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

Dr. Charcot, the French Antarctic explorer, has arrived at Buenos Ayres in the steamer Le Francais from the South Pola.r regions. A French, partridge ran into the entrance hall of Ab'botsford, a Hastings boarding-house. The bird, which was captured, had evidently flown across the English Channel. j The annual cost of an infantry soldier at i home is £ 40 3s., for pay, clothing, arms, and J accoutrements, and £ 28 for barracks, rations? j and medical attendance.

I OUR SHORT STORY. I FATHER JEAN'S SECRET. "Look, look, Reu, isn't tha;t just too lovely for words," cried Alcie, the bride-wife of a week, darting from the door of the sacristan's little cottage parlour, which seemed all "view" and images of florid saints, to the quaint case- ment that revealed as beauteous a scene as even the South of France unfolds for the traveller. Reuben Humphrey's, the painter, followed his wife to the window. Yes, I'll get all I n>8Jeœ for my work here he declared delightedly, for his desire was to make the journey south serve the twofold purpose of honeymoon and, business, and he rejoiced in the prospect of finding that peculiar local colourin- lie required for the furtherance of the great French picture he had in hand. "Grand outlook, and no mistake," said Humphreys in the sluggish schoolboy French learned thirteen years ago. "Wouldn't mind living here, monsieur—er "Jean, always Jean," supplemented the sacristan, with a respectful side glance at the golden-haired fairy at the big Englishman's el'bow. Among the good Fathers of St. Josephs—the ancient church on the hill top— the old man laboured as Brother Jean, and was glad to eke out a meagre wage by Letting a. part of his weather-beaten cottage to any traveller or artist who came his way. Jean Nieux appeared to be not only the most complaisant of landlords, but an excellent cook, and. the young couple anticipated a splendid time m the sunny South. The greater the P. ]'' therefore, that Alcie's felicity was damped right at the start by the discovery of a barred door. She had gone with the" sacristan to explore the premises, and- at the end of their little tour had reached an off roonf^ which Jean tionld haVe ha'St'ily Passed without any explana- But what room is this? Stop, stop, Jean, you haven't told me about this place," cried the fair guest, halting at the low door. "But no! It is not worth the attention of madam e," nervously protested the old man: "it is only lumber therein." "Lumber! Why, that's just, what I love. Now don't look the other way, Jean. Let me have a wee peep. Please! coaxed the gtÎrl, rattling the big brass handle. "Some time later it may be, but we will go below now, if madame will follow me," depre- cated Jean, heading for the stairs. Alcie went after him, but very reluctantly, and then a.nd there that mysterious barred door became invested with the fascination of a Blue Beard chamber. Humphreys and his wife- passed an enchant- ing fortnight in the .shadow of the hills then Alcie experienced a second check, with the result that the memory of the barred door was temporarily effaced. It happened that she came home alone one afternoon, a victim, of a stinging headache. Alcie intended to rest in her own room for a few hours, but was greatly dismayed, on entering the house, to find the blinds all lowered, doors and windows closed, and Jean—his jaws bound by a scarlet handkerchief—in the throes of a violent tooth- ache, and in such a mood that a surly grunt was the only answer Alcie got to her pitying word. j. ° Then later, at the tea table, Nieux was quite his genial self again, so she good-naturedly refrained from mentioning the matter to her husband. _The same thing occurred twice, how- ever, within the next few days, and then Alcie diffidently asked Humphreys. whether he had noticed the alarming change in their landlord's manner. "Alarming change? Nonsense!" exclaimed the painter, filling the parlour with his lusty laugh; "the poor beggar's mad with the jaw- ache, and you expect him to wait on you hand and' foot as he does at other times. Give Frenchy a chance, Al," deprecated Humphreys. A-loie said no more, but she refused to accept a. fit of toothache as a reasonable explanation for the strange conduct of the sacristan, for the thundery looks and the rude treatment dealt out to her at these times, if she proffered a word of pity or inquiry. In the course of her silent rumination on the subject she remembered having heard that the old man was very ill in the past winter, and Alcie charitably concluded that these attacks were the re.sult of his malady. Yet it was a- glorious holiday, and! the young people realised with regret that