread to be marked with a large Roman M. It would thus appear that the baker who chooses to put potatoes in his bread could escape the charge of adulteration by marking the loaf in the manner described.

A letter from a naval officer at the front (writes our Moscow correspondent) relates an extra- ordinary instance of superstition among the Russian sailors. After the first torpedo attack on the Port Arthur fleet, a warrant officer on the Tsarevitch noticed two of the crew attempting to remove several essential parts of a big gun. When an inquiry was held, both men affirmed solemnly that they had dreamt the night before that the gun had burst and wrecked the whole battleship. They were in great fear of the gun, and had "determined to stop it being used, in order to prevent disaster." Both men were flogged. Two Hungarian girls who had been jilted by the same man have taken a terrible revenge upon their deceiver and his bride. He was a j stonemason, of Peterwardein, near Arad, and had engaged himself to three girls at the same time. Finally he chose one, and after the marrige, cere- mony took his bride to her new home. The two jilted girls followed the pair to the house, accom- panied by an infantry soldier, brother of one of them. They sucaeeded in obtaining admission, and while the soldier held the man's hands the two girls dashed vitrol in'his face and also that of his bride. Terrible injuries resulted in the case of the husband, who has since died, while the young wife has lost her sight as well as her hus- band.

I THE HERERO TROUBLES. I ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT. I The expected announcement of a general attack on the chief Herero position in the Onyati Hills has at last reached Berlin. Colonel Leutwein's despatch, which was sent off on April 11 from Okahandya. states that the attack was delivered on April 9 by the main detachment under Colonel Duerr and tlle west detachment under Major von Estorff. The opera- tions were conducted by [Colonel Leutwein in person. The Hereros, who numbered about three thou- sand rifles, occupied a strong circular position on a ridge. The enemy's left wing was first enveloped and thrown back, after which the centre and the right wingwere assaulted. Two energetic counter attacks by the Herero right on the German left l'e repulsed. When darkness set in after eight hours' fighting the enemy's position," Colonel Leutwein proceeds, had been broken through. The enemy retired in all directions, his main forces proceeding appar- ently in north-easterly and earterly directions." The German losses were two officers and two non-commissioned officers killed, one officer, two non-commissioned officers and four men severely wounded, and one non-commissioned officer and four men slightly wounded. I Colonel Leutwein is unable to make any definite statement as to the losses of the Hereros, but he observes that, thanks to the effect of the artillery, they were heavy. I The German Press, in commenting on the engagements of this month, complains of the inadequate manner in which they have been re- ported. It demands detailed accounts of the operations from the Government. The severe losses suffered by Major von Glase- napp at the beginning of the month, followed by the failure of Colonel Leutwein to do more than I compel the Hereros to retire, have exercised a most depressing effect on public opinion. It is widely observed that Major von Glasenapp appears j to have fallen into an ambush after the manner of I British officers in the South African war. The Herero Campaign has produced a resolution in the German nation to refrain in future from I harsh judgment on foreign mishaps in colonial wars.

I EXCITING LONDON FIRE. I SMART RESCUE WORK. I London firemen have often distinguished them* j selves by gallant conduct in the work of rescuing people from burning buildings, and in a fire early on Monday morning the Knightsbridge Station staff performed this dangerous part of their duty in an exceptionally smart manner. From a street alarm the call rang into the station mentioned ac 3.10 a.m., I and instantly the escape was despatched. The 1 steamer followed promptly, and aid was summoned from other stations. When the brigade arrived at the spot they found a serious outbreak at No. 9, Egerton-terrace, Brompton, occupied, along with the next house, by Mr. S. Filer, as a private hotel. The second floor was ablaze, and the staircase to the fourth floor, converted into a flaring furnace, cut off the escape of four persons. J On tlse lower floors the houses communicated directly, but this was not the case above, the result being that the inmates were isolated. Two of them, Mrs. Brodie and her maid, Annie Young, were brought down the escape, but in the case of the others the firemen experienced great difficulty. Hook ladders were employed to form a bridge by which the upper windows could be reached. One II of the young women, Miss Margaret Birse, had climbed out of the window, and having, with remarkable self possession, shut it after her, waited with what patience she could command, perched on the ledge. The firemen worked the hooked ladders as speedily as possible, and the one used for the final length smashed the window. The immediate consequence was an outburst of heat and smoke, which forced Miss Birse to let go her hold. Clinging to the fireman who had just got within reach, she was taken to the next floor, the gallant rescuer being then relieved of his burden by other firemen, who II lowered the girl into the street. The other occu- pant, Miss Mabel Brodie, had a narrow escape. The firemen found her unconscious on her bed, covered by the clothes and nearly suffocated. She was taken to a place of safety, and when the lire had been sufficiently subdued conveyed down the staircase. I It was impossible to get the escape to the rear of the building, and the way in which the hook- ladders were utilised reflects creditably on the men engaged—Firemen Bennett, Osborne, Spencer, L Henderson, Lloyd, and Wainwright, the latter al- ready a holder of the brigade silver medal awarded for the saving of lives. There were very few people about at the time, and even some of the near neighbours knew nothing of the affair till all was over, but those who were witnesses bear ready testimony to the efficiency with which the brigade set to work. Inquiries at the house yesterday were met with polite but firm refusals to give any j information.

