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

CAPE TO CAIRO LINE. I VICTORIA FALLS BRIDGE OPENED. I The members of the British Association arrived at the Victoria Falls on monday. and the new bridge vrcs formally opened by the President, Pro- fessor Darwin, who made a speech to the assem- bled visitors in the middle of the bridge, where the train was drawn up. The great bridge across the Zambesi was built by the Cleveland Bridge Company, of Darling- ton, to the designs of Sir Charles Metcalfe and Mr. G. A. Hoibson, of the firm of Sir Douglas Fox and Partners, consulting engineers, in Lon- don to the Rhodesia Railway (Limited), and its construction was superintended by Mr. Imbault. It is a handsome structure, and was designed, in the words of Mr. HoJbson, "on simple and de- finite lines, to fulfil a definite purpose." It was designed to harmonise as much as possible with the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The bridge crosses the Zambesi at a point known as "The Boiling Pot," a raging, whirling rapid, from which .a heavy cloud of mist rises eternally. The brmge is about 420ft. above the river level, and its total length is about 650ft. The work of construction was proceeded with from both sides of the river simultaneously, the material for the work being conveyed across the gorge by means of a so-called Blondin trana- porter. It is interesting to recall the fact that fifty miles of railway north of the falls were con- structed before the material could be taken across the bridge, the locomotives, trucks, rails, sleepers, and other necessaries being carried over by the aforesaid transporter.

HOOLIGANS AT BIRMINGHAM. I POULTRY SHOP RAIDED. I An amazing state of lawlessness in a busy quarter of Birmingham was suggested by a case which came before the city stipendiary on Tues- day. It wa,s alleged that a gang of men created a mock disturbance in Spring-hill, when the Saturday night shopping was in full swing, and that in the confusion which followed they raided a poulterer's shop. First they attempted to carry off the till, but the shopkeeper, William Smith, offered a stout resistance. He was badly mauled during the melee, as were an assistant and several customers. Being foiled in their designs on the till, the raiders turned their attention to the stock. They stripped the shop-front and slabs of over forty rabbits, and a number of head of poultry, making off with the plunder before the onlookers had recovered from their astonishment and alarm at the sudden foray. Four men declared to be members, of the gang were tracked by the police, who captured two, named Alexander Thomas and Henry Feather- stone. The others escaped, one, of them swim- ming the canal to elude the officers. The ac- cused were remanded.

LIONS AT AN AUCTION. I SCENE AT SANGER'S MENAGERIE. I Anyone with a desire for new pets, and having a. spare ZCIO note, might have- become the ownfir of a. Brahma bull at the sale on Tuesday of animals at Lord George Sanger's famous menagerie at Margate. 0 There were other lots to tempt the fancier on the look-out for novel possessions, notably a solemn-eyed Tibet yak, several six-year-old rons, four Egyptian sheep, a puma, and a, brown be-tr. The sale was conducted by Mr. Tom Normnn, described as "The Silver King," and among the buyers were Mr. Jamrach, Mi-. Bostock, and Sir William Ingram. Two hyenas, not particularly beautiful but still with good qualities about them, were sold for £2 10s., and ten porcupines with hair rigidly on end were knocked down for zCl3 10s. The Peruvian llamas, serene in all the hubbub of the sale, went for prices varying from £ 6 10s. to ten guineas. A very fine specimen of the white fallow deer was sold for ten guineas, and red deer fetched £ 8 10s. Eight monkeys and two badgers were offered in one lot. The monkeys obviously did not think much of the sale, and signified their feeling in the usual Simian manner. One hyena fetched E2 10s. It was described on the catalogue as "runs well with lion," although it was not stated whether in double harness or with the lion behind. When the auctioneer came to the lions there was a thrill of expectation among the "lots," but no buyer ventured into the cages to view them. The auctioneer, from the safe side of the iron bars, was loud in his praises of the animals. There was a note on the catalogue to the effect that, the splendid black-mane lions, six years old, were both as docile as pet dogs. Only their trainer, M. Sadlere, however, offered to stroke them. One lion went for thirty guineas, and a lioness, "Victoria," mother of three, litters, went for twenty-six guineas. There was very brisk bidding for the magnificent lion "Emperor," and it was eventually knocked down for £12.5. A puma and three cubs fetched £ 16 10s., but there were no offers for the bears. As for the supercilious Tibet yak, it looked as if it did not care whether it was sold or not.

