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CURRENT SPORT. I I
CURRENT SPORT. I I SOUTH AFRICANS BEAT LLANELLY. After an extremely hard, fast, and much more stubbornly contested game than the final score would seem to indicate, the South African Rugby, fifteen succeeded in defeating Llanelly at Llanelly by two placed goals, one penalty goal, and a try (16 points) to a try (three points). The visitors have won all five matches •which they have played in Wales, and have scored 58 points to six. This is a better record than that of the New Zealanders against Welsh sides, for in winning four and losing one of their five matches in the Principality the New Zea- landers scored 29 points to 14. Saturday's game was played under much more favourable con- ditions than the most sanguine could have ex- pected in such wintry weather. The ground, -after snow and straw had been removed, thougn soft in places, was in very fair order. The weather was fine, there being neither sun nor wind, while the air was cold and invigorating. The 10,000 spectators witnessed a very fast and interesting game, though the superiority of the ■South African backs individually and collec- tively ultimately gave their sides a decisive vic- tory. Disagreeable scenes were witnessed dur- ing and after the match, the referee being loudly hooted and pelted with snowball. The language of some of the spectators near the seats of a party of South Africans became so bad that Mr. Carden, the manager, had to call for the assistance of the police. At the end of the game there was a disorderly scene, but an attack on the referee was frustrated. OTHER RUGBY GAMES. Owing to the severe weather, there were no matches of any importance played in the Lon- don district on Saturday. Several games, how- ever, were decided in the provinces, the chief of which were: Devonport Albion beat Northamp- ton, at Devonport, by six goals and three tries to two tries; Exeter and Newton Abbot drew at Exeter, each side having scored one try; Birken- head Park beat Moseley, at Birkenhead, by one try to nothing. TEE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. The results of the matches in the first division of the League Championship on Saturday were: Everton beat Middlesbrough, at Everton, by five goals to one; Blackburn Rovers beat Aston Villa, at Blackburn, by two goals to one; Wool- wich Arsenal beat Manchester City, at Plum- stead, ..by four goals to one; Derby County beat Sheffield United at Derby, by three goals to none; Bury beat Sheffield Wednesday, at Sheffield, by two goals to one; Birmingham beat Preston North End, at Birmingham, by three .goals to none; Bolton Wanderers and Notts County drew at Bolton, neither side having scored; Bristol City and Manchester United drew at Manchester, neither side having scored. Ihe matches between Stoke and Liverpool, at Stoke, and Sunderland and Newcastle United, at Sunderland, had to be postponed as the grounds were unfit for play owing to the snow. In the second division the winning teams were: Chelsea, Grimsby Town, West Bromwicii Albion, Leicester Fosse, Chesterfield, Lincoln City, Hull City, and Barnsley. The games be- tween Stockport County and Clapton Orient, and Bradford City and Leeds City were drawn. THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE. X The results of the matches in the Southern Lea,gue on Saturday were as follows: —West Ham United beat Tottenham Hotspur, at Upton Park, by four goals to two Reading beat Mill- wall, at Reading by four goals to none Queen's Park Rangers Beat Luton, at Park Royal, by two goals to none Bristol Rovers beat New Brompton, at Bristol, by four goals to none Brentford beat Watford, at Watford, bv four goals to one Northampton beat Crystal Palace, at Northampton, by two goals to one; Fulham and Norwich City drew at Fulham, one goal all; Brighton and Hove Albion and Leyton drew at Brighton, one goal all; Southampton and Swindon Town drew at Southampton, one goal all Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth drew at Plymouth, one goal all, but as the ground was not considered fit for a League match only an ordinary game was played. OTHER MATCHES. After an interesting match the Corinthians beat Stockton, at Stockton, on Saturday, by .seven goals to three. The first half was evenly contested, the Corinthians scoring three goals to Stockton's two. After crossing over the Corinthians had much the better of the game. The Casuals, continuing their tour, met South Bank, at South Bank, on Saturday, and. after an even game they were beaten by three goals to two. HOOKEY. The snowbound condition of the grounds pre- vented the playing of hockey in the London dis- trict on Saturday. At Yeovil, however, it was possible to decide the match between Dorset and Somerset, in spite of the frozen state of the ground. Neither side was at full strength, but with E. W. Ebdon, an English international, in the Somerset goal, it was rather surprising that Dorset gained an easy victory by eight goals to two. Middlesex were to have visited the North of England to meet Lancashire, but, owinc to the snow, the tour was abandoned. ° U.S. GRIOKETERS FOR ENGLAND. The University of Pennsylvania will send a cricket team to England in June to play the leading Universities and colleges* The pro- gramme of the tour, which will last about fivo weeks, is being arranged by Mr. Alcock, secre- tary of the Surrey County Cricket Club. The, team will be composed of undergraduates, and will have an undergraduate as manager. BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP. Jeffries and representatives of the Rhyolite Club have signed articles for a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world, under Queensberry rules, with 5oz. gloves, between Jeffries and Bill Squires, of Australia. Of the Purse of 30,000 dollars the winner will receive 60 per cent., and the loser 40 per cent. The •contest will come off in April. THE TRANSFER OF BURGESS. At the desire of the Everton Football Club the committee of the League considered the transfer of H. Burgess, formerly of Manchester City. Everton contended that the City club were under an agreement made when they ob- tained the transfer of Hill from Everton to give them firat chance of securing Burgess. Man- chester City stated that Burgess refused to go to Everton. It was decided that Man- chester City did not carry out their arrange- ment with Everton, as the Mancunians did not give the Everton club sufficient time to pro- perly approach Burgess. DEATH OF A CRICKETER. Mr. G. R. Bardswell, formerly captain of. the Oxford eleven, and a member of the Lancashire eleven,c died in New Orleans on Saturday. Mr. Bardswell, who was thirty-three, underwent a serious operation some months ago, but it was believed that he had coinpfttely recovered. lie Was president of the Manchester and District Cricket League, and a member of the committee of the M.C.C. and Lancashire. He made many good scores in first-class cricket, was a useful howler, and an exceptionally fine fielder at slip.
