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

TOWN TOPICS. (From Our London Correspondent.) Town topics are very scanty at this holiday season. There are no happenings," and everybody who is anybody is at the seaside or on the Continent or the moors. It is a busy time, however, with Bill Sykes and his con- freres, who seem to be daily increasing in audacity. As nine-tenths of the West-end houses are at present shut up or left in charge of feeble caretakers, there is plenty of scope for the operations of the enterprising burglar, who has recently made some big hauls. Shops enjoy no greater immunity than dwelling- houses from the attentions of these gentry, and a few days ago no fewer than five shops and offices in the busiest part of the Strand were raided. In one of the shops—a jeweller's-the show case in the window was stripped of its contents, although there was no window shutter and the case was in full view of the passers-by. Several newspapers have given prominence during the last few days to exaggerated reports of the lawlessness in Epping Forest. The fact is, however, that there is comparatively no more hooliganism in the forest than in any other open space at this season of the year. It does exist to a considerable extent, of course, seeing that it is an excellent rendezvous for the East-, end of London; but the authorities take ample measures for its suppression. In addition to the ordinary policing of the forest, there are the keepers, whilst the corporation also employ several detectives. The greatest difficulty is experienced by the authorities in getting the public to come forward with evidence in cases, and hooliganism will certainly continue to exist, if not to increase, until some salutary examples are made with the assistance of the public in the witness box. A paper of much interest to Londoners was read at the recent meeting of the British Asso- ciation by Mr. Sydney Low, of the London Council Council. The town problem, he said, had become to a great extent a suburban problem, and this, he thought, should mitigate to some extent our alarm at the exodus from the country. A comparison between the suburban dweller and the country man was not entirely disadvantageous to the former. The wealthier section of the middle- clas;i, which twenty or thirty years ago used to go into the suburbs, was inclined now to remain in the town, exchanging a villa for a flat. On the other hand, the working man tended more and more to go to the new suburbs on the wing of the cheap tram and the electric tram. He was able to do so not so much because he had more wages than he used to have, but because he had more time. He regarded it as a great mistake for municipalities to build blocks of dwellings in central districts and so anchor the artisans in the heart of the City. He looked forward to a time when the City populations would re- side twenty or thirty miles outside the City. This suggested some difficulties in regard to local government which were already beginning to be felt. Municipalities certainly could not be extended to include a sufficient area, and his notion was some kind of joint boards or aggregation of provincial councils. The great fall there has been in the value of gilt-edged stocks may be judged from the (experience of the several local authorities that have made issues within the last few years. West Ham may be quoted as an example. In the year 1899 its Corporation was able to issue its 3 per cent. stock at the price of 103. A year or two later the price fell to 92, whil for the last issue the sum obtainable was only 84, the underwriters even then being left with the bulk of the stock. Yet, for all practical purposes, the security is in every respect as good to-day as it was in the year 1899. The question of default does not, of course, call for consideration at all. Archdeacon Biggie, of Birmingham, has been contrasting the Metropolis unfavourably with Brummagem. He declares that London is a frivolous place, containing a vast number of peopl/f who exist only for pleasure, and who do no work at all. "London," he says, "is indif- ferent, and the indifference is largely the indif- ference of the wealthy and the idle, who have no interest in religious truths and ideals. This indifference is largely filtering down through every class of the community. London, in short, is becoming very frivolous and light-minded; it has lost its ideajs, its convictions, and is given up to the blankest materialism." It may cheerfully be admitted that Birming- hani is a. much more serious place than London, but it must be remembered that the capital attracts a large number of pleasure-seekers from every part of the Kingdom, whereas no one would think of going to Birmingham for pleasure. When a Birmingham man wants to nave a day or two's enjoyment he generally comes up to London, and helps to swell the crowd of frivolous people of whom the worthy Archdeacon complains. A correspondence has been going on in one of the morning newspapers on the manners of London shop assistants, and one or two corre- oespondents have compared them unfavourably with the manners prevailing in Continental establishments. The general concensus of opinion, however, is that our London assistants ihave little io learn in the way of polite- ness, and that, considering the many petty rudenesses and even insults which they have to endure daily, they preserve their good temper and serenity in a wonderful manner. In order to gain a practical insight into the matter, one of the staff of the newspaper in question obtained employment for a day as enopwalker in a well-known West-end estab- lishment. He put in an arduous day's work, and came to the conclusion that a shopwalker's life is by no means a sinecure. His conclud- ing remarks are as follows —" When closing time came I felt more tired than I had done iter years. Walking about on the carpet is, I think, one great cause of fatigue, combined with the incessant bustle and rush. I wound up my day as a shopwalker with a great respect for the hardworking assistant behind, the counter, and I am afraid not the highest opinion of the customer before it." Personally speaking, from an experience of tooth sides of the Channel, I must say that, for god3 manners, courtesy, and attention to cus- tmers, the London shop-girl, or shop-man, is quite equal to the average Continental assistant. To say that yotmg ladies engaged in London shops are discourteous and bad-mannered is as absurd as to say that Continental shop-girls are perfect models of good breeding. The famous old church of St. Giles's, Cripple- fate, in which the body of John Milton lies uried, has just been enriched with a statue of the poet. The unveiling ceremony was per- formed by Lady Alice Egerton, who belongs to a family descended from John, Earl of Bridgewater, an early patron of the budding genius. As President of Wales,, the Earl resided at Ludlow Castle, and there it was, in 1634, that "Comus" was first presented. The chief characters of the mask were impersonated by Lord Brackley, the President's heir; Thomas Egerton, a younger son; and Lady Affice Egerton, a daughter. It will be noticed that the lady who lei,led the statue is the namesake of ,-I- who first enacted the heroine of" Com and gave the first public utterance to these noble words — A thousand fantasies ilegin to throng within my memory, Of calling shapes, and beckoning shadows dire, And airy tongues that syllable men's names ft sands, and shores, and desert wilderwses. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound, The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. A Knight Commandership of the Order of the Rising Sun has been conferred by the i. Emperor of Japan, through Viscount Hayashi, tfee Japanese Ambassador, upon Sir Marcus Samuel, late Lord Mayor of London, in recog- nition of his many services to our Far Eastern any. Long before the Anglo-Japanese alliance was. concluded, or, thought, of, the firm of which Sir Marcus is the head had been intimately associated with Japan, and was, as it still is, in close relation with the Japanese Government. That firm issued the first Japanese Gold Loan in Europe, and later, with the consent of the Government, issued the municipal loans for the Yokohama Waterworks and the Osaka. Harbour works. The develop- ment of trade in Formosa has also been materially assisted by the present recipient of the Knight Commandership of the Rising Sun -an honour which he shares,, among civic notables, with Sir Joseph Dimsdale, M.P., another ex-Lord Mayor, who encouraged exceptionally cordial relations between the Mansion House and the Japanese Legation. T.