X35,000 FOR SERVANTS. I Under the will of Major-General George Methall, of Newport, Barnstaple, who died last month, at the age of ninety-one, £ 35,000 of his fortune of zCS9,221 is left to his servants. First in the list is the housekeeper, Priscilla Ann Arundel, who receives a legacy of L15,000, her late master's household effects, his houses, 1 and 3, Clarence-place, Newport, and one-third (about £ 10,000) of the ultimate residue of his estate. To hie housemaid, Susan Down, General Methall left £ 1,400. His cook, Louisa Down, receives a legacy of £900, and to all other servants who had been in his employ for twelve months the testator be- queathed one year's wages. There are also eight bequests of E200 each to charities, and legacies to nephews, nieces and friends.

A GIRL'S SUICIDE. 1 The body. of Emma Lichfield, of Lea Wood Farm, who had been missing from her home for five days, was found in the River Derwent on Tuesday. After her disappearance a letter was found which indicated that she intendp-d to commit suicide, although no motive was given. She was eighteen years of age.

THE CHANNEL FLEET. I Everything in connection with the vicit of the Channel Fleet to Copenha.goen continues to pass off most successfully. On Monday Queen AlexandTaand Princess VIctoria. visited the fleet, and were entertained to luncheon on board the Exmouili. The cordiality of the reception accorded to the Hoot by the Danes seems to have deeply. and not very pleasantly, affected some of the German newspapers.

Mr. George Sills, Recorder of Lincoln, died at Casthorpe, Grantham. Mr. Sills was' born in 1832, and held the post of Recorder since 1888. Effective results are being produced by the measures taken to prevent Chinese desertion* from the Transvaal mines. Police drives have accounted for 300 deserterat but 260 are stili unaccounted for.

RAILWAY DISASTER. TRAIN FALLS INTO A STREET. MANY KILLED AND INJURED. An accident, which is said to be the worst in the history of the line, occurred on the New York Elevated Railway at half-past seven on Monday morning. One of the cars fell into the street below the line, and ten persons were killed, while the number of injured is reported to be. from 25 to 30. The train to which the a.ccident occurred left 59th-street for Ninth-avenue at four minutes past seven o'clock, and was crowded with pas- sengersi going to business. Near 53rd-street, when it was going at full speed, it encountered an open switch, and the first car, instead of going down Ninth-avenue, turned the curve and followed a Sixth-avenue train which had just preceded it. The switchman, it is said then aggravated his blunder by turning the switch back again in a belated effort to divert the Ninth-avenue train to its proper track. This put the second car on different rails from those on which the first car was travelling, and the result was that the second car capsized and fell into Fifty-third-street, while the third car was left, hanging over. The car which fell into the street besides turning upside down also turned completely round. The sides broke to splinters as it struck the ground, and, generally speaking, those who had been standing in the car were hurled into the street, while those who had seats were penned in by the benches. A piece of. metal decapitated a pa&senger, who was sitting in the front part of the fatal car, making a perfectly y clean cut, and the head was found 60 feet away from the body. The street was filled with debris. The fourth carriage lodged against the fire- escapeos at the corner of a building, and the pas- fcengers in this and the fifth car escaped down them after climbing out of the windows of the trains. The motor man of the forward car was attacked by the crowd, but he stoon convinced his assailants that it was the switchman who was responsible for the accident. The current was cut off all the elevated lines as soon as the accident occurred. By some mis- take, howe ver, the sale of tickets was continued, and this led to some slight rioting among the enraged public, who demanded the return of their money, as they could not be conveyed to their destination. The police, without much difficulty, quelled the disturbance. The thou- sands of office clerks and shop workers hurrying down town were obliged to travel by the surface cars and subways, the resources of which were greatly over-taxed. A Reuter telegram says that the switchman, to whose slowness the accident is said to be due, has been arrested.

CHASED BY THE POLICE. MOTOR-CAR BEATS THE CAB. An exciting chase by detective6 in a motor-car after fugitives in a hansom cab has taken place outside Preston. While walking on the main road outside the town detective McGuire'is attention was drawn to a cab (in which two men and a woman were seated) proceeding at a rapid rate in the direc- tion of Blackpool. Returning to the police-station he ascertained that search was being made for a young clerk, named William Woods, who had absconded from Bolton with £ 45, which he had drawn from the bank for wages on behalf of his employers. Woods had been traced as far as Preston, where he was lost eight of. Finding that one of men m the cab bore a resemblance to the description given of Woods, detective McGuire procured a motor-car, and accompanied by another detective, went in pur- suit of the cab." The vehicle was overtaken at Freokleton, a village about six miles from Pres- ton. Woods 'was highly indignant, and represented that he was an American in England for a holi- day. He resisted capture, but after a sliirp struggle he was overpowered, and carried by the detectives to the motor-car. The driver of the ihansom cab was instructed to follow the motor- car with the two other passengers, and the party set out for Preston. Taking advantage of a bend in the road. the party in the caib turned round, and drove off in the opposite direction. The police, in no way disconcerted, continued their journey to Preston, where Woods was placed in custody. Then_ set- ting out again, the motoring detectives continued the pursuit, and by hard driving, caught the caib again at Lytham, ten miles away. This time the ealbmun was inside the vehicle with the woman, while her companion was on the box-seat driving. The couple were trans- ferred to the motor-car, and were afterwards charged with being concerned in the robbery of the £45.

