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COUNT WITTE. I It seems to bo generally agreed that Oount Witte is an opportunist, and, if that is so, it is scarcely surprising that he should have met the fate which generally over- takes the man who adopts such an attitude. According to the reports from St. Peters- burg, he seems to have lost the confidence of the CrowD, while on the other hand, he has failed to conciliate the Democrats. And yet it is admitted that he is an able man, and the very fact that he is rejected at once by the autocracy and the extremists on the Democratic side seems to indicate that he could have played a useful part in the present crisis of Russia's history, where the Duma is assembling this week, and people are speculating as to the direc- tion which their deliberations will take. It is scarcely a happy augury for the Go- vernment that the date of the meeting is the anniversary of that of the National assembly at Versailles in 1789, but what- ever turn the deliberations of the new Parliament may take, there was room for the man who would have counselled moder- ation, alike to the advocates of reactionary methods on the one hand and of revolution on the other. Whatever his faults may be I the. late Prime Minister has some claim to 1 be heard on matters affecting the welfare of Russia. He has piloted the State through one of the most trying periods of its history, both in war and peace; he has attempted to set the national finances in order, and to solve the most momentous problem of de- veloping tbe industries of the country. Count Witte will probably be heard of again, but as to what will happen ia the interval no man can say. j

HYARCHER& H I [GOypRETURMSN r REGISTEREDgj^ facsimile of Otic-Ounce Packet. ¡ Archer's i Golden Returns I The Perfection of Pipe Tobacco. L COOT.. 8WEKT, AD I'R\GRANT,

I GREAT BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENTAL POWERS. The majority of people in this country probably did not accept the suggestion that Germany was supporting Turkey in her provocative attitude towards Britain, but in any event it was gratifying to secure an official assurance that Turkey had nothing to hope for from Germany. At the same time we received the intelligence that France and Russia were supporting the represen- tations of the British ambassador, and, comparing this information with our ex- perience of a few years ago, we are able to congratulate ourselves upon the increasing friendliness with which we are regarded by continental Governments. From another point of view, the support which Britain has received from continental capitals, is particularly gratifying. The Sultan's ulti- mate resource has always been the exploita- tion of the jealousies of the Powers, but in this instance that expedient has failed him, and it is very much to be hoped that it will never again be present to enable the Porte to outrage the canons of European civilisa- tion in any part of that which Burke described as the wasteful and disgusting Empire of the Turks."

80 times more nutritious than milk. PLASMON THE MAINSTAY OF LIFE. "Added to alt Foods raises the nutritive value enormously. —L « ncec.

DAY AND NIGHT WORKERS. I It looksjvery much as if business establish- ments in New York will soon be open during the night as well as in the daytime. A bank, a haidresser's, and a few other establishments' are already open all night, and the number seems to be gradually increasing. It is suggested that our hust- ling friends on the other side of the Atlantio must have some rest, and that they will soon tire of this fad, but the probability rather is that the fashion will extend, and that it will find its way to other cities in America, and even in Europe. There are already a large number of men, equal to the population of a fair-sized town, working ail night in the neighbourhood of Fleet Street, London. The Great Eastern Kail- way Company, and other lines to a less extent, have found that it pays to run night trains for the accommodation of these people, and it will not be long before the proprietors of some refreshment houses dis- cover that there is a good business to be done by remaining OptHl all night. It is rather a melancholy reflection that there should be all this strain and stress, but in any event it is more likely to increase than decrease.

I Condemnation of Free Meals for School Children, Mr Harold Cox, M.P., in giving evidence before the Com rnittee on the provision of free meals for school children, aid that the one result would be o benefit, the employers of cheap labour, landlords of rack-rented houses, and brewers and distillers of cheap b'er and spirits. He would do everything he could to discourage the voluntary agencies which were now giving free meals, he said, adding. "It is a pernicious s s'em. These people are encouragig fathers to drink, and mothers to lie in bed."

