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

MR. CHAMBEBLAXK AND LEGISLATION. ^3*. ^^faerlain, replying to a letter from the Birmingham, and Midland Counties Grocers' Association, urging the need for the passing of the Butter Bill being expedited, says: — "Up to the present time the Government have ma,cl,, no progress with their principal measure, and unleSlS business proceeds more quickly he is afraid it will be impossible for them. give a prominent place to the Bill, with the obiects of which he sympathises." j

1 THE EASTER TANSY. In this country many centuries back the Easter eggs were boiled hard, and coloured red, blue, or violet, and used as balls on Easter Monday, not only by boys and girls, but also by their elders, in what appears to have been in those days the uni- versally popular game of ball-playkig. For we read that both clergy and laity played at ball in the churches at Easter for Tansy cakes," even the bishops and deans joining in the game, and throwing the ball to the choristers inside the sacred edifice. It is difficult—nay, well-nigh impos- sible-in this year of grace (the Lady observes) to imagine the right reverend fathers of the Church acting in such a fashion as did their prede- cessors in what some people are still im" ed to call the good old times. "At stoolball, Lucia, let us play, For sugar-cakes or wine, Or for a Tansy let us pay." The tansy referred to in the above old lines was a cake flavoured with tansy, a bitter aromatic plant with small yellow flowers, that was made and eaten at Easter in remembrance, it is be- lieved, of the "bitter herbs" that the Israelites were commanded to eat at their Passover. Tansy puddings were eaten at that season also, and had, like the tansy cake, a mingled sweet anJ bitter taste.

REWARD OF MERIT. The Tenth Annual General Meeting of Van den Berghs, Limited, was held on the 19th inst., under the Presidency of the Chairman. Lord Ebury. The shareholders were enthusiastic over the results of the year's trading, as shown in the Report, being £247,037, as compared with P.147,627 in 1903. Such excellent results are without doubt due very greatly to the removal of much of the prejudice which at one time existed against margarine and which was unjustly fomented by its opponents. We must congratulate the Directors of the Com- pany on the result of their persistent struggle to abtain recognition of such a wholesome and nutri- tive article of commerce as Margarine. It is really wonder that, in face of the many obstacles at first experienced, it has existed as a commercial article. It speaks volumes as to its alimentary value to find it has succeeded against such diffi- snlties, and we therefore again congratulate the Messrs. Van den Bergh upon their success.

RELIC OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT. There is an interesting historical analogy between the table of the Irish House of Lords, which was sold the other day, and the table of the old House of Commons at Westminster, which is so familiar an object in the senatorial tea-room. It was on the former that the Act of Union was signed, whilst the St. Stephen's relic, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, first took its place among the furniture of the English Chamber at the time of the union with Scotland just two centuries ago. This table was formerly in one of the offices of the Board of Trade in Whitehall. It was removed thither from St. Stephen's Hail at the time of the disastrous fire, and to the late Sir Reginald Palgrave, who ascertained the facts at first hand, is due the circumstance that it now occupies a permanent resting-place in the members' tea-room. It was at this very table that the original Scottish members who came to West- minster after the consummation of the union took the oath and subscribed their names.

COUGHS AND BRONCHITIS. MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL ADVISE VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE. Rev. W. W. Tulloch, D.D., Bonar-bridge, N.B., writes: I have been a martyr to asthma all my life and lately to chronic winter bronchitis. I have found VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE t valu- able medicine." Rev. W. Dacre, 5, College-villas-road, South Hampstead, London, writes: I have a high opinion of VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE. I have used it with much benefit to myself and have recommended it to others." VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE for purity, effectiveness and all round potency has not its equal anywhere for coughs, bronchitis, asthma, catarrh, and children's coughs. 9(1., Is. 1 Jtk, and 2s. Ðd., at Chemists everywhere.