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Several Russian dags, believed to have been captured by Japanese in the war, have been brought back by released prisoners of war, who had torn the silken banners from their staffs and concealed them. Alderman William Thompson was presented with a testimonial service of silver in recogni- tion of his long services as leader of .e Con- servative party in Blackburn, from which posi- tion he has just retired. Within two months the price of copper in England has risen by L12 per ton, being now £ 40 in advance of the lowest price during the year, and in view of the great demand for the electrical and motor industries a; further ad- vance is anticipated.
I HUMOUR OF THE WEEK. ]
I HUMOUR OF THE WEEK. ] I IT WAS OFF." An old man, bearing a resemblance to the typical "Father Christmas," at Brentford asked the Bench to make him a present of a summons against the landlord of a lodging- house. He had retired to rest when the land- lord came up, pulled the bedclothes off him, knocked out one of his teeth, and gave him a black eye. What did he do it for?—Nothing at all, sir. Oh, nonsense. Were there any witnesses? -There were twelve other gentlemen besides myself there. (Loud laughter.) You can take your summons, but you will have to pay for it.—Oh, then, it's off, sir. (Laughter.)" Quick exit. i THE USUAL." "What family have you?" asked Judge Edge of a defendant at Clerkenwell. Defendant: Oh, the usual. (Laughter.) The Judge: But what is the usual? (Laugh- ter.) Defendant: Mine is four. I ADDING INSULT TO INJURY. I Sued for a small amount for the week'tJ washing, a lady at Brompton caused amuse- ment by saying that she really didn't know whether she was plaintiff or defendant. She expressed herself intensely indignant at be- ing brought to court by plaintiff's, who had ruined a shirt and some curtains of hers, and then had had the insolence to sue her for the washing. It was adding insult to injury. (Laughter.) Plaintiffs admitted they had had a misfor- tune with the shirt, but U the curtains were so common they tore when washed. They had repaired the shirt. Judge Selfe: Is it a steam laundry?- Yea, sir. The Judge: Ah! (Laughter.) Defendant: What I want is the value of the shirt and curtains. Judge Selfe (mildly): Oh, that is what you want! (Laughter.) They would be useful for Christmas presents, perhaps. Defendant (pulling a gentleman's shirt from a parcel): Look at that, sir. (Re- newed laughter.) Judge Selfe: What a beautiful new shirt. I've never seen a finer, I think. (Laughter.) Are not the curtains good enough for your bed-room ? Defendant (indignantly): ? I wouldn't have such curtains hung in my bed-room. Judge Selfe: Oh, you ladies are so par- ticular. Well, you needn't pay the washing bill, but I'm afraid I can't give you more. I OBEYED THE LAWYERS. The farmer marched into the little grocer's shop with a firm step. "I want that tub of butter," he said, and those hams, and that lot of sugar, and all that other stuff." "Good gracious!" said the widow who kept the shop, whatever do you want with all them goods?" I dunno, I'm sure," said the farmer, scratching his head, "but you see I'm the executor of your husband's will, and the lawyer's just told me to carry out the pro- visions ALL OVER A YOUNG MAN. I Two young women appeared at the Soutn- wark County Court with reference to 3s. 6d., alleged to be due on a loan. Defendant (volubly): I wish to say that she abuses me in the street in every way over this money. Plaintiff: It is nothing of the kind; I met you in the street, and asked you for it. Defendant: While I was walking with my young man. (Laughter.) Plaintiff (contemptuously): Tour; young man, indeed. I think he was my young man until I couldn't stand him any longer, and passed him on to you. (Laughter.) Defendant: It's just the other way round; he couldn't stand you, and said he would have to chuck" you, and you wasn't satis- fied with that, you must needs follow him about ail over the place. Plaintiff: Yes, you tell a good tale, and so does he, but I have no doubt that you will hear from me yet. (Renewed laughter.) Judge Smyly: Come, come, now, what about this money—is it owing or not? Plaintiff: It is like this. We used to be chums, and lent each other money when it was necessary, but over this young man we have fallen out, and now because I ask for the money back she refuses to pay me. Defendant: I know I owe the money, but I don't want to be shown up in the street every day of my life. Plaintiff: Well, then, pay up, as you ought to do. Defendant: You know you have only done this out of jealously. (Laughter.) Judge Smyly: Can you pay this at once? Defendant: Oh, yes. Judge Smyly: Then do so now, and go away and settle the matter and be friends. Defendant: I should think so. (Loud laughter.) ——— I THE POPE AND DOCTOR LAPPONI. I The following tale is told about Leo XIII. and the lately deceased Dr. Lapponi. The Holy Father was about to give a long and important audience to some pilgrims, al- though he had a very bad cold. Lapponi care- fully provided the Pope with a box of pas- tilles, begging him to take one from time to time. The doctor then took his place in the audience chamber in a corner from which. he would be able to catch the Pope's eye. After he had spoken for some time Leo XIII. became very hoarse, but the doctor noticed that he did not take the pastilles. To attract the Pope's attention Lapponi coughed loudly. The Pope looked up, and then said to an attendant, Call the doctor." Natu- rally there was some alarm among the by- standers, who thought the Pontiff felt ill. But as Lapponi approached, Leo XII. drew the box of pastilles from his pocket, and, holding it out to him, said: Doctor, we heard you cough. Will you take one?" i A PROFESSIONAL VISIT. Telling the story of how he found a burglar in his house an Eastbourne dentist said when he saw the man opposite him ho asked him what he wanted and whether he had come to him professionally. (Laughter.) « AIr" right, guv'nor," replied the burglar. I've not slept anywhere for three nights. I'm looking for work—(laughter)—and I'm hungry." I WHAT HAPPENS AT CAMBRIDGE. A gentleman of no occupation, who ap- peared in the Bankruptcy Court, asked whether he left Cambridge in debt, replied, "Well, what does everyone who goes to Cam- bridge do?" (Loud laughter.) When he lost on the Stock Exchange Iris father took over the accounts and made a good profit. Arid gave half of it to you?—No, he did not. I do not think he felt like doing any- thing of the kind at the time. (Laughter.) I HIS WIPE'S LOOKS. A married couple, not very happily mated, were walking along the street. The husband remarked, Folks never look at you, Jane. I wish I d married someone better looking. Jane replied, It's your fault. Do yon think anyone would stare at me when you're with me You step behind and see whether folks don't look at me." So the irate husband stepped behind, and sure enough everyone looked at his wife as she walked along, and what is more; they turned round afterwards for a. second glance. "I was wrong, Jane, In. never complain of your looks again," he told her afterwards, but he did not know his wife had made a grimace at everyone she had metl
[ ICE FATALITIES.I
[ ICE FATALITIES. I The pathetic circumstances of a triple ice tragedy, which occurred on Sunday afternoon three miles from York, were revealed at the inquest at York on Monday. The ftther, John Burkell Barnard, who was coachman on the stud farm belonging to Mr. E. G. Tew, of Carl- ton Grange, Pontefract, and the mother were drowned in attempting to save their son, aged nine, who fell into a hole while sliding on a pond. The pond is about four feet deep at the edge, with a low, steep bank, which made rescue difficult. The rather got out ot his depth, while the mother, approaching from the other side across the ice, reached forward, thinking she saw her son's head, and with a cry of Harry, speak to me fell into the water and was also drowned. Owing to delay in obtaining assistance there was never any hope of rescue, and hours elapsed before the bodies were recovered. A verdict of Accidentally drowned was re- turned. While a number of boys belonging to members of the Royal Field Artillery stationed at Deep Cut, Aldershot, were sliding on the Basingstoke Canal at Frimley on Sunday evening, the ice gave way. One of the sons of Quariermaster- bergeant Johnson, 100th Battery, aged nine, fell in, and his brother, aged eleven, ventured out to try and save him. He, too, fell into the water, and both were drowned. The other boys were so frightened that they ran home, and it was not until an hour later that what had occurred became known. Then the whole of the brigade stationed close by rusned off to the spot, and Corporal Turner, who had just returned from India invalided with ague, dived in under the ice and brought the body of the younger boy out. He went in again and succeeded in finding the other body. Turner is lying dangerously ill as the result of his heroic deed.