RAILWAY THIEVES. DRESSED AS PORTERS. While the London termini are the chief hunt. ing grounds of the railway thieves, passengers using the more important provincial stations have also good reason to complain. Those police-officers whose duty it is to detect and prevent the operations of this class of swindlers are but too well aware that when the metropolis becomes too hot to hold them they proceed to the large towns of the North and, West, where, with luck, they may work for some time without coming under the notice of the police. During the holiday season the railway thieves have been busy in Liverpool, where increasing traffic in connection with ocean-going and coast- wise passenger steamers afforded them oppor- tunities of which they were not slow to take advantage. The thieves who have given the most trouble are those who impudently assume official uniform and the well-dressed rogues. Four captures have bean made at Lime-street within the last fortnight. One of the men when arrested was wearing the uniform of a porter. From the travelling public point of view it is unfortunate that discarded railway outfits can be bought for two or three shillings. For a thief to dress up as a porter or guard is risky work, but the ruse is sometimes successful.

CHILDREN'S BAR. I NOVEL EXPERIMENT WHICH FAILED. The City-road possesses a children s public- house, and its establishment came about in a rather curious way. A few days ago the Britannia, a public-house near the Alexandra trust building, was opened on a new principle. One could not buy a drink there without purchasing food. Halfpenny glasses of beer were served, but with each glass the customer had also to buy a id. sandwich. In a day or so numbers of children were coming in to buy sandwiches, which could be bought alone without the beer. The proprietor took the house next door to his and turned it into a children's bar. There is a counter and the familiar taps, but no alcoholic liquor can be drawn from them, only ginger-beer. An array of sandwiches (small ones can be bought for a farthing) is on the counter. Meanwhile it is interesting to note that the original experiment of serving no drink with- out food has had to be partially abandoned.

So satisfactory is the progress made by ex- President Steyn since hie return to South Africa that he is now aible to walk without a stick, and his eyesight has also improved. With regard to the robbery of explosives near Birmingham, the police are of opinion that nothing more serious is contemplated than the wholesale slaughter of fish, as this method of raiding the ponds and rivers & somewhat com- mon in the district.

A FLY SEA SERPENT. I The sea-serpent story has this .autumn been improved upon in a striking manner by a North Wales correspondent. He sends particulars of a "mysterious aerial visitor," and pertinently asks, "What is it?" Here is his description I 1 A large creature, intensely DiacK, travelling two miles from the earth's sur- face at the rate of twenty miles an hour. 2 Had two short wings and four webbed foot. &-Resembled "a huge pig," according to several eye-witnesses, who were armed with field glasses. • 4.-Had a gliding motion when flying, and gained impetus to its rapid progress by casually inclining sideways. 5 —The creature was at least 10ft. in width. "The web-footed-and-short-wmged-pig," the correspondent also relates, passed over Wynn- stay Park into Cheshire, and he adds positively that "it certainly was not a specimen of any immense South American bird." But why South American?