———-———————— GIRL'S FIGHT WITH ORANG OUTANG. An orang outang, four feet high, and of great strength, escaped from his cage and created havoc in the house tenanted by a New York dealer in animals. A girl, aged eighteen, daughtee of the proprietor, tried to induce the creature to return to his cage by throwing an apple in that direction. The outang refused, and commenced breaking up a number of birdcages, and finaII3 attacked the girl, who bravely defended herself with an iron poker. Hearing the girl') cries (says the Telegraph's correspondents two men passing the house entered and clubbed the animal until it was unconscious. Before this result was achieved one man was badly bitten on the hand. The girl, who fought unaided for nearly half an hour, inflicting many damages on her enemy, only sustained a few scratches.

SPOILING NIAGARA. Unless the Governor exercises his power of veto it seems certain (says the "Telegraph's" Albany, New York, correspondent) that the Niagara grab Bill, which enables the utilisation of the water for power purposes at the expense of the beauty of the famous falls, will become law. All the papers publish full details of what is described as the almost unexampled corruption and bribery alleged to have been used by the promoters to secure the passage of the bill. The ts New York Herald publishes the price paid for the votes of legislators as ranging from £100 upwards. The New York Times says: No new story can be told about the corruption attending the progress of the bill. It is known to everyone in Albany. It is the dirtiest proceeding of the year, but it will pass because no one of importance will make a fight."

SEAWEED IN KIDNEY DISEASES. Dr. James Walker, Kidney and Urinary Specialist, New York, says: I never treat a case where the kidneys, urinary organs of stomach are involved without seaweed. I regard it as indis- pensable." The species of seaweed used by Dr. Walker is the same as that contained in VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC. VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC is used by many prominent doctors in all forms of kidney and urinary diseases because of its great strengthening, healing and purifying effect. It cures Nephritis of the kidneys, Bright's disease, uric acid troubles, weakness, dropsy and backache; especially success- ful in constipation. Pleasant to take. Cures per- manently. No return. Ask for VENO'S SEAWEED TONIC, at Chemists everywhere, Is. ld. and 2s. 9d.

GETTING RICH. I Mr. Nelson O.Nelson, a St. Louis millionaire, who declares that getting rich is a bad habit," is s practical philanthropist, his philanthropy taking the direction of 'sharing his wealth with thogr. who have helped him to build it up rather waiting to accumulate vast hoards of it and then endowing colleges, libraries, hospitals, and othe' institutions. He has stated that he prefers tc endow individuals rather than institutions. At the head of one of the largest firms in St. Louis, he i. wealthy, but still not inordinately wealthy in thes* days of fabulous fortunes. For 28 years he hft" been at the head of the firm which he founded, and for 19 of these years the co-operative, or profit sharing, system which he instituted has been i.. operation. During that time dividends of from 4 to 10 per cent. have been paid on each employe's salary or wages, for every class of employe is in- cluded in his profit-sharing scheme. Mr. Nelson thinks it has paid. From a capital of R6000, and a business of E12,000 a year, when the firm first started, it has grown until its capital and paid-up surplus at present amount to more than £ 180,000, and it does a business annually about fifty-fold in volume that of its first year.

