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

FRANCE WEAK IN DEFENCE. I The controversy that has arisen around the fall of M. Delcaase has at least had one definite result. It has brought to the light of day the weak points in the defensive resources of France. Early in the discussion it was revealed that the frontier fortresses on the East were in no con- dition for meeting a, bombardment. Now we learn that the territorial army, on which, of course, the bulk of the fighting would iall in ease of invasion, is in a sad state of disorganisa- tion owing to the want of officers. It is said that the shortage is fully 10;000, and that allow- ing 60 men for each officer, quite 600,000 men would be reduced to uselessness for want of leaders.

ROYAL INDIAN TOUR. H.M. battleships Bulwark, with Yice-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, Venerable, with Vice- Admiral Grenfell, Leviathan, with Rear-Admiral Lamtoton, Queen Formidable, Implacable, Irre- sistible, Goliath, and Prince of Wales, and H.M. cruiser Venus and the scout Sentinel, with fif- teen destroyers, have left Malta to ciscort the Prince and Princess of Wales on board H.M.S. Renown through the Straits of Messina. H.M. battleship Renown, with the Prince and Princess of Wales on board, left Genoa on Satur- day at half-past seven o'clock, escorted by the other British warships. As the battleship and her escort were leaving the harbour they passed the Italian fleet, witli which they exchanged salutes. Outside the harbour the Prince's flag was broken, and was saluted by the escorting vessels.

KING AND THE UNEM- I PLOYED. PREMIER'S REPLY TO PETITION. The following letter has been received from the Prime Minit; terby Mr. Leonard Potte, town cierk of the Borough of Poplar, in reply to a recent petition which was forwarded to the King on the unemployed question, prior to the pre- sentation. of the address to his Majesty on the -eaiiie subject on the occasion of the opening of the new London thoroughfares last week; Whittingehame, Prestonkirk, October 20. Dear Sir,-The Home Socretary has forwiard-txl to me a petition from the mayor and councillom of the 'borough of Poplar requesting the assemb- ling of Parliament for an autumn Session in order to deal with the distress which still pre- vails in the metropolis from want of employment. If the course suggested would really have the effect which those who urge it suppose, his Majesty's Government would not hesitate to ad- vise his Majesty in that sense. But I have no ground for believing this to be the case. The T Unemployed Workmen Bill, as it was finally passed by Parliament, may not, and doubtless in the opinion of the memorialists does not, do enough to meet the case; but it represents the only effort yet made by any Parliament to deal with this very difficult problem by means other than those of the ordinary Poor-law, and it was accompanied by a promise to appoint an inquiry into the whole subject, with a view to considering what further s'teps can be, or ought to be, taken in the matter. In the* circumstances, I do not believe that either the present or any other Government could at this stage usefully make further pro- posals to the Legislature and a special Session of Parliament, were it called, would only raise hopes which it would be impossible to fulfil.—I remain, yours faithfully, ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR. With reference to the proposal by the Poplar Labour ii-e-pr egentaticm. Committee that the King and Queen should receive a deputation of three women from Poplar, a letter was received on Saturday night by the member of the committee who had made the suggestion, referring him to the above letter from the Prime Minister, and saying that it would be contrary to precedent for their Majesties to receive such a deputation.

"NO FOLLOWERS ALLOWED." I I A good story is being told of a clergyman in the'Midlands who interested himself in getting employment for poor girls in his parish. Having eatisfactorily placed one of his proteges in the employ of a small tradesman as a "general," he wrote to her a month or two later, stating that he would be near the, house in a week or two, and would call to see how she was getting on. To his surprise he received this reply: Honoured Sir,—Emily Jones is very sorry, and should be pleas to see you, but no followers is allowed."

By the invitation of the head master, the parents and friends of all the boys in the High Wycombe school were afforded an "open in- while the school curriculum was pro- i ceeding in the various classes. The opportunity is to be afforded annually.

