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

PARTNERS IN DEATH. Following up the sudden death which occurred at Ruddingt.011, near Nottingham, of Mr. P. L. .Mills, ex-High Sheriff of the county, and head of the firm of Mills a,nd Gibb, one of the most ex- tensive concerns in the lace trade, news reached Nottingham of the death of Mr. John Gibb, the other partner of the firm, which occurred ou Sunday night, with equal suddenness, at New York, where he controlled the American branch of the business. Mr. Gibb, who was 76, was ex- tensively known in commercial circles on both sides of the Atlantic.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Great excitement prevailed in a lonely district between Scarborough and Whitby in consequence of two cases of highway robbery with violence. An old woman was seized and had her pockets rifled, while a farmer was similarly treated. For several hours there was a hue and cry, the police scouring the district. Ultimately two powerful men were, with their wives, found asleep in aii outhouse. They resisted violently, but were secured at last. They were taken before the magistrate CM Monday and remanded.

MISSING WOMAN FOUND. The missing woman Mrs. Davies, whose diassp- pearance from Quakers-yard Post-offico caused so much anxiety in South Wales, was found drowned on Monday moraing in the River Taff at Fiddler's Elbow, which lies below Quakers-yard, near Aber- eynon.

WOLVES AS PETS. At Welling, Kent, a suburb about eleven miles from London, Mr. H. C. Brooks has a pack of woives which he is taming as pets. The wolves are now quite tame. although Mr. Brooks first received them in a wild state. He may occasionally be seen walking out with his wild pets in the country lanes. There appears to be a growing demand among the richer classes for these animals z, after they have been trained.

== COST OF MILITARY WORKS. Expenditure on military works in the current year is estimated at £ 2,915,000. The estimated expendi- ture in the year ending March 31, 1905, was £ 3 250,000, and the actual expenditure up to March, 1904 £ 10,256,729. These sums total up to something over' £ 16,000,000, a sum of £ 20,000,000 being authorised under the various Military Works Loans å.cts.

I AN IRISH TRAGEDY. Patrick O'Riordan, an ex-school teacher, and his brother-in-law, Thomas O'Driscoll, an ex- soldier, were arrested at Queenstown on Monday in connection with the murder of Elizabeth O'Riordan, a teacher, of Ardfert, Co. Kerry. The deceased woman's room was broken into on Sunday by the police, who found her dea.d with her neck broken and her face injured. She was the wife of the prisoner O'Riordan and the sister of the other prisoner. Both men were conveyed to Cork Gaol.

I THE CHANNEL FLEET. Ceremonial visits were exchanged on Monday morning between Rear-Admiral Sir A.. Wilson and the military and local authorities of Swinemunde. The First and Second German squadrons arrived at Swinemunde in the course of the morning, and their Admiral visited the British commander, who returned the visit. A banquet in honour of the I visitors was given in the evening.

I THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. The members of the Association arrived on Monday morning at Johannesburg, and had a hospitable reception. The day was Quoted to excursions to the mines, the native and Chinese compounds, and other places of interest.