I NEWS NOTES. Fort after fort is reported to have been taken by the Japs at Port Arthur, but the Russians have defended the "Gibraltar of the East" with stubborn bravery against the valorous assaults of the enemy. For weeks past the carnage has been dreadful, and humanitarian instincts prompt the wish that the rumour to the effect that Kaiser William is seeking to intervene in the interests of peace might turn out to be true. But both sides are so confident of ultimate victory, and the fighting men of the Mikado and Czar alike so determined, that one almost despairs of seeing any yielding, except, to the inexorable arbitra- ment of force. And that may take a long, long time to decide. The King comes home this week-end from his Marienbad "cure," we hope and believe in vigorous health, and His Majesty will be at Boncaster, all being well, for the races. He is particularly fond of seeing the sport on the Town Moor, where so many ardent sportsmen foregather. The King will stay at Rufford Abbey, which fine old mansion remains to-day practically as it stood in the stirring times of the Civil Wars. The great carved wooden bedstead stands yet in the Stuart Room, and the long oak tables and benches, black with age, are the very same as used by the Cistercians, who resided there in 1574. The prayer-books in the chapel are all dated, and none are inscribed later than the time of Charles H. Henry VIII. took the abbey from the monks, making it a gift to the Earl of Shrewsbury, from whom it passed to the Saviles by marriage. A fine type of the English churchman was Dean Hole, who has at a ripe age been gathered to his fathers. One of the most popular and genial of men, a giant in stature with the heart of a child, a high Tory by every instinct and tradition, and yet broad and tolerant as to all but the essentials of his belief, the Dean was beloved by all. Many will mourn in his demise the loss of a grand old specimen of muscular Christianity personified. He was a great lover of the country, of gardens, and of sport, as well as of books, and used to say that had he not been brought up a parson he would have liked to have been rather a head gardener somewhere, a master of foxhounds, or a bookseller. The Dean was almost as fond of horses and cricket as he was. of flowers; but apart from his church work and his labours for social betterment, Samuel Reynolds Hole will be best remembered for many a day as an enthusiastic horticulturist. How widespread was the Dean's gardening fame is illustrated in many good stories. Here is one. He was visiting one of the most beautiful gardens in England during the absence of the owner. Meeting the head gardener, he asked permission to make an inspection of the place. Are you Mr. Reynolds Hole ?" inquired the gardener. The Dean, replying in the affirmative, was some- what perplexed to see the gardener turn his back. His momentary anxiety, however, was immediately relieved on hearing him shout out, Set the fountains playing, Bill." Dean Hole was particularly great as a grower of and writer on roses, and he was one of the very best raconteurs of his time. The auspicious event at the Viceregal Lodge in Dublin is giving joy to the hearts of the Irish. Many of them are delighted at a baby being born to Lord and Lady Dudley during the Earl's Lord Lieutenancy. The distin- guished pair have won great personal popu- larity. Usually a Viceroy and his lady keep rigidly to the exclusive castle circle Lord and Lady Dudley have not, but have striven to render themselves agreeable to the Irish people as a whole. Lord Dudley is most tactful, and has a very kindly disposition. He is devoted to his consort, his marriage with whom, in 1891, was one of the events of the London season. Lady Dudley was formerly Miss Rachel Gurney, daughter of a famous banker, who, when disaster overtook him, made over to his creditors everything that he possessed. Miss Gurney, though she lost her fortune, retained her beauty, and her marriage with Lord Dudley was a true love match. Lady Dudley and her latest born baby girl are both doing very nicely. Sir Francis Bertie goes from Rome to Paris as His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador, and no doubt he will quit himself well, for he is a man of parts and proven ability. He has not been long at Rome—only for eighteen months or so. Previous to going to Rome Sir Francis had had no experience in Legation work, but had a long career at the Foreign Office. His know- ledge of foreign affairs may be gathered from the fact that he was chosen to accompany Beaconsfield on the celebrated "Peace with Honour" mission to Berlin in 1878. The charming helpmate of Sir Francis, Lady Feodo- rowna Bertie, must look forward with particular interest to taking up her abode once again in the Faubourg St. Honore, where she spent nearly all her girlhood. Lady Feodore and her sister, Lady Sophia (afterwards Countess of Hardwicke), were the only daughters of the veteran Ambassador, Lord Cowley, who was the representative of this country in Paris during the greater part of the reign of Napoleon III. The remarkable personal charms of the two young Ladies Wellesley, together with their shy and retiring manner (for they were never quite all her girlhood. Lady Feodore and her sister, Lady Sophia (afterwards Countess of Hardwicke), were the only daughters of the reteran Ambassador, Lord Cowley, who was the representative of this country in Paris during the greater part of the reign of Napoleon HI. The remarkable personal charms of the two young Ladies Wellesley, together with their shy and retiring manner (for they were never quite at home in the gay milieu of the Second Empire) won for them in the Parisian society of that day the pretty designation of Les Anges du Silence." I ■