I The Russian Parliament The saying that that country is blessed which has no history certainly does not apply to Russia, and least of all to the Russia of to-day, where history is being made at a rapid rate. The resignation of the Prime Minister, and the nomination of a new Cabinet, is followed this week by the first meeting of the new representative assembly, the Duma, whose proceedings will be followed with intense interest by the people of the whole civilised world. A country suddenly endowed with a large measure of self government, and containing a population with many grievances, is not free from peril, and nobody would be very much surprised if within the next few weeks the attention of the world should once again be focussed upon the dominions of the Czar. For more than a hundred years Russians have been agitating for a constitution, and in 1809, Alexander 1. drew up a complete scheme of constitutional government The wars with Napoleon prevented the intention of Alexander from being executed, but a further scheme was drawn up in 1818, and in the same year the Czar announced to the Diet at Warsaw that he proposed extending to the Empire the advantage of I FREE AND LAWFUL INSTITUTION. Very little. however, was done, and ia 1822 a conspiracy broke out with the object of obtaining constitutional government for the country. The conspirators included in their number some of the ablest men in Russia, but the insurrection was suppressed after a good deal of bloodshed. Alexander's suc- cessor, Nicholas, was a man with reaction- ary views, and would have nothing to do with any reforms, After the Crimean war, serfage was abolished, and some important administrative reforms were undertaken, but they were not sufficient to prevent the reyolutignary movement which culminated in 1881 in the assassination of Alexander II. It transpired subsequently that the mur- dered Czar had determined to convene a consultative representative assembly, and that the terms of a decree on the subject had been approved by him a few hours before his death. In view of the fate which had befallen his father, it is perhaps scarcely a matter for wonder that Alexan- der III. displayed no particular enthusiasm for reform. The next important develop- ment took place last year, when the country I was agitated by internal disorder, and the Czar issued his famous manifesto of Octo- ber 30th, granting a constitution to the country. In considering what use the Duma is likely to make of its powers, one finds that the Constitutional Democrats, who furnish a large majority of the mem- bers, comprise many men of distinguished ability who have already secured some fame by their oratorical powers- Whether or not they possess the gift of constructive statesmanship remains to be seen, but it cannot be forgotten that among the repre- sentatives who meet this week are many men who have been, according to their view, persecuted for the political opinions which they sought to advance, and if they should embark upon A POLICY OF REPRISALS 1 there will certainly be trouble for the coun- try- A less numerous party is found in the men who have been elected to the Duma essentially as the representatives of the peasants, who are pledged to agrarian re- forms of a somewhat sweeping description, and are strong enough not only to make their voice heard, but to hold in a very large measure the balance of power in the assembly. It does not make for peace that the Government have displayed little sym- pathy for the cause of the Constitutional Democrats,; it may possibly be unfortunate that Count Witte, who might have exercised a moderating influence, has been compelled to resign. For the moment it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that the situation is a critical one, but then crises often pass without producing any catastrophe, and we need not suppose that everything will go wrong. As the French Archbishop said at a time of crisis, There are so many acci- dents, and one is sufficient to save us."

Rifle Shooting. Mr G. D. Taylor presided at a meeting of the South Wales League, at Cardiff, on Saturday, when arrangements for the first inter-county match- Glamorgan T. Monmouth -at Newport, on May 24th, were discussed. Mr T. Edwards (Nelson), was appointed referee, and it was resolved to ask the champion teams of each county (Porth and U-k) to nominate the captains. The Chairman read a list of the guarantors for the "Bisley meeting to be held thiM year, and it was decided to ask each club to become a guarantor. The prizes will range from X20 downwards.

Literature. THB LITTLH ONUS' LiBEtAny.-The love of Fairy Tales is not likely to grow dim so long as publishers can present thoee dreams of childhood in so charming a form as that in which Messrs. Horace Marshall and Co., have issued the first four numbers of the series called" The Little Ones' Library," at the modest price of Id per number. Puss in Boots," Old Mother Hubbard," "The Snow Queen," and "Bluebeard," all of which contain several other tales as well, are already in circulation; on May 25th, another four will appear, and again on June 25th, after which one number will be issued on the 25tb of each month. The pleasing way in which the entrancing marvels are unfolded, the illustrations, the quality of the paper, the clear type, and the nicely got-up cover are far in advance of any similar books we have come across at the price.

A Double Tragedy at the Mumbles. The body of a young woman, aged about 20, was found in Bracelet Bay, near Swansea, on Tuesday, On a handkerchief tied round the wrist was the name of Loxton. A man's body was also found at the same spot, and on him was a photograph of the woman. The man was subsequently identified as Arthur Loxton, aged eigHteeri, of Swansea, and the I woman as Miss Cisaie Jenkins, of Bushey Park- road, Totterdown, Bristol. At the inquest on Tuesday evening the jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned" in both cases.

