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

————————— NEWS .notes; — Our Royal visitors have so far had quite a good time. The weather has been mainly auspicious, and everywhere the welcome ex- tended to the Portuguese King and Queen has been enthusiastic. This was particularly the case in the streets of London and at Windsor, and the passing of the august pair to Chats- worth, and thence to Welbeck and Wood Norton for the delights of English country house entertainment was rather regretted in the capital, v. here cheery King Carlos and his beautiful Consort quickly became the favourites of all classes by the simple process of making themselves at home." There is talk of the coming of the young Spanish Sovereign to these isles next summer. We are pleased to hear it. The more foreign potentates, great and small, get about amongst each other, the better for the prospects of peace. That way understanding lies, and with understanding comes amity. The Hull inquiry into the North Sea affair has ended, as far as evidence-taking goes, and the British case will in due course be presented before the International Commission, when-we feel sure—justice will follow. It is imprudent to prejudge the issue, but the spirit which recognises fallibility of judgment to be possible without malice aforethought will guide the pro- ceedings in Paris, the expectation of the out- come being that error and consequent mishap will be made up for as far as possible. It would be lamentable indeed were the injured insistent in such crises as this on hot-blooded retaliation, which invariably increases the evil from which it arises. It is strange that whilst we have been stirred greatly by accident arising from pro- miscuous shooting by warships belonging to another nation, a mishap-happily of minor import-should have occurred from the gun fire of a British man-of-war. The sufferer was one of our own mercantile marine, and the locale the Firth of Forth. Fog was prevalent at the time, but why practice shooting when targets cannot be seen. Submarines will doubtless play a considerable part in connection with the navies of the future. It is notable that B1 submarine has been undergoing a series of interesting deep-water experiments at Barrow, which have been attended with the greatest success. She stayed down in one instance three hours, and after proving her powers of propulsion above the surface went under water and came up two miles away from the tug-boat in attendance. The success of these experiments very much pleased the Admiralty representatives who were present, and it is expected that orders will forthwith be given out for additional vessels of this type. Submarine terrors such as here exploited should go to the making of fighting on the sea too dreadful a thing to contemplate. Competition and the expiry of patents is putting down the price of cycles very materially, and thereby the riding public will be benefited to an appreciable extent, though makers and middlemen will have to relinquish profit accord- ingly. The question is will the machine output increase to give the trade a net equivalent ? There are some who think there are enough wheels on our roadways already. The increased cost of sugar is a serious matter to many consumers and many of thoso concerned in manufactures where sweetness is a main point. An enhancement in price of about a fifth in a few months in connection with such an essential as sugar requires more explanation than can be supplied by any partial failure in beet or other crops. Forward gamb- ling in food stuffs, such as seems to have been the main factor in this lamentable happening, is very reprehensible, and something should be done by communities to stop the cornerers." Everyone will be glad to know that, after her long and critical illness, Lady Curzon has been able to move from Walmer to Highcliffe, in the southern pine district, where we hope that her ladyship's progress towards complete restora- tion yvifi be uninterrupted. Lord Curzon goes out to resume his onerous viceregal duties, reassured by the opinions of the medical attendants of his good lady. The family has had a very anxious time, and feel particularly grateful for the widespread expressions oi sympathy which have reached them. There is likelihood of the King taking a Mediterranean cruise shortly, which reminds us that His Majesty visited Gibraltar in March of last year he graciously allowed certain in- teresting new building then in course of con- struction to be called King Edward VII. Soldiers' and Sai'lors' Institute," and presented a portrait of himself with his signa- turej and subsequently the King gave a donation of P,25 towards the building fund. The new Institute was opened in November, 1903, and provides sleeping accom- modation for 100 sailors. The beds are fre- quently all occupied. Upwards of £ 12,000 has been spent on the site, the construction, and the furnishing of the Institute, of which sumf £ 2000 is still needed to pay off all debt, for which the Committee appeal on behalf of the men of the sister Services. The appeal should not be per- mitted to pass unheeded. It is definitely announced from private sources of information in New York that Mr. Whitelaw Reid will succeed Mr. Choate as United States Ambassador to England. The appointment is part of a general change which will affect all the diplomatic representatives of the United States abroad. Mr. Reid was Mr. Hay's chief when both were in the service of the 11 Tribune," now Mr. Hav becomes his old friend's chief in the Diplomatic Service. Mr. Whitelaw Reid, editor of the New York Tribune," was born in 1837. He served in the Civil War as aide- de-camp to Generals Morris and Rosecrans. In 1877 he was offered the appointment of United States Minister in Berlin, but declined the post. In 1892 he was the Republican candidate for the office of Vice-President ot the United States. He was the Special Ambassador to Great Britain on the occasion of Queen Vic- toria's Jubilee in 1897, and, in the following year, he served on the Peace Commission in Paris. In 1902 Mr. Whitelaw Reid came to England as Special Ambassador at the King's Coronation.