A STRANGE BLUNDER. I 0- DISCOVERED BY THE KING. I The King, accompanied by Queen Alexandra, went on Sunday morning to the Guards' Memorial Chapel at Wellington Barracks to unveil a splendid mosaic in memory of the late Duke of Cambridge. Parade service was made the occasion of the ceremonial, and there was a large congregation, mostly military. Their Majesties drove from Buckingham Palace in a pair-horse brougham, and in a second carriage were the members of their suite. The King wore the uniform of CoJonel-in- Chief of the Grenadier Guards, and had the broad blue riband of the Garter across his breast. Queen Alexandra was dressed entirely in black. Just before the sermon his Majesty withdrew a Union Jack which covered the memorial. At the same moment a flood of electric light was turned on to the mosaic, throwing its graceful lines and shades into strong relief. There had been handed to his Majesty a service paper, upon which were printed the words: To the glory of God and in honoured memory of his Royal Highness Frederick William Charles, Duke of Cambridge, K.G., I unveil this memo- rial. The King promptly noted the blunder, and said, with an emphasis which there was no mistaking, "His Royal Highness George, Duke of Cam- bridge." It subsequently transpired that the familiar name "George" was omitted from the inscription engraved on a marble slab beneath the mosaic, and Lord Cheylesmoro has given in- structions to have the whole inscription erased and recut to correct this and a couple of regret- table errors in punctuation and orthography, neither of which escaped King Edward's notice when ie made a close inspection of the memorial after the service. When corrected, the inscription will read as follows: In memory of Field-Marshal H.R.H. George William Frederick Charles, Duke of Cambridge, K.G., Commander- in-Chief 1856-1895, Colonel Scots Fusilier Guards, 1852-1861, Colonel Grenadier Guards 1961-1904:, Commanded 1st Division of Army in Crimea at Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman. Born March 26,1819; died March 17, 1904. Placed by the officers, past and present, of the Brigade of Guards.

MOTOR-CAR IN THE RIVER. I EXCITING SCENES. As the Birkenhead ferry steamer left Liverpool, at 5.10 p.m. on Sunday, a 12-b.p. motor-ear,' belonging to Mr. Paul Cinquevalli, the well-known juggler, went overboard, carrying with it the occu- pants. The car was partly on the gangway when it was found that the canopy would not pass under the steamer's upper deck. While matters were in this position the steamer got under way. A scene of great excitement ensued. A dozen people shouted to the chauffeur to back the motor up the gangway on to the landing-stage. The gear was reversed, but as the steamer moved away the gangway inclined more and more, and finally the two hind wheels of the motor were hanging over the ship's side. Instantly the car plunged into the river, turning over in its descent. In the car besides the chauffeur was a lady named Miss Morris, a relative of the owner. There was a wild rush of stagemen and policemen to the rescue. A gentleman named Cadercio, an engineer's draughtsman, who was a passenger on the ferry boat, plunged overboard, and, being a strong swimmer, caught hold of the lady as she came unconscious to the surface. A life-line was thrown, and they were both hauled out of the water. Two stagemen also dived to the rescue. When the chauffeur, who was hampered by his long driving coat, made his appearance, he was seized, and with the help of a lifebuoy landed in safety. Mr. Cinquevalli was on the ferry boat at the time.

RUN DOWN AT ANCHOR. ] A mysterious wreck has occurred in the Wash, the_ ketch Evening Star, of Lynn, being run down while at anchor, during Saturday night, and sunk with three of her crew. The Evening Star left Lynn on Friday, with a cargo of wheat, for Hull, but owing to adverse winds she was brought up a anchor in the Wash. She was riding safely on Saturday night, but on Sunday morning her small boat was found adrift by a Lynn fisherman, who afterwards dis- covered the sunken vessel with only her mast showing above water. The body of Harry Harrod, the mate, was afterwards found on a sandbank. The others drowned are Charles Hartley, master and owner, and a boy named Sandford. All belonged to Lynn, where the two men leave large families. It is supposed the ketch was run down by a steamer which left Lynn Docks late on Saturday night, the crew being in their bunks at the time.

RESCUED! — LINER SAVES BARQUE'S CREW. Passengers by the Cunard liner Etruria, which arrived in the Mersey on Saturday evening, were spectators of a stirring drama of the sea during the voyage. Under exciting circumstances th3 crew of the Swedish barque Orion were rescued and taken on board the great liner. All the crew were in a sorry plight. For two weeks they were unable to cook food, snatching cheerless meals of tinned stuffs, biscuits, and cold water. Sleep became almost unknown to them every article of clothing and bedding was drenched, and they had constantly to be at the pumps. When the Etruria sighted her signals of distress, the barque's rigging was rent and broken, her bul- warks battered, her hull low in the water, and waves were continually sweeping her decks. The crew believed she was sinking, and asked to be taken from her at once. A great sea was running, making the work of rescue dangerous, but the life- boat of the liner was promptly filled by a volunteer crew under the first officer. Their gallant labours were watched with tense interest by the passengers thronging the deck of the Etruria, and hearty cheers greeted them on their safe return with the exhausted Swedes in their boat.

PRINCE IN DIVORCE CASE. I The probate actions and matrimonial causes to be heard during the next sittings of the Law Courts amount to the total of 324. Amongst the defended cases are the cross-suits of Ali Khan v. Ali Khan." In the first the wife seeks a judicial separation by reason of the alleged cruelty of her husband, Newab Mehmoud Ali Khan. an Indian prince. The petitioner, an English lady, married the respondent in July, 1898, at Paddington, when it has been stated, she was but fifteen years of age. She has alleged acts of cruelty on the part of her husband, and murderous instincts." Ali Khan (otherwise Rony) has filed a cross-petition, alleging nullity of marriage. In another case, the parties to which live at Eastbourne, the co-respondent is described as being only a boy.