CURRENT SPORT. I ENGLAND WINS. I The two final rounds in the international four- some between H. Vardon and J. H. Taylor (England) and J. Braid and A. Herd (Scotland) took place over the Deal course on Saturday. The Englishmen, who had a balance of seven holes in their favour from the previous stages, increased 'their advantage to 13 holes in the morning round, ;and in the afternoon won the match at the sixth hole, being 13 holes up with 12 to play. DRAW AT SCARBOROUGH. Rain spoiled the last day's play in the match at Scarborough on Saturday, between the Australians and Mr. Thornton's England Eleven, and in the end the game had to be abandoned soon after three o'clock as a draw. Overnight the Australians with a wicket in hand, were 105 runs ahead on the first innings, and oil Saturday they increased their advantage to 110. The feature of the cricket was the batting of Mr. Spooner; but with three men ,out Mr. Thornton's England Eleven were only two Tuns ahead. Afterwards Mr. Jackson improved .matters, and at the finish they held a lead of 66, with five wickets to fall. ,SPOILT BY RAIN. Spoilt by rain from the start, the first match of the Hastings Festival had on Saturday to be given up as a draw, playing being restricted to an hour and a half. In the little time available the Gentle- men of the South increased their overnight, score of 26 for one wicket to 147 for seven. The pitch was so treacherous that this was by no means a bad performance. Lord Dalmeny, who had gone in first, was out third at 61, his innings having lasted nearly an hour. Sewell, badly missed when four, hit up 25 in thirty-five minutes, but the best batting was shown by Crawford and Jessop. Crawford played admirable cricket for fifty-five minutes, and Jessop, who had a few narrow escapes, scored 43 out of the 51 put on during his ,stay. Hearne, whose three previous overs had been severely punished, got rid of Jessop and Goldie with successive balls, and then rain put an end to the match. ENGLISH SWIMMERS IN PARIS. The efforts which have been made during the last few years to stimulate the somewhat languid interest of the French public in swimming culmi- nated on Saturday morning in a race through Paris, the course being down the Seine from the Pont National to the viaduct at Auteuil, a distance oi seven and a quarter miles. Entries were received from the principal English swimmers, as well as from many French amateurs, but of the latter only three were judged able to make a respectable show against such experts as Holbein, Burgess, Nuttall, Billington, Jarvis, and Miss Kellerman. FRENCHMAN'S VICTORY. Greatly to the supriae of all French experts, the srace was won by one of their own countrymen, Paulus, a veteran swimmer, who is reputed to have been the first Frenchman to use the overhand .stroke in competitions in France. Swimming very steadily, he completed the distance in three hours and a half; Burgess was second, Miss Kellerman third, and Holbein fourth. Billington led the way during the early part of the race at a great pace, but gave up about half way. Nuttall was compelled by cramp to abandon the race. SINGULAR INCIDENT. Poulittou, one of the three French competitors, had his efforts cut short in a decidedly original style. He is serving his time in the army and had omitted to ask permission to engage in the contest, with the result that his commanding offieer posted a quartermaster-sergeant on one of the bridges with instructions to order the swimmer to come out. To avoid arrest for insubordination Poulittou had no resource but to climb into a boat. The race attracted immense crowds, who cheered Miss Kellerman enthusiastically. SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL. Bad going and heavy rain reduced football to such a lottery on Saturday that it was surprising to find anything like a maintenance of form. The Champions seemed to discover their real game at Newcastle; but then, after getting victory within their grasp, they paid the penalty for not playing right out; their backs took the fatal breather," and Birmingham, true to tradition, nipped in and saved the match. STOKE IN FRONT* Perhaps the most striking feature in the competi- tion has so-far been the success of Stoke. L. R. Boose, the Welsh International goalkeeper, has apparently brought good fortune back with his return to the side. Apart from his excellence between the posts the eleven has developed cohesion, and the nice swing of the play has been largely the cause of the three victories with which Stoke has opened the season. ASTON VILLA AND SUNDERLAND. But the match on which chief interest was con- centrated in Saturday's programme was that ,cen between Aston Villa aid Sunderland, for while the Villa's English Cup team was reputed to have re- tained its brilliant excellence of last winter Sunder- land is an improved side with new strength in it. Aston Villa got the odd goal in three; but the team's superiority was much more marked than is inferred by the scoring. Howard Spencer and Leake were at the top of their game, but the forwards had a nice game made for them. As Sunderland has already beaten Newcastle this loss at Aston-park makes out the Villa to be as good a side as ever. 100,000 SPECTATORS. Woolwich Arsenal's discomfiture was brought About at Bramall-lane by the ability of the Shef- field United half-backs. Manchester City's for- tunes took a remarkable turn for the better at a moment when least expected, for without several of its best members the side ran up the heavy score of five goals, completely outclassing Notts Forest, whose men could never find a game. The level. ling up process that has been proceeding among the professional clubs for a long time is illustrated by the results table, which on the second Saturday of the season shows that only eight of the 20 clubs are unbeaten. The bad weather on Saturday was general, and though the "gate" at some places was much more affected by this, than at others the aggregate number of spectators at the 10 matches exceeded 100,000. THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE. The clubs in the Southern and English Second Division Leagues have not yet been separated, and so far it is impossible to distinguish the weak from the strong. A gratifying feature is the success which is attending the new clubs, such as Chelsea, Hall City, and Norwich City. MONDAY'S MATCHES. Chelsea, scored an easy victory over Hull City in a. Second League match on Monday, and in the same competition Clapton Orient defeated Glossop. In the Western League West Ham beat Fulham, Southampton got the better of Portsmouth, and Brentford and Plymouth Argyle and Queen's Park Rangers and Totten- ham drew. s — •

A PENITENT SPEECH. I charged a^Gmve^ i labf?ur^r' flT? a ship's fireman, "God kna^ ^f 9 "I stand alone and undeWi A eFc"lapted; pleased God to enable me to do i? t I got through this trouble, I win order to maintain the poor woman^i m made a widow and the unfortunate whom, I have made fatherless." children This little speech caused weeping in P but Sawyer was committed for trial.