The Norwegian corps of skaters is a body of soldiers armed with rifles, who can be manoeuvred upon ice or on skis over the snow- fields of the mountains with a rapidity equal to that of the best-trained cavalry. No fewer than 35,262 cases were notified to the police last year, and in less than half was any trace of the missing persons discovered. In other words, something like fifty Londoners disappear every day of the year, so completely that nothing more is ever heard of them. The Rev. Mark Guy Pearse preached his first sermon when he was a boy at Wesley College, Sheffield. Hp borrowed a clerical-looking coat on the occasion from a schoolfellow, and he re- collects the fact that two old ladies gave him a couple, of slices of Yorkshire pudding as a reward for making the sermon very short-

THIN YOUNG MEN I WHO LACK VITALITY NEED T)K. WILLIAMS' PINK J PILLS FOB PALE PEOPLE. J Always eating, but never growing fatter on it,' is the story of many young men between sixteen and twenty-six. Painfully thin, lantern-jawed, pale, and dark eyed, during their years of develop- ment, young men lack vitality and are ill-fitted to resist colds and chills, let alone more serious ailments. Mr. Battle, an intelligent man of twenty, speaks from experience of the difficulties arising at this age. My work as a newspaper compositor demands a quick eye and hand and an alert brain," said he. When I began this work I was still grow- ing fast. I was far from strong in constitution, and soon broke down under the strain. "I began by feeling out of sorts, and fit for nothing—without energy to start any occupation or recreation. I was evidently outgrowing my strength. By degrees I became very weak and sickly. I slept heavily and arose tired. I always felt exhausted, at work or at home. I did not make flesh, and friends used to say How thin you are l' I fell into such a low state that I needed something more than ordinary tonics to build up my Mr. Battle, a Compositort outgrew his strength. Dr. Williams'Pink Pills made a new man of him. strength and stay the awful wasting away. Luckily for me, I found the right medicine in Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. Their good effect was soon noticeable the second box set me up wonder- fully, and by the time I had finished it I was com- pletely restored. I felt well, and could eat well: and my food satisfied me. The weariness had vanished; I was fit for work or play, and in as good health as I could wish." Mrs. Battle, who was present at the interview at < 18, Jackson-street, Birkenhead, added that before her son took Dr. Williams' Pink Pills he seemed to lose all interest in life. He was bent and stooped," she added, until he took these pills. I knew they would do him good, for they had cured my daughter of Anaemia. Now both are strong and well." Dr. Williams' Pink Pills make men bright for business. They have cured the most serious forms of nervous disorders, including Paralysis and Locomotor Ataxy, while thousands have testified to their value in St. Vitus' Dance, Sciatica, Rheumatism, Anasmia, Indigestion, loss of Appetite, general muscular weakness, and the ailments of women. Not a purgative, but a true tonic. Obtainable of all medicine dealers, also from Dr. Williams' Medicine Co., Holborn-viaduct, London, on receipt of 2s. 9d. for one box, or for six boxes 13s. 9d. post free.

A BISHOPS EN GAGEMENTS. Dr. Knox the other day had all the secretaries ) of his diocesan agencies up at Bishopscourt, and there he filled his diary right up to the end of 1905 with preaching and other engagements. With the exception of a short holiday out of the diocese he is to preach once or twice every Sun- day throughout next year, and already not a week is free from three or four speaking and preach- ing engagements on week nights. The Bishop states that he has received invitations to preach next year in 187 churches; which represents be- tween three and four sermons every week of the fifty-two, without counting speeches, ordinations, confirmations, and the like. Dr. Knox is get- ting known among the Lancashire clergy as a "regular glultton for work."