I A SHATTERED ROMANCE. The Bristol windfall romance has ended in the issue of a warrant against the young man Moore, otherwise Stephens, on a charge of obtaining five pounds from a Bristol gentleman by false repre- sentations. Moore went to London on Tuesday of last week, and telegraphed stating that he would return on the Thursday, and that'his affairs had been settled. He did not, however, arrive, and suspicion was at once aroused. There is no doubt that many persons in Bristol thoroughly believed his story that he was about to inherit a fortune of £ 47,000, plus a rent- roll of EIO,000 a year, although he produced no proofs in support of his statement, and declined to give the names of his solicitors. One gentleman went surety to his tailor for a complete new out- fit for the expectant heir, whilst another gentle- man is alleged to have parted with a considerable sum of money on the strength of Stephens's pro- mise that when he came into his estates he would give the lender the position of steward. There are over 200 letters awaiting Mr. Stephens at the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion. During his stay he made himself known to many people of good position. He professed to be of a religious turn of mind, and attended the cathedral regularly. Mr. Morphett, secretary of tihe Voung Men's Christian Association, in an interview on Monday, said Moore came to Bristol at the end of October. He stated that he had been engaged at an eporium in London, and that he had come to Bristol to find work. He gave two reasons for leaving Lo-,don-olle that he had been ill, and the other that they were reducing the number of hands on account of bad trade. He stayed at the Bristol home of the Young Men's Christian Association for a week or two, when, as he was practically penniless, some friends of j the association took an interest in him and ob- tained assistance for him. Afterwards he got a situation, and then came the story about the for- une. ■, Many of us," added Mr. Morphett, tried to get something more definite, and pleaded for a sight of some documents, but these were promised at a later date. I wish to state that on no account i have we ever given anyone any authority to say that the Young Men's Christian Association autho- I rities believed his statement. We have maintained | an open mind on the matter, and personally it I gave me a great deal of sorrow to see in some of | the London papers that we gave credence to the story. That was untrue. We told it as it was > given to us, and we have simply repeated it to those who have called to inquire, though we have been exceedingly doubtful as to its truth."

I This notice is posted on the door of the parish church at Holbeach Hum, Lincolnshire :—"To prevent any possible disappointment in future, ^ie date and hour of any weddings which, are to be solemnised^ in this place of worship will be1 fixed by the vicar of the parish, and not bv the contracting parties." j Antwerp, according to an official return re- cently published by the Department of Commerce and Labour at Washington, stands third on the list of the world's ports, with a total tonnage of 16,721,011 tons, entered and cleared. London is first, with a total tonnage of 17,564,108 tons, and a New York the second port in the world, with a total tonnage of 17,398,058 tons. These figures j refer to ocean-going traffic only, and are for the year 1902.