TOWN TOPICS., I (From our London Correspondent.) 1 Lord Mfcfce, the new Viceroy, who takes his title from his beautiful home in Roxburghshire, has a hereditary connection with India. It was in 1806 that Losd Grenville wi-shed to nominate the first Lord Minto (then President of the Board of Control for India) as Governor- General of that country. At first his request mat with a decided refusal, but Lord Grenville again referred to the subject, telling the Earl that there was nobody else who could thoroughly answer the public wishes and thow of the Government," and that he alone could extricate the Ministry from a position of con- siderable embarrassment." Under this pressure, Lord Minto consented to think the matter over, and to discuss it with his family. It meant no light sacrifice to give the wished-for answer; the idea that Lady Minto and her daughters should accompany him was never entertained, for it was felt that the Indian climate would be fatal to her. The Vioeroyship therefore meant separation from home and family for several years, and at a time when letters often took five or six months to reach their destination. But when once tOO duty was felt to be compelling, Lord Minto wrote I will not yield to the feelings which I cannot but experience, hot will proceed as manfully and gallantly as I can." The condi- tions, both of travel and residence, have im- proved considerably since that time, but the same spirit of prompt response to the duty is the heritage of this noble family. The increasing popularity of the petrol motor- boa.t on the Upper Thames is likely to have aa injurious effect upon the fishoriem of the river, and anglers are up in arms against them. Their waste products are of such a nauseous character that, if discharged into the river, they must either kill the fish or else frighten them away. It has been legally decided, quite recently, tlwtt motor-cars cannot lawfully discharge their waste products on the highway, and no doubt the same law applies to the waterway of the Thames. The graceful, noiseless electoic launches seem to have fallen into disfavour on account of the trouble of recharging them and the weight of the accumulators, while the steam launch is now almost obsolete. The first place to take advantage of the new Unemployed Workmen's Act is the Metropolitan Borough of lyeet Ham. Already the organisers of the unemployed have been in communication with the municipal authorities, and the Mayor has allowed the Town Hall to be used for the registration of men desirous of work. The registration office at the Town Hall will remain open four weeks, and the Mayor will then be asked to take steps to put the new Act into force. The distress at West Ham is at present very acute, and it was at one time suggested that the unemployed, with their wives and children, should go to the workhouse in a body and demand admittance. This proposal, how- ever, was abandoned, owing to the absence of the guardians, and it must be said that the men have behaved in a very orderly manner. The working of Mr. Long's Act will be watched with much interest by municipal authorities all over the country. The medical officer of Stoke Newington-Dr. H. Kenwood-proceeds on the principle of impressing his views upon the public and the authorities by means of happy similes and striking phrases. If," he writes in his newest annual report, the death-rate amongst calves was only one-half of that which prevails amongst infants, the British farmer would, before very long, have entirely to give up the business ol rearing cattle." Then he indicates twc directions in which steps may be taken to re- duce infantile mortality. One of these is by requiring all the older schoolgirls to be edu- cated in the elements of healthy infant-rearing, and the other by educating the present mothers through the agency of women sanitary inspectors and women health visitors. Yet we are not sure that the adoption of these suggestions is as easy as it appears to be on paper. Where would object babies" be found for schoolgirls ? And how is one to conciliate those negligent mothers who refuse to be educated ? Electric traction is gradually replacing the grimy steam service on the ''Underground" railway, and it is hoped that by September 16 the transformation may be completed, so far, at least, as the inner circle is concerned. The only piece of the District Railway now entirely dependent upon steam is the Wimbledon section, but that will also be converted to elec- tricity within the next week or two. For a little while longer steam power will still be paramount on the Metropolitan Company's Hammersmith-Aldgate section, but in time even this branch will be electrified, and fall in line with the rest of the system. So that in the near future the sulphur-laden, asphyxiating atmosphere of the "Underground" will be a thing of the past, and passengers will be able to travel in pure air through clean tunnels. To produce a new play in the holiday month of August is rather a risky undertaking, but it has been successfully accomplished by Mr. Weedon Grossmith, who has brought out at the Comedy a play written by himself, called "The Duffer." As a play it is not a particularly ambitious effort, but as a vehicle for the display of Mr. Grossmith's peculiar dry humour it is admirable. There is not much plot in the piece, as it is for the most part a series of recitals of the loves and rejections of an art student, portrayed by Mr. Grossmith, but there is at least one strong passage in it. This is when an artist friend of his is driven mad by disappointed love, and des troys a picture which was bound to win the medal of the Royal Academy. Here Mr. Gross- smith rushes nobly in and completes the picture, and incidentally brings to a happy conclusion a love affair which had been prolonged to a fourth act by some incredible density on the part of the young man engaged in it. Miss Gertrude Kingston brings all her charm and humour to bear upon a part which does not give them the chance they deserve, and is as irrelevant to the main issue as that of Mr. Grossmith himself. Miss Beryl Faber plays with sincerity as the heroine of the love interest whose feelings are misunderstood by two rival suitors, impersonated successfully by Mr. Henry Ainlev and Mr. W. T. Lovell. There will be an important change this season in the arrangements for Sunday concerts. During the past ten years the band of the Royal Artillery has played at the Albert Hall on Sunday afternoons nearly all the year round, and their performances were excellent. Under the new arrangement the Albert Hall concerts will be provided on alternate Sundays by the Queen's Hall Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, these bands also appearing alternately at Queen's Hall. It will take some little time before the public becomes quite reconciled to the change, for the Royal Artil- lery band has been extremely popular, but in the end it will probably be found that the crowds at the Albert Hall this winter will be larger I than ever. T.

IRISH TRAIN OUTRAGE. A special train conveying the Derry National Foresters to the city on their return from an ex- cursion to Donegal town was attacked on Sunday night at a bridge near Donemara, an Orange district in Tyrone, by a stone-throwing party. The windows and woodwork of two carriages were smashed, and several of the excursionists were severely injured about the face by broken glass and otherwise. On arrival at Derry the injured men were surgically attended to.

THE FLEET IN THE BALTIC. I A Special Correspondent at Stettin states that f a German fleet of twelve battle ships, seven large and four small cruisers will mi-rive at Swinemiinde during the stay of the Channel Fleet -it that port. I It is not known whether there will be anv exchange of courtesies beyond the merest formalities between the two fleets.

DISAPPEARED FROM A LINER. On the arrival at Southampton on Saturday of I the Cape mail steamer Kinfauns Castle, it was re- ported that on the 14th inst. a second-class pas- I senger, named Morgan, who was on his way to Morriston, near Swansea, disappeared, and no trace of him was afterwards found, although the vessel was searched from stem to stern. Morgan's father and brother were awaiting the arrival of the ship.