SECRET OF COUGH-OURING. Hundreds and thousands of lives have been lost annually in Great Britain by coughs, colds and lung diseases. Cough cures abound by hundreds, but are more or less ineffective in dealing with a dangerous cough, for the reason that they are all prepared to relieve by the opiates they contain; the cough is thus smothered, not cured, and serious lung diseases are allowed to develop. This was true until VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE was introduced. A more brilliant example of genuine evolution never before occurred in medicine. Every day nature and science reveals new secrets- VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE is one of them. Its success lies in the fact tkat it cures naturally by removing the causes which produce chronio coughs, difficult breathing, bronchitis, asthma, catarrh and children's coughs without the slightest injury. Ask for VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE, 9!d., la, I-zld. and 2s. 9d., at chemists every- where.

¡ THE" PHANTOM MONK." It may not be generally known that a phantom monk is said to be constantly seen in the Abbey Church and Enclosure at Llanthony. He walks at frequent but irregular intervals among his Bene- dictine brethren. Says the biographer (Father Ignatius): He has been seen by many, both at nightfall and in broad daylight, but up to the present hour the purport of his wanderings remain a mystery. At times be is seen carrying a covered lamp of old-world fashion, but as a rule his hands are folded away under his scapular and his hood drawn closely over his bowed head. Those who have had a glimpse of his face describe it as pale and handsome, its expres- sion denoting deep but gentle melancholy." The first time the apparition was seen was when the community was at Laleham, before its removal to Llanthony. The late Dr. Lee, of All Saints', Lambeth, was at the moment administering Holy Communion to the Superior and one other monk, and when he approached what he thought was a third brother, the spectre suddenly drew hi hood over his head and hurried away."

BLOOD AND SKIN DISEASES. BLOOD IS LIFE, LET IT BE PURE. Blotches, pimples on the face and body, scrofula, sores, itching and redness of the skin, tetter and eczema are symptoms which indicate impure blood and skin diseases. If your blood is pure your skin will be clear and healthy looking the direct cause of skin eruption is found in the blood. Purify the blood and you purify and clear the skin. The purifying and healing properties of VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC do this admirably. Treatment for a week or two will be so convincing as to place a cure even in the worst cases beyond doubt. The old way was to take sulphur, sarsaparilla, etc., the new way is to take seaweed, which is infinitely superior. VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC not only purifies but enriches the blood. It acts constitu- tionally by strengthening the digestion and increas- ing assimilation and nutrition. Ask for VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC. Price Is. lfd. and 2s. 9d., at chemists everywhere.

BLIND WOMAN IN A FIRE. I Exciting scenes were witnessed at a fire in Lon- don on Saturday. A room in Bath-terrace, Union- road, Southwark, where one outbreak occurred, was occupied by an aged blind woman named Jackson. Neighbours, knowing of her infirmity, dashed through the flames and brought the poor creature safely into the street. Her injuries were very slight. The fire was caused by the woman, who was alone, accidentally upsetting an oil- stove.

POST-MOETBM PUNISHMENT.—Many years ago, a squire in a southern county of England had a bailiff whom he discovered to have in- dulged in all kinds of malpractices. The man bad robbed a generous master right and left, and was, of course, dismissed from service. The old squire, when parting with him, said, "I will not prosecute you, because of your wife and chil- dren, but after your death your name shall suffer severely." The man subsequently died, and his former master erected a handsome tombstone to his memory, with this epitaph: "In memory of John Smith, ■who was- The result, of course, is that everyone who visits the church- yard, where the stone still stands, asks, "What was John Smith?" and the story of his sin thus travels far and St. James's Gazette.