Sixty-eight feet is the length of the petition which has been laid by the residents in North Camberwell before thu L.C.C., protesting against the proposed change of the names of Church-street and South-street. Six tombstones were smashed in a Paris grave- yard on Saturday by a tramear which had left the rails and crashed through the brick wall of a cemetery. The owners of the graves think of suing the -company which owns the car. It would require an army of policemen to compel the tramps to break stones," says the master of the New Ross 4Wexford) Workhouse, ea^ *° knowwhat to do with able-bodied paupers wh$viefi him every

A "CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS." I Captain Atherton, w«ll known on the Mersey, has three lives to his credit. On a bitter Decem- ber night he jumped into Garston Dock, and CAPTAIN ATHERTON. rescued a man. He Saved a boy in like circumstances in the Birkenhead Float, and again risked his life for a man in the Queen's Dock. Cap- tain Atherton speaks lightly of these deeds of hero- ism. A represen- tative who called at his house, 270, Price street, Birkenhead, states that the gallant captain has felt the effects of a bard life. Some time ago," said he, my health failed. I felt my back getting weak, and when I stooped it was agony to straighten myself again. I lost appetite, and could only sleep off and on. I had a bad oough, low spirits, and could not touch my break- fast. I saw Dr. Williams' pink pills mentioned in the paper, and as several friends had been cured ;)y them I bought a box, and after taking the pills felt much better. I kept on with them three or four weeks, and was cured. The weakness in my back disappeared, and I could bend up and down without pain. My cough ceased and my appetite returned." Captain Atherton added that since his illness he had found the pills a splendid tonic. Captain Atherton's breakdown was serious. The lumbago and stiffness probably indicated kidney disease, and his lost appetite showed that his digestion had failed. I)r. Williams' pink pills cured him because they gave him new blood. Dr. Williams' pink pills are the tonic that tones. The manufacturers can refer to persons in tH parts who recommend them, not only as a tonic, but also for paralysis, locomotor ataxy, rheumatism, sciatica, and kidney disease; diseases arising from impoverishment of the blood, scrofula, rickets, consumption, anaemia, loss of appetite, palpitations, neuralgia, ladies' weaknesses, and hysteria. These pills are not a purgative. They are sold at all medicine shops, and by Dr. Williams' medicine co., at two shillings and ninepence per box, or six boxes for thirteen and nine.