FATAL QUARREL. On Saturday night, on the gunnery ship Cam- bridge, lying in Devonport Harbour, two of the crew, one of them named Bell, a blacksmith, had a quarrel, during which Bell was struck. He fell backwards, his head striking a rack, and died immediately. The other man was placed under arrest.

FIVE HOUSES BURNT. Five old houses in Fore-street, Framlingham, occupied by tradesmen and cottagers, were de- troved by fire at midnight on Saturday. The inmates, some twenty-seven in number, had with one or two exceptions retired for the night, but all were safely removed. The outbreak is attributed to the overturning of a candle by one of the children. The whole street was at one time in danger of becoming involved, and the occupants of the neighbouring houses removed their household goods while the fire was raging.

TO STOP EARLY MARRIAGES. Early marriages have been frequently deplored. but prohibitory legislation has not been regarded as within the region of practical politics. This heroic remedy, however, is boldly advo- cated by Dr. J. J. Clarke, the medical officer of health for Walthamstow, who in his annual report just circulated recommends that the marriage of person of immature years, and with no knowledge of the responsibility or duty of parenthood, should be prevented by Act of Parliament. First among the main factors producing a high infantile death rate Dr. Clarke places early marriages, accompanied by ignorance of parents, poverty, and artificial feeding of babies.

VESSEL BLOWN UP. EXCITING SCENE. -1 The Solent at the mouth of the ^sewiowB River, Isle of Wight, was on Thursday after- noon the scene of an exciting incident. A large ketch sailing westward and laden with petroleum suddenly caught fixe. The first warn- ing was a tremendous explosion, which was heard for miles round, and which blew up part of the deck. The hull then burst into flames, which blazed without control as the vessel drifted sea- ward. Ultimately a tug managed to geil. a cable aboard the hurn.ing craft, and towed it-ashore near Hauretead Ledge. The wreck had burned itself more or less out at a late hour, but as it was a danger to navigation, it was located by a powerful searchlight, and shelled as it lay in shallow water, and finlly sunk by the^eight heevy guns on Golden-hill, in the Isle of Wight. Thousands of people flocked to the seashore to witness t,he spectacle. The small crew of the vessel had a very narrow escape, being only just in time. o

There are seventy-two spinsters among the cabin passengers who left Liverpool for Phila- delphia on the American liner Westernland. On of four bull pups born at Shotton, Flint- Rhire. has a perfectly-formed wing instead of a front leg. This is thought to be the only case of a bird forming part of an animal. Hampshire claims £ 18,000 for damages done to the roads by traction engines belonging to the War Office, but the latter authority only offers' £ 4000 in satisfaction of all claims.