1 HEALTH UTTERLY BROKEN". I AN .EMI A, NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, INDIGESTION, KAPID WASTING, PALPITATIONS, INCIPIENT CONSUMPTION I CWRED BY DR. WILLIAMS' PINK PILLS. Anaemia led to a complication of disorders and threatening Can. tmnpiion. Dr.Williamgl Pink Piiia tiff acted a complete cure, The history of a terrible break- down, the result of lack of blood (Anaemia), and its wonderful cure by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, the greatest strei)gtli- ening med i c i n e ever discovered.ia here given by Alrs. Liixtoii, Wingfteld -ro ad, Sherl borne. The best doc- tors I could find I consulted," sa i d she. "Each of them gave my complaint a differ- ent name, but my I friends thought I was in Consumption. I So WEAK AND FRAIL had I become that I could neither eat, sleep, nor work. For some time I had suffered very badly from indigestion and a nervous breakdown. I lost hope of ever being better, and never thought I should get out again. I had palpitations and severe pains in the chest. I fell away to a shadow. All food was repugnant. The Consumption I was hastening to was really due to lack of blood. Dr. Williams' Pink Pills gave me the blood I needed so badly, and that is why they cured me when no ordinary remedies could. Other medicine might brace me up, but what I wanted was new blood." How soon after beginning Dr. Williams' Pink Pills did you feel a change ? After I had taken two boxes I began to feel a different woman. I took five or six boxes, and by that time could eat my meals and enjoy them. I have since taken Dr. Williams' Pink Pills when I required a tonic, but my old complaint has never returned." Loss of appetite is a sign that food is not digesting. Weakness and Bile naturally follow. The splendid appetite which Dr. Williams' Pink Pills give shows that they cure Indigestion at once. They do it by making New Blood, Mothers know why they and their daughters need new blood more than men but men can be Ansemic, too. The weak back, easy fatigue, lack of interest of life and general nervous weakness which trouble both men and women, need New Blood to cure them. Nerves that need new blood to feed them show their need in Neuralgia, fits, St. Vit us' dance, eventually Paralysis, locomotor ataxy and utter breakdown. Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People can cure all these things: but only the genuine pills. To avoid substitutes, purchasers should take care to see the full name, as above, on the wrapper, before paying.

THE HUDDERSFIELD ACCIDENT. I BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY. I The Board of Trade have appointed Lieut.- Colonel Druitt, R.E., Inspecting Officer of Rail- ways, to hold an inquiry into the circumstance-s attending the collision that occurred on Good .? -1 1 Friday on the Lancashire and xorKsmre anu London and North-Western Joint Railway at Huddersfield, killing one man and one woman, besides injuring several others. On the body of the male victim of the accident, Ralph Greenwood Farrand (who was proceeding to Longwood, Huddersfield, for his marriage on the following day), was found a copy of "Tit Bits," with an insurance coupon for £1,000 signed by him. The coupon was dated April 22, the date on which be was to depart on his honeymoon. The bride, Miss Florence Parkin- son, it is stated, had a presentiment that disaster was a;bout to overtake the bridegroom. Finding tha.t Mr. Farramd had not arrived at the specified hour, Miss Parkinson remarked, "I am sure something has happened to Ralph let us go down to Huddersfield to see if the train has come in." On arrival at the station she heard news of the disasfer. A sad incident occurred at the coroner s inquiry on Saturday. In giving evidence of identification concerning his mother, Mrs. Milne, wife of an army surgeon, Mr. G. C. Milne asked'the coroner if after the collision she had left any message for her children. The coroner assured M. Milne, who was labouring under d'eap emotion, that If she had done so the rail- way officials would deliver the message. Poliee- Sergaost Gfedhill, who tamboured heroically with others to free Mrs. Milne from the wreckage, states that ft weo with the greatest difficulty even that she could give her MffliB, and even this was misunderstood. They did all they could to obeeT and sustain her.

I KILLED BY A MOTOR CYCLE. Particulars transpired on Monday erf another fatal motor accident, a lady named Brand, the wife of an upholsterer, living at 211, Amesbury-avenue, Streatham-hill, being the victim. The unfortunate lady met her death while attempting to save her daughter from being run over. Late on Thursday evening of last week Mrs. Brand, accompanied by her daughter, was returning home from shopping, and in crossing the road was confronted by an electrk tramcar going in one direction and a van travelling the opposite way. The mother and child turned and began to make their way back to the pavement. As they did so a motor-Cycle, ridden by a young man named Schaufelberger, residing in Hopton-road, Streat- ham, emerged from behind the car, and Mrs. Brand, fearing that her child might be run over, picked her up and succeeded in placing her on the pavement. Hardly had Mrs. Brand done so than the cycle collided with her, causing her to fall to the ground and to strike her head heavily on the kerb. The cyclist at once dismounted and ren- dered assistance, and the, lady was taken home, where she died on Good Friday.