I DEATH OF LORD LEIGH. Lord Leigh, of Stoneleigh Abbey, died at St. Leonards on Saturday, aged 81. He was the second baron of the creation of 1839, and was descended from Sir Peter Leigh, who fell at Agin- court. He married, in 1848, Lady Caroline Amelia daughter of the second Marquess of Westminster' and succeeded his father in 1850, and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire in 1856. He was greatly devoted to Freemasonrv and for over 50 years was Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire. He is succeeded by hit eldest son. the Hon. Francis Dudley L-eigh, born in 1855.

CURRENT SPORT. I YACHTING. According to Herr Ballin, who has arrived in New York by the steamship Amerika, the Emperor William will offer his next cup for a Transatlantic yacht race in 1907. He aleo intimated that King Edward might offer a similar trophy. He scouted the idea that any German yacht would attempt to capture the America Cup. TRIPLE GOLF TIE. James Braid, Alexander Herd, J. H. TayJor, and David Herd competed in a. professional golf tournament at Littlestone on Saturday. In an eighteen holes stroke competition in the morn- ing A. Herd showed excellent form on the out- ward journey, but the result was a tie between Braid, A. Herd., and Taylor, who each went round in seventy-six strokes. D. Herd took eighty-six. In a, four-ball foursome in the afternoon, A. Herd and Taylor beat Braid aud D. Herd by three up and one to play. NEW ZEALANDERS AGAIN. The New Zealanders have again relapsed, the twenty-three points against. Somerset being the second lowest score of the tour. Little encouragement can be taken by future opponents, however, for the Colonials were without two of their best men, Hunter and Smith. Having regard to the extraordinary weakness of the University clubs, who were both beaten on Saturday, and; to the decadence of Swansea—apparently Cardiff is the only Welsh club of any account—it is difficult to see where the tourists are to meet their masters. Up to the present the New Zealanders have scored ninety-seven tries to one, and 408 points to seven. PEDESTRIANISM. At Pinner, on Saturday, J. Butler, the holder of all amateur walking records from fourteen to fifty miles inclusive, won the Polytechnic Harriers' ten miles walking championship for the seventh occasion, in the fast time of lhr. 17min. 30sec. The sealed handicap wa-s won by E. G. Day, with an allowance of 18min. 30sec. BILLINGTON A PROFESSIONAL. David Billington amateurt mile swimming cham- pion and record holder over various distances, awe a red at an executive meeting of the Northern Counties Swimming Association at Liverpool on ■Saturday to show cause why he should not be declared a proreissionai ior competing in wie in the Seine. After a protracted hearing Billing- ton was declared a profassional. Billing-ton has given notice of appeal to the Amateur Swim- ming Association. BILLIARDS. After producing some billiards of a very high order and the keenest of struggles, the match or 18,000 up between Dawson and Diggle ended at the Saloon in Leicester-square on Sa-turday night in a victory for Dawson by 4Q4 points. At the Saloon in SohonSquare on Saturday night the game of 9000 up between Reece and Mitchell ended in an easy victory for the former by 1609 points. SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL. Woolwich Arsenal gained a meriroriout3 vic- tory in the First League, beating Sunderland by 2 goals to 0. Sheffield Wednesday easily beat the United by 2-0; Stoke and Everton played a drawn game of 2 goals each; and Derby County went down to Notts County 1-0. In the Second Division Bristol City won again a.nd retain the first position, being one point better than Manchester United. Both the London cluibs went under, Chelsea being quite unex- pectedly beaten at Stamford-bridge by Chester- field. In the Southern League none of the home clubs were defeated. clubs were defeated. ANGLING. The cold weather and frosts are sharpening the appetites of the pike, and a good many of these fish are being caught in the Thames, which on Saturday was much too low and clear for suc- cessful roach fishing. A fine trout of 71b., has been captured and returned by a pike angler at Datchet, Thames trout now being out of season. A pike of 191b. has been landed from the Trent at Shardlow, and the Sussex Ouse has yielded pike up to 101b. at Barcombe Mills. Lea, Wev, Keimett, Little Ouoo, and Grealt Ouse, anglers have found ISport dull owing to the low condi- tion of the rivers, and the Broadband rivers have also fished dieaaBaointingly. NURSERY CANNON RECORD. Playing in a match of 7200 up with Lovejoy, the ex-amateur champion, at Leicester-square, on Monday afternoon, Cook made a break of 347, which included 159 consecutive close cannons. Under the present rules this is a re- cord, the previous best being Cook's own of 120 cannons, made against Osborne last season. FOOTBALLER'S INJURIES. McKenzie, of Sunderland, who was incapaci- tated at Plumstead on Saturday, is not likely to play for some time. He left the field suffering from a fearful gash over the left eye. After the wound was stitched, McKenzie lay unconscious on a stretcher in the pavilion for a considerable time. It is understood that the transfer fee paid by Sunderlai-id was something like £ 450. McKenzie is just twenty-one years of age, and formerly played for Petershill, a Glasgow junior club. CRICKET TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA. The rumour that the M.C.C. has refused to send out a cricket team, to Australia next sea- son is denied by an official statement to the effect 1 that that body is but waiting an authorita-tiye invitation. When that is received the great pro- bability is that a team will be sent out under the auspices of the M.C.C. The suggestion that the Hon. F. S. Jackson should be invited to get a team together to go out to Australia next year is not at all favoured in Leeds, and Mr. Jack son has stated that it was extremely unlikely, even if he were invited, that he should consent to take out a team. MONDAY'S FOOTBALL. Tottenham Hotspur gained an easy victory over Mill-wall in the Western League by 5 goals to 0, and Bristol Rovers got the better of Ful- ham by a similar score. Queen's-park Hangers beat West Ham by 4-2, and Southampton and Reading played a dra.wn game of 1 goal each. CHAMPION LIFE SAVERS. The final competition for the Southern Counties life-saving championship was decided at the en- tertainment given on Monday night at Holbom Baths by the members of the St. Jamee Old Boys' Crub. After an interesting contest Hast- ings S.C. defeated City of London Police by 7 points to 651, and so qualify to compete in the National to be heldaJt Nottmgham on Novem- ber 11.