THE WAR! MORE PORT ARTHUR FORTS BLOWN UP. I -I- 1-1 Port Arthur was continuously Domoaruea on three days last week, and the Japanese succeeded in blowing up the outer defences of Erh-lung-shan and Sung-shu-shan forts. A message received at the Japanese Legation states that the attacks on the forts are progressing as planned. FIGHTING ON THE SHA-HO. I Telegrams have been received in St. Petersburg announcing that general fighting has again begun on the Sha-ho. The noise of a terrific cannonade has been plainly discernible in Mukden, and it is believed that a battle of some importance has com- menced. The Mukden correspondent of the Bir- zheviya Viedmosti" telegraphs under Saturday's date. t The cannonade has developed into one of ex- traordinary magnitude. The batteries are firing 8ftlv06S( A telegram to the Matin" from St. Peters- The resumption of hostilities is announced. General Kuroki's army is making a great effort on the Russian left wing with a, view to turning it. This effort is the more serious in that the Japanese have been able to deplete their left wing, having no longer any need to guard the Sha-ho river route, which is frozen over. BOMBS THAT SMELL. The Russian Consul at Chifu has received from Port Authur a letter describing the use by the Japanese of a peculiar missile. It looks like along sausage, which the Japanese throw into the trenches. It then bursts, giving forth an odour which is so foul that the soldiers faint if it is not thrown out immediately. The gas which it disse- minates is not fatal in its effects. RUSSIA'S SPY-SHIP. The latest North German-Lloyd vessel, the Lahn, has been purchased by a Russian agent for the Russian war fleet. The price was one million marks ( £ 50,000). She has be-n trans- formed at Bremerhaven into spy ship. The foremast will be raised fitted with a wireless telegraphy .,e. The main- mast is to be removed, <tnd the whole lower deck altered for the storage and letting off of captive balloons. The vessel has five captive balloons, besides a quantity of machines for the generation of gas, and three powerful search- lights. In Libau this remarkable vessel, which must be the first of its kind, it being provided with all necessary equipment. JAPANESE PREPARING FOR GREAT ATTACK IN FORCE ON PORT ARTHUR. A Japanese official from Dalny denies posi- tively that the general attack en Port Arthur has been resumed. It is expected that the next at- tack will be, a tremendous affair. The Japanese are constructing forts at Pigeon Bay, which indi- cates that they expect some day to be defending Port Arthur themselves. BLOCKADE RUNNING. CAPTURE OF A GERMAN STEAMER. The Japanese Navy Department reports the capture of a German steamer, the Batelan, while attempting to run the blockade of Port Arthur. At three o'clock on the morning of November 19 a Japanese squadron was cruis- ing off Yen-tao, when it sighted the vessel. The gunboat Tatsuma gave chase and overtook the steamer at five o'clock. She had on board a great quantity of winter clothing, blankets, medicines, and corned beef. The Batelan was brought to Sasebo. EXTENDING POSITIONS BEFORE MUKDEN. A Mukden telegram of Sunday's date says:- "After the failure of their attempt to occupy Putiloff Hill the Japanese withdrew to Sher- shaksi. They are entrenching along their entire line. It is reported that the enemy are extend- ing their positions on the left, although their line is not very close, while on the right they are con- centrating at Pen-si-hu." RUSSIAN HEROISM. General Kuropatkin reports that on the night of the 16th inst. a detachment of riflemen under Lieutenant Vadetzsky volunteered to make a re- connaissance on the Russians left. They dis- covered' a Chinese fanza occupied by a Japanese detachment of twenty-five cavalry and infantry. The Russian lieutenant asked for volunteers to blow up the place, and four riflemen came for- ward. Having been provided with hand gren- ades loaded with pyrosiline, they set out. They succeeded in evading the chain of hidden sen- tries and, lighting the fuses of the grenades, re- tired without being detected. In a few minutes an explosion occurred', completely wrecking the fanza,, and so violent that great alarm was caused in the Japanese camp, the enemy opening fire all along the line. A company of Japanese who arrived on the scene shortly after could only search the ruins to extricate the dead and wounded. LONELY TREE HILL. Putiloff Hill, which, as Lonely Tree Hill, figured so prominently in the battle of Sha-ho, its now the centre of interest in the Manchurian campaign. The heavy cannonade of Saturday appears to have been caused by a Japanese night attack, unauthorised by headquarters, upon this position. Although it is' not known how strong the attacking force was, three or four battalions are said to have been engaged. The Japanese failed to surprise the defenders, and, although they got within fifty yards of the Russian trenches, the fire became too deadly for them. They were, therefore, forced to retire, carrying over two hundred wounded with them, and leav- ing eighty dead before the trenches. The Rus- sians lost only half a dozen men. The engage- ment is considered the most important that has been fought in Manchuria since the battle of the Sha-ho. GUN-RUNNING. The following from St. Petersburg appears in the "Petit Journal" :A.drniral Birileff, Mari- time Prefect of Kronstadt, has informed a com- pany of intimate friends that Port Arthur had been able to partly renew it's artillery by means of two ships from Vladivostok, each bearing forty big guns, ammunition, provisions, and 500 garri- son artillerymen. Only one of these vessels reached Port Arthur, the other, notwithstanding the pursuit of the Japanese ships, regaining Vladivostock. Both ships were English ones captured at the outset of the war and regarded as lawful prizes." DEATHS FROM DYSENTERY. A lifeboat reached Wei-Hai-Wei on the 22nd inst. from Port Arthur and landed an officer who, it is believed, has brought despatches for the Czar. A Chinese spy, who lately returned to the Japanese lines from Port Arthur, states that from 50 to 70 deaths occur daily, mostly from dysentery. Information has been received in St. Petersburg to the effect that a fierce cannonade from the Japanese 11-inch guns caused much, damage to No. 2 Fort. The besiegers stormed Kuropatkin Fort, and hoisted the Japanese flag, but were afterwards driven out by the Russian sharpshooters, who inflicted serious loss. MEDIATION RUMOURS. A rumour is persistently current in St. Peters- burg that the London and Paris Cabinets are making every effort to put an end to the war. At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs the officials decline to say anything, but do not say that they do not know anything. The sudden return of M. Bompard, the French Ambassador, is much commented on. It is supposed that a scheme for mediation is the cause of it. M. Bompard will, lit is said, leave again in a short time for France.