GENERAL GORDON AND CECIL RHODES. The honouring of the memory of great men seems in a fair way to become a cult at Hailsham, thanks in great measure to the efforts of the vicar, the Kev. F. Clyde Harvey. The cutting from the rose tree of General Gordon's grave at Khartoum, planted with tender care in Hailsham churchyard towards the close of last year, is, with the spring, putting forth its new shoots, and it promises to develop into a hardy Specimen. Now, says the Sussex Daily P News," the vicar has obtained samples of the II tree violet," of the Matoppo Hills, where Cecil Rhodes lies buried. These are as yet in the pot" stage, and are being carefully tended in the vicar's conservatory. When they are sufficiently grown to try conclusions with the English climate, they will take their place beside the Gordon rose tree, and thus the memory of two at least of England's African heroes will be kept, very literally, green in the Sussex market town,

ouage "prisoner, do you mean to stand there and tell mo that your employer told you you might have all the goods you wanted, and that you did not steal this stuff?" Prisoner: "Yes, tsir. That's what I said. He called me in and said, 'John, you can commence taking stock to- night.' I took two loads and this officer arrested me. "MY DEAR GIRL, IT'S A MARVEL. It really is." Last night I told Cook to sprinkle Keating's Powder on the hearth in the Kitchen, and this morning the Beetles were there in dozens—DEAD. Keating's Powder, the unrivalled Killer of all Insects. Harmless to everything else. Tins only, 3d r 6d., and Is. Free for stamps. Keating, Chemist, London. Husband: "Well, are all your arrangements for^ spending the winter in Paris completed?" Wife "Nearly, but I'm in such a quandary. I have arranged to send our houseplants to a florist, our cat to a cats' home, and our dog to a caaine boarding-house, so that all will be well cared for until we return; but what in the world shall I do with the babv?

THE WAR I PORT ARTHUR INQUIRY. I GENERAL STOESSEL KXONJ3 RATED. The Commission of Inquiry at St. Petersburg regarding the surrender of Port Arthur ban exonerated General Stoessel from all blame. It is reported, however, that the conclusions arrived at are very severe on Admiral Alexoieff and General Kuropatkin. IIOSHDESTVENSKY'S MOVEMENTS.— AFTER KAMRANR. I A telegram from Kamronh reports that the Russian squadron which left that bay at noon on Saturday consi3ted of fifty-two ships, includ- ing transports. The squadron sailed in a northerly direction. The only ships remaining in the offing were the protected cruiser Sviet- lana, the hospital ship Orel, and four German, ¡ seven Danish, and three Russian transports— I sixteon vessels in all. A torpedo-boat destroyer ¡ is patrolling the coast. The French cruiser Descartes also sailed on Saturday afternoon, pro- ceeding to Ha-trang. A fisherman reports having sighted off there twenty warships, but he was unable to ascertain their nationality. Native fisher- I men and Europeans state that tney heard heavy firing on Saturday evening off Kamranh. It is reported that Admiral Roshdestvensky was still suffering from his stomachic complaint. The opinion prevails that the Admiral will make every eifort to effect a j unction with Admiral Nebogatoff before proceeding to decisive action. Persons who approached the Russian ships testify to the extreme confidence with which the officers and crews were inspired by Admiral Roshdestvensky. The impression produced by the appearance of the ships themselves, however, was not so unanimously favourable. A telegram received in Paris from Saigon states that according to the last news the Russian fleet was fifteen miles from the Annam coast, steering northwards. JAPANESE WARSHIP SIGHTED. A despatch from Manila states that three war- ships have been seen off Corregidor Island. They are supposed to be a Japanese squadron under Admiral Nashima. The British ship Rubi, which arrived at Amoy on Monday, reported that she was overhauled by three torpedo craft off Point Blanco, sixty miles east of Hong Kong, on Saturday night. The torpedo-boats contented themselves with throwing I their searchlights on the Rubi. It is supposed they were Japanese vessels. REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE FRENCH"" SQUADRON. A telegram to the Paris "Journal" from Toulon mentions the report that an order has been received at that port to send to the Far East the cruisers Kleber and Desaix, and also to hold in readiness the cruisers Cassard and Alger.