The Confiscatory Bill. An Article in the "LIsn," dealing with the Education Bill, by Canon Camber Williams, asks, "Is it fair to take by force the fourtet-n thousand schools of the Church, on which it upent forty million pounds? Is it justice to confiscate, as the Bill proposes the schools on which we have spent a hundred thousand pounds in Wales during the last three years alone? The only reply given is: The State has paid over and over again from the rates towards the schools, the money contributed by Churchmen to build them, so they belong by right to the State now.' Because the State has con* tributed money to keep school. in buildings erected by the Church, those buildings belong to the State as well In the village where I am now staying the Government pays a shopkeeper for keeping a post-office at his shop. It has paid from the rates over and over the money spent on the building, and so the Government really now owns the shop, does it not ? The, shopkeeper would say that the Govern- ment only pays for the use of the shop for the purpose of a post-offiee. The Government has not done so maoh as that with regard to the schools. The grants were meant for defraying the cost of education, not for the use of the schoolrooms. The Government pays a man with a horse and trap for bringing the mail to St. David's. The money thus paid from the rates every year is more than the value of the horse and trap, so, according to this argument, the horse and trap belong to the Govern- ment. And this in the bsst reply the opponents of the Church can give for confiscating schools which have cost Churchmen forty millions itterling-that the Government has paid money for teaching children in schools which were lent to it free, gratis, and for nothing." The whole argument is calcu- lated to eolighten both Churchmen and Noncon- formists on questions which they but imperfectly understand.

CONSTANT BIRDS. I The married life of most birds could be taken -or a model even by members of the human family. There is, for instance, the staid, digni- LI a homely baldheaded eagle, the glorious ♦mblem of the American Republic. He mates but once, and lives with his one mate until he or she dies. If left a widower—even a young widower -the baldheaded eagle never mates again. He remains alone and disconsolate in the nest on the rock crag or in the branches of of a tall pine that formed his domicile while his mate was alive. No other female eagle can tempt him to forsake his disconsolate life. With him, once a widower always a widower. The d golden woodpeckers live in a happy married state,^ mating but once. If the male dies his raato s grief ia lasting, and she lives a widowed bird the rest of her life. So, too, the male woodpecker never seeks another mate after the death of his own. He taps on a tree beside their nest day and night, trying to secall her; then at length, discouraged and hopeless, he be- comes silent, and never recovers his gaiety. qp- THE TERRACE GHOST. TheTemce of the House, which, during the session, is devoted to tea-parties, and is famous for its strawberries and crram, is specially honoured by ghosts, says Household. Words. "For many years it has been haunted by the apparition •r w9man' dad in dripping wet clothes, as if she had just emerged from the river. This ghost usually walks on foggy nights, and, after pointing with outstretched arm to the illuminated chamber where the nation's legislators are busily engaged, gives an unearthly ? ere at* and vanishes, apparently into the river. In 187d, an attendant, nameil Ralph, was frightened almost to death by this apparition."

Church Struck by Lightning. Berlin, Friday. Severe storms and whirlwinds have caused damage in various parts of the country two people were killed in Church at Gun- delfingen, which was struck by lightning.

The Government and Natal. Mr Chamberlain addressing the IT nion Club to-day, declared that the Government's proceedings in Natal were unparalleled. They had learnt their lesson and he hoped they would now proceed in more chastened spirits.

King Holds a Council. The King held a Council at Buckingham Palace this morning, and afterwards motored to Kempton.

Mr O'Connor's P.T.O. Paper. An application to restrain T. P. O'Connor from publishing the paper named P.T.O. was to-day refused.

Cricket. Northampton, out, 101. Warwickshire, out, 113. Surrey, 108, for three wickets.

The Weather. Fair, warmer weather pre- dicted. Printed and Published by "THB COUNTY OBSBRVBR," NEWSPAPER and PRINTING COMPANY, Limited, bv JAMES HENRY CLARK, at their Office. Bridge Street, Usk, in the County of Monmouth, Saturday, May 12th, 1906.