three weeks of their month had sped. At the beginning of the last week Humphreys went off to "do" Marseilles, making this jaunt alone, as Alcie preferred the fresh air of the heights to the glare of the sun-baked city. She was sitting in the parlour beguiling her z7' evening solitude with a dreamy review of the countless virtues of her lover husband, when Nieux appeared at the door. "I now go to Babette for some milk," he intimated, "if madame has no need of me." "Thanks, no, Jean," answered Alcie, smiling, for Nieux was entirely his pleasing self again "but I am desperately tired, after my day out, and I mean to go to bed almost imme- diately. Good-night, Jean." "Good-night, madame." Alcie, however, continued her fond dreamangs at the window, nor did she move until she hoard a slight noise behind her. Ere she could turn to ascertain the cause, a hand gripped her by the throat, and a. savage voice hissed threats into her affrighted ears. "I have thee at last, then, little heretic," it said. "I hate thee, oh, how I hate thee Alcie, who knew at once that she lay at the mercy of a demented being, fought madly to free her throat from that vicious clutch. "Jean Jean came in a choked stream from her lips "let me go, let me go He laughed exultantly. "Let thee go now that I have thee! nay. Long hast thou tormented me, but my turn is come. This shall end it!" Alcie's terrified glance caught the glint of a knife, and with a last-a superhuman effort- she liberated herself, and sprang toward the door, crying piteously for help from this terrible creature in whom no vestige remained of kindly old Jean. Ere she could gain the outer passage, his. hand was upon her—there was a flash of steel, and she dropped heavily at his feet. He laughed as he stood for a moment looking down on his victim, then he thrust the knife up his sleeve and was swinging off when Hum- phrey's incisive whistle floated in at the window. With an evil mutter, the miscreat dragged the inert form under the table, pulling the cloth well forward to hide it from view, and was making a hasty escape when the painter opened the door. "Ah, Jean, all in the daik, are you?" was his buoyant greeting, as he petered at the figure lurking within the dim room. "Don't go away, old chap, I want to tell you what a splendid time I've had in Marseilles." As Humphreys made a light, the door again opened, and there entered a man the sight of whom so .staggered the painter that he could but stare in dumb amazement from the figure hover- ing, milk jug in hand, at the door, to the other, who stood sullenly hugging the window frame, for in both men he saw, faithfully duplicated, the robust nose and jaw, the gaunt limbs, the fringe of grey hair, and the small, alert brown eye familiar to him as the fingers on his hand. "What does this mMn 1" he gasped at length. "Are there two of you? You are Jean," he con- tinued. turning to the last comer; "who, then, did I find in here ?" Jean leaned trembling against the wall. "He is my brother Michel," he murmured. "The poor one is not quit,e right here"-he touched his seamed1 forehead—"but never be- fore have I omitted to lock the door above." "To lock the door above? Oh!" cried the Englishman, fetching a deep breath, "I think I see daylight. So this is the lumber you kept behind the barred door, is it? WeUi I don't quite fancy tbe look of Brother Michel, but I'm hanged if I'll stand by and see him boxed up like a. thief. Out of that he comes, Jean, and no mistake." NO no! Listen, then, monsieur, and I will tell you the truth," wildly cried the sacristan. "We are poor, and it is so hard to live; there is the old mother lower in the village—eighty are her years—and it is to me all look for their bread. In the winter I fell sick, alas! and since then I am weak here," faltered the old man, lay- ing a trembling hand against his hefrt. "The pain is great, monsieur, and my place in the church—I could not keep that—-ir I did not rest when it is upon me. So have I brought Michel from the village that he may "Heavens, man, do you mean to tell me," burst forth the astounded Humphreys, "-that Brother Michel has stood in your place when you have had a bad turn?" "But, ves, I mean that. What could I do? We must live, and for that I must keep my place with the Fathers. Now each day I grow stronger, and soon will Michel return to the mother. You know not what it is to be poor as we are—oh, monsieur," supplicated Jean, falling upon his knees, "I entreat you not to tell my secret to the Fathers." "Get up, you old muff," said the Englishman, hauling trie pleader to his feet. "It's a pity the poor beggar should have to be shut up, but I won't teJJ. tales, anyway. Well, now I'll be off, for