CURRENT SPORT. I THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. With Yorkshire drawing their match with Essex at Leyton and themselves failing to defeat Middlesex at Manchester, the Lancashire eleven lose the county championship which they held last season. YORKSHIRE'S DEFENCE. Even the most enthusiastic of the spectators who watched the finish of the match between Essex and Yorkshire at Leyton on Saturday could scarcely help yawning at the extremely &low play. But,of course, the visitors were showing quite the right form for their county's sake, and even they that waxed uneasy or tired at the stonewalling of the Northerners could not honestly cavil at the methods, employed. The Yorkshiremen had everything to gain by drawing the match, and the defensive play of Tunnicliffe, Hirst, and Ernest Smith, tiring though it was to witness, was the right policy. COLONIALS' EASY VICTORY. An hour and a quarter's cricket proved sum- cient to bring about Kent's defeat by the Austra- lians at Canterbury on Saturday. The county were in a hopeless position overnight, when they had four men out in their second attempt for 154, and still required another 133 to avert a single innings defeat. As a matter of fact, the remaining batsmen only added 98, and with the side out at twenty past one for 252 the Austra- lians wer»a Left victorious by an innings with 35 runs to spare. Hearne not out 46 completed his 50 as a result of two hours' admirably steady batting, jln first he was fifth out at 187, having hit six 4's. A. P. Day, in strong contrast to his display on Friday, made some fine leg strokes, aiding Hearne to contribute 51 runs for the fifth partnership, but the others did little, though Marsham and Hum- phreys were out unluckily. The former thrown I out from cover-point, and the latter caught in the slips from an awkwardly rising ball. The weather was threatening, and only a small com- pany witnessed the finish. WARWICKSHIRE WIN EASILY. When stumps were drawn on Friday in this match at Southampton an innings had not been completed: on either side, Hampshire having -scorecl. 238 and Warwickshire 282 f,) nine wickets. Less than two hours' cricket, however, on Saturday proved sufficient to finish off the game, Warwickshire winning at twenty-five minutes to two by ten wickets. Only two more runs were added to the Warwickshire score, Santall, who had batted admirably for two hours, being caught at slip. He gave no elm nee, and', driving well,, hit eight 4's. Hampshire thus had to go in again only 45 runs behind, and everyone expected them to stay in for the best part of the afternoon. Thev collapsed in the most dismal faslnon, however, and in lees than an hour and a quarter were put out for 94. THE HAMPSHIRE AVERAGES. •> Hampshire has had a truly disastrous season, L -winning only one of their twenty county matches and losing twelve. On the rare occasions on which they were able to put their best eleven into the field they were very strong indeed in hatting, but,, except for one brilliant per- formance by Hesketh-Prichard, the bowling was hopelessly weak. The veteran Baldwin worked perseveringly, but his sixty-three wickets cost over 30 runs apiece. The brightest feature of the season's work was the persistently fine batting of E. M. Sprot. It is a curious fact .tl-t,at despite the ill-success of the side three of the b-,it-,i.-nen-Ca,pta,in Greig, A. J. L. Hill, and: Llewellyn—had; the distinction of getting two hundreds in one match. SURREY SAVED THE MATCH. Thanks to a. fine- effort by Hayes and Holland), who put on 229 runs for the second wicket, Surrey easily saved: themselves from defeat at Worcester on Saturday. The wicket helped the bowlers to a considerable extent -when play was resumed, and Surrey's overnight score of 99 for four wickets had been only carried to 170 before the last wicket fell. This involved Surrey having to follow on 197 in arrears, and the position became rather serious when with only & runs on the boar(T, Baker was howled by Wilson. Hayes and Holland, how- ever, did not seem in the least troubled by the bowling, and in something, less than three lioul-s 229 runs were