——————————————————————— THE KING AND QUEEN. I DEPASTURE FOR SARDINIA. I King Edward and Queen Alexandra returned to Philippeville from Constantine at half-past eight I I on Sunday night, and immediately went on board the ltoyal yacht, where a banquet was given by his Majesty in honour of M. Jonnart, the Governor-General, and the civil and military authorities of the town. The Victoria and Albert and the principal buildings in the town were bril- liantly illuminated. The Victoria and Albert, with the British Royal party on board, sailed on Monday evening for Sar- dinia. King Edward sent word to London and Paris that he would arrive at Marseilles on the morning of Saturday, so as to be in Paris at half- past nine on the same evening.

Russia's Dreadful State I TERROR IN MANOR AND MANSE. Notwithstanding the tacit acquiescence of the local authorities, and the undisguised collusion of the police, the attempts made by a considerable number of large landed proprietors in the Taurida and some of the neighbouring Governments to organise and arm those of their tenants and labourers who remain faithful to their landlords and employers against the attacks of the rebellious peasantry have proved so many dismal failures. Here and there a few of the workpeople are not indisposed to accept the retaining fees offered, but they are rightly apprehensive, should they do so, of their neighbours' vsogcanca. It needed but this endeavour on the part of the landed pro- prietors to raise and equip private body and pro- perty guards to prove how wide is the gulf that now separates the nobility from their former abject and devoted retainers of the pre-Emanci- paiion days. The terror now reigns within the manor and manse, not in the izbas of the peasantry. M. Shan Girey, the newly-appointed Governor of the Taurida, in succession to M. Trepolf (a relative of the Metropolitan Governor-General), is a direct descendant of the Khans of the Crimea, or, as formerly called, Krim Tartaria. The family of the Shan Gireys are now more or less completely Russianised. The nominal head of 11 the family, recently appointed to a high adminis- trative post at Tiflis, describes himself as Sultan- Krim-Girey. A PUNITIVE DECREE. I In order to impress upon the rural population I who have come under the influence of the peasant i movement that private property is inviolable, and that any attack upon the property of others will be most severely punished, an Imperial decree, bear- ing Sunday's date, has been issued, authorising the Russian Minister of the Interior to appoint, in districts where disturbances have occurred, provi- sional commissions, presided over by the District Marshals, and consisting of the presidents of the district rural offices, rural headmen, district com- missaries, and tax inspectors, with the addition of one or two Zemstvo delegates. The duty of these commissions, says the decree, shall be to trace those who have been concerned in disturbances, to j fix the amount of material loss caused by the dis- I turbances, and to collect compensation from all members of village committees implicated in the disturbances, the whole real and personal estate of such members being liable to be sold by auction j for this purpose. The Minister of the Interior is at the same time instructed to submit to the j for this purpose. The Minister of the Interior is at the same time instructed to submit to the j Committee of Ministers a plan stating on what j lines the collection of compensation is to be lines the collection of compensation is to be effected, and State loans are to be granted to j landowners who have suffered loss, and who have j not themselves means for re-erecting buildings of theirs which have been destroyed, or for procuring J new agricultural implements. I GREAT BAKERS' STRIKE IN MOSCOW. j There are now 20,000 journeymen bakers on j strike here in Moscow. The consequent rise in j the price of bread causes great hardship, partieu- ] larly among the poorer classes. The Socialist Democratic party of Poland and J Lithuania has issued a manifesto calling upon all j workmen, peasants, and labourers to observe May j 1 by absenting themselves from work in order to mark their protest against present conditions. The manifesto concludes with the hope that this will < be the last 1st of May under a despotic Govern- ment. The Easter holidays have passed quietly in Warsaw. The garrison has been reinforced by j a regiment of Ural Cossacks, and patrols of j cavalry and infantry are seen everywhere in the streets.

I TEACHERS' EASTER CONFERENCE.! 5 The National Union of Teachers opened their | annual conference at Llandudno on Monday. Mr. s T. John (Rhondda) was installed as president, i and, after the transaction of routine business, lie delivered his address, in which he devoted especial attention to the educational conflict in Wales, and ? to the religious difficulty which was at the bottom i of it.