THE CASE OF MR. ADOLF BECK. I Mr. Edward Abinger, a London barrister, writes thus to a contemporary: The meet remarkable feature of this case which is attracting such wide notice—without precedent, I should say, in the annals of English criminal jurisprudence-is that no less than three mistakes have been made. They are as follows: (1) Mr. Beck was convicted in 1896 for offenoes not committed by him. (2) The conviction of Smith in 1877 was proved at the polioe-court as a previous con- viction against Mr. Beck. (3) Mr. Beck waq convicted in 1904 for offences not committed by him. Is it possible that these extraordinary blunders were a mere coincidence, or is there something sinister behind it all ? That is the question. I propose to deal with some of the most startling features in this unique case. The offences of 1877, 1896, and 1904 were identical in almost every particular. It was almost impossible for anyone, much less for experienced police officials, to doubt that the same hand com- mitted all three offences. The admitted handwrit- ing of Smith was identical with the documents charged against Mr. Beck, both in 1896 and 1904. The marks upon Smith were entirely dissimilar from the marks upon Mr. Beck. Smith is a Jew; Mr. Beck is not. Smith has a scar upon the jaw; Mr. Beck has none. Smith has passed some years in prison, and his marks and measurements were, of course, well known to the prison officials, and could have easily been obtained by the police. In spite of all this, blunder No. 1 was committed, viz., the police proved at the police-court in 1896, in the prosecution of Mr. Beck, and as against him, the conviction recorded against Smith in 1877. Who is responsible for this ? How came this conviction to be proved against Mr. Beck ? Mr. Beck is committed for trial and indicted (1) for larceny; (2) having been previously convicted, (3) for misdemeanour. Now, the defence disclosed at the police-court was that Mr. Beok was not Smith, that Mr. Beck was abroad when Smith was in prison, and that the offences charged against Mr. Beck were, in fact, committed by Smith. The police and those charged with preparing the case for the prosecution must, of course, have known what the defence at the trial was going to be. How came it that the matter was not investigated then and there ? I am at a less to understand. Of course, if there had been an investigation, the acquittal of Mr. Beck would almost certainly have followed. Is it possible that the police knew that a blunder had been committed, and, instead of acknowledging the blunder, bolstered it up ? Then comes this most remarkable fa (which may perhaps help to answer the query im- mediately preceding). Why was notMr. Beck tried at the Old Bailey upon the indictment charging him with having been previously convicted ? In ninety- nine cases out of 100 this is quite a formal matter. The prisoner admits the conviction and the whole thing does notftxtke flve minutes. But if he denies it, the jury tries the question. If the jury had tried Mr. Beck with having been previously con- victed, he-must have been acquitted, and even at that late stage his innocence would in all probability have been demonstrated. But the prosecution did not attempt to prove this conviction. Why? possibly the learned oounsel charged with conduct- ing the prosecution may have had some doubt as to the identity of Beck with Smith. I am perfectly sure that if the counsel had had before them the information which is before the public, they would have informed the Court that Mr. Beck could not possibly be Smith, and again there would have been an opportunity of inquiring into the matter before sentence, and all the disastrous events which followed would have been averted. Then follows another extraordinary fact. Although no previous conviction was proved against Mr. Beck at the trial, we now know that he bore a badge with the initials, "D. W. signify- ing that he had been convicted in 1877 and in 1896. Who is responsible for this monstrous piece of Injustice P^This cannot be a blunder. I am quite at a loss to Imagine what explanation can be made with regard to it. We know that for two years Mr. Beck was compelled to bear this badge. But surely every governor, warder, gaoler, who had seen Smith during his incarceration must have known that Mr. Beck was a different person altogether (I am assuming, as I believe to be the fact, that Mr. Beck and Smith were both incar- cerated in the same fprisons or some of them). Then, in 1904, the same horror over again, a per- fectly innocent man convicted of the most despic- able offenoes. On this occasion the prosecution again indict Mr. Beck with having been previously convicted, but in 1896 only. Of course the poor man had to plead guilty to that, because he was convicted, although improperly. I have mentioned this fact, as it shows in relief the remarkable oircumstances already pointed out, that although in 1896 Mr. Beck was indicted for having been previously convictedf he was not tried for it. The conclusion anyone, layman or lawyer, must come to is that the most searching investigation is necessary. No Court of Criminal Appeal could possibly discover facts and ascertain the truth if material information be withheld. The case appears to me to strike much deeper. It strikes at the very spring of the fountain of justice, which in this country for rich and for poor alike is pure and ) uncontaminated.