FARMER'S SAD DEATH. I Mr. Arthur Best, a farmer, of Chiselborough, Somerset, has died in Yeovil Hospital from inju- ries sustained in a trap collision. Deceased, ac- companied by his wife, was driving home in the dark, and when near Preston collided with another vehicle. He was thrown out and sustained concus- sion of the brain, while his wife was also seriously injured. Deceased leaves nine children.

A woman applied at Brentford for an order to havthewter run off the Grand Junction CanrIl order to facilitate the search for her son, missing since Friday. She was told to applw again. Mr. Elijah Lindley, of Burton Joyce, Notts, has, an unique record in that for 68 years he has been in the employ of the vicar ana, churchwardens of the parish ehuwjh of St. Helen's, Burton Joyce. The annual expenditure of the Salvation Army in the United States of America on relief work ia gffloOW; over 50,000 workless men are yearly provided with permanent and temporary employ- ment, č. 2,151,627 persons were housed in the shelters in one year.

NEWS NOTES. The King returned to England from Marion* bad on Saturday looking a great deal better for his prolonged stay at that delightful resort. His Majesty arrived at Charing-cross nearly half an hour before the time announced, owing to the passage from Flushing being made in quicker time than was expected. In spite of the incessant downpour of rain a large crowd assembled to greet the King on his arrival, and great disappointment was manifested when it was found that his Majesty had already gone to Buckingham Palace. Considerable anxiety is evidently felt in India in consequence of the partial failure of the rains. Famine is feared in more than one region, and though at present there is no reason to anticipate that the distress will be as serious or so widespread as in the last great famine, already it is reported that the Prince of Wales will have to abandon the Rajputana portion of the Royal tour. Indeed, other considerable modifications are threatened, and it may be that the whole tour will have to be abandoned. There certainly can be no question that it would be undesirable for the Prince to pay a visit of State to districts suffering from famine, or even from abnormal scarcity. A Royal visit necessarily involves local expenditure on a very large scale, and such expenditure would be obviously unwise in the midst of a population suffering from acute distress. The very worse famine in India can, however, onlyaffect a small part of the country, and other regions are often enjoying simul- taneously a more than normal prosperity. Therefore there is no ground for apprehension that the tour as a whole will be abandoned. If His Royal Highness confines his tour to the prosperous parts of India, he will still have more than enough to see in the time allotted for his visit. Detailed reports of the loss of life and pro- perty by the earthquake in South Italy show that the first accounts of the calamity were in no ways exaggerated. The killed and injured are numbered by thousands, the destruction of property has been enormous, and there is reason to fear that when the full tale of ruin is told it will equal, or perhaps even surpass in sadness, the consequence of the great earthquakes which devasted Behia about twenty years ago. The sympathy of the English people with the panic- stricken inhabitants of the devastated provinces surrounding Calabria will be none the less sincere because it is our privilege to enjoy an almost complete immunity from these violent manifes tations of nature. It is rarely that earthquakes originate in these islands, and when they do they seldom cause as much damage as a thunderstorm.. It was not always so. In ages past our strata were racked with convulsions as violent as that which has spread ruin in Calabria; and the probability is that in ages to come they will suffer again. The cooling earth is crinkling like a dried apple, and England cannot hope that every geological age will be as gentle with her as the present. For good or ill, we are a nation of tea-drinkers. More tea is used in Great Britain than all Europe and the United States combined. We consume over 61b. of tea per head of the popula- tion yearly. Like mother, like daughters, Australia reaches and New Zealand exceeds our own high level. On the other hand, the con- sumption of coffee in the United Kingdom: is quite insignificant-not tlb. per head, as com- pared with the 1851b. of Hollandjand the Illb. of America. Both acquired in their early days a bad reputation either as injurious in them- selves or on account of their associations. The last century doctors said tea was as injurious as opium; and Charles H. tried to suppress coffee- houses because they devised and spread abroad divers false, malicious, and scandalous reports to the defamation of His Majesty's Govern- ment." Both have survived their ill-fame, but tea in England has hopelessly outdistanced his rival. The choice is probably a wise one as between the two, and if, as the White Paper issued by the Board of Trade would seem to indicate, it is with tea we amuse the evening, with tea we solace the midnight hours, and with tea welcome the morning. The last act in the great battle drama between Russia and Japan is taking place this week, when arrangements are being made to conclude an armistice preparatory to the home- going of the troops. Marshal Oyama has sent a letter to General Linevitch congratulating him on the conclusion of peace, and asking him to appoint Russian plenipotentiaries to settle questions concerning an armistice. It is strange, in view of the Treaty of Peace, to hear of skirmishes still going on between the Russians and the Japanese along the whole front, and it is prob- ably explained by the fact that up till Sunday the troops had not been made officially acquainted with the result of the peace nego- tiations. Meanwhile the anger manifested in Tokio at the Peace terms has subsided, owing, probably, to the statesmanlike utterances of Field- Marshal Yamagata, who has told his country- men plainly that Russia's obduracy and her desire to continue the war left no hope of obtain- ing adequate repayment for any further sacrifice or expenditure on the part of the Japanese. The Field-Marshall goes on to say that the cessa- tion of hostilities is advantageous to Japan's national development. This timely utterance has had a marked effect upon the Japanese population, and it is probable that martial law will soon be revoked in Tokio and the city resume its normal aspect.