CASSELL'S IAIAZINE Brightest and Best of the Magazines-Profusely Illustrated Throughout. Famous for the Excel- lence of its Short Stories. The Foremost Writers and Artists only. Monthly, Sixpence. BBBBBBDHII Cassell's Magazine BBBBBBBBBB Monthly, Sixpence. Amongst the Contributors are: MARIE CORELLI, RIDER HAGGARD, HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE, ROBERT BARR, BART KENNEDY, PETT RIDGE, TOM GALLON, JOHN OXENHAM, M. E. BRADDON. Cassell & Co., Ltd., London; ancl of alr, Newsagents and Bookstalls. ,f>:U:ç;:i::i.> /(; CASSELL'S MAGAZINE One Penny THE Musical HOMEI 1%. Journal j Wednesdays Id. Unheard-of value to everyone interested in music, Nevr copyright Songs and Phces H weekly-Sacred Songs, B illadi, \m/' Coon Songs, Humorous Songs—Music for the Piano, Represents a value Organ, Harmonium, Violin. EvfnLjmZ s^enJ°' et& etc- Ful1 music Its contributors include names of such world-wide renown as H. Trotere, Clifton Bingham, T. Ord Hume, Ezra Read, Milton Wellings, Ed. St. Quentin, Theo Bonheur. Interesting and helpful Articles and Chat on musical matters. A Complete Story Weekly. "Bargain Counter" for the Purchase, Sale and Exchange of Musical Instru- ments, Music, etc. Questions and Answers on Musical Difficulties; Replies Paid For. Priu Competitions with Valuable Prizes Also Monthly. 6d. CASSELL & COMPANY, Ltd., London; and of all < Bookstalls and Newsagents. p8 no Illustrated journal for Amateurs. Every Thursday, Id. An admirable The Gardener abounds in pictures Journal for of choice flowers, illu trated ear- larden dening hints and diagrams of ines- amateur'and". ^able value to both the amateur professional." anJ professional gardener. A -St- Janus's fea ure of unique interest is "Top- Gaxette. ical Tables," which tells the gar- dener what to do now, and how to do it in the most effective way. Other distinctive features are Pictorial Practice—Garden Gossip-Vegetables- Current Work in the Garden (an Illustrated Weekly Cal- endar for all classes)-Illustrated ldeqs-Fruit-Roses- Chrysanthemums-—Trials and Troubles (in which the gardening difficulties of readers are discussed and solved)—Covent Garden Market Report. To the amateur, "The Gardener" makes gar- dening doubly enjoyable; to the professional it makes it doubly profitable. CASSELL & COMPANY, Ltd., London; and of all Bookstalls and Newsagents. I 1 —i—ii „ I I. T7' <-&. F- JOURNWATL HE IOLOLUF STRAHTREAD NWEDEKKILCYRAAFTSI THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY I JOURNAL OF HANDICRAFTS f lillC Fridays, Id. "There is not To all of a practical turn of mind' a person. • • • WORK is invaluable. It shows you learn°Ufrom how.to do things about the house Work' how anc* 'n .l^e garden which you would to make otherwise have to pay to get done. a living." Diagrams and working drawings are Saturday given for making all kinds of things Review, for the home. The "Questions and Answers" Section has proved its practical value to readers in all parts of the world. Readers of WORK add handsomely to their incomes in their spare time. WORK makes your hobby pay. Also Monthly, 6d. CASSELL & CO MPANY, Ltd., London; and of all Boo kstalls and Newsagents.

SOLDIERS AND CIVIL EMPLOYMENT. Major Seeley, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for War, has secured the passage in the House of Commons of a -very important resolution wMch runs as :follows: That in the opinion of this House, steps should be taken for the pur- pose of improving the social condition of the soldier, and securing him employment on return to civil life." Those who are most familiar with the wants of the British soldier have long been of one mind that this question of employment on return to civil life is the one great solution of the recruiting problem. Other measures have been tried, and there can be no doubt that in every way the conditions of service in the army have improved immensely during the past few years. Opportunities are af- forded for rational recreation, an effort is being made to cook the soldiers' food, instead of spoiling it, the pay is better, and there are facilities for furlough which do not present themselves to anything like the same extent to men in civil employment To an intelligent man with a f&ir education, ,the army really does offer a prospect which is not to be despised, and many men have been heard to say that their worst day jn the army was the one on which they left it. At the same time the great ma- ■ 3*ority of the men who serve in the army do not remain sufficiently long to qualify for a pension, and to them it must neces- sarily be a matter of anxiety that they should obtain employment when they leave the colours. The conditions of army service necessarily handicap a discharged soldier or recruit in competing for civil employ- ment, and unless he receives some assistance :from the State, it must, in the majority ) of cases, fare ill with the man who has given to the country several of the years in -which men outside the service are qualify- ing themselves for earning a livelihood.

THE CALIBRE OF BULLETS. I A report on the number of deaths from wounds in the Russo-Japanese campaign, has caused some revival of the old discus- sion on the question of the calibre of bullets. On this point the war afforded exceptional opportunities for observations, the rifles used being of three calibres. The Russians employed uniformly a weapon of 7.62 m.m., while that most in use on the side of the Japanese was of 6 5 m.m., but the reserve had a rifle of 8 m.m., which is the regulation size of the German weapon. It was found, as our troops have discovered, that the small bore bullet is more humane than the larger, or, as some fire-eaters would probably say, more ineffective, The "Wounds healed readily recovery from in- jury to the head, which used to be rare, was found to be frequent, and some men even survived penetration of the heart. A German writer, commenting on the statistics, expresses satisfaction with the resolution of Government to retain the larger bullet. of which he remarks that it is from the practical point of view, all that can be desired.

THE NATAL RISING. The murder of Mr Stainbank was all the more disquieting owing to the fact that it occurred many miles from Bambaata's coun. try, and tends to show that the disaffection was more widespread than some people had supposed. Of course, occasional inci- dents of this kind are inevitable among natives of a warlike character, and they do not necessarily indicate that a very large number of people have adopted au attitude of rebellion. The fact appears to be, that, as Major-General Sir J. Dartnell said, the majority of natives have been 11 sitting on the fence." In such cases the Government, if they have exhausted the resources of kindliness, can only resort to military opera- tions, and when that point is reached, it is the most expedient, and probably in the end the most humane course, to strike hard and swiftly. Only in that way can a savage race be taught that it is useless to rebel against the authority of the Crown, and waverers be restored to their allegiance.

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Monmouthshire Education Committee. At their meeting at Newport, on Wednesday, Alderman Daniel presiding, a discussion arose on a communication from the towu.clerk of Cardiff fitatin- that secretaries of local education authorities would nor, be permitted to attend, in addition to the delegates allotted, the forthcoming meetings to draft a ncheine for the creation of a Welsh National Education Council. Mr Price, Tredegar, proposed that the secretary. Mr C. Dauncey, be appoin ed to attend, an i nominated him as one of the Council's representa- tives. The Rev. T. G. James seconded the nomination, and it was agreed to. There are ihrte members allotted to Monmouth- shire, and the meeting afterwards added the Chairman (Alderman J. no Jacob) and Mr T. Dutfield. the latter as representing the miaolity. The Elementary Sub-Committee reported, on the suggestion from the Welsh Language Society, for the holding of a course of Welsh teaching for masters and mistresses during the summer holidays, to be held at Rhyl, and recommended that fifteen scholarships of L2 ench be voted by the Oommittee for teachers from Monmouthshire who attend the CI une. This was agreed to, subject to the approval of the Higher Education Committee. JONES'S FOUNDATION.—Sites and Buildings Com- mittee repot 1 e I that a letter had been received fiom the Board of Education stating that at the end of 1906 there was a debt on the Monmouthshire High Sohool for Girls amounting to about 2300, which the Estates Governors were desirous of providing out of the endowment of the foundation, and which the Board were prepared to assent to. The Com- mittee recommend that the Education Committee agree to this £ 300 being granted, but had decided to hold a special meeting to consider all the pro- posed alterations and amendments to the county scheme. A letter was read from the olerk to the Haberdashers' Company for consent to transfer the sum of £ 5,000 from the above-named foundation to that of the Aske Foundation, and the same was deferred, in order to be considered at the apocial meeting.

I The South African Trouble. Kulas to Join Bambaata. Immediate Fighting Expected. Durban, Friday. A telegram received here from the front to-day, states that an impi of Kulas, several thousand strong, is marching to join Bambaata. Troops are, hurrying to intercept them and prevent them joining Bambaata, and fighting is expected immediately.

Italian Strike Promoters Murdered. Rome, Friday. The two principal promoters of the strike at Milan were last night murdered by a porter. I

Chinese Deserters. Lord Selborne, in an official report, says that between June first and February twenty-eight last, there were 136 cases of outrage by Chinese deserters from mines, for which 385 coolies were arrested.