Lord Londonderry, speaking on Saturday at a Primrose League demonstration in Wynyard Park, said if the dissensions over the Fiscal reform were allowed to continue in the ranks of the Unionist Party, they must look forward to the next General Election with feelings of the greatest possible apprehension. The whole sub- j ject had been rushed too suddenly on the country. Unionists should adhere to the policy put forward byTttr. alfourfat Sheffield, 4) l' :LÁ ¥

THE WAR! Ii FALLING FORTS AT PORT ARTHUR. J The Tien-tsin correspondent of the Standard" on Sunday telegraphed that he had good reason to believe, from private information, that the Japanese have effected an entrance into Port Arthur, and that the fall of the fortress is, consequently, virtually accomplished. An entrance was secured at the Itzeshan forts. In a later message the same correspondent says, con- firmatory details represent the Japanese as hav- ing reached a point one thousand two hundred yards from the New Town on the West side, and as being within a mile of the East Dock Basin. A Chi-fu despatch says on August 22 Poyodo Fort, midway between Taku-shan and the Eastern defences, was captured. The Russians lost considerably before they were compelled to retire. The Japanese have reduced another fort immediately East of the railway. A China- man who brought this information estimated the strength of the Port Arthur garrison at fifteen thousand effective men. He added that Japanese shells had fallen into the Dockyard, doing con- siderable damage to the machine shops and the men's quarters. FIERCE FIGHTING ROUND LIAO-YANG. I The fighting in the neighbourhood of Liao- yang continued on Friday of last week. Reports from General Kuropatkin and General Sakharoff as to the operations of the Thursday and Friday indicate that the Japanese were pressing heavily on the Russian southern and eastern fronts, but that their attacks were for the most part repulsed. To the eastward, however, General Sakharoff states the battle became more serious, involving a loss to the Russians of 1,500 men and six guns. RUSSIANS RETIRE FROM AN-SAN-CHAN. There was fighting throughout the whole of Friday of last week outside An-san-chan, and the Russians were driven from their first line of defences. A Liao-yang telegram of Sunday's date says that the Russians retired from An-san- chan on Saturday in good order. Preparations had been made for renewing the battle when orders were received to retreat on account of the situation on the eastern front. It is added that the Japanese are advancing with great rapidity. The "Times" special correspondent with General Kuroki, in a despatch of August 24, states that there are indications of a general Russian retire- ment. A decisive action is improbable, but the Japanese pressure should result in heavy rear- guard fighting. The Japanese troops are in eplendid health after their long rest. KUROPATKIN'S STRONG POSITIONS. I A message from Mukden says the- Russians have a semi-circle of splendid positions, extend- ing from An-san-chan to Mukden. Their force is the strongest concentrated since the beginning of the war. ANOTHER RUSSIAN GENERAL SLAIN. I Despatches from the seat of war are full of details of the sanguinary engagement of August 25, during which whole columns of Japanese are alleged to have been annihilated. They fought desperately and fanatically, and a few who, being wounded, were captured by the Russians, killed themselves, seme officers dashing out their brains against stones. The trains are filled with Russian wounded and sick, who are put helter- skelter into luxuriously fitted sanitary carriages, and when these are filled into goods waggons on bare boards, without straw or litter, and left there for days devoid of any comforts or even necessaries, soldiers with slight injuries being .side by side with the seriously wounded, and with men suffering from dysentry. Many reach the hospitals after a long journey in a horrible oondition, and the correspondents affirm that very little care and expense would save these wretched people untold sufferings. Among those killed in the last engagement are General Rutkoffsky and Colonel von Raaben, who were struck by a shell which burst