added! before Holland was run out. In his 89 Holland hit eleven 4's. Hayes, not out 152 at the close, played brilliantly, and made twenty 4's. At the close Surrey were 93 runs on with only two -wickets down. The match was played for the benefit of Burrows, who has been identified with Worcestershire cricket since 1892. WORCESTERSHIRE AVERAGES. W orcestershire finished up their season's en- gagements on Saturday. They have not done particularly well, their record coming out at five wins five defeats, and eight drawn games. The reason for the measure of success is not far to seek, the bowling having been nearly always expensive.. Even-Wilson and Arnold, though at times both did excellent work, took their at rather a heavy cost. The batting was much better, H. K. Foster, though at one time laid aside by illness, played very finety, and received strong support from Arnold, Pearson, Bowley, and Cun-e. It is a. great misfortune for Worcestershire that R. E. Foster cannot, now spare much time for finst-claAs cricket. He was only in the team dur- ing the last four weeka. but he played quite as brilliantly as ever, and comes o'ut with a wonder- ful average. His 246 not out against Kent was one, of the most remarkable innings of the sea- son. MANCHESTER RAIN. Rain fell in torrents all through the night at Manchester until eight o'clock on Saturday morn- ing, and though the weather brightened the pitch did not dry to any appreciable extent. Another heavy shower fell about half-past eleven, and after lunch it was decided to abandon the game as a draw, Middlesex then, with eight wickets in hand, holding a lead of 100 runs. Scores: Middlesex, 159 and 132 for two wickets Lanca- shire, 191. ENGLAND'S GREAT STUMPER. It is proposed to present A. A. Lilley, the "Warwickshire cricketer, who has kept wicket in twenty-seven England v. Australian matches out of twenty-eight, with a national testimonial. A preliminary meeting is to be held in Birming- ham on Thursday. Lord Hawke, the Hon. F. S..J HeWson, Mr. A. C. MacLaren, and many other prominent cricketers have written cordi- y supporting the proposal. YARD ON WINS AT MONTROSE. In the Montrose tournament on Saturday,, fZ J ? T°tteridge, and Andrew, Kir- v 9 in the final of 30 holes. f "p at the' pth, but Kirkaldy came along with some remarkable play, and at the end of the round was 3 ur> rrv, „ Kirkaldy, 75; Vardon, 78.P" The eC01"es Vardon siarled weli in the afternoon, taking the first three holes, and the match was at the ninth. Vardon eventually won tbo nLWh iby 1 up. Afternoon scores: Vardon 78; Kir- kaldy, 83. A WET DAY'S CRICKET. Cricket was played on Monday under extrerncl3 «nfa,TOOrable weather conditions. In all the first- ■cUss matches where a start was made rain cur. tailed the proceedings, whilst in two caseB-at Taunton and Cheltenham—not a ball could be bowled. Where progress was possible the closing BwrcB were: Surrey (against Northamptonshire; 102 for one wicket, Middlesex (against Kent) KM for three; Yorkshire 203, Sussex 44 for one: Leicestershire (against Lancashire) 192 for three; South U5, North 138 for live. KIEBAN'S NEW RECORD. B. B. Kieran, the marvellous Australian swimmer, proved his superiority over Billington and Co. by swimming the 500 yards amateur cham- pionship of England at the Corporation Baths, Leeds, on Monday night, in the world's record time of 6min. 7 l-5sec. He thus upset his own time-made in Australia —by 2 4-5see., Billington took 6min. 20see., and Taylor 28sec. longer. TUESDAY'S PLAY. No play was possible on Tuesday in the Middlesex-Kent and SurreyvNorthants matches, at Lord's and the Oval respectively. The Austra- lians scored 184 for seven wickets against Gloucestershire, at Bristol. Mr. J. J. Darling scored 99. At Hove, Yorkshire scored 203, and 39 for one wicket, against Sussex's 137. At Manchester, only two overs were bowled, owing to the rain, and Leicestershire added nine runs to the Monday score of 192 for three wickets. At Taunton, Warwickshire scored 131 for five wickets against Somerset. At Blackpool Festival, the scores at the close of Tuesday's play were: South, 95, and 95 for one wicket; North, 206.