ITHE PRIMATE'S MESSAGE.I
I THE PRIMATE'S MESSAGE. I The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year I message to the clergy and laity of his diocese refers wholly to the religious education diffi- culty. In the course of the message the Primate says: —" The partisan on either side is strangely, perhaps culpably, backward in under- standing his opponent's case, in appreciating his opponent's motive, in respecting his oppo- nent's difficulty. It would surely be well—well in the sight of God and man—if the year of our Lord 1907 could see the exorcism of any narrow and one-sided temper of mind, where such besets us, and in its stead the growth of a sounder appreciation everywhere of the large, true principles, whether religious or national, which, when rightly interpreted and applied, ought to be harmonious and not contradictory. We want the opportunities to be open with o,bsolute equality to all, \and we emphatically, 1 claim no special privilege either for the Church of England or for any other religious body in the land. There are, of course, many different ways in which these principles might be effec- tively recognised. But recognised they must be in some way-not in theory only, but in fact -if fairness and justice are to prevail. Nor does it seem to us that they are in the least degree incompatible with what is called a national system of education, or with the amplest popular control.'
BOY'S TERRIBLE PLIGHT. I
BOY'S TERRIBLE PLIGHT. I A Belfast schoolboy, named Samuel Atchison, I who was missed on Christmas Eve has been found wasted to a skeleton, and at the point of death in the attic of an untenanted house. Rivers and ponds had been dragged by the police, and many search parties had gone out, but it was not until Sunday that the attention of a neigh- bour was drawn to a faint knocking in the attic of the house and the boy was discovered, The police found the inside of the door all clawed where the boy in his agonies of starvation had sought to tear through the panels will his nails, and even with his teeth. The boy, as he lay moaning and tossing in bed, cried out again and again to imaginary assailants to have pity on him, but there was nothing coherent in his speech. How he came to be in the house, and why the handle should have been removed from the door, are all questions which are greatly puzzling the police. The boy is in grave danger, but there is some slight hope of his ultimate re- covery.
I LORD 'QRBR()OK'S WILL. I
I LORD 'QRBR()OK'S WILL. I The will has been proved of the late Earl of Cranbrook, of Hemsted Park, Cranbrook, Kent. The gross value of the estate being £ 274,098, with £ 273,319 net personality, exclusive of settled property. The Earl left 1,1,000 for distri- bution among servants of long standing, and be- queathed C500 to his butler. The Hemsted Park property and the residue of the estate he left to the present Earl, the following articles to devolve as heirlooms: Two marble and bronze busts from the late Queen Victoria. Books from, and written in bv, the late Queen Victoria. Presents from Cabinet colleagues. Addresses and presents from tenantry, and "Life of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone," by the Right Hon. John Morley, presented by the author.
ILIFEBOAT SERVICES IN 1906.I
I LIFEBOAT SERVICES IN 1906. The total number of lives saved by the life- boats of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution during the past year was 561. In addition, the institution granted rewards for the saving of 177 lives by shore-boats and by other means and forty-five vessels and boats were also saved from total or partial loss. The total number of lives for which the Lifeboat Institution has granted rewards since its establishment on March 4, 1824-eighty-two years ago—has now reached 46,177.
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Harry Read, a barman at South Norwalk, Connecticut, who has inherited IC40,000, says that he intends to spend it on drink in two years. He intends to drink as many cocktails as he has mixed in his life, but he declares that he will not mix one while his money lasts. Mr. W. P. Learned, superintendent of the burglary department of the Fidelity and Guarantee Company, of New York, declares that burglary is increasing in New lork because of the increasing prosperity of the rich and the pressure of high prices for necessaries on the poor. < The Princess of Wales sent numerous Christ- mas gifts, including game and toys, to the in- I mates of the Princess Mary Village Homes at Addlestone. She also sent a large number of picture postcards, which had been sent to Prince Edward of Wales from all parts of the Empire. The official returns of the Congregational Union show that there are 4,943 churches, branch churches, and mission stations in Great Britain, containing 1;793,503 sittings. The roll of church members this year contains 498,916 names, with -738,210 pupils and 67,961 teachers in the Sunday schools.
ITHINGS THOUGHTFUL.