overhead. JAPANESE HEROISM., I Despatches received in St. Petersburg on Monday from the seat of war in Manchuria. state that on August 27 gun-fire was heard at Liao- yang along the whole front of the operations. The Japanese were advancing from all directions, including the west, along the Liao-ho. The Chinese at Liao-yang are removing their families, owing to the expected attack. An independent account shows that during the fighting on August 25 and 26, the united forces of Generals Kuroki, and Nodzu were hurled against the entire east front of the Russians, with the object of forcing a passage to Liao- yang. The operations began at Erdakhe on August 25, one and a half Japanese divisions directing their fire oh Lian-tian-san. A strong force was despatched to carry out a turning movement on Tung-sin-pu and Takhu, for the purpose of seizing the Tu-sin-tun-Ko-fyn-tsa road. This movement was checked by Cossacks, and the Japanese force was subsequently repulsed by infantry and artillery. The Japanese again came to the attack, this time more furiously than ever, throwing them- selves on the Russian centre and left flank in an att-empt to turn the latter. This part of the fighting started at ten at night, and continued with ever-increasing masses and vigour until one in the morning. With the valour of desperation the Japanese charged the Russian positions with the bayonet, shouting "Banzai!" All their attacks were repulsed with enormous losses, especially in one part of the field, where they were completely routed, leaving heaps of dead, and abandoning rifles and- knapsacks. The Russians pursued them into the hills. The Japanese losses here amounted probably to 2,000. At four o'clock in the morning the Japanese reserves came up, executing their movements as if on parade. Their advance was covered by an inferno of artillery. Three hours previously the Russians began to retire, without calling up their reserves, and evacuated the An-ping Pass, and the Miao-lin, Sian-dia-tse, and Tso-khu, and occupied positions beyond these points. The Russian losses for the two days were about 1;500. The Japanese losses are believed to have been much heavier. The Tamboff, Orel, and Brianek regiments most distinguished them- selves. The retreat was covered by a charge of the Caucasian Brigade, whose swords scattered the Japanese, notwithstanding the great losses sustained in men and horses. Colonel Kharanoff received two wounds in the chest and two in the leg and head. Prince Bekowitch Tscherkassy, chief of a Kabardin sotnia, which was the last to leave the An-ping Pass, was also seriously wounded. On the morning of August 27. the Japanese began to bombard the new Russian positions on the east front. The Russian artillery replied, and the duel lasted all day. The losses of the Russians were small, owing to the excellent posting of their batteries, the fire of which was most effe-etive. An August 27, General Kuropatkin visited the hospital of the Community of St. George, and decorated many of the wounded. The Com- mander-in-Chief is described as being in excel- lent spirits, laughing and joking with the officer and men. "THE END VERY NEAR." I OFFICIAL STATEMENT. < In an interview with one of r,lie secretaries at the Japanese Legation in London on Tuesday, a Press representative was informed that the fall of Port Arthur would not be officially an- nounced until the town and forts were abso- lutely and entirely in the hands of the Japanese forces and fighting was at an end. Pending the accomplishment of this, the utmost secrecy would be observed as to passing events. Ques- tioned as to when this official announcement could now be expected, the secretary replied that, Russian assertions notwithstanding, the end was very near—merely a matter of days. Meanwhile, the great struggle between General Kuropatkin's forces and the three Japanese armies which are operating against him in Manchuria continues fiercely. Reports received in St. Petersburg from Lieutenant- General Sakharoff show that the Japanese con- tinued their forward movement on Monday after- noon, keeping up a heavy artillery fire for several hours, and then making infantry at- tacks, which were persisted ia on Tuesday.