I SCOTTISH CHURCH DIFFICULTY. i REPORT OF THB ROYAL COMMISSION. The report of the Royal Commission ap. pointed to inquire into the circumstances con- nected with the funds and properties involved in the litigation between the Free and United Free Churches of Scotland has been issued us a Parliamentary Paper. After summarising the effect of the evidence laid before them, the Com- miesioneans, in their conclusions, refer re~ret- fully to the acerbity displayed by both the rival parties. Holding .that under, the judgment oi the House of Lords the title of the Free Church to many of the endowments is dependent on their capacity to execute the trust, the. Commissioners are of opinion that, if it were to undertake to administer them according to their terms, it would almost certainly fli1. They think it ini- possible that the Free- Church should perforin adequately, or with any reasonable degree of success, trusts which were intended to enure to the benefit of the nation, and to be adminis- tered by an organisation covering the length and breadth of the country. The Commissioners declare that the case, is one which fully justifies, indeed necessitates, Parliamentary interference. They r-acommend that the whole funds and pro- perty in dispute should in the be vested in a Commission with both administrative and executive powers that, where, it shall apnear that the Free Church is unable adequately to execute the trusts, the Commission shall be* em- powered to transfer the funds and property; that the United Free Church, by virtue of its institutions and traditions, its material and moral resources, and its organisation as a national Presbyterian Church, is entitled to be preferred; and that no such transference should take place except on equitable conditions, and especially that, the due performance of the trusts being secured, liberal provision should be made for the equipment of the Free Church for its mission as a Christian Church. The Commis- sioners make further detailed recommendations with regard to congregational properties, the investigation of local circumstances, and other points.

STONEHENGE AND THE PUBLIC. NO EIGHT OF WAY. Mr. Justice Farwell has given his judgment in the action brought by the Attorney-General, representing the public, against Sir Edmund Antrobus, asking for an order that, he shall re- move fences placed by him across certain high- ways which lead over Stonehenge Down. The judge held that the particular tracks were not a public way, and that the public had no right to visit Stonehenge without the permission of the owner. The owner had a perfect ripht to protect the stones, which should be preserved. The action would be dismissed with costs.

ADULTERATED PEARL BARLEY. According to the Court Journal, it seems, from the statements in a trade paper, that the retailers of pearl barley have narrowly escaped prosecution, owing to manufacturers of that article having introduced into it an adulterant in the shape of a percentage of French chalk in order to give it the necessary whiteness, which should be produced by repeated milling. The pre- sence of this adulterant has been proved to be an irritant capable of producing pain and likely to be of danger to the delicate organs of an infant where barley is used as a diluent of milk: I On public ground4 many will consider it a pity I that there can be no absolute certainty that the adulteration of so valuable a cereal food will be stopped, but a safeguard lies in rejecting any doubtful qualities, and in purchasing a prepared barley which can be relied upon. This prepara- tion, of absolute and proved purity, is Robinson's Prepared Barley, known as Robinson's Patent Barley, which, introduced in 1823, is recommended by the medical profession generally as an ideal diluent of milk for infant feeding, and a febrifuge of unequalled merit. Within a measurable distance as we are of I summer, when barley water is so generally used, it is all the more important that attention should be drawn to the danger of using pearl barley, which has been adulterated, more especially when a pre- I pared barley of guaranteed purity can be obtained, by which barley water can be made more quickly mid more economically." and more economically."