I THINGS THOUGHTFUL. In addition to the number of failures con- stantly occurring in business, there are failures in other directions. Men act in other relations than mere buying or selling. A quality which attaches to all action, whether in the range of business, of learning, or of enjoyment, is a part of each man, and makes up a part of life, and may be spoken of as a success or as a failure. We do not know how many have gone down because of this vice or that sin, or the other bad habit. One man has gone to ruin be- cause of his love of stimulants, another is de- stroyed because he has yielded to the cravings of passion, and another has been deposed from honour among men because of his greed for gain. The public press teems with accounts of murders, of robberies, of assaults, of frauds, of vice; but while these things are read at every breakfast table, there are thousands of moral and religious failures which never find record in our public press. Many, indeed, are un- known even to the most intimate friends of the offender. There are many religious failures known only to God. This is the time of making inventories, of balancing books, of settling accounts. Suppose we make an inventory of our moral and religi- ous life as a business affair between us and God. What will be the state of things shown by such a balance sheet? Will it show that we are on the verge of bankruptcy? Will it be that our past year has been a failure? Will it be that we are in our moral and religious life ignoring the sound principles of moral and religious ac- tion, and are hastening to a disastrous failure? Men in business get extensions and endorse- ment they take up one note by issuing another, hoping to recover before the patience of credi- tors is reached. God also is very patient. An extension of time is allowed to many of us, yet not all. Some must close business this month. Some may wait till next month, but many have the whole year. Unfortunately for those of us who may be dilatory, we do not know whether we shall be called upon to render our accounts this month or next month, or not until next year, or some later year. Our lesson is plain. We should determine whether we are doing a safe business or not, whether we are following God's law. If we are in any direction engaged in hazardous enterprises, we should at once cease. Money made by any sort of fraud will burn the conscience of its possessor. So any supposed earthly advantage or pleasure, secured by methods contrary to God's laws, will surely leave a sting behind. Legitimate work in morals or in religion alone is safe. Just as legitimate work in lines of business is without danger. Men are bound together in the widely ex- tended web of business affairs, and one man's failure drags down others with him. So in morals and "religion. If one man ignores God's law and leads a life of disobedience and of sin, he can not but affect others by his wicked course. The publicity or secrecy of his action makes but little difference for the spirit of his life becomes a bad spirit, and as such affects disastrously all who come under his influence. Hence, if men care for the highest welfare of others, they will seek to protect them from consequential damages, just as they themselves desire to be protected. The lesson of failures Ü. that we should walk according to the divine law of wisdom, uprightness and safety, both for our own sake and for the sake of others whom we may drag down with us. The more we live, more brief appe-ar Our life's succeeding stages; A day to childhood seems a year, And years like passing ages. The gladsome current of our youth, Ere passion yet disorders, Steals lingering like a river smooth Along its grassy borders. But as the care-worn cheek grows wan, And sorrow's shafts fly thicker, Ye stars, that measure life to man, Why seem your courses quicker? When joys have lost their bloom and breath, And life itself is vapid, Why, .as we reach the falls of death, Feel we its tide more rapid? It may be strange—yet who would change Time's course to slower speeding, v When one by one our friends have gone, And left our bosoms bleeding? Heaven gives our years of fading strength Indemnifying fleetness, And those of youth a "seeming length, Proportioned to their sweetness. There are ten things for which no one has ever yet been sorry. These are:—For doing good to all; for speaking evil of no one; for hearing before judging; for thinking before z;1 speaking; for holding an angry tongue; for z, being kind to the distressed; for asking pardon for all wrongs; for be ig patient towards every- body; for stopping the ears of a -ale-.beare-i-; for disbelieving most of the ill reports. We have most of us in our time thrown a pebble into a pond, and traced the effect which the action has produced. We have gazed on the agitated and then subsiding waters, till circle after circle, each surpassing in extent the one preceding it, has effected the whole liquid sur- face extended before us. What an interesting spectacle it would be, if, in Hke manner we could minutely trace the effect of a striking and useful thought! By what process such a thought is conceived, is only known to-Him-who knows all things but it is clear to us, that when it is made known in the state of society, it becomes the centre of a thousand circles, spreading its influences immeasurably beyond our faculty of observation. —CAMPBELL. The following characteristic story of Carlyle is told by a son of an intimate friend of the great writer. He says that the grim old Chelsea hermit had once, when a child, saved in a tea- cup three brigrit'KaTfpence. But a poor old Shetland beggar with a bad arm came to the door one day. Ca.rlyle.gayehim all his treasure at once. In after life, in referring to the inci- dent, he used to say: The feeling of happiness was most intense; I would give F,100 now to have that feeling for one moment back again." No man has any right to expect to live differ- ently to-morrow from the way in which he is living to-day. What he chooses to-day he chooses for to-morrow. What he overcomes to-day he is overcoming for to-morrow. What he yields to to-day he is still more likely to yield to to-morrow. Yet most of us live as if we did not believe this, and we try hard to persuade ourselves that we are safe in so living. The Devil encourages us mightily in this self- deception, If he can persuade us to sin for to-day only he is well content to let us pledge ourselves to ourselves that to-morrow we will defeat him. There may be no to-morrow for us in this life to-day is all we have, and to-day is our only hope for to-morrow if to-morrow does come. If we are unable to conquer to-day, we shall be still less able to do so later. The man who sins to-day because he expects^ to give it all up later is planning with fatal certainty to give tip, later, everything but his sin. There is no man but hath blessings enough in present possession to outweigh the evils of a great affliction, says Jeremy Taylor. Tell the joints of thy body, and do not accuse the univer- sal Providence for a lame leg or the want of a finger, when all the rest is perfect, and you have a noble soul, a particle of Divinity, the image of God Himself; and by the want of a finger you may the better know how to estimate the remaining parts, and 10 account for every degree of the surviving blessmgso We are born, not to help ourselves, but to help others. Let us imitate the virtues of our predecessors, that we may be worthily their successors.