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The Russians, he says, suffered considerable losses from the enemy's fire. 500,000 MEN FACE TO FACE. Telegrams from German correspondents with Kuropatkin agree that an engagement which is likely to be decisive is raging round Liau- yang. The total of the forces engaged on both sides is believed to amount to 500,000 men, and the battle is thought likely to continue for several days. The total Russian losses on Saturday and Sunday are stated in St. Peters- burg to have amounted to 3,150. A Japanese official despatch states that the Japanese losses amounted to 2,000 down to Saturday. "The Times" Tokio correspondent says it is believed that General Kuropatkin's fighting force consists of 13 divisions, marshalled on three sides of a triangle of which An-ping is the apex. The retreat of the Russians, after weak resistance, from their strongly-fortified posiition at An-san-chan is attributed to the pressure of the Ta-ku-shan column, which had gained a position threatening the Russian left rear. The French correspondents in St. Pe- tersburg believe that General Kuropatkin medi- tates the withdrawal of his main body to Khar- bin, leaving 30,000 or 40,000 men to defend Liau-yang; but doubts are expressed whether a line of retreat northward is now open to him, and it is stated by some correspondents, that only the Mongolian route is now practicable.

DEATH OF DEAN HOLE. The popular veteran of the English Church, Dean Hole, died at Rochester on Saturday morn- ing. The dean, who was 85 yearsi of age, had been in failing health for some time. He had been suffering from an affection of the heart and from dropsy, and for months he had been unable to walk. Last spring his condition was regarded as serious, but he rallied, and when Mr. Cham- berlain visited Rochester in July Dean Hole, in a bath-chair, accompanied him round the deanery garden, pointing out to the ex-Colonial Secre- tary flowers and features which he regarded as interesting. There was probably no more popular clergyman in the Church of England than the late Dean of Rochester. Archbishop Temple described him as "the. very best type of dean-a literary man, a portly man. a popular man, a good rider, an ex- cellent preacher, a born humourist, a great ad- mirer and the best judge of the sweetest flowers." "These many excellent qualities," added the late archbishop, "make one forget his views on the temperance question," for Dean Hole held that it was the abuse and not the use of alcohol which did evil. The son of the late Mr. Samuel Hole, of Caunton Manor, Notts, Dean Hole was educated at a private school at Southwell and at Newark Grammar School. He graduated at Brasenose College, Oxford, and was ordained in 1844. He was appointed curate at his native place, Caun- ton, and in 1850 he became rector and squire of the parisn. In 1885 he was appointed chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in 1887 he became Dean of Rochester. Dean Hole was an eloquent preacher and an effective speaker at public meetings. He used to say that an accident led him to discover his gifts in that respect. It was his custom to write out his sermons and to read them to his con- gregation, but while he was preaching one even- ing in a strange church he found himself com- pelled by the failure of the light to speak extem- pore. He thus found that he was gifted with a facility of expression which he had never sus- pected that he possessed. He Was a staunch Conservative, and did much to secure the return of Lord Cranborue for Rochester. When Mr. Tuff was a candidate for the constituency, & letter appeared in the Press over Dean Hole's name expressing disapproval of Mr. Tufts views on the tariff question. The letter was a forgery, and the Dean denounced it in terms which con- tributed a good deal to Mr. Tuff's return. Dean Hole was one of the best story-tellers of his time, and contributed many "good things" to the pages of "Punch." He also wrote a number of books on very varied subjects. The good dean stood over six feet three in his stockmgs. and. held himself erect to the time of his fatal illness.

"What is a counter-irritant 1" asked Mrs. Smithers. "A counter-irritant," replied Smithers, "is a woman who makes the clerk pull down everything from the shelves for two1 hours, and then buvs four cents' worth of hair-

QUITE MEDLEYAL. CITY LOOTED.—EIGHT HUNDRED WOMAN CARRIED OFF. It has, according to a Hong Kong message, transpired that, when the brigade of mutinous troops took the city of Liuchoufu about a month ago, they messacred mo-it of the officials and many of the gentry of the city. A few of the wealthiest, however, were spared in order that a ransom might be demanded from their unlucky families. After plundering and slaying for forty- eight hours, the brigands decided to abandon Liuchoufu for the hills, by invitation of the in- surgents holding those fastnesses. An idea may be formed of the amount of loot taken by these savages on their departure from the city when it is stated that they compelled no fewer than 4500 of the inhabitants to carry their plunder for them. They looted the Taotai's yamen, or official resi- dence, and took about 300,000dols. from the treasury, besides 6000 rifles and 400,000 cart- ridges from the Kwan Hai Kok, the store for arms, &c., at Liuchonfu. They then looted a pawnshop of over 300,000dol., and robbed other business places of over 600,000dol. Before leaving the place for Cheong Chow they set fire to the eity, and very few houses, if any, are now left standing. Among other barbarities, the people are said to have taken more than 800 women and girls with them to the hills. A Nankin despatch states that, owing to the receipt of instructions from Pekin, the Viceroy Wei Kwang-tao has ordered the transport of a brigade of Kiangsu foreign-modelled troops to start for Kwangsi, via the Hunan province, to assist the governor of the former province in suppressing the insurrection. It is further stated that, owing to the repeated mutiny of badly-paid troops in the Kwangsi pro- vince. the Government forces there have been re- duced by one-half.

HAIR DESTROYER JAMES' DEPILATORY instantly removes Superfluous Hairs from the Face. -11 Neck or Arms, with- out injury to the skin. Of most Chemists or free from o servation, post free, on receipt of Postal Order for do 3d. and 25. 9<i.—Mrs. C. P. JAMES, '268, -Caledonian Road, London N. COLLOTYPE OF YOUR OWR SUBJECTS. WILSON, POSTCARDS at" ABERDEEN.