THE CHARITY COMMISSION. The Charity Commission, in their 52nd annual report (covering the year 1904), propose, the "Times" understands, an important change of procedure in the preparation of schemes dealing with charitable trusts. When a charity is cer- tified by them to the Attorney-General under Section. 20 of the Charitable Trusts Act, 1853, considerable administrative convenience would, they hold, result, and great expense would be saved, if the Attorney-General had greater facilities for referring to the Commission the work of framing schemes for the administration of charitieq. If the Attorney-General, upon consideration of a case certified to him by\ the Commission, decides that a new scheme ought to be established, the High Court directs a scheme almost as a matter of course. 'Schemes made by the Court, are always framed upon the lines, and even according to the forms, which have been adopted by the Commission; but while this process is attended with great expense, such as may often cripple the funds of v, ch-arity, the work can be performed in the office of the Commission without cost. In some cases the Court has thought proper to leave the making of the scheme to the Com- mission but even then expenses have been incurred which might be saved if the Attorney- General had power to refer the matter to them in the first instance. Parliament, the report adds, has in, several instances indicted a, simple method for effecting, the purpose which the Commission have in view namely, that an application to the Commission by the Attorney- General in cases which have been certified by them but which do not appear to him to need the intervention of the High Court should be equivalent to an application under the Charitable Trusts Acts. Legislation would be required) to carry out this proposal. Mean- while the Commission express a hope, that the Chancery Judges may adopt, more frequently than at present, the plan favoured by Judges of high authority on. former occasions of referrinf to the Commission the task of making the scheme when the legal or other contentious issues of the case have been decided. -———=========•

Father (severely) "I noticed that Tom Black- kissed you on leaving to-night. Now, I don't. z!1 like it." Daughter (sweetly): "Weil, perhaps not, pa, but Tom does." Editor "Well, young lady, if the story suits me I will pay you three guineas for it." Young Ladv Author (persuasively): "Oh, come now. Buy it without reading it, and I'll let you have it for ten shillings." -by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America is being considered the question of building, at a cost of £ 200,000, a national Hibernian home in New York. < While digging for a new foundaton for a farmhouse at Hasseit, Belgium, labourers unearthed a copper pot containing 150 silver coins dating from the sixteenth century. C) During the excavations for the foundations o! a house at Brynmill, Swansea, a medal com- memorating the Battle of the Nile was unearthed. A schoolboy at Grigny, in the Rhone, who admitted that his teacher was right in punish- ing him, stood up beside, the blackboard to bid his comrades good-bye, and shot himself dead. Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. E. Baring, I Military Secretary to the Viceroy, is resigning his post 'and returning to England on private affairs. Filled with 73,000 gallons of water, a boiler just constructed on Tyneside stood a pressure of 2201b. to the square inch. Its length and diameter are 9ft. and 30ft., its weight 30 tons. Three more vacancies in the Court of Session are expected very shortly, caused by the resigna- tions of Lord Young, Lord Adam, and Lord Kinnear. Lord Young is the doyen of the Bench, his appointment having taken place in February, 1874. Lord Adam's dates from 1876, and Lord Kinnear's from 1882.

r i JUDGES' PENSIONS. The bill presented to Parliament by the Attorney- General, and supported by the Solicitor-General, to amend the law relating to county courts has been issued with the Parliamentary papers. The bill consists of eleven clauses, the more im. portant of which relata to the rearrangement of districts and business, pensions of judges and re- muneration of deputies, and extension of jurisdic- tion of certain registrars. The salaries of judges on whom the greatest amount of work will ,be imposed by virtue of the scheme may be increased from E1500 to al.800, but the number of judges in receipt of such increased salary shall not exceed 20 at any one time. The power of the Lord Chancellor to recommend pensions shall extend to the case of a judge who has served ID years or more as a judge of eountv courts, but a pension assigned under that section shall in no case exceed one-thirtieth part of the yearly salary to which the judge is entitled at the time of his resignation for every completed year of his service as judge. n- -.v-

« HOT-CROSS BUN MEMORIAL. At Bromley-by-Bow is a public-house with the sign of The Widow's Son," and there a aurioaa old custom is maintained. Once the tavern was kept by a widow with an only son. He started on a. sea voyage on a Good Friday, and promised that he would be back by that day in the following year. He did not como, but for years the mother kept her promise to prepare a hot-cross bun for his return. Each year she lived the anxious mothei observed the custom, which has been maintained by successive hosts and hostesses of the inn ever since. Now, as for long time pnst, within its guest-chamber may be seen old oaken rafters with buns hung up between."