FURNITURE FASHIONS. I The fashion in furniture and decorations has now veered round from the ornate to the simple, and the severity of the style advocated by the famous brothers Adam, tempered by decorations of a claesical character, is being revived. The Adams or Georgian room of to-day is a pure white apartment with panellings and decora- tions to match. Wood is the medium emploved ■fnr -the newest fitments overlaid with enriching common, ^ole made a- dull pure white to coincide with liatted waLs. For Georgian halls clmndeliers made of white wood embellished with festoons of flowers also made of wood am beautiful. In olden days heavy cords nnd tassels were used to suspend such chandeners from the ceilings, and these are now reproduced in wood in -precise imitation, even to the few disordered strands of the tassel apparently blown out of place by a wanton wind.

William Pottinger, formerly a rate collectoi in Southwark, pleaded guilty at the Old, Bailey t -y to the falsification of hie books, and was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment in the second division. He had embezzled E214 in three years

FATAL LONDOiN FIRES. TWO DEATHS. Two fatal fires occurred in London on Satur- day. Twelve persons were sleeping in a house in Steward-street, Spitaifields, when a fire broke out in the early morning. Four of them rushed1 downstairs and) reached the street safely, but the opening of the door fanned the flames, and the rest of the inmates found the first- floor landing blazing and their escape cut off. They made their way to the, front windows of the second floor and screamed for help. Four women and three, men were re&cued amid the cheers of a large crowd. It waps then found that Joseph Weiner, a boy of nine, was missing. Two firemen re-entered the burning house, and discovered the boy unconscious in a back room. He was brought out alive, but all efforts to restore animation were fruitless. An old woman named Rosetta. Din was so badly burned in St. John's-road, CLerkenwell, on Saturday night that she died scon after her removal to the hospital. Mr. Charles Salmon was seriously burned by a fire which followed a, gas explosion at Cornwall- road, South Hackney, on Saturday night. Fires occurred on Sunday at Viscount Har- berton's house in Cromwell-road; and the book- ing office of the London, Brighton and South Coast station at Tulse-hill. A fire which caused damage estimated at E50,000 broke out at the Lodge Spinning Mill, Burnley, on Saturday. The mill stood between the railway and the canal, and traffic was stopped on both by the falling walls. Several people were injured by falling masonry. Fifty head of poultry, a threshing mill, a weighing-machine, and a large quantity of straw and potatoes were burned on Friday night at Blairglaes Farm, near Loch Lomond. The horses and cattle were rescued after an exciting scene.

CHILD'S PATHETIC APPEAL. I The following is one of thousands of letters that have been recivedi at headquarters by General Booth. The pathetic appeal adds to the general regret at the abandonment of the Salvation Army scheme: Septemlber 29, 1905. Dear Mr. General Booth.—I have iseen in the paper that you are sending a lot of people to Australia who can't get work in England, and I wondered whether you would let dadda take IDRJInma and us two, Ivy and me. He has been out of work a long time, and can't get any because they say he is too old, and he is only forty-one, and I am eleven years old, and Ivy is twelve. Please would he be too old for you to send away, because mamma says she docei" know whatever we shall do if he can't find work soon? I hope you will not be vexed with me for writing. Butdadda. do" want work badly he does not know I am writing this letter; lie has gone ptvay to look for work. So no more at present.—Ffom your little Friend, (Signed) LILY E. rLfe&se back.