I ILITERARY CHAT.
I I LITERARY CHAT. "Monsieur de Paris," a novel by Mary C. Rowsell, will be issued by Messrs. Chatto and' Windus in February. The Queen of Norway has accepted the ne-w Christmas bound volume of the children's magazine, the "Jabberwock," for little i-riico Olaf. A new book by Mrs. Ormiston Chant is announced by Messrs. Milner and Co. It is entitled The Prodigal," and is declared to be a remarkable work. Dr. C. M. Sheldon, the author of "In His Steps," has consented to visit England in the coming spring, and will speak at a series of meetings in advocacy of his methods of social reform. The "Art Journal" will, during the coming r r, year, publish a series of articles on Ireland, bv Mr. Alfred Yockney. They will be illustrated in more than a hundred drawings of Irish, scenery by Mr. William Monk, R.E. Mrs. St. Leger Harrison ("Lucas Malet") is spending the winter in London, having taken 15, Sumner-place, Onslow-square, till after Easter, when she will return to The Orchard, Eversley, Winchficld. A new and cheaper edition of Mr. J. Meade Falkner's "History of Oxfordshire" is an-t nounced by Mr. Elliot Stock. It presents a, history of the county from the earliest times to the present day, and devotes special atten- tion to the history of the University. "Memoirs of Famous Trials," illustrated with portraits of distinguished members of the bench and bar, is one of the books which may be expected soon. The author is the Rev. Evelyn Burnaby—brother of the late Colonel Burnaby—and the publishers are Messrs. Sisley and Co. Commander E. Hamilton Currey, R.N., who has accepted the invitation of the Grand Coun- cil of the Scottish Primrose League to become their secretary for the whole of Scotland, has written some very clever and amusing stories of life at sea. "The Ways of Lady Isabel" is issued at the popular price of 6d. by the Tallis Prese. "Lady Isabel," a shrewd, unscrupulous Society woman, is the creation of Mrs. Neish, whoaef brilliant Society sketches are so well known. Professor Burrows has written an account of the remarkable series of archaeological explora- tions lately carried out in Crete by Mr. Arthur Evans and others. Tho book will be publisntid by Mr. John Murray. Another English publishing firm has opered a New York office, Messrs. Chatto and Windua having commenced an American branch ira Fifty-avenue, New York. They announce that they have "been moved to take this step by the fast-increasing importance of Americas literature, both grave and gay, which is now eagerly sought by British readers—a curious and interesting inversion of the old order ot things." I When M. de Witte and the Japanese pleni- potentiaries were negotiating at Portsmouth, there appeared a book, called The Future of ) Russia and Japan," the author of which. Dr. Rudolf Martin, is Government Councillor at the Imperial Statistical Office. An English edi- tion of this book translated by Miss Hulda. Friederichs is announced by Messrs. Smith, Elder. In addition to thorough revision, Dr. Ivlartin has given his work a new chapter, called "A Glance Ahead." The charming play by Mr. Laurence Hous- man and Mr. Granville Barker entitled Pru- nella; or, Love in a Dutch Garden," is to be published immediately by Mr. A. H. Bullen. A frontispiece has been designed for the volume by Mr. Housman, and engraved on wood by his sister. The same publisher announces å. third series of Popular Ballads of the Oldca. I Time," edited by Mr. Frank Sidgwick. !t was by an accident that Mr. Kipling got his famous title, The Light that Failed." H& had almost decided to call the novel H Thl)- Failure," although he was dissatisfied with tkis. One evening, as he was sitting in hie study read- ing by lamplight, the light went suddenly down -almost failed in fact. In a second Kipling jumped up, exclaiming excitedly, By Jove! I've got it!" Pointing to the lamp, he said. "The Light that Failed." A novel which Mr. S. R. Lysaght has written^ "Her Majesty's Rebels," is largely founded on the career of Charles S. Parnell. It will be> published by Messrs. Macmillan, who announce that the third volume of Grove's Dictionary of Music," in its new form, is nearly ready. Another book on their list is Mr. G. F. Abbott's "Israel in Europe." In it the author sketches the fortunes of the Jews in Europe from the earliest times to the present day. Reprints of two volumes by 'William Cobbett —his "Grammar of the English Language" and his Advice to Young Men "-have ap- peared with the Oxford University Press. Cob- bett was at one time an active Tory journalist, but in 1804 he became a Radical, and after many vicissitudes, chiefly due to the fact that he never learned to keep a civil tongue in hi& head, he entered the House of Commons for Oldham in 1S32. He was a self-taught and in many respects a remarkable man, but, though he had made a great noise in the country, ha was an absolute failure in Parliament. The Rev. F. W. Macdonald, well known in the religious world a,s an ex-president of the Wesleyan Conference