EPITOME OF NEWS. The Palace of the late King Alexander of Servia is to be pulled down and rebuilt as a meeting pla<2e for the Servian Parliament. A correspondent of the "Times" stigmatises motorists as "tluculent terrors in tarpaulih." Great Britain controls twenty-one out of every; hundred square miles of the earth's surface. Nathaniel Wright, who would have been 102 years of age had he lived until October, has, died at Boston, Lincolnshire, from shock suf- fered through a fall in which his thigh was fractured. Eighty-seven new houses built in Paris dur- ing the past twelve months have been entered for the architectural beauty prize offered by th& city. After many experiments a parasite has been, found which is expected to prove of great value in destroying the fruit-fly pest in Australia. The largest order of merit in the world is the French Legion of Honour, which has a trifle over half a million members. In all our wars we have won the splendid average of 82 per cent. of the battles. This is, 0 the world's record. Andres Schlitzer, a brewer, of Gmund, Ger- many, has just won a bet of zP,150 by drinking, four gallons of beer in a single day. Instructions have been given for the three regiments of Household Cavalry to be imme- diately provided with the new short rifle and bandoliers. The late Mrs. Margaret Young, of St. Ronan's, Cheltenham, whose estate has been: valued at z2251,194 19s. 7d., directed in her will that her sons should be placed in some profes- sion 01 business, and "never become idle mem- bers of society." Shot were exchanged in the course of a recent discussion on Church affairs between Greeks and Bulgarians at Strumnitza, the Bulgarian Arch-, bishop having a narrow escape. A man named Taylor has inflicted serious injuries on himself by tearing his throat on some iron street railings in Worcester. He afterwards walked into the house of a doctor and, taking a knife from a table, stabbed him-; self. Two destroyers of the new type, the Exe and the Erne, the first to hoist the pennant for foreign service, are to be fitted for duty on the p Mediterranean station. Each steams 25 £ knots. 2 an hour. There are 295 actions and matters set down for hearing by the Chancery judges at the ensu- ing sittings, compared with 268 at the cor- responding period last year. L, In consequence of the competition of the L.C.C. trams, passengers on the London, Deptford, and Greenwich Tramway Co.'s cars are carried from Greenwich to the Towep Bridge for a penny. The total cost of the Metropolitan Police Force for one year is £ 2,008,^23, of which goes in salaries and pay. The City of London Police cost for the same period £ 173,539. A baker's oven heated by electricity is a novelty at Montauban, France. The heating elements—numbering twenty—are placed at the side of the interior, and heat is quickly applied and cut-off at once, with a considerable saving of time. No heat is lost up the chimney, as the only opening is the door through which the bread is passed. Quite a good price is paid by a French firm for old parchments of all descriptions. They have a process for removing the ink, and even- tually the cleaned stuff comes back to us as the finest French kid gloves. The clippings left when the gloves are made are not wasted either. Mixed with pieces of vellum and leather, they are boiled down for size. And the coarse shavings, with odds and ends of seal and other skins, come in handy for filling cheap cricket and tennis balls. In Lake Wabigoon, Ontario, Canada, at a point where the water is not very deep, a strong wooden stake has been driven into the ground. On the top a box has been securely fastened, and there you have the Lake Wabi- goon Post-office. The little steamer from Rat Portage drops the mail here on her outward voyage, and a canoe goes out from the shore and collects it, depositing the outgoing mail at the same time, which is picked up by the steamer on her return trip to Rat Portage next day. Brother Karl, of the Benedictine Order, who was recently buried at Prague, was of noble blood and had a remarkable career. As Prince n Edward Sehoenburg, he was handsome, dashing, and of rare promise. But at thirty-five a change came over his spirit, and one day he rode straight to the abbey from the parade ground, and in full uniform asked the prior for admission. The head of the Order at first re- fused, but the Prince broke his sword, threw away his epaulets and decorations, and begged for a monk's habit. He afterwards went to Rome, studied theology, and was ordained. It is related of President Hadley, of Yale, that he presided at a dinner given by an art club in the main gallery of the art school at the University, and, in consideration of the fact that the wives of the diners were present, considered it his duty to hand out a number of "rhetorical botlquets." One of these somewhat astonished his auditors. With a sweeping gesture he indi- cated the works of art with which the room was adorned, and said: "What need have we of all these painted beauties on the wall when so many, are gathered her to-night around this festive board? Every shilling turned out by the Mint shows a profit of nearly 3d. On every ton of penny pieces taken out from the Mint there is a profit of -238-9. Austria-Hungary has the longest frontier of any European country. Its frontier line is 2,996 miles long. Great Britain has 2,757 miles of coast line. A Norwich angler, fishing on Rockland Broad, 0 landed in three hours fourteen IHke, which. weighed 1161b. The largest fish scaled 171b. A Wesleyan minister in the north of London: possesses the most wonderful ring in the world., In appearance it is an ohlinary gold signet-ring, but it is, in addition, a perfect little musical box. By touching a tiny spring, and holding the ring close to the ear, one can hear a sweet hymn tune. By placing the ring on a box the charming tones of this unique ring can be heard all over a large room. There are 190,227 professional beggars in Spain, of whom 51,948 are women. In some of the cities beggars are licensed to carry on their trade. Seeking alms is recognised as a legiti- mate business, and the municipality demands a percentage upon the collections. Seville is the only city in the kingdom which forbids begging in the streets. A violent outbreak against the Jews has oc- curred at Lompalanka, in Bulgaria. A mob stormed the ghetta, plundered the houses, and maltreated the Jews, crucifying some of them., Although the authorities promptly dispersed the asailants, many Jews were wounded, and six died as the result of injuries. The Bulgarian Government, says an "Express" message, sup- pressed the news of the outbreak in order to avoid the animosity of Jewish financiers against Bulgaria. An American who recently stayed at a way- side c inn in Ireland says that, following the European custom, he puts his boots outside tna door to be cleaned. In the morning he found they were untouched, and on complaining to the landlord, that worthy said: "Sure, sor, you cud lave yur watch outside o' yur dour all night in this house an' they wouldn't be touched." Workmen are busy removing the crucifixes and other religious emblems which have hitherto adorned the French courts of justice. In several cases where valuable works of art would be injured by a hasty removal, they are to be covered up by a curtain until they can be taken down later. In future no religious em- blem of any kind is to be exhibited in any; French court of justice.