PROFESSORS ON STRIKE. COSSACKS AND PEASANTS IN CON- FLICT. At a meeting of university professors at Odessa on Monday, it was decided to abstain from any participation in university work until a new order of things had been established, the people gene- rally had been given all civil rights, and the universities had been privately granted full aca- demic autonomy. It is expected that similar resolut;ons will be adopted by all other Russian universities. The agrarian agitation is reported to be increasing in various parts of the Russian provinces. In a Caucasian village Cossacks and peasant* came into conflict, and many were killed and wounded.

TEE TRAMP'S WARDROBE. George Jones, a tramp, when arrested at Aber- carn on Monday, was wearing three shirts, a woman's red flannel singlet, two pairs of corsets, an old velvet bodice, an old treble-lined waistcoat, an ordinary cloth vest, coat, two pairs of pants. and cloth trousers. He explained that he found the climate much colder in some counties than in others. He also bad in his possession a tramp's road-map, several lots of food, and 19 coppers. Ho was sent to prison for 14 days.

I TREATMENT OF CONSUMPTION. Discussing the new treatment of consumption with vegetable juices, Dr. Josiah Oldfield a well- known London specialist, points out that the vege- tables used for this purpose must be healthy. He also emphasises the medical value of raisins and raisin syrup and raw carrots, and declares that he looks upon the beer of Old England as one of the most important causes of the stamina of the English people.

The new armoured cruiser Devonshire, built and equipped! at a cost of £ 863,000. was manned and; commissioned at Chatham, and shortly joins the First Cruiser Squadron. While an ancient shop at Colchester was under alteration lasiti week, massive oaken became thickly studded withbullets fired during the siege of the town in 1648 were found. Mr. John Burns, M.P., and a party of other Labour men have sailed for Canada oh the Allan Line steamer Bavarian. It is said that he has gone to investigate the condition of the recent emigrants to Canada.

FIFTY-THREE EXCURSIONS. I £ 150,000 DIVIDED IN A WEEK. I Thousands of Oldham mill-owners have left the spindle and the loom for the annual week's holi- day. It is "wakes" week, and on Friday and Saturday a sum of about Z150,000 was drawn from the respective clubs and savings banks, an increase of £ 11,500 on last year's distribution. The wakes opened under depressing conditions, but all Saturday morning the railway stations were crowded with excursionists. It is estimated that this year the excursion traffic has beaten all records. This is notably the case in respect of long-distance trains. No fewer than fifty-three specials left the Old- ham stations on Friday night and Saturday morn- ing. Torquay, as in previous years, has proved very popular, but the biggest trip of the wakes was to Ireland. A large party has gone to Boulogne, while Scotland, North Wales, Blackpool, the Isle of Man, Morecambe, Scarborough, Southport, London, and the South Coast watering places are also visited.

KENT FARM MYSTERY. The mystery was cleared up on Saturday, when it was ascertained that Miss Pennial died at Maid- stone onjuly 19 from natural causes, and was buried there on the 21st. She went 'to Maidstone from Sevenoaks, passing under the name of Mrs. Stanley.

SUICIDES IN AMERICA. I Mr. Frederick L. Koffman, A well known American statistician, has analysed the official returns of suicide from 50 American cities. Col- lectively these report 2927 cases of suicides in 1904. This gives a rate of 19.5 per 100,000 of popula- tion, which is the highest since 1890, when this annual tabulation was begun, and when the rate was 12.0 per 100,000. The increase has been con- stant. San Francisco stands highest with a rate per 100.000 of 23.7 in 1890, 49.9 in 1900. and 72.6 in 1904.