A GIANT BEETLE. I The insect house at the Zoological Gardens gave a grand reception to a, specimen of the rare Goliath beetle which has just arrived. It is about Sin. long from the forked horn on its nose to the end of its body, and about 2in. broad, and when its wings are spread it is nearly as large as a lark. In colour it is chooolate, marked with white. It is not formidable, being a vege- table feeder, so force was not needed to induce it to enter the "house."

CHOIR BO^SMAND HEART DISEASE. Another cause of physical deterioration in the young is announced by a well-known physician Dr. Macnaughtou, who declares that choir boys .develop heart disease. Writing to the "Lancet" on the subject, he says: "I am convinced that disciplinary singing, commenced in early boyhood, is the causation of enlargement of the licart:" It is the voice production that causes most of the mischief, according to Dr. Macnaughton. The deep inspiration, without elevation of the shoulders, the tension of the abdominal muscles, and an expiration graduated at intervals, according to the requirements of the inusical phrase, bring about Irregular respiration, and the heart, instead of acting as a pump, becomes during the singing a reservoir for blood. This dilates that organ. Sir George Martin, organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, when seen by a "Morning Leader" representative, his astonishment at the statements made by Dr. Macnaughton. "Of the hundreds of boys who have passed through my hands at the cathedral," he said, "I can only remember losing two, and those, as far as I can remember, were not cases of heart disease. My opinion is that singing renders boys healthy and strong, provided they are healthy at the start. I make the proviso that they are made to sing properly, for if they were allowed to shout I can understand that strain to the system would result." 1'1

LIFE WITHOUT LOVE. Is it worth having ? Well hardly. We may not be sentimental. We may be the most matter of fact person in the world. Unless we are very crabbed and very foolish, however, we must ap"- preciate the help love proves in all walks of life. Without love would the tired mother care to sit. up and. work for her little one—tend and wait on xu6 ehildi £ all night ? Without love would iTk be always anxious to get on in the be helped in his daily work by looking l fc?.„th,a evening at home? Most of us tfco Tei?0e love makes in the countenance of the engaged girl aid man. Certainly the lmow- ledge of it changes their outlook in every way; 7nl li\7re #wK&'S"» the reigns of a brothei' interest in all Miif- y 9X0 ehums, and take an interest m all that concerns one another. With- out it they are as strangers ,™ ordinary restrictions of good ™ No. Even the most mattfr-otfao?nerS rem0V<?°; own that 'Tis love that round and certainly the unhappjpst^ wor!(* whole community would be the one who in I' to^e without love" were it PosSfefindany

Scotland's contribution to the Navy League's national Nelson .centenary subscrhi^ amounted to 12s. 6d. Paon Mi&s Johnson, of Wimbledon, one of the Ener- lish Soman Catholic pilgrims in Rome, Pl"- seated a white skull-cap to' the Pope, and r- ceived in return that which he was wearing. Mrs. Jeunio Corwin, of Brooklyn, New York, whose valuabLe pearl necklace was stolen OIl iher wedding day thirty years ago, has just received it back in good condition in a. sueat postal packet.

FUNERAL OF SIR HENRY IRVING. QUESTION OF A MEMORIAL. The ashes of Sir Henry Irving were laid to Met in Westminster Atobey on Friday. The ceremony was one of the most solemn, yet beautiful, ever witnessed within the ancient walk of the booy. A distinguished company filled the building, and magnificent floral tributes were sent by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. After the burial the public were admitted to view the grave and the mass of wreaths and crosses, during the day many thou- sands passed through the Abbey. It is stated that the leading theatre managers have formed a committee, with Sir Charles Wyndham as chairman, to consider proposals for a memorial to Sir Henry Irving. Naturally the matter is one best left to the heads of the profession he so adorned, and there is every rea. son to believe that their decision, whatever it may be, will receive the practical support of the public. HOW IRVING WAS KNIGHTED. An emphatic contradiction is given by the Hon. Stepli en Coleridge to the statement contained in an article by Mi*. G. Bernard Shaw, ill fcue Vienna. "Neue Freie Presee," that the late Sir Henry Irving importuned the Court that he might be made a knight. "As one who was his (Sir Henry Irving's) friend for thirty years," he states in a letter, "I should be glad to be allowed to deny, on the authority of personal knowledge, Mr. Shaw's statement that Irving ever solicited anybody at any time or place for a knighthood. In 1883 I asked my father (Lord Chief Justice) to broach the matter of making Irving a knight to Mr. Gladstone, who was then Prime Minisuer. He did so, and Mr. Gladstone intimated that it wdB essential thait he should know whether Irving would accept the honour. On June 28, S883, I went and saw Irving, and asked him whether in the event of a knighthood being offered him he would accept it, and I now quote from my diary written at the time: 'He would not accept it; he said that an actor differed from others—artists, musicians, and the like— in that he had to appear in person every night appealing -directly to <the public for their favour, 4 "There was fellowship among actors of a company that would be impaired by any eleva- tion of one member over another; ihis strength as a manager and power as an actor lay far more in the suffrages of the plain folk of the pit than in the patronage, however lofty, of great people he knew instinctively that large numbers of those same plain folk would be offended at their simple Henry Irving accepting decorations of a titular kind.' "This," continues the Hon. Stephen, "is not the language of a man who would vulgarly ask for honours for himself. I believe that in 1895 Lord Rosebery, as Prime Minister, sent Irving's name to the Queen with a recommendation for a knighthood, and Irving received an intimation that this had been done, and an instruction to repair to Windsor to receive the honour. He was a man of too fine a delicacy of feeling to risk even the appearance of offence by refusing the honour after the Queen had signified her gracious inten- tion of bestowing i,t. "He therefore received the knighthood but thait his opinions had not changed may be with certainty deduced by the fact that he remained on his playbiILs plain 'Henry Irving' to the end of his life."