~V\ or..en teachers, especially uncertified teaohais, without friends in South Africa, are wained, in view particularly of the expense of living and the difficulty of getting suitable lodgings, against going there in search of 'employment. Ccniniej. cial traffic on Siberian rivers has increased so considerably that the Russian Government is about to snend £ 750,000 in improving facilities of transit.

^SMAKT" APPEAR,A.:N"CE. Ladles like the 8 WOOD IlNE REVOLVING HEEL PADS. I | 'They prevent Nerve Jar and 1 save cost of Hee ling. Besides beingvery comfortable to ..a.1k A, tila upon, t&ey Be 09 boots In shape, and glva a mmmwmt tit tho woaa-er. r save the boot biU. | flovy SnrBtf-t iajidTWell set up C, Yes 6;,e*s wcbxins the NOOL)-MJL.Nrhgtl Fad"' See the an i:D !Q ;,} iH I': Y mD £ SlEY&L'SiJK /Lancashirs County m »-«•*«•*• 8\wien<» in\ Ali'Kiiinland .i-.Uven. fcfj* Xmdo.j Practical Bports Outfitters. J m THE J. T. 7YLDESLEY ji. TKST BAT. 7.l/- and 'IN- t:ach. I'xedby ?nvst Lanes, and VMhk CfJy.nt)' P t"I,e, a'trZ 0#1#1'$. mmS Rubber Handles, Slllt 10/5,12/5, M/6, lô16, 18/8. %|f All Cane 4/'G, 516,. 7/6, !l1. Balls'; f Wr/ther, froiftS/3. f G'OVffii. 6d. 1 Vrtm-Wf&L Guards I QaantillSl ALL SJPOiiTS iiiiQUISITES-LOWEST illustrated List Post Frtt. "TYLDESLSY & HOLBRMS5C.- DEPT. A. 68, BRIDGE STREET, MANCHESTER. -.w.1I" -v "11 A_ RU LS ?<<:)< B<& P F. N N, A Are the Best. Exact Fit to Boot Heel. Write for Illustrated Catalogue, FREE. HOWISON & CO., 4, Snow Hill (Dep. P), London, E.o.

A MAMMOTH STALAGMITE. Kentucky possesses, in the Mammoth Cave, one of the natural wonders of the world, but, while this is the largest of its caverns, and, so far as known, the largest in the world, there are hundreds of others of inferior, but still of great size. In Edmonson County alone there are said to be more than 500 eaves, and, in addition, 4000 sink holes of various sizes and depths. In Colossal Cavern, dis- covered in 1895, what is believed to be the largest stalagmite in the world has been named Henry Clay's Monument." It is 90ft. high and 30ft. thick at the base. ) u_u -M.

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It may not be generally known that the first team of Australian cricketers to come to England, nearly forty years ago, was com- posed entirely of blacks, who were trained by a Surrey professional, Charles Laurence, settled in Australia as a coach, to the Melbourne club No doubt it was the recollection of this pioneer team that led in later years to embarrassing queries and mistakes about the colour and complexion of subsequent cricketing combina- tions from the Antipodes. A Lincolnshire gentleman possess a fine col- lection of ends of cigars, cigarettes, and cast- away pipes of great men. Among his collection is the end of a cigar thrown way by King Edward on Epsom racecourse last Derby Day, a half-burnt cigarette which the German j^mperor th,p?w away in preparation for S §un wh'en out shooting with ^01 a .Lonsdale -two or three year3 ago and a briar pipe, which was once a favourite with Mr. Chamberlain, etc. r^/le high master was illustrating to a class of juniors the difference between the active the passive voice. "If you kill me," he said, growing personal, "you'll be in the active voice, hut I shall be in the passive voice." A hand snot up. "Please, sor, can a dead person. speak?" "Well, it doesn't matter a-bout being quite dead. We'll say you nearlyms* Now what is the passive voice?" Please, sir. it's the voioe that vou have when you nearly killed."