CLERGYMAN'S SAD END. I The body of the Rev. Samuel Price Smythe rector of Welby, Suffolk, was found dead in a fieldi at East Worlington, Devon, and there was al inquest on Saturday. Deceased had been depressed, as the result of a cycling accident, and had been staying with his brother- a farmer-since June. He left a letter stating that his life had become useless, and indicating where his will would be found. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide by prussic acid poisoning while of unsound mind."

IN THE PUBLIC EYE, I GENERAL BOOTH, of the Salvation Army, began preaching in the open air as a boy of 15. o MADAME CURIE, who, with her husband, dis- covered radium, is only 37, and as she and M. Curie are still pursuing their scientific researches, her name may yet be linked with some other startling discoveries. 0 THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS believes in early rising, notwithstanding that she has not a great amount to do. She has been accustomed to be downstairs by half-past seven of a morning ever since she was a little child. -:0:- MR. ANDREW CARNEGIE is a great lover of Shakespeare, but he does not appreciate Homer. When I read of Achilles praying for the suc- cess of his country's enemies, because his own schemes ;went wrong,"i says Mr. Carnegie, it was too much for me, and I put the book away." o: IN THE CZAR'S stables, which cost £ 200,000 to build, is a unique collection of vehicles, some of them a hundred and fifty years old. Perhaps the most interesting specimen is the carriage in which the Czar Alexander II. was seated when it was much shattered by a bomb thrown by a Nihilist. o: PSIMiss Anew ROOSEVELT, the eldest daughter of the American President, is a most energetic girl. She loves to walk, ride, and drive, and is fond of golf and tennis, an enthusiastic yachtswoman, and can dance until the last guest is fled, the garlands dead." She can walk as far as I, and often takes a tramp of miles at the pace I set," said the President one day, in speaking of Miss Roosevelt. o: MADAME MELBA was once leaving an opera house, her arms laden with roses which had been showered at her feet, when a poorly-dressed woman came between her and her carriage. I- Madame, will you give me a rose ? she said, in a beseeching tone of voice. Melba held out a flower to her, and saw then that tears were streaming down her face. Moved by an irresistible impulse, Melba leaned forward and kissed her face. God bless your heart!" murmured the woman, and in a moment she slipped away into the dark. The diva heard afterwards that the poor stranger had been a great singer in her time. Melba tried very hard to find her again, but without success. -:0:- Ms. CHAMBERLAIN is a great lover of Dickens When delivering his extempore addresses he often draws liherally upon the novelist for illustrations, comic and serious. -:0: THE EARL OF ABERDEEN belongs to perhaps the longest-iived family in the British Peerage. The title, which was granted in 1682, was in the possession of the fourth bearer only in 1860. -:0:- ON HIS LEFT "WRIST M. Santos-Dumont in" variably wears a bracelet, which he regards as a mascot. To this he considers he owes the im- munity from mishaps which he has enjoyed whilst making trips in his aerial vessels. o THE GERMAN EMPEROR possesses several seals which he values very highly. One, which is enormous, was a present from the Czar. It con- sists of a fine topaz, nearly five inches thick and quite six inches across, and is worth about £ 300. It is engraved with the Germ&n eagle and the crown of Prussia. -:0:- Miss BERTHA Knupp, who has for two years been the real head and owner of the huge Krnpp works, is described as one of the richest and most capable young women in the world. Not yet twenty, she is an authority on great guns and battleships, and the military representatives of countries needing armament frequently meet and discuss their business with her personally. o LORD BALMENY, Lord Rosebery's elder son. has, like his father, a sense of humour, though in other respects he is singularly unlike his distinguished parent. Big, strong, and athletic, he is fond of outdoor life a.nd field sports, is a first-class rackets player, and much interested in racing, in addition to which he is captaining the Surrey County cricket team this season. It was Lord Dalmeny who, when Lord Itosebery was to address the boys at Eton on one Fourth of June," begged his father not to allude to Wellington and 11 the play- ing fields of Eton"; a much-abused quotation which the poor Etonians have to hear at very frequent intervals. o MR. G. J. HOLYOAKE, the veteran journalist and lecturer, originated the custom of exhibiting a light in the Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament when the House is sitting. The signal saves members at a distance many fruitless journeys. o: WHEN Lord Curzon travels as Viceroy of India, he is usually accompanied by 1: attendants. End- less are the precautions taken insure his safety, and everything is done for his comfort. In Southern Punjab the railway track is even watered to lay the dust. o: THE Duke of St Albans possesses the privilege of driving down Rotten Row on the occasion of the Coronation of a Sovereign, a right which he shares with Royalty. The import&nce of this is realised when it is remembered that Rotten Row is really the King's way, and that it has never been a public thoroughfare. o: PADEREWSKI began studying music at the age of seven, his first teacher being a man who made hia living by giving lessons on the piano, which he him- self could not play! -:0:- THE KING OF PORTUGAL could relate many exciting experiences if he chose. On one occasion a man tried to shoot him, and on another a weird- looking individual endeavoured to climb into his carriage. Both assailants were mad, -0: ADMIRAL SIR, ARTHUR KNYVET WILSON, who has been promoted to be a Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order on the occasion of the visit of the French Fleet, is the possessor of many decorations. He is a Knight Commander of the Bath, and wears the Victoria. Cross, which be won in the Sudan campaign of 1884, when he was badly wounded. During the Crimean war Sir Arthur serve, in the Black Sea, and has the medal with clasp and the Turkish medal. For the Chinese war of 1857 he has the medal with two clasps, and his services in Egyptian campaign of 1882 brought him, in addition to the ordinary decora- tion, the Khedive's bronze star, the Order of the Medjidieh, third class. Sir Arthur is seventy-three years old, and is the third eon of the late Rear-Admiral George Wilson, and a brother of Sir Roland Knyvet Wilson, Bart. o TEE MARQUIS OF RIPON, who is the Prince of host for the opening of the shooting season, enjoyed a similar honour last August. Nearly fourscore years, the Marquis can look back upon a political career of exceptional length. As long ago as 1849 he was an attache to a special mission to Brussels, and three years later he entered the House of Commons. Beginning as Under-Secretary for War in 1859. he filled many offices before he retired in 1895 as Colonial Secretary. Lord Ripon's reign in India, is famous. "The weakest of all the Viceroys," says Kipling, while General Gordon wrote, "God has blessed England and India, in giving Lord Ripon the Viceroyalty." This striking difference of opinion arose from varying views of the native question. ———: o: LORD CROMER has returned home, and has gone to Scotland to enjoy the cool Caithness breezes. He is staying for a few weeks at. Strathmore Lodge, in that county, of which Mr. Thomas Baring hais, ,-t lease. Considering the very severe illness which Lord Cromer had a. few years ago, he is in wonderfully good health. His regime in Egypt is a very strict and simple one. He never dines out, but leaves his young and charming wife (a sister of the Marquis of Bath) too look after the social side of his life. Early to bed; and early to rise has been his motto for many years, and almost the only recreation he allows himself is his daily drive with his wife and little two-year-old boy.