I AN AUTOMATIC CLERK. By an instrument for whieh the claims are made that it will automatically record messages aDd take down letters from dictation, the occupation of many commercial clerks is threatened. The telegraphone" invites them to contemplate a lost occupation. Although the instrument looks simple and seems to work easily, the mechanism is intricate. There is a box, on the top of which are mounted two drums- These contain recording wires, and are driven by a small motor through suitable gearing and belts. The box is an electrical engineer's estab- lishment in miniature, with recording and oblite- rating magnets, switches, batteries, transmitters, and other fittings. The commercial value of the instrument will, of course, depend upon practical results, which will be far-reaching if the claims be justified. Most interesting is the claim that by its use the shorthand clerk can be dispensed with, inasmuch as letters can be dictated to the institt- ment, which will record and reproduce them.

Scene Little Willie sitting down to tea with his grandmother, who is just about to cut the cake. Willie (hastily): "Grannie, before you cut my piece of cake, I want to ask you a ques- tion?" Grannie: "Well, dear, what is it I" "I want to know if your spectacles magpifyi" "YeM, a little, dear." "Well, then, will you please take them off while you cut my cake?" A medical authority says: "If women would eat more onions they would have less calls from the doctor." Their other callers would also be somewhat fewer! The new woman will not find male attire so congenial as she thinks. Just wait till a collar- stud slides down her back at a dance, and she will be willing to return to pins and petticoats. Fergus: "Do you think there is anything in second sight?" Waldron: "You bet I do. rm one of those fools who fell in love and got married at first sight." Colonal Frederick Henry Rich, whose death at Minehead, in the eighty-first year of his age, is announc3d, was a letired officer of the Royal Artillery. He joined the regiment as second lieutenant on January 11, 1843, and was pro- moted to lieutenant on April 1, 1846. He ob- tained his captaincy on February 17, 1854, was gazetted rnajo-" on Aug ist 24, 1866, lieutenant- colonel on May 8, 1867, and colonel on February 1, 1878. A series of interesting firing trials has been undertaken by 4,he Swedish Government. The target used was a prepared one of mill-board, against which fire from revolvers, rifles, car- bines, and machine guns was directed. The pasteboard, whioh was three-inch thicic, re- sisted completely the bullets fired from the small arms, but was perforated by the projec- tiles from the machine guns. Bullets from the carbines used are able to peiiertate wooded planks five inches in thickness. The loss of Sir Henry Stephenson, who has just died in his 79th year, has caused much sorrow throughoit the city of steel. He was one of the best type of men, says the "Sheffield Telegraph," that Sheffield ever produced. He seemed in a peculiar sense to belong to Sheffield. He was born in her, commenced fife in one elf her works at the age of 14, became her chief magistrate, and devoted the closing yesrs of hia -long life to her advancement.

IMPORTANCE OF PROPER FOOD. The rising, and not a few of the risen genera- tion have much to be thankful for in the prac- tical attention which has been given to the rear- ing of Infants, and particularly to their nourish. ment during the last third of a century. It is just thirty-six years since Mellin, of Infant Food celebrity started his life-saving industry, and it is not too much to say that through its agency the rearing of infants has been simpli- fied, their mortality lessened, and their develop- ment in physical and intellectual vigour im- proved to a marked extent during this period. This "Food," from more than one centre of manufacture, has" spread itself throughout the civilised world, and imitations of it more or less crude, and under different names, have lent their testimony to its value and its fame. Mel- lin's Food ia the standard adjunct, unimprov- able, and without a rival, which rwnders the milk of domesticated animals suitable for nourishing human offspring. It is an interesting and instructive study to examine the vast collection of baby and other portraits, and the descriptive matter which ac- companies them, now in possession of the Company in London. Babies, children, and adolescents of both sexes seem to cover every variety of civilised humanity and the burden of their song is Mellin's Food; the foundling deposited on a door-step a few hours after birth; the skin and skefeton starveling of a slum; the mite of premature birth, too feeble to draw the maternal sustenance; the little one who draws in vain from the enfeebled mother; the inheritor of disease; in a word, the child of every condition and every degree, to whom nature has denied her promised aliment; all transformed into ruddy, robust, muscular lumps of laughing humanity. Then there are the young people of another order, who, having graduated, so to speak, at the maternal breast, have by "qualifying" on Mellin's Food, steered safely through all the periods of childhood, and are entering their period of adolescence, mens sana in corpore sano. Of such as these should a nation be made. There is another class of cases which cannot be represented by portraiture. They are not those of children, but of grown and aged people; who, stricken in health have well nigh suc- cumbed in the battle of life. From their doors the Dark Angel has been warned off by Mellin's Food, and the milk of babes has proved better than a banquet.