AS OTHERS SEE US. ENGLISH WOMEN'S FAULTS. Japanese women are to have their polytech- nics and schools of domestic economy in the very near iuture; and the onus of their eucoeesroi introduction will rest to a considerable extent on a dainty young Japanese lady, Miss bunii Miyahawa. This gi'rl was sent to London three years ago by the Japanese Government to study English domestic economy. The first two years of ner course she spent at the Batterre,a Poly- technic, going all through the practical work with the exception of teaching. She learned to sew as the English do, to maive dresses, to cook, to housekeep, and to play games tiiere. The third year she has spent at Bedford College, York-place, studying, amongst other things, the character of the London university girl. In between whiles she has visited private families. And the conclusion she has arrived at is that neither in this generation nor the next will the life of the English home be possible in Japan. Neither would she wish it to be. "I see in both Japanese and British homes many great faults, and equally many excellent points," she said. "With us we have two great rules—love of Emperor and country, and filial piety. Here I find very little filial piety. In Japan when a man marries, his wife goes to hi.is pareiii,31 house. She has no personal money, neither has he. The ron gives all the earnings to the pa-rente, and they control the home, looking naturally to the eon to provide money when they are too aged to do so themselves. "In England I see a man going away with his wife. They live their own lives apart, spend their own money, and, if wise, put by for their old age. I also see some fathers and mothers lers ending their days in the wo mil o use while t.he children have homes outside. That is awful. With us, if there is only a little food it is given to the parents, and the children and grand- children go without. At the same time our life ties us to our parents too much. It prevents us being individuals. We cannot colonise and carry the sweetness of our homes with us as vou do. Presently each young family will have" its own home, but must never, in adopting this idea, lose our filial piety." Miss Miyahawa also finds that the poverty of the Japanese middle-classes makes our manner of living impossible in Japan. "You are so rich here," she says, and so extravagant. You do not do as much in your own homes as we do. Your dressmaking goes out, your laundry goes out you have^many servants and nurses for your children." Japanese mothers are really mothers thinks this little lady. She does not always a d- mire the English mother, and her soft, gentte voice rises and her eyes sparkle with indignation when she aeks, "What's the use of all your con- sumption cures, of the- stamping out of small- pox, when the infant 3nortality increases so fearfully, only because the 'mother' gives her baby c'a milk?"

At Tower-bridge Police-court four rough- looking women, named Selby, Blane, Smith, and Chandler, were committed for trial on the charge of threatening a prosecutrix at South Londou Seesions House. Thomas Henry Fletcher, 23, a groom of Brent- huret-road, Willesden, was committed for trial charged with stealing a gold cigarette case, value LIO, belor)giug to the Marquis of Anglesey,

RUSSIAN RAILWAY STRIKE. The National Association of Railway Em- ployees has called for a general strike on all the Russian systems in order to further its political aims. Practically every railway leaving Moscow is now affected by the strike, except the Nicholai line to St. Petersburg. Traffic is at a standstill on the Kazan line, and on the liThe to Yaros'lail and Archangel. The shopmen of we Kazan and Archangel linos have struck, and the train staffs on the Kursk line are reported to be deserting the trains. The strikers have forced the employees of the general offices and financial departments of the three lines, Windau-Rubinsk, Moscow-Brest, and Kieff-Voronezh to quit work. In competent. circles it is stated that the object of the strike is to bring about a lack of provisions in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

KING IN LONDON. I The King on Saturday spent the day in [ London. In the early afternoon His Majesty drove to the Ranger's house in Hyde Park, and afterwards to the Admiralty end of the Mall to inspect the progress made with the work of linking up the thoroughfare with the Strand. Sir Schomberg McDonnell, Permanent Sec- retary of the Office of Works, was present to explain the plans of further work needed to complete the scheme. The King, attended by liajor-General Sir Stanley Clarke and Major Ponsouby, left King's- cross by special train at 1.40 on Monday on a visit to Lord and Lady Loadesho-rough. The Royal train was met at Seloy by Lord Wenlock, who travelled with the party to Market Weighton, where Lord Londesborough and Lord Hemes were awaiting them. The King, who was enthusiastically received, drove to Lcndes- borough-park, two miles distant, a military es- cort, with torches, accompanying him. The lodge and grounds were beautifully illuminated.