I'm just dead tired. Good-night to you both. My wife's gone to bed, of course?" "Long since, monsieur," ,answere,d Jean promptly. "Madame passed her day on the niiis, and was much fatigued. Good-night to you, monsieur, and my heart's thanks." As Humphreys swung round he accidentally brushed the cloth, which had been unevenly placed, from the table, and so saw that pathetic little white heap, with blood smears on the face a,iid garments, lying at his feet. With a cry of anguish he snatched the still form to his breast. "Alcie! Oh, my love, my love! Merciful heaven, what has happened here?" he exclaimed, looking wildly from the deathly face on his shoulder to the trembling Jean. Then be saw the sullen Michel slinking, along the wall towards the door, and he shouted forth with a flash of tragic intuition: "That fiend's in this! Hold) him., Jean, hold) him, fast. What's that on his hand? Blood, by my soul! And there's the, knife that fetched it!" he cried, when the secreted) weapon fell from the coat sleeve of the imbecile. "Ah, wicked one," wailed Jean, with tears running down his wrinkled cheeks, "never will I pardon thee if thou hast harmed yon, sweet child." Michel stood in hi,9 brother's grasp, gritting his yellow teeth. Humphreys, in the meantime, had laid down his burden, and hastily opened the dishevelled: gown. "She breathes," he murmured, and his eyes were moist with tears. The knife had caught Alcie on the shoulder, but it proved happily to be a case of la, severe, shock to the system rather than a dangerous wound; and Jean, who had learned the art of first-aid from the Fathere, was well able to treat the hurt. Humphreys would have removed his wife at once from the cottage, but Jean begged so hard to be allowed to assist in the con- valescence, and was so stoutly supported in his pleadings by the invalid herself when she once understood! the truth of the accident, that the painter relented, 'stipulating, ihowever, that Michel should be immediately sent home to his mother. This was done, and Jean tended his, patient with a devotion that earned him full forgive- ness, and a substantial reward when, a week later, Humphreys and his fair wife regretfully departed for London, ,and a winter's hard work.

WORLD'S OLDEST MAN. II The oldest man alive is said to be Stovan- Zikitch, a once-famous Servian bandit. He is now in his 117th year. He drinks largely of brandy, but has never taken coffee or tea, or smoked. He has, the Manchester Guardian learns, two reflections which comfort his old age-one that in his youth he knew Byron in Greece; the other that he has never done an honest day's work in his lite, having earned enough by the use of gun and dagger to live in comfort.

THE CHEESE YOU CAN'T GET. For the past few years it has been extremely difficult to find Cheshire cheese in any of the ordinary hotels and restaurants in London. If you ask for Cheshire cheese you are either given Chodder or Cheshire made in the United States of Canada." So said Colonel Cotton-Jodrell at a meeting of the Cheshire Dairy Farmers' Associa- tion.

CHE TORPEDO FLOTILLAS. FORMATION OF FLYING COLUMNS. In connection with the naval redistribution plans, special attention is to be given to torpedo craft and their warfare. The lessons of the Russo- Japanese struggle has initiated a new policy, and one that finds expression in the redistribution of destroyers among the active and reserve fleets. New bases and headquarters are being selected, and destroyers of a similar type will, as far as possible, be put together in divisions. There will thus be the Kiver Division, Palmer Division, Thornycroft Division, Lairds Division, &c. The main bases for torpedo craft will be Port- land, Gibraltar, Malta, and Hong-Kong, and the allotment per station will be as follows: Atlantic Fleet. 30 vessels. Mediterranean Fleet 31 „ China Squadron 12 „ Portland Flotilla 52 „ Chatham-Flotilla 25 „ Portsmouth Flotilla. 25 Is Devonport Flotilla 25 „ The new course of torpedo training will cover j more than three times as long a period as I formerly. >

MR. RIDER HAGGARD'S MISSION. I Mr. nider Haggard, who, it will be remembered, has been appointed by the British Government to look into the Salvation Army Colony work in this country and in the United States, is now earnestly engaged in his mission, During the next few days he will be on the Romie Colony in California, and a week later will reach Amity, the Salvation Army Colony in Colorado. Mr. Haggard has met with a very kind reception, and has found on all hands the greatest sympathy with the efforts of the Army to place suitable people on the land. Pi evident Roosevelt, with whom Mr. Haggard rlned when in Washington, was most cordial.