The American Ambassador at Vienna has noti- fied the Washington Government that the Austro-Hungarian Cabinet has declared its wil- lingness to take part f.n the second Peace Con- ference at The Haguê., The hop3s of a reconciliation between the new King of Saxony and his erring wife are almost at an end. It is reported, says "Vanity Fair," that the late King, upon his death-bed, extracted a solemn promise from his son never to forgive Princess Louise.

-0.      stoclzing or *^1? 1 r CAN EASILY GET THESL } I ^7^.C,V-5PA-. \Ifyour3w°n%TBYKEXTSHOP.J Jls if A '"1e | | DEr-n 7 I Is on the y H I lw PW CA|E | Yon will SAVE MONEY B if i | AND FFET A GAOD SMOKE. |.I ——— ^x VIIA v Jf unable to procure, write to the makers./ m' LF-s:, 'rr:An f(. D'Ðr1'Œ sqtr=- T ¡>1, Db;:t;¡.¡¡,¡:í;

OUR ROYAL VISITORS. .p VISIT TO CHATSWORTII. The King of Portugal had further enjoyable shooting in Windsor Great Park on Saturday- King Edward, Queen Alexandra, and the Queen of Portugal, with other members of the Royal family, joined the party at luncheon, the two Queens sub- sequently going shopping in Windsor. In the evening Mr. Lewis Waller and his company gave a performance in the Waterloo Chamber. On Sunday King Carlos and Queen Amelie attended Mass at St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church, Windsor. On Monday their Majesties proceeded to Chatsworth, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. A SNOWY JOURNEY. King Carlos and Queen Amelie became on Monday the guests of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth. The country around the "Palace of the Peak" was thinly carpeted with snow on Monday morning, and in the afternoo», when the Royalties arrived', snow was falling heavily. At Rowsley station the Duke of Devonshire awaited his Royal guests on a decorated platform. The colours of the flags .and banners were blotted out by the snow; the red carpet was at its edge a cloth r dazzling white. Huddling for shelter against the pitiless storm, a small crowd cheered as King Carlos stepped out of the Royal saloon with Queen Amelie, and shook hands warmly with the Duke. His Majesty inspected the informal and snow- cover-ad guard, of honour with a smile, and shook the flakes from his own coat as he stepped into the carriage after this observance of etiquette. There were at least two inches of snow on the ground by the time the hospitable doors of the mansion were thrown wide open to the King and Queen. The house-party assembled to meet the Royal visitors included the Earl and Countess of Crewe and Lord Dalmeny. Nothing of a public character transpired after the gates of the Palace of the Peak closed behind the dis- tinguished guests. A big shooting programme was arranged by the Duke for his Royal guest, and the Chats- worth coverts are this season exceptionally well stocked. Golf was included in the programme of pastimes. I THE ROYAL PARTY SNOWED UP. The King and Queen of Portugal looked out on a wintry scene on Tuesday morning, for Chatsworth Park and the hills stretching for miles beyond were covered with a white mantle. Snow lay to an average depth of about a foot, broken here and there into drifts by the bois- terous wind that had raged during the night. The spectacle was grand, but it meant the enforced abandonment of the day's shooting programme. At ten o'clock in the morning snow was still falling, and' a bitter east wind drove the fialces with a force that would have proved disastrous to the accuracy of the surest shot. In the neighbourhood of the coverts, too, there were great drifts many feet deep. Towards noon the sun made its appearance, and for a couple of hours the weather was pleasant. After luncheon the King of Portugal, with Lady Moyra Cavendish, the Ladies Acheson, the Earl of Mar and Kellie Lord Charles Montagu, and a few other of the guests at Chatsworth L, walked into the park, followed by attendants carrying hockey sticks, but the depth of the snow was too great; for the comfort of the party, and the game had to be abandoned. Golf and motoring, of course, were equally out of the question.