"WAITING IN SUSPENSE." SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY. Lord Rosebery, speaking at a meeting on Satur- day afternoon held in Edinburgh under the auspices of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Liberal League and Scottish Liberal Association, referred to the illness of Lord Spencer. He and Mr. Asquith, he said, had both been Lord Spencer's colleagues, and they felt from the bottom of their hearts the temporary loss of so trusted a colleague and comrade. No man could do justice to the single- ness, the elevation and nobleness of character of that high-minded English (gentleman, and trusted it would not be long before he was restored to the full measure of health. He proposed, it the name of that meeting, to send a telegram expressing their fervent sympathy in this affliction, and hoping he might speedily be restored to the full command of his strength. Mr. Asquith then spoke at length on the fiscal question. He said this question must be the pre- dominant issue at the next election. According to Mr. Chamberlain, we were confronted with a double danger of decaying trade and a dissolving Empire. What was the real case ? Our exports had largely increased since 1902, whereas our im- ports of manufactured goods showed only a very slight increase. Lord Rosebery, subsequently pepiying to a vote of thanks, spoke of the present political expectancy. He said: We have been assisting at an auction, or something of the same kind of suspense. Each by-election has said the word Going." We are waiting in suspense; we hardly care to trouble ourselves with public maetings or with oratory because, as Mr. Morley &&id, they are flogging a dead horse, the dead horse of the Government, the dead horse of Mr. Chamberlain's policy. We hardly care to trouble ourselves with discussion we are waiting with anxiety and with expectancy ] the fateful moment, which cannot be long delayed, when" Gone shall signify the end of the Govern- ment and the advent of a new and happier state of things.

MOTOR-CAR QUESTION. There is much comment upon the fact that secret sittings are being held by the Royal Com- mission appointed to inquire into the administra- tion of the Motor-car Acts and the conduct of motorists. A bare synopsis of the evidence alone is issued after each sitting. As Parliament will have to discuss the whole question of motor traction again next year it seems important that the evidence, given as it is by interested parties, should receive immediate publicity. Statements which may deserve contradiction will now go unchallenged.

i^nks No use working myself to death any longer. I'm going to become a Wall-street operator." Winks Well, I'll sell you my seat in the Stock Exchange for sixty thousand dol- lars. Jinks: "Huh! I can get a seat in Congress for one-tenth of that." His vast expenditures in the purchase of votes are not denied." Well?" Of course, these make him cut an unfit man to sit in the United States Senate." You are misinformed. They by no means imcoveriehed him.