GAS EXPLOSION. I At ten minutes to eight on Monday morning the p tssengers waitingon the Monximent, Station heard II. loud explosion, due to an escape of gas. A train was drawing up at the time, and the shower of dust and debris caused much excitement. Happily no one was hurt, but damage was done to several structures.

I AN ESSEX MYSTERY. I RECTOR'S WIFE'S DEATH. I POISON IN A COUNTRY PARSONAGE. I The 6tory of the mysterious death of a clergy- man's wife comes from the remote Essex village of Nevendon. The rector of the parish is the Rev. Willie McGowan, M.A., of Durham University, and formerly curate at Pokesdown, Hampshire. Recently he started on a short holiday and last week Mrs. McGowan told the servant at the rectory, Ethel Mecklenberg, that she could have a few days to visit her friends. The girl accordingly departed, leaving Mrs. McGowan alone in the house. On returning, Mecklenberg found the house closed and the window shutters securely fastened. Entering, she discovered a note from her mistress, instructing her to open the windows and thoroughly ventilate the house. In carrying out her orders she went into the sitting-room, and was startled to see her mistress lying on the sofa. Thinking Mrs McGowan had fainted, the servant rushed out for help, and on the neighbours arriving the dis- covery was made that the uchappy lady was dead. Two letters were found on the body, one directed to the deceased's husband, the other to her mother, Mrs. Woolard. In the rectory bedroom were two bottles of poison and two glasses, which had been recently used. At the inquest medical evidence was given that the deceased was perfectlv healthy, and that the cause of death could not be certified. The inquiry was thereupon adjourned to allow of an analysis. Mrs. McGowan was only twenty-five years of age, and was of a high-spirited and happy nature. Her tragic death is thus the more mysterious. Her husband, who was not present at tTie inquest, is completely blind, and i6 unknown outside his parish, which has only about two hundred inhabitants, and lies buried in a valley among the Laindon hills. He has been rector of Nevendon, the living of which is in his gift, since 1893.

OH, DADDY, WILL YOU DIE?" SAD SUICIDE OF A POLICEMAN. After returning from a holiday in Norfolk Police-constable Walter Wix, of Wandsworth, suddenly developed the hallucination that he was suspected of theft at the police-station and was being watched, and he committed suicide by cutting his throat. At the inquest on Monday it was said that there was no complaint of any kind against the man, whose character was excellent. Dr. Freyberger said the autopsy showed that Wix suffered from chronic Bright's disease. The widow told a pathetic story. She said she and her husiband were most happy, and they had a little daughter. On September 4, when her husband resumed duty after his holiday, there seemed nothing unusual in his manner. When he returned home to dinner he said suspicion had fallen on him, and he was about to be discharged. His delusion continued for three days. On Thurs- day, wnen he was shaving after breakfast, he ac- cidentally cut his face, and their baby girl ex- claimed, "Oh, daddie, will you die?" "No, my darline." he replied, but next day he inflicted fatal wounds in his throat and arms with the razor. ==========

LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN. BIG INCREASE OF SALARY. I Angry scenes were witnessed at Monday a meeting of the Dublin Corporation, as a result of a proposal to increase the salary of the Lord Mayor from £1,687 to Z5,687 per annum, and to pay the present occupant of the chair at the latter rate for the remaining six months of tie tenure of office. The proposal excited a great deal of hostility on the part of the public, and the gallery was packed with a crowd which repeatedly inter- zupted the debate with scoffing remarks. The salary attached to the office was, from 1842 until 1881, at the rate of £2,000 a. year. For some time past the salary was fixed at £ 3,500, but last year it was reduced to £ 1,687. An attempt was recently made to increase the salary, but was unsuccessful, but at Monday's meeting the salary was increased to £ 5,687 by a majority of one vote, the Lord Mayor (Mr. Hutchinson) voting for this increase. The working men councillors all voted against the increase. Alderman Kelly, one of them, said three-fourths of the people who went to the Mansion House festivities wanted plenty to drink, but £ 5,000 a year would never keep these men in liquor. He felt that under existing circumstances the Lord Mayoralty could not be held by a working man, and since he desired to see a working man in the position, he would like to see all the remnants of the Punch and Judy business swept away. He did not know where the money was to come from in the present state of the finances of the City, when the borough fund showed a deficit of £ 18, wO. Notice of motion has been handed in calling a special meeting of the Council to rescind the resolution authorising the increase.