The Bishops of Carlisle and Southwell, the Archbishop of Westminster, and the Rev. R. J. Campbell have consentedl to become vice-pre- sidents of the After-Care Association for Poor Persons discharged recovered from Asylums for the Insane. A witness before the Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the Feeble-minded) told of the case of a man "who was never dangerous, but a sort of silly Billy," who had1 been under the care of the Bradford1 Guardians for many years, and had acted as chief mourner at all the funerals from 1894 up to the date when he absconded in 1901. A new uncapsizable lifeboat has been invented by M. Henry, built by M. Decopt-Lacour, of nochells,and adopted by the Society of the Hospita-liers Sauveteurs Bretons at the station of Brest-Portsa-11. It is a motor-boat, but is also provided with sails. The King has been pleased! to approve the appointment in May next of the Hon. Alan Johnstone, Councillor to the British Embassy at Vienna, to be Minister at Copenhagen in succession to Sir Edward Goschen, promoted to the Embassy at Vienna. Dover Corporation have decided! not to renew their five years' contract with inebriate homes on the ground that they have been as. absolute failure so far as persons committed to them from Dover are concerned. Two young peasant girls, living in the neigh- bourhood of Dijon, sent pieces of their own em- broidery to the Czar of Russia for his newly- born son. Each has just received, through the intermediary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a beautiful diamond brooch.

I WOMAN'S WOII LD., -Lmussrcra DIFFICULTIES. New fasnions seem always to bo posed (complains it writer in the "Star") upon models who are tall and weU proportioned, round as to waist, straight as to back, and just right as to measurements generally. Certainly the gown or wrap is becoming to such a one. The trouble lies in the fact that seen by a flat-chested, stooped, lathy sort of woman, the gown is copied for her. But when she wears it the effect is very different. Perhaps, instead, that particular gown is admired by a stumpy little soul about 4ft. 2in. tall, and weighing more than seems proportionate; and with no intention of letting her despairing modiste do the best for her, at once the aforesaid stumpy one will be seen wearing the gown designed for tho Junoesque creature. No wonder some women look queer! There is only about one woman of perfect figure to fifty of those who have some marked peculiarity, and therefore the ingenuity of thedreus- maker must do for these fifty what the simple process of selection does for the one, But so many women will have their own way, and will choose without thought of their style, complexion, and figure. Many do not even know that stiff lines sharpen ageing features, and too many frills give an affectation of girlishness which is almost laughable; that an overplus of avoirdupois does not call either for extremely tight garments, with their impression Df discomfort, or fo: a great looseness or blousiness, which is just as bad; that contrast- ing bands of trimming, applied at considerable intervals, give one the look of being carefully divided into geometrical sections or that a very small woman is eclipsed by a very large hat. As a matter of fact, suiting one's clothes to one's in- dividuality and age is a thing to be learned only after patient study and a liberal use of common sense. If there is one command which should be writ in letters of fire before the eyes 'f every woman who selects her gowns, it is this: Never, never, never have a dress made in a certain style because it looked well on someone else or in a picture." You are g to wear that frock, not someone else, and not a lady in a picture. Therefore be sure, be more than sure, that it suits you, absolutely without any doubt, unless you want to join the ranks of the badly dressed. ¥ I SPRING HATS, The tricorne is, in the hands of present day milliner, a thing of beauty, even if it is not going to be a joy forever (the Fates forfend that we ever be doomed to wear the same shape id headgear eternally!). There are countless developments of this popular model, and so grace- ful and charming is it in every phase of its variety that there is no possible chance of our wearying of it ere its race be duly run. The round, bowl- shaped crown is the latest development in these, and the brim is wired so that it may be bent and pinched and twisted to the angle most becoming to its wearer, and that without in any way losing the lines that are characteristic of this shape. The finest and most intricate patterns in straw weaves are called upon for the spring hats, and while trim- mings are present in but limited quantities it must not be taken that the hats themselves are limited in price. Very far from it! The jhand-woven braids are the accepted choice of the season, and like all other hand productions their price is any- thing but cheap. And the elaboration of detail and decoration that is lavished upon them is another item that adds much to their cost. One sees often no less than five different weaves all wrought into the one braid and bowknots, festoons, little flower motifs cleverly fashioned from rie straw, as well as more conventional designs, all 'make their Z) appearance on the straw turbans that accompany the spring tailor-made gown. Indeed many of them are handsome enough to wear without any further trimming