THE KING AT CHICHESTER. I VISIT TO MR. AND MRS. "WILLIE JAMES. King Edward, who left Windsor for Paddington with Queen Alexandra ata quarter to twelve on Mon- day morning, just after their Majesties had seen their Royal guests off to Derbyshire, left London in the afternoon on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Willie James at West Dean-park, Chichester. His Majesty, who was attended by Colonel David- son, the Hon. J. Ward, and the Hon. Sidney Greville, arrived at Chichester at 4.39, and drove thence to West Dean-park, where he will remain till Saturday. The journey there was made on the Brighton line, and Mr. Forbes, the general manager of the company, travelled personally in charge of the special train. Among the other guests of Mr. and Mrs. James who went down by the Royal train were Mr. and Mrs. A. Sassoon, Mr. and Mrs. George Keppel, Mr. W. Grenfell, Lady Lilian Wemyss, Lord and Lady Cadogan, Lord Hawke, and Lord and Lady Savile, Mr. Willie James was in waiting to meet hia Majesty with a motor car. and to avoid the descent of a rather steep flight of steps leading from the platform the car was taken to the platform level by a circuitous route through the goods yard. The public were rigorously excluded from the platform, and very few people were near the station approaches. The King motored to West Dean, the avenue from the lodge gate to the man- sion being lined by torch-bearers. A programme Z, of three days' shooting and a day's motoring excur- sions was arranged for his Majesty's entertain- ment.

THE ROYAL SOCIETY. A donor, who desires to remain anonymous, has placed a sum of £ 1000 in the hands of the treasurer of the Royal Society, to be devoted to the advancement of science. By his wish £ 500 of this gift is to be placed to the credit of the Cata- logue of Scientific Papers Account" of the Royal Society, and the remainder to the credit of the National Physical Laboratory Account of that body, with the request that the executive com- mittee of the laboratory will accede to any personal wish of the director as to its expendi- ture. I

John T. Sandford, Sir Ernest Caasel's chauf- feur, was fined £ 10 at Welwyn on Monday for furiously driving a motor-car. He crashed into a cart, seriously injuring the driver. Sandford disappeared after the accident, leaving the motor- car in the middle of the road until it was re- moved by the police. "A double event, eh?" said the magistrate's clerk at Blackpool to John Butterworth, who asked for a vaccination exemption certificate for his twins. "Jane was born before Agnes, but on the same day," replied the man. "Two a dav. How many is tha!t in a year?" asked the chair- man. "Don't know," replied the father, "but I should like them every day in the year." He got his certificate.