AUTOCRATIC COOKS. Despite the steady influx of domestics from the provinces to Berlin, the servant question in the German capital is becoming extremely acute, and curious scenes take place daily at the registry offices. The first question asked by the servant is whether the family lives in the West-end and on what floor. Beyond, the second floor most of them refuse to go, and families with children are practically boycotted. The girls now dress so smartly when visiting a registry office that unless the mistresses put on their very best clothes they are mistaken for servants. A cook demands a room to herself, a dry place for her bicycle, every Sunday and one week day "off," and she declines to do ordinary house- work. Her wages are double what they were three years ago.

LOVE TRAGEDY. I A love tragedy was disclosed on Sunday night at Cromford, near Matlock. The police received information that a. body had been found in the canal, and this was identified as that of a widower named John Thomas Rouse, of Cromford, aged about thirty-five. Inquiries showed that deceased was engaged to be married to Miss Elizabeth Dorothy Hurst- house, and the banns had been put up at Crom- ford Parish Church. Miss Hursthouse left her situation at the Greyhound Hotel on Saturday to get married, Jhat being the date fixed,but no trace of the would- be bridegroom's whereabouts since the previous Monday could be found, he having left his lodg. ings that day. Deceased several children by his first wife.

SMALL PRIZES FOR FARMS. An auction was held at the Grand Hotel, Bir- mingham, when several large estates were put on the market. Tbe Abberton estate in Woreester- shire, on which stands an historic hall, was withdrawn from the sale, as the highest bid was only £ 7900. Only £ 2000 was offered for Baynall Farm, a splendid sporting property, and this lot was also withdrawn. Court Farm, which covers 138 acres, was knocked down for 1:2150, and many other fine farms had to be withdrawn ow- ing to the smallness of the offers. The total realised by the sales was about £ 20,000.

Charged at Tower Bridge Police-court with betting, James Hooper said he and his father v were, out of work, and he was only trying to get a shilling for his mother. He, was hneU £ 5 and costs. I The great fire which had been raging in Adriauoplo for some days has destroyed pro- porty worth £ 1,000,000.