to enhance their attractiveness, and the slight touch that is added merely serves to accentuate the shape and give just a little hint of piquancy and character to the design. The fashion of colour combinations and colour contrasts that is growing steadily in favour in all depart- ments of dress has its due expression in the spring millinery. So far it is chiefly to be seen in a use of two different colour braids, of which one is white or ecru, and the other some complementary tone. Thus a smart tricorne has the round crown and the inner side of the upturned brim all in a Panama straw of the natural unbleached tint; while the outer side of the brim is faced with a loosely woven rice straw of a medium shade of brown. A piquant touch is afforded in the ruch- ings of black chiffon which encircle the crown and are knotted into a huge chou that overlaps the brim and piles itself high on the crown, this being centred with a large disc of apple-green satin having a flat strass and gold button sewn fast to the middle. With the dressier type of tailor-made costume which the Parisienne so greatly favours, a dressier type of turban prevails. The same closely fitting shape is adhered to, and the difference is marked more in the colour of the straw and the greater elaboration of the trimmings. Of course, it goes almost without saying that these close and narrow shapes are not at all in keeping with the extremes of tailor-mades, those which display sleeves full and puffy at the shoulders, revers which broaden the figure above the waist- line, and skirts that are held out artificially (with reeds or featherbone or haircloth) at the hem. These demand the broad-brimmed hats in order to balance the figure artistically and correctly, and to wear the little turban with such styles is a mistake indeed. The popularity of leather as a trimming material was bound to bring it within the scope of the milliner's plans, and the ready-to-wear hat is quite often seen in this somewhat incongruous adj unct. White, of course, is a prime favourite, and the touch of brown upon white which has suc- ceeded the magpie combination of white and black that held sway for so long is the one most favoured in the leather combinations. VEILS AND VEILINGS. Veils and veilings are matters of prime importance to the clever dresser, she who knows how to make every last little touch in her toilet count for much, and there is nothing which will display as well as betray personal cha- racteristics more than will the adjustment of this little filmy scrap of next to nothingness. Of course, there are fads and fancies and fashions in veilings as in all else, and just now the very latest importations from France are being generally dis- played on the counters. There are extremes in style as well as in conservatism goes without saying. One cannot help but wonder what brave soul will have the hardihood to don some of the newest freaks of fashion in this direction. For wear with the flower toques, which hold in a wonderful manner-only they take to themselves the outlines of all the newer shapes—there are veils which exactly match the dominant colour in the flowers. Thus there are violet veils to wear with the violet toques, and these have great big splotchy pois of chenille in exactly the same shade scattered over the surface. One might almost refer to them as snowballs, such is their size, were it not for their colour. The poppy hats-and a remarkable career is pre- dicted for these—have veils to match; the ragged robins likewise, and anything more trying to the complexion than the three noted it would be hard to find. However, Dame Fashion, while she has her freaks, has likewise her saner and more suave moments, and this was doubtless her mood when she nodded benignantly upon the better class of face veils that are presented to her attention. The veil that is arranged next to and caressing the face is, in the newer order of things, to be as fine and as sheer as possible. The silk of which it is woven is to be as thin as gossamer and as filmy as a spider's web; and the pattern, while simple and symmetrical, must be unobtrusive if it is to con- form with the accepted tenets of good style. This much established, there is a delightful latitude in the new veils for the expression of personal idiosyncrasies. The woman who prefers the plain, undotted little Brussels mesh to all others can find it in the newest veiling box; but she will have to pay a little more than formerly for it, since for some unknown and unexplained reason the best veils are higher in price this spring than last. The family physician may wax wroth, and the oculist may wax fat on fees, both as a result of the feminine fancy for veils and veilings, but, nevertheless, they both of them forget that the human economy is such a wonderful thing that it can and doeb accommodate itself to all sorts of trying conditions and experiences, and is none the worse for them either. They rage and rave against the veil, the one of them genuinely, the other of them somewhat perfunctorily but they both of them seem to forget that the women themselves declare that they suffer no ill-effect from the c wearing, and they lose sight altogether of that grand theory of accommodation which the scientists delight to put forth as explanation of many things that seem anomalous, contradictory, and paradoxical, where that strange paradox, the sex feminine, is concerned.