IN PERIL OF MURDER. Letters received in Brussels from the Upper Congo state than an English missionary and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, have narrowly escaped being murdered. The British missionaries at Baringa on the Abir concession have been de- nouncing the method of treatment of the natives of that district by the soldiers, or rubber sentries of the company, with the connivance or deliberate incitement of tho company's agents. The investi- gations of Judge Bosco, whose reports the authorities of the Congo State at Brussels have suppressed, bear out the allegations of Mr. Harris and his colleagues, but the action of the British missionaries earned for them the resent- ment of the company's agents, and latterly they appealed to the British Consul at Boma for pro- tection. The crisis was reached when the,order for the arrest of M. Van Calken, the principal representative of the Abir Company at Baringa, was received. As soon (writes a correspondent on the spot) as he knew, he declared before the State officers, including Judge Boseo, that he would murder both Mr. and Mrs. Harris before he went down the river. It was arranged that he should be taken away in two or three days, but he said again and again that he would kill the missionaries. Yet he was still allowed to go about, and had been seen on the beach quite near to the steamer. A protest was lodged, and Van Calken was arrested and disarmed. A moment or two latter two shots were heard, evidently rifle shots. An officerhastened to the spot as quickly as possible, and found the man supposed to be disarmed in possession of a rifle, which he had just fired in the direction of the mission station, having first walked up as close as he could to it without being seen by hia I gunrd." This brought matters to a crisis, and he was then closely watched until removed." Van Calken j. now at Boma awaiting trial. -—————————————————.

^A*MES*|DEPILA.TOKy-'insl^tttly tsniwflaoiis iibirsf fro-.a the Fsc^N'ecto or Arma, wftfr eat fepsa-y to mn, Of most Owrircdto nr Am tor-ration, CWSST SSKMS. out rcwiix of Paatajferdcr fur n. .ad S. vA—Ms*. C. P. C-tferfMisa RW4 JLoudwa W COLLOTYPS OF Y0S?tOW|S08JECTS, PiSlHigS iff^ iff, s n SOAP, fos Sill&'Wi SKiSS. Premier, 4d. CREAftl. Fos iTCHiHC, FACE SPOTS, ECZEMA, &C. 1/1 J. POWDER. FOS RE3HESS, BOUGlfHESS, TOiUET, &C. 1/ u_- .IiQAID —

PHIV AT ifiEIl OR CRUISER. Recent cases in tho Courts have shown that British seamen are not prepared deliberately to ignore the King's proclamation as to carrying contraband. Legal light has just been thrown upon an enterprise which might have had Captain .Kettle at the head of it. Mar>y readers may re- collect the case of the Shenandoah. She left London as the Sea King, but on reaching Madeira, was boarded by Confederate officers, and equipped as a Confederate cruiser under the name by which she became famous. She came back to England at the close of the war and anchored in the Mersey. Every man Jack had deserted But the case had to come to trial, and the owner was charged with engaging 45 of the Queen's subjects to serve iu arms against a foreign power not at war with England. The action caused great excitement, but as the war was over, nobody was desperately sorry that the defendant was acquitted. -I

Mr. C. Tacon has been the chief magistrate of Eye for the past nine years uninterruptedly,, and the whole town is so well pleased with his long tenure of office that the Corporation has asked him to extend it and make a "tenner" of it. Mr. Edward Terry, who is sailing early in December for America to make his first appear- ance in the United States, will be entertained at a farewell dinner to be given in his honour at the Savoy Hotel on Sunday evening, December 4, under the presidency of the Duke of Aber- corn, K.G. As the Kaiser Wilhelm II. was on the voyage, from New York to Bremen a first-class pas- senger, giving the name of Albert Lewis, jumped overboard, depressed in consequence of ill- health. He directed that his belongings should benefit a fund for the orphans of seamen.

-I' "NO BETTER FOOD." 9 Dr. Andrea Wilson, F.R.S.E., & O. r <tl. Cr" o 300 COLD MEDALS. &c.

LEATHER TIES ANON. Leather neckties, now being worn bv Parisian dandies, have not yet reached England. Suede ties have, however," said a London hosier to a Press representative '• been sold for some time. They are cut the shape of an ordinary four-in-hand sailor's knot, and tie up very neatly. Of course, it is not quite advisable to wear a pin with them, as they shoiv the pin holes. They are made in every possible colour, and are nice and soft. People in search of novelties fancy them; but as they cost 5s. 6d. each, their use is not likely to be general. A fair number, however, have been sold already. The skins come from France, but are manufactured into ties in England.

to- "IT WAS VERY VEXING" BUT IF ONE OF KEATING S LOZENGES had been used it would have stopped the cough in a minute and a good night's rest at once obtained. KEATING'S LOZENGES are simply unrivalled, and the most delicate can take, them. Sold by all chemists, a tin for 131d.