LITERARY CHAT. The Hon. Maurice Baring says In his new book, "With the Russians in Manchuria," that Milton is the most popular author in all Russia. Her learned that "P'gxadife Lost" is to the Russian peasantry what Shakespeare is to the Germans, that othe" priests encourage the reading of the book, and that it ia known to every private soldier. The self-advertising methods of authors have evoked some amusing paragraphs from the com- mentator of the "Academy." "We met once an indiscreet publisher," he says, "who had just returned from saying good-'by to a leading author on his departure for the Continent. He showed us two paragraphs in the author's handwriting which had been given him for circulation. The first paragraph stated that the eminent author was going abroad for the benefit of his health, which was causing anxiety to his admirers the second that the alarming rumours as to cue author's health were grossly exaggerated, and that he was, in fact, on the high road to recovery from what had only been a slight indisposi- tion. A voting contest, conducted by a New York newspaper to obtain the view of its readers as to their preferences in recent fiction, resulted in a close race for supremacy between Mrs. Thurs- ton's "The Masquerader" and Mrs. Humphry Ward's "The Marriage of William Ashe," the former winning by only firtyight votes. More than fifty-five thousand votes were cast in all, and no fewer than three hundred and eighty- four novels were deemed worthy of first place by some reader or other. Those who are interested in experimenting with matters immaterial, such as are dealt with. in Dr. Maxwell's recent work on "Metapsvchical Phenomena," published by the Putnam's, will find therein the following simple directions for crystal gazing: Spherical or elliptical (balls of rock crystal give the best results. If glass is used car& should be taken that the ball contains no air bubbles or other defects. The size is a matter of indifference. When looking into the ball it should be sheltered from reflec- tion, for which a dark piece of velvet is useful, and it should >be placed within the range of nor- mal vision. The gaze should not be directed on the surface of the crystal, but in the crystal it- self. The sensitive person will then see in a few seconds or minutes—the time varies with in- dividuals—an opalescent, milky tint come over the crystal. This cloud sometimes takes the form of an image, and sometimes breaks to dis- close the hallucination. The image generally appears to be life-size, with no leIation to the din ensions of the crystal." There is to be still another volume published of veree by the late "Laurence Hope." It is to appear witnm a few weeks under the title of "Indian Poems," and it will be awaited with some interest. Cuba has a. curious custom of mixing literature and cigarmaking. In Havana cigar factories a reader is paid to read aloud three hours daily to the employees. "He is a singular figure," writes J. H. Collins in the "Bookman," "this paid reader, found in virtually very one of the large Havana cigar factories and many of the smaller galeras. When an American corporation -io acquired one of the famous Havana. brands soma time ago and housed it in a great new buildiag at 10 Zulueta, it was decided that no reader would be permitted to practice his calling in the galeras. Within a few months all the cigar- makers in tlus readerless factory became mutinous and went upon a i-trike, and as soon as the difficulty was settled the readers were ad- mitted. W. L. Jourtney, in the "Telegraph," writes "I say that 'The Game,' by Jack London, is a good book and well worth reading, even though I its hero be a prize-fighter and its theme often considered below the dignity of literature." Carolyn Wells has chosen the W. A. Wilde Company, of Boston, U.S.A., to issue "The Dorranoe Domain," a lively story of a family of children whoee riotous mischief sorely tried" tha grandmother to whose care they were intrusted until the "Dorrance Domain" opened a way of escape to the great content of every one. The !book will be illustrated by William F. Steelier, and is intended for young girls. Professor Otto Heller, of Washington Univer- sity, .says of Hauptmann in his "Studies ia Modern German Literature": "'The Sunken Bell' is just as little a drama as 'Hannele,* perhaps even less so, !but nevertheless it is an art work of singular beauty, couched in language of a poetic splendour unparalleled in modern letters and fraught with a pure and truly German inwardness. The real worth of this poem doea not lie in its far-sought symbolism, but in the wondrous atmosphere suffusing the whole and transporting us by its magic into the heart of the old romantic land of Tieck, Eichendorff, and Fouque, where the brooks babble and the trees whisper and the winds make music to it all. Never yet has a poet stood in a more intimate senBuousrelation to nature. In connection with the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, Messrs. Scott have issued a "Life of Lord Nelson." It is a bulky volume, hand- somely got up, and published s-fc the extremely low price of 2i;. 6d. net. It will doubtless prove to be a very popular addition to the output of Nelson literature during the year. Messrs. Jack have in preparation a series which will be of great interest to all lovers of Canada and students of Canadian history. Entitled "The Makers of Canada," it will consist of biographies of the imposing line of Canadian explorers, colonisers, statesmen, and reformers who have done their part developing what we now recognise as the essential spirit of th& young Canadian nation. This important under- taking, which wfll comprise twenty volumes, is being engineered by Messrs. Jack in thia country and by Messrs. Morang and Co., in Toronto, and it is hoped will bear the stamp of an Imperial enterprise. All the volames are being written by competent authors, including Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Lady Edgar, Dr. George R. Parkin, Honourable J. W. Longley, Sir J. G,. Bourinot, and others. The general editors are Duncan Campbell Scott, F.R.S.C. and Pelham Edgar, P1-.D. Messrs. Hutchinson and Co. will shortly pub- lish the first number of an important new work on "British Trees," by Mr. Rex Vicat Cole, to be completed in thirty fortnightly parts, at one shilling each. The author, who is a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, has a long and careful study of his sub- ject, and his notes have been modelled to their present literary form by Miss Dorothy Kemp. The work will contain two hundred and fifty drawings by the author, many of which are from pictures that have been exhibited at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. Besides the general edition there will be a limited issue at twice the price, "A History of British Poetry," by F. St. John Corbett, has met with a most hearty reception. Lord Aveburv and Professor Dowden have given it high praise, and the lead- ing literary critics have spoken well of it. Her Majesty the Queen has bstfc pleased to accept a copy of the book. 01. Misrepresentative Men," by Harry Graham, is one of the humorous books that has caught on." Among those that loom largely in the public eve, whose weaknesses and peculiarities are made the subject of jest, are President, Roosevelt, Sir Thomas Lipton, Winston Churchill, Bacon, Adain, Ananias, etc. Th« illustrations by F. Strothmann are very funny.

"You called me a Ypolitical jobber' in your paper this morning," began the irate visitor. "Yes," replied the editor, that was a bad is break. I discharged that compositor imme- diately." "Oh! then you didn't mean to say that?" "Certainly not. I wrote 'robber' very plainly." Two ladies, who lived near one another, were great friends until one managed to secure aa exceptionally good cook. other, actuated by envy, and making sure of mistress's absence, went to see this cook one morning, and-offered her more money than she was then getting- But the loyal cook declined to change her place. Several days later the two ladiea met at a dinner party, "and the second cut the first dead. "Why, Mrs. J. said the hostess, "you know Mrs. B., don't you?" Mrs. J., with a sniff, replied: "I think not. Sbo lIometuXlea calls on my cook, I understand."