ART AND LITERATURE. Several new pictures have been put on view at the Graves Gallery. Mr. Caton Woodvilles "Favourite of the Harem," a single figure, has brilliant colour. Two pieces of bust portraiture by Dulnard, "A Cavalier" and "A Venetian," are most picturesque and full of strong draughtsmanship. The Japanese landscapes remain on view, and arrangements have jÛ6tJ been concluded for their exhibition in a specie gallery at the autumn Salon. A set of coloured prints from Wheatley's "Cries of London," and of the 18th Century, possee.s special pictorial! and antiquarian interest. The collection of oils by foreign and nativoi artists at the Tooth Gallery snouid not ba missed by visitors to London. Throughout, the exhibition is of fine quality. Roybet's "Captain of the Guard" is a most attractive canvas,. animated and picturesque; and there is a. captivating Decamp's "A Street in Capri." An admirably-drawn figure occurs in tho Academician, Mr. Seymour Lucas's "King's Messenger," and Mdme. Henrietta. Rae's "Diana and Caliisto" has great pictorial charm, the soft, bright colour being a distinctive featuroa. There are also notable examples by Messrs. B. W. Leader, R.A. Douglas Adams, ardi Pickering. At the- Clifford Gallery one of Bernard Hoog's works, "Maternal Love," a Dutch woman and two little daughters, possesses artistic and 'sentimental interest, combining to make the artist's work very attractive. Able" works by Harlamoff, Rossi, Weiss, and Barclay- Henry are also hung. Nothing on the walls impress more than the engravings from Meiseonier. One, "The Last Card," the group of .gamblers so dramatically disposed by the painter that the work must rank among his greatest, only reached the gallery recently. It is a translation by Dupont, and of the finesfr quality. At the Lyceum Club, 128, Piccadilly, tho Members' Arts and Crafts Exhibition remains open till September 14, including a collection of Italian laces from the schools of the Countetss Cora di Brazza-Savorgnan Torreano. The new gallery of the Musee de Paris, will, it is expected, be opened after the* vacation. It is composed of six rooms oik the second floor, and will be illustrative of tbo military history of the Second Empire and; of the War of 1870. The feature of the new rooms will be a very extensive exhibition of the wcrka of Detaille, to the number of about two hundred. The military costumes of the period; form an important section, as well as a complete collection of the proclamations relat- ing to the war which emanated from lira Imperial Government and from the Government of tne Defense. Nationale. Professor Charles Augustus Young, who hiaa during the last twenty-six years occupied with great"distinction the Chair of Astronomy at Princeton, New Jersey, together with the directorship cf the Halstead Observatory there,: has recently retired, and been nominated Pro- fessor Emeritus. The number of the "Popular Science Monthly" for July gives a sketch of hia career with portrait. Born at Hanover, N.J., on December 15, 1834, he became Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy (a post- formerly held by his father) at Dartmouth,, Mass., in 1866. from which he removed to Princeton in 1879. His researches in eclar physics are well known, and he took an part in five expeditions to observe total eelrcses of the sun, the first in 1869, and the last in1 1900. This is not the place to make ¿D detailed reference to his works, which are a.i1} of great interest and value; probably few books are more cherished than his "Text-Book of General Astronomy," the first editicn of which appeared in 1888. A number of important panels of Gobelins tapestry are in hand at the famous French workshops. The Senate is about to receive a second panel, Venus lamenting ihe Death of Adonis," from, the design of M. Maignan. This, with the Venue and Adonis" already placed,, forms two of a series designed by the same artist for the decoration of the Senate and third panel, which represents "Jupiter and Semele," has been in hand for some montcs. A second series will consist of five panels of subjects taken from the "Metamorphoses" of Ovid, and when these are finished and hung the Senate house will have a superb decoration. A very large panel, 7 metres high by 11 met: es broad, is also in hand for the Mairie of tha Thirteenth Arrondissement, the subject of it being "The Glorification of Colbert." after a design by M. J. P. Laurens, exhibited at the Salon some vears since. Another work by G. F. Watts has been. added to the collection on view at Leigh"cu House. The interest of the picture lies in th() fact that it was painted not later than 18S4, when the artist was only seventeen years old, The mcture is a portrait of Mr. Richard Edmonds, of New Cross, Surrey, to whom the father of the artist had "predicted that his eon would become not a star, but a planet in tho world of Art." Mr. Edmonds, wishing to encourage the young artist, gave him a sitting. The painting was not signed at the time, but five years ago Mr. Watts recognised it as his work, and affixed his signature to it. OJ A t Venice an International Congress of will lie held from September 21 to 28. -the va6, committee includes as English representatives^ Sir W. B. Richmond. Mr. Edmund GOiSse, Mr. 'W. M. Roesetti, Sir' Aston Webb, and Lord Windsor. The' Congress will be divided into four sections 1. International Exhibitions and Competitions 2. Artistic Tuition; 3. Pn-biio Art in xteiation to Modern Life; 4. Inter- national Agreement, for the Protection of Valu- able Works of Art. The proceedings, whic-fo are under the presidency of Prof. A. Frade/etto. will include a commemoration of the work of Ruskin. So much interest is taken in phy- sical education that by arrangement with tho executors of the late Samuel Smiles, the Walter Sc-oit Publishing Company (Limited) are iseu- ing a work on "The Nature and Management of Childr.en" left by Dr. Smiles on his death". Sir Hugh Beevor, Bart., M.D., F.R.C.P., is editing the volume, with suitable additions tc tho text. Sianor Tullo Massarani, who diad last week st Milan, was in many respects a remarisfclo man, being a poet, an artist, a, politician, a philanthropist, a scholar, and an excellent writer on art matters. He was born in 1828, of Jewish, parentage, and took an active, part in the Italian. revolutionary movement from 1848 to 1870. In 'addition to many political pamphlets and becks. he was the author of "L'Arte a Parigi, of which editions appeared in French and Italian. He was a member of the Internationa^ t Com- mittee for Fine Art at the Paris Exhibition of 1900. He was a Senator in the Italian ment. Four new volumes of the Sixpenny Glassies" are now ready—"The Beam-^s o. Shak-spere." George Eliot's "Salas 5 Lamb's E&savs of Elia, and Ainsworth'fi \vind- scr Castle." These complete the firs, oozon volumes of this series. We hear of the "Cameo Classics" have 150,000 copies—truly a triumph of cheap .,tt.a- i ture. __L .I"Y'r c:of.T"'I rt r,r- M. Henry Ma-ret mases cm- a. v->u in "Le Rappel'' for the erection of a monument to Camdlie Desmoulms. Desmovdms fell a victim to the people whom he served, and w, atevEr mav be though, of the part which he plaved in 'the French Revolution, there can be no doubt that manv less deserving men than he have been honoured with public monuments. M. Manet suggests that tne most suitable placa for such a memorial wou.d be m the Palais Royal Garden, the scene of one of^Desmoulins's most impassioned orations. Le Rappel" has opened a subscription list.

"Ever had a cyclone here?" asked a man who was visiting a, country aunt recently- A cvelone? Oh, yes 1" said his aunt, "Mr. Brown's son brought one from London a short time ago, but lor he couldn't ride it. Tumbled off every time he tried!" So hoi. water is a great cure, is it? Wed, X shan't let any of my lodgers get sick for want of that medicine. Just put another gallon of hot water in that soup, Maria, and perhaps you had better take out that oyster now. It might be too rich 1"