and a preacher of elo- cjuence, has published a work called, "In a Nook with a Book." Mr. Macdonald is a brother-in-law of the late Sir Edward Burne- Jones, and he gives some very interesting de- scriptions of the painter's youth. Other nt- tractive pages deal with that famous" Oxford and Cambridge Magazine," in the pages of which appeared the work of Burne-Jones, Wil- liam Morris, and Edwin Hatch. That eminent musician, Sir Frederick Bridge* M.V.O., in "The Shakespeare and Music Birth- day Book," has allotted some witty and appro- priate mottoes to the birthdays of well-knowa musicians. The author's own motto is a quota- tion from "Twelfth Night," and fits well Sir Frederick's residence near Westminster Abbey, for it is the following: Vio. "Save thee, friend, and they incsic ;I dost thou live by thy tabor?" Clo.: "No, sir, I live by the Church." Vio. "Art thou a churchman?" Clo. "No such matter, sir: I do live by the church for I do live at my house, and my house doth stand by the church." Sir Frederick has selected for Madame Clara Butts birthday: "With all my heart I'll eit and hear her sing" for Mr. Algernon Ash ton he has chosen: "This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral," and for the'-birthday of the late Sir Michael Costa he gives "We did keep time; sir. b Mr. C. S. Parker's "Life of Sir James Graham" is to be published by Mr. Murray before the end of January. Sir James Graham filled many important Cabinet posts under Lord Grey, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Aber- deen, and Lord Palmerston, and many letters from Gladstone and Lord John Russell, Sidney, Herbert, and other statesmen are promised in the book. Old German Love Songs is the title cf a book published by Mr. Fisher Unwin. Its aim is to introduce to English readers the German. Minnesingers of the twelfth fourteenth cen- turies. Mr. F. C. Nicholson has rendert-d thu songs into English, preserving so far as possible the original form, and more than fiftv poets arf/ represented.
MID-CORK ELECTION,
MID-CORK ELECTION, Mr. D. D. Sheehan, Nationalist, who is now described as a "Land and Labour candidate, ^as on Monday re-elected for' Mid-Cork, there eing no other candidate nominated. Mr. Shee- lan, it may be remembered, resigned his seat In order to test the feeling of his constituents in regard to the action taken by the Nationalist Party organisation in exclu4ing him from partici- I pation in the election funds. He was strongly Sported by ilfr. William O'Brien, M.P.
- NOTES ON NEWS.I ..I
NOTES ON NEWS. The Christmas season of 1906 will be memorable not only for the great snowstorm which prevailed over the length and breadth of the land—the worst which has been known for the last thirty years—but also for the terrible railway accident which occurred at Arbroath, in Scotland, and which has re- sulted in the loss of at least 21 lives, with in- juries to many more. In many parts of the country there is an old saying that there's never one but there's three," imdit Is worthy of note that this is the third serious railway calamity of the year, the other two having been those at Salisbury and Grantham, both accompanied, unfortunately, with great loss of life. Unlike the Grantham disaster, the cause of which will never be known, there is no doubt that in the present case the collision was due to one of the signals failing to act owing to the snow, and it may be that good will come out of the evil, if the calamity shows some other way of signalling during weather like that which we have been experiencing. At sea, in a fog, we have the siren to warn shipping; might it not be possible in these days of electricity to affix a warning bell to the signal-posts on our railways in cases of extreme danger? Representing the railway workers of Eng- land and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, Mr. Richard Bell, M.P., secretary of the Amalgam mated Society of Railway Servants, has issued the demands' of the men, and though they mark a considerable advance on present con- ditions, they cannot by any means be con- sidered extravagant. The lives of thousands and thousands of people are day by day com- mitted to the care of the railway officials, and if there is one class of men who should receive consideration it is the railway worker. The principal things the men ask for are an eight-hour day for all men engaged in moving the traffic, and ten hours for others, time and a. quarter for overtime; and Sunday duty as outside the week's work. There ought not to be any difficulty in granting these conces- sions, but the demand for an advance of 2s. per week in wages—those in London to re- ceive 3s. per week more than those outside— will perhaps cause some trouble, as these in- creases, though small in themselves, will amount to a large sum, which the companies will no doubt find hard to meet. The session of Parliament having come to an end, there has been the usual day of reckoning," and it has been found that, so far as divisions are concerned, our legislators