I LITERARY CHAT. Georjjje Manville Fenn has placed the younger generation under another obligation to "him in his story "Nephew Jack," just published by bis story "Nephew Jack," just published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. It is an exciting story of a boy's cruise, and con- tains much information about China and China- men that is most useful to schoolboys, and even to boys of a larger growth. The book, which is admirably produced, is well illustrated by M. S. Stacey, and would form a capiial school prize. Messrs. Longman, Green, and Co., 39, Pater- noster-row, E.C., have produced the second volume of the choice series of books edited by Mr. Andrew Lang under the title The Fairy Bock Series." The one before us is The Red. Romance Book," full of just that kind of old- world story which will as a matter of course whet the appetite of the child hungering for something to sandwich between dull lesson- books. The book is a book of old fairy tales from Scandinavia and other romantic places dressed up in a new garb, "all done by Mrs. Lang," as the editor modestly puts it in an admirable preface. There are eight charming coloured plates, and numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford. < Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton have just issued from 27, Paternoster-row. E.C.. a fasci- nating story by John A. Steuart, the Red Reaper," got up in pleasing style, both in printing and binding. It is a fine tale of the stirring times of the Scotch Covenant and Charles Stuart, and will rank among the best stories of the day in the same kind of semi- political, semi-religious romance for which the Hockings have become famous in modern fiction. u As a writer of quaintly humorous stories for young folks, Mr. G. E. Farrow is facile prinoeps. His amusing book, The Wallvpug of "Why," will long remain one of childhood's classics, and the works that have since emanated from his pen have well sustained his refutation. The Mysterious Mr. Punch," which has just, been published by the S.P.C.K., is in fr. Farrow's best style. It is a school story, in which the mystical is blended with the real in Mr. Far- row's usual charming manner. Parents should make a note of this book, as it would form a. much-appreciated addition to their list of Christmas gifts. Of the making of many cookery books there is no end, but there still is room for Miss Lucy H. Yates' little book, The Model Kitchen. published by Longmans at 2s. net. Its value lies. in the fact that it is written specially fcr dwellers in flats, and shows what can be done in a small space and with the minimum amount of help. It is evidently meant for those who already have a good knowledge of cookery, as many technical terms are made use of, for which no glossary is given. The chief defect of the book is its lavish notice of proprietary articles, between forty and fifty being, mentioned in its 116 pagets. This gives the work much of the appearance of an advertising catalogue, and detracts from the confidence which one might otherwise be inclined to place in it. < At a time like the present, when it is acknow- ledged that the future problems of the world lie in the East, it is well that we should make so ate endeavour to enter into Eastern methods of thought, and understand Eastern aspirations and philosophy. The Pilgrim of India (Skiffington and Son) is a poem written after the style of "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage in, form, which endeavours to record the present state of India, and, although the author prefers to remain anonymous, he is evidently thoroughly verged in Oriental lore. No one can read this book without learning much concerning cur fellow-subjects in India, and sympathising with them in their difficulties- and struggles. The author is a true poet. and his verses are full of mingled fire and pathos. ♦ Messrs. Putnam's Sons have arranged for a volume on "Von Moltke. and the Military Power of Germany" in the « Heroes of the Nations" series, to be written by Professor John Wardell, of Dublin University. Two earlier volumes to come in the same series will be Professor D. S. l\fargoJiouth's "Mohammed: The Rise of Islam," which will be ready next month and "George Washington," by Professor James A. Harrison, of the University of Virginia. In their useful series of ".Work Handbooks, edited by Paul N. Hasiuck, Messrs. Cassell have issued a little work on Pianos" (Is. net). It contains, in a form convenient for everv-dav use, a comprehensive digest of all that pertains* to the construction, tuning, and repair of pianos. It has, also, many serviceable illustra- tions. The announcement that Longman's Maga- zine is to lie discontinued with the October number is not the only news of coming changes in the magazine world. Macmillan's," which is one of the oldest of the shilling monthlies, will join the ranks of the sixnennies, filling the gan. as it were, made by Longman's." Tb change in Macmillan's Magazine is to be made with the November number, just forty-sir years after the publication of its first number in November. 1859—two months before Thacke- ray issned his first number of the "Cornhill." In its new form Macmillan's will contain as many pages as in the old, the type will be larger and clearer, and the double-column page discarded. » Mr. J. E. Harting, who has been writing books on natural history for forty years past, has a volume of essays in preparation with Mr. Fisher Unwin. entitled Recreations of a Naturalist." The author touches on the archaeo- log-y of sport. and natural history., and, among other topics, deals with U The Decrease of Black Game and Nature Studies in Japa- nese Art." Messrs. Henry Young and Sons, of Liverpool, are preparing for publication a work written by Mr. John Hushes, of that eitv. entitled "Liverpool and Bankers. 1760-1637. a. History of the Circumstances which gave rise to the Industry, and of the Men who and Developed It," with an account. of Liver- pool and its commerce, the assistance given by the Liverpool Corporation in times of financial crisis, the system of business practised by the early bankers, etc. » • It is no easy task to keep abreast of the great flood of Nelson centenary literature, but those who desire a brief. business-like account, written with professional knowledge, yet unobscured by technical details, may usefully consult "Nelson's Last Campaign," a brochure written by Rear-Admiral S. Eardley-Wj]mot. and published for half-a-crown by Mr. Edward Stanford, London. The author thinks that history ha-s not sufficiently re-cognised the influence of naval supremacy in aiding Wellington to do hie work in the Peninsular. Dr. H. R. Mill has completed the fifth volume of "The Storv of Exploration" series.. It is entitled "The Siege of the South Pole." and wirl be issued shortly by Mr. Alston Rivers, London. The Society for Promoting Christian Know- ledee will publish immediately r: account of "The Historical Development" of the Quran." by Dr. Edwa?d Sell, in its series of manuals dealing with the great non-Christian religious systems of the world and a volume on "Roman Roads in Britain," by Mr. Thomas Codrington, in its series dealing with great historic periods of Early Britain. # The Cambridge University Press announces in its series of Cambridge English Classics besides Voil. I. of "The" Poems of George Crabbe." edited bv the Master of Peferhouse. and of "The PlaW of Beaumont and Fletcher." Bunyan's "Life and Death of Mr. Badman, and1 the Holy War," edited by Dr. John Brown, and "The Poems and Prose of Matthew Prior." incluoin-g hithert-o unpublished material, edited by Mr. A. R. Waner.