GARDEN GOSSIP. (From u The Gardener") Plants to Try.—If the window does not al- ready possess them, try Ivy-leaved Toadflax in a basket or hanging "egg," Bridal Wreath trained round an arch of wire, Mimulus or Giant Spotted Monkey Musk trained over a wooden ladder, and Nertera depressa, of which I regret to be unable to give an English name, as an edging plant. Phyllocacti, Coleuses, Rhodanthes, Kalosanthes, Fairy Roses, and Gazanias are six other excel- lent window plants which are too rarely seen in such a position, » » The Dondia.—Among the few flowers which give a welcome touch of brightness to the earliest months of the year is the little Dondia or Hacquetia epipactis, although it does not appeal to those who care for showy plants alone, seeing that the yellow flowers have a greenish tone about them, and are, moreover,, very small, the heads producing comparatively little effect. Such a little herb, however, gives a welcome touch of colour to the rock garden, the front ot the border, or some out of the way spot, where siicii a flower gives a cheery tone. It has come to us from Carniola and Carinthia, but is quite at home in our climate, although the slugs sometimes destroy it. Its general height is about three inches or so, but in the moist soil it prefers it may reach six inches high. Its foliage is also pretty, so that it has several claims upon us. It blossoms very early in the year, among the first of all our ilowers indeed. It may be propagated by division. & « « Annuals near Beehives.—Beehives should be surrounded by flower beds, if possible encircling the gravel on which they stand. These beds can be partly filled with suitable herbaceous plants, but should be added to each March by annuals of a sweet nature. Phacelia tanacetifoli.a. is one of the tallest and best; it will grow to 2 feet high. Sweet Peas should be numerous, and the scented white Candytuft, the smaller Sweet Alyssum, and yellow Oxyura are sure to be appreciated by the bees. Mignonnette, Linarias, Gilias, Erysimums, Collinsias, are useful, while Cynoglossum coelestinum is on no account to be omitted. When the gardener is willing to bed out plants near the hives, Stocks are excellent for the purpose, as are Scabiouses, which though biennial may be counted as annuals, as they bloom the first year from seed. In the same way Wallflowers should be put out in autumn, to give early spring bloom. Poppies should be avoided. The hardy annual Whitlavias are good, so are the half hardy Nicofcianas and Verbenas. Polyanthus Primroses.—The real secret of having a good display every spring is to make annual sowings. Old plants do not give nearly such fine flowers as younger ones. Two years is the longest life that should be allowed these plants. Sow in early March in slight heat, prick out into pans when the seedlings have developed two or three proper leaves. Plant out in May on a shady border, about 3 to 4 inches apart every way. Keep them well watered all the summer, and as early in September as possible put them where they are to bloom the following spring. Here they may flower twice, and then they should be throwaway. The little trouble of making annual sowings will well repay anyone, in the increase of the size of the flowers and the general healthiness of the plants. Of course, the show is the second year of blooming. < Plants in Willow Trees.—The partiality which many small plants have for the heads of old Willow trees must have struck every observant dweller in the country. Nicely nurtured in a bed of leaf mould, formed by the decayed leaves of the tree, many of these denizens make quite vigorous growth, and I have gathered good trusses of Honeysuckle and very fair Blackberries from such tree supported specimens. Here is a list of plants which I have seen growing in Willows; may I hope that some reader can supplement it ? Gooseberries, Brambles, Honeysuckle, Bitter Sweet, Harts- tongue, common Polypody and Male Ferns, hairy and Rosebay Willowherbs, Geraniums in several varieties, Nettles, Dewberries, Ground Ivy, and Mat and Sweet Vernal Grasses. Lawn Seeds.—I recently saw a person sowing some lawn seeds on a nicely prepared bed, While passing the same garden a few days afterwards, I was somewhat surprised to see the grass seeds on the surface uncovered. Apparently a flock of sparrows, too, had seen them, for I counted about a dozen busily at work eating up all they could. I have once more seen this garden, and noticed that all the seeds have disappeared from the surface. Birds will eat exposed seeds, and also pull up young seedlings. But some persons believe that grass seeds ought to be left on the surface and there germinate. This is a big mistake unless they are protected and the soil kept constantly moist. Slightly cover the seeds is my advice. St. Brigid Anemones.—There are numbers of plants which can be persuaded, with the help of a cold frame, to flower more or less the whole winter through. Unfortunately the colours of these are seldom bright or vivid. An exception must, however, be made in the case of these Anemones. If sown early they commence to flower in autumn, brightening our flower vases during the dull days of November. Some of the singles are of such lovely shape as to recall the Shirley Poppies, but much superior to them in point of endurance. Double varieties, too, there are, balls of pointed petals of perfect form. Both singles and doubles vary from pure white to deep purple, and again through the pink and salmon shades to brightest scarlet and deepest crimson. Although the flowers may be scantily produced in the middle of winter, it is seldom that a few cannot be obtained. A few warm days, however, effect a welcome change, and the numbers that can be gathered are a surprise to those who have hitherto relied on other kinds of plants. The cut flowers should be placed where they obtain a fair amount of light, either natural or artificial; they will then remain open longer. It has often been a delight to me to watch the opening of the blooms after the lamps are lit in the evening, sleepily at first, until at last, wide awake, they really appeared to be looking at you with their bold black eyes. If early flowers are desired no time should be lost in sowing the seed on a gentle hotbed. A large box is generally needed for a packet; it is a mistake to sow too thickly. Cover the bottom of the box, which should be about three inches in depth, with large pieces of broken pots, adding a good layer of smaller ones, filling it up with a compost of 2 parts of loam and 1 part each of peat and leaf mould, adding enough sand to make it of a grey colour. Place the rougher portions at the bottom, the finer at top press firmly with a block of wood. Then sow the seed as it is usually of wood. Then sow the seed as it is usually mixed with a quantity of fluff, rub it in a little sand to separate it. Cover very lightly with fine soil. The soil should be kept moist but not saturated. When the seedlings have made four leaves, they should be transplanted 2 inches apart into boxes. As heavier soil will now suit them better, the peat and most of the sand can be omitted, while 1 part of decayed manure rubbed through a sieve can take its place. When large enough they may be shifted into their final quarters, which should have been manured and dug some time previously; if the soil is rather stiff so much the better. The bed should be made of such a shape and size that it will be easy to cover with a frame. Plant at a distance of five inches apart, and water for a few days until established. Before winter sets in, we find it a good plan to mulch between the plants with cocoanut fibre refuse. An extra covering of mats in severe weather is a great help, and should be afforded if possible. The plant is, however, abso- lutely hardy, and the protection used is only for early flowers.

I EPITOME OF NEWS. The greater part of Newfoundland is still shut off from the world. The snowdrifts are 40f.t. high, and fierce blizzards are frequent. In the remote districts people are beginning to feel the- pinch of hunger, and the Government are send- ing special steamers with foodstuffs to the nearest pcunts, and distributing food by means of dog sleds. There is in a report presented by the Post- master-General to a Special Committee of the Canadian House of Commons an indication of the possibility of the Dominion Government taking over the telephone and telegraph systems of the country, and running them as a branch of the Post Office. Mr. Pretyman states, in reply to Mr. Marks, that the coastguard officers' report to the Asso- ciation for .the Advancement of Science observa- tions of coast changes and to the Board of Trade the removal of shingle and other material from the beaches but no periodical reports are made as to the erosion of sea cliffs around the British coast. The latest project in Zurich, Switzerland, is to tax every inhabitant over sixteen years old three shillings and six pence a year, the State adding one shilling. This will yield about twenty thousand pounds, which will be used to secure the services of forty physicians, who will take care of the health of the whole population of the city. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has fur- nished a statement showing that the total amount received from the coal tax for the year ending December 31 last was P,2,042,932, repre- senting nearly 41 million 'tons, at a tax of Is. per ton, and the total quantity of coal exported that year on which the tax was remitted on the ground that its value did not exceed 6a. per ton was 5,700,753 tons. Mr. T. E. Donne, Commissioner-General for New Zealand at St. Louis last year, has arrived in England) on a special mission connected with the forthcoming New Zealand Exhibition, and) can be seen at Westminster-chambers, 13, Victoria-street, London. He will shortly visit provincial centres and the Continent. Few people know the real colour of gold, because it is, seldom seen excerpt when heavily alloyed, which makes it much redder than, when it is pure. The purest coins ever made were the fifty dollar pieces which once were in com- mon use in California. All gold is not alike when refined. Australian gold is distinctly redder than that found in California. The gold in the Ural Mountains is the reddlest in the world. There are only three cities in the Russian Empire containing a popuLation. of more than half a million people—Si. Petersburg, 1,267,000; Moscow, 988,600, and Warsaw, 614,800. Odessa comes next with 402,000. There are thirty-five towns containing between 50,000 and 100,000 inhabitants., and eighty-two towns with popula- tions varying from 10,000 to 50,000. Spain boasts probably the longest lawsuit in the world's history. It began in 1517, and is still sub judice. The case, which. concerns a pension, is between the Marquis die Viana and the Count Torres da Cabrera, and the accumulated sum in dispute would have reached, fabulous millions had not four centuries of attorneys, barristersi, amdi court officials taken considerate measures of appropriation to prevent the sum becoming unwieldy. A marriage has been arranged, and! will shortly take place, between Prince Freyd'ouii Malcolm Khan, son of the former Persian Minister to the Court of St. James, and now Minister Plenipotentiary at Rome, and Frau Elenor Von Siemens, widow of Werner Von Siemens, nephew of the distinguished engineer of that name. Prince Freydoun. was educated .at Eton and at the French Military School of St. Cyr, has been made a personal A.D.C. to his Imperial Majesty the Shah of Persia, and is at present attached to the Persian Upgation at Rome. Information gathered by the German forestry commission assigns to the pine tree 700 years-Js a maximum length of life, 425 years to the silver fir, 275 to the larch, 245 to the red beech, 210 to the aspen, 200 to the birch, 170 to the ash, 145 to the elder and 130 to the. elm. The heart of the oak begins to rot at about the age of 300 years. Of the holly, it is said there is a specimen aged 410 years in existence near Aschaffenburg, Germany. From letters received by the Church Missionary Society from; Japan it seems, says the "Daily News," that the severe trial through ■which the island-empire is passing is finding expression in greater earnestness in the per- form,a,n,c,e of heathenj rites. A recent three days' festival in honour of a "looking-glass" god, which aitt.racted thousands' of reverent worshippers in a city whose Government offices were closed) for the occasion, is sufficient proof that Japan, with all her chivalry and! progress, still needs spiritual enlightenment. The Earl of Cork, who is yachting in the Mediterraneant with Colonel Stuart-Wortley, has not long enjoyed his earldom and its forty thousand acres, having succeeded Els father, most famous of horsemen, as tenth earl only in the early summer of last year. A prominent Freemason and a popular clubman, Lord, Cork is a Protestant, a Liberal, and a bachelor of forty-four. He inherits many of the tastes of his famous ancestor, Robert Boyle, the (philosopher,, not excluding, his distaste for society. In spite of her rapidly-increasing fleets, of steam trawlers, even now nearly half the fresh fish sold in Germany is derived' from fresh water fish farms. Carp, tench, pike, and eels seil alive to the consumer in. Germany at about a shilling a pound. Excluding salmon, trout, and a few eels, the fresh water fisheries of the United Kingdom since the Middle Ages have become practically extinct, except fo,r sport. Irish inland waters covering 574,887 acres, are admirably adapted1 for lucrative fish, farming. In time of war inland fish farms would yield unfailing supplies- of fresh foodl which, by proper killing preparation and dry air refrigeration remain "imperishable." <:> St. Helena is an almost crimeless colony, and that is why the Governor, although he may never have opened a legal text-book in his life, is also Chief Justice. Although anomalous, the system is, ,satisfactory as a rule, but this non- legal Chief Justice—the present Governor is Lieutenant-Colonel Gallwey, D.S.O.-had to try a murdercasle. a, few weeks ago, and! the incon- gruity of such a situation is obvious. It was a case of a cold-blooded shooting of a man by a couple of youths. The jury found them guilty; Colonel Gallwey donned the black ,cap, and sentenced them, to death in the orthodox judicial phraseology, and a few days later they were executed. Australia and, New Zealand look like next- door neighbolurs on the map, but the passage from one to the other, even in the best avail- able steamers, takes four or five days. At times it is one of the roughest passages in the world, and the Australian team of cricketers for England appears to have found the, ocean in one of its unamiaible moods. Howell, who once achieved thofeat of capturing the whole of the Surrey wickets in one innings, was so prostrated that he never once left his. cabin, while Trumper, Australia's premier batsman, also suffered severely. Gateshead Corporation, having discovered that an electric watering cart used by the local tramway company for flushing its lines can with very little, alteration be made to throw a spray across the road, is arranging for its use for this purpose. It really seems as if his Spanish Majesty's long-rumoured visit were now definitely fixed. He arrives in London on June 5, and the official | visit lasts five days. King Alfonso will be the King's guest either at Buckingham Palace or at St. James's. While an artesian well was being sunk at Bourne, the bore passed through a 6in. stratum of coal at a depth of 78ft. Just above this were iron pyrites, a mineral which, in some places, I yields enough of the precious -mineral to be a gold ore.