have had a very busy time indeed. When the House adjourned in August the number was 318, but the autumn session brought the, total up to 501, which is very heavy compared with the 364 of 1905, 341 in 1904, and 263 in 1903. The Isle of Wight has every reason to be proud of its members, for Mr. Godfrey Baring still maintains the proud record of having voted in every division, while Mr. C. H. Corbett comes next with 494. Good records are also held by the Chief Government Whip, Mr. Geo. Whiteley, who has 483, Mr. Herbert Samuel 478, and Mr. J. A. Pease 471. Mr. John Burns has the distinction of coming out at the head of the Cabinet list with 417, fol- lowed by Mr. Gladstone's 405, and Mr. Morley is at the bottom with 150, the Premier being next above with 166. Mr. Mitchell Thomson leads the Opposition with 393, Lcrd Valentia following with 374. Mr. Balfour Las 271, and Mr. Chamberlain only 57, but it must be re- membered that the latter has been away owing to his illness. The report that Mr. Chamberlain has lost his memory is denied, though the, nature of his is still not stated. He has promised to speak at Bir- mingham in February next. Some idea of the amount of labour involved in feeding the members of Parliament and the friends they entertain at the House may be gathered from the report of the Kitchen Committee, which shows that from February 13 to November 24 over 165,000 meals were Served in the House. Breakfasts, served on the occasions of the all-night sittings, num- bered 126; luncheons, 35,829; dinners, 47,968; suppers, 795; teas, 75,213; and meals at the bars, 5,515. The cost of these nie-alt; was. £ 19,289, an average of about 2s. 4d. The income of the Committee (including a subsidy of £ 1,832) was L21,122, and the expenditure £ 20,720, and it is a curious illustration of the capacity of some commodities to yield a profit that, while the Committee paid only jE535 for cigars and £ 3,718 for spirits, wines, beers, and minerals, they received from members under these heads £1,096 and R6,249 respectively, the latter working out at about E9 6s. 8d. per member. Provisions, which cost CII,134, re- turned a profit of 9478, and table-money and sundries amounted to £ 331. Expenditure for wages and salaries and on other accounts was £ 5,331. Watch-night services are the latest things to be condemned, and the Rev. J. Henry Whyte, vicar of St. Augustine's, South Croy- don, refuses to hold one in his church, term- ing it a matter of mere melodramatic sen- sation." He maintains that the observance of watch-night exalts the position of the civil year aboVe the Church's year, for which no provision of a similar character is ever made, and says, At the customary midnight .service there is a horrible deadly silence just as midnight approaches, broken only by the telling of the bell, which answers to the slow music of melodrama. This is mere sensation or too worst kind, and it is a pity it should be encouraged in the name of religion. The hsurdIty of the whole thing is seen when it is remembered that the length of the year being between five and six hours more than 365 days, the year cannot begin anywhere in the neighbourhood of midnight, except occa- sionally. The best place for people at that hour is In. bed. In a letter which he has addressed to A number, of Liberal M.P.'s, the Lord Chan- cellor has insisted on his absolute indepen- dence in selecting Justices of the Peace on their merits, and not as political party workers deserving reward. This is as it should be, and the Lord Chancellor is quite right when he says that he ought not to allow the office to become the subject of political traffic. The principle upon which he Jiae acted, and will continue to act, is that if & man is suitable, the fact that. he is a strong party man, on whatever side, is no objection. A great pro- portion of the ablest iand most vigorous men, are so; and justices, being unpaid, cannot be required, as judges are, to lay aiside political activity. But, the Lord Chancellor remarks,, he will not allow a defect in the. necessary qualities to be made good by political services or restrict the choice, to those who have been politically active. t m.i. 'I "torn ¡:;¡¡;,
ICARUSO'S APPEAL REJECTED.…
I CARUSO'S APPEAL REJECTED. I Signor Caruso's appeal against the decision of the magistrate who presided at his trial for mo- lesting b women in the Zoological Gardens in Central Park, New York, has been denied, Re- corder Goff having affirmed the magistrate's decision, but it is stated that Caruso will carry the case to a higher court. The Recorder stated that he had very care- fully gone into the evidence presented at the trial, and found nothing warranting a reversal of the original decision. He states that the charge being more of a public one than an individual one, the presence of Mrs. Graham, the alleged complainant who did not appear at the trial, was not necessary. As far as the law was concerned the magistrate, Mr. Baker, had not erred in